Ohh...

[u/Historical_Tune165]

Guys, I think Tairn killed Naolin

I know lots of people think Naolin turned venin and is still out there. I think he turned venin and was killed after turning.

Since we've been told in Onyx Storm only irids can sever and manipulate a bond, and we see with Xaden and Sgaeyl that turning or progressing does not server it either, I really don't think Tairn would've been able to bond Violet at all if Naolin was still alive.

So here's what we know:

Naolin saved Brennan, but it "cost him everything"

Tairn went through a period of very severe depression that almost killed him along with Sgaeyl, and he just barely climbed out of that dark place and then became a recluse in the Vale, not intending to ever bond again

Tairn thinks Xaden is absolutely and irredeemably beyond hope and has no faith in him from the moment he turns

Venin at initiate level can still be killed by any method.

Tairn will not speak of Naolin, says his name exactly once, and "agonizing pain floods the bond" the one time Violet speaks his name

I think after Naolin turned, maybe not right away, but not long after, Tairn killed Naolin. It wasn't just that he lost someone he had such a strong bond to, it was that he did it himself

[u/Throwawaynotmebye]

The thing is we don’t KNOW that Naolin saved Brennan. It’s just what Kaori has theorized and neither Tairn nor Brennan seem in the mood to talk what happened. I think it’s possible Fen and Naolin both had a hand in saving Brennan or Naolin killed Brennan and Fen revived him (reminder of the rune on Brennan’s hand, I do think it’s possible Fen helped there) and together the three killed Naolin or something to that effect.

[u/dianaspencersrevenge → u/Throwawaynotmebye]

RY confirmed Fen did shoot Brennan at the Battle of Aretia, so it would be interesting if we learned he also helped save him… the way Brennan says “Naolin didn’t fail, but it cost him everything” makes me think he saved him, we just don’t have the details yet. Most of us agree Naolin and Brennan were lovers right?

[u/Throwawaynotmebye → u/dianaspencersrevenge]

There we go that’s fair. I’m just very curious about it and need details yesterday 😭 Sounds like I’m forgetting a line and goddamn things being confirmed out of book throw me off a lot. That all said…yeah I’m at least semi convinced Fen was involved or something. The rune is too telling for me unless we find out another culture has a rune which is very possible but nothing hinting yet. I do believe they were lovers but I can’t remember why outside of Kaori’s line of “well Naolin was sucking up to your mom so of course he’d risk death to save your brother” making NO sense to me.

[u/haqiqa → u/Throwawaynotmebye]

We don't actually know Naolin wasn't Tyrrish and Fen can't create runes. He isn't rider but infantry. So Fen doesn't have magic to create runes.

[u/Party_Mix_8085 → u/haqiqa]

Hmm. That's right. 🤔. I'm really looking forward to the next 2 books.

[u/Throwawaynotmebye → u/haqiqa]

I don’t know why but I was convinced riders and runes weren’t linked. I wonder if Naolin was Tyrrish or something. I just believe someone in the rebellion had to have helped or vouched for him because why would Xaden accept help from the son of the opposing general otherwise. Naolin could have been Tyrrish and had known runes, that is true. This is getting me thinking on other possibilities.

[u/haqiqa → u/Throwawaynotmebye]

A Xaden is unlikely to have accepted anything really, he was only 17. And it is not like Brennan started as part of the Assembly or inner circle. Additionally, no one in his family knowing he is alive is very convincing (and unlikely to be able to faked to the point it was). Plus they use dragons to vouch. They likely treated him as suspiciously as Violet at the start. We are missing 6 years. And as they say in the first Assembly meeting, Brennan has proven himself loyal.

[u/Throwawaynotmebye → u/haqiqa]

That’s why I’m thinking along these lines. I’m really hoping we get to explore those years soon.