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Dain Aetos is the rider of the dragon Cath. He is Violet Sorrengail's childhood best friend.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Dain is the son of Colonel Aetos, and has known Violet since she was 5 and he was 6 years old. At the start of Fourth Wing Violet describes his father as one of Lilith Sorrengail's most trusted advisors.[2] They grew up together through every post their parents were stationed at, and no matter where they were they always found places to swim and trees to climb.[2] They would play hide and seek in the woods, which Violet credits for her stealthy footsteps during Threshing.[3]
Fourth Wing[]
Dain joins the Riders Quadrant the year before Violet. When she sees him again after crossing the parapet, she realizes he's changed since she last saw him - "he's a second year rider now."[2]
| “ | "This isn't the same boy I grew up with. He's a second-year rider now." | ” |
–Violet Sorrengail on seeing Dain Aetos after crossing the Parapet, Fourth Wing | ||
Dain is the squad leader for Second Squad, Flame Section, Second Wing. For a second-year to be named squad leader, they must be exceptional.[2] He uses his position to put Violet, and her friend, Rhiannon, in his squad so he can better help protect her.
However, The Wing Leader of Fourth Wing, Xaden Riorson moves Dain Aetos and his entire squad from Second Wing, Flame Section, Second Squad to Fourth Wing, Flame section, Second squad. This switch occurs with Aura Beinhaven's.
Mira Sorrengail tells Violet to seek out Dain after crossing the Parapet, under the belief that he'll help protect her. He wants to smuggle Violet out of the Riders Quadrant into the Scribe Quadrant.
Dain continues to attempt to convince Violet to leave the quadrant, though his own morals prevent him from intervening on her behalf. He attempts to treat her like every other cadet, believing that their friendship will jeopordize her reputation and possibly her life. Because of this, and a secret Violet harbors from him, the two begin to drift apart. However the two continue to try and navigate the new conditions of their friendship by spending time together before their respective duties.
Throughout the course of the year Dain continually pressures Violet to leave to go to the Scribe Quadrant, and makes comments insinuating that he thinks Violet is too weak for the riders quadrant. This starts to put a strain on his friendship with Violet, culmination in threshing, where she bonds with Tairn, who through his mated partner Sgaeyl, connects her with Xaden Riorson.
When Violet is attacked by unbonded cadets in her room, Dain refuses to believe that Amber, his friend, and likely former love interest, was at fault, and openly accuses Violet of lying. From then on, their friendship essentially dissolves, with both angry at one another. This culminates to a boiling point, when Dain uses his signet without Violet's knowledge, discovering Xaden's secret and relaying the information to his father. Colonel Aetos uses this information to send Xaden's War Game squad, unknowingly, into combat against a venin attack that leads to Liam and Soleil's deaths.
Iron Flame[]
| “ | “Last time I checked, you’re a section leader.” Dain narrows his eyes on Bodhi. “And your cousin isn’t her wingleader anymore. I am.” | ” |
–Dain Aetos to Bodhi Durran, Iron Flame | ||
He agrees not to reach for Violet's face and check her memories. He's fast and immaculate on the mat. Dain proudly points out that Violet has improved with her sparring. Violet angrily rubs it in stating she was trained by Xaden. He pins her down whilst her dagger is pointed against his throat. He insists on his point only needing to talk to Violet.
| “ | “I just want to talk to you,” he whispers, his face inches from mine.
The pain is nothing compared to the ice-cold fear of having his hands this close to me. “And I just want you to leave me the fuck alone.” I hold my knife steady right where he can feel it. |
” |
–Dain Aetos and Violet Sorrengail in the sparring gym, Iron Flame | ||
Violet accuses him of sending their squad to die during war games, but Dain clarifies that he had no such intention. He said he is going to miss Violet and any chance of a romantic relation he had with her. He then questions her about Xaden's scars and gives her the shocking fact that it was, her mother who did that.
