Onyx Storm: Chapter 37

[penwalla]

Ridoc is fine, actually, false alarm.

“Asshole!” Ridoc shouts, and I pivot to see him plow his fist into the cook’s face. “I have four uniforms, but only one fucking flight jacket, and I”— punch—“ hate”— punch—“ sewing!” Ridoc yanks my dagger from the cook’s hand, and the man slides down the doorframe, his eyes fluttering shut. “For fuck’s sake, you’re supposed to be the civilized isle!” He wipes my blade on the cook’s tunic, then turns and walks back toward me. “What is the wisdom in a kitchen cook attacking two trained killers?” His face falls. “Vi, you all right?”

You know what, I hate that Yarros once again created fake suspense just to make the chapter end on a cliffhanger, but this is actual character development for Ridoc so I will take it. He and Violet have a brief moment of camaraderie, and then Violet rushes out to cure Garrick using her dad's book. With...fig or lime to the back of the throat.

What?

How does that--no, I'm not going to get sucked into this, this is normal fantasy convention. I am calm.

Violet gives Faris a speech about how they should assist her because otherwise the venin will eventually come for them to drain them. Drain what--isn't there no magic? Violet says they'll "drain you" so I guess she means they'll just start draining all the human beings? But why would they? The venin can't easily get to the isles. I'm not even sure their wyvern would work over the ocean if there's no magic. Probably not an immediate threat, if I'm honest, though at least Violet is now actually arguing with her brain instead of trying to CSI Garrick's poisoning.

Garrick is immediately cured by fig paste, by the way.

Unfortunately, that's too late for Xaden, who loses his shit and starts beating Faris up. Violet manages to get him to back off, and they get ready to fly out. Violet knows that killing the triumvirate won't get her an alliance, so instead she settles on this:

“Ask me why we’re going to fly out of here without you saying a single word.”

“Why?” he grinds out. “Because you love your sons.” I smile. “That’s why you sent them out of the house tonight.”

Fear widens his eyes.

“Ask why there are only six dragons outside.” I lift my brows and wait, but his breaths start coming alarmingly fast. “If you’re going to be dramatic, I’ll just give you the answer. It’s because the seventh currently sits next to the window at your parents’ house, where your boys sleep— where she’ll stay until she knows we're out of range of any weapons you might be hiding."

Essentially, Violet points out that Faris can't tell anyone what happened because it'll make him look like a weakling and threaten his position, so he needs to play along and ally with her. And if he makes trouble, she'll murder his kids. He can't argue with this, so he agrees and Violet gives him the antidote to the poison she gave him.

Scene change.

Two islands left, apparently. Curious to see how they will hamfistedly represent the one thing their gods stand for. Curious to see if their leaders will also be evil in a way that makes no sense. We're now headed to Zehyllna. They have a warmer welcome here than they have had elsewhere--people are waving at them as they fly overhead. They're clearly expected.

I immediately wonder if the irid dragons are here and that's why the population is dragon friendly. But Violet doesn't.

They land, and whoops, there's magic here! Unclear if it's in the land or if it's coming from the cheering crowd that's there to greet them. Guess we'll find out next chapter.