She stepped closer. “That too I know.”
He shook his head but did not push her away. “You ask me to trust you, but how can you trust me after what I did to you?” He made no attempt to hide his anguish.
She tipped her head back. Her eyes gleamed with tears. “Because I can. I do.”
He pressed his lips together, every muscle in his body tense, as if to flee. A slight tremor ran through him, and he felt a similar quiver through the back of Nasuada’s hand.
They stared into each other’s eyes, not speaking. A new understanding came to Murtagh then, unfolding within him layers of revelation.
He looked at Thorn, and in response to his questioning thought, the dragon hummed. Yes.
Trepidation gave Murtagh pause. He feared to speak, to step into the unknown. But it was necessary, so he put aside his concerns, though he felt raw and defenseless, vulnerable to the slightest scratch.
“What is it, Murtagh?” she asked in a gentle tone.
He nearly laughed, his pain was so great. “Murtagh. Son of Morzan. So the world knows me and curses me because of it.”
“That is because they do not know you as I do.”
“And yet it is who I am. That is who you want to st—”
Her fingers tightened against his chest. “It is not all you are.”
“No.” He took a shuddering breath. “No, you are right.”
She nodded. “It is a good name. Murtagh. I like it.”
Words failed him. For a timeless while, they stood as such, neither willing to part, and nothing else existed but the two of them. Then Thorn huffed, and Murtagh blinked. There was wetness at the corners of his eyes.
Nasuada lowered her hand. He felt the lack of her touch with almost physical force, a cold absence that sent a pang to his heart.
She turned and went to the window and looked out over the rooftops of Ilirea. Her neck and back were very straight, but the slightest waver colored her voice.
“How will you decide, then?”
Murtagh joined her. They stood looking out, side by side.
The city was nearly lost in shadow. The high outer walls blocked the evening light that straked westward, and candles and lanterns sparkled among the dusky streets, where bands of barefoot children played with dogs. Far beyond Ilirea’s outer bounds, the red-rimmed sun sat low upon the flat edge of the plains, and the land seemed strangely desolate, an uncomfortable reminder of his visions in Nal Gorgoth.
He had a premonition then of the danger gathering against them. Difficult times lay ahead. Of that much, he was certain. Yet, despite the prospect, he felt a sense of rebirth, there in the rebuilt ruins of his past. And a sense of comfort too, for those he cared about were close, and that was a new, and welcome, thing.
…
“I will stay.”
Addendum
Names & Languages
ON THE ORIGIN OF NAMES
To the casual observer, the various names an intrepid traveler will encounter throughout Alagaësia might seem but a random collection with no inherent integrity, culture, or history. However, as with any land that different groups—and in this case, different species—have repeatedly colonized, Alagaësia acquired names from a wide array of unique sources, among them the languages of the dwarves, elves, 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 dwarven 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. You must learn each name 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 resident population altered the spelling and pronunciation of foreign words 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, I have compiled the following list, 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.
PRONUNCIATION
Alagaësia—al-uh-GAY-zee-uh
Arya—AR-ee-uh
Azlagûr—AZ-luh-goor
Bachel—buh-SHELL
Brisingr—BRISS-ing-gur
Carvahall—CAR-vuh-hall
Ceunon—SEE-oo-non
Dras-Leona—DRAHS-lee-OH-nuh
Draumar—DROW-mar (drow rhymes with cow)
Du Weldenvarden—DOO WELL-den-VAR-den
Eragon—EHR-uh-gone
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
Ithring—ITH-ring
Lyreth—LIE-reth
Murtagh—MUR-tag (mur rhymes with purr)
Nal Gorgoth—NAL GOR-goth
Nasuada—nah-soo-AH-dah
Niernen—nee-AIR-nin
Oromis—OR-uh-miss
Oth Orum—OTH OR-um
Ra’zac—RAA-zack
Saphira—suh-FEAR-uh
Shruikan—SHREW-kin
Teirm—TEERM
Tronjheim—TRONJ-heem
Umaroth—oo-MAR-oth
Urû’baen—OO-roo-bane
Uvek—OO-veck
Vrael—VRAIL
Zar’roc—ZAR-rock
GLOSSARY
Adurna thrysta.—Thrust water.
Atra esterní ono thelduin.—May good fortune rule over you.
brisingr—fire
deyja—die
drahtr—pull
Du Eld Draumar—The Old Dreamers
Du Fells Nángoröth—The Blasted Mountains
Du Vrangr Gata—The Wandering Path
Du Weldenvarden—The Guarding Forest
eitha—go; leave
Eka fricai.—I am a friend.
Eldunarí—the heart of hearts: the gemlike stone wherein a dragon can store its consciousness
entha—still
flauga—fly
flautja—float
flautr—floater
gedwëy ignasia—shining palm
Halfa utan thornessa fra jierda.—Keep this fork from breaking.