Have you noticed that dragons don’t tend to use human names? There are always some nicknames. When it comes to dragons, they do use the usual dragon names.
At first, I thought, oh well, it’s just how dragons are. But then, one of the readers, Emma, pointed out that, in fact, there is one single dragon that does use names. What’s even more interesting is that this particular dragon only uses two names and nicknames for everyone else.
When Emma first told me about it, I thought it was just part of the book—maybe nothing more to think about. But then the more I started looking into it and adding info on the read-along, the more I realised that it’s rather odd, actually. So do dragons use names?
The theory was based on the observation that Andarna is the only one who uses the names Violet and Dain, prompting the idea that perhaps Andarna might have bonded with Dain too.
At first, I found it odd. Why would Andarna bond someone like Dain? Makes no sense. But then, I did read the books over and over and noticed that there is an overall lack of dragons using real names. They use pet names. After all, humans are their pets, right?
In fact, I found it quite alarming that dragons only use the real name of their rider when bonded. So could it be that Andarna bonded with Dain?
Dragons do address their bonded by name
When Tairn first talked to Violet, he said “Step aside, Silver One”. But then he uses her name twice. This is from Fourth Wing:
He scoffs. “Let’ s go, Violet Sorrengail.” He lifts his head, and the golden dragon peeks out from under his wing.
And then again, a few pages later:
I know exactly who and what you are, Violet Sorrengail.
We also remember that Andarna does tend to address Violet by name too.
“Violet,” Andarna cries. “I can’t feel him!”
Dragons use nicknames for other riders/humans
When it comes to other riders, though, dragons tend to use nicknames.
“Should I get the wingleader?”
“The same way you wouldn’t hand a toddler your signet, would you, wingleader?” Tairn grunts when Andarna sags against his foreleg.
And then Sgaeyl doesn’t address Violet by name either: “I’d take your hands off the rider,” Sgaeyl warns.
In Onyx Storm, “The Spare brings the advance party from Zehyllna.” Tairn’s head swivels as he relays the information.
“You’d know,” Tairn replies, then snakes his head right toward Feirge. “Your squad leader requests light.”
But check this out: Andarna also uses nicknames:
“Why hasn’t Feirge launched?” “The squad leader will not leave you,” Andarna replies.
“She would have already slain your lieutenant and been confident in her choice,” Andarna answers. “Your sister is an act first, ask questions later kind of rider.”
See, still no names.
“Tell her the truth. He loathes her,” Tairn suggests. “As does Sgaeyl. The life-giver is lucky she wasn’t scorched this morning, though I do believe Sgaeyl is still contemplating her options.”
“Acknowledging your fear for the lightning wielder does not compromise you.” Feirge calls me out just like always. “Ignoring it does. Accept the emotion and move on.”
However, some names are being used…
“Dain isn’t the strongest,” Andarna points out.
“Halden?” Tairn muses slowly, and I swear I can feel his nonexistent eyebrows rise.
Well, this certainly got my attention. But after reading Onyx Storm again, I noticed that Feirge uses Baylor’s name too.
“Baylor sees seventeen,” Feirge responds a second later.
Okay, so it’s a lot more common than originally anticipated. Even from the fact that Tairn used Halden’s name, we can safely say that when a dragon uses someone’s part name, it means nothing.
The only exception remains Andarna.
“Faster! Aetos is already unconscious!” Andarna warns as Marlis swings for me, her blade flying toward my face.
Andarna did use Dain’s surname, unlike any other dragon. Could it mean that Andarna is somewhat connected to Dain as well? I find it very unlikely. I think we would have had more interactions and more Easter Eggs that point to their connection. Plus, we would have had something else going on—a clue—that Dain would be suffering too when Andarna left.
The only other “flicker” for this theory is that Dain does seem to have extra power, as Sloane herself said.
“Someone like you shouldn’t have this much power.”
In conclusion, I do find it hard to believe that Andarna is connected to both Violet and Dain. Having said that, I do think that more riders have secrets. I think some of them might be connected to two dragons, and some dragons might be connected to two riders.
The clue for this? It’s in Fourth Wing at the beginning of Chapter 16 when we read this in the epigraph:
“There is a clear hierarchy among the most powerful, and deference is paid to elders, but I have not been able to discern how it is they make laws for themselves or at what point a dragon decided to bond only one rider, rather than go for better odds with two.”
I’m pretty certain they do just that.
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