Eragon

This summary section includes Chapter 51: “The Glory of Tronjheim,” Chapter 52: “Ajihad,” and Chapter 53: “Bless the Child, Argetlam.”

The following morning, the captors reappear to collect Eragon, Murtagh, and Saphira. The travelers are led through the wondrous city of Tronjheim, built directly below a massive volcanic crater. The city and the surrounding tunnels were constructed by dwarves but have also become the refuge of the Varden resistance. As the small party passes through the streets, the humans cheer the dragon and Rider while the dwarves seem suspicious of them. Eventually, they are led to the private chamber of the Varden leader, Ajihad.

Ajihad receives the visitors, while the bald man goes to stand by another who is his mirror image. They are known as the Twins and function as Ajihad’s spellcasters but have no individual names of their own. Ajihad asks if Murtagh will allow himself to be read by the Twins, and again he refuses. The Varden leader recognizes Murtagh’s vocal intonation as similar to Morzan’s and examines the scar on Murtagh’s back. Knowing the young man’s real identity, Ajihad says that Murtagh must remain in confinement until his loyalties can be determined, and he is led away under guard.

Ajihad then conducts a private conversation with Eragon and Saphira. Eragon tells Ajihad all his experiences related to Brom and the dragon’s egg. For his part, Ajihad explains the political situation prevailing among the dwarves, elves, and humans. The elves feared allowing another human Dragon Rider because that person might prove as unstable as Galbatorix, so Brom suggested a compromise. The elves and humans took turns annually guarding Saphira’s egg until it was ready to hatch. Arya was intercepted while transporting the egg from Tronjheim to the elvish lands in the north. Ajihad speculates that there must be a traitor in their midst responsible for her capture.

He explains the difficult political position of the Varden to Eragon: “On one hand, we have to comply with the elves’ wishes if we want to keep them as allies. At the same time, we cannot anger the dwarves if we wish to lodge in Tronjheim” (411). With Galbatorix recruiting the Urgals for war, Ajihad wants to know where Eragon’s loyalties lie. The Dragon Rider says that he will not allow his power to be used by any political faction. Rather, he and Saphira will always try to preserve justice.

Ajihad points out that the people will look up to Eragon and Saphira as magical saviors, and the two may become embroiled in their petty personal problems. After giving this last piece of advice, Ajihad summons Orik. He says that the dwarf disobeyed a direct order from one of the Twins by allowing the travelers inside the fortress. The penalty for such a crime is usually death, but instead, Orik will be relieved of military command and put in charge of assisting the dragon and Rider. Then, they are dismissed.

After the audience is over, Orik confides to Eragon that this new assignment is exactly what he wanted. Ajihad astutely sidestepped a political conflict involving the Twins and the dwarf king. Orik then explains that he has prepared accommodations suitable for Saphira and Eragon. The Rider is given food, a bath, and clean clothing while Saphira settles into her new aerie.

Later, Eragon and the dragon encounter an old woman carrying an orphaned baby. She asks Eragon for a blessing. At first, taken aback, he utters words in the ancient language while Saphira imprints a glowing mark on the baby’s forehead. Between them, the dragon and Rider have given the little girl hope and a future. Afterward, Saphira carries Eragon to the open caves above the city, where she can rest or fly outside to hunt as she wishes. The two discuss the situation in which they find themselves. Saphira advises, “It seems, Eragon, that we are embroiled in a new type of warfare here. Swords and claws are useless, but words and alliances may have the same effect” (431).

This summary section includes Chapter 54: “Mandrake Root and Newt’s Tongue,” Chapter 55: “Hall of the Mountain King,” and Chapter 56: “Arya’s Test.”

When Eragon awakens the next morning, he finds the werecat Solembum in Saphira’s chamber. The animal leads him to another part of the castle, where he finds Angela. She is the witch who foretold his future. He tells her of his adventures and the death of Brom. For her part, Angela admits that once she realized that Eragon was a Dragon Rider, she decided to follow his trail to learn more. She is currently hiding in a remote part of Tronjheim to avoid being recruited by the magical faction controlled by the Twins. Angela says that the Shade Eragon encountered earlier may still be a threat. His name is Durza. He became a Shade because evil spirits can possess wizards who aren’t careful. With Durza allied to Galbatorix, the Varden may be in great peril.

