Brisingr

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2008

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Chapters 22-24

Chapter 22 Summary: “Fire in the Sky”

Arya advises Nasuada that Galbatorix’s soldiers must not be allowed to breach the walls of the Varden or they will run rampant amongst the tents; this is a trap set for Eragon and Saphira to battle it out with Murtagh and Thorn in the sky. The 13 elves led by Blödhgarm will back Eragon, while King Orrin leads a charge on the ground with Garzhvog the Kull and a band of Urgals. Nasuada’s soldiers, led by Jörmundur, would defend the walls with Narheim and the dwarves guarding the perimeter. Eragon feels it when the first of Orrin’s spellcasters dies; then Murtagh taunts Eragon to come fight him in the sky, and that’s their cue—Arya gives Eragon a burst of energy and they’re airborne. In only two weeks, Thorn has grown four feet larger although still barely more than a hatchling. Murtagh reveals he was tortured by Galbatorix for leaving Eragon alive at the Battle of the Burning Plains, and he will not make that mistake again. Eragon tells him what he learned about the ability for anyone to change their true name; he encourages Murtagh to try to break free of his oaths. Murtagh appears to consider the idea but concludes he would not be able to bear Galbatorix’s wrath if he tried and failed, as he’s been tasked with the burden of bringing Eragon and Saphira back to Urû’baen.

With that, the fight begins; the two are physically able to heal themselves through magic, so the real duel is happening mentally, ending in a show of strength from Eragon that has Thorn flying Murtagh back to Galbatorix. When Eragon regains consciousness, he discusses the results of the battle with Saphira. They conclude his spells were unable to beat Za’roc because of the enchantments placed on it when it was forged in Rhunon. They need to build their own strength to avoid needing the help of the elves.

Eragon and Saphira land amongst King Orrin’s soldiers, who are having a hard time killing Galbatorix’s men. These men have been changed with magic so they cannot be killed without beheading them. It takes 1,000 Vardens to kill just 300 of Galbatorix’s undead soldiers. Nasuada requests that Eragon work with Du Vrangr Gata on a spell to remove pain from her soldiers, to be on a level playing field with Galbatorix’s men. Roran and Katrina have already prepared for their wedding, and they intend to go forward with the ceremony in an hour’s time.

Chapter 23 Summary: “Man and Wife”

All of Carvahall and many other members of the Varden assemble on a low hill near the Jiet River for Roran and Katrina’s wedding, except for the Urgals; Nasuada had invited them, but they declined—and even the two guards looked uncomfortable amongst the large number of the Varden. Eragon leads the ceremony, in which the pair exchange vows and dowries. After, the feast begins and Eragon presents them with gold rings, enchanted to keep them safe from Galbatorix’s spells, as they are now considered enemies of the Empire. In addition, Eragon gifts them his horse, Snowfire, who was Brom’s first.

After many hours of celebration, Eragon and Nasuada visit the wounded soldiers. He meets a swordsman who speaks of an enveloping light that allows him to see inside other people; he claims to see that Eragon has a brother with another dragon. The soldier tells him that Murtagh is no longer human because he has a strange light emanating from him. There are evil “others” inside of Murtagh that are making him into a shell of a man, and for this reason Eragon must avoid him. When Eragon tells Nasuada, she suggests he confide in Arya.

Chapter 24 Summary: “Whispers in the Night”

This chapter opens from Roran’s perspective as he is waking up in his home with his bride Katrina; she’s sitting near the entrance to their tent, watching the stars. Roran reveals he plans to continue to fight in battle for the Varden during and after his wife’s pregnancy, and she reveals that she will not raise her baby in the midst of war; after the baby is born, she will travel across Alagaësia to sanctuary in Dauth as promised by Lady Alarice. Roran does not want to be parted from Katrina again. He says Aberon is safer than Dauth and maps out several places she could continue on to for refuge with the dwarves or elves. Out of nowhere, a small grass ship appears, and as though it is living, hovers in front of the couple and then disappears.

Chapters 22-24 Analysis

The fight between brothers Eragon and Murtagh is heartbreaking, as Eragon begs Murtagh to reconsider his loyalty to Galbatorix and work toward breaking free. Murtagh is not evil at his core but has become trapped by an evil man capable of torturing and manipulating him; Eragon really plays to this when he gives him the idea that knowing one’s true name can allow oneself to change. If he could change his name, he could break free of Galbatorix’s oaths. In this way, the author suggests that similarly to men’s power residing in their sword rather than their soul, a man’s identity is separate from themselves, able to be donned and shed like a cloak, by choice. The reader witnesses Murtagh’s pause in consideration of this future for himself, and then his rejection of it as a possibility for himself. Any reader who has been following along with the series will recall the Battle of the Burning Plains where Murtagh spares Eragon’s life. It is clear after this conversation that this leniency will not be possible again in the future, from Murtagh’s perspective. A door has been shut on their brotherhood, and Murtagh has chosen his fate.