Palancar—first known human king
Parr—young man in Carvahall
Quickpaw—werecat in Ellesméra (also The Dream Dancer, Maud, and The Watcher)
Quimby—Carvahall’s brewer; Birgit’s husband; Nolfavrell’s father
Ra’zac, the—dark, dangerous, vaguely insectile creatures; only two known survivors exist; last race to arrive in Alagaësia (see the Lethrblaka)
Rhunön—greatest elf smith
Ridley—farmer in Carvahall
Rílvenar, House—elf family
Risthart—lord of Teirm
Rolf—Jeod’s butler
Roran—Cadoc’s grandson; Garrow and Marian’s son; Eragon’s cousin (also Stronghammer)
Roslarb—Rider
Sabrae—member of the Council of Elders
Saphira—a blue dragon; paired with Brom
Saphira—a blue dragon; Iormúngr and Vervada’s daughter; paired with Eragon (also Bjartskular and Flametongue)
Sardson—soldier at Carvahall
Selena—Cadoc’s daughter; Garrow’s sister; Eragon’s mother
Shade—a sorcerer possessed by the spirits he invokes to do his bidding
Shadeslayer—a title bestowed upon those who perform said deed (see Eragon, Irnstad, and Laetrí)
Shining Brow—Elva
Shrrg—giant wolf; native to the Beor Mountains
Shrrgnien—one of Ûndin’s guards
Shruikan—a black dragon; paired unwillingly with Galbatorix
Shur’tugal—ancient language name for Dragon Rider
Sindri—goddess of earth (dwarf)
Sloan—Carvahall’s butcher; Ismira’s husband; Katrina’s father
Snowfire—Brom’s horse
Solembum—werecat who travels with Angela
Southwell—Carvahall villager
spirits—sentient beings of uncertain origin that are composed of pure energy
Stronghammer—name given to Roran after his favorite weapon
Svart—Ivor’s uncle
Tábor, Marcus—lord of Dras-Leona
Tara—Morn’s wife
Tarmunora—elf queen who signed pact with dragons
Tarok—an Urgal
Tathal—groom in Borromeo Castle who intended to commit murder
Tears of Anhûin, The—name assumed by Anhûin’s guard after their clan was nearly obliterated by Galbatorix and the Forsworn (translation of Az Sweldn rak Anhûin)
Thane—farmer in Carvahall; Calitha’s husband
Thorgerd One-Eye—Himinglada’s husband; Hvedra’s father
Thorn—a red dragon
Thorv—one of Ûndin’s guards; Brokk’s son
Thrándurin, House—Oromis’s extinct house
Thrifk—Orik’s father
Togira Ikonoka—Oromis (translated as the Cripple Who Is Whole)
Torkenbrand—leader of a group of slavers
Tornac—Murtagh’s friend, servant, and fencing instructor
Tornac—Murtagh’s horse, named after his servant
Torson—first mate to Clovis
Trevor—leader of Daret
Trianna—sorceress and member of Du Vrangr Gata
Tríhga—one of Ûndin’s guards
Tunivor—elf who invented Tunivor’s Nectar
Twins, the—magicians in the Varden; leaders of Du Vrangr Gata
Ulric—dockworker in Narda
Umérth—member of the Council of Elders
Umhodan—legendary elf from The Lay of Umhodan
Ûndin—clan chief of Dûrgrimst Ragni Hefthyn; Derûnd’s son
Urgals—brutish-looking humanoids with large horns; second race to arrive in Alagaësia (see Kull)
Urûr—god of air (dwarf)
Urzhad—giant cave bear; native to the Beor Mountains
Ushnark the Mighty—Urgal title for Galbatorix
Uthar—one of Jeod’s sailors in Teirm
Vacher—human natural philosopher
Vándil—one of the greatest elf spellweavers
Vanilor—a dragon
Vanir—an elf in Ellesméra
Varden, the—rebels who oppose Galbatorix and the Empire
Vardrûn—Himinglada’s mother; Hvedra’s grandmother; Orik’s aunt-by-law
Vervada—Iormúngr’s mate; Saphira’s dam
Vestarí—legendary elf from The Lay of Vestarí the Mariner
Vrael—last leader of the Dragon Riders
Wally—alias for Loring
Watcher, The—werecat in Ellesméra (also The Dream Dancer, Maud, and Quickpaw)
Wayland—Calitha’s stepfather
werecats—a rare and elusive race of shapeshifters
