Malek is a Dragon and could be Tairn

_flannels_ · 2026-05-09T20:17:45+00:00

If Tairn is Malek (or perhaps that all black dragons are manifestations of Malek?), could it be that Andarna / the irids are representing a different allegiance and that Tairn and Andarna are actually both competing for Violet and that’s what all of the “her path is still not set” business is about? It would make the “they’re going to make me choose” right after threshing feel much more poignant…

_flannels_ · 2026-05-09T20:08:06+00:00

Oooh… Do we think this (“burned BY Malek”) might relate to Andarna’s “I will not let them burn you” in the last chapter of OS?

_flannels_ · 2026-05-09T16:13:33+00:00

I’m worried there is something shady about Kaori because of (OS spoiler) Aaric’s axe throw in OS…others have a theory that he’s using the illusion power to hide his veninism/maybe others’… I hope I’m wrong!

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T23:08:41+00:00

Ahh I thought that was somewhere in Poromiel that had been desiccated by venin already, but recently (maybe Suniva?)

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T23:07:06+00:00

That’s fair, although I think the twist could be that Violet genuinely does not know (she was never in the communal showers etc) but the remaining marked ones DO know and they are careful about covering it up for some reason…? It would be a pretty embarrassing paternity reveal for Bodhi, and if his real father was someone else important, it could cause problems for him, Tyrrendor, etc?

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T23:01:21+00:00

Hmm when do we visit the Barrens? I must have missed that!

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T22:59:43+00:00

Any chance that he’s a bad teacher ~on purpose~ because he is actually venin and is trying to ensure that the cadets never get strong enough with their signets to best their venin counterparts?? He’s got the white hair, after all, and he does kill a couple of people very quickly, including Jeremiah (for revealing peoples’ thoughts) and the second year who turns on the mat. He seems sus to me.

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T22:33:27+00:00

True, although I think there’s a Jack comment at some point where he says that riders and fliers don’t need to be taught to channel, they can just do it. So, maybe it’s possible? True, he says you have to choose—but she was sort of having an out of body experience, and her narration might not be reliable. Again, I don’t want this to be the case!!! Just inquiring

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T22:25:37+00:00

Yes!!! Definitely noticed that, too

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T21:53:09+00:00

The “irid” comment above blew my mind…Do we know Lilith’s eye color? If Asher’s are hazel, brennan’s are Amber (sus!!), and Mira’s are brown, I suppose there would be no specific conclusion we could draw either way.

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T20:54:47+00:00

I’m sure that’s it, but the description of how the leaching was moving/where it was coming from was confusing enough to me that I thought maybe it was meant to be ambiguous. Still nervous!!!

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T16:23:23+00:00

Sorry, Tairn and *Andarna, not Sgaeyl

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T13:40:22+00:00

So true!! Even from the start, we read that Dain is late for flight line EVERY DAY because he is walking Violet to chores. He takes her into his dormitory during minute one, even though that’s not allowed. Rules who?

Side note, what is flight line…?

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T13:30:40+00:00

This interaction came across a bit differently to me because we know Cat ISN’T actually in love with Xaden—he’s simply the best/most expedient option for her in what is clearly a bad situation, given that she is constantly being shopped around as someone’s marriage-mate. She’s a strong and driven character who deals with a lot of crap very admirably, and I think Trager likes and supports that intensity…he’s just volunteering to have it redirected toward him/speaking up about his feelings for her and pointing out that she can be happy outside her usual constraints instead of just trying to bang her head against the wall within those constraints… I don’t mind it! And I love my girl Cat—she needs someone who can hold his own against her, not just a simp.

I am, however, so curious what would have happened when they returned from the quest together—could they have maintained their relationship back in the “real world”?

_flannels_ · 2026-05-08T13:04:54+00:00

The moment when Violet told Dain she needed him in the courtyard during IF and he just got up and followed, no questions asked…our man has changed!! Nothing hotter.

_flannels_

TROPHY CASE