Onyx Storm Chapters 28–31 Summary & Analysis

Summary: Chapters 28–31

Chapter 28

Back at Basgiath, during Battle Brief, Violet tells her friends that King Courtlyn wanted to exchange Violet and Xaden’s services one day for weaponry. Her friends are confused, both because Deverelli does not tend to advertise their weapon store, and because Violet and Xaden would not even be able to wield there. Professor Devera urges them to pay attention instead of talking amongst themselves, and Violet notices that the Battle Brief map shows the venin army is moving south. This leads her to suspect that the venin know that Aretia’s wards are only partially up and are moving into position for when they inevitably fail.

Violet and Dain manage to decode her father’s texts. Violet is frustrated that she cannot share this news with Mira; she has taken a personal leave for the first time in her career. Violet and her friends go to the next Signet Sparring class (currently being taught by Professor Carr in Xaden’s absence) and are approached by Sloane and the other first years in their wing who say that they want to help with the quest. Dain interrupts, demanding to know why Sloane is refusing to train her siphoning signet. When Violet presses her, Sloane admits that she does not want to train a signet that can only be used to “destroy things.” Violet is hesitant to allow Sloane and the other first-years to help with their mission, especially since she promised Sloane’s older brother, Liam, that she would protect Sloane before he died. However, she is convinced by their dedication and invites them to help with the research.

They all begin to strategize and agree that the search will never be completed in time if they actually report back to Basgiath after every isle. They realize they will have to disobey direct orders and not return until they find the irids. Xaden suddenly enters the classroom and Violet is thrilled to see him, but panics when she realizes the gold flecks in his eyes have turned amber. She privately explains this to Bodhi, who hands her a vial of the serum that cuts venin off from their powers along with a vial of the antidote. He wants her to use them on Xaden if he ever loses control. He also urges Violet to take Garrick with them on the next mission so she will have an ally who also knows about Xaden. Their conversation is interrupted when a second-year begins to channel from the earth and turn venin, and Carr kills her instantly with one of the venin-killing daggers.

Chapter 29

Ten days later, the flecks in Xaden’s eyes are still amber. Two fliers, Trager and Maren, are added to the quest squad. Violet and her friends are in the middle of commiserating over the idea that Halden is going to compromise the mission when Aaric (King Tauri’s “missing” son who secretly joined the Rider’s Quadrant under an alias) appears. He intends to be the new representative of the Navarre royal family and Violet supports this, knowing that Aaric is a competent rider and fighter even though he is only a first-year. They arrive at Unnbriel, also known as the Isle of Dunne, but Violet doesn’t think the irids would have settled here due to the lack of magic.

Violet and Mira have a moment alone, and Mira reveals she visited their estranged paternal grandmother, Niara, while on leave. Violet is shocked, but Mira is distant with Violet and does not offer any information. Violet and Xaden fall asleep after taking watch shifts and are woken in the morning by threatening soldiers.

Chapter 30

Violet and Xaden convince the soldiers to allow them to fight for an audience with their queen—Dunne’s customs demand that visitors defeat the queen’s best fighters in order to gain entrance to the court. However, only half the party is allowed to enter the city. Violet chooses Xaden to fight, Aaric to represent Navarre, Cat to represent Poromiel, and Dain to act as translator. The five of them enter the Temple of Dunne (the goddess of war) and Violet is shocked to see that the temple’s attendants have silver hair, just like hers.

Chapter 31

Aaric offers himself as a fighter, but Xaden steps in. When Aaric attempts to protest, Xaden suggests Aaric think of it as revenge for Xaden killing his older brother, Alic, when the two were cadets together. The priestess of Dunne’s temple picks Dain to fight in addition to Xaden. She then asks Violet if she “chose this path [herself],” and Violet replies that she chose her life. The priestess then confuses Violet further by stating it is a good thing her dedication was never completed, and asks her if she ever yearns for temple because “the touch” usually creates a powerful longing. She tells Violet she can still see Dunne among her potential paths, should she decide to take it, and that Dunne will accept her. A baffled Violet rejects her offer. The priestess then selects Violet to fight as well.

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