If you’ve read Fourth Wing, you know that surviving the Parapet is only the beginning for Basgiath’s rider cadets. One of the most important — and most dangerous — moments of their first year is Threshing, the day when dragons choose the humans they are willing to bond with.
But how exactly does Threshing work? What is the difference between Presentation Day and Threshing, what happens if a dragon doesn’t choose you, and why is Violet Sorrengail’s experience so unusual?
Contents
What Is Threshing in Fourth Wing?
Threshing is the annual dragon bonding event for first-year cadets in the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College.
After surviving the Parapet, months of training, the Gauntlet and Presentation Day, the remaining cadets enter the Vale and attempt to bond with one of the dragons willing to take a rider. But there’s an important distinction: the cadets do not choose their dragons. The dragons choose them.
A cadet may desperately want to bond with a particular dragon, but the decision ultimately belongs to the dragon. Some cadets leave Threshing bonded to incredibly powerful dragons. Others leave without a bond — if they manage to leave at all. In Fourth Wing, Threshing takes place on October 1 in the Vale beneath Basgiath.
How Does Threshing Work?
At the beginning of Threshing, the first-year cadets spread out through the Vale and search for a dragon willing to bond with them. There is no neatly organized matching ceremony. Cadets move through the valley on their own, encountering dragons and waiting to see whether a connection forms. That makes Threshing particularly dangerous.
Dragons are under no obligation to tolerate humans they dislike, and approaching the wrong dragon can have fatal consequences. The cadets are also competing for a limited number of bonds, turning an already dangerous event into another brutal test of survival.
The basic process looks like this:
1. Cadets survive the previous Rider Quadrant tests.
Before they ever reach Threshing, they have already survived the Parapet, combat training and the Gauntlet.
2. The dragons see the cadets during Presentation.
This gives dragons an opportunity to observe the potential riders before Threshing.
3. Cadets enter the Vale for Threshing.
They separate and search for a dragon willing to bond.
4. The dragon makes the choice.
The human cannot force a bond simply because they want one.
5. A successful bond makes the cadet a rider.
The dragon and rider become magically connected, and the rider eventually develops a signet through the power channeled by their dragon.
That last point is what makes Threshing much more than another Basgiath test. It determines which cadets actually become dragon riders — and what magical power they may eventually wield.
Presentation Day vs. Threshing: What’s the Difference?
These two events are easy to mix up because they happen close together, but Presentation Day and Threshing are not the same thing.
Presentation Day
Presentation takes place immediately after the Gauntlet. Once the surviving first-year cadets make it to the top, they head into the Vale for Presentation, where the dragons get their first proper look at the humans who may become riders. Cadets walk past the assembled dragons, giving them a chance to observe and assess the year’s candidates before Threshing.
Threshing
Threshing is when the actual dragon-rider bonds are formed. The cadets enter the Vale and encounter dragons individually. If a dragon decides a particular human is worthy, it can choose that cadet as its rider.
So, simply:
Presentation = the dragons meet the candidates.
Threshing = the dragons choose their riders.
The events take place only days apart, with Threshing occurring on October 1.
Why Is Threshing So Dangerous?
There are two major threats during Threshing: the dragons — and the other cadets.
Dragons in the Empyrean are intelligent, powerful beings with their own rules, loyalties and personalities. They are not horses waiting to be assigned to riders. A dragon can reject a cadet completely — and provoking one can be deadly. But Threshing also exposes the brutal culture of the Riders Quadrant. With everyone desperate to secure a dragon bond and survive, cadets can become threats to one another as well.
Violet experiences exactly that when she discovers Jack Barlowe, Oren and Tynan targeting the small golden feathertail during her first Threshing. Rather than ignore what is happening and continue searching for a dragon, Violet intervenes to protect it.
What Happened During Violet’s Threshing?
Violet’s Threshing becomes one of the most unusual bonding events at Basgiath because she doesn’t leave with one dragon. She leaves with two.
Tairn
Violet bonds with Tairn, a massive black morningstartail and one of the most powerful dragons in Navarre. His decision shocks the Riders Quadrant — particularly because Violet had spent much of her first year being viewed as physically vulnerable and unlikely to survive. But Tairn isn’t interested in what everyone else thinks Violet should be capable of. Her willingness to put herself in danger to protect another being becomes an important part of what separates her from the cadets around her.
