Scribe’s Corner: Part 28

Fourth Wing, Chapter 30

Hey!! I’m back!!!

Life. Jobs. Who needs ‘em? Amirite? Sometimes maintaining a sustainable and fulfilling career takes up so much time one has to temporarily deprioritize the actually important things, like these posts, and all of you! Dumb.

Anywho. We all know what happens in this chapter. Frankly, I don’t think any of the quotes I ended up pulling are particularly spicy, but I put a NSFW tag on the post out of an abundance of caution, in case we go more in depth in the comments :)

Though not forbidden, cadets are strongly encouraged not to develop strong romantic attachments while studying in the quadrant for the efficiency of the unit.

—Article Five, Section Seven The Dragon Rider’s Codex

• Control is a funny thing. Navarrian leadership is so adamant that they have the undivided attention of their cadets while at Basgiath, and then once graduated they ask them to immediately pivot and act on any attachments they may have developed… get married… have kids… and yet all that control comes crumbling down if they don’t have agreement from the dragons.

“I don’t want to think, Xaden. I just want to feel.”

• I’ve been thinking about the contrast of this statement to how Xaden copes with big emotions. Violet has a stressful day and she wants to overwhelm her feelings with even bigger feelings. Just feel her feelings. An instruction many a therapist has given their patients. When Xaden needs to deal with big feels he just wants to avoid them, numb them. Whether it's Churam or power or soul death… I don’t think that was RY’s intent to showcase that when she wrote this line… but she did :)

My pulse skyrockets. “I take the fertility suppressant.” Of course, we both do. The last thing anyone wants are little quadrant babies running around. But it’s better said than sorry.

• So, primarily this is just an example of RY being really clear about what good consent looks like. I could end my thoughts there BUT I’m not going to. Sorry. It is also another brief, passing mention of babies, or in this case the responsible planning of them. As discussed in previous posts, I am NOT a proponent of the “is Violet pregnant” theorizing that still periodically happens around here. Ms. Yarros has been very clear that that is not where she wants our heads going. All the mentions of babies, and what parents are willing to do for their children, and heirs, and how riders are free to start families quickly once they graduate… it’s gotta mean something though, and if it’s not about some theoretical kid in the future, then it’s about someone who has already been born. Right now i’ve an inkling it’s something to do with the Riorsons/Durrans. The constant Bodhi and Xaden comparisons mean something, and there is the stuff with Uncle/Grandpa Dragon Rider, and the title “is tied to Xaden’s last name” not just Xaden… something funky is going on in the Riorson family tree. I’m not making any outright predictions on what it is, but let’s all be diligent, keep our eyes and ears open.

“The kind where I take personal responsibility for the loyalty of the hundred and seven kids the rebellion’s leaders left behind, and in return, we’re allowed to fight for our lives in the Riders Quadrant instead of being put to death like our parents.” He averts his gaze. “I chose the chance of death over the certainty.”

• I like how we can hear how mixed Xaden’s emotions are about everything that went down. “The rebellion’s leaders left behind.” There’s a hint of resentment there, but he knows it’s misplaced. He knows all the rebellion leaders did what they thought was best when handed a plate of some pretty awful circumstances.

“Don’t worry. You won’t be cold for long,” Carr assures, dismounting and pulling a small tome from his pocket. “According to what I read last night, this particular ability has the power to overheat your system, hence—” He gestures around us.

• Ah. This particular ability will overheat a rider. And yet, I still question the language and descriptions that categorize magic use as hot and burning and “burnout” and if that ties back to burning for/by Malek at all. Maybe not.

“It’s always intriguing to me how nature finds the balance.” “I’m not sure I know what you mean, Professor.” “This kind of power found in one so…” He sighs. “Would you not call yourself fragile?” “I am who I am.” I bristle. I’ve never given this particular professor any reason to think of me as different. “It’s not an insult, cadet.” He shrugs, looking at the saddle. “It’s a balance. In the course of my duties, I’ve found a correlation of sorts that keeps a system of checks on power. Yours seems to be your body.”

• The balance of nature. Also what do we think of Carr? What we know of him shows that he is devoted to Navarre and Basgiath. But as dedicated as he appears to understanding magic wielding and signets, he’s not willing to understand those things outside the parameters of the Navarrian lies…

“I’ll never understand why mind-reading is a death sentence.” I place my hand on Tairn’s leg like I can absorb his strength, even though I already feel it flowing through me. “Because knowledge is power. As a general’s daughter, you should know that. We can’t have someone walking around with unfettered access to classified material. They’re a security risk to the entire kingdom.” And yet Dain is living. “Because Aetos will be useful to them as long as they can keep him under their control.” Tairn blasts a puff of steam over my head, and the Orange Daggertail backs up even more. “His power is also limited to touch, so more controllable.”

• Knowledge is certainly power. This is not a prediction, but I do wonder what happens to all our intinnsics and intinnsic-adjacent signets at the end of this story. Let’s pretend we’re definitely getting something that resembles a happy ending. How do we resolve the power and the rebalancing of nature if riders can still do things like read minds… we can brainstorm some options together.

“Navarre is my home, Professor. I will give my life to defend it just like every Sorrengail who has ridden before me.”

• I do believe Violet would give her life for her home. What do we think she considers her home at this point? A place? A person?

“Problems?” Xaden asks, as if he feels my inquiry. “And what are you doing so far away?” “Training with Carr.” My cheeks heat at the sound of his low voice. “And how do you know how far away I am anyway?” “Get stronger in wielding, and you’ll be able to do it, too. There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, Violence.” The promise should be a threat, but it’s not. It’s too damned comforting for that.

• Don’t ever stress when these two are separated. They will always find each other.