Empyrean Dragons in Threshing Day

Threshing Day has arrived, and it's time to talk about the Empyrean dragons who have bonded our favorite characters in the Fourth Wing series. This will cover each dragon and rider that appeared in Threshing Day, along with the signets that manifested as a result. THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS POST FOR THE EMPYREAN SERIES.

I'll be making a separate post about all of the interesting things we learn from Threshing Day. This post is primarily to discuss the dragons, their position in the Empyrean, and their riders/signets. There is a chart at the end with all of this information consolidated. 

Empyrean Dragons in Threshing Day

1. Brennan Sorrengail and Marbh 

The first Threshing Day story tells the tale of the eldest Sorrengail, and how he bonded his dragon, Marbh. Marbh is a 76-year-old, male, Orange Daggertail with 3 previously recorded riders. He comes from the Fhaicorain Line. I will be noting lineage in this post, because something very interesting was revealed in Threshing Day. Many of our main characters dragons come from the same line. For example, Marbh comes from the same line as Glane, Imogen's dragon.

The lineage isn't the same thing as the dragon color. Yes, Glane and Marbh are both orange (which means they come from the same den) but these two dragons come from the same line within the den. 

During Brennan's Threshing Day, he mentions how grateful he is for menders who are able to help his sister Violet with her chronic injuries. He says "Thank the gods for menders. The gift is rare, but the riders with the signet for putting broken things back together, like Nolon, are a blessing to my sister. We need more of them."

Brennan ends up manifesting a Mending signet.

2. Mira Sorrengail and Teine 

Our next story follows Mira and her dragon Teine. Teine is a 41-year-old, male, Green Clubtail with 0 previously recorded riders. He comes from the Cruaidhuaine Line. Mira's dragon does not share a line with any of the other dragons in this book.

Teine agrees for Mira to be his first rider after she says “I have no way of knowing what signet I will manifest, but I will use it in every way possible to protect those I love. To protect the ones you love." 

Mira ends up manifesting a shield signet.

3. Xaden Riorson and Sgaeyl

Our favorite shadow daddy's story is told in chapter three, when Xaden bonds Sgaeyl. Sgaeyl is a 64-year-old, female, Blue Daggertail with 3 previously recorded riders. She comes from the Gormfaileas Line. Sgaeyl comes from the same line as Molvic, Aaric's dragon. 

Speaking of lineage, Xaden's is called into question almost immediately by Sgaeyl. Xaden believes his grandfather was Corbin Riorson, but in reality his grandfather is Corbin's brother, Maxim Riorson, who was one of Sgaeyl's previously bonded riders. The Riorson family maintains that Corbin is Xaden's grandfather, but clearly his grandma was participating in some extramarital activities with her husband's brother...

Sgaeyl is aware of the venin threat that is plaguing Navarre and Poromiel, and specifically bonded Xaden so they could team up and vanquish the threat together. We also learn more about what they humans believe to know about her previous riders. 

"She abandoned her first rider to his death for cowardice, is rumored to have killed her second, and hasn’t bothered with a rider since her last one died, more than forty years ago, before he even left the quadrant." This gives us a bit of a clue into which of the riders was Xaden's grandfather. Riders typically do not have children while they are in the quadrant, so his grandfather was likely Sgaeyl's second rider. 

Since Sgaeyl was previously bonded to a direct relative of Xaden, he ends up manifesting two signets: shadow wielding and reading the intentions of others (intinsic). 

4. Garrick Tavis and Chradh

Now onto Xaden's best friend, Garrick! Garrick is bonded to Chradh, a 27 year old, male, Brown Scorpiontail descended from the Aldayrmar Line with 0 recorded previous riders. Chradh comes from the same line as Ridoc's dragon, Aotrom...allegedly.

Chradh is the dragon Rebecca Yarros said is the most underestimated in the series and one we need to pay more attention to. So here is what stood out about Chrad's interactions with Garrick during his Threshing Day. As previously mentioned, Chradh has no record of ever bonding a rider. However, he says something very interesting to Garrick."I have finally chosen to involve myself with your kind again.”

That doesn't sound like a dragon who has never bonded a rider before and is only 27 years old. After Garrick tries to clarify is age, Chradh asks him: “What even is a year?” A very cryptic response that leaves us with more questions than answers. Chradh is also described as having a "gravely, older voice," which is inconsistent with his age. 

Another interesting tidbit is that Chradh tells Garrick he was specifically seeking him and his bloodline. This is the first confirmation in the series that dragons are seeking out riders for their bloodlines. Garrick eventually ends up manifesting two signets (distance and air wielding), which leads us to believe Chradh has been bonded with someone in Garrick's bloodline before (despite not having any recorded previous riders). 

