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Eldest
General
Author	Christopher Paolini
Cover Artist	John Jude Palencar
Publisher	Alfred A. Knopf
Details
Publish Date	August 23, 2005
Type	Hardcover, Paperback, Audio
Number of pages	(HC - 668 / PP - 704)
ISBN	ISBN 0375-82670-X
Preceded by	Eragon
Followed by	Brisingr

Eldest is the second book in the Inheritance cycle. It was released on August 23, 2005, and, like Eragon, became a New York Times bestseller.

Cover flap summary Edit

"Darkness falls… Despair abounds… Evil Reigns"

— Eldest

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesméra, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, vital skills for a Dragon Rider. It is the journey of a lifetime, filled with awe-inspiring new places and people, each day a fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall – one that puts Eragon in even graver danger…

Plot summary Edit

Twin Disaster Edit

Eldest begins with Urgals attacking the Varden. This leads to the death of Ajihad, and the disappearance of Murtagh and the Twins. Subsequently, Eragon Shadeslayer, who witnessed Ajihad's death, is summoned to the Council of Elders to help them choose a new leader. They want to choose Nasuada, and use her as a puppet for their wishes. Eragon accepts their choice and agrees to pledge his fealty. However, Eragon stuns the Council by pledging his fealty to Nasuada, not them, and Nasuada is not as easy to control as the Council thought previously.

The Battle for Carvahall Begins Edit

Meanwhile, Roran has returned to Carvahall and come to the conclusion that Garrow died because of Eragon bringing home the blue stone. He is also trying to tell Sloan that he wants to marry Katrina. They are disrupted, however, when Roran and Baldor, one of Horst's sons, spot the Ra'zac and thirty Imperial soldiers camped nearby. Roran hides in the spine.

Departure for Ellesméra Edit

Saphira promises Hrothgar to repair the Star Sapphire, Isidar Mithrim. She then gets drunk at a dwarf feast. Then Ajihad's funeral is held, and Nasuada officially becomes the leader of the Varden. Eragon, in deference to Ajihad's last wishes, swears fealty to her. Eragon meets Trianna, a sorceress. She invites Eragon to lead the Du Vrangr Gata, a group of magic users who serve the Varden. Before Eragon can respond, Saphira scares the woman off. Eragon prepares for his departure for Ellesméra. It turns out that Orik and Arya will accompany him. Nasuada's first action as the leader is to move the Varden to Surda, a small, neutral country south of the Empire. Eragon and Saphira say goodbye to Angela and Solembum, who will be accompanying the Varden. The next day, as they are about to leave, Orik announces that Eragon is invited into Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, the clan that Orik and Hrothgar belong to. Eragon accepts, and they leave.

The Ra'zac's Threat Edit

Roran hears from one of Horst's sons, Albriech, that the brewer, Quimby, is dead and that he was eaten by the Ra'zac. Roran and several other men, including Quimby's thirteen-year-old son, Nolfavrell, decide to fight back. They kill some soldiers, but some of their own are killed. They build a wall against the Ra'zac, and there is another battle. More villagers die, including ten-year-old Elmund. Quimby's widow, Birgit, has a vendetta against Roran for being related to Eragon and she feels Roran is the cause of Quimby's death. Roran and Katrina are finally engaged. The Ra'zac say that they will enslave the villagers if they give up Roran, and if they don't give Roran up, the villagers will all be killed.

The Journey of a Lifetime Edit

Eragon, Saphira, Arya, and Orik stop at a dwarf city called Tarnag. Not all the dwarves there are happy about Eragon being part of a clan, particularly one clan, Dûrgrimst Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, which hates all Dragon Riders. Eragon visits a dwarf temple, Celbedeil, where he learns about their religion and six gods. They all decide to leave when the city becomes increasingly unstable. The rest of the journey is fairly uneventful. Eragon learns that dwarves have seven toes on each foot, and sees a primitive dragon-like creature in the Beor Mountains. Arya shows Eragon how to act among elves. They travel by raft and donkey until the company of eleven reaches Ceris, an elven outpost. Two elves, Lifaen and Narí, accompany Eragon, Saphira, Arya, and Orik to Ellesméra. They tell Eragon of King Palancar, who lived in Carvahall and led the humans long ago. As they near an elven city, Eragon and Orik are overcome by elvish singing, driving them into a rage when they are held back by their elven guards.

Exodus Edit

The Carvahall villagers are fighting over what to do. Roran convinces them to escort the women and children into the Spine. He privately asks Katrina to go, despite the fact that she is an adult and Sloan hates the Spine. As they prepare to leave, Sloan discovers everything and is forced to accept that Roran and Katrina are engaged. Sloan betrays everybody by murdering Byrd, the watchman, allowing the Ra'zac to kidnap Katrina and wound Roran in the process. Nevertheless, Roran decides to leave Carvahall and lead the villagers on an exodus to Surda, a small, independent nation south of the Empire. He does not convince all the villagers, however. A few do not go.

