Iron Flame Chapters 40–43 Summary & Analysis

Summary: Chapters 40–43

Chapter 40

Violet practices wielding with Felix in an attempt to improve her aim. He hands her a glass orb with runes etched into it that works as a conduit for her powers. He instructs her to practice wielding small, precise strikes, and warns her that she is a liability to everyone around her if she does not get her powers under control. Later, Violet sneaks out with Mira and Brennan to bargain with Tecarus for the luminary. When they arrive, she is angry to discover that a furious Xaden is already there, having guessed her plan.

Chapter 41

Tecarus provides the group with formal attire and orders them to change for dinner before he is willing to discuss business. Violet is already angry and becomes even more upset when she learns that Cat is here; she is Tecarus’s niece. On their way upstairs, Violet and Xaden argue. Violet tells Xaden off for always trying to protect her and compares him unfavorably to Dain, which Xaden finds particularly insulting. Violet and her siblings change and are escorted to dinner by Cat. While they walk, Violet is overcome with resentment, questioning whether Cat knows Xaden better than she does.

Xaden approaches Violet, struck by her lavish appearance, and kisses her. He also throws up a wall of shadows and explains that Cat has the ability to heighten and manipulate people’s emotions, something he would have told her sooner if she had not blocked their bond after their argument. He tells her that she has already won their fight and apologizes for trying to protect her. He explains that he is constantly worried about her, especially after she was tortured by Varrish, but he agrees that he should have taken her to Tecarus when she asked. In return, Violet apologizes for not telling him that she was leaving. At dinner, Tecarus asks Violet to demonstrate her powers and Violet agrees. He leads her to an arena with a large box in the center and says that they can negotiate for the luminary if Violet strikes the chest—as long as Xaden does not come to her aid. Violet agrees and takes Mira with her but, once they walk onto the field, the box opens and a venin emerges.

Chapter 42

Violet summons lightning but is unable to aim for the venin. Brennan rushes in and joins the fray. Violet throws one of her daggers but the rain impedes her aim, and the venin is injured but not killed. The venin starts to drain the ground, sending a wave of death toward the Sorrengail siblings, but Mira manages to use her signet and produce a shield around the three of them. The effort drains her, and Violet orders Brennan to take Mira to safety. Violet calls to Tairn and he arrives just in time to lift Violet from the ground while she electrocutes the wet grass, killing the venin.

Xaden nearly chokes Tecarus to death with his shadows, furious that Tecarus would put Violet in danger to punish Xaden for discontinuing their alliance, but drops him when he apologizes to Violet and promises to negotiate. Tecarus allows them to have the luminary as long as they agree to supply Tecarus with weapons so that his drifts can kill venin. Furthermore, Tecarus wants the riders to bring the hundred gryphon flier cadets who have been living at his estate ever since their academy was destroyed to Aretia to train with the dragon riders.

Chapter 43

Violet and the other riders hike up the Cliffs of Dralor with the fliers because gryphons cannot fly at a high enough altitude to reach Aretia. Brennan has instructed them to hike along a risky path filled with defensive traps while their dragons patrol the skies. He also pairs the riders and the fliers in groups, in the hopes that they learn to work together. Violet is placed in a group with Cat and is not pleased about it, but she is at least grateful to have been directly partnered with Cat’s friend Maren instead of Cat herself. Maren tells Violet she was glad that Cat and Xaden broke up, and Sloane chimes in to say that Liam did not like Cat for Xaden either. Sloane then admits to Violet that she doesn’t actually hate her, as she has been reading Liam’s letters.

While hiking, Violet learns that the flier academy is much less brutal than Basgiath, and that fliers are not constantly risking death, which surprises her and the other riders. Later, the group comes to a pressure trigger that will release arrows if anybody steps on it. They will have to jump five-to-six feet from a steep ledge. Violet tells Ridoc to shove a sword in a gap in the stone so that they can use it as a buoy. Everyone makes the jump with ease except for a smaller flier named Luella, who nearly falls. Violet manages to catch her, but they start to slip, along with a rider named Visia. Luella’s gryphon manages to pull Visia out of the way but is still unable to get to Luella, who starts to slip even more. Violet looks up and realizes that Ridoc has been stabbed by the arrows that were triggered by their fall.

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