Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass)
Chapter 1
by Maas, Sarah J.Elide Lochan’s arduous journey begins as she struggles up a steep forest hill, her breath ragged and her leg aching from the treacherous terrain beneath the soggy leaves and loose stones. Despite the pain, she pushes forward, driven by the urgency to reach her destination and find her lost queen. The forest around her stretches endlessly, symbolizing her entrapment within this vast, confining landscape. Her thoughts are haunted by her recent traumatic memories from Morath, where she faced the guards attempting to implant Valg offspring and witnessed Kaltain Rompier’s final act of destruction. These memories deepen her sense of despair and resolve, fueling her resolve to survive and fulfill her mysterious mission.
Elide’s environment is oppressive with the summer heat, making water her most precious resource. She reflects on her narrow escape from dehydration after drinking stagnant pond water, which nearly cost her her life. The mysterious stone in her pocket pulses with a strange, almost hypnotic rhythm, whispering in unknown languages—an ominous sign that she might be carrying a gift or a curse. Her internal struggle with hunger and exhaustion underscores her vulnerability, yet she remains cautious about seeking help or risking encounters with humans, especially after her traumatic experiences with guards and her familial past. Her constant vigilance highlights her fragile state and the dangerous, unpredictable world she navigates.
As Elide scavenges for food, she contemplates her uncertain future and her lack of survival skills, such as hunting. Her thoughts drift to her uncertain border crossing into Terrasen and her desperate hope to find her queen and court. She is haunted by the memory of her past abuses and her mistrust of men, which keeps her wary of seeking aid from strangers. Her careful movements through the forest, avoiding sunlight and staying in shadows, demonstrate her instinct for self-preservation. Her focus narrows to finding water first, knowing that survival hinges on it, especially as darkness approaches and her physical strength wanes.
In the final moments, Elide senses an unnatural presence in the forest that causes the usual sounds to halt. Her body tenses, recognizing the significance of this quiet—an ominous prelude to danger. She positions herself near a fallen oak, seeking refuge, but the foreboding sound of leathery wings and the distant hum of wyverns signal imminent peril. The chapter ends with her awareness of the deadly threat posed by the Ironteeth witches and the wyverns they ride, emphasizing the perilous environment she must navigate. Her journey is fraught with both physical and supernatural dangers, underscoring her resilience and the unpredictable nature of her quest.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What are the main physical and emotional challenges Elide faces during her journey through the forest, and how do these challenges influence her actions and mindset?
Answer:
Elide faces numerous physical challenges, including intense exhaustion, pain from her injured leg, dehydration, and the danger of the treacherous terrain. Her body is pushed to its limits as she gasps for breath, limps over rocky slopes, and struggles to find water, which has become her most precious resource. Emotionally, she is haunted by traumatic memories of Morath, feelings of despair, and uncertainty about her future. These hardships cause her to experience moments of hopelessness, yet they also reinforce her resilience and determination to survive. Her awareness of her vulnerability influences her cautious behavior, such as avoiding villages and hunting for safe water sources, and her focus on reaching her goal of finding her queen and the mysterious Celaena Sardothien.2. Question 2
How does Elide interpret the strange, dark stone she carries, and what significance does Kaltain’s statement about the key hold in understanding its purpose?
Answer:
Elide perceives the dark stone as mysterious and possibly powerful, especially since it thrums and throbs in her pocket, whispering and singing in unknown languages. Kaltain’s cryptic statement, “Tell her that you can open any door, if you have the key,” suggests that the stone might be a key-like object or possess the ability to unlock something significant. Although it doesn’t resemble a typical key, Kaltain’s words imply it could be a riddle or metaphor for its true purpose. This enhances the sense that the stone is not just a physical object but potentially holds magical or symbolic importance—possibly connected to her destiny or the unlocking of hidden powers or secrets.3. Question 3
In what ways does Elide’s past and her experiences with human cruelty influence her current decisions and attitude toward seeking help or safety?