A Long-lost Secret Edit

In Ellesméra, Eragon and his friends meet Queen Islanzadí of the elves. It turns out that Arya, who is a hundred years old, is her daughter. He also meets Maud, another werecat, and Blagden, a bird who can talk. Eragon is also introduced to another Dragon Rider, Oromis, the "Togira Ikonoka" who shielded Eragon during the battle under Farthen Dûr, and his three-legged golden dragon, Glaedr. It was they who taught Brom, Morzan, and their dragons. Oromis is weak, and therefore cannot take part in the war against Galbatorix, but has woven countless spells around himself to ensure that he will survive long enough to train the next Rider.

The Training Begins Edit

Eragon and Saphira begin their training with Oromis and Glaedr. Eragon finds out that he actually cursed the baby in Farthen Dûr. Arya introduces him to a smith named Rhunön who made all the Riders' swords, including Zar'roc. She has sworn an oath that she will never make another weapon. Arya shows Eragon a tree called the Menoa Tree which was once an elven woman. Eragon recalls that Solembum mentioned it in a prophecy of sorts, telling Eragon if he needs a weapon to "look under the Menoa Tree".

Lace and Chemistry Edit

At this point, Nasuada and the Varden are in Aberon, Surda's capital. The Surdan king, Orrin, who is relatively young for a monarch, is a chemist. He is worried that Nasuada is taking over his country. Nasuada tells Trianna to magically create lace to raise money for the Varden. Nasuada meets Elva, the cursed baby, who appears to be about four years old. Instead of being shielded from misfortune, she shields others from misfortune. Orrin vetoes the lace idea.

Lessons in the ForestEdit

Back in Ellesméra, Eragon has lessons on debating and logic, history and geography, and magic and swordfighting. He becomes fluent in the Ancient Language. Every day he spars with an elf named Vanir. He learns that Orik is engaged to Hvedra, another dwarf. Eragon learns that the Ra'zac ride on their parents, the Lethrblaka. He realizes that not all Urgals are evil. Saphira also has lessons from Glaedr. Eragon begins to experience strong feelings for Arya, but faces the realization that he cannot join her because of the age gap between them. At the same time, he suffers repeated painful attacks from the scar on his back.

A Lucky Escape Edit

Roran and the villagers arrive at the port city of Narda. They find three barges and convince the captain, Clovis, to take them to Teirm. In Teirm, Roran, Gertrude, Birgit, Nolfavrell, Byrd's son Mandel, and Loring, an elder, enter the city in disguise. Gertrude and Mandel go off in search of Angela, and the others visit Jeod in search of a ship. When Nolfavrell is about to reveal something, Roran interrupts by asking about Angela's shop. Jeod answers, and Nolfavrell asks if that was who Gertrude was looking for. Jeod recognizes Gertrude's name from what Brom said, and tells Roran what happened to Eragon and Brom. They pirate a ship to Surda. When they are pursued by the Empire, they bravely lead their enemies across a whirlpool called the Boar's Eye.

Changed Forever Edit

Glaedr teaches Eragon and Saphira about dragons. Then there is a celebration called the Blood-Oath Celebration to honor the first Riders. The dragons give Eragon a gift; they make him into an elf-human hybrid, removing all of his scars. Orik, Arya, and even Vanir are impressed. After the blood-oath, Eragon learns that the elves have no religion. He scries the Varden with magic, and the threat of war with Galbatorix seems imminent. Upon hearing of this, Eragon, Saphira, and Orik immediately leave to go to their aid. They stop at Aberon to find out that the battle will be on the Burning Plains.

The Battle of the Burning Plains Edit

Eragon arrives to find the situation poised on the edge of war. The armies of the Varden, mixed with the army of Surda, camp on a plain opposite the vast armies of Galbatorix. Some Urgals, led by Nar Garzhvog, who have been freed from Durza's spell, ask to join the Varden. At first Eragon hates the idea, but Nasuada and Saphira convince him otherwise. The battle begins, and Eragon is able to repel the opposing armies for some time using his new-found powers. The tide of the battle shifts back and forth between both sides. With the appearance of the dwarves, the situation changes to favor the Varden. Roran comes with Jeod and the villagers. The appearance of an unknown Dragon Rider who kills Hrothgar with magic turns the tables once again.

