Manon Blackbeak
Quick Facts: Heir to the Blackbeak Witch-Clan, Wing Leader of the Thirteen, introduced in Heir of Fire. Key relationships: Mother Blackbeak (grandmother), Abraxos (wyvern), Asterin Blackbeak (Second).
Who She Is
Manon Blackbeak is the embodiment of Ironteeth witch brutality, raised to be a ruthless killer and unquestioning heir to the Blackbeak Clan. Beneath her icy exterior, however, lies a flicker of conscience that begins to ignite as she forms unexpected bonds and witnesses the true cost of her clan's cruelty. Her journey is a dark mirror reflecting themes of freedom, identity, and the struggle against oppressive systems.
Personality & Traits
Manon is the quintessential Ironteeth witch: disciplined, lethal, and seemingly devoid of compassion. Yet, beneath the layers of indoctrinated cruelty, a capacity for choice and mercy begins to emerge.
- Ruthless and Cruel: Manon takes pride in her deadly efficiency, showing no mercy to enemies and viewing weakness with contempt. Her introduction depicts her slaughtering three mortal men, an act she considers a mere hunt.
- Disciplined and Obedient: She adheres strictly to the chain of command, obeying her grandmother's orders without question and demanding the same unwavering obedience from her coven, the Thirteen.
- Arrogant and Dominant: As heir to the most powerful witch clan, Manon carries herself with an air of superiority, constantly asserting her dominance over rivals like Iskra and Petrah.
- Loyal (in her own way): Manon possesses a fierce, unspoken loyalty to her coven, the Thirteen, trusting them implicitly in battle and looking out for them in her own way, as seen in her leadership during the War Games.
- Emerging Conscience: Her relationship with her wyvern, Abraxos, and her decision to save Petrah reveal a capacity for choice and mercy that contradicts her upbringing.
Character Journey
Manon's arc in Heir of Fire is a subtle but profound transformation. She begins as a perfect product of Blackbeak indoctrination, motivated solely by serving her grandmother and securing her position as heir. Her claiming of Abraxos, a scarred and abused bait beast, marks her first act of defiance, guided by an instinct she doesn't understand. Her bond with Abraxos forces her to confront a different kind of strength, one not based on pure brutality. This culminates during the War Games when she saves Petrah, solidifying the crack in her hardened exterior. The final scene, where she is forced to execute a captured Crochan witch, leaves her with a new, unsettling emotion: regret, planting a seed of doubt about the monstrous path she has been forced to walk.
Key Relationships
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Mother Blackbeak: The Matron of the Blackbeak clan and Manon's grandmother. Their relationship is defined by fear and absolute obedience. Mother Blackbeak views Manon as a weapon and an heir to be honed, shaping her cruelty and ambition.
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The Thirteen: Manon's elite coven, particularly her Second, Asterin. They are a lethal, synchronized unit bound by a century of shared battle and survival. Their loyalty to Manon is absolute, representing the only "family" she truly values.
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Abraxos: Her wyvern. The bond between Manon and Abraxos is the catalyst for her change. By choosing the broken but resilient bait beast, she defies the Blackbeak obsession with pure, brute strength. Abraxos's gentle nature challenges her worldview and awakens a protective, almost affectionate, side of her.
Defining Moments
- Introduction in Fenharrow: Manon's brutal hunting and killing of three mortal men immediately establishes her lethal nature and the Ironteeth witches' disdain for humans. This scene sets the stage for her character as a heartless killer.
- Claiming Abraxos: During the mount selection, Manon witnesses Abraxos defeat the champion bull Titus through cunning and will. Defying expectations, she claims the smaller, scarred wyvern, a decision that sets her on a new path, guided by instinct rather than Blackbeak doctrine.
- Saving Petrah: In the War Games climax, Manon abandons her chance at victory to save Petrah from a fatal plunge after Iskra attacks her mount. This act of mercy is a direct violation of her Blackbeak training, showcasing her burgeoning conscience.
- Executing the Crochan Witch: As Wing Leader, Manon is forced to execute a captured Crochan witch, whose final words about the Ironteeth making their children into monsters deeply affect Manon, leaving her with a profound sense of regret for the first time.
Essential Quotes
“Silent as death, Manon slid up behind him. The fool didn’t even know she was there until she brought her mouth close to his ear and whispered, “Wrong kind of witch.”
This quote encapsulates Manon's lethal efficiency and the fear she inspires. It highlights her predatory nature and the deadly consequences of underestimating her.
The witch and the wyvern looked at each other for a moment that lasted for a heartbeat, that lasted for eternity. “You’re mine,” Manon said to him. The wyvern blinked at her, Titus’s blood still dripping from his cracked and broken teeth, and Manon had the feeling that he had come to the same decision.
This quote captures the pivotal moment when Manon chooses Abraxos, defying expectations and forging a bond that will challenge her worldview. It symbolizes her first step towards breaking free from the Blackbeak's rigid ideology.
“This,” the Crochan said for all to hear, “is a reminder. My death—my murder at your hands, is a reminder. Not to them,” she breathed, pinning Manon with that soil-brown stare. “But to you. A reminder of what they made you to be. They made you this way.”
This quote is a turning point for Manon, forcing her to confront the consequences of her upbringing and the cruelty she has been taught to embrace. The Crochan witch's words plant a seed of doubt and regret in Manon's heart, setting her on a path of questioning her identity.
She had never known regret—not true regret, anyway. But she regretted not knowing the Crochan’s name. She regretted not knowing who the new cloak on her shoulders had belonged to—where she had come from, how she had lived. Somehow, even though her long life had been gone for ten years … Somehow, that regret made her feel incredibly, heavily mortal.
This quote reveals the depth of Manon's transformation, as she experiences true regret for the first time. It signifies her growing empathy and her recognition of the humanity she has long suppressed, making her feel "heavily mortal" and questioning the value of her long, brutal life.