Brisingr

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2008

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Chapters 10-12

Chapter 10 Summary: “A Delicate Matter”

This chapter opens with Roran moving boulders with a group of men; he watches as Lang, a veteran who teaches the art of war, runs through a practice round with two others. After the Battle of the Burning Plains, all residents of Carvahall elect to join the Varden and all able-bodied men are trained with a sword. Near his tent, Roran encounters a woman named Birgit who reminds Roran of his role in her husband’s death and consumption by the Ra’zac; she vows compensation, and Roran feels he is in mortal danger, but for now it is just a threat, and she backs off without drawing her dagger. Preparing for his meeting with Nasuada by taking a rare bath, he stops to visit Katrina on his way. They speak of a shared secret.

Nasuada confesses she wants to put Roran in charge of some troops, but she is unsure whether she can trust him, which Roran attributes to his position of power amongst the people of Carvahall; Nasuada may see him as a political threat. Instead, Nasuada suggests he move out the next day under Martland Redbeard’s command. Roran asks for a delay so he can reveal his intent to marry Katrina to Eragon upon his return, as he would perform the ceremony. Nasuada agrees and does one better by offering some of her own jewels as Katrina’s dowry.

Chapter 11 Summary: “Bloodwolf”

In this chapter, the perspective changes to Nasuada. She spends the morning attending to courtly tedium before the announcement reaches her that the twelve elves sent to protect Eragon have arrived. Angela is at her side, and Nasuada cannot help but notice that the healer is unusually adept at being at the right place at the right time. Her guards chastise her for having returned alone, making them look ineffective; she promises to take more care in the future.

When the elves arrive, she is surprised to see that one of them, Blödhgarm, is wearing a loincloth and is covered in midnight blue fur, has catlike golden eyes, and a claw for a middle finger; he also smells incredibly masculine and attractive. He announces that the elves have captured Ceunon and surrounded the Lord Tarrant, who is barricaded in his tower. They will wait with the Varden for Eragon and Arya, with confidence that the pair, aided by Saphira and the elves, would be successful against attack by Thorn and Murtagh; at this point, only Galbatorix could take them down. The Urgal Gargen inspects their minds to make sure they were not sent by Galbatorix; the experience leaves him weakened, but he is able to confirm they are not humans in disguise.

Chapter 12 Summary: “Mercy, Dragon Rider”

Eragon notices a 15 scout patrol group the day after they leave Eastcroft. He suggests hiding but Arya is against it, so they press on; when they pass, Eragon hopes the soldiers will not ask them to stop, but one does with the intention of robbing them. Eragon kills the first with a stone, and the rest are easily killed with a show of Arya and Eragon’s combined strength. No man is spared; even an unarmed man who attempts to flee is caught and killed by Eragon. He attempts to justify the murder to Arya, explaining that this man was a threat, but regardless, Eragon feels like a murderer. Arya reminds him they are fighting these men because regardless of their status, they stand between themselves and Galbatorix. There is no way to fight Galbatorix directly, so in the meantime they must do what they can. They take the time to make the fight look human, and then proceed in a southwesterly fashion, avoiding the roads. In an unexpected display of affection, Arya heals Eragon’s hand and admits she was happy to be fighting alongside him.

Chapters 10-12 Analysis

Roran and Katrina speak to one another about a shared secret, which the reader will pick up as a signal that the two are expecting a child. It is clear from their sense of urgency regarding marriage that the world of Alagaësia that Paolini has set up would not look kindly on a child conceived out of wedlock. They must rush to set up a wedding in the next few days, while Eragon is home to officiate it. However, it is also a delicate matter they cannot speak openly about; again, with Nasuada, Roran is not free to speak of Katrina’s pregnancy by name, but it is apparent there is an urgent reason for them to be wed. Nasuada’s generosity signals her understanding of the situation, and joy at their new beginnings. While a public announcement of their pregnancy is yet to come, the reader will appreciate this insider look into the reason for the couple’s urgent desire to wed, while the timer and continual battles during wartime may make this request more difficult to fulfill.

Despite his wish to hide from the party, Eragon and Arya are able to make small work of the patrol group they encounter on the road home from Eastcroft; the scene displays an amazing show of their combined strength, and their unique ease while working together toward the same goal. Once he gets going, Eragon is not so forgiving with the group as he was with Sloan, and Arya is quick to point this out while making a comparison between Eragon’s pursuit of an unarmed patroller attempting to flee and Eragon’s decision to protect the life of Katrina’s father, a traitor and murderer. She and Eragon discuss the logic behind his ethics—killing the man makes Eragon feel like a murderer, despite him posing a threat; Arya tries to remind him why they are fighting these men, who receive their orders directly from Galbatorix.