Iron Flame Characters

The central rider and dragon bonder who survives Resson, returns to Basgiath, researches wards, endures torture, and leads the fight to raise the wards. She is defined by loyalty to her friends and family, grief over Liam, and her need for full truth from Xaden.

Arc: She moves from keeping secrets and surviving to demanding full disclosure, forgiving Dain, killing Varrish, losing her mother, and accepting her role in the rebellion and the war against the venin.

• Xaden Riorson — her lover and partner
• Tairn — her bonded dragon
• Andarna — her bonded dragon
• Brennan Aisereigh — her older brother
• Mira Sorrengail — her sister
• General Lilith Sorrengail — her mother
• Dain Aetos — estranged former friend who later helps her
• Rhiannon — closest friend and squadmate
• Liam Mairi — deceased friend she mourns
• Sloane Mairi — Liam's sister she promised to protect
• Catriona — rival and later uneasy ally

Violet's lover and a leader of the revolution, owner of Riorson House, and a rider bonded to Sgaeyl. He keeps dangerous secrets, smuggles weapons, and later reveals his second signet reads intentions.

Arc: He works to earn Violet's trust, reveals his inntinnsic signet, fights the Sage, kills him, and ends the story with a red ring in his eyes and fear that he is turning venin.

• Violet Sorrengail — his lover and partner
• Sgaeyl — his bonded dragon
• Bodhi Durran — his cousin
• Garrick Tavis — friend and ally
• Brennan Aisereigh — ally
• Catriona — former betrothed
• Colonel Aetos — adversary
• The Sage — enemy he kills
• Jack Barlowe — prisoner he interrogates

The vice commandant who hates Violet, targets Andarna, and tortures Violet in the brig. He has a signet that sees weaknesses and plans to trap Xaden.

Arc: He escalates from disciplinarian to torturer, is stabbed by Dain, bound by Xaden's shadows, and killed by Violet.

• Violet Sorrengail — torturer and antagonist
• Solas — his dragon
• Dain Aetos — orders him to read Violet's memories
• Xaden Riorson — enemy

Violet's old enemy who returns after being mended by Nolon and later reveals he turned venin. He kills his dragon Baide and helps drop the wards.

Arc: He moves from resurrected bully to venin saboteur, saves Violet once, then betrays Basgiath, is captured, and tells Xaden there is no cure.

• Violet Sorrengail — enemy who once saves her
• Baide — his dragon he kills
• Xaden Riorson — enemy and interrogator
• Nolon Colbersy — mender who tried to cure him

Dain's father and a Navarrian officer who accuses the returned riders of desertion, threatens Violet and Xaden, and sends an assassin after Violet.

Arc: He remains an adversary, is reprimanded and reassigned, and later targets Violet and Mira through threats.

• Dain Aetos — his son
• Violet Sorrengail — adversary
• Xaden Riorson — adversary
• General Lilith Sorrengail — conflict
• Major Varrish — arrives with him

Varrish's one-eyed orange daggertail who burns cadets, is attacked by Tairn, and later attacks Violet's group in the cave.

Arc: He escalates from threatening cadets to a full-grown attacker, is blinded by Violet, and is killed by Andarna.

• Major Varrish — his rider
• Tairn — adversary
• Andarna — enemy she kills
• Violet Sorrengail — enemy

The venin sage from Resson who haunts Violet's nightmares and leads the wyvern at the cliffs. He wants Violet's power and tells her she will tear down the wards for love or die.

Arc: He appears in nightmares and at the ward battle, is fought by Xaden, and is killed and thrown into a ravine.

• Violet Sorrengail — nightmare tormentor
• Xaden Riorson — enemy he taunts and fights

Jack Barlowe's Scorpiontail who remembers Violet killed Jack and attacks the land navigation group. She later appears in the ward chamber with Jack.

Arc: She kills Tomas, attacks the cadets, and is killed by Jack Barlowe when he stabs her in the throat.

• Jack Barlowe — her rider
• Violet Sorrengail — hostile toward her
• Tomas — killed by her

A colonel and former scribe mentor to Violet, who controls information in Battle Brief and dismisses evidence of wyvern and Zolya. He has Navil Jacek hauled away before Jacek is killed.

