Fourth Wing: Chapter 17 Summary

This chapter begins with a power struggle between the riders. Now that they’ve bonded a lot has changed. Riders now get their own private room on the first-year floor. Violet wakes up for breakfast–she no longer has breakfast duty because the undesirable duties are given to the unbonded. She sees Sawyer leave Rhiannon’s room looking frazzled. It’s insinuated they hooked up the previous night. When they head down to the breakfast hall with Ridoc and Rhiannon, and notices Oren is glaring at her from behind the counter. 

Now that she’s bonded Tairn, people are treating her differently. Unbonded riders give up their seats to the bonded riders. The older members of Violet’s squad now sit with her and her other first-year squadmates. We’re introduced to some new characters, like Emery, whose signet is air manipulation. They discuss the events of the previous day, and some of the riders note that Jack is struggling, since his bonded dragon is on the smaller side. Imogen notices that Violet only grabbed fruit to avoid being possibly poisoned by Oren, so she offers some of her sausage. Violet hesitates, and Tairn chimes in, telling her that Imogen can be trusted. Imogen continues to tell Violet to meet her after class, so they can lift weights. She claims that Violet needs to strengthen her muscles around her weak joints, yet her tone seems unenthused. Violet glances at Xaden, and Xaden glances between her and Imogen. Violet now understands that Xaden asked Imogen to help her out, since they are now bonded in a complicated way. 

Time jumps forward to the first-years’ first flight training with Professor Kaori. They’re all outfitted in their new flight leathers, which are thicker than the usual uniforms. Train makes his usual accommodations in order to help Violet mount. They take off, and Tairn uses his powers to keep Violet in her seat. Shortly after, a rider behind her falls to their death. She asks Tairn if he can release the energy holding her to her seat, and he reluctantly obliges. Violet falls off his back over and over again. 

Later that evening, a sore and bruised Violet heads over to meet Imogen for strength training. She runs into Dain on the way there, and she kicks herself for not liking him. She understands that Dain is a good man, and also attractive, but she can’t figure out why she doesn’t like him anymore. He tells her that their kiss was a mistake, to which Violet agrees. They seem to have different reasons as to why they shouldn’t pursue a romantic relationship. Violet doesn’t express her logic, but Dain does. He tells her that he believes it’s wrong to date your subordinates, and he’s hopeful that maybe they can pursue something when they are no longer a part of this structure of command. Violet agrees, but is disheartened to learn that his reasons are more superficial. Imogen arrives, and she and Violet enter the weightroom. Garrick is training a Tyrrish first-year, and Imogen begins setting up the equipment. Imogen corrects Violet when Violet uses Xaden’s first name instead of his authoritative last name when asking if he put her up to this. Violet interprets this as Imogen defending him because she has feelings for him, and feels a pang of jealousy.