In Onyx Storm, the people received gifts from Zihnal through a ritual involving the selection of cards. Each card represented a different gift, and the recipients had to accept their gift without complaint as a test of their adaptability and faith in luck.
What do Zihnal’s gifts mean?
Mira received wine
Base Symbolism: Wine often represents pleasure, celebration, indulgence, and truth (as in the saying “in vino veritas”). This could indicate that Mira needs to either embrace joy or be wary of hidden truths.. In mythology, it’s connected to Dionysian figures—gods of chaos, revelry, and sometimes madness.
Deeper Meaning: This could mean Mira is being asked to let go and enjoy life, which contrasts with her usual duty-driven nature. Given her connection to Drake, this could signal a need to embrace love or passion rather than always carrying the burden of leadership.
Maren got two orange tunics
Base Symbolism: Orange is a color of warmth, energy, and transformation. Tunics suggest identity, status, or a role one must play. The number two hints at duality or choice.
Deeper Meaning: Maren could be facing a major decision or dual identity—perhaps choosing between two paths, two allegiances, or even two versions of herself.
Foreshadowing?: Could this suggest she will switch roles or factions? Maybe she has to infiltrate somewhere by disguising herself, or she is being warned about two opposing forces in her life. Interestingly enough, everyone on Zihnal’s isle wore orange tunics. Maybe, these tunics need to be wore to infiltrate the higher ranks on this very isle.
Dain picked a card with a hand symbol, which resulted in him getting slapped across the face
Base Symbolism: A slap is a wake-up call, humiliation, or forced awareness. It’s also a common sign of karmic retribution.
Deeper Meaning: This could indicate Dain needs to wake up to something he refuses to see. Maybe he’s been blind to a betrayal, his own mistakes, or even his deeper potential. I think this was self explanatory. He is struggling to let go of helping his dad and in doing so, killing a cadet and losing Violet.
Garrick was given a rusted steel bucket
Base Symbolism: A bucket is meant to carry things, but this one is rusted—suggesting decay, neglect, or burdens that have become too heavy. Garrick may be holding onto something that is no longer useful, or he might have to work with flawed or incomplete resources.
Deeper Meaning: Steel is strong, but rust weakens it. Rust forms when metal is exposed to the elements for too long without protection, meaning this bucket is something forgotten or abandoned, much like Garrick himself may feel. But could it also be related to water?
This could reflect his own emotional state—is Garrick feeling overlooked, discarded, or broken down by his experiences? That would explain why some thing he is the one who turned.
Or it could be foreshadowing a literal journey to something ancient and corroded—like a sunken ship, ruins, or a long-lost artifact.
Aaric received a fractured hand mirror, which immediately cut his thumb
Base Symbolism: Mirrors represent self-reflection, perception, and truth. A fractured mirror suggests a broken identity, hidden truths, or self-deception. The fact that it cuts him means this truth will be painful to confront.
Deeper Meaning: Aaric may have to face a part of himself he’s been avoiding. This could be a literal memory, a secret about his past, or even something about his lineage. If Malek is involved in this book, maybe the cut signifies a blood tie or oath-binding.
Xaden was gifted an empty glass box with pewter hinges and edges
Base Symbolism: A glass box is meant to hold something precious, but this one is empty, implying potential, a missing piece, or a task left unfinished. Pewter is a mix of metals, often duller and less valuable than gold or silver—suggesting something hidden or underestimated.
My Theory: Maybe it’s meant to collect something, like pieces of a soul? Given the series’ exploration of power, sacrifice, and the gods, maybe Xaden is supposed to fill the box with something crucial—like memories, energy, or even soul fragments.
Violet drew a broken compass on a dark chain, which didn’t point north
Base Symbolism: A compass usually represents guidance and destiny, but this one doesn’t point north, meaning Violet’s path is uncertain or she must forge her own way. The dark chain could symbolize a tether to something unseen or a burden she carries.
My Theory: Does this lead Violet to Malek? That would make perfect sense. If the compass is meant to guide her to something, but it’s broken, maybe she has to repair it, reforge it, or learn a new way to read it—which could tie into dream-walking or shadow magic.
Cat received a gold necklace with a dangling ruby the size of a thumb
Base Symbolism: Gold represents wealth, power, and status, while rubies symbolize passion, danger, or even blood. Necklaces are ornaments but also chains—meaning she’s being adorned with something valuable, yet possibly constrained by it.
My Theories:
- It may represent Morraine seeing as we saw the Dutchess of Morraine wearing a ruby in Onyx Storm. If Cat was pursuing one form of power but is given another, this could indicate she will become something greater—or more dangerous—than expected. Maybe even venin, so she can truly try and be with Xaden.
Trager – An Arrow (Which Kills Him Immediately)
Base Symbolism: Arrows represent swiftness, fate, and direct consequences. His arrow striking his heart means his fate was set in stone—inescapable and final.
Deeper Meaning: Could it represent Loial, the goddess of love, like Cupid’s arrow? If so, this would suggest his death was necessary for something greater to happen. Or does it represent that sometimes bad things happen to allow good things? This makes sense narratively. If Trager hadn’t died, they wouldn’t have ended up on the island where they found the Irid.
Ridoc – The Kiss (Blessing from the God of Luck?)
Base Symbolism: A kiss can mean blessing, fortune, or favor. If Ridoc was already shown to have unusual luck (like only needing to sew instead of fight), this could confirm that he has divine protection or is meant to fulfill an important role.
Deeper Meaning: If this came from the god of luck, then Ridoc might become a key figure in future events, surviving situations that should have killed him.
Final Thoughts
Zihnal’s gifts aren’t just random—they seem to foreshadow character arcs, divine influence, and even hints about Malek’s realm. They challenge the recipients to accept fate, even when it’s unfair, while shaping them for what’s to come.
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