Elide Lochan

Chapter 1

Once upon a time a fearsome warrior went to rescue a maiden in distress, only to find that the maiden had already rescued herself.

Elide Lochan sat down at the top of the cold stone stairs and carefully dragged her chains up to meet her. The icy metal cut into her ankles forming a rim of blue and purple skin. Her bony hands brushed the stone step next to her absentmindedly as she stared out of the small archer slit in the castle wall. The iron grate was covered in a brown moss, strongly showing the years of disuse. Elide thread a scarred finger through the small gaps and savoured the feeling of the bitter wind. She inhaled deeply as the swirling mist tendrils toyed with her chipped finger nails.
Below her in the castle courtyard, a bustle of movement was happening as everyone prepared for the arrival of the Iron Teeth witches from the Blackbeak Clan. Elide didn't know much about witches but she did know that they were one of the most feared creatures in Erilea; their iron teeth and nails made sure of that.

The North tower, at the far end of the castle was being made into a makeshift wyvern barracks and Elide watched as the construction slowly took place. A stone mason was carefully making an opening at the top of the ancient stone tower for the wyverns to fly into. A complex system of pulleys and shaft kept him a loft, high about the castle grounds. Elide felt slightly sorry for him; one false move and he would tumble to his death.

Elide heaved herself up, bundling her chains into her arms. After one last glance over her shoulder, she hurried up the stairs as fast as the heavy chains and her deformed foot would allow and towards her small quarters in the depths of the servants tower.

~

Manon Blackbeak, heir to the Blackbeak clan watched her thirteen with intense interest. The wyverns stirred uneasily as Manon glared coldly at each of them in turn. She grinned at this; her iron teeth glinting wickedly in the sunlight. "Asterin!" Manon snapped, "Did you find out where the nearest hunting ground is?" Asterin nudged her wyvern forward, holding Manon's gaze.
"Wing Leader," She said respectfully, "There are no villages in the area, however if we flew further South-"
Manon snarled: "You know why we can't do that." Asterin didn't even blink as if this wasn't a surprise to her.
"Manon, there are no other hunting grounds in the area." Asterin told her, frustration creeping into her voice. "If you would just listen I could inform where he nearest village is."
Manon smiled cruelly: "Oh, and where is that, dear cousin?"
Asterin replied smoothly, "Just over the river, in the middle of the forest clearing."
Manon brought Abraxos along side Asterin's mount, "Firstly, it's Wing Leader to you, cousin." She leaned over and traced a sharp nail along Asterin's check, leaving a trickle of warm blood. Asterin stiffened slightly. "And if you ever lie to me again, this nail..." Manon sucked Asterin's blood off one nail, "Will crossing your throat."

Authors Note:
Hope you like this new story! It might be a bit different from Sarah's version at some points but for the beginning of the story I will follow the book as much as possible but then also write a bit more about Elide's life before and after Manon comes to rescue her. Enjoy! :)