Arc: He remains an official voice of misinformation, clashes with Violet, and is revealed as in Calldyr after the escape.

• Violet Sorrengail — former mentor and adversary
• Jesinia — in her chain of command
• Professor Devera — colleague
• Navil Jacek — had him taken away

A Navarrian general bonded to Codagh, who negotiates with the rebels at Athebyne and later orders Tairn and Sgaeyl to the Vale. He prioritizes the Vale over Basgiath.

Arc: He remains an adversary, bluffs about Samara, and later wants Xaden and Violet to return.

• Codagh — his dragon
• Xaden Riorson — adversary
• Violet Sorrengail — dismissive of her
• General Lilith Sorrengail — allied commander

A venin who confronts Violet in battle, saying she is under orders to deliver Violet to the Sage rather than kill her. She is killed by Violet's lightning.

Arc: She appears as a venin agent and is killed during the battle for Basgiath.

• The Sage — serves him
• Violet Sorrengail — enemy she tries to capture

A lieutenant with a lie-detecting signet who assists Varrish in interrogating Violet and searches her bag. She is killed by Xaden when she lunges at Dain.

Arc: She remains Varrish's subordinate and dies during Violet's escape.

• Major Varrish — subordinate and ally
• Violet Sorrengail — interrogator
• Xaden Riorson — kills her
• Dain Aetos — attacks him

Violet's powerful black dragon, bonded to her and mated to Sgaeyl. He is protective, blunt, and central to Violet's power and safety.

Arc: He protects Violet through torture, battle, and ward-raising, loses Naolin in his past, defends Andarna, and stays with Xaden when Violet asks.

• Violet Sorrengail — his bonded rider
• Andarna — fellow dragon bonded to Violet
• Sgaeyl — his mate
• Xaden Riorson — Sgaeyl's rider
• Naolin — his previous rider
• Solas — adversary he attacks

Violet's second bonded dragon, initially a feathertail who can stop time, then an adolescent who cannot. She later reveals she is a seventh breed, can breathe fire and hide, and waited 650 years to hatch for Violet.

Arc: She grows from sleeping adolescent to a decisive fighter who kills Solas and a dark wielder, then chooses to stay with Violet despite danger.

• Violet Sorrengail — her bonded rider
• Tairn — fellow dragon
• Sgaeyl — fellow dragon
• Solas — enemy she kills
• Catriona — wary ally

Violet's older brother, alive after faking his death for six years and serving the revolution as a mender. He changed his last name to Aisereigh and rides Marbh.

Arc: He reunites with Violet and Mira, defends Violet to the Assembly, mends the wardstone, and holds their mother's body after she dies.

• Violet Sorrengail — his younger sister
• Mira Sorrengail — his sister
• General Lilith Sorrengail — his mother
• Xaden Riorson — ally
• Marbh — his dragon
• Naolin — saved by him, Tairn's previous rider

Violet's older sister and a rider bonded to Teine, stationed at Samara and later at Basgiath. She is protective, blunt, and initially kept in the dark about Brennan.

Arc: She reconciles with Violet, learns Brennan is alive, punches him, opposes their mother, fights in the battle, and grieves their mother's death.

• Violet Sorrengail — her sister
• Brennan Aisereigh — her brother
• General Lilith Sorrengail — her mother
• Teine — her dragon
• Xaden Riorson — wary of him

A wingleader and memory reader, formerly Violet's close friend, whose choices and father tie him to Navarrian command. He steals Violet's memory and later tries to make amends.

Arc: He moves from estranged betrayer to ally, refuses to interrogate Violet, enters her memories, kills Varrish, and turns against Navarrian leadership.

• Violet Sorrengail — former close friend and estranged ally
• Colonel Aetos — his father
• Major Varrish — his superior whom he kills
• Xaden Riorson — distrusts and later cooperates with him
• Cath — his dragon

Violet's closest friend, squad leader, and a rider bonded to Feirge. She is loyal, protective, and insists the squad stick together.

Arc: She moves from squadmate to leader, defends Violet, helps raise the wards, fights in the battle, and comforts Violet after her mother's death.

• Violet Sorrengail — best friend and squadmate
• Feirge — her dragon
• Ridoc — squadmate
• Sawyer — squadmate
• Imogen — squadmate
• Catriona — rival then squadmate

Violet's mother and a commanding general of Navarre, stern and willing to sacrifice for the wards. She forced Violet into the Riders Quadrant and made a deal with Xaden to protect her.

