This is part Three of Four stories in A Rider's Inheritance.

A Rider's Blood is Part I (1) and A Rider's Heart - Part II (2).

Disclaimer: This story is a FanFiction based on the events in those books, and some parts may be similar or exactly the same as parts of the book. If I took note of them all, this comment would never end. Just know that some parts are mine and some parts belong exclusively to Christopher Paolini. I do not take credit for any of his words, merely intertwine them with my own to write this story. If there are any questions, please contact me, leave a comment in a review, etc. Thank you.

Author Notes: As I am writing this, I am re-reading the Inheritance Cycle.

A Rider's Sword

Chapter Ninety: Mercy

Author updates after every new chapter, spoilers will be kept to a minimum on this page and will be posted with a warning if they are absolutely necessary*

*Review Comments will be added to the bottom of this page and labeled as to when they were added*

Main/Current

Mariah Dawnsinger – Age: 16

Birthday: Late July

Black straight hair typically past her shoulders, jade green eyes. Slightly shorter than Eragon.
Prefers tunics over dresses. Capable of using magic, and learned sword fighting from Brom. She is capable of using other weaponry such a bow, but prefers close combat. Typically has a dagger on her person. Wields Ancalë, a gold and red Rider's Blade.

Andrar – Red-orange scales. Male. Mariah's dragon. Several months older than Saphira. Bulkier than the female dragonesses, though larger in every respect as well. His wing span is wider than Saphira's and his claws, spikes and teeth longer. He was born at the end of September, a week or two before Saphira. His face is scarred after a viscous fight with Shruikan, Galbatorix's Dragon.

Marcus – Age: 19 - 20

Birthday: Late December

Black hair to his ears, deep blue eyes. Taller than Eragon by a few inches. Scar over his left eyebrow in his hair line. Wears tunics with pants and hooded cloaks when traveling. Able to use a sword well from training with Brom. Bow and arrows, used for hunting. Obsession with magic, talented from both reading and practice.

Aluora– Marcus' dusky white mare, with black mane, tail, legs, ears and nose-tip.

Eragon Shadeslayer– Age: 16

Birthday: Mid February

Blond hair, sky blue eyes.* Slightly taller than Mariah.
When not in battle, a plain jerkin with breeches, and comfortable boots. Excellent swordsman. His magic abilities were granted to him through becoming a Rider, and increase only through training with the elves. Zar'roc was his sword until he was disarmed during the battle of the Burning Plains.

*Yes, I know.

Saphira– Ocean blue scales. Female. Eragon's dragoness. She is lithe compared to Andrar with a smaller wing span and more curved features. Her scales are more rounded than Andrar's, which are more diamond shaped. She was born in October, just a week or so after Andrar.

Murtagh - Age: 19

Birthday: Early April

Shaggy dark brown hair, gray eyes. Slightly taller than Eragon. Though he prefers and is accustomed to heavy, embroidered clothing and expensive boots, he often finds himself wearing through whatever he has on hand. His hand-and-a-half sword makes his weapon stand out against more typical blades. At the age of eighteen, he is already a master swordsman. Became a Rider after Galbatorix captured him and Mariah after the battle under Farthen Dûr.

Thorn - Ruby red dragon with a fierce fiery gaze. Murtagh's dragon given to him by Galbatorix. The same size as Andrar after Galbatorix's magical modifications. He was born, shortly before his Rider's birthday, in late March.

Kieran- Age: 18 - 19

Birthday: Mid October

Long brown hair to her mid-back that she often keeps in a braid and deep midnight blue eyes. Wears heels to make herself appear taller. She is the same height as Mariah. Loves dresses and jewelry. Eirian is her silver Rider's Blade that formerly belonged to an ancient Elvish Rider called Fëanáro. Also carries a dagger. Kendra's twin sister.

Nasreen- Magenta-red-pink-purple scales. Female. Princess Kieran's dragoness. She's twice as large as Andrar with a very feminine physique compared to Saphira. She is nearly four years old.

Kendra -Age: 18 - 19

Birthday: Mid October

Brown hair to her shoulders and deep midnight blue eyes. Wears well-worn heeled boots, comfortable yet tight-fitting dark clothes to hide herself at night. An armored corset. She is quite capable with magic (healing and fighting), swords, daggers and a bow. Kieran's twin sister.

Lynette- Kendra's chestnut mare. Killed by Nasreen during the battle of the Burning Plains.

Nyx - Kendra's black wolf-dog. She found him a few years ago as a pup and raised him as her own. He is fiercely loyal to her and has been trained to fight.

Arya - Age: 103

Long wavy black hair, vibrant emerald green eyes. Tall and thin. She wears a tunic and pants even for formal occasions. Her magical abilities and sword fighting skills are only matched by another elf, or a Rider.

Firnen - Green dragon hatchling. His scales vary in color and are round before coming to a point, like a leaf shape. He hatched for Arya after the Battle of the Burning Plains.

Nasuada- Age: 18

Mossy, braided long black hair. A wide nose and dark eyes and rich skin tone. She wears long dresses of varying colors. All are high quality and made specifically for her. She is able to use a bow with ease. Carries a concealed knife.

Battle-storm- Nasuada's black roan stallion.

Roran Stronghammer – Age: 18
Eragon's cousin. Left before Garrow's death for work in Therinsford as a blacksmith's assistant. Escaped the Empire, leading the village of Carvahall to Surda to find Eragon so he could rescue Katrina.

Katrina - Age: 17
A beautiful girl from Carvahall, daughter of Sloan, the butcher. Roran is madly in love with her. They recently became engaged, though Roran didn't ask Sloan's permission before doing so. She has been kidnapped by the Ra'zac.

