Inheritance

When Murtagh visits again, he seems hopeless and defeated. Nasuada urges him to resist Galbatorix instead of obeying the king mindlessly. Later, when her jailer returns and feeds her, Nasuada pretends to fall and steals a metal spoon that she then hides in her shift.

Eragon and Saphira fly over the ocean and encounter a Nïdhwal, an ancient sea monster. It tries to catch them, but they escape unscathed. However, they soon find themselves closer to the storm. They struggle against the wind and rain almost to the point of exhaustion, until they finally spot the mountains of Vroengard on the horizon.

Nasuada successfully kills her jailer with her sharpened spoon, but she is quickly caught and returned to her shackles. Galbatorix then tortures her with Burrow Grubs—small creatures that burrow into the skin. Later, Murtagh visits her and decides to try to help her escape. He also warns her that Galbatorix will attempt a different kind of torture: manipulating her senses.

Eragon, Saphira, and Glaedr land on Vroengard and assess its main city, which was once the site of a famed battle between the Riders and Galbatorix. Glaedr tells them more about the history of the place. When they find dragon bones on the island, he provides details about those who lost their lives. They find the Rock of Kuthian but decide to rest for the night before continuing their search.

While Saphira rests, Eragon explores part of the island. Many years ago, during the war between the Riders and Galbatorix, a Rider named Thuviel created an explosion so powerful that even now, the island is still imbued with remnants of magic. Over time, those remnants have distorted the natural balance of this area. Eragon and his companions encounter owls made of shadows, as well as snalglí—giant venomous snails that the Dragons used to hunt for food.

Eragon, Saphira, and Glaedr go to the Rock of Kuthian. As instructed by Solembum, they speak their names. When nothing happens, Glaedr suggests that they may need to speak their true names—their innate, magical names, which reveal their true nature and can only be found through significant introspection and self-awareness. Eragon and Saphira do not know their true names, so they spend the next couple days trying to learn them.

Nasuada resists each subsequent illusion that Galbatorix creates; her technique is to remain determined to defeat him. She sees visions of horror, realistic visions of her future, and other hallucinations that are designed to make her believe that she is no longer in the Hall of the Soothsayer. However, thanks to Murtagh’s warnings, she can discern the difference between reality and Galbatorix’s tricks.

Eragon and Saphira reflect on their experiences and personalities for a long time in order to learn their respective true names. Saphira is the first to stumble upon hers and happily shares it with Eragon. However, Eragon struggles to find his own. Eventually, he realizes that he has changed greatly since his time in Carvahall, and he finally learns his true name when he embraces his new identity.

Eragon, Saphira, and Glaedr speak their true names before the Rock of Kuthian. A hidden door is revealed; it leads them through a tunnel and into a large underground room. They are apprehensive but have no choice but to go forward.

Inside the room, Eragon, Saphira, and Glaedr find a man made of metal who immediately invades their thoughts. He is too powerful for them to resist and goes through their memories to assess their intentions. After he finishes, Eragon realizes that the room is full of Eldunarí and Dragon eggs that have been hidden from Galbatorix for over a century.

Eragon, Saphira, and Glaedr are shocked by the revelation that there are still Dragons in the world. The voice of Umaroth, an ancient Dragon, explains that when the Riders realized that they were losing the war, they decided to hide the Eldunarí and the last eggs so that the race of the Dragons would endure. Since then, the Dragons’ consciousnesses have been collecting information about the state of Alagaësia and influencing events in favor of the Varden. All the while, they have been waiting for a new Rider, and they are now planning to help Eragon and Saphira defeat Galbatorix. Umaroth shows Eragon how to carry the Eldunarí with him by casting a spell that opens a pocket of space near him. Eragon, Saphira, and Glaedr then leave the Rock of Kuthian with all the other Dragons’ Eldunarí. However, Umaroth warns them that a memory spell will make them all forget about the eggs until after they have defeated Galbatorix, although the eggs will remain hidden and protected.

After the memory spell takes hold of Eragon, Saphira, and the Eldunarí, they leave Vroengard.

The Varden army finally reaches Urû’baen. Roran examines the city’s defenses carefully and realizes that because it is protected by high walls and other fortifications, it will be difficult to attack. He becomes frustrated by the idea that non-magic wielders should be so powerless compared to spellcasters. He also argues with King Orrin, who has grown more fearful and petulant over their journey, leading to an altercation between the two men. Roran is worried that Orrin may try to retaliate against him indirectly.