When Eragon returns from visiting Angela, he learns that the king of the dwarves wants to meet him and Saphira. The king’s name is Hrothgar. He is ancient by mortal standards. The king questions Eragon about his allegiances and intentions, but the Rider says he only seeks temporary sanctuary before continuing his journey to the elvish realm. Hrothgar seems satisfied with his answer and the words that Eragon translates on behalf of Saphira.

After leaving the audience, Eragon receives a message that he must go to the training field to be tested in magic and weaponry to see if he is ready to continue his Rider training with the elves. Once Eragon and Saphira arrive for the testing, they are accosted by the Twins, who put the Rider through a grueling series of magical feats. Eragon realizes their primary goal is to learn new techniques from him. The trial is interrupted by the appearance of Arya. She has fully recovered from her ordeal and announces that Eragon has sufficiently demonstrated his mastery of magic. She herself will now test Eragon in combat skills. It takes all of Eragon’s abilities to keep up with Arya, but at the end of his trial, she pronounces his abilities as acceptable.

Later, Eragon goes to check on Murtagh. The latter isn’t penned in a dungeon but in a luxurious chamber where he is brought all the food he wants and scrolls from the library to read. He says he isn’t sorry to be held captive this way and concludes that Tronjheim may be the safest place for him to remain.

This summary section includes Chapter 57: “The Shadows Lengthen,” Chapter 58: “Battle Under Farthen Dûr,” and Chapter 59: “The Mourning Sage.”

Before sunrise the next morning, Orik summons Saphira and Eragon to meet with Ajihad. When they arrive, he is already conferring with Arya and his second-in-command, Jormundur, about some bad news the realm has received. The Urgals have found a way to tunnel under the mountain and hope to ambush the city from beneath. Arya and Eragon are sent to magically seal many of the underground tunnels so they can drive the Urgals into three locations where the dwarf and human army will be waiting for them.

Eragon and Arya spend hours on this task while the soldiers dig trenches to trap the invaders. The attack begins shortly after these labors are concluded, as Urgals swarm through the remaining tunnels. A fierce battle ensues, with damage inflicted on both sides, but the Urgals seem to be turning the tide in their favor. Saphira receives a blow to the chest from a Kull that dents her armor. Arya travels to the aerie to heal her and tries to remove the metal covering while Eragon battles on. Murtagh has also been allowed to join the Varden army and proves a strong ally.

When the situation looks darkest for Tronjheim, Durza the Shade arrives to lead the Urgal attack. He engages Eragon in combat. Instead of fighting with swords, the battle becomes a wizard’s duel as Durza tries to subdue the Rider’s mind. Instead, Eragon turns the tables and penetrates Durza’s memories of what he was before he became a Shade.

The conflict grows increasingly painful for both. Just as the Shade starts to get the upper hand, Arya and Saphira crash through the sapphire glass ceiling of the chamber. The distraction lasts just long enough for Eragon to stab Durza in the chest, which is the only way to kill a Shade. The final effort takes all of Eragon’s strength, and he falls unconscious. Eragon finds himself lost in a stupor, caught between Durza’s malevolent memories and his own. He dreams of a shadowy figure who tries to anchor him mentally. It is an old man who calls himself the Mourning Sage. He instructs Eragon to go with Arya to the elvish kingdom, where the sage will be waiting for him.

More than a day later, Eragon awakens to find Angela healing his injuries. He now has a scar across his back from his sword fight with Durza, similar to Murtagh’s. Eragon learns that Arya, Murtagh, and Saphira survived the battle and that Durza’s death stopped the invasion. The Urgals had been under some sort of spell. With the Shade gone, they began attacking each other. It took very little effort for the dwarves and humans to destroy the last of them. Eragon is heartened by this news as well as by the words of the old man from his dream: “Come to me Eragon, for I have answers to all you ask. A measure of peace and satisfaction consoled Eragon. I will come” (497).