Christopher Paolini - Eldest [en]

“I had no choice. When they took Katrina—” Roran’s voice broke. “I could either give up and die, or I could try to escape Galbatorix’s trap, no matter the cost.” He fixed his burning eyes on Eragon. “I have lied and burned and slaughtered to get here. I no longer have to worry about protecting everyone from Carvahall; the Varden will see to that. Now I have only one goal in life, to find and rescue Katrina, if she’s not already dead. Will you help me, Eragon?”

Reaching over, Eragon grabbed his saddlebags from the corner of the tent — where the Varden had deposited them — and removed a wooden bowl and the silver flask of enchanted faelnirv Oromis had given him. He took a small sip of the liqueur to revitalize himself and gasped as it raced down his throat, making his nerves tingle with cold fire. Then he poured faelnirv into the bowl until it formed a shallow pool the width of his hand.

“Watch.” Gathering up his burst of new energy, Eragon said, “Draumr kópa.”

The liqueur shimmered and turned black. After a few seconds, a thin key of light appeared in the center of the bowl, revealing Katrina. She lay slumped against an invisible wall, her hands suspended above her with invisible manacles and her copper hair splayed like a fan across her back.

“She’s alive!” Roran hunched over the bowl, grasping at it as if he thought he could dive through the faelnirv and join Katrina. His hope and determination melded with a look of such tender affection, Eragon knew that only death could stop Roran from trying to free her.

Unable to sustain the spell any longer, Eragon let the image fade away. He leaned against the wall of the tent for support. “Aye,” he said wearily, “she’s alive. And chances are, she’s imprisoned in Helgrind, in the Ra’zac’s lair.” Eragon grasped Roran by the shoulders. “The answer to your question, brother, is yes. I will travel to Dras-Leona with you. I will help you rescue Katrina. And then, together, you and I shall kill the Ra’zac and avenge our father.”

END OF BOOK TWO

THE STORY WILL CONTINUE IN BOOK THREE OF INHERITANCE

To the casual observer, the various names an intrepid traveler will encounter throughout Alagaësia might seem but a random collection of labels with no inherent integrity, culture, or history. However, as with any land that has been repeatedly colonized by different cultures — and in this case, different races — Alagaësia quickly accumulated layers of names from the elves, dwarves, humans, and even Urgals. Thus, we can have Palancar Valley (a human name), the Anora River and Ristvak’baen (elven names), and Utgard Mountain (a dwarf name) all within a few square miles of each other.

While this is of great historical interest, practically it often leads to confusion as to the correct pronunciation. Unfortunately, there are no set rules for the neophyte. Each name must be learned upon its own terms, unless you can immediately place its language of origin. The matter grows even more confusing when you realize that in many places the spelling and pronunciation of foreign words were altered by the resident population to conform to their own language. The Anora River is a prime example. Originally anora was spelled äenora , which means broad in the ancient language. In their writings, the humans simplified the word to anora , and this, combined with a vowel shift wherein äe (ay-eh) was said as the easier a (uh), created the name as it appears in Eragon’s time.

To spare readers as much difficulty as possible, the following list is provided, with the understanding that these are only rough guidelines to the actual pronunciation. The enthusiast is encouraged to study the source languages in order to master their true intricacies.

Aiedail — AY-uh-dale

Ajihad — AH-zhi-hod

Alagaësia — al-uh-GAY-zee-uh

Arya — AR-ee-uh

Carvahall — CAR-vuh-hall

Dras-Leona — DRAHS lee-OH-nuh

Du Weldenvarden — doo WELL-den-VAR-den

Ellesméra — el-uhs-MEER-uh

Eragon — EHR-uh-gahn

Farthen Dûr — FAR-then DURE ( dure rhymes with lure )

Galbatorix — gal-buh-TOR-icks

Gil’ead — GILL-ee-id

Glaedr — GLAY-dur

Hrothgar — HROTH-gar

Islanzadí — iss-lan-ZAH-dee

Jeod — JODE (rhymes with code )

Murtagh — MUR-tag ( mur rhymes with purr )

Nasuada — nah-SOO-ah-dah

Nolfavrell — NOLL-fah-vrel ( noll rhymes with toll )

Oromis — OR-uh-miss

Ra’zac — RAA-zack

Saphira — suh-FEAR-uh

Shruikan — SHREW-kin

Sílthrim — SEAL-thrim ( síl is a hard sound to transcribe; it’s made by flicking the tip of the tongue off the roof of the mouth.)

Teirm — TEERM

Trianna — TREE-ah-nuh

Tronjheim — TRONJ-heem

Urû’baen — OO-roo-bane

Vrael — VRAIL

Yazuac — YAA-zoo-ack

Zar’roc — ZAR-rock

adurna — water

Agaetí Blödhren — Blood-oath Celebration

Aiedail — The Morning Star

Argetlam — Silver Hand

Atra esterní ono thelduin/Mor’ranr lífa unin hjarta onr/Un du evarínya ono varda. — May good fortune rule over you/Peace live in your heart/And the stars watch over you.

Atra guliä un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse skölir fra rauthr. — May luck and happiness follow you and may you be a shield from misfortune.

Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya. — Let us be warded from listeners.

Bjartskular — Brightscales

blöthr — halt; stop

Brakka du vanyalí sem huildar Saphira un eka! — Reduce the magic that holds Saphira and me!

brisingr — fire

Dagshelgr — Hallowed Day

draumr kópa — dream stare

Du Fells Nángoröth — The Blasted Mountains

Du Fyrn Skulblaka — The Dragon War

Du Völlar Eldrvarya — The Burning Plains

Du Vrangr Gata — The Wandering Path

Du Weldenvarden — The Guarding Forest

dvergar — dwarves

ebrithil — master

edur — a tor or prominence

Eka fricai un Shur’tugal. — I am a Rider and friend.

elda — a gender-neutral honorific of great praise

Eyddr eyreya onr! — Empty your ears!

fairth — a picture taken by magical means

finiarel — an honorific for a young man of great promise

Fricai Andlát — death friend (a poisonous mushroom)

Gala O Wyrda brunhvitr/Abr Berundal vandr-fódhr/Burthro laufsblädar ekar undir/Eom kona dauthleikr... — Sing O white-browed Fate/Of ill-marked Berundal/Born under oaken leaves/To mortal woman...

gánga aptr — to go backward

gánga fram — to go forward

Gath sem oro un lam iet. — Unite that arrow with my hand.

gedwëy ignasia — shining palm

Gëuloth du knífr. — Dull the knife.

haldthin — thornapple

Helgrind — The Gates of Death

hlaupa — run

hljödhr — silent

jierda — break; hit

kodthr — catch

Kvetha Fricai. — Greetings, Friend.

lethrblaka — a bat; the Ra’zac’s mounts (literally, leather-flapper)

letta — stop

Letta orya thorna! — Stop those arrows!

Liduen Kvaedhí — Poetic Script

Losna kalfya iet. — Release my calves.

malthinae — to bind or hold in place; confine

nalgask — a mixture of beeswax and hazelnut oil used to moisten the skin

Osthato Chetowä — the Mourning Sage

Reisa du adurna. — Raise/Lift the water.

rïsa — rise

Sé mor’ranr ono finna. — May you find peace.

Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass! — May your swords stay sharp!