brisingr | Page 3

Forsworn, is unable to
control large amounts of magic and is prone to
debilitating seizures. Eragon and Saphira begin their

8 | P a g e Brisingr – Christopher Paolini
training, both together and separately. Eragon learns
more about the history of Alagaësia’s races,
swordsmanship, and the ancient language, which all
magicians use. In his studies of the ancient language,
he discovers he made a terrible mistake when he and
Saphira blessed the orphaned baby in Farthen Dûr:
he intended to say “May you be shielded from
misfortune,” but what he actually said was “May you
be a shield from misfortune.” He has cursed the baby
to shield others from any and all pain and misfortune.
Saphira makes quick progress learning from Glaedr,
but the scar Eragon bears as a result of his battle
with Durza slows his training. Not only is the mark on his back disfiguring, but also at unexpected times it
incapacitates him with painful spasms. He does not
know how he will improve as a magician and
swordsman if his convulsions continue. Eragon
begins to realize he has feelings for Arya. He
confesses them to her, but she rebuffs him and soon
leaves to return to the Varden.
Then the elves hold a ritual known as the Agaetí Blödhren, or the Blood-oath Celebration, during
which Eragon goes through a magical transformation:
he is turned into an elf-human hybrid—not quite one,
not quite the other. As a result, his scar is healed and
he now has the same superhuman strength the elves
have. His features are also altered, so he appears
slightly elvish.
At this point, Eragon learns that the Varden are on
the brink of battle with the Empire and are in dire
need of him and Saphira. While Eragon has been
away, Nasuada has moved the Varden from Farthen
Dûr to Surda, a country south of the Empire that still
maintains its independence from Galbatorix.

9 | P a g e Brisingr – Christopher Paolini
Eragon and Saphira leave Ellesméra, along with Orik,
after promising Oromis and Glaedr that they will
return to complete their training as soon as they can.
Meanwhile, Eragon’s cousin, Roran, has been having
his own adventures. Galbatorix has sent the Ra’zac
and a legion of imperial soldiers to Carvahall, looking
to capture Roran, so as to use him against Eragon.
Roran manages to escape into the nearby mountains.
He and the other villagers attempt to drive the
soldiers away. Numerous villagers die in the process.
When Sloan, the village butcher—who hates Roran
and opposes Roran’s engagement to his daughter,
Katrina—betrays Roran to the Ra’zac, the beetle-like
creatures find and attack Roran in the middle of the
night in his bedroom. Roran fights his way free, but
the Ra’zac capture Katrina.
Roran convinces the people of Carvahall to leave their
village and seek refuge with the Varden in Surda.
They set out westward for the coast, in the hope that
they can sail from there to Surda. Roran proves
himself as a leader, bringing them safely through the
Spine to the coast. In the port town of Teirm, they
meet Jeod, who tells Roran that Eragon is a Rider and
explains what the Ra’zac were looking for in Carvahall
in the first place—
Saphira. Jeod offers to help Roran and the villagers
reach Surda, pointing out that once Roran and the
villagers are safely with the Varden, Roran can enlist
Eragon’s help in rescuing Katrina. Jeod and the
villagers pirate a ship and sail toward Surda. Eragon
and Saphira reach the Varden, who are readying for
battle. Eragon learns what has become of the baby
upon whom he bestowed the ill-phrased blessing: her
name is Elva, and though, chronologically, she is still
a baby, she has the appearance of a fouryear-old
child and the voice and demeanor of a world-weary
adult. Eragon’s spell forces her to sense the pain of all

10 | P a g e Brisingr – Christopher Paolini
the people she sees, and compels her to protect them;
if she resists this urge, she herself suffers.
Eragon, Saphira, and the Varden ride out to meet the
Empire’s troops on the Burning Plains, a large swath
of land that smokes and smolders from underground
peat fires. They are astonished when another Rider
appears astride a red dragon. The new Rider slays
Hrothgar, the dwarf king, and then begins to fight
with Eragon and