Wyglif—Carvahall villager
Wyrdfell, the—thirteen Riders who betrayed their order to Galbatorix (also the Forsworn; see Morzan)
PLACES
Aberon
Alagaësia
Alalëa—elf homeland
Anora River
Ardwen
Aroughs
Az Ragni
Beartooth River
Beirland—one of the Southern Isles
Belatona
Beor Mountains
Blasted Mountains, the—mountains in the center of the Hadarac Desert (translation of Du Fells Nángoröth)
Boar’s Eye, the—giant whirlpool between Uden and Parlim
Borromeo Castle—King Orrin’s home
Broddring Kingdom, the—core of Galbatorix’s empire; centered around what is now Urû’baen
Bullridge
Buragh
Burning Plains, the—located just north of Surda, along the Jiet River (translation of Du Völlar Eldrvarya)
Cantos—village destroyed by Galbatorix for harboring rebels
Carvahall
Celbedeil—dwarf temple in Tarnag
Ceris
Ceunon
Cithrí
Crags of Tel’naeír—cliffs near Ellesméra
Dalgon
Daret
Dauth
Doru Araeba
Dras-Leona
Du Fells Nángoröth—mountains in the center of the Hadarac Desert (translated as the Blasted Mountains)
Du Völlar Eldrvarya—plains located just north of Surda, along the Jiet River (translated as the Burning Plains)
Du Weldenvarden
Edda River
Edoc’sil—original name of the elven watchtower on Utgard mountain (also Ristvak’baen)
Edur Carthungavë—tailbone of the Spine (also Rathbar’s Spur)
Eldor
Ellesméra
Empire, the—commonly considered to extend some leagues north of Ceunon, south to the border of Surda, west to the sea, and east to the edge of Du Weldenvarden and the Hadarac Desert
Eoam
Ethrundr—mountain south of Ellesméra
Éwayëna—elf city destroyed by Galbatorix
Fane Street—street in Aberon
Farthen Dûr
Fasaloft—town on Leona Lake
Feinster
Fionula—mountain south of Ellesméra
Fläm
Furnost
Gaena River
Galfni
Gil’ead
Golden Globe—tavern in Dras-Leona
Green Chestnut—tavern in Teirm
Griminsmal—mountain south of Ellesméra
Hadarac Desert
Hedarth
Helgrind
Igualda Falls—waterfall at the north end of Palancar Valley
Ília Fëon—Place of Flowers
Ilirea—original name of Urû’baen
Illium—one of the Southern Isles
Iron Cliffs—cliffs preceding the southernmost tip of the Spine
Isenstar
Ithrö Zhâda—Galbatorix’s name for Orthíad
Jiet River
Kirtan
Kóstha-mérna—lake at the foot of Farthen Dûr
; Kuasta
Leona Lake
Lithgow
Luthivíra—elf city destroyed by Galbatorix
Mani’s Caves—caves in Beor Mountains with a dream well
Market Street—street in Teirm
Marna
Melian
Merogoven—mountain south of Ellesméra
Moldûn the Proud—northernmost mountain of the Beors
Nädindel
Narda
Narnmor Mountain—mountain near Igualda Falls
Nía—one of the Southern Isles
Ninor River
North Sea, the—term for all the waters around and north of Narda, including the gulf whereon Ceunon stands
Nost Creek—creek in Palancar Valley near Carvahall
Orthíad—abandoned dwarf city (also Ithrö Zhâda)
Osilon
Palancar Valley—contains Carvahall and Therinsford
Parlim—one of the Southern Isles
Petrøvya
Ramr River
Rathbar’s Spur—tailbone of the Spine (also Edur Carthungavë) Reavstone
Ristvak’baen—name given to the elven watchtower on Utgard mountain after Galbatorix killed Vrael there (also Edoc’sil)
Rock of Kuthian—place of uncertain location mentioned by Solembum
Röna—lake
Seven Sheaves—tavern in Carvahall
Sharktooth Island
Sílthrim
Silverwood Forest—woods along Tüdosten lake
Southern Isles—a group of islands consisting of Beirland, Nía, Illium, Uden, and Parlim
Spine, the
Stone of Broken Eggs—tower of basalt north of Ellesméra
Surda
Tarnag
Teirm
Therinsford
Tialdarí Hall—Queen Islanzadí’s family hall in Ellesméra
Toark River
