Eldest
Chapter One
The Council of Elders
Saphira's breathing quickened, and she opened her eyes,
yawning expansively. Good morning, little one.
Is it? He looked down and leaned on his hands,
compressing the mattress. It's terrible ... Murtagh
and Ajihad ... Why didn't sentries in the tunnels warn
us of the Urgals? They shouldn't have been able to trail
Ajihad's group without being noticed. ... Arya was
right, it doesn't make sense.
We may never know the truth, said Saphira gently. She
stood, wings brushing the ceiling. You need to eat, then
we must discover what the Varden are planning. We can't
waste time; a new leader could be chosen within hours.
Eragon agreed, thinking of how they had left everyone
yesterday: Orik rushing off to give King Hrothgar the
tidings, Jörmundur taking Ajihad's body to a place where
it would rest until the funeral, and Arya, who stood
alone and watched the goings-on.
Eragon rose and strapped on Zar'roc and his bow, then
bent and lifted Snowfire's saddle. A line of pain
sheared through his torso, driving him to the floor,
where he writhed, scrabbling at his back. It felt like
he was being sawed in half. Saphira growled as the
ripping sensation reached h ... read full excerpt from Eldest ebook
