Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle 2)

When Palancar encountered the elves, they explained to him which land was theirs, which was the dwarves’, and which was the dragons’, and granted him the right to claim that which was unoccupied. They and the Riders also demonstrated their physical and magical prowess. Intimidated, Palancar dared not argue with them—at least not so long as his docked fleet was at their mercy—and so he agreed to their terms.

The Broddrings roamed Alagaësia for several years before they discovered Palancar Valley—as it was to be dubbed—and decided to make it the basis of their kingdom. After Palancar vanquished the local Urgals and founded the town that is now Therinsford, his hubris grew so massive, he thought to challenge the elves for the region between the Spine and Du Weldenvarden. It is still baffling why—having witnessed the Riders’ might and main—he believed he could prevail in this matter. On this subject, I agree with Eddison, who reasons that Palancar was in the early stages of dementia, an assumption that is borne out by his later actions and those of his family, for madness always runs through the bloodline.

Three times Palancar’s warriors faced the elves, and three times the elves obliterated them. Aware of the Urgals’ fate and having no desire to share in it, the Broddring nobles sent an envoy to the elves, and they signed a treaty without Palancar’s knowledge. Palancar was then banished from his throne. He and his family refused to leave the valley, however, and instead of killing him, the elves constructed the watchtower Edoc’sil—now Ristvak’baen—to ensure that he could cause no further strife.

The elves took pity on the remainder of our ancestors and allowed them to live in Ilirea, which the elves had abandoned during their war with the dragons nearly two thousand years earlier. Ilirea became the new capital of the Broddring Kingdom, which exists even to this day as the center of Galbatorix’s empire: Urû’baen.

That brief confrontation with Palancar—which cost humans far more than it cost the elves—convinced the then leader of the Riders, Anurin, to amend the elves’ magical pact with the dragons to include humans. Anurin recognized that, as a race, humans are hardier than the elves and that we reproduce faster than the dwarves, making it inevitable that we would soon proliferate across Alagaësia. Before that day arrived, he wanted to weld our species together—using a flux of spells, oaths, and commerce—in order to prevent what he saw as a likely war for domination of the continent.

The controversy incited among the elves by Anurin’s decision was so fierce and acrimonious, it prompted him to take one more momentous step: he and the other Riders seceded from the elf kingdom and established themselves on the island of Vroengard, where they built their great city of Doru Araeba. Many reasons existed for doing so, but the primary one was, and here I quote my own translation of Anurin’s account of the affair, “Since the Riders were now responsible for the protection and welfare of three races—although the dwarves yet insist upon guarding themselves—and also for the preservation of their combined knowledge, I believed that it was improper for any one group to control us. We had to be impartial if our authority was to be respected by dragons, elves, and humans alike.” Noble intentions, to be sure, but flawed by a fatal weakness: without some form of oversight, there was no one who could point out the Riders’ own lapses and indulgences.

For six and a half centuries, we humans built our villages, towns, and cities, ever more complacent within our envelope of safety. We were content to work our fields and shops and trade with the dwarves and elves, never pausing to consider that our greatest threat lay among those who had sworn to protect us.

And so it came to pass in the year of 7867 A.C. that a boy, Galbatorix by name, was born in the province of Inzilbêth. He became a Rider and showed great promise, but in his nineteenth year, a band of Urgals killed his dragon. The loss drove Galbatorix mad. Denied a second dragon, he slew two Riders and fled into the wilderness, where he remained for seven years. At the end of that time, he encountered Morzan, who became the first of the thirteen Forsworn.

Morzan helped Galbatorix steal another dragon, then they both hid until Galbatorix’s dragon, Shruikan, was grown and Morzan had learned all of his master’s dark secrets of magic.

Galbatorix and Morzan revealed themselves in the winter of 7896 A.C. By the spring solstice of 7900 A.C., Vrael was dead, Vroengard and Ilirea had been sacked, the elves and the dwarves had been forced to retreat to their ancient places of safety, and the Riders—the pride of the humans, elves, and dragons—the Riders were all but exterminated.

