It goes without saying that THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven’t read this chapter of Onyx Storm, please go read it first.

The chapter’s opening is chilling. Alright, we all hate venin, but they were conducting experiments on them? What were the results? Based on the epigraph, I assume there were two stages to the study:

1. Stage One: Testing what happens when they are cut off from magic.
2. Stage Two: Various types of deaths.

The subject in question ended up in “category: death by fire,” which I assume didn’t work, leading to “category: death by poison,” which did work—since there’s no subsequent category listed.

Also… Group Forty-Six C? Just how many venin did they capture and experiment on?

The chapter continues with Violet acknowledging her guilt for even thinking of staying on an isle with no magic to enjoy a quiet life with Xaden.

“Are you in pain? Is Andarna?” […] “Why didn’t you tell me?” Guilt for even suggesting to Xaden that we stay, for not realizing it, settles on my shoulders.

But what Tairn says next is interesting:

“Andarna shows no sign of trouble. I am inconvenienced, annoyed, and cut off from my source of power, strength, and my mate’s thoughts, but I am still Tairneanach, son of Murtcuideam and Fiaclanfuil, descended from—”
“All right, yes, I get it. You are superior in all ways.”

Andarna shows no sign of trouble. This raises a big question—can she channel from the sky? Or is she simply pure magic, almost like a conduit, like a forever-moving satellite?

And while Tairn may not be in pain, he admits he is cut off from his power source, strength, and even his mate’s thoughts. He’s not having a good time.

This brings us back to two major theories:

1. Is Tairn more special than we think?
2. Are dragons evil?

I also can’t help but notice that Deverelli might have had magic—or dragons—at some point. Nations don’t typically create crossbolts against dragons for no reason, right?

“We descend toward the muted green grass. The space is wide enough to support the width of two dragons with fully extended wings, but probably four if they held them retracted.”

Muted shades of green. Not as bright as the Continent. Wide enough to support dragons. An interesting observation.

Again, was Deverelli built for dragons?

I don’t know when this is going to come in handy, but it will: Fallorinia moths are being harnessed for light. And they are poisonous.

Now, onto the initial conversation between Xaden and the guard. I do wonder—why does Xaden say:

“I have… complicated loyalty toward, so I’m going to need the prick back.”

And why does Violet assume he means Aaric?

Is it Aaric? Why would Xaden have complicated loyalty toward him?

Because he’s a prince?
Because he’s an honorable prince who joined the quadrant to fly for the right reasons?

Now, the conversation between Violet and Xaden when he introduced her as his consort is priceless:

“Ouch.” He lifts his hand to his chest. “Never thought you’d reject me.”
I roll my eyes. “It is not the time for this.” Jokes have to wait.
“When would be?” The next look he gives me is a hundred percent serious.

Yup. That’s foreshadowing, alright.

Moving on to finally meeting the King of Deverelli, the first thing to note?

He’s twirling a bejeweled dagger. He’s also young. The most interesting part? Deep golden-brown skin, high cheekbones, a strong jaw, brown eyes, and black hair.

Is this a nod to the Duke of Tyrrendor? Or just a coincidence that they share similar features? Of course, if we are to believe what Narelle said in the previous chapter, what’s coincidence in Deverelli, the Amaralis might just call fate…

Moving on, I still find it so interesting that Tecarus has clear diplomatic relationships with Deverelli. And I still won’t forget the fact that he lives in Krovla, the very province which seemed least invested in staying under Poromiel, seeing as it’s tried to uprise against it…twice!

“Asked for their permission to use Tecarus’s manor.”

There is another thing that strike me as odd when Halden explains about the initial deal with Courtlyn.

“In return for the artifact he requested, and when that was not enough, I offered…”

The citrine. The King wanted the citrine as you remember, the one from Anca. But the citrine had been drained.

We know the citrine was a lesser magic amplifier, worn by the first drift. Makes you wonder—why would the King of an isle without magic want access to an object that amplifies magic?

Now, back to the dagger:

“It looks antique, with a silver handle and emeralds the size of Violet’s fingernails.”

“It’s the Blade of Aretia, appropriated for the royal vault by Reginald during the Unification.”

And oh.

“I need to know you can uphold your end of a bargain even when it’s unpleasant to do so, just as your father did.”

What exactly did Fen Riorson barter? And what was so unpleasant for him to do?

I need all of the answers. NOW. Fen Riorson is just as much a mystery like Asher Sorrengail turns out.

If we didn’t love Xaden before, when he swore loyalty to Violet in front of the damn King of Deverelli, I suppose we all fell. HARD.

“My loyalty is to Violet first, above everything, everyone else,” Xaden says. “Then Tyrrendor. Then Navarre in the moments it’s worthy—usually when Violet is in residence.”

But this begs the question:

His loyalty is to Violet above everything and everyone. Does that include Sgaeyl? Isn’t the first irreplaceable love supposed to be a rider’s dragon?

Now, Courtlyn says something very interesting:

“We remain neutral in all things and always have. It’s how we’ve maintained trade, commerce, growth, and knowledge for the world—no matter what god you worship or magic you can access.”

The gods, I understand. But the magic you access? Are there different types of magic? Are we talking about magic from the sky and magic from the ground? Are we talking about magic from dragons or magic from gryphons? Dark magic?

Because if we’re also talking about dark magic… the king did say Deverelli never involved themselves with venin. And yet—Violet notices.

She asks about venin being on Deverelli before and if they defeated them. And the King? He speaks in double meaning.

Remember when Violet told Xaden that Deverelli speaks in double meaning when it’s convenient for them?

Courtlyn just did.

“To imply that our isle is weak, conquerable, is a line you do not want to cross. Such an assumption is disastrous to an economy built on safe, stable trade. People do not invest in unstable isles.”

This is double meaning. The venin have been there. But any admission would make Deverelli seem unsafe, unstable, and bad for trade.

And just when we thought Navarre was done keeping secrets…

“Those items are mine, received as goods bartered for services rendered over the last century, as you well know!”

While Deverelli and Navarre may not have been allies for centuries, turns out—they’ve been bartering services for goods. Even though in original texts, it was said that no Navarrian was allowed on Deverelli for centuries. And yet many have been there. Asher Sorrengail, Fen Riorson, and even the royalty.

One begs the question—what services? And where was these services rendered? In exchange for magical artifacts? Why magic? Again, does Courtlyn want magic or somehow, has magic?

And now things get really interesting:

“Revealing an inch of an emerald-studded hilt that steals my breath. It looks too much like the dagger to be a coincidence.”

The Sword of Tyrrendor. It has to be. It’s the first time we see both the blade of Aretia and the sword of Tyrrendor together.

And, as always, the chapter ends on a mini cliffhanger. And boy, is it delicious.

Onyx Storm Read Along

• Onyx Storm Read Along: Prologue
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 1
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 2
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 3
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 4
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 5
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 6
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 7
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 8
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 9
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 10
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 11
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 12
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 13
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 14
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 15
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 16
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 17
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 18
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 19
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 20
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 21
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 22
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 23
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 24
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 25
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 26
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 27
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 28
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 29
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 30
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 31
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 32
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 33
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 34
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 35
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 36
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 37
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 38
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 39
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 40
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 41
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 42
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 43
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 44
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 45
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 46
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 47
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 48
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 49
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 50
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 51
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 52
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 53
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 54
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 55
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 56
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 57
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 58