Fourth Wing: Chapter 20 Summary

This chapter begins with Captain Fitzgibbons finishing up the death roll with Oren’s name. Violet doesn’t feel any sympathy for the cadets who died trying to kill her in her sleep. There are two other names from riders who died fighting near the Braevick border, and Violet can’t help but wonder if this is where Xaden was at the night of her attack. Suddenly, Xaden approaches Dain and informs him that there will be a switch between Liam Mairi and Vaughn Penley. Violet realizes Xaden is moving Liam, a marked one, to her squad in order to protect her. He even moved Liam’s room next to hers. Violet is offended, and confronts Xaden for giving her a “bodyguard.” Xaden approaches the stage and claims there has been a crime committed. He claims that someone let the attackers into Violet’s room to try to kill her in her sleep, which is a serious crime outlined in the Codex. This person turns out to be Amber Mavis, Dain’s “special friend” last year. All the leaders gather together to discuss, and their dragons fly over as well. Dain is furious with Violet. He doesn’t believe that Amber would do something like this. The rules are very important to her, but Violet keeps calm, letting the evidence do the talking. 

Violet asks Tairn to share the memory of Amber leaving the room after letting in the attackers. Tairn tells her it’s a violation to share memories outside of a mated bond, but he makes an exception. He shares the memory with all of the dragons, who share it with their riders. This is enough evidence to condemn Amber for her crime. Amber finally confesses, saying that she was only doing what she felt was right for the integrity of the wing. The punishment for this type of crime is incineration. As Tairn gets ready to kill Amber with his fire, Violet has regrets. She is sad for Amber’s dragon, Claidh, who will endure momentous amounts of pain for the loss of his bonded rider. Xaden is cold, and so is Tairn. They are tired of giving second chances to cadets who will end up trying to kill Violet later on anyways. The chapter ends with Tairn incinerating Amber, and Claidh screaming his laments at a deafening volume.