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Inheritance
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Inheritance Cycle: Book 4

Inheritance (2011) (edit title/settings)

by Christopher Paolini (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but... read more

Summary edit see section history

The book opens with the Varden's siege on Belatona, a city of the Empire. In the midst of the battle, Saphira is nearly killed by a Dauthdaert (death spear) named Niernen - a spear from the Dragon Wars created to withstand magic and kill dragons. Belatona soon falls, and in the aftermath, the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The book opens with the Varden's siege on Belatona, a city of the Empire. In the midst of the battle, Saphira is nearly killed by a Dauthdaert (death spear) named Niernen - a spear from the Dragon Wars created to withstand magic and kill dragons. Belatona soon falls, and in the aftermath, the Varden forms an alliance with the Werecats.
That night, Elain's baby, Hope, is born with a cleft lip. Eragon sings through the night to heal her. Meanwhile, Roran is sent on a mission to capture Aroughs; the city has proven to be well-defended. He forms a clever and daring plan to take the city, using weighted barges tied together as a battering ram against the sluice gates of the city, which is surrounded by lakes and canals. Aroughs is soon taken, although Roran is grievously injured and one of his magicians, Carn, dies during the battle.
Roran rejoins the Varden at Dras-Leona where they make plans to attack the city. However, Murtagh and his dragon Thorn are guarding the gates of the city, thus eliminating the chance of a direct siege. Jeod then finds references to the start of a sewer system that was never completed under the city, before the city was built. Assuming the existence of a secret tunnel to the city, Eragon leads a group (consisting of himself, Arya, Angela, the werecat Solembum and the elf Wyrden) into the city to open the gates for the Varden. After being discovered by soldiers, one of Blodhgarm's spell-casters, Wyrden, is killed in a trap, and Angela and Solembum are parted from Eragon and Arya. Eventually, Eragon and Arya are captured by the priests of Helgrind and are going to be fed to the Ra'zac eggs the priests held. Angela and Solembum save them and they escape, killing most of the priests in the process and destroying most of the city's walls and the city's cathedral. Emerging from Helgrind, Eragon defeats Murtagh and Thorn using the rubble blocking the gates, and thus helps open the gates from inside, allowing the Varden to take control of the city. Later, in the night, Murtagh and Thorn attack the Varden camp and take Nasuada prisoner. In her absence, Eragon is appointed as the leader of the Varden as they march towards Uru'baen.
Eragon then remembers Solembum's advice concerning the Vault of Souls and the Rock of Kuthian. He summons Solembum to the tent and begins to question Solembum's knowledge of the Vault, of which the werecat has none. During the conversation, Solembum loses his consciousness as a new voice talks to Eragon before abruptly ending, bringing Solembum back from a trance he cannot remember. Following the voice's advice, Eragon reads a section of the book Domia abr Wyrda, and discovers that the Vault is on Vroengard Island, the Riders' city before Galbatorix destroyed them. Eragon then consults Glaedr via the dragon's Eldunarí about the Vault of Souls but Glaedr cannot remember the conversation. Eragon realizes that powerful magic has forced everybody - besides Eragon and Saphira - to forget about the Vault of Souls. Eragon and Saphira decide to make haste to Doru Araeba, the capital of Vroengard; they take Glaedr's Eldunarí as a guide.
Upon reaching the island, Glaedr informs Eragon of what is supposed to be radiation in the area caused by the energy released during the battle between Galbatorix and the Riders. The place itself has turned evil, with strange creatures and plants. Eragon finds the Rock of Kuthian, which houses the Vault, and they speak their names, but the Vault refuses to open. Glaedr realizes that they must speak their true names to open the Vault, and so, Eragon and Saphira set about trying to understand themselves, in order to discover their true names. Saphira succeeds first, upsetting Eragon as he frantically tries to understand himself. He finally discovers his true name and they open the Vault, which, much to their surprise, contains over 100 Eldunarí as well over 200 Dragon eggs, guarded by the mighty Cuaroc who is an Eldunarí encased within a metal-body and the head of a dragon. Umaroth, the dragon of the last leader of the Riders, Vrael, speaks for the Eldunarí and explains that the Eldunarí and the eggs were stored in the Vault of Souls to protect them from Galbatorix. Umaroth also reveals that the Eldunarí - using their combined strength - had been secretly interfering with events in Alagaesia, in a bid to defeat Galbatorix. Umaroth details that the time has come for them to reveal themselves and aid Eragon and the Varden in overthrowing Galbatorix.
Eragon departs from Vroengard with most of the Eldunarí, leaving five behind to protect the eggs. Upon leaving the Vault, all knowledge of the eggs' existence is wiped from the minds of Eragon, Saphira, and all of the Eldunarí accompanying them, so that Galbatorix cannot make use of that information if they happen to fail to defeat Galbatorix. However, if they succeed in killing Galbatorix, the knowledge will be restored. Eragon, Saphira and the Eldunarí make their way to Uru'baen, where the combined forces of the Varden, the Elves led by Queen Islanzadi and the Dwarves under Orik are marching.
