Eldest

by Christopher Paolini

  Palancar—first known human king

  Parr—young man in Carvahall

  Quickpaw—werecat in Ellesméra (also The Dream Dancer, Maud, and The Watcher)

  Quimby—Carvahall’s brewer; Birgit’s husband; Nolfavrell’s father

  Ra’zac, the—dark, dangerous, vaguely insectile creatures; only two known survivors exist; last race to arrive in Alagaësia (see the Lethrblaka)

  Rhunön—greatest elf smith

  Ridley—farmer in Carvahall

  Rílvenar, House—elf family

  Risthart—lord of Teirm

  Rolf—Jeod’s butler

  Roran—Cadoc’s grandson; Garrow and Marian’s son; Eragon’s cousin (also Stronghammer)

  Roslarb—Rider

  Sabrae—member of the Council of Elders

  Saphira—a blue dragon; paired with Brom

  Saphira—a blue dragon; Iormúngr and Vervada’s daughter; paired with Eragon (also Bjartskular and Flametongue)

  Sardson—soldier at Carvahall

  Selena—Cadoc’s daughter; Garrow’s sister; Eragon’s mother

  Shade—a sorcerer possessed by the spirits he invokes to do his bidding

  Shadeslayer—a title bestowed upon those who perform said deed (see Eragon, Irnstad, and Laetrí)

  Shining Brow—Elva

  Shrrg—giant wolf; native to the Beor Mountains

  Shrrgnien—one of Ûndin’s guards

  Shruikan—a black dragon; paired unwillingly with Galbatorix

  Shur’tugal—ancient language name for Dragon Rider

  Sindri—goddess of earth (dwarf)

  Sloan—Carvahall’s butcher; Ismira’s husband; Katrina’s father

  Snowfire—Brom’s horse

  Solembum—werecat who travels with Angela

  Southwell—Carvahall villager

  spirits—sentient beings of uncertain origin that are composed of pure energy

  Stronghammer—name given to Roran after his favorite weapon

  Svart—Ivor’s uncle

  Tábor, Marcus—lord of Dras-Leona

  Tara—Morn’s wife

  Tarmunora—elf queen who signed pact with dragons

  Tarok—an Urgal

  Tathal—groom in Borromeo Castle who intended to commit murder

  Tears of Anhûin, The—name assumed by Anhûin’s guard after their clan was nearly obliterated by Galbatorix and the Forsworn (translation of Az Sweldn rak Anhûin)

  Thane—farmer in Carvahall; Calitha’s husband

  Thorgerd One-Eye—Himinglada’s husband; Hvedra’s father

  Thorn—a red dragon

  Thorv—one of Ûndin’s guards; Brokk’s son

  Thrándurin, House—Oromis’s extinct house

  Thrifk—Orik’s father

  Togira Ikonoka—Oromis (translated as the Cripple Who Is Whole)

  Torkenbrand—leader of a group of slavers

  Tornac—Murtagh’s friend, servant, and fencing instructor

  Tornac—Murtagh’s horse, named after his servant

  Torson—first mate to Clovis

  Trevor—leader of Daret

  Trianna—sorceress and member of Du Vrangr Gata

  Tríhga—one of Ûndin’s guards

  Tunivor—elf who invented Tunivor’s Nectar

  Twins, the—magicians in the Varden; leaders of Du Vrangr Gata

  Ulric—dockworker in Narda

  Umérth—member of the Council of Elders

  Umhodan—legendary elf from The Lay of Umhodan

  Ûndin—clan chief of Dûrgrimst Ragni Hefthyn; Derûnd’s son

  Urgals—brutish-looking humanoids with large horns; second race to arrive in Alagaësia (see Kull)

  Urûr—god of air (dwarf)

  Urzhad—giant cave bear; native to the Beor Mountains

  Ushnark the Mighty—Urgal title for Galbatorix

  Uthar—one of Jeod’s sailors in Teirm

  Vacher—human natural philosopher

  Vándil—one of the greatest elf spellweavers

  Vanilor—a dragon

  Vanir—an elf in Ellesméra

  Varden, the—rebels who oppose Galbatorix and the Empire

  Vardrûn—Himinglada’s mother; Hvedra’s grandmother; Orik’s aunt-by-law

  Vervada—Iormúngr’s mate; Saphira’s dam

  Vestarí—legendary elf from The Lay of Vestarí the Mariner

  Vrael—last leader of the Dragon Riders

  Wally—alias for Loring

  Watcher, The—werecat in Ellesméra (also The Dream Dancer, Maud, and Quickpaw)