| “ | " Your mother did it. " | ” |
–Dain Aetos to Violet Sorrengail, sparring, Iron Flame | ||
Dain is shocked to see a bruised Violet and her friends when he is called during RSC. [4]
| “ | " Regulations states that a rider should be healthy before beginning interrogation assessment ", Dain barks, ripping his gaze from mine to address Varrish. " Cadet Sorrengail is clearly not healthy | ” |
–Dain Aetos to Varrish, Interrogation Chamber, Iron Flame | ||
Varrish taunts him about his strict adherence to the codex. Dain is furious to be present in the chamber and angrily demands the reason for it. He's ordered by Varrish to use his signet on Violet, but he blatantly refuses. Varrish coaxes him further, stating that Dain could learn why she chose him - Xaden over him further prying on his insecurities. Dain holds his ground and denies participating in this assessment.[4]
| “ | " I will not participate in an interrogation assessment of a caded with prior injury " | ” |
–Dain Aetos to Varrish, Interrogation Chamber, Iron Flame | ||
When Violet is told to join her squad for the rest of formation, Dain breaks formation to speak with her. Violet, however, feels betrayed by the nonconsensual use of his signet, which directly led to the deaths of Liam and Soleil. Because of this, Violet makes a spectacle telling him to never touch her again otherwise she'll cut his hands off. Xaden escalates the public falling out by making it seem romantic in nature in an effort to keep people from connecting the dissolution of their friendship with the Battle of Resson.[5] Shocked by the outburst, Dain is embarrassed and upset. He talks back to Xaden, who reinforces Violet's rejection, and then leans in and secretly mentions the empty post at Athebyne. Dain seems to still be caught off guard, and he has no response but to fall back into formation.[5]
The next time Violet sees Dain is when he is leaving a leadership meeting with Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Bodhi and Violet and Imogen are getting ready to go on a run. Later in Battle Brief, Dain rebukes Caroline Ashton for recommending retaliation against a gryphon attack. He tells her "that's not our way" and that the codex forbids retaliation.[6]
After Violet kills her would-be assassin, Dain checks on her frantically, but she refuses to let him help her up, not wanting him to touch her. Dain reluctantly backs off and directs the removal of Nadine's body.[7]
During a special flight maneuvers class, third years join Violet's class to demonstrate, and Dain demonstrates the running landing for all cadets, with Kaori praising his execution.[8]
In Aretia, during his time there after joining the Revolution, Dain keeps his distance both physically and emotionally from Violet. When she is working on translating the journals, Violet asks Dain for help because his specialty is Krovlish. He is still wary of Violet, and asks if she sent for him of her "own volition." She asks for help and he immediately agrees.[9]
| “ | And just like that, I remember why he used to be one of my favorite people on the continent. | ” |
–- Violet, after he agrees to help her | ||
While Jesinia and Violet think they are looking for "iron rain," Dain is the one who realizes they mistranslated the word "rain," and it is meant to be "flame." He and Violet talk some, with her asking him why he stopped listening to her. He says it was when he said goodbye to her on his conscription day. He admits he was "pissed and scared" when she crossed parapet, and determined to ensure she was not on the death roll like so many of his friends. He also wanted to give her what she always thought she wanted (to be a scribe.) She says she wasn't mad about that, but rather that he was so "pigheaded" thinking he knew what was best for her, unlike when they were kids. They talk about how Basgiath changed them.[9]
Dain tries to apologize for the part he played in Liam's death, but Violet ignores him at first. She asks him if he read her memories every time he touched her face, and he says no, that he was just used to touching her face so much. He says he read her memories by accident the first time. He tells her that he "fucked up and trusted my dad when I should have trusted your judgement." He imbues the stone while Violet says she may never be able to forgive him, and she doesn't want to hear him talk about Liam or Soleil ever again. He agrees and says he will continue to help and follow those conditions. Dain asks Violet if she is in love with Xaden. She says she is and Dain says if Violet trusts Xaden, then he will too.[9] Leaving their former childhood friendship in a fragile state.