Meanwhile, Nasuada is held in captivity at Uru'baen, and is tortured by Galbatorix, who is trying to get her to swear fealty to him. Murtagh assists her to the best of his ability in resisting Galbatorix, slowly falling in love with her. His love eventually causes an identity switch (and corresponding change in true name) in Murtagh.
Eragon and Saphira reach Uru'baen as the Varden begins its siege. He reveals the existence of the Eldunarí to Arya, Islanzadi and Orik and they form a plan to attack the city. Eragon, Saphira, Arya, the witch-child Elva and eleven elven spell-casters led by Blödhgarm break into Galbatorix's citadel after a deceptive scheme. Once there, they try to locate Galbatorix and after progressing through a series of traps that take all elves save Arya prisoner, they locate Galbatorix in a huge chamber. He subdues them in no time, and informs them that he has learned the true name of the ancient language itself (the Word) and thus has power over magic itself. Galbatorix then orders Murtagh and Eragon to fight using only their swords; Eragon eventually defeats Murtagh. Murtagh then uses the Word to attack Galbatorix and is able to strip him of his wards. Enraged, Galbatorix renders Murtagh unconscious and attacks Eragon with his mind, while Saphira and Thorn attack Shruikan (Galbatorix's black dragon). Using the energy of the Eldunarí, Eragon casts a spell to make Galbatorix understand his crimes and the pain and suffering they have caused. Since the spell has no words and is not an attacking spell, Galbatorix is unable to defend himself and is left crippled by it. Galbatorix clumsily attacks Eragon with his sword, who defends himself and then stabs Galbatorix in the gut. In retaliation, Galbatorix tries to kill Eragon and the rest along with him by unmaking himself in a huge explosion that destroys most of Uru'baen. However, Eragon, using the energy from the Eldunarí, is able to protect all of them. Meanwhile, Arya kills Shruikan using the Dauthdaert, Niernen.
At long last the vile King Galbatorix, the Oath-breaker, one who obliterated all the riders but one, is defeated and killed by a Rider who was helped by the whole of Alagaësia in this daunting mission; and thus Eragon garners the title Kingkiller.
Murtagh explains to Eragon and Saphira that his falling in love with Nasauda caused a switch in his true name, thus allowing him and Thorn to break free of their oaths of fealty to Galbatorix; which was vital in defeating the King. Murtagh then reveals that he and Thorn are going "somewhere to the north", to search for peace and quiet after a life full of hardship. Finally Murtagh teaches the Word to Eragon and then bids him farewell as a brother following which he and Thorn fly away to the unknown.
After Galbatorix's death, Nasuada becomes the High Queen of the Empire, while Arya, after the death of her mother in the battle at the hands of Galbatorix's general Lord Barst, becomes the Queen of the Elves. She also resumes her role as the ferry for the now rescued green Dragon egg, which soon hatches for her. She thus becomes a Rider and names her dragon Fírnen. Firnen and Saphira soon begin a courtship, delighting both Eragon and Arya.
With Galbatorix dead, Eragon and Saphira are both now able to remember the eggs hidden in the Vault of Souls, and they work together to find a suitable place to house the numerous Eldunarí, and a place to hatch and raise the eggs. Eragon also reworks the magic of the land to include both the Dwarves and the Urgals in the bond between Riders and the Dragons, meaning that the Dragons can now hatch for an Urgal or a dwarf, thus ensuring peace between all the races of the land.
In the end, Eragon reaches the conclusion that there is no safe place to raise the dragons and train the new Riders in Alagaesia. With the approval of all the leaders of the various races, he elects to transport all the Eldunarí and dragon eggs to a new location outside Alagaesia, save two eggs; one of which is sent to the dwarves, and the other to the Urgals. The future Riders, formed as a result of these two particular eggs, would travel to Eragon's new home for training, following which new eggs would be sent back to Alagaesia to create more Riders, and so forth. Eragon and Arya recognize their feelings for each other and he offers Arya the chance to accompany him so that she can help him train the new Riders. However, she declines because of her duty as Queen of the Elves. After bidding farewell, Eragon and Saphira, with heavy hearts, prepare to depart Alagaesia. The book ends with the vision that Eragon had had previously of two people getting onto a boat (Eragon and Arya) and sailing away while two dragons (Firnen and Saphira) are flying overhead, while a man on the beach (Roran) mourns for his loss. Eragon invites Arya to stay with him till the first bend in the river; when they are on the boat, Eragon whispers Arya's true name to her, and she whispers his. They part, and Eragon and Saphira weep for their losses. In time, Eragon comes to peace and with Saphira looks forward to new lands with the promise of new adventures and a new life with the Dragons and the Riders.