It is now the year 7982 A.C., and Galbatorix is still king, the dwarves and elves are seen no more outside of their caves and forests, and we have no hope that any mortal man can rival Galbatorix’s power or that he will ever be removed from the throne.

It is this story, then, that I intend to tell in full over the following pages. It may be conceit to think that I can compress eight millennia into one book… and yet I must try. We cannot allow this knowledge to be lost, no matter how grim the times we live in. I know that if we do someday find the means to overthrow Galbatorix, it will only happen by remembering the deeds of our ancestors and by avoiding their mistakes.

COMPLETE LIST OF PEOPLE AND CREATURES, PLACES, AND THINGS

PEOPLE AND CREATURES

Acallamh—elf from the song “Du Silbena Datia”

Ajihad—a leader of the Varden; Nasuada’s father (also Nightstalker)

Alanna—elf child in Ellesméra

Alarice, Lady—governor of Dauth

Albem—Carvahall villager

Albriech—Horst and Elain’s son

Ama—one of Ûndin’s guards

Analísia—elf bard

Angela—eccentric herbalist, witch, and fortuneteller

Angrenost—last human king

Anhûin—Grimstcarvlorss of Dûrgrimst Az Sweldn rak Anhûin

Anurin—Vrael’s predecessor

Argetlam—a term or title for a Rider

Arya—elf ambassador

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

Baldor—Horst and Elain’s son

Barden—spellcaster who rode with King Orrin on the Burning Plains

Bardrick—Carvahall villager

Bartram—Horst’s predecessor

Bellaen—elf in Ellesméra

Beloth the Wise—Rider

Beroan—Rider

Berundal—elf mentioned in song in Ellesméra

Bid’Daum—a white dragon; paired with the elf Eragon Birgit—Quimby’s wife; Nolfavrell’s mother, among others (also Mardra)

Birka—one of Garrow’s horses

Bjartskular—elf title for Saphira

Black Hand, the—Galbatorix’s spy network

Blagden—a white raven

Bolvek tribe—an Urgal tribe

Bonden—sailor from Teirm

Brand—Teirm’s administrator of trade

Brenna—Carvahall villager

Briam—Rider

Broddrings, the—name of the humans’ culture

Brokk—Thorv’s father

Brom—storyteller from Carvahall; former Rider; Holcomb and Nelda’s son; paired with the first Saphira (also Neal)

Brugh—one of Garrow’s horses

Byrd—watchman in Carvahall; Felda’s husband; Mandel’s father

Cadoc—Garrow and Selena’s father; Roran and Eragon’s grandfather

Cadoc—Eragon’s horse, named after his grandfather

Calitha—Carvahall villager; Wayland’s stepdaughter; Thane’s wife

Caretakers, the—two elves, Iduna and Nëya, who guard, maintain, and embody the magical pact between elves and dragons

Carsaib—Durza’s birth name

Cawley—farmer on Nost Creek

Celdin—elf from Ceris

Ceranthor—elf king

Clovis—shipmaster in Narda; Galina’s father

Council of Elders, the—group that helps gove

rn the Varden (see Elessari, Falberd, Jörmundur, Sabrae, and Umérth)

Cripple Who Is Whole, the—Oromis (translation of Togira Ikonoka)

Dahwar—Orrin’s seneschal; Kedar’s son

Damítha—captain in Sílthrim

Darmmen—one of Loring’s sons

Däthedr—elf lord in Ellesméra

Dellanir—elf queen who preceded Evandar

Delwin—farmer in Carvahall; Lenna’s husband; Elmund’s father

Dempton—Therinsford’s miller

Derûnd—Ûndin’s father

Deynor—Ajihad’s predecessor

Dóndar—tenth dwarf king

Dormnad—Varden agent in Gil’ead

Dragon Riders, the—organization formed to keep the peace between the races; destroyed by Galbatorix

dragons—oldest sentient race in Alagaësia, along with dwarves

Drail—assassin in Aberon

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

Dûrgrimst Az Sweldn rak Anhûin—dwarf clan (see Anhûin, Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, and The Tears of Anhûin)

Dûrgrimst Fanghur—dwarf clan (see Fanghur)

Dûrgrimst Feldûnost—dwarf clan; herders and farmers (see Feldûnost)

