Eldest opens to the same battlefield, three days later. Eragon is waiting for the return of the leader of the Varden, Ajihad, Murtag, the Twins and the warriors from clearing the tunnels from any remaining Urgals. As the party approaches, they are taken by surprise by a small group of Urgals that were missed. Aijahad is killed and Murtagh and the twins disappear.
I felt that this book was pivotal to not making Eragon understand what he was involved in but also the reader. Who are the Dragon Riders? Why do they exist? What is this bond between dragons and humans? It is amazing how much the world and history expand just by being in Ellesmera. Eragon and Saphira visit the Rock of Sorrow from the wars many millennia ago between elves and dragons.
The characters are very well written. They are multidimensional people with their own regrets, agendas, ideas, vows and motivations. In this time of war and close partnership they influence each other and have to put aside their differences and grievances and keep going. Keep working towards eliminating the Empire. It is not an easy task. They are fighting a mad man who destroyed the Dragon Riders, who has magicians and Urgals on his side, but maybe not for long.
I love speculating on the names of series and how a theme may be interwoven throughout a book. The characters discussed above helped me understand this theme. In Eldest, I saw many references to inheritance and how it is present in the lives of everyone, not just the powerful. For the common man who makes a living from his trades, like Horst, there is inheritance in tools, farm land and much more. Skills are passed down from father to son. When the villagers have to leave Carvahall, they have to leave many pieces of their inheritance behind. Roran may have succeeded in taking them on a journey but there are debts he will have to pay.
Physical hardships are seen through all the main characters. Battles have not been kind to anyone, and much more is yet to come. Battlegrounds offer insights into how magic functions in real time, with a focus on the mental aspect of warfare. Christopher Paolini explores the implications of battles on soldiers and the Varden in general.
This second book of the series is truly remarkable! To me, the title, Eldest, seemingly alludes to Oromis, the last Dragon Rider and the eldest of them all. It may also carry significance for Murtagh in relation to Eragon.