Eldest Ch1-3

Last time, Star Wars was crossed with fantasy novels to create Eragon. 

A TWIN DISASTER

The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living.

According to the book, this gloomy first sentence is hot off the presses of the brain of our sixteen-year-old protagonist. Pretty faux-deep, but it's not like you expect much else from a teenager roaming around a battlefield's worth of corpses. It's only been three days since he woke up, but Eragon is already up and trying to help. Keyword here is trying, because every time he tries, he's racked by terrible pains that seemed to explode from his spine, even though everyone has told him he's just being a hypochondriac baby. 

It should also be noted that, in addition to phantom pains, he also has a huge, ropey scar across his back from Durza cutting him open. Having a ridiculously huge scar definitely impairs Eragon's basic mobility, but, hey, Durza was an especially bad guy, so you can't just fix that.

There's a pile of exposition that I won't get into, since you presumably read the last post, and the only new piece of information is that people are calling him "Shadeslayer" now. It's finally interrupted by Jörmunder announcing that Ajihad is nearly back from a mission. The mission in question involves hunting down the Urgals who awkwardly shuffled away once the Shade spells stopped compelling them to kill everybody, and, why, no, there is nothing morally questionable about this at all. Murtagh and the Twins are with him. We also find out that the whole shooting-the-retreatants thing might have to do with him being in a rage over Nasuada secretly pulling a Mulan. Eragon agreeably goes to where there's a group of people waiting to greet their returning leader. 

Among them was Orik -- the dwarf shifting impatiently on his stout legs -- and Arya. The white bandage around her upper arm gleamed in the darkness, reflecting a faint highlight onto the bottom of her hair. Eragon felt a strange thrill, as he always had, when he saw the elf. She looked at him and Saphira, green eyes flashing, then continued watching for Ajihad.

Well, since Paolini has put the story on pause to talk about Arya, I might as well too. Now, there's a great deal of story that I ended up skimming over last post, given that Eragon is 497 pages long in hardcover. There is, however, a scene that perfectly illustrates the problem with Eragon's attitudes toward Arya. 

In the forty-second chapter (A Warrior and a Healer), Eragon and company have escaped from Durza, and it is only then that he is able to examine the degree to which Arya has been harmed. Turns out that she's covered in bruises, because, you know, torture. Saphira tells Eragon to fix it with some healing magic, and he does. This would all be fine and innocuous, except for this paragraph:

Although he tried to preserve the elf's modesty, he could not help but notice that underneath the disfiguring marks, her body was exceptionally beautiful. He was exhausted and did not dwell upon it -- though his ears turned red at times, and he fervently hoped that Saphira did not know what he was thinking.

...yeah, he's like that towards her all the time.

Anyway, back to the plot. After about half an hour, they finally see actual movement from the tunnels, but NOT SO FAST, Urgals are attacking! Eragon can't run because of his phantom back pains, so all he can do is watch as the Urgals smash to pieces everyone in the party before running back down the tunnels, and he flashes back to what it was like finding Garrow dead at the farm. Saphira finally flies him over, and, yeah, Ajihad is dying of serious chest wounds, though they aren't so serious that he can't push out some dying words.

"Listen to me, Eragon . . . . I have one last command for you." Eragon leaned closer to catch the dying man's words. "You must promise me something: promise that you  . . . wont' let the Varden fall into chaos. They are the only hope for resisting the Empire . . . . They must be kept strong. You must promise me."

And he does, because of course he does, you would too. And then Ajihad dies, giving Eragon time to realize that the Twins and Murtagh are missing from the piles of dead people. He begs Arya to go looking for them, since elves are so awesome that they can go up against unlikely odds and escape without a scratch. She agrees, leaving space for Orik to sidle up and mutter about how now everything will be a messy power struggle, because these books were missing the political garnish from the Star Wars prequels. There's more words to the same effect said by Jörmunder, and then they all process back to Tronjheim. 

THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS

This chapter starts the next day and notes that Eragon and Saphira have a new room assignment because the giant now-broken sapphlower was also the floor of their bedroom. More importantly, Eragon is grieving for Murtagh, since they became pretty close bros over the course of their cross-country road trip. It doesn't help that Arya found some bloodied rags that definitely belonged to Murtagh, so, yeah, he and the Twins are dead. No bodies, but there was a bottomless pit conveniently located nearby, so they're probably at the bottom of that. 

