This is one of my wildest theories to date, so I’m going to get straight to it: I think there is a relationship between orange dragons and feathertails. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced Rebecca Yarros specifically put in a lot of Easter Eggs for us to understand that orange dragons, are unpredictable, but so are feathertails.

In fact, the more you draw parallels between the two, the more you realize that they have a lot in common. Strange, right? I know it sounds insane, but hear me out.

Orange dragons and feathertails: What do they have in common

“Feathertails don’t bond because their power is too unpredictable. Unstable.”

Interesting choice of words here. Unpredictable, unstable. Who else is unpredictable? Orange dragons.

“Orange dragons, coming in various shades of apricot to carrot, are the most[…]unpredictable of dragonkind and therefore always a risk.”

What does it mean…always a risk? A risk to what? Rebecca Yarros did say that having an orange dragon doesn’t make you bad, but it does make you unpredictable.

“Maybe it’s a mistake,” Sawyer says quietly. “Maybe it’s a baby orange.”

This is the time when Sawyer was talking to Violet and the rest at presentation. I’m not sure if there is a relation here, but I wanted to share it either way. It’s curious that Sawyer said this.

“The Northern Esbens are believed to have been the hatching grounds of the orange dragon before unification, though, true to their unpredictable nature, they often chose new valleys in the same range[…]”

What else is in the Esben mountains? Violet’s dad research…on the second Krovlan uprising. Krovla province is just south-east of the Esben mountains.

“[…]which is funny because I remember your father doing a bit of research about the second Krovlan uprising, and he mentioned something about feathertails, but we can’t seem to find that tome.”

We know that both Violet and Dain have been at the Krovlan border while their parents were stationed there with the Southern Wing. We know that Dain speaks Krovlan based on that tome he has in his room. Not sure why this is relevant right now, but again, I want to share all the details that I have found here.

“This shelf is all journals of the commanding generals of the riders?” Aaric lowers his hood and glances over his shoulder at me.
“They used to be separate positions.” I move to the last section of the center pedestal. “Healers, infantry, or even scribes could be the General of the Armies until about two hundred years ago with the second Krovlan uprising. After that, the commander of the riders commanded all Navarre’s forces.”

The second Krovlan uprising is mentioned again, this time during the period when Violet and Aaric are searching for the journals of the first six. It’s important to note that before this uprising, anyone could become the General of the Armies. However, following the second Krovlan uprising, only the commander of the riders could hold the position of Commanding General, as exemplified by Melgren’s current role.

Conclusion

Oranges’ hatching grounds were in the Esben mountains, at the border. Krovla is just next door and the second Krovlan uprising was something that changed the leadership structure fundamentally. Having something to do with the dragons? Maybe.

But what is more interesting is that indeed Violet’s dad has a specific research on feathertails from the second Krovlan uprising, and I do think there is something to do with orange dragons too. They just have a little too much in common to be just coincidental.

What are your thoughts? I know this is a wild theory, so feel free to dig deep into this one!

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