Arc: She moves from antagonistic commander to sacrificing herself, forcing Sloane to siphon life into the wardstone and dying as the wards rise.

• Violet Sorrengail — her daughter
• Mira Sorrengail — her daughter
• Brennan Aisereigh — her son
• Aimsir — her dragon
• Sloane Mairi — forces her to siphon
• Nolon Colbersy — mender

Xaden's blue dragon, mated to Tairn and fiercely protective of Xaden. She chose Xaden for his relentlessness and guards Andarna when needed.

Arc: She fights beside Xaden, saves Tairn, guards Xaden at the ravine, and later screams at Xaden in his nightmare as he reaches for power.

• Xaden Riorson — her bonded rider
• Tairn — her mate
• Andarna — guards her
• Violet Sorrengail — linked through the bond

A flier and Tecarus's niece, formerly betrothed to Xaden. She has the gift of heightening emotions and initially rivals Violet.

Arc: She moves from jealous rival to grudging ally, gives Violet a dagger, fights beside her, and asks her to tell General Sorrengail the fliers will fight.

• Xaden Riorson — former betrothed
• Violet Sorrengail — rival then uneasy ally
• Syrena — her sister
• Viscount Tecarus — her uncle
• Maren — best friend
• Kiralair — her gryphon

Violet's squadmate and friend, a joker who uses humor to cope. He is bonded to Aotrom and fights despite fear.

Arc: He supports Violet through interrogation, the Archives mission, and battle, where he is burned shielding the group.

• Violet Sorrengail — squadmate and friend
• Rhiannon — squadmate
• Sawyer — squadmate
• Aotrom — his dragon

Violet's squadmate and Rhiannon's executive officer, later bonded to Sliseag. He is loyal, learns sign language for Jesinia, and loses a leg in battle.

Arc: He moves from supportive squadmate to wounded survivor, fighting from Sliseag and being carried to the healers after a wyvern bites off his leg.

• Violet Sorrengail — squadmate and friend
• Rhiannon — squadmate and executive officer
• Ridoc — squadmate
• Jesinia — romantic interest
• Sliseag — his dragon

A marked one and rider bonded to Glane, initially hostile to Violet and later a close ally. She is blunt, protective, and willing to use her memory-wiping signet.

Arc: She moves from rival to trusted squadmate, helps with missions and battles, and supports Violet's plans.

• Violet Sorrengail — ally and squadmate
• Xaden Riorson — loyal to him
• Quinn — friend
• Garrick Tavis — banters with him
• Glane — her dragon

Xaden's cousin and a marked one, later a section leader. He is loyal, pragmatic, and often relays Xaden's instructions.

Arc: He helps Violet, mediates between Xaden and Aaric, fights in the battle, and acts on Xaden's orders.

• Xaden Riorson — his cousin
• Violet Sorrengail — ally and section leader
• Imogen — fellow marked one
• Garrick Tavis — ally

Xaden's best friend and a rider, loyal and battle-tested. He trains with Xaden and follows him into rebellion.

Arc: He remains a steady ally, helps rescue Violet, fights in the battle, and stands with Xaden.

• Xaden Riorson — best friend and ally
• Violet Sorrengail — friend
• Imogen — fellow marked one
• Chradh — his dragon

A scribe and Violet's friend who secretly supplies old books and helps research wards. She is deaf and communicates in sign.

Arc: She moves from Archives contact to active helper, stealing books, aiding the vault mission, and discovering the seven in Lyra's journal.

• Violet Sorrengail — friend and research ally
• Sawyer — romantic interest
• Colonel Markham — in her chain of command
• Imogen — suspicious of her

King Tauri's third son, who joins the Riders Quadrant under a false name and later helps Violet enter the royal vault. He hates his father and is bound to protect his family secret.

Arc: He moves from hidden prince to active rebel, helps steal the journals, fights in the battle, and supports Brennan after he mends the wardstone.

• Violet Sorrengail — childhood acquaintance and ally
• King Tauri — his father
• Xaden Riorson — hates him for killing Alic
• Sloane Mairi — squadmate and assessment opponent

Liam's younger sister, a first-year who blames Violet for Liam's death and later manifests as a siphon. She is bonded to a Red Daggertail.