Undeterred, Eragon uses one of his Single Sorrowful Tears to try and scry Murtagh, but nope, nothing. This just makes him determined to become stronger so that people won't go and die on him all the time. 

Saphira gently reminds him that they have stuff to do, and so they get ready for the day. This is only notable because Eragon learns that the phantom back pains don't want him to lift heavy things. Eragon, to his credit, grits his teeth and perseveres. 

As he and Saphira eat breakfast, they speculate on who might take over the Varden now that Ajihad is regrettably dead. Saphira points out that, based on Ajihad's ambiguous last words, Eragon could plausibly try for control, but he doesn't want it because that's, like, responsibility and stuff and he's barely old enough to drive a dragon. Jörmunder is also an option, but they agree that they don't know enough about the place yet to make a firm decision as to who they should back. 

These thoughts are cut short by a messenger who takes them directly to the Council of Elders, a group chosen by the Varden who seemed to operate as a parliament, directing the concerns of the Varden to Ajihad. The Council is made up of five people, and the disparity in description for the members is interesting, to say the least.

Seated there were Jörmunder and two other men, one tall and one broad; a woman with pinched lips, close-set eyes, and elaborately painted cheeks; and a second woman with an immense pile of gray hair above a matronly face, belied by a dagger hilt peeking out of the vast hills of her bodice.

Always good to see Paolini's priorities. Describing how vain and ugly a woman is takes priority over splitting up a sentence. Anyway, Jörmunder doesn't beat around the bush as to why Eragon is there.

"We face a crisis that must be dealt with quickly and effectively. If we don't choose Ajihad's successor, someone else will. Hrothgar has already contacted us to convey his condolences. While he was more than courteous, he is sure to be forming his own plans even as we speak. We must also consider Du Vrangr Gata, the magic users. Most of them are loyal to the Varden, but it's difficult to predict their actions even in the best of times. They might decide to oppose our authority for their own advantage. That is why we need your assistance, Eragon, to provide the legitimacy required by whoever is to take Ajihad's place."

Also, they've already decided who they want to back. It's Nasuada. This surprises Eragon, and he immediately tries to examine the issue from every angle, despite being sixteen and not previously terribly analytical. He starts by simply asking Jörmunder why he isn't taking the job, and some serious awkwardness ensues until he spits out a speech about how none of them are putting themselves above the rest.

Ha! exclaimed Saphira. He probably would have taken power if it were possible to force the others to back him. Just look how they eye him. He's like a wolf in their midst.

And Eragon agrees, adding that it's more like A wolf in a pack of jackals, perhaps, and in general just showing way too much political savvy for a farm boy who's been in Tronjheim for less than a month. He then asks if Nasuada is technically qualified for the job, being barely older than he is.

Elessari pressed herself against the table's edge as she leaned forward. "I had already been here for seven years when Ajihad joined the Varden. I've watched Nasuada grow up from a darling little girl to the woman that she is. A trifle light-headed occasionally, but a good figure to lead the Varden. The people will love her. Now I," she patted herself affectionately on the bosom, "and my friends will be here to guide her through these troubled times. She will never be without someone to show her the way. Inexperience should be no barrier to her taking her rightful position."

It is only at this point that it dawns upon Eragon that Nasuada is intended as a puppet, which really doesn't mesh with his keen critical thinking skills from minutes earlier. Then, one of the guys adds that, when they appoint Nasuada to be leader, they want Eragon to swear an oath of fealty to the Varden, in the hopes that it will give back the confidence Ajihad's death has stolen from the people, and prevent anyone from trying to splinter this organization. Eragon, being on the same page as the rest of us, finally, is not keen on this, but the Council make it pretty clear that, no, it would be really bad form to not do this thing.

Eragon clenched Zar'roc's pommel under the table, yearning to scream that it was unnecessary to force him to support the Varden, that he would have done it anyway. Now, however, he instinctively wanted to rebel, to elude the shackles they were trying to place on him.