There is also speculation that Chradh may not even be a brown dragon. His ability to camouflage himself as a boulder is eerily similar to the ability Andarna (an irid) possesses. Garrick says "I’ve always prided myself on my skills of observation," but somehow didn't notice Chradh standing right next to him. He is definitely one to keep an eye on!

5. Dain Aetos and Cath

In chapter 5, we pivot to Dain's point of view as he bonds Cath. Cath is an 89 year old (the oldest dragon we meet in Threshing Day), male, Red Swordtail descended from the Berradhdyr Line with two previous recorded riders. He comes from the same line as Sawyer's dragon Sliseag. 

One of the most interesting lines in Dain's chapter is "the dragons established the rules and their word is law." Clearly, we know at least some of the dragons are lying, so it's interesting that they are the ones who established the rules, and that the humans have accepted it as law. 

Dain gives insight into his family life during his Threshing as well, noting that his mother abandoned him and his father. "Maybe that’s why Mom left me behind, because I’m a reminder of him. That doesn’t explain why she stopped writing to me last year, though." It's clear Dain wishes he could figure out his mothers motives for leaving. He ends up manifesting a signet that allows him to see the recent memories of others (retrocognition). 

6. Bodhi Durran and Cuir

The next chapter belongs to Xaden's cousin, Bodhi. Bodhi bonds Cuir, a 59 year old, male, Green Swordtail descended from the Uaineloidsig Line with 1 previously recorded rider. He comes from the same line as Rhiannon's dragon Feirge.

Most of Bodhi's chapter is him lamenting that he has never been given a choice in his life. He has always been the "spare" to the duchy of Aretia, and always tasked with following in Xaden's footsteps. 

Cuir says he chose to bond Bodhi “Because you seek power to end harm, instead of the means for victory.” Bodhi ends up manifesting a signet that gives him the ability to counter other signets. 

7. Imogen Cardulo and Glane

Although Rebecca said that Chradh is one of the most important dragons to watch, Glane also raised an immense amount of suspicion in Threshing Day. Glane is reported to be a 19 year old, female, Orange Daggertail descended from the Fhaicorain Line with 0 previously bonded riders. Glane comes from the same line as Marbh, Brennan's dragon. Glane is the youngest dragon mentioned in Threshing Day...allegedly. 

The first suspicious line in Imogen's chapter comes on the first page. "I went to bed after Presentation with a shimmering new relic of an Orange Daggertail winding around my left hip, a fact I’m keeping to myself. It’s a claiming mark, the place where magic enters our body once channeled from our dragon."

Until now, we had been led to believe that the claiming mark only comes after a dragon bonds to a rider. During Threshing Day. This begs the question...can riders bond dragons without going through Threshing? If so, who else is bonded to dragons that we don't know about (cough, Asher Sorrengail, cough)?

Another point of suspicion comes when Glane says “I am a proven slayer, with a kill count in the thousands—.” 19 seems rather young to have already killed thousands...

Once Imogen agrees to officially bond Glane, she immediately starts channeling magic to Imogen, which is also incredibly unusual. We know from previous books, it can take riders months after Threshing for a dragon to begin channeling magic. The only reason Imogen knows what to do with the magic is because unlike most marked ones, she's a third generation rider. Another bomb is dropped on us when Imogen says she remembers her grandmother introducing Glane to her when she was only 5 years old (15 years ago). That would have made Glane 4 years old, so clearly she is lying about her age and how many riders she has previously been bonded to. Glane also insinuates her real name is NOT Glane. 

This calls into question all of the records that Kaori and his predecessor keep regarding the dragons. 

Imogen eventually manifests two signets, one is memory erasure and the other is being able to turn things into stone. 

8. Rhiannon Matthias and Feirge

After the absolute doozy that is Imogens chapter, we shift to Rhiannon's point of view. She bonds Feirge, an 87 year old, female, Green Daggertail descended from the Uaineloidsig Line with 3 previously recorded riders. She comes from the same line as Bodhi's dragon Cuir. 

After saying "I’d give anything to bring her here for even just a few minutes" about her sister Raegan, Rhiannon manifests a summoning signet.

9. Sawyer Henrick and Sliseag

As we continue on with the Threshing of Violet's squad, we have Sawyer's chapter. Sawyer bonds to Sliseag, a 73 year old male Red Swordtail descended from the Berradhdyr Line with 2 previously recorded riders. He comes from the same line as Dain's dragon Cath. 