Arc: She moves from hostility to grudging trust, learns she is a siphon, and is forced by General Sorrengail to siphon life into the wardstone.

• Liam Mairi — her brother
• Violet Sorrengail — blames her then works with her
• Imogen — trains with her
• Aaric Graycastle — squadmate
• General Lilith Sorrengail — forces her to siphon

Violet's deceased friend and guard, Sloane's brother, killed during the gryphon attack after Deigh is gutted. His letters and memory drive Violet and Sloane.

Arc: He appears in memories, letters, and as a comforting hallucination during Violet's torture.

• Violet Sorrengail — friend she mourns
• Sloane Mairi — his sister
• Xaden Riorson — squad member whose loss he avenges
• Deigh — his dragon

The Viscount of Cordyn and Queen Maraya's named heir, a collector who wants Violet's power and trades the luminary for weapons and flier cadets.

Arc: He moves from host and bargainer to uneasy ally after Xaden threatens him and Violet kills the venin in his arena.

• Catriona — his niece
• Xaden Riorson — negotiating adversary
• Violet Sorrengail — wants to see her wield
• Brennan Aisereigh — negotiates with him

A gryphon flier leader and Cat's sister, who negotiates with Xaden for weapons and later warns that the wards are wrong.

Arc: She moves from weapons negotiator to ally at Athebyne, refusing to fight for Navarre and warning about the wards.

• Catriona — her sister
• Xaden Riorson — uneasy ally
• Violet Sorrengail — ally

A flier in Cat's drift, paired with Violet during the climb and later helps ferry wounded. She is Cat's best friend and explains flier customs.

Arc: She moves from wary flier to helpful ally, gives Violet a crossbow, and carries Sawyer to the healers.

• Catriona — best friend
• Violet Sorrengail — study partner and ally
• Dajalair — her gryphon
• Sawyer — helps carry him

An Assembly member and rider who trains Violet's signet, teaching her control and giving her a runic conduit. He warns her about Aetos and the dangers ahead.

Arc: He remains Violet's signet instructor, helping her learn to control and aim lightning.

• Violet Sorrengail — signet instructor
• Suri — Assembly colleague

A professor and later major who teaches Battle Brief and history, sometimes contradicting Markham. She signals Xaden's wound and later joins the rebellion.

Arc: She moves from professor to open rebel, telling Xaden she and others have been waiting to join him.

• Violet Sorrengail — professor
• Colonel Markham — colleague she partially contradicts
• Xaden Riorson — joins him
• Brennan Aisereigh — co-briefer

A healer who has treated Violet for years but later participates in her interrogation and mends Jack Barlowe. He is ordered by Varrish and reports that Jack has no cure.

Arc: He moves from trusted healer to complicit interrogator, then helps Violet escape by leaving the window unlocked and later mends her injuries.

• Violet Sorrengail — healer then interrogator
• Major Varrish — ordered by him
• Jack Barlowe — tried to mend him
• General Lilith Sorrengail — mends her

Melgren's black dragon, who appears at Athebyne and later agrees to help power the Basgiath wardstone when Violet asks.

Arc: He moves from intimidating presence to ally who nods agreement to Violet's request.

• General Melgren — his rider
• Violet Sorrengail — agrees to help her
• Tairn — adversary

An Assembly member and lieutenant colonel who distrusts Violet, suggests confining her, and later rejects Melgren's offer at Athebyne.

Arc: He remains wary of Violet but opposes Navarre, saying a kingdom that never aids others does not deserve aid.

• Violet Sorrengail — distrusts her
• Brennan Aisereigh — gives him orders
• Xaden Riorson — Assembly ally
• Fann — his dragon

An Assembly member who argues Violet cannot be trusted and should be confined. She later bleeds on the wardstone and reports coordinated attacks along the cliffs.

Arc: She remains suspicious of Violet but participates in the ward ritual and battle reporting.

• Violet Sorrengail — suspicious of her
• Felix — Assembly colleague
• Kylynn — walks with her

An Assembly member who blames Violet for exposing Aretia and asks what to do with the cadets. She focuses on security and consequences.