See, this is consistent, reasonable teenager behavior. It's also a reason why he's not a good candidate for leadership. Anyway, he grudgingly accepts Nasuada as his future leader, if only to buy himself time to figure out a loophole. Unfortunately, Elessari notices his desire for a loophole and forces him to agree to the oath-swearing as well. The chapter ends with Arya and Nasuada being brought to the Council so they can pitch the whole leadership gig to the latter, phrasing it as a sort of birthright rather than a semi-elected position. She dutifully accepts.

TRUTH AMONG FRIENDS

The Council of Elders poorly conceal their delight at having such a pwecious wittle mannequin, but meanwhile, Arya has the we-need-to-talk facial expression directed at Eragon, but Nasuada asks him first. Eragon does a nice thing by casting a spell so that they may speak without being overheard by man, dwarf, or elf. He and Saphira convey condolences, and then he tells her about her father's dying words before assuring her that he's not going to seize power or anything.

Nasuada just laughs at the idea that he'd be taking power from her specifically, and Eragon marvels over the fact that she cottoned on to the obvious when he hadn't. He then reaches the stunning realization that she isn't actually going to allow herself to be their puppet, gasp, shock, surprise.

"My father's work will not go unfinished, even if it takes me to the grave. That is what I want you, as a Rider, to understand. All of Ajihad's plans, all his strategies and goals, they are mine now. I will not fail him by being weak. The Empire will be brought down, Galbatorix will be dethroned, and the rightful government will be raised."

It bears noting that up until this time, Eragon's only experience with Nasuada was of her as a keyed-up teenager right before battle, when it all sounded romantic and exciting, so he's rather impressed that she has these depths. She also tells him to do whatever he wants, since it's not like they can realistically do much to a guy on a dragon. He and Saphira decide to trust her, since having the chance to speak her mind is probably fairly liberating for her, and then Eragon makes a snap decision.

"Nasuada, Saphira and I have been here for only a short while. But in that time we came to respect Ajihad, and now, in turn, you. You fought under Farthen Dûr when others fled, including the two women of the council, and have treated us openly instead of with deception. Therefore, I offer you my blade . . . and my fealty as a Rider."

First, can we take a moment to breathe in the poor writing? *inhales* Ahh. Now, back to the plot. Apparently, he would never have done such a serious thing before the battle, but watching a bunch of guys die needlessly really puts it into perspective. He also observes that It's better to be sworn to an honest fool than to a lying scholar, which, fair, but ouch, Eragon. Nasuada is startled by this, but she does accept, asking him to repeat this at the official ceremony and ordering him not to embarrass her. She also quietly offers her own sympathy over Murtagh being presumed dead, then allows him to leave.

Immediately, Saphira heads down a random direction, refusing to tell Eragon where they are going, presumably because it is obvious. There's also an amusing moment where she almost sets him on fire by accident. At last, they reach the place they are going, and unsurprisingly (to everyone who isn't Eragon), Arya is waiting for them. Rather than wait for him to explain anything, she immediately flips out over how he's overturned seventy years of hard work, because lulz women are prone to uninformed anger. She calms down once he mansplains it to her, though. 

Once that's done, Eragon tries to ignore the fact that Arya's hotness is diminished by her old-ladyness and tries to get her to small-talk with him about her hometown.

"Ellesméra was, and always shall be, my home," she said, looking beyond him. "I have not lived in my family's house since I left for the Varden, when the walls and windows were draped with spring's first flowers. The times I've returned were only fleeting stays, vanishing flecks of memory by our measurement."

He noticed, once again, that she smelled like crushed pine needles. It was a faint, spicy odor that opened his senses and refreshed his mind. -- Eragon, paying attention to what hot girls say.

He comments that it must be difficult to live apart from her kind, which turns out to be a segue for him to talk about how he, too, feels like an outsider and omg they have this thing in common, right? This surprisingly impresses her somewhat, as that is how the whole Dragon Rider thing is supposed to work, and then she walks off, leaving Eragon to puzzle over the lulz-moodiness of wimminz in her wake.

So, yeah. It starts out with some momentum, then stomps on that a bit by introducing a thick miasma of political intrigue.