Characters edit see section history

  • Eragon Bromsson: Main character, Saphira's rider. Roran's cousin and Murtagh's half brother.
  • Saphira: Eragon's female dragon, named for the blue color of her scales; her name also comes from the name of another dragon in a story told by Brom when they were still in Carvahall (which, it turns out, was the name of Brom's own dragon when he was a Rider).
  • Lady Nasuada: Leader of the Varden, an army of rebels who aim to overthrow King Galbatorix with Eragon's assistance. Daughter of Ajihad, former leader of the Varden.
  • Galbatorix: The main antagonist of the entire series, an evil dictator King who maintains his throne by forcing dragons and humans alike to submit to his will. Leader of The Forsworn.
  • Roran Stronghammer: Eragon's cousin and hearth brother. He was the son of Garrow. He joins the Varden in their fight against the empire.
  • Arya Dröttningu: The daughter of the elf Queen. She is responsible for helping the Varden-Elf alliance.
  • Elva Farseer: A child who can feel - and anticipate - the suffering of others around her as a result of a 'blessing' given to her by Eragon when she was a baby. He thought he was shielding her from pain, but the wording of his spell was a bit off, turning Elva herself into a shield against pain. The spell has forced her to grow prematurely, and gives her an urge to help those around her.
  • Grimrr Halfpaw: King of the werecats.
  • Oromis: Eragon's elf teacher and fellow Rider. His golden dragon is named Glaedr.
  • Queen Islanzadí: Queen of the elves. She is Aria's mother.
  • Murtagh: Rider of Thorn. Eragon's half brother. Under the influence of Galbatorix.
  • Katrina: Roran's wife; daughter of Sloan.
  • King Orik: Hrothgar's foster son and Eragon's foster brother. King of a dwarf clan
  • King Orrin: The King of Surda who helps the rebel Varden.
  • Glaedr Eldunarí: Older dragon who helped teach Eragon and Saphira. Partner of the late Oromis. His flesh died but his spirit lives on in his heart of heart
  • Thorn: Murtagh's red dragon.
  • Ismira: Mother of Katrina.
  • Firnen: The first dragon to hatch since Saphira.
  • Cuaroc: the keeper of the eggs
  • Angela: An herbalist. She tells Eragon his future in one of the earlier books. She is very knowledgeable and very mysterious. She helps the Varden but she only does it because it is convenient to her. She is often accompanied by her werecat companion Solembum. She loves to be in the thick of the action.
  • Blodhgarm: An elf with blue fur, yellow eyes, and fangs. He emits an odor that is intoxicating to all women who come near him. He is leader of a group of elvish spellcasters assigned to protect Eragon and Saphira by the elf queen.
  • Solembum: A werecat who gives Eragon a strange prophecy. He can usually be found near the herbalist Angela.
  • Nar Garzhvog: Leader of the Urgals.
  • Sloan: A butcher from Carvahall. Katarina's father, who never approved of her relationship with Roran.
  • Gertrude: Healer from Carvahall
  • Birgit: Blames Roran for the death of her husband, helps him survive but vows to have her revenge. She is a formidable warrior in her own right, unafraid to fight alongside the men in battle.
  • Umaroth: An Eldunari that aids the varden.
  • Shruikan: Galbatorix's unimaginably huge black dragon, whom he enslaved after his first dragon died. Shruikan has since gone mad, but is still held under Galbatorix's control.
  • Hrothgar: King of the dwarves, killed by Murtagh in the battle of the Burning Plains. Orik was his foster son.
  • Shade Durza: A shade with red hair. Eragon kills him in the first book, earning him the title of "Shadeslayer."
  • Garrow: Roran's dead father, Eragon's uncle
  • Jormundur: A person of high authority within the Varden.
  • Trianna: Chief magician of the Varden
  • Selena: Eragon's mother.
  • Farica: Nasuada's maid
  • Morzan: Father of Murghtag. Dragon rider.
  • Goodman Jeod: Brom's scholar friend
  • Ajihad: Nasuada's father, the now diseased Leader of the Varden
  • Helen: Jeod's wife
  • Martland Redbeard: Commander within the Varden
  • Quimby: Birgit's deceased husband
  • Brom: Mentor to Eragon. He taught him his first magic and sword fighting lesson.