Arc: She remains a hardline Assembly voice.

• Violet Sorrengail — blames her

A professor who teaches runes and tempering to riders and fliers, demonstrating a heating rune and assigning an unlocking rune. She tests the top squad and drift.

Arc: She remains an instructor who helps bridge rider-flier knowledge of runes.

• Violet Sorrengail — instructor
• Catriona — student who succeeds first
• Ridoc — student she asks to demonstrate ice
• Felix — suggests she teach runes

A professor who announces running-landing demonstrations and later intervenes when Varrish searches Violet, citing the Codex and Panchek's clearance.

Arc: He remains a professor and ally who checks Varrish's power.

• Violet Sorrengail — professor and ally
• Major Varrish — adversary
• Commandant Panchek — accepts his opinion
• Dain Aetos — praises his landing

A combat professor who runs assessment and challenges, diagnosing Violet's concussion and refusing Sloane's demand to fight her.

Arc: He remains an instructor and assessor, later suggesting Violet emphasize her dragon bond and learn stronger shields.

• Violet Sorrengail — instructor and assessor
• Dain Aetos — allows his challenge
• Sloane Mairi — refuses her request
• Colonel Aetos — says Aetos sent the attacker

A professor who punishes Violet's signet on Varrish's orders, warns she may burn out, and later attacks the dais when riders leave.

Arc: He moves from reluctant punisher to open opponent of the rebellion, attacking with fire before Bodhi counters him.

• Major Varrish — supervises with him
• Violet Sorrengail — instructor who pushes her
• Bodhi Durran — counters his signet
• Xaden Riorson — opposes his departure

The commandant who presides over graduation and later clears Violet of charges through Kaori's intervention. He answers to higher command.

Arc: He remains a command figure, conducting ceremonies and accepting Kaori's opinion.

• Kaori — accepts his opinion
• Major Varrish — overruled by his clearance
• Violet Sorrengail — clears her

A scribe captain who reads the death roll at formation and drops it when Xaden and Violet appear alive. He later corrects the roll.

Arc: He remains a minor official performing scribe duties amid shock.

• Xaden Riorson — reads his name
• Violet Sorrengail — reads her name
• Jesinia — retrieves the dropped roll

A senior wingleader who gives an inspirational talk and later charges Dain with a blade after he reveals leadership is hiding wyvern.

Arc: She moves from supportive leader to charging Dain before Garrick intercepts her.

• Dain Aetos — charges him
• Garrick Tavis — intercepts her
• Violet Sorrengail — present at formation

Violet's squadmate and friend who attends Orientation and Parapet. She is killed during assessment when she claims to be Violet Sorrengail.

Arc: She dies protecting Violet's identity, and her death drives Violet's guilt and resolve.

• Violet Sorrengail — squadmate who dies claiming to be her
• Rhiannon — squadmate
• Ridoc — squadmate

A marked one and rider who helps Violet after burnout and later dies on watch during the assassination attempt on the tower.

Arc: She moves from ally to casualty, killed by infantry assassins while on watch with Violet.

• Violet Sorrengail — ally and fellow rider
• Imogen — fellow marked one
• Xaden Riorson — childhood acquaintance

Imogen's friend and a squadmate who joins the Archives mission and fights in the battle. She recites the battle plan and helps with alibis.

Arc: She remains a loyal squadmate, fighting and supporting the squad through missions and battle.

• Imogen — friend
• Violet Sorrengail — squadmate
• Rhiannon — squadmate

A flier with a burn scar whose family was killed in the Sumerton raid. She survives the cliff trap, is saved by Violet, and later dies in the cave when Solas swats her into the wall.

Arc: She moves from wary flier to squadmate, then is killed by Solas after finding the chest.

• Violet Sorrengail — saved by her
• Sloane Mairi — squadmate
• Catriona — squadmate
• Luella — argues with her

A flier with altitude sickness who attempts the cliff jump and falls to her death after colliding with Violet and Visia. Cat blames Violet for her death.

Arc: She dies during the Medaro Pass crossing, deepening the rift between Cat and Violet.

• Cibbelair — her gryphon
• Visia Hawelynn — argues with her
• Catriona — mourns her
• Violet Sorrengail — collides with her

Luella's gryphon who saves Visia from falling, fails to catch Luella, grieves, and is snatched from the ledge by a wyvern.