  Wayland—Calitha’s stepfather

  werecats—a rare and elusive race of shapeshifters

  Wyglif—Carvahall villager

  Wyrdfell, the—thirteen Riders who betrayed their order to Galbatorix (also the Forsworn; see Morzan)

  PLACES

  Aberon

  Alagaësia

  Alalëa—elf homeland

  Anora River

  Ardwen

  Aroughs

  Az Ragni

  Beartooth River

  Beirland—one of the Southern Isles

  Belatona

  Beor Mountains

  Blasted Mountains, the—mountains in the center of the Hadarac Desert (translation of Du Fells Nángoröth)

  Boar’s Eye, the—giant whirlpool between Uden and Parlim

  Borromeo Castle—King Orrin’s home

  Broddring Kingdom, the—core of Galbatorix’s empire; centered around what is now Urû’baen

  Bullridge

  Buragh

  Burning Plains, the—located just north of Surda, along the Jiet River (translation of Du Völlar Eldrvarya)

  Cantos—village destroyed by Galbatorix for harboring rebels

  Carvahall

  Celbedeil—dwarf temple in Tarnag

  Ceris

  Ceunon

  Cithrí

  Crags of Tel’naeír—cliffs near Ellesméra

  Dalgon

  Daret

  Dauth

  Doru Araeba

  Dras-Leona

  Du Fells Nángoröth—mountains in the center of the Hadarac Desert (translated as the Blasted Mountains)

  Du Völlar Eldrvarya—plains located just north of Surda, along the Jiet River (translated as the Burning Plains)

  Du Weldenvarden

  Edda River

  Edoc’sil—original name of the elven watchtower on Utgard mountain (also Ristvak’baen)

  Edur Carthungavë—tailbone of the Spine (also Rathbar’s Spur)

  Eldor

  Ellesméra

  Empire, the—commonly considered to extend some leagues north of Ceunon, south to the border of Surda, west to the sea, and east to the edge of Du Weldenvarden and the Hadarac Desert

  Eoam

  Ethrundr—mountain south of Ellesméra

  Éwayëna—elf city destroyed by Galbatorix

  Fane Street—street in Aberon

  Farthen Dûr

  Fasaloft—town on Leona Lake

  Feinster

  Fionula—mountain south of Ellesméra

  Fläm

  Furnost

  Gaena River

  Galfni

  Gil’ead

  Golden Globe—tavern in Dras-Leona

  Green Chestnut—tavern in Teirm

  Griminsmal—mountain south of Ellesméra

  Hadarac Desert

  Hedarth

  Helgrind

  Igualda Falls—waterfall at the north end of Palancar Valley

  Ília Fëon—Place of Flowers

  Ilirea—original name of Urû’baen

  Illium—one of the Southern Isles

  Inzilbêth—Galbatorix’s birthplace, no longer in existence

  Iron Cliffs—cliffs preceding the southernmost tip of the Spine

  Isenstar

  Ithrö Zhâda—Galbatorix’s name for Orthíad

  Jiet River

  Kirtan

  Kóstha-mérna—lake at the foot of Farthen Dûr

 
; Kuasta

  Leona Lake

  Lithgow

  Luthivíra—elf city destroyed by Galbatorix

  Mani’s Caves—caves in Beor Mountains with a dream well

  Market Street—street in Teirm

  Marna

  Melian

  Merogoven—mountain south of Ellesméra

  Moldûn the Proud—northernmost mountain of the Beors

  Nädindel

  Narda

  Narnmor Mountain—mountain near Igualda Falls

  Nía—one of the Southern Isles

  Ninor River

  North Sea, the—term for all the waters around and north of Narda, including the gulf whereon Ceunon stands

  Nost Creek—creek in Palancar Valley near Carvahall

  Orthíad—abandoned dwarf city (also Ithrö Zhâda)

  Osilon

  Palancar Valley—contains Carvahall and Therinsford

  Parlim—one of the Southern Isles

  Petrøvya

  Ramr River

  Rathbar’s Spur—tailbone of the Spine (also Edur Carthungavë) Reavstone

  Ristvak’baen—name given to the elven watchtower on Utgard mountain after Galbatorix killed Vrael there (also Edoc’sil)