Black Lightning Members

Rowan- King of the Black Palace, member of Black Lightning with Kendra. Dark hair and blue-gray eyes. Twenty.

Trevin- Black Lightning archer. Ginger hair and gold eyes. Twenty.

Delaney - Black Lightning Tactician and lancer. Blonde hair and brown eyes. Eighteen.

Eirika -Black Lightning healer. Blonde hair and brown eyes. Sixteen.

The New Forsworn

Camilla Reikena - Dark brown eyes. Waist length curly, wild brown hair and fine skin. Rapier weapon of choice. Twenty-two.

Belladonna - Frosted Lavender, Female. Camilla's dragon.

Cederic Reikena- Dark brown eyes. Curly brown hair to his ears and fine skin. Double handed sword or axe. Twenty-one.

Reaper - Stormy Gray, Male. Cederic's dragon.

Pearce- Gray eyes. Short blonde hair and sun-worn skin. Short sword and shield. Nineteen.

Talath - Copper, Male. Pearce's dragon.

Hal Kirkland- Stormy blue eyes. Cropped brown hair and tanned skin. Sword. Twenty-one.

Deíron -Muddy Brown, Male. Hal's dragon.

Innes Thorston - Brown and hazel eyes. Long platinum hair and fair skin. Magic. Twenty.

Ecaeris - Yellow-Green with Black Eyes, Female. Innes' dragon.

Odette Blithe- Brown eyes. Pale ginger hair with peaches and creme colored skin. Archery. Nineteen. - "Died" attempting to speak with her deceased dragon, Cordis.

Sigrúne - A Shade. The combination of Odette and Cordis's souls combined into Odette's body.

Other Characters

Enemies:

Morzan– One of the thirteen Forsworn/Wyrdfell Riders. Murtagh's father.

Galbatorix– King of Alagaësia, a Dragon Rider. His dragon is named Shruiken. The black beast is his second and has been warped and twisted beyond the point of calling it a dragon.

Allies:

Oromis- Elvish Rider from Ellesmera. He's vowed to train the new Dragon Riders, which now includes Eragon and Saphira.

Glaedr- Gold dragon with a missing foreleg. His size is massive, mountainous even. He's hundreds of years old, like his elvish Rider.

Orik - Dwarf from the Varden who rescued Eragon and Mariah from drowning in the waterfall pool. Nephew of King Hrothgar.

Queen Islanzadi- Elvish queen from Du Weldenvarden. Also, apparently Arya's mother, much to Eragon's surprise.

King Orrin- King of Surda who helps the Varden survive and retaliate against the Empire.

Angela - Herbalist in Teirm. Likes frogs and riddles. Is also a witch who told Eragon his fortune with Dragon Bones.

Gannel - the dwarf priest who tutored Eragonin Dwarven customs and religionafter Eragon was invited to be a part of Durgrimst Ingeitum.

Trianna - Sorceress in Farthen Dur, leader of Du Vrangr Gata after the Twins.

Jeod Longshanks - Graying with a beard. Friend of Brom's from when they were younger. Owns a shipping company. Knows about Saphira. Helped Eragon and Brom find the Ra'zac.

Helen Longshanks- Blonde with a pale complexion. Wife of Jeod.

Horst– Blacksmith in Carvahall

Elain– Horst's wife

Gertrude– Healer in Carvahall

Horses:

Snowfire– Pure white stallion. Brom purchased him in Therinsford. Mariah rode him after Brom. Lives at the Varden.

Cadoc – Light bay horse Brom purchased for Eragon in Therinsford. Eragon named him after his grandfather.

Tornac - Murtagh's Gray stallion.

Breeze - Eirika's black and white appaloosa mare. She's mainly black with a white blanket on her haunches.

Other Creatures:

Solembum - A werecat. He lives with Angela at her Herbalist shop in Teirm. Now in Farthen Dur.

Ra'zac – Servants of Galbatorix. Eragon wants revenge against them for killing his uncle Garrow.

Deceased

Cordis - Odette's dragon. Galbatorix killed him while trying to use a growth spell on him.

Brom– Age: Unknown, Silver hair, blue eyes. Taller than Mark. Mariah and Mark's grandfather - he died while trying to escape the Ra'zac.

__ – Mark and Mariah's father. Deceased member of the Forsworn.

Nailah Moonsinger- Mariah and Mark's Mother. Deceased member of the Forsworn. Brom's daughter.

Durza - Shade Eragon and Mariah fought in Gil'ead. Red hair and eyes. Vampiric looking, teenager. Eragon killed him during the Battle of Farthen Dur.

Ajihad - Human leader of the Varden. A friend of Brom's. Interrogates Eragon and Mariah and answers their questions when they arrive. He died while trying to route the remaining Urgals in Farthen Dur.

Garrow – Eragon's uncle, Roran's father. Died at the hands of the Ra'zac when they destroyed his home.

The Twins - Members of the Varden's magic society Du Vangr Grata, they betray Eragon and Mariah during the Battle of Farthen Dur, later revealing themselves to be working for Galbatorix. Killed by Roran during the battle of the Burning Plains.

Hrothgar- Dwarf King who helps to lead the Varden alongside Ajihad. Also Orik's uncle. Killed by Mariah during the battle of the Burning Plains.

OC Other: Characters created by the author for story purposes that do not appear in the books.

Jenna - Gypsy woman met on the road to Teirm

Kyan - Jenna's husband, leader of Gypsy merchant caravan

Azraa- Jenna and Kyan's daughter, eight years old

Fadil- Jenna and Kyan's eldest son, eleven years old

Maher -Jenna and Kyan's younger son, six years old

Lord Breezewood - A lord that lives on the border of Surda and the Beor Mountains

Natalie- Kieran's personal maid. A young girl who excels at sewing.

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