Tronjheim—city-mountain inside Farthen Dûr; built by dwarves
Tüdosten—lake
Uden—one of the Southern Isles
Urû’baen—also Ilirea
Utgard—mountain that guards the southwest side of the pass into Palancar Valley
Vault of Souls, the—place of uncertain location mentioned by Solembum
Vroengard
Woadark Lake
Yazuac
THINGS
Agaetí Blödhren—elves’ centennial celebration
Albatross—ship at Narda
Aren—Brom’s ring
Blackmoor Shipping Company—company in league with the Empire
Brom’s ring—sapphire ring with the yawë carved on the face of the jewel (also Aren)
cardus weed—plant used for smoking
Chronicles of Ingothold—partial history of dragons
Convocations—a work by Nuala
Dagshelgr—elves’ spring festival
Dance of Snake and Crane—elf training exercise (also the Rimgar)
Deed of Gëda, The—elf epic
Dialogues—series of philosophical discussions composed by Eddison
Dragon Wing—ship at Teirm dream well, the—unusual magical phenomenon found in Mani’s Caves
Edeline—barge
Endless Staircase, The—translation of Vol Turin; structure inside Tronjheim
Erisdar—elves’ and dwarves’ flameless lanterns
faelnirv—elven liqueur
fireweed—plant that helps dragons’ digestion
floating crystal—unusual magical phenomenon found on the island of Eoam
Fricai Andlát—Death Friend, a mushroom
Gëda’s Light
gedwëy ignasia—silver mark on the palm, given to a person when he or she bonds with a dragon
Helzvog’s Blood—lava
Helzvog’s stone girdle—an item by which the dwarves swear an oath
Helzvog’s Womb—volcano
Isidar Mithrim—star sapphire
Knurlnien—stone used in dwarf ceremonies
Lay of Umhodan, The—elf epic
Lay of Vestarí the Mariner, The—elf epic
Lianí Vine—vine with pink and white flowers developed by the elves
Lorga—Trianna’s snake bracelet
Menoa tree—a magical tree near Ellesméra (see Linnëa)
Merrybell—barge
Morgothal’s black beard—a feature of the dwarves’ god of fire by which they swear an oath
Morgothal’s Forge—volcano
Naegling—Oromis’s sword
Nordvig’s Daughter—the sun
Red Boar—barge
Rimgar—elf training exercise (also the Dance of Snake and Crane)
Runes—elf game
Seithr oil—extracted from the petals of the Seithr plant; normally used to preserve pearls, but can be converted into an acid that eats only flesh
Seithr plant—grows on an island in the North Sea
Serpent, The—playing piece in the elves’ game of Runes
“Song of Gerand”—one of Brom’s stories
tuatha du orothrim—“tempering the fool’s wisdom,” a level in Riders’ training
Tunivor’s Nectar—a healing potion
Vol Turin—The Endless Staircase; structure inside Tronjheim
Volund—Hrothgar’s hammer
Waverunner—ship at Narda
White Flame of Vándil, the—powerful magic that protects Ellesméra
yawë—mark of those who have devoted themselves to the greater good of elves; on Arya’s shoulder and Brom’s ring
Year of Darkness
Zar’roc—Morzan’s sword, now Eragon’s
SNEAK PEEK AT
BOOK III
IN
THE INHERITANCE TRILOGY
Excerpt copyright © 2006 by Christopher Paolini.
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
LIGHT AND SHADOW
(An Excerpt from the Third Chapter of the Third Book of the Inheritance trilogy)
Saphira kneaded the soil beneath her feet. Let us be off!
Leaving their bags and supplies hanging from the branch of a juniper tree, Eragon and Roran clambered onto Saphira’s back. They wasted no time saddling her; she had worn her tack through the night. The molded leather was warm, almost hot, underneath Eragon. He clutched the neck spike in front of him— to steady himself during sudden changes in direction—while Roran hooked one thick arm around Eragon’s waist and brandished his hammer with the other.
