A.N. This story takes place in the 4th book of the inheritance cycle. If you haven't read the books, here is a quick summary. It is focusing on the events and characters necessary to understand this story and not on the full work of Christopher Paolini, so there are several omissions and simplifications. If you know the books well, you can skip this chapter.
The inheritance cycle takes place in Alagaësia, a land where humans and magical creatures, such as dwarves, dragons and elves live. Within a race, some individuals have the ability to use magic: for example, some humans can use magic, while others cannot. And not all people who use magic have the same abilities: some people are more powerful than others. Magic is controlled by a language called Ancient Language. Therefore, the ability of magicians to cast spells is also limited by their mastery of the Ancient Language. Another interesting feature of the ancient language is that one cannot lie with the ancient language. Therefore, you cannot betray an oath taken in an ancient language. Magicians also have the ability to mentally touch the mind of other people, read their mind, and communicate mentally. However, one can defend oneself against mental attacks. The method is to stay focused on one thought (such as a poem, a person, …), so that the intruder only sees this thought.
A magical bond can be created between a human and a dragon, or between an elf and a dragon. When a baby dragon is destinated to be bond with a person, he waits in his egg until he finds the person he wants to be linked with. The egg hatch, and as soon as the person touches the newborn dragon, the two creatures are bonded. The person (human or elf) is now called a rider. The rider receives the ability to use magic and can communicate by mind with his dragon. Usually, when the rider and his dragon are together, they join their minds so they can share each other's thoughts and feelings.
In Alagaësia, the cast of Riders have ruled peacefully during centuries. Yet, a young Rider named Galbatorix, has betrayed his cast. He corrupted 13 other Riders (nicknamed the Forsworn or the Thirteen) to wage war on the cast. They killed all other dragons and riders, and only three dragon eggs survived: one red, one blue and one green. Galbatorix became king of Alagaësia. For a century, Galbatorix reigns as absolute master over humans, while the Forsworn die one after the other.
One day, in the 83rd year of the tyranny of Galbatorix, a man steals the blue egg. This egg is placed under the protection of a group of people who still stand up to the king, the Varden. A few years later, the egg hatches for a young man named Eragon. Galbatorix soon hears about Eragon and tries to capture him. Eragon and his dragon Saphira must then flee. During their travel, they are helped by a young man named Murtagh. Murtagh is in fact the son of Morzan, who is the first Forsworn. He was raised at Galbatorix court in Urû'baen, but his father wasn't kind to him. When he discovers the cruelty of Galbatorix, he escapes from the court and meets Eragon.
Eragon, Saphira and Murtagh arrive at the Varden camp. The rider and his dragon are welcomed as heroes, but Murtagh is not trusted by the Varden because of his parentage, so he is kept in prison. Eragon and Murtagh both meet Nasuada, who is the only daughter of the Varden leader Ajihad. Eragon and Nasuada advocate in favor of Murtagh, and eventually, when the Varden are under attack, Ajihad releases Murtagh so he can help them. The Varden defeat Galbatorix's army, but a few days later, Ajihad is killed during an attack. It is thought that Murtagh is also dead, but in fact, he was captured and brought back to Urû'baen.
After Ajihad's death, Nasuada becomes the new leader of the Varden, and Eragon pledges allegiance to her. He continues his dragon training with the elves while the Varden army starts to come out of the shadows and fight against Galbatorix. They seize the cities one after the other.
In the meantime, Murtagh is prisoner in Urû'baen. Galbatorix wants him to pledge allegiance to him in the Ancient Language. Murtagh refuses, so he is tortured by Galbatorix, but he persists in his refusal. Galbatorix makes him touch the red egg, and the baby hatches for him. Murtagh becomes a rider and is bond with the baby dragon, who is named Thorn. Galbatorix then starts to hurt Thorn and Murtagh can't stand to see his dragon suffering. He swears allegiance to Galbatorix in the Ancient Language. Murtagh and Thorn are now bound to Galbatorix by an oath impossible to break.
In the battle of the Burning plain, Eragon and Saphira fight against Murtagh and Thorn. Eragon and Saphira are defeated but Murtagh leaves them free. He explains that he still has friendship for Eragon, and he also tells him that they are both sons of Morzan and his favorite concubine Selena. In fact, it is later discovered that Eragon and Murtagh are only stepbrothers.
The Black Hand is an elite group of magicians and spies who were personally trained by Galbatorix.
Elva was a baby girl whose guardian, Greta, asked Eragon to bless her. However, Eragon mistakenly cursed Elva instead of blessing her, and gave her the ability to feel and forecast on the short-term the pain of individuals near her. This gift can be used to protect people but also to hurt them, so many people fear her. Elva was assigned to be Nasuada's bodyguard after saving Nasuada from an assassination attempt by the Black Hand. She is nicknamed the child-witch.