He continues imbuing the ward in Aretia along with Violet and Xaden, so it is ready when they need to raise it. Dain is there when the dragons breathe fire into the chamber to get the wards up, and his dragon Cath is the Red den representative of the six dragons there. When the ward goes up, Dain is as excited as Violet.[10]
When the riders arrive at Basgiath to defend it from the venin, Dain meets up with Violet and Mira to confront their mother. When General Sorrengail denies them, Dain offers to take them to the ward chamber, since he knows where it is because of his father. The general agrees to go with them, and Dain leads the way, opening the secret tunnel for them.[11]
Onyx Storm[]
TBD
Physical Description[]
| “ | He's hot. He has that whole boy-next-door-who-can-still-kick-your-ass vibe going for him. | ” |
–Rhiannon Matthias to Violet Sorrengail, Fourth Wing, Chapter 11 | ||
Dain is tall, having grown even more since the summer prior to the events of Fourth Wing. According to Violet he's become broader and more muscular, with strong, calloused[12] hands, and sports a new trimmed beard that cuts across his jaw and brackets his full lips.[13] When he turns his head there's a scar that peaks out from his beard along his chin. With tan skin, striking, soft, sandy-brown eyes that are hard set, and close-cropped light-brown curls, Violet notes that Dain went from cute to gorgeous. When he laughs every part of his body joins in.[14] As a Squad Leader, Dain often has a stern facial expression, though Violet notes that prior to becoming a rider he was funny and always grinning.[15]
Dain is usually seen wearing his pristine black uniform. There are sheaths for daggers on the inside of his leathers, and there's a dagger in each slot. He has a short-sleeved black tunic. His relic is a red dragon on his shoulder otherwise usually covered by short sleeves.[15] According to Violet he smells like leather and soap.[12]
Personality[]
As a child, Dain was less rule-abiding than he is at Basgiath. Since becoming a rider, he has become incredibly familiar with, and interested in, the Codex. According to Violet, he cares about every rule.[12] Although Dain is caring and often extremely overprotective of Violet, he can let the Codex get in the way of doing what's right which slowly led him and Violet drifting apart, then eventually reached an end of their friendship when Liam died due to his unintentional action. He likes order and detests anything that doesn't fit neatly into his plan.
| “ | If determination had a physical form it would be Dain Aetos | ” |
–Fourth Wing, Chapter 3 | ||
Dain has an authoritative personality, highlighted by his strict leadership dynamic. He's polite and respectful when it comes to affording Violet privacy to wrap her joints. He's adaptive as a result of his training in the Quadrant and uses it to come up with alternative ideas and plans, especially in the case of trying to get Violet to join the Scribes.[14] An act that Violet eventually find it suffocating as she begun to embrace her inner strength as a rider, but Dain believed his childhood friend will not survive in the quadrant upon which Violet translates it lacking faith in her capabilities despite he is overly worried for her life.
As majority of members in the Rider Quadrant are more open and rebellious to do what they want and what’s right despite the Codex, Dain is rather rigid to his ethics to follow rules, this behavior upon becoming Wingleader in Iron Flame, made him not to be taken seriously in extent from the squad he wants to lead, especially Rhiannon who openly stated that Dain is trying so hard to be Xaden and she would rather have him than Dain.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Lesser Magic[]
As a rider whose dragon is channeling through them, Dain is capable of performing lesser magic. With this channeling, Dain is able to do things like locking and unlocking doors without touching them, moving with preternatural speed, manipulate mage lights, and power ink pens.[15] Lesser magic also allows Dain to place runes.
Imbuing[]
A process of leaving a rider's power in stasis within an object,[16] not a skill that many riders have as it only comes naturally to a handful of signets.[17]
Signet[]
Retrocognition[]
The ability to read and feel [18] someone's memories using touch, he can search someone's memories and narrow down his search by focusing on certain words.[18] Due to the fact that it's limited to touch he's not considered a security risk, unlike inntinnsics. Due to the classified nature of his signet Dain expects the military to use him for intelligence. Though only a few leadership know about his ability, Dain confides in Violet when she asks about it. Vice Commandant Varrish mentors Dain to help him develop his ability.[15] According to Dain he can channel a pretty significant about of magic through his dragon Cath, though at the beginning of Fourth Wing he admits he's not adept at it yet.[15]
Abilities[]
Linguist[]
Dain has always had a gift for languages[14]
- Common Language
- Sign Language [8]
- Tyrrish
- Krovlish: His specialty[9]
- Old Lucerish: Used it as secret code with Violet when they were children[19]
- Can do bird-calls: Has used specific ones to communicate with Violet while their parents were stationed on the Krovlan border.[15]
Relationships[]
Violet Sorrengail[]
| “ | I can't lose you, Violet ... I just... can't. | ” |
–Dain to Violet, Fourth Wing, Chapter 9 | ||
Violet and Dain have known each other for roughly 15 years at the start of Fourth Wing. According to Violet, aside from Mira, Dain is the one person who knows Violet the best on the entire continent. The two met during childhood around the time that Violet was 5, and Dain 6, when his father Colonel Aetos became her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail's, aide. The two often traveled to the same outposts due to the nature of their parent's careers. No matter where they were stationed they always managed to find places to swim and climb trees, and once their parents moved to Basgiath they frequently went swimming in the Iakobos River. According to Violet, Dain would always bring her to see the healers when she inevitably hurt herself.[14] She teases him that after spending so much time together he's seen her in all types of clothing including swimwear, tunics, and ballgowns but wonders if it's riding leathers that turns him on. Dain tries to scoff but blushes at the insinuation, and later, when Violet jokes about what she can do with her tongue, Dain's gaze heats with the insinuation implying that her unrequited feelings may not be so one-sided.[14]
Leading up to the events of Fourth Wing, Violet hadn't seen Dain in the year since he joined the Riders Quadrant. She thinks about how she's missed him and their friendship, as well as all the moments she thought it might turn into something more under the right circumstances. Growing up, he looked at her like she was someone worth noticing.[20] Once they see each other again, Dain remarks that she's still a smart-ass as he takes her back to his dorm room to afford her some privacy while she wraps her knee as a result of Parapet. While in the room, Violet notes that Dain still has a tome on the Krovlan language she gave him prior to his Conscription Day, something he had to have carried across the parapet in his rucksack, as riders are only allowed to keep what they can carry.[14] As she wraps her knee, the two of them admit to missing one another in the year that they've been apart.