Show all 42 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “"Try not to burn down Aroughs, would you? Cities are rather hard to replace."”
    Nasuada
  • “How else were you planning to proceed? With blaring trumpets and shouting heralds? Really.”
    Angela
  • “Tinkledeath?”
    Eragon
  • “The warrior who adapts easiest to the unexpected is the warrior who will live the longest”
    Glaedr
  • “A man of conscience-- the most dangerous kind in the world.”
    Nasuada
  • “The sky is hollow and the world is round.”
    Eragon
  • “Fate has a cruel sense of humor”
    Murtagh
  • “It is impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should you want to. By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments.”
    Arya
  • “(Life is so hard) because everyone wants to eat, but no one wants to be eaten. <p. 393>”
    Saphira
  • “Oh, what am I, chopped liver?" Everyone turned to look, surprised, as Angela stepped forward from a corner at the back of the tent. Eragon had not even suspected she was there. "What a strange expression," said the herbalist. "Who would compare themselves to chopped liver in the first place? If you HAVE to choose an organ, why not pick a gallbladder or a thymus gland instead? Much more interesting than a liver. Or what about chopped t--" She smiled. "Well I suppose that's not important.”
    Angela
  • “A thunder of dragons? What did you-" "THAT is the proper term for a flock of dragons. If ever you had heard one in full flight, you would understand. When ten, twelve, or more dragons flew past overhead, the very air would reverberate around you, as if you were sitting inside a giant drum. Besides, what else could you call a group of dragons? You have your murder of crows, your convocation of eagles, your gaggle of geese, your raft of ducks, your band of jays, your parliament of owls, and so on, but what about dragons? A HUNGER of dragons? That doesn't sound quite right. Nor does referring to them as a BLAZE or a TERROR, although I'm rather fond of TERROR, all things considered: a terror of dragons... But no, a flock of dragons is called a thunder. Which you would know if your education had consisted of more than just learning how to swing a sword and conjugate a few verbs in the ancient language.”
    Angela
  • “"I am not who I was, "... "but I know who I am."”
    -Eragon
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • It’s impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should you want to. By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments.”
    Highlighted by 334 Kindle customers
  • If you don’t make a few enemies every now and then, you’re a coward—or worse.
    Highlighted by 302 Kindle customers
  • The warrior who can adapt the easiest to the unexpected is the warrior who will live the longest.
    Highlighted by 253 Kindle customers
  • A man’s work, or a woman’s, is whatever needs to be done.
    Highlighted by 214 Kindle customers
  • Because, said Saphira, everyone wants to eat, but no one wants to be eaten.
    Highlighted by 208 Kindle customers
  • “When you teach them—teach them not to fear. Fear is good in small amounts, but when it is a constant, pounding companion, it cuts away at who you are and makes it hard to do what you know is right.”
    Highlighted by 204 Kindle customers
  • “We should proceed with caution,” whispered Wyrden. Angela made a faint noise in her throat. “How else were you planning to proceed? With blaring trumpets and shouting heralds? Really.”
    Highlighted by 201 Kindle customers
  • You must learn … to see what you are looking at.
    Highlighted by 200 Kindle customers
  • “Eragon Shadeslayer, Vanquisher of Snails.… I would strike fear into the hearts of men wherever I went.”
    Highlighted by 185 Kindle customers
  • Who is it who decides that one man should live and another should die? My life wasn’t worth any more than his, but he’s the one who’s buried, while I get to enjoy at least a few more hours above the ground. Is it chance, random and cruel, or is there some purpose or pattern to all this, even if it lies beyond our ken?
    Highlighted by 182 Kindle customers
Show all 22 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

