Spoiler Alert: This contains insights from Iron Flame that may reveal key plot points.
In the world of Empyrean, the colours of dragons are not just for show, they mean something deep about their backgrounds, lineage, their skills, and sometimes secrets yet to be uncovered. The golden dragon Andarna is at the heart of a big guessing game. Everyone was waiting to see if, in Iron Flame, Andarna’s colour might change, and what that would mean for her future.
The Question of Dragon Colours
Most agree that a dragon’s colour tells us about what they can do and where they come from. Andarna’s rare golden glow has got people talking. In my original theory, I thought it might just be a temporary thing before she changes to a more common colour like brown or orange. This idea seems likely because of certain hints in the story, like when Violet thinks Andarna looks like a young brown dragon or when Sawyer wonders if she’ll turn orange as she grows.
Clues from the Main Story
Violet, who is the daughter of General Lilith Sorrengail with her brown dragon, might have been a clue about Andarna’s future. It was a fair guess that somehow, Andarna might have turned brown, just like her mother’s dragon.
Readers had loads of ideas. Some believed Andarna’s golden colour points to an old and very special dragon family, maybe even the original dragon creators. Others suggest her unique powers and her parents’ tragic end make her different, a dragon of great importance and wonder.
The series’ book covers added to the mystery. Fourth Wing shows a lot of black and gold, like Andarna, while Iron Flame mixes black with a gold-copper tone, which could hint at a change coming. The cover pictures are important because they often give us clues about the story’s path.
Could Andarna Be Dragon Royalty?
There’s also a fascinating idea that Andarna might be dragon royalty. Her pure gold colour and unknown family history might mean she comes from a line of dragon kings and queens. Her name which means Second Honour, might be a hint at her high rank and her future as a leader among dragons.
The Verdict
In the thrilling revelation of Iron Flame, we discover the truth about the enigmatic Andarna. Early on, we’re led to believe she’s a black dragon, similar to Tairn and Codagh, with her scales hinting at a familiar lineage. Throughout the book, Andarna’s scales catch the eye with their unique sheen and the way they seem to play with the light, reflecting the environment in unusual ways (basically Andarna is iridescent). Violet speculates that this could be due to Andarna being an adolescent, her true colours still emerging.
However, the twist comes in Chapter 64, flipping the script entirely. Andarna is revealed not to be a black dragon but belongs to a seventh dragon breed, standing as the matriarch of her own den. She’s an ancient being, having waited 650 years to hatch, which speaks volumes of her uniqueness and the pivotal role she’s destined to play.
What’s truly fascinating is that Andarna’s actual colour is iridescent.
Iridescent colours are colours that change with viewing or illumination geometry.
Her scales seem to have a chameleon-like quality, adapting and camouflaging seamlessly with her surroundings. This ability marks her as an extraordinary creature within the dragon world.
The final verdict shatters previous theories, including my own. While I, and indeed many others, assumed Andarna to be just another colour we know of, the story takes a surprising turn, showing that she is much more.
What do you think?
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