Today I bring you another Onyx Storm theory about Markham being venin. I know, I know, I’m already anticipating that there is a lot of venin in the leadership, but hear me out, ok?

There are many things that make me believe that Markham is venin, and I am not sure if we will discover this in Onyx Storm, maybe? But I think by book four all will be revealed.

Fan Onyx Storm Theory

First, please take a look at this fan theory brought to you by María Jiménez Segura:

“Good afternoon, I am writing to you because the submission form on your website gives me problems sending you my theory. “My name is María and I am a Spanish reader, a fan of your blog and the saga.

I have a slightly different theory compared to what others are speculating here. Xaden mentioned that the Archives are ‘the heart of the enemy,’ and it seems that this is precisely where the Venin have been infiltrating for quite some time.

The higher-ups trusted that the wards would keep the Venin at bay and prevent them from passing through. However, some managed to breach the wards, with Jack being a notable example.

Here’s my theory: Markham is either a Venin himself or is somehow allied with them. The Venin appear to be targeting Violet, and while many of you believe it’s to blackmail Xaden or something similar, I suspect it could be a lot more specific. Thanks to Markham, they may have discovered that Violet possesses knowledge no one else has—such as the fact that Andarna could destroy them or details about weapons capable of killing dragons.

Moreover, Markham’s access to privileged information about Basgiath might have given him the opportunity to subtly weaken the barriers, just enough for the Venin to slip through unnoticed and find ‘shelter’ without raising suspicion. What do you think?”

My comments on Maria’s Onyx Storm theory

Hi Maria, and thank you for your kind words. Glad to have you here and to hear your theory. Well, let’s get started.

I do think Markham is venin. I think he is the one responsible for Daddy Sorrengail’s heart giving up. I think it was poison all along, and I think there is so much emphasis on learning about poisons that we will eventually figure it out exactly how it happened.

I think there is a good reason why Lilith insisted that her daughter is not part of that quadrant. She wanted her daughter to be a rider, and she did tell her in Iron Flame that “they” would have killed her the moment she’d refuse to continue with the lie.

But, there is more, and this is something I’ve been thinking about for a very long time. It’s about Violet’s dreams. Please pay attention to the following passages from Iron Flame.

“Colonel Markham lifts the corner of his cream-colored robes as hedescends, heading for the recessed floor of the lecture hall.”

As we know, all scribes have cream robes. Markham included. In one of their dreams, there is one of the venin wearing a maroon robe. Now, I know cream and maroon are not the same, but something triggered my attention here.

“He shifts his staff to the other hand, then pulls back the thick maroon hood of his floor-length robes with gnarled fingers, revealing the white of his scalp under his slicked-back, thinning hair.”

But then, what’s NEXT is the most important in my opinion.

“So disappointing,” he lectures, as if he’s my Sage and not the teacher of the dark wielder I killed on Tairn’s back.“

Who else told Violet over and over that she’s his biggest disappointment? Markham. Who was Violet’s “sage” for all those years? Markham. I don’t know exactly why, but I feel there is a connection here, and I can’t quite put my finger on it as to how and why.

So, to answer Maria’s question: YES! I do think that Markham is venin. In fact, I think there are good venin and bad venin as I will create a new theory shortly for this.

I am 100% certain that Varrish was venin. For sure! I also think that Dain’s dad (Colonel Aetos) is venin. I’m pretty certain Markham is either venin or seriously affiliated to them.

But I also think there are many others who are venin and not bad people. Lilith was one of them.

Xaden is venin and he won’t be bad. And chances are, many more will be revealed to be venin almost out of necessity, so to speak, to save themselves or the ones who they love.

Why do I say this? Because Rebecca Yarros herself said that venin is about corruption we see in the world today. We see so much hunger for power, right? Many will sell their soul for power in real life.

With that idea, equally, many of us would gladly sacrifice our souls to save the ones we love. And we’d live with that burden forever, but without seeking more power. Which is precisely why I think many characters within the Empyrean will turn out to be venin…some good, some bad. I feel like Empyrean Series is not your ordinary fantasy book anyway with good and bad, but a morally gray series about morally gray people, just like in real life.

Over to you now…what are your thoughts on this? Is Markham venin?

More Onyx Storm articles

• The Last Teaser Is Here: Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm Begins with a Bang!
• Rebecca Yarros’ clue: Violet’s second signet has to do with truth
• Onyx Storm Theory: We know the herbal remedy for venin. It’s in every single book
• Onyx Storm Theory: Liam is dead, but he isn’t actually gone
• Onyx Storm Theory: Markham is venin
• Onyx Storm Official Excerpt: What does it all mean?
• Onyx Storm snippet: Plus new theories
• The blurb for Onyx Storm is here
• Onyx Storm Theory: Violet knows the herbal remedy for…venin?
• Onyx Storm Theory: The Colors of Bonds is super relevant
• Wild theory about Violet’s second signet: She might be able to talk to the dead after all
• New Fourth Wing Bonus Chapter: Xaden POV Chapter Twenty Seven
• Empyrean Series Crosswords Week 5: Medium Difficulty
• New Fourth Wing Paperback – With a brand new Xaden POV