#chain of posts

Question/Theory (1): There is a new Venin, who is it? I believe this to be Garrick Tavis because of the following:

"And now that my Sage has another sibling he can use against me...I'm screwed. I glance past Berwyn, past Sgaeyl and the venin, to my new brother and the unconscious dragon lying in the valley beyond the canyon, guarded by seven wyvern. How could he do this? Choose this after watching me stumble and fall over the last five months. How could he willingly walk the path l've fought like hell to leave? He's the last person I ever would have expected to turn, and yet here we are. I can't let Sgaeyl die. Can’t leave him to stumble down the same path I did." — Xaden Riorson, Chapter 65.

The 1st confirming of a “new Venin brother” passage which shows us that:

This is a male identifying character hence “he”.

The terminology is “new brother” meaning it is not someone such as Bodhi Durran, as in Chapter 58 —“Theophanie glances at Brennan, then Bodhi. "I didn't ask for either of you to attend." "I thought you requested brothers? Next time be more specific about who's invited," I suggest.” — he is already addressed as such.

Someone who has seen Xaden fighting not to channel because they know he is Venin (this limits us to a small group of people) & someone Xaden trusts (an even smaller group of people now) and who has been with them for the past 5 months (at the very least; presumably making it someone on the front lines and Quest Squad).

And someone Xaden “cannot leave” (like a best friend).

Adding onto it are these quotes from Imogen Cardulo & their chapters information as a whole, showing that:

"I notice the circles beneath his beautiful eyes, the unusual pallor of his complexion. He's exhausted, and for the first time in my life, I don't care that he's seeing me at my weakest, because he's right there, too. My chin tips in a nod. "All right." He moves quickly to the step beneath us, kicking something out of the way and gathering both of us into his arms. I lock mine around Quinn so she doesn't slip as we're lifted off the floor, and the landing beneath us loses its color. "Let's get you out of here." — Imogen Cardulo, Chapter 63.

Garrick is burnt out at best, and at worst already channeling (it is dark in the first scene; the circles beneath his eyes could have been Venin veins; while this is unlikely, as she does still call his eyes “beautiful”… Imogen is noted to struggle to meet anyone’s eyes in the following passages, so it’s possible she doesn’t note it while already in this state of shock).

There is also the possibility that “the landing beneath us loses its color” was not all due to other dark wielders; it may have already been Garrick as well.

Rebecca takes the seemingly unnecessary time to point out Garrick “kicking something out of the way” only she very rarely puts something pointless in her writing (& while I’m unsure of what it would mean, there is potential that it is hinting at something) & along the same note; the tense of Garrick’s phrasing is “you” not “us” (this may hint that he knows he will not be leaving this battle).

Finally, it’s worth noting that in this passage Garrick has just lost another friend (another one of the rebellion) making him not only wracked with grief but even more desperate to save Imogen (as the last book showed that mixture is rather dangerous when it comes to creating Venin).

& as he next states: "It's still not enough." Garrick's head hangs as he stands. "I can't..." & the following:

"Where are you going?" I shout at Garrick's back. "I can't walk again. Even if I made it to Aretia, I'd never be strong enough to get back," he calls over his shoulder. "So, I'd better find some fucking way to do something."

He is going out alone, to find a way to do something, dare I say anything. That is the last known sighting of him.

Not to mention that Chradh has made 0 appearances (making it feasible for him to be the “unconscious dragon” in reference).

And that he is powerless at this point. Yet, he is also one of the few riders who could possibly get to Riorson in time (let alone be helpful in the following “mysterious” & presumably chaotic 12 hours that then follow).

In that, we can also presume a few things from Chapter 66:

"Official numbers are four riders, their dragons, and three elders murdered in the valley in what we're estimating is the last few hours," Weilsen says. "And we still have five riders missing—four now," he adds, looking at me. His mouth tenses. "But after that display, we all know Riorson did this. I bet the other three are already dead." — Weilson, Chapter 66.

While we do not know who the (now) four riders are (aside from obviously Xaden) it does show that it is primarily dragon riders that are missing (again upping the odds of one in three being Garrick).

“The last few hours” meaning this all occured after Violet “went missing” and the “new Venin brother” went with—well—whomever they went with… possibly making a bigger spectacle, then the one earlier (and being that one in reference instead).

Again, as stated; Garrick also has the powers thanks to his second signet (which was specifically introduced in this book) to assist in the spread of said “display” and desecrations all across the battlefield (even if they are most likely Xaden) he is the signet match for any and all… he and Xaden very well could’ve gone to find the other “traitors” using Garrick’s teleportation & Xaden’s inntinsic skills, thus seemingly killing the three “elders”.

Finally, these last portions to the point:

"Do you know where he is?" Brennan asks me softly once the other rider is fully out of earshot. "Riorson? You heard what Weilsen said. We have dead dragons and riders and missing eggs, and if you've seen Riorson, I need to know, Violet." "I..." Words fail me. Why can't I think? "I don't know." I raise my hands to my mouth, and a piece of parchment in my front pocket catches on my arm, then falls. Brennan catches it. "Cardulo?" He lifts his eyes to Imogen. "I haven't seen him since yesterday," she says, her voice low, almost monotone. "Lieutenant Tavis?" "Among the missing," Brennan answers gently, then glances my way and does a double take. "Holy shit, Violet." "What?" I lower my arms. Garrick is missing, too? Who else makes up the four riders Weilsen mentioned? "Your finger," Imogen says, then stares at the ground. — Chapter 66.

Imogen has not seen XADEN since yesterday, she does not specify upon Garrick. …If she had seen him, she would have good reason to keep it a secret (as if she already didn’t for Xaden alone; though she definitely would’ve been more inclined to help with his favor)… and while she does ask (which leads me to believe she does not know for certain) I think it is a pointed question not of “please let him be alive” and more of “please let me be wrong” with whatever she does know. & again this would add to her completely numb/in-shock heartbroken can’t-look-a-soul-in-the-eye nature here; as she loves Garrick! So, if he turned she would also be joining the “heartbroken wives” club (that I have a feeling Violet and Cat will be forming in the next book… along with the likely subsection of “dissapointed/disgruntled mothers” for Sgaeyl; cause hell hath no fury like a woman blessed by Dunne, and seeking revenge to rescue her lover from himself). And as we all obviously know Imogen does know something! (She didn’t have to look first to tell Violet to check her finger) like I said she can’t look her (or anyone) in the eyes (not until Violet asks that darn right single question “What did you do?”). And while Brennan doesn’t seem shocked to see her (Imogen) she very well may have been among the missing riders (seeing as Violet sneaking in to find her prior to Brennan seems unlikely & difficult under the current discourse).

*edit* as I’m re-reading this Chapter 11 prologue from Iron Flame felt enough like foreshadowing to add it onto here: