Fourth Wing: Chapter 14 Summary

This chapter begins with Xaden coming to Violet’s defense in the midst of the fight between Violet, Jack, Oren and Tynan. Violet steps between the aggressors and the golden feathertail. She wonders if Xaden will step in, since it is frowned upon to kill a dragon. Unfortunately, he can only observe. The fight begins with Oren and Tynan charging Violet. Oren tries to kill Violet, but Mira’s armored corset saves the day once again. She flings a dagger at Jack, disabling the use of his shoulder. He runs into the treeline in fear. She gets Tynan in the thigh. She ends up knocking Oren unconscious with the hilt of her dagger, thanks to Xaden’s warning. Now it’s between her and Tynan. He cuts into her arm with his sword, but she continues to fight through the pain. 

Just when Tynan is about to kill Violet, she feels a gush of wind and hot air behind her. She sees Tynan get burned to ash right in front of her. She turns around to see the largest dragon she’s ever seen in her life. A voice comes through, but the mouth of the dragon doesn’t move. Yet, she knows she’s speaking to the dragon. She realizes she’s been bonded by the black dragon that Professor Kaori told them wasn’t interested in bonding. Xaden and Sgaeyl fly away, and she’s left alone with the featherling and the black dragon. He suggests that she finish off Oren, lying unconscious in the field. She decides to spare his life. The dragon introduces himself as Tairn, and asks Violet to get on his back so they can fly back to Basgiath. Tairn gives her his full name, as all dragons do once bonded, and she attempts to climb him to her seat. She realizes that she is far too small to mount Tairn, and he makes an accommodation for her by sticking out his leg like a ramp. Dragons aren’t known for accommodating humans, so this is a rare circumstance. They begin to fly, and Violet is unprepared for the velocity and strength needed to keep her seat. They gain elevation, and before she can do anything, she starts free falling off of Tairn.