The setting is the world of Alagaesia.
Show all 25 settings

Organizations edit see section history

  • The Varden: A rebellion group that fights to overthrow Galbatorix and bring peace to Alagaesia. It is sponsored by Surda, the Dwarfs, and the Elves.
  • The Empire: Run by Galbatorix
  • Black Hand: An assassin group run by Galbatorix.
  • Du Vrangr Gata: Part of the Varden, they are the magicians that support the Varden.
  • The Nighthawks: Nasuda's personal guard
  • Surda: Sponsor of the varden

First Sentence edit see section history

In the beginning, there were dragons: proud, fierce, and independent.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. In the Beginning: A History of Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr
2. Into the breach
3. Hammerfall
4. Shadows on the Horizon
5. King Cat
6. Aftermath
7. Memories of the Dead
8. What is a Man?
9. The Price of Power
10. Rudely into the Light...
11. A Cradle Song
12. No Rest for the Weary
13. Dancing with Swords
14. No Honor, No Glory, Only Blisters in Unfortunate Places
16. Mooneater
17. Rumors and Writing
18. Aroughs
19. Dras-Leona
20. A Toss of the Bones
21. My Friend, My Enemy
22. A Flour Made of Flame
23. Dust and Ashes
24. Interregnum
25. Thardsvergundnzmal
26. The Way of Knowing
27. A Heart-to-Heart
28. Discovery
29. Decisions
30. Under Hill and Stone
31. To Feed a God
32. Infidels on the Loose
33. The Tolling of the Bell
34. Black-Shrike-Thorn-Cave
35. Hammer and Helm
36. And the Walls Fell...
37. By the Banks of Lake Leona
38. The Word of a Rider
39. Conclave of Kings
40. A Maze Without End
41. Fragments, Half-Seen and Indistinct
42. Questions Unanswered
43. Departure
44. The Torment of Uncertainty
45. The Hall of the Soothsayer
46. On the Wings of a Dragon
47. The Sound of His Voice, the Touch of His Hand
48. Small Rebellions
49. A Crown of Ice and Snow
50. Burrow Grubs
51. Amid the Ruins
52. Snalgli for Two
53. The Rock of Kuthian
54. And All the World a Dream
55. A Question of Character
56. The Vault of Souls
57. Lacuna, Part the First
58. Lacuna, Part the Second
59. Return
60. The City of Sorrows
61. War Council
62. A Matter of Duty
63. Fire in the Night
64. Over the Wall and into the Maw
65. The Storm Breaks
66. That Which Does Not Kill
67. The Heart of the Fray
68. The Name of All Names
69. Muscle Against Metal
70. The Gift of Knowledge
71. Death Throes
72. A Sea of Nettles
73. Heir to the Empire
74. A Fitting Eptaph
75. Pieces on a Board
76. Firnen
77. A Man of Consience
78. Blood Price
79. Promises, New and Old
80. Leave-Taking
Pronunciation Guide and Glossary
Acknowledgments

Glossary edit see section history

Show all 23 glossary entries

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 4 of 4 in Inheritance Cycle. (standard series)

Preceded by Brisingr.

This book is in Amazon.com Best Books of 2011. (authoritative list)
This is book 6 of 216 in Whitcoulls Kids' Top 50 (2011). (authoritative list)
This is book 4 of 9 in Alagaesia. (universe)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Christopher Paolini (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. John Jude Palencar (Cover Artist)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: November 8, 2011
ISBN: 0375856110
Page Count: 860

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PZ7.P19535 In 2011
  • Dewey: 813.6

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Explicit Battle Scenes (but nothing too bad)

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • A Game of Thrones
  • Eragon
  • Brisingr
  • Eldest
  • The Inheritance Cycle, Books 1-3
  • Eragon / Eldest
  • Eldest (Spanish Edition)
  • The Fionavar Tapestry

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Eldest
  • Brisingr
  • Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia
  • Eragon

Books That Influenced This Book edit see section history

   
  • Eragon
  • Eldest
  • Brisingr
  • The Hobbit / The Fellowship of the Ring / The Two Towers / The Return of the King

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