  Rock of Kuthian—place of uncertain location mentioned by Solembum

  Röna—lake

  Seven Sheaves—tavern in Carvahall

  Sharktooth Island

  Sílthrim

  Silverwood Forest—woods along Tüdosten lake

  Southern Isles—a group of islands consisting of Beirland, Nía, Illium, Uden, and Parlim

  Spine, the

  Stone of Broken Eggs—tower of basalt north of Ellesméra

  Surda

  Tarnag

  Teirm

  Therinsford

  Tialdarí Hall—Queen Islanzadí’s family hall in Ellesméra

  Toark River

  Tronjheim—city-mountain inside Farthen Dûr; built by dwarves

  Tüdosten—lake

  Uden—one of the Southern Isles

  Urû’baen—also Ilirea

  Utgard—mountain that guards the southwest side of the pass into Palancar Valley

  Vault of Souls, the—place of uncertain location mentioned by Solembum

  Vroengard

  Woadark Lake

  Yazuac

  THINGS

  Agaetí Blödhren—elves’ centennial celebration

  Albatross—ship at Narda

  Aren—Brom’s ring

  Blackmoor Shipping Company—company in league with the Empire

  Brom’s ring—sapphire ring with the yawë carved on the face of the jewel (also Aren)

  cardus weed—plant used for smoking

  Chronicles of Ingothold—partial history of dragons

  Convocations—a work by Nuala

  Dagshelgr—elves’ spring festival

  Dance of Snake and Crane—elf training exercise (also the Rimgar)

  Deed of Gëda, The—elf epic

  Dialogues—series of philosophical discussions composed by Eddison

  Dragon Wing—ship at Teirm dream well, the—unusual magical phenomenon found in Mani’s Caves

  “Du Silbena Datia”—elf song about the sea

  Edeline—barge

  Endless Staircase, The—translation of Vol Turin; structure inside Tronjheim

  Erisdar—elves’ and dwarves’ flameless lanterns

  faelnirv—elven liqueur

  fireweed—plant that helps dragons’ digestion

  floating crystal—unusual magical phenomenon found on the island of Eoam

  Fricai Andlát—Death Friend, a mushroom

  Gëda’s Light

  gedwëy ignasia—silver mark on the palm, given to a person when he or she bonds with a dragon

  Helzvog’s Blood—lava

  Helzvog’s stone girdle—an item by which the dwarves swear an oath

  Helzvog’s Womb—volcano

  Isidar Mithrim—star sapphire

  Knurlnien—stone used in dwarf ceremonies

  Lay of Umhodan, The—elf epic

  Lay of Vestarí the Mariner, The—elf epic

  Lianí Vine—vine with pink and white flowers developed by the elves

  Lorga—Trianna’s snake bracelet

  Menoa tree—a magical tree near Ellesméra (see Linnëa)

  Merrybell—barge

  Morgothal’s black beard—a feature of the dwarves’ god of fire by which they swear an oath

  Morgothal’s Forge—volcano

  Naegling—Oromis’s sword

  Nordvig’s Daughter—the sun

  Red Boar—barge

  Rimgar—elf training exercise (also the Dance of Snake and Crane)

  Runes—elf game

  Seithr oil—extracted from the petals of the Seithr plant; normally used to preserve pearls, but can be converted into an acid that eats only flesh

  Seithr plant—grows on an island in the North Sea

  Serpent, The—playing piece in the elves’ game of Runes

  “Song of Gerand”—one of Brom’s stories

  tuatha du orothrim—“tempering the fool’s wisdom,” a level in Riders’ training

  Tunivor’s Nectar—a healing potion

  Vol Turin—The Endless Staircase; structure inside Tronjheim

  Volund—Hrothgar’s hammer

  Waverunner—ship at Narda

  White Flame of Vándil, the—powerful magic that protects Ellesméra

  yawë—mark of those who have devoted themselves to the greater good of elves; on Arya’s shoulder and Brom’s ring

  Year of Darkness

  Zar’roc—Morzan’s sword, now Eragon’s

  SNEAK PEEK AT

  BOOK III

  IN

  THE INHERITANCE TRILOGY

  Excerpt copyright © 2006 by Christopher Paolini.

  Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

  LIGHT AND SHADOW

  (An Excerpt from the Third Chapter of the Third Book of the Inheritance trilogy)

  Saphira kneaded the soil beneath her feet. Let us be off!