Arc: He moves from climber to grieving gryphon and dies after Luella falls.

• Luella — his flier
• Visia Hawelynn — saves her
• Maren — comforts him as he dies

A healer cadet in the land navigation exercise who declares a life debt to Violet after she saves him from Baide.

Arc: He remains a healer and ally, grateful to Violet and later asked for by Rhiannon.

• Violet Sorrengail — owes her a life debt
• Aoife — says he is among the best
• Rhiannon — goes to get him

A cadet who suggests doubling patrols and razing Porvish villages, later appears with Nolon and escorts Jack Barlowe back to his squad.

Arc: She remains a minor cadet voice tied to Navarrian retaliation and Jack's return.

• Dain Aetos — he corrects her
• Nolon Colbersy — meets him at infirmary
• Jack Barlowe — escorts him

A senior wingleader and rider who dies during the mission to defend civilians near the armory. She and her dragon Malla are drained like Soleil and Fuil.

Arc: She appears as a remembered loss, showing the cost of the venin war.

• Violet Sorrengail — remembers her
• Malla — died with her

A recent graduate and Resson survivor who is killed in the attack on the Eastern Wing. Violet notes only six of the ten who flew to Resson remain.

Arc: He appears as a casualty of the war, increasing Violet's grief and resolve.

• Violet Sorrengail — fellow Resson survivor
• Xaden Riorson — fellow Resson survivor

A cadet who clarifies that General Sorrengail was not in charge of War Games and that Aetos was. He later dies and is mourned by Imogen.

Arc: He is killed off-page, adding to the losses of the marked ones.

• Imogen — mourns him
• Colonel Aetos — mentions Aetos planned War Games

A rider killed during the gryphon attack at Resson; her dragon Fuil is also killed. Her death haunts Xaden and Violet.

Arc: She appears as a loss that drives Xaden's vengeance and Violet's grief.

• Xaden Riorson — squad member whose loss he avenges
• Fuil — her dragon

A third-year flier in Cat's drift who co-leads mission briefings, restrains Cat, and helps Sawyer onto a litter. He asks about the ward timeline.

Arc: He remains a flier leader and ally in the squad.

• Catriona — drift member
• Rhiannon — co-leader
• Sawyer — helps carry him
• Violet Sorrengail — squadmate

A third-year flier in Cat's drift who fights Imogen to a draw until both are bleeding.

Arc: She appears in the challenge matches as a capable flier opponent.

• Imogen — opponent she fights to a draw
• Catriona — drift member

A flier who antagonizes riders, loses a challenge to Rhiannon, and later opposes going to Basgiath.

Arc: He remains a hostile flier voice, beaten by Rhiannon and countering the mission.

• Rhiannon — opponent he loses to
• Catriona — drift member
• Maren — blocks him

A rider at Samara who explains outpost leave-and-pride rules, identifies Violet as Mira's sister, and takes Xaden off the patrol roster.

Arc: She appears as a Samara officer familiar with outpost customs.

• Violet Sorrengail — speaks with her
• Mira Sorrengail — mentions her
• Xaden Riorson — addresses him

A rider at Samara who fights Xaden for a weekend pass, loses, refuses Xaden's hand, and taps the floor respectfully.

Arc: He appears as an outpost fighter who accepts defeat with respect.

• Xaden Riorson — opponent who defeats him

An Assembly member with an eyepatch who argues returning is the only option and agrees Violet is too dangerous to keep free.

Arc: He remains an Assembly hardliner against Violet.

• Violet Sorrengail — antagonist

An Assembly member who walks with Suri, retorts about the luminary, and lectures Xaden quietly.

Arc: She remains an Assembly voice focused on negotiation.

• Suri — walks with her
• Xaden Riorson — lectures him

The queen who refuses proposals from isle kingdoms and names Tecarus her heir.

Arc: She appears off-page as a political force shaping Tecarus's status.

• Viscount Tecarus — distant cousin and heir

A lady's maid at Tecarus's palace who helps Violet dress and warns her that Tecarus collects rare objects and makes tempting proposals.

Arc: She appears as a minor palace servant who informs Violet.