A Startling Revelation Edit

Eragon faces off with the strange Rider, and ultimately unmasks him to reveal Murtagh, who had not been killed, but had been taken by the Twins to Galbatorix, and forced to swear allegiance to the king in the Ancient Language. He and his dragon, Thorn, prove to be more powerful than the weakened Eragon, while Murtagh displays an exemplary skill in magic, using spells that would have killed a normal human. Murtagh decides to have mercy on Eragon and Saphira, however, by twisting a way out of his oaths he took in the Ancient Language. Before he leaves, he claims Zar'roc as his own and uncovers a terrible truth: Eragon was the youngest son of Morzan, and is therefore Murtagh's brother. Murtagh also reveals that Galbatorix is working to save the dragon race and reestablish the Riders; but in order to do this, he must capture Saphira, who is the last female dragon in existence. In the end, Galbatorix's army is routed, thanks to the timely appearance of the villagers of Carvahall. Eragon is reunited with Roran, and they agree to work together to rescue Katrina.

Publishers in other countries Edit

Australia: Alfred A. Knopf
Bulgaria: Hermes Books
Brazil: Editora Rocco
Canada: Alfred A. Knopf
China:
Croatia: Kapitol
Czech Republic: Fragment Publishing House
Denmark: Sesam
Finland: Tammi
France: Bayard Jeunesse
Germany: Random House/Blanvalet (Bertelsmann)
Holland: Publisher M
Indonesia: Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Italy: Fabbri Editors & Mondolibri
Japan: Random House Japan
Korea: ???
Latin America: Roca Editorial
New Zealand: Corgi/Random House
Poland: Mag Publishing House
Portugal: Gailivro
Romania: Rao International Publishing Company
Slovakia: Fragment
Spain: Roca Editorial
Sweden: Bonnier Carlsen
United Kingdom: Doubleday
United States: Alfred A. Knopf
Serbia: Čarobna knjiga

Characters Edit

*Indicates new character

List of chapters Edit

A list of chapters with their respective point of view.

Synopsis of Eldest

A Twin Disaster - Eragon
The Council of Elders - Eragon
Truth Among Friends - Eragon
Roran - Roran
The Hunted Hunters - Roran
Saphira's Promise - Eragon
Requiem - Eragon
Fealty - Eragon
A Sorceress, a Snake, and a Scroll - Eragon
Hrothgar's Gift - Eragon
Hammer and Tongs - Roran
Retaliation - Roran
Az Sweldn rak Anhûin - Eragon
Celbedeil - Eragon
Diamonds in the Night - Roran
Under a Darkling Sky - Roran
Down the Rushing Mere-Wash - Eragon
Drifting - Eragon
Arya Svit-kona - Eragon
Ceris - Eragon
Wounds of the Past - Roran
Wounds of the Present - Roran
His Enemy's Face - Roran
Arrow to the Heart - Eragon
The Dagshelgr Invocation - Eragon
The Pinewood City - Eragon
Queen Islanzadí - Eragon
Out of the Past - Eragon
Conviction - Roran
Repercussions - Roran
Exodus - Roran
On the Crags of Tel'naeír - Eragon
The Secret Lives of Ants - Eragon
Under the Menoa Tree - Eragon
A Maze of Opposition - Nasuada
Hanging by a Thread - Nasuada
Elva - Nasuada
Resurgence - Eragon
Why Do You Fight? - Eragon
Black Morning Glory - Eragon
The Nature of Evil - Eragon
Image of Perfection - Eragon
The Obliterator - Eragon
Narda - Roran
The Hammer Falls - Roran
The Beginning of Wisdom - Eragon
Broken Egg and Scattered Nest - Eragon
The Gift of Dragons - Eragon
In a Starry Glade - Eragon
Landfall - Roran
Teirm - Roran
Jeod Longshanks - Roran
An Unexpected Ally - Roran
Escape - Roran
Child's Play - Nasuada
Premonition of War - Nasuada
Red Blade, White Blade - Eragon
Visions Near and Far - Eragon
Gifts - Eragon
The Maw of the Ocean - Roran
Running the Boar's Eye - Roran
To Aberon - Eragon
The Burning Plains - Eragon
The Clouds of War - Eragon
Nar Garzhvog - Eragon
Witch's Brew - Eragon
The Storm Breaks - Eragon
Convergence - Roran
Eldest - Eragon
Inheritance - Eragon
Reunion - Eragon

Extra:

Pronunciation Guide and glossary
Acknowledgments

Inside the book Edit

"As always, this book is for family. And also to my incredible fans. You made this adventure possible. Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass!"

— Eldest dedication

Eldest contains a concise summary of Eragon, the previous book in the cycle. It also includes a pronunciation guide to the names and phrases used in the book, as well as a note upon the origins of the names.

Map of Alagaësia Edit

Excerpt from the publisher Edit

This is a copy of the excerpt. Click [show] to read its contents. The original excerpt may be found here.

The Council of Elders

Saphira's breathing quickened, and she opened her eyes, yawning expansively. Good morning, little one.