Dûrgrimst Ingeitum—dwarf clan; metalworkers

Dûrgrimst Nagra—dwarf clan (see Nagra)

Dûrgrimst Quan—dwarf clan; religious order

Dûrgrimst Ragni Hefthyn—dwarf clan that guards the Az Ragni Durza—a Shade (also Carsaib)

Dusan—elf child in Ellesméra

Dûthmér—one of Ûndin’s guards

Du Vrangr Gata—organization of magicians who serve the Varden (see Trianna and the Twins)

dwarves—oldest sentient race in Alagaësia, along with dragons

Eddison—author of his Dialogues

Edurna—elf from Ceris

Ekksvar—one of Ûndin’s guards

Elain—Horst’s wife; Albriech and Baldor’s mother

Elessari—member of the Council of Elders

Elmund—Delwin’s son

Elva—child Eragon blessed (also Shining Brow)

elves—first race to migrate overseas and colonize Alagaësia (also the Fair Folk; see Alalëa)

Eragon—a young human from Carvahall and the last true Dragon Rider; Selena’s son; Cadoc’s grandson; Garrow and Marian’s nephew; Roran’s cousin; paired with Saphira (also Argetlam, Evan, Firesword, and Shadeslayer)

Eragon—an elf and the first Rider; paired with Bid’Daum (properly spelled Eragön)

Eridor—a dragon

Ethlbert—farmer in Palancar Valley

Evan—alias for Eragon

Evandar—elf king who preceded Islanzadí; Islanzadí’s husband

Fair Folk, the—first race to migrate overseas and colonize Alagaësia (also elves; see Alalëa)

Falberd—member of the Council of Elders

Fanghur—dragon-like creatures that are smaller and less intelligent than their cousins; native to the Beor Mountains

Fäolin—elf killed by Durza

Farica—Nasuada’s handmaid

Farold—Carvahall villager

Felda—Byrd’s wife; Mandel’s mother

Feldûnost—mountain goats with extremely large curled horns; native to the Beor Mountains

Firesword—Urgal title for Eragon

Fisk—Carvahall’s carpenter; Isold’s husband

Flametongue—Urgal title for Saphira

Flint—sailor under Clovis

Folkvír—elven horse

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

Fredric—Varden’s weapon master

Frewin—sailor under Torson

Fundor—Rider who fought a giant sea snake

Fûthark—dwarf smith of renown

Galbatorix—king of the Empire; destroyer of the Riders; paired himself with Shruikan (also Ushnark the Mighty)

Galina—Clovis’s daughter

Galton—grocer in Teirm

Galzra—Rider

Gamble—one of the Varden in Surda

Gannel—clan chief of Dûrgrimst Quan; Orm Blood-ax’s son

Gareth—bartender at the Green Chestnut

Garner—Carvahall villager

Garrow—farmer in Carvahall; Cadoc’s son; Selena’s brother; Marian’s husband; Roran’s father; Eragon’s uncle

Garzhvog—an Urgal; leader of the Bolvek tribe

Gashz—an Urgal

Ged—Carvahall villager

Gëda—elf of legend

Gedric—Carvahall’s tanner

Gerand—hero of the epic “Song of Gerand”

Gertrude—healer in Carvahall

Gilderien the Wise—Ellesméra’s champion

Gildintor—legendary steed

Glaedr—a gold dragon

Glenwing—elf killed by Durza

Greta—Elva’s caretaker

Gretiem—Rider

Grey Folk, the—race who enchanted the ancient language

Grieg—employer of Torkenbrand’s slavers

Gunnar—sailor under Clovis

Gûntera—king of gods (dwarf)

Haberth—farrier of Therinsford

Haeg—sorcerer who trained Durza

Haldthin, House—elf family

Hale—Carvahall villager

Hamill—chandler in Teirm

Hamund—one of Loring’s sons

Harwin—sentinel who shot at Eragon and Saphira on the Burning Plains

Hedin—one of Ûndin’s guards

Helen—Jeod’s wife

Helzvog—god of stone (dwarf)