As we know, Sawyer was a repeat first year when we first met him at the beginning of Fourth Wing, and we finally find out why! He says You were not unworthy last year....I simply wasn’t available to you. When half of a pair cannot open themselves to a bond, the other must wait, as you have.”

All of Sawyers self doubts are quelled by knowing it wasn't him, his dragon just needed some time! Sawyer responds: “I would have repeated another year if I knew you would be waiting for me at the end of it.” Awwww! 

Sawyer ends up manifesting a metalurgy signet after saying "I need an emotional blacksmith to twist all these feelings back into the unbreakable weapon the quadrant expects them to be." 

10. Ridoc Gamlyn and Aotrom

The next squad member's story is Ridocs. Ridoc bonds to a 21 year old, male, Brown Swordtail descended from the Aldayrmar Line with 0 previously recorded riders. Aotrom comes from the same line as Garrick's dragon Chradh. 

An interesting tidbit of information is given to us by Aotrom when he says "Perhaps I should have listened to my elders when they suggested I choose a more balanced rider." I find this interesting because it means the Empyrean meets and discusses what riders the dragons are going to bond. 

After Ridoc gets tree sap stuck to Aotrom's back he says "Don’t worry. I’m sure you can find some snow up in the peaks to help harden it so it chips away. Ice will do the trick.”

Ridoc ends up manifesting an ice wielding signet.

11. Liam Mairi and Deigh

Next up is our love, our light, our Liam. Liam bonds Deigh, a 62 year old, male, Red Daggertail descended from the Wybjorian Line with 1 previously recorded rider. Deigh is from the same line as Thoirt, Sloane's dragon.

Xaden says something very interesting in Liam's chapter. He says "Sgaeyl usually tells me which dragons are interested in marked ones, but she’s annoyingly silent about you.” Knowing that the Empyrean and the dragons discuss who they are going to bond with, it seems that Deigh kept his choice a secret. 

Another very interesting thing that Deigh tells Liam is "Those in my line have always favored those in yours." 

Liam manifests two signets, his first (Farsight) after saying "I stare toward the south, wishing I could cut the distance like a knife to see how my little sister is doing." The second is ice wielding.

12. Sloane Mairi and Thoirt

Sloane's chapter is a fan favorite for a reason. It's devastating, heartwarming, juicy, and has so much packed into such a small chapter. As mentioned above, Sloane bonds Thoirt, a 62 year old, female, Red Daggertail descended from the Wybjorian Line with 1 previously recorded rider. Not only do Thoirt and Deigh come from the same line, they are brother and sister as well...😭.

Sloane is unique in the fact that she actively does not want to bond a dragon and actually hopes she dies during Threshing Day so she can be reunited with her brother and parents. She tries to get an orange dragon to kill her, but Dain saves her life. 

Sloane is clearly going to be a very important character in the next few books becuase Thoirt tells her "You will wield when you are ready, because if you do not, this war will be lost...your brother did not inherit your mother's gifts...you did."

Sloane and Thoirt have the absolute sweetest moment where they decide that by bonding each other, they can heal from the deaths of their brothers. After saying "I want nothing to do with wielding, or power" Sloane manifests a siphoning signet and the power to imbue objects which comes automatically to siphons. 

13. Aaric Graycastle (aka Cam Tauri) and Molvic

The final chapter belongs to His Royal Highness Cam Tauri, who is pretending to be Aaric Graycastle. Aaric bonds Molvic, a 39 year old, male, Blue Clubtail descended from the Gormfaileas Line with 0 previously recorded riders. Molvic is from the same line as Sgaeyl. 

Bonding Molvic does not prove easy for Aaric. Molvic mentions Aaric's brother when he says “I was drawn to the strength of your bloodline once before and found myself sorely disappointed.” He also calls Aaric his full name "Camlaen Aaric Baran." We know Aaric is the son of the Navarrian King Tauri, but we have never gotten a royal last name until now.

Aaric tells Molvic "You must know: I intend to tear this kingdom apart.” Molvic agrees to these terms and the two fly off into the sunset. 

After Molvic asks Aaric "You think you know the future?" Aaric responds with “I know mine...I will fight in that war, perhaps even die. But I will not stand idly by as my family watches the destruction from a gilded tower, false stewards to a population they’ve intentionally kept ignorant.” Aaric ends up manifesting a precognition signet.

And that brings us to the end of Threshing Day! I loved this book and how it allowed us to stay with some of our favorite characters a little bit longer while we wait for the release of the 4th book. Below is a quick chart for reference of all of the dragons mentioned, their riders, and their signets. Enjoy!