Is it? He looked down and leaned on his hands, compressing the mattress. It's terrible… Murtagh and Ajihad… Why didn't sentries in the tunnels warn us of the Urgals? They shouldn't have been able to trail Ajihad's group without being noticed… Arya was right, it doesn't make sense.

We may never know the truth, said Saphira gently. She stood, wings brushing the ceiling. You need to eat, then we must discover what the Varden are planning. We can't waste time; a new leader could be chosen within hours.

Eragon agreed, thinking of how they had left everyone yesterday: Orik rushing off to give King Hrothgar the tidings, Jörmundur taking Ajihad's body to a place where it would rest until the funeral, and Arya, who stood alone and watched the goings-on.

Eragon rose and strapped on Zar'roc and his bow, then bent and lifted Snowfire's saddle. A line of pain sheared through his torso, driving him to the floor, where he writhed, scrabbling at his back. It felt like he was being sawed in half. Saphira growled as the ripping sensation reached her. She tried to soothe him with her own mind but was unable to alleviate his suffering. Her tail instinctually lifted, as if to fight.

It took minutes before the fit subsided and the last throb faded away, leaving Eragon gasping. Sweat drenched his face, making his hair stick and his eyes sting. He reached back and gingerly fingered the top of his scar. It was hot and inflamed and sensitive to touch. Saphira lowered her nose and touched him on the arm. Oh, little one…

It was worse this time, he said, staggering upright. She let him lean against her as he wiped away the sweat with a rag, then he tentatively stepped for the door.

Are you strong enough to go?

We have to. We're obliged as dragon and Rider to make a public choice regarding the next head of the Varden, and perhaps even influence the selection. I won't ignore the strength of our position; we now wield great authority written the Varden. At least the Twins aren't here to grab the position for themselves. That's the only good in the situation.

Very well, but Durza should suffer a thousand years of torture for what he did to you.

He grunted. Just stay close to me.

Together they made their way through Tronjheim, toward the nearest kitchen. In the corridors and hallways, people stopped and bowed to them, murmuring, "Argetlam," or "Shadeslayer." Even dwarves made the motions, though not as often. Eragon was struck by the somber, haunted expressions of the humans and the dark clothing they wore to display their sadness. Many women dressed entirely in black, lace veils covering their faces.

In the kitchen, Eragon brought a stone platter of food to a low table. Saphira watched him carefully in case he should have another attack. Several people tried to approach him, but she lifted a lip and growled sending them scurrying away. Eragon pretended to ignore the disturbances and picked at the food. Finally, trying to divert his thoughts from Murtagh, he asked, Who do you think has the means to take control of the Varden, now that Ajihad and the Twins are gone?

She hesitated. It's possible you could, if Ajihad's last words were interpreted as a blessing to secure the leadership. Almost no one would oppose you. However, that does not seem a wise path to take. I see only trouble in that direction.

I agree. Besides, Arya wouldn't approve, and she could be a dangerous enemy. Elves can't lie in the ancient language, but they have no such inhibition in ours-she could deny that Ajihad ever uttered those words if it served her purposes. No, I don't want the position… What about Jörmundur?

Ajihad called him his right-hand man. Unfortunately, we know little about him or the Varden's other leaders. Such a short time has passed since we came here. We will have to make our judgment on our feelings and impressions, without the benefit of history.

Eragon pushed his fish around a lump of mashed tubers. Don't forget Hrothgar and the dwarf clans; they won't be quiet in this. Except for Arya, the elves have no say in the succession-a decision will be made before word of this even reaches them. But the dwarves can't be-won't be-ignored. Hrothgar favors the Varden, but if enough clans oppose him, he might be maneuvered into backing someone unsuited for the command.

And who might that be?

A person easily manipulated. He closed his eyes and leaned back. It could be anyone in Farthen Dûr, anyone at all.

Critical reaction Edit

As soon as the book was released, fans everywhere expressed their opinion. Some praised Paolini's improving talent and better character work. Others found it dull compared to the fast-paced Eragon. Other fans were upset by Paolini's portrayal of elves, which many say were "too perfect" to relate to. Some have also cited the many similarities between Eldest and some of J.R.R. Tolkien's work; Paolini's elves closely resemble the elves of Lórien in The Lord of the Rings, and several quotes from Eldest resemble lines in Tolkien's works including the phrase "the ageless elves speak wisdom".

FilmEdit

A film version of Eldest has not yet been confirmed. If it is, there are many things that would need addressing. Many plot elements crucial to Eldest were left out of the Eragon film. For example, Oromis does not ask Eragon to come to Ellesméra and Brom kills a Ra'zac. Perhaps the most important thing left out is Katrina - the entire part of Eldest that is about Roran and Carvahall cannot take place in an Eldest movie without Katrina.