His composure falters during Violet's sparring assessment against Imogen and he carries her to the healers, which Violet sees as him revealing their friendship to all. He says he doesn't regret carrying her off because she means something to him. However, once with the healers, he asks for her to not be mended so the injury will seem severe enough to get her admitted into the Scribe Quadrant. Violet does not like this idea and tells him she will not go to the Scribe Quadrant. They argue about it, with Dain insisting she needs to leave, and Violet refusing. Dain begs Violet to switch quadrants if he cannot protect her. He says he should have stopped Imogen from injuring Violet so severely. Violet knows he is feeling guilty and shoulders the blame for her injury "like he always does." [21]
During the first few weeks of term, Dain escorts Violet to her morning duty everyday, though he swears he does it because it's the only time he gets to see her when he's not considered her squad leader.[12] It's during this time that he asks her about her sex life and if she's been with anyone since entering the quadrant, alluding to the fact by his reaction that he has feelings for her.[12] Despite the classified status of his signet, he excitedly tells Violet what it is.[15]
After Threshing, Dain kisses Violet for the first time and later on, he tells her that they cannot pursue a relationship because it would be frowned upon for a first-year to sleep with older riders, but that they can still be best friends. Before Amber's execution, Dain attempts, and fails, to violate Violet's privacy by reading her memories without asking. After Amber's execution, Dain alternates being cold and then warm to Violet, which the latter does not find comforting at all and began to question if Dain is still trustworthy.
Over the course of Fourth Wing, he becomes more and more over-protective about Violet, and refuses to believe that she is just as, if not more, capable than everyone else, and continually tries to convince her to switch to the Scribe Quadrant. There are a few moments where his lack of confidence in her causes her trust in him, and their friendship, to waiver. This results in his friendship with Violet falling apart because he is so overprotective that he is unable to see or accept who she really is, and continues to see her as broken and fragile, in need of help and protection, even though she is able to hold her own.
In Iron Flame, after his unintentional participation the causes of Liam’s death, Dain’s connection with Violet is far past strained, with Violet showing him outright hostility. When she wasn’t threatening him, Violet was ignoring him as much as possible. He made many efforts to extend an olive branch to Violet, like ensuring Sloane was added to their wing, but none of it change how Violet felt about him. Finally Dain challenges Violet on the sparring mat in an official capacity as the wing leader, which she couldn’t refuse. During this fight she finally speaks to him, and angrily tells him just what she’s been thinking about him stealing her memories, violating her privacy, and how his actions lead to Liam and Soleil dying. Dani surrenders to Violet and walks away, clearly disappointed and upset with the state of their relationship.
Later on, during Violet’s RSC course, Varrish tries to push Dain to use his powers on Violet, but Dain refuses to by citing rules of the codex which would prevent him from doing so. Violet is relieved by Dain doing the right thing in this moment, but not enough so to forget the past. Things escalate when Violet is arrested by Varrish after stealing from the royal library in the archives. When Dain is brought in to see her he is clearly disturbed by the state she is in, but knowing what she is accused of Dain does use his signant on her. Violet tries to show Dain the parts of her memories that matter most to her, like the terror that is the venin, and all the pain and torture she’s been through. In the end Dain saves Violet, and stabs Varrish, saving the finishing blow for Violet. Xaden and Garrick show up at this point to rescue Violet, and after she vouches for him to the others Dain decided to go with them to Aretia.
Aaric Graycastle[]
Dain, Aaric (Cam Tauri), and Violet grew up together due to the nature of their parents' work. They were often stuffed into rooms together while their parents were in meetings together. As Wingleader, Dain has Aaric added to fourth wing, and keeps his identity a secret from others.
