Chapter 2 begins with an excerpt from Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant.
In chapter 2, Violet watches Rhiannon begin to cross the parapet and begins her journey across. She reflects on Dylan’s death, and prays to Zihnal, the god of luck, that she won’t have the same fate. Before she takes her first steps, she is talked down on by the riders taking roll. We are introduced to Jack Barlowe, another candidate in line behind Violet who seems to have it out for her. Jack notices Violet’s hesitancy and acts like he is going to push her off, which prompts her to take her first steps.
Violet develops a tactic in order to calm her mind in the midst of her chaotic surroundings. She mentally escapes to the Archives, where scribes study and organize their extensive library. She spent a lot of time here with her dad reading, and has memorized a good amount of the information that she’d studied throughout the years. When she’s stressed she recites this information, which provides a lot of worldbuilding for readers.
Readers learn Navarre is a kingdom consisting of 6 provinces, each providing a unique landscape and a cornucopia of resources. Beyond the Krovla Province lies the Barrens–a desert.
Tyrrendor was the last of the bordering provinces to join the alliance and swear fealty to King Reginald. It was also the only province to attempt secession 627 years later. On the border of Tyrrendor and Krovla lies an outpost by the name of Athebyne, where the kingdoms of Navarre and Poromiel carry out their trade agreement. “The Trade Agreement of Resson, signed more than 200 years ago, ensures the exchange of meat and lumber from Navarre for the cloth and agriculture within Poromiel four times a year” (Yarros 24).
As Violet finishes reciting this information about the history of the continent, she turns to notice Jack throwing a candidate off the parapet. He turns to chase down Violet, and as Violet begins to run she slips and falls, losing her footing on the parapet, smashing her knee and dangling off the edge. She manages to pull herself up and crosses into the courtyard of the Riders Quadrant citadel. Jack lunges for Violet and she threatens him by holding one of her daggers against his genitals. Violet informs Jack that according to the Riders Quadrant Codex, if he killed her in formation, then he would be sentenced to death. A couple older riders take notice and defend Violet, noting her accurate recall of the codex. A male rider mentions that she can technically kill Jack for even attempting to murder her while she’s technically in formation, especially since he’s not even a cadet since he hasn’t crossed into the quadrant boundaries. Violet decides to spare Jack, since she realized that she can’t kill him at her angle, only piss him off more with an injury. Jack pushes past her, telling Violet, “‘You’re dead, Sorrengail, and I’m going to be the one to kill you’” (Yarros 28).
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