Herndall—Urgal dams who rule their tribes

Heslant the Monk—author of Domia Abr Wyrda

Hida—Carvahall villager

Himinglada—Vardrûn’s daughter; Orik’s cousin-by-law; Thorgerd One-Eye’s wife; Hvedra’s mother

Hírador—Rider

Holcomb—Nelda’s husband; Brom’s father

Horst—Carvahall’s smith; Elain’s husband; Albriech and Baldor’s father

Hrothgar—dwarf king; clan chief of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum; Orik’s uncle and adopted father

humans—third race to arrive in Alagaësia

Hvedra—Vardrûn’s granddaughter; Thorgerd One-Eye and Himinglada’s daughter; Orik’s betrothed

Iduna—one of the Caretakers

Ingothold—Rider and author of the eponymously titled chronicles

Iormúngr—Vervada’s mate; Saphira’s sire

Irnstad—Rider and Shadeslayer

Irwin—Orrin’s prime minister

Islanzadí—elf queen; Evandar’s wife

Ismira—Sloan’s wife; Katrina’s mother

Isold—Fisk’s wife

Ivor—farmer in Carvahall; Svart’s nephew

Jarsha—boy with the Varden

Jeod—Helen’s husband (also Jeod Longshanks)

Jörmundur—the Varden’s most senior commander; member of the Council of Elders

Jura—Rider

Katrina—Sloan and Ismira’s daughter

Kedar—Dahwar’s father

Kelby—Carvahall villager

Kell—alias for Nolfavrell

Kelton—smith who finished Horst’s training

Kílf—goddess of water (dwarf)

Kinnell—master shipwright in Teirm

Kiselt—Carvahall villager

Knute—Carvahall villager

Kull—unusually large Urgals

Ládin—elf natural philosopher

Lady Nightstalker—Urgal title for Nasuada

Laetrí—elf and Shadeslayer

Larkin—Orrin’s father

Larne—Loring’s youngest son

Lenna—Delwin’s wife

Lethrblaka—giant flying beasts the Ra’zac ride on

Lifaen—elf from Ceris

Linnëa—elf who became the Menoa tree

Loring—Carvahall’s weaver; three so

ns: Darmmen, Hamund, and Larne (also Wally)

Lost Kings, the

Maerzadí—elf who killed himself to prove the future is not preordained

Mandel—Byrd and Felda’s son

Mardra—alias for Birgit

Marian—Garrow’s wife; Roran’s mother; Eragon’s aunt

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

Melkolf—Carvahall villager

Merlock—trader who visited Carvahall

Miolandra, House—elf family

Moratensis—man of myth who stepped fully formed out of a fountain after a maid wished for a perfect husband

Morgothal—god of fire (dwarf)

Morn—Carvahall’s tavern owner; Tara’s husband

Morzan—first and last of the Forsworn; Murtagh’s father

Mourning Sage, the—Oromis (translation of Osthato Chetowä)

Murtagh—one of Eragon’s traveling companions; Morzan’s son

Nagra—giant boar; native to the Beor Mountains

Narí—elf from Ceris

Nasuada—Ajihad’s daughter (also Lady Nightstalker)

Neal—alias for Brom

Neil—fur trader of Therinsford

Nelda—Holcomb’s wife; Brom’s mother

Nesbit—Carvahall villager

Nëya—one of the Caretakers

Niduen—weaver in Islanzadí’s house

Nightstalker—Urgal title for Ajihad

Nolfavrell—Quimby and Birgit’s son (also Kell)

Nolla—Orval’s wife

Nuada—elf from the song “Du Silbena Datia”

Nuala—elf poetess

Odele—young woman from Carvahall

Ohen the Strong—Rider

Orik—Thrifk’s son; Hrothgar’s nephew and adopted son; Vardrûn’s nephew-by-law; Himinglada’s cousin-by-law; Hvedra’s betrothed

Orm Blood-ax—Gannel’s father

Oromis—also the Cripple Who Is Whole, the Mourning Sage, Osthato Chetowä, and Togira Ikonoka

Orrin—king of Surda; Larkin’s son

Orthindr, House—elf family

Orval—farmer in Carvahall; Nolla’s husband

Osthato Chetowä—Oromis (translated as the Mourning Sage)