Violet’s second signet kept us up for months. It manifested in Iron Flame, but we couldn’t figure it out for certain. Rebecca Yarros told us that it was made clear in one single sentence.
The sentence she is referring to, I think, is one of these two: “The only warmth is a quickly cooling trickle along my neck.”
OR
In Xaden’s POV: “Except the sweat dripping down the back of my neck reminds me that this is very much my reality.”
Looking back, it’s obvious that before, it was Violet in his dreams, feeling sweat, whereas Xaden never did until it happened in real life.
So far, nothing feels quite out of the ordinary. In fact, Rebecca Yarros misled us again—she said her second signet was boring. But is it boring?
“But you have been known to wander while dreaming. It’s harmless. You’re mostly drawn to him.”
It might appear so to the untrained eye, but make no mistake. This signet is not only not boring, peaceful, or passive, but very dangerous indeed.
“Her kind are peaceful, and the ability itself would be passive—even a gift in a culture like that.”
Check this out:
“Which is what makes you exceptionally dangerous.” His jaw flexes twice. “I can only read someone while they’re awake, and I’m limited by their ability to shield. No one can shield while they’re sleeping. You could potentially walk straight into Melgren’s own dreams, and he couldn’t stop you. Probably wouldn’t even know.”
I know what you’re thinking. Okay, but it is a rather boring, peaceful, or harmless signet. She enters nightmares, she learns about people’s biggest fears. Their most terrifying nightmares. So what? Okay, let’s assume she now has some “ammunition” against people—something she can use for gain, blackmail, or to protect the ones she loves.
But think about the possibilities. As Xaden said, nobody can shield in their sleep. She can enter everyone’s dreams and learn everything about them. She could enter Brennan’s dreams and learn about Naolin or his attack. She could enter Melgren’s dreams, indeed, and learn state secrets. She could be a step ahead, always. Just like the venin had venin…you know, the one in their dreams (stay with me, I have a point).
Still think it’s a bit meh? Remember that in her Q&A, Rebecca Yarros said we’ve only just seen about 10% of what her signet can do. She also said there is only one single other person alive who could train her. Who? The very Venin from Xaden’s nightmares.
“The Sage pulls back the hood of his maroon robe, revealing the freakishly young face that haunts my—Xaden’s—dreams, […] ‘It’s so nice of you to join us, lightning wielder.’ He tilts his head. ‘Or should I call you dream-walker?’”
How would this Venin know that Violet is a dream-walker? It takes one to know one. 🙂
And now, when we go back to the original nightmares—when the Venin wears maroon robes—it now feels like this Venin is talking specifically to Violet!
“So disappointing,” he lectures, as if he’s my Sage and not the teacher of the dark wielder I killed on Tairn’s back. […]
“Death it is.” He looks so…disappointed as he lowers his hand. […]
It almost feels like he’s already training her. He can most certainly recognize that she is there.
So many questions here. How could someone develop a signet like this? If there is only one other dream-walker alive, does this mean they also bonded an irid before? As far as Violet is concerned, such a signet wouldn’t exist. Based on Rebecca Yarros’ comment, since there is only one other alive who could train her, it also means it is an exceptionally rare signet. And since the irids were so upset, one begs the question: was this “gift” given before to another who turned Venin?
Plus, with exceptionally powerful signets, we know that a lot of the time, they are nature’s answer to create balance. Magic always knows. So naturally, Xaden was once our shadow wielder. He turned dark, so a new shadow wielder manifested. It makes me think that Violet’s signet is an answer to the Venin as well.
“There’s no such thing as dream-walking, and the irids told her that she gave me something more dangerous than lightning. It was one of the reasons they were so angry with her.”
“There is such a thing.” Xaden’s voice drops. “It’s absolutely more dangerous than lightning. It’s a form of inntinnsic,” he ends on a whisper.
Not only is her signet a form of inntinnsic—it is absolutely the most dangerous form of inntinnsic. Xaden can read intentions, but he’s limited to shields. Violet? Violet can not only enter dreams but also meddle…
“Except I think you meddle because I wanted to channel on that field and found myself raising my hand instead.”
Are you ready for the most crucial yet easily overlooked piece of information—so subtle that you might skim past it without a second thought? I will give it to you. Read the next paragraph over and over:
“He closes his fist, and Xaden wheezes” [Violet wakes, etc., and then…]
“His spine is arched beside me, his head thrown back in pain as he strains for the very air he’s breathing.
‘Wake up!’ I put both my hands on his chest and shove with my body and mind. ‘Xaden! Wake up!’
His eyes flash open, and he falls flat against the mattress as his heart pounds beneath my fingers.”
Oh. The Venin in their nightmare? He actually hurt Xaden. Read it again and again, slowly. In the dream, the Venin strangles Xaden. Violet wakes, and right next to her, Xaden is in pain, straining for the very air he’s breathing.
THAT. That right there. Violet won’t just be able to enter people’s dreams. She will indeed be able to meddle. Hurt them. Kill them even. Now that is terrifying.
On the other hand, we also figured out what she needs to do to break from a dream or nightmare. She needs pain.
“I slide my hand down my hip and find the hilt of a dagger. Before I can second-guess my plan, I wrench it free.
The Sage’s eyes widen on the polished, wooden handle, but I’m already swinging it toward my arm. The blade sinks into my skin—
I jolt upright in bed and gasp for breath, blinking furiously to clear the haze of the nightmare as dawn breaks outside our bedroom window.”
So many questions. Will she be able to wield lightning while in someone’s dreams? Can she kill without actually being close to people? What are the real limitations of her second signet?
And finally, will Book 4 be all about Violet sharing dreams with Xaden and eventually doing the dirty in the shared dreams? Rebecca Yarros did say that she’d been inspired by Jennifer Lynn Armentrout, who wrote From Blood and Ash where Ash and Poppy share dreams. It feels like this is following a similar line here.
To conclude with a little cheesy line: for now, we can only dream about Book 4 ourselves… before it becomes reality.
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