Fourth Wing: Chapter 11 Summary

This chapter begins on the day before Presentation. Violet and her squad have practiced the Gauntlet a total of 9 times. Violet is still trying to figure out how she can get through the last two obstacles, despite her size. She seriously debates running to the Scribe Quadrant. 

Time jumps to the next day–Presentation. Captain Fitzgibbons reads the death roll, which will only get longer after today. Presentation is one of the deadliest days for first-years, not only because of the Gauntlet, but because of the dragons afterwards. Dain is cold towards Violet due to her decision to stay in the Riders Quadrant, and begs her to leave until the very last minute. Violet remains supportive and grounding to her squadmates as they complete the Gauntlet. When it’s her turn to attempt the Gauntlet one last time, she has a plan. She coasts through the obstacles until she gets to the chimney. When she arrives at the chimney, she uses the security rope to hoist herself through, which isn’t breaking any rules, only adding 30 seconds to her time–a risk she’s willing to take to spare her life. When she arrives at the vertical ramp, she gets a running start. When she jumps and feels her momentum begin to fall, she buries her longest dagger in the wood to hoist herself up to the edge. She successfully grabs the edge and lifts herself to the top. On top, Rhiannon and her other squadmates are ecstatic, but down below there’s some tension. Amber Mavis, Dain’s “close friend” from last year insists that Violet cheated by using the dagger. Violet recites the Codex, which states that cadets shall not be separated from their items they carry across the parapet. The addendum was originally created to make thievery an executional offense, but it technically applies to this circumstance as well. Xaden and Garrick come to Violet’s defense, stating that Violet is correct by a technicality. Violet’s hands are shredded from the ropes, and her shoulder is messed up from the dagger move, but she’s happy to be alive. By the end of the chapter, her entire squad has made it past the Gauntlet.