Answer:
Elide’s past, marked by abuse, betrayal, and exploitation by humans—such as the leering guards and her uncle’s sale of her—deeply shapes her distrust of others. She has learned to be cautious and wary of kindness, fearing it may conceal danger or betrayal. This trauma influences her decision to avoid villages and hunters’ fires, preferring to stay in shadows rather than risk further exploitation. Her attitude reflects a hardened survival instinct; she values her independence and is reluctant to seek help, fearing that human mercy might be a façade for cruelty. Her past experiences make her prioritize safety and self-reliance as she navigates the dangerous forest environment.4. Question 4
What does Elide’s reaction to the berries and her awareness of her limitations reveal about her character and her understanding of her situation?
Answer:
Elide’s cautious approach to foraging—rubbing berries on her wrist to check for reactions—demonstrates her resourcefulness and survival instincts. Her awareness of her limits, such as not knowing how to hunt or kill for food, highlights her vulnerability but also her humility and self-awareness. She recognizes she is not yet a Blackbeak and does not want to become desperate enough to commit violence, showing her moral restraint. Her careful handling of her food supplies and her refusal to venture into dangerous areas reflect her cautious mindset, shaped by her traumatic past and her desire to stay alive without succumbing to desperation or moral compromise.5. Question 5
What foreshadowing elements are present in the chapter that hint at future threats or pivotal events, and how do they contribute to the story’s tension?
Answer:
The chapter contains several foreshadowing elements that heighten tension, such as the ominous sound of the wyverns and the mention of Ironteeth witches riding them. These creatures are known for their deadly nature, suggesting that Elide’s journey will soon involve encountering formidable enemies. Additionally, the strange, whispering stone and the reference to opening doors with a key hint at upcoming revelations or powers that could play a crucial role in her quest. The moment she hears the wingbeats, coupled with her awareness of the forest’s dangers, builds suspense about her next move and the impending confrontation with dark forces, maintaining a sense of foreboding and anticipation throughout the chapter.
Quotes
1. “Elide Lochan’s breath scorched her throat with every gasping inhale as she limped up the steep forest hill.”
This opening line sets the tone of her physical and emotional struggle, highlighting her desperation and the perilous journey she faces. It introduces her as a character enduring both physical pain and a dire situation, framing the chapter’s focus on survival and resilience.
2. “Most of the time, too much of the time, they did.”
This line reflects Elide’s cautious approach to foraging, emphasizing her wariness of the dangerous, unfamiliar environment and the risks involved in trusting the wild and its offerings. It underscores her survival instinct amid scarcity and uncertainty.
3. “Elide often studied the iridescent black stone whenever she halted for a needed break. It certainly didn’t look like a key: rough-hewn, as if it had been cleaved from a larger chunk of stone. Perhaps Kaltain’s words were a riddle meant only for its recipient.”
This quote introduces the mysterious black stone and Kaltain’s cryptic message about it, hinting at its significance as a potential key—either literal or metaphorical—in her journey. It highlights the chapter’s central theme of discovery and the importance of hidden knowledge.
4. “She’d follow the streambed for as long as possible, staying northward, and then—Elide didn’t know what sense, exactly, picked up on it. Not smell or sight or sound, for nothing beyond the rot of the loam and the whispering of the high-above leaves was out of the ordinary. But—there. Like some thread in a great tapestry had snagged, her body locked up.”
This passage captures the moment of an instinctive, almost supernatural warning, emphasizing the chapter’s motif of hidden dangers lurking in the environment. It reflects Elide’s growing awareness of unseen threats, symbolized by the mysterious “thread” that signals peril.
5. “The beating of mighty, leathery wings. Wyverns. And perhaps more deadly: the Ironteeth witches who rode them.”
This final quote introduces the looming presence of lethal enemies, setting the stage for upcoming conflict. It underscores the chapter’s tension and the peril that awaits Elide, connecting her immediate environment to the broader, more dangerous world she must navigate.