Leg stabbing and angst.

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Chapter Six: Memories of the Dead.

Do the dead have memories? Maybe if they're undead. I dunno. But that's not what these memories are of. Nope, it's memories of Brom. Well, Eragon's memories of Brom that Brom gave to Saphira to give to Eragon. Yeah. He's going over them in his head. I think...

"Galbatorix is mad and therefore unpredictable, but he also has gaps in his reasoning that an ordinary person would not. If you can find those, Eragon, then perhaps you and Saphira can defeat him.”

Brom lowered his pipe, his face grave. “I hope you do. My greatest desire, Eragon, is that you and Saphira will live long and fruitful lives, free from fear of Galbatorix and the Empire. I wish that I could protect you from all of the dangers that threaten you, but alas, that is not within my ability. All I can do is give you my advice and teach you what I can now while I am still here.… My son. Whatever happens to you, know that I love you, and so did your mother. May the stars watch over you, Eragon Bromsson.”

Eragon opened his eyes as the memory faded.

First off, we've never seen any indication of Galby's reasoning to be mad or erratic. He rules his Empire well, the worst thing seemed to be taxes. The Urgals, we learned in book two, aren't really evil, they just like fighting. So by using the Urgals as his army to fight against the Varden he's giving them something the like to do in a constructive manner. It would also cut down on the Urgal population as they seemed to be hazardous to his people's well being. When he learned of the hatching of Saphira he tried to get her and Eragon to join his side, but it didn't work. Perhaps he shouldn't have sent the Ra'zac against Eragon and his family, but that seems more like plot induced evil than actually something he would do. He still is trying to get Eragon on his side which is why he hasn't killed them out of hand because he knows that Saphira is likely the only female dragon left and you know dragons need babies. Now why he up and killed all the other dragons, I say plot induced stupidity. But on his own, during the time that he wasn't touched by the Author, he appears to have done quite well for himself. In fact it seems like if Galbatorix didn't do those evil things there would be no way for the plot to move forward. Therefor Galbatorix had to do them, even if it was out of character.

Now I'm not sure where this whole making everyone to swear an oath on their true names thing fits into this. It seems rather ridiculous to me. And time wasting. So, perhaps, again, this is plot induced stupidity.

But I digress. How does Eragon know what Galby is thinking. He has no interactions with him. He

... Actually if I were Galbatorix, I would have the Urgals "join" the Varden, using the whole misunderstood thing, because their reasons for switching sides was stupid, and then at the right moment... BAM! Urgals attack the Varden. Automatic flanking. We've already seen that the Varden aren't really the brightest people to wander under the sun, as they already were taken in by the Urgal's reasoning... So. There you go.

But I digressed twice. Eragon has no way of knowing what Galbatorix is thinking because he's never around him. So how can he discover those gaps?

The rest is just drivel. I could have told you these things but I didn't, but hey! I love you anyway. Yeah. Great dad that Brom.

Eragon asks Saphira (again) if Brom ever said anything about he and Murtagh being half brothers. She said no, he didn't. I'm actually with Eragon for once. Brom was a git for not telling Eragon about Murtagh being his brother and a bunch of other things. He may have had his reasons, but gosh darnit I bet they were stupid. Because I didn't think you needed to know isn't really a good reason. Spending time to tell you he loved you is great. But if he really loved Eragon then he would have told him stuff he needed to NOT DIE.

Saphria says that he should trust that Brom knew what he was doing and what he did was for the best. Besides there are going to be some things that will never be answered. Well, yeah, because Brom is DEAD. But I think this is Paolini trying to insert a bit of mystery into the world and story with a bit of "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW MWAHAHAHAHA...."

.... And then Eragon studies his thumbs.

No. Really.

He studies his thumbs.

We spend a completely and utterly RANDOM paragraph of Eragon examining his thumbs.

Eragon stared down his chest at his thumbs. He placed them side by side, to better compare them. His left thumb had more wrinkles on its second joint than did his right, while his right had a small, ragged scar that he could not remember getting, although it must have happened since the Agaetí Blödhren, the Blood-oath Celebration.

... I just... I don't know. I just... why? They're thumbs.

At least it's better than contemplating ants? I dunno.

He's lying there in his tent getting a bit damp because he needs to fix the tent's roof and he examines his thumbs.

And then he tells Saphira thank you. He's watched the memory three times... you know I don't really get this. It's like a DVD payer or something? I dunno. And each time he gets something new out of it. which makes him happy because he feels like he has a dad.

In an amazing bit of obviousness, Eragon is still tired from the battle after only an hour's rest. Wow.
Really? He's still tired? After only a hour resting? Oh Wow! And not only that but it's not unusual?! It's just an excuse to talk about how the war will wear them down until the get to the final battle where they'll be all bloody and exhausted.

I doubt that'll happen.

Anyway, he digs up Glaedr's heart of hearts which he's been keeping in a box, buried in the dirt. No wonder Glaedr doesn't want to talk to him HE'S BEING KEPT IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND IN THE DIRT. And the hole in the ground is protected by a lot of spells and such as is the chest. However I think that might be projecting the fact that there is an IMPORTANT OBJECT RIGHT HERE! OVER HERE! SEE ALL THE MAGIC PROTECTING IT!!!

That's