Amber Mavis[]
As a first-year, Dain said he was close friends with the then second-year, Amber Mavis, however it is heavily implied that their relationship was more than a friendship. When it is found out that Amber led the group of unbonded cadets into Violet's room to try and kill her, Dain refuses to believe that and continually pressures Violet to renounce her statement.
Xaden Riorson[]
Xaden knows that Violet and Dain are friends and makes it known. Dain fears the call out is a lead-up to Xaden killing Violet, and he tells her to run. She does.[15] Dain hates Xaden due to his relationship with Violet. At first the hatred is because Dain, like everyone else, thinks Xaden is going to kill Violet in retribution for her mother's involvement in the execution of the rebels. Later, his hatred is due to his jealousy that Violet chose Xaden over him, and he still finds Xaden untrustworthy. However, after Dain makes the first move to kill Varrish, Xaden allows him to live, later telling Violet that he could see that Dain's intentions changed and Dain had a "true epiphany."[22]
Commanding General Aetos[]
Col. Aetos is Dain's father. Their relationship seems unremarkable in Fourth Wing. In Iron Flame, Dain realizes what his father did with War Games was not right, but doesn't understand the full extent of it. After Violet shows him the memory of Resson, he realizes his father's lies and kills Varrish. This marks his turn to the Revolution, which is clearly in opposition to his father.
Burton Varrish[]
The new vice commandant in Iron Flame seems to be a mentor to Dain, though his methods more resemble torture. He uses Dain to interrogate people in the name of training Dain's signet power. Dain ultimately sees Varrish for what he is and kills him for harming Violet for days.
Sloane Mairi[]
Dain and Sloane Mairi by batboys.art
The relationship between Dain and Sloane is complex. Dain feels both guilt and responsibility toward Sloane, as he blames himself for what happened to her brother, Liam Mairi.[23]
| “ | "His death will always be on my head. Yours will not." | ” |
–Dain Aetos to Sloane Mairi, Onyx Storm | ||
A pivotal moment occurs during a critical mission when Sloane utilizes her siphoning signet to transfer energy from Dain to Brennan in an effort to save Mira's life. This act of collaboration not only underscores the development of Sloane's abilities but also highlights a growing trust between her and Dain.[24]
Additionally, Dain's caring nature becomes more evident in his interactions with Sloane. He tells her that she is "life," not a weapon of destruction.[24]
Quotes[]
- "The Riders Quadrant cuts away the bullshit and the niceties, revealing whoever you are at your core." -to Violet [25]
- "If you want to wear rider black, then you earn it! You earn it every single day!" - In his first speech to new cadets as Wingleader[26]
- “I can read a person’s recent memories,” Dain admits quietly. “Not like an inntinnsic reads minds or anything—I have to put my hands on the person, so I’m not a security risk. But my signet’s not common knowledge. I think they’ll use me in intelligence.” —Dain telling Violet in confidence.[27]
- "I listen when you talk. At least, I used to." - To Violet toward the end of Iron Flame [9]
- "Garrick and I heard the end of what he said to you in the interrogation chamber and trust me, I might be in love with him after that declaration, but are you?" - to Violet[9]
- “How did Dain turn out halfway normal with that prick as a father?” —Ridoc asks the group. “He had ours, too,” Brennan replies to Ridoc. “Until he didn’t,” Violet mutters.[28]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- He's used a specific signal with Violet since they were kids living near the Krovlan border while their parents were stationed with the Southern Wing.[15]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/fourthwing/comments/1j3l1ix/dain_and_sloane/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button During her interview with the *Fantasy Fan Girls*, Rebecca Yarros herself confirmed backstage the reason she paired Sloane and Dain together, which left them *kicking their feet in the air*.`
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chapter 3, Fourth Wing
- ↑ Chapter 13, Fourth Wing
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Iron Flame, chapter 24
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Iron Flame, Ch 4
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 9
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 10
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 11
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Iron Flame, Chapter 49
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 56
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 59
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Fourth Wing, Chapter 8
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 11
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Fourth Wing, Chapter 3
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 Fourth Wing, Chapter 4
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 12
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 53
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 34
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 46
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chap 1
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Ch 6
- ↑ Iron Flame, Ch 56
- ↑ Onyx Storm, Chapter 28
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Onyx Storm, Chapter 59
- ↑ Chapter 4, Fourth Wing
- ↑ Iron Flame, Ch 8
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 4
- ↑ Onyx Storm, Chapter 171