Eragon, a 15-year-old farm boy, finds a dragon's egg, which he mistakes for a polished stone, while hunting. He takes the "stone" to his native village Carvahall and fails to sell it for food to the village butcher, then he brings it back to his uncle Garrow's farm and leaves it aside as a curiousity. Very little is known of his parentage, save that his mother was named Selena, and, for reasons unknown, insisted that her brother raise her son as his own before she disappears from Eragon's life forever. Later, Eragon is stunned when the egg hatches to reveal a baby dragon, Saphira, who quickly grows to adulthood.
Eragon's home is attacked by creatures called Ra'zac. His uncle, Garrow, dies as a result of wounds, whereupon Eragon and a mysterious storyteller named Brom escape with Saphira to find the Ra'zac and avenge Garrow's death. Eragon and Brom are ambushed by the Ra'zac. A young man named Murtagh, later revealed to be the son of Morzan, rescues them, becoming Eragon's ally. Murtagh has no love for his father, who was violent and cruel towards him during his childhood even to the point of throwing a sword at the (then 3) Murtagh and giving him a large scar across his back. Although Murtagh is able to save Eragon, Brom is fatally wounded in the attack by the Ra'zac and dies later; in his final words, he reveals that he was a Dragon Rider before the Fall and that he is an agent for the Varden. Days later, Eragon is captured and taken to prison in Gil'ead and Murtagh comes to his rescue. Murtagh shot Durza, the Shade who had Eragon captured, in the head and he disappears. Eragon and Murtagh later learn that a Shade can only be killed with a stab to the heart. While escaping, the duo rescue a female elf named Arya, about whom Eragon has been having disturbing nightmares.
Because Arya has been poisoned, they search for an antidote. They travel across the vast Hadarac Desert constantly pursued by slavers and an army of Urgals. They discover the lair of the Varden inside the hollow mountain known as Farthen Dûr. Galbatorix's forces attack, and during the battle that follows, Eragon kills Durza, but acquires a terrible scar across his back, matching Murtagh's. Whilst he is immersed in a healing sleep, he converses with a being who calls himself "The Cripple Who is Whole". He advises Eragon to complete his training in the elven capital, Ellesméra.
source: Wikipedia