  Leaving their bags and supplies hanging from the branch of a juniper tree, Eragon and Roran clambered onto Saphira’s back. They wasted no time saddling her; she had worn her tack through the night. The molded leather was warm, almost hot, underneath Eragon. He clutched the neck spike in front of him— to steady himself during sudden changes in direction—while Roran hooked one thick arm around Eragon’s waist and brandished his hammer with the other.

  A piece of shale cracked under Saphira’s weight as she settled into a low crouch and then, in a single giddy bound, leaped up to the rim of the gulch, where she balanced for a moment before unfolding her massive wings. The thin membranes thrummed as Saphira raised them toward the sky. Vertical, they looked like two translucent blue sails.

  “Not so tight,” grunted Eragon.

  “Sorry,” said Roran. He loosened his embrace.

  Further speech became impossible as Saphira jumped again. When she reached the pinnacle of her jump, she brought her wings down with a mighty whoosh, driving the three of them even higher. With each subsequent flap, they climbed closer to the flat, narrow clouds that extended east to west.

  As Saphira angled toward Helgrind, Eragon glanced to his left and discovered that, because of their elevation, he could see a broad swath of Leona Lake some miles distant. A thick layer of mist, gray and ghostly in the pre-dawn glow, emanated from the water, as if witchfire burned upon the surface of the liquid. Eragon tried, but even with his hawklike vision, he could not make out the far shore, nor the southern reaches of the Spine beyond, which he regretted. He had not laid eyes upon the mountain range of his childhood since leaving Palancar Valley.

  To the north stood Dras-Leona, a huge, rambling mass that appeared as a blocky silhouette against the wall of mist that edged its western flank. The one building Eragon could identify was the cathedral where the Ra’zac had attacked him; its flanged spire loomed above the rest
of the city, like a barbed spearhead.

  And somewhere in the landscape that rushed past below, Eragon knew, were the remnants of the campsite where the Ra’zac had mortally wounded Brom. He allowed all of his anger and grief over the events of that day—as well as Garrow’s murder and the destruction of their farm—to surge forth and give him the courage, nay, the desire, to face the Ra’zac in combat.

  Eragon, said Saphira. Today we need not guard our minds and keep our thoughts secret from one another, do we?

  Not unless another magician should appear.

  A fan of golden light flared into existence as the top of the sun crested the horizon. In an instant, the full spectrum of colors enlivened the previously drab world: the mist glowed white, the water became a rich blue, the daubed-mud wall that encircled the center of Dras-Leona revealed its dingy yellow sides, the trees cloaked themselves in every shade of green, and the soil blushed red and orange. Helgrind, however, remained as it always was—black.

  The mountain of stone rapidly grew larger as they approached. Even from the air, it was intimidating.

  Diving toward the base of Helgrind, Saphira tilted so far to her left, Eragon and Roran would have fallen if they had not already strapped their legs to the saddle. Then she whipped around the apron of scree and over the altar where the priests of Helgrind observed their ceremonies. The lip of Eragon’s helm caught the wind from her passage and produced a howl that almost deafened him.

  “Well?” shouted Roran. He could not see in front of them.

  “The slaves are gone!”

  A great weight seemed to press Eragon into his seat as Saphira pulled out of her dive and spiraled up around Helgrind, searching for an entrance to the Ra’zac’s hideout.

  Not even a hole big enough for a woodrat, she declared. She slowed and hung in place before a ridge that connected the third lowest of the four peaks to the prominence above. The jagged buttress magnified the boom produced by each stroke of her wings until it was as loud as a thunderclap. Eragon’s eyes watered as the air pulsed against his skin.

  A web of white veins adorned the backside of the crags and pillars, where hoarfrost had collected in the cracks that furrowed the rock. Nothing else disturbed the gloom of Helgrind’s inky, windswept ramparts. No trees grew there among the slanting stones, nor shrubs, nor grass, nor moss, nor lichen, nor did eagles dare nest upon the tower’s broken ledges. True to its name, Helgrind was a place of death, and stood cloaked in the razor-sharp, sawtoothed folds of its scarps and clefts like a bony specter risen to haunt the earth.

  Casting his mind outward, Eragon confirmed the presence of one of the slaves, as well as the two people whom he had discovered imprisoned within Helgrind the previous day, but to his concern, he could not locate the Ra’zac or the Lethrblaka. If they aren’t here, then where? he wondered. Searching again, he noticed something that had eluded him before: a single flower, a gentian, blooming not fifty feet in front of them where, by all rights, there ought to be solid rock. How does it get enough light to live?