• Violet Sorrengail — dresses her
• Mira Sorrengail — helps dress her
• Viscount Tecarus — serves in his household

A second-year from Third Wing who asks for an account of a border attack that does not exist, is hauled away by Markham, and is found beaten to death.

Arc: He is killed after seeking forbidden records, showing Archives censorship.

• Colonel Markham — had him taken away
• Jesinia — recorded his request

Tairn's previous rider, a siphon who died saving Brennan. Tairn refuses to speak of him, and Brennan woke with the wounded Marbh after Naolin's death.

Arc: He appears in backstory as the loss that shaped Tairn and Brennan's survival.

• Tairn — his previous rider
• Brennan Aisereigh — died saving him

Xaden's father, whose rebellion and name make Xaden a target. His name means no one wants to share space with him, and the Rybestad chest was his.

Arc: He appears in backstory as the rebellion leader whose mistakes Brennan says the movement learned from.

• Xaden Riorson — his father
• Viscount Tecarus — negotiated an alliance

A rider who made the protection rune for the 107 marked ones, activated when their parents were killed by dragonfire and linked to the rebellion relics.

Arc: He appears in backstory through the protection rune Xaden carries.

• Xaden Riorson — made the protection rune
• Sloane Mairi — family connection

Aaric's father, the king whose private library and vault the group infiltrates. He thinks Aaric is on his twentieth-birthday tour.

Arc: He remains an off-page royal authority and target of Aaric's rebellion.

• Aaric Graycastle — his father

Rhiannon's dragon, who provides dragonfire for the wardstone and fights in the aerial battle.

Arc: She remains Rhiannon's dragon, serving in the ward ritual and battle.

• Rhiannon — her rider

Ridoc's dragon, whose relic is part of Ridoc's tattoo. He is attacked by a wyvern in battle.

Arc: He remains Ridoc's dragon, fighting in the aerial battle.

• Ridoc — his rider

Sawyer's dragon, who fights wyvern and tips Sawyer and Violet off his back for Tairn to catch.

Arc: He remains Sawyer's dragon, fighting in the battle.

• Sawyer — his rider
• Tairn — catches them

Mira's dragon, who leads the riot to Aretia and later relays communications at Basgiath.

Arc: She remains Mira's dragon, moving from threat to ally.

• Mira Sorrengail — her rider
• Tairn — initially threatened by Tairn
• Sgaeyl — lands after her

General Sorrengail's dragon, whose power and life energy are siphoned into the wardstone. Tairn says Aimsir is within the Vale.

Arc: Aimsir's power is used by General Sorrengail to raise the wards, and the dragon's life is sacrificed.

• General Lilith Sorrengail — her rider
• Sloane Mairi — siphons her power
• Tairn — mentions her

Brennan's dragon, who accompanies him and stands watch in the ward chamber.

Arc: He remains Brennan's dragon, present for the wardstone mending.

• Brennan Aisereigh — his dragon
• Naolin — connected through Tairn's past

Liam Mairi's dragon, gutted during the gryphon attack, leading to Liam's death.

Arc: Deigh dies at Resson, and Liam dies after.

• Liam Mairi — his rider

Soleil Telery's dragon, killed when channeling drained everything from the land.

Arc: Fuil dies with Soleil.

• Soleil Telery — her dragon

Nyra Voldaren's dragon, drained along with Nyra during the mission.

Arc: Malla dies with Nyra.

• Nyra Voldaren — her rider

Dain's red dragon, who lands dramatically and later vouches for Dain's loyalty.

Arc: He remains Dain's dragon, supporting him through his choices.

• Dain Aetos — his rider
• Violet Sorrengail — present

Garrick's dragon, who is worried because he senses the same rune energy he detected in Resson.

Arc: He appears as a dragon sensitive to runes during the Basgiath crisis.

• Garrick Tavis — his rider
• Tairn — Tairn relays his worry

Cat's gryphon, whose wing feathers are burned in the cave fight. She helps Sloane escape and hoists packs.

Arc: She remains Cat's gryphon and fights in the cave.

• Catriona — her rider
• Sloane Mairi — helps her escape

Maren's gryphon, described as sure-footed but temperamental. She struggles with altitude and later carries a litter.

Arc: She remains Maren's gryphon, helping transport wounded.

• Maren — her gryphon
• Sawyer — helps carry him