Andarna
Then comes the truly unprecedented part. The small golden feathertail Violet protected also chooses her. Andarna bonds with Violet even though Violet is already bonded to Tairn. The unusual double bond causes an immediate dispute, but ultimately the dragons themselves determine that both bonds will stand. That leaves Violet connected to two dragons at once, something that sets her apart from the other riders from the very beginning.
What Happened During Xaden’s Threshing?
Although the main series has never told the full story of Xaden’s Threshing, we already know that it was a particularly eventful day. During Threshing, Sgaeyl chose Xaden as her rider, forming the bond that would later allow him to channel her power. We also learn in Iron Flame that Xaden killed Alic Tauri, Aaric’s older brother, during the same Threshing. According to Xaden, Alic had gone after Garrick, and Xaden intervened to protect his best friend. Aaric has never forgotten that Xaden was responsible for his brother’s death, making the incident an important part of the tension between the two characters.
Rebecca Yarros has confirmed that Xaden’s Threshing story will appear in the upcoming Threshing Day collection, making his bonding day especially relevant now. The book releases on September 29, 2026, and features thirteen stories about familiar characters and their dragons. Yarros has not yet revealed which parts of Xaden’s Threshing the story will cover, so we still don’t know whether readers will see Alic’s death, Xaden’s first encounter with Sgaeyl, or both.
What Happens After Threshing?
Once a dragon and cadet bond, the cadet officially moves forward as a rider. The bond also opens the door to one of the most important parts of the Empyrean magic system. Dragons channel magic through their riders, and that power eventually manifests in the rider’s signet — a unique magical ability shaped not only by the dragon’s power but also by the rider. That’s why Threshing has consequences far beyond simply determining who gets to ride which dragon. The dragon a cadet bonds with can fundamentally change the rest of their life.
Why Is It Called “Threshing”?
The word “threshing” comes from agriculture. Traditionally, threshing is the process of separating grain from the stalks and husks after harvest.
That makes the name especially fitting for Basgiath’s dragon-bonding event. Threshing separates the remaining first-year cadets into those who are chosen by dragons and those who leave without a bond. Like so many stages of the Riders Quadrant, it is another brutal process of selection — except this time, the dragons are the ones deciding who makes the cut.
What Is Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros?
There is now another reason the word Threshing matters to Empyrean fans. Rebecca Yarros’ upcoming book Threshing Day is officially scheduled for September 29, 2026. Her publisher describes it as the next Empyrean book and confirms that it contains 13 stories starring familiar characters and their dragons.
At the moment, however, the publisher has not released a detailed synopsis or full breakdown of the thirteen stories, so there is still much we don’t know about the collection. What we do know is that Threshing Day is not the next full-length novel in the main storyline. Instead, it is a collection of thirteen Empyrean stories featuring familiar characters and their dragons.
Release date: September 29, 2026
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Series: The Empyrean
Contents: 13 stories featuring characters and their dragons
📖 Read While You Wait for Book 4
Threshing Day releases on September 29, 2026 and features 13 new stories about beloved characters and their dragons.
Pre-Order Threshing Day on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
FAQ
What day is Threshing in Fourth Wing?
Threshing takes place on October 1, shortly after Presentation Day.
What is the purpose of Threshing?
Threshing is when dragons select the first-year cadets they are willing to bond with, determining who will move forward as bonded dragon riders.
Do riders choose their dragons during Threshing?
No. The dragons make the choice. Cadets can seek out dragons, but they cannot force one to bond with them.
Who does Violet bond with during Threshing?
Violet bonds with Tairn and Andarna, giving her the extremely unusual distinction of being bonded to two dragons.
Is Presentation Day the same as Threshing?
No. Presentation allows dragons to observe the cadets beforehand; Threshing is the event in which the actual dragon-rider bonds are formed.
Is Threshing Day Fourth Wing Book 4?
Threshing Day is officially described by the publisher as an Empyrean book containing 13 stories about characters and their dragons, rather than as the fourth full-length novel in the main storyline. It releases September 29, 2026.
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