A piece of shale cracked under Saphira’s weight as she settled into a low crouch and then, in a single giddy bound, leaped up to the rim of the gulch, where she balanced for a moment before unfolding her massive wings. The thin membranes thrummed as Saphira raised them toward the sky. Vertical, they looked like two translucent blue sails.
“Not so tight,” grunted Eragon.
“Sorry,” said Roran. He loosened his embrace.
Further speech became impossible as Saphira jumped again. When she reached the pinnacle of her jump, she brought her wings down with a mighty whoosh, driving the three of them even higher. With each subsequent flap, they climbed closer to the flat, narrow clouds that extended east to west.
As Saphira angled toward Helgrind, Eragon glanced to his left and discovered that, because of their elevation, he could see a broad swath of Leona Lake some miles distant. A thick layer of mist, gray and ghostly in the pre-dawn glow, emanated from the water, as if witchfire burned upon the surface of the liquid. Eragon tried, but even with his hawklike vision, he could not make out the far shore, nor the southern reaches of the Spine beyond, which he regretted. He had not laid eyes upon the mountain range of his childhood since leaving Palancar Valley.
To the north stood Dras-Leona, a huge, rambling mass that appeared as a blocky silhouette against the wall of mist that edged its western flank. The one building Eragon could identify was the cathedral where the Ra’zac had attacked him; its flanged spire loomed above the rest
of the city, like a barbed spearhead.
And somewhere in the landscape that rushed past below, Eragon knew, were the remnants of the campsite where the Ra’zac had mortally wounded Brom. He allowed all of his anger and grief over the events of that day—as well as Garrow’s murder and the destruction of their farm—to surge forth and give him the courage, nay, the desire, to face the Ra’zac in combat.
Eragon, said Saphira. Today we need not guard our minds and keep our thoughts secret from one another, do we?
Not unless another magician should appear.
A fan of golden light flared into existence as the top of the sun crested the horizon. In an instant, the full spectrum of colors enlivened the previously drab world: the mist glowed white, the water became a rich blue, the daubed-mud wall that encircled the center of Dras-Leona revealed its dingy yellow sides, the trees cloaked themselves in every shade of green, and the soil blushed red and orange. Helgrind, however, remained as it always was—black.
The mountain of stone rapidly grew larger as they approached. Even from the air, it was intimidating.
Diving toward the base of Helgrind, Saphira tilted so far to her left, Eragon and Roran would have fallen if they had not already strapped their legs to the saddle. Then she whipped around the apron of scree and over the altar where the priests of Helgrind observed their ceremonies. The lip of Eragon’s helm caught the wind from her passage and produced a howl that almost deafened him.
“Well?” shouted Roran. He could not see in front of them.
“The slaves are gone!”
A great weight seemed to press Eragon into his seat as Saphira pulled out of her dive and spiraled up around Helgrind, searching for an entrance to the Ra’zac’s hideout.
Not even a hole big enough for a woodrat, she declared. She slowed and hung in place before a ridge that connected the third lowest of the four peaks to the prominence above. The jagged buttress magnified the boom produced by each stroke of her wings until it was as loud as a thunderclap. Eragon’s eyes watered as the air pulsed against his skin.
A web of white veins adorned the backside of the crags and pillars, where hoarfrost had collected in the cracks that furrowed the rock. Nothing else disturbed the gloom of Helgrind’s inky, windswept ramparts. No trees grew there among the slanting stones, nor shrubs, nor grass, nor moss, nor lichen, nor did eagles dare nest upon the tower’s broken ledges. True to its name, Helgrind was a place of death, and stood cloaked in the razor-sharp, sawtoothed folds of its scarps and clefts like a bony specter risen to haunt the earth.
Casting his mind outward, Eragon confirmed the presence of one of the slaves, as well as the two people whom he had discovered imprisoned within Helgrind the previous day, but to his concern, he could not locate the Ra’zac or the Lethrblaka. If they aren’t here, then where? he wondered. Searching again, he noticed something that had eluded him before: a single flower, a gentian, blooming not fifty feet in front of them where, by all rights, there ought to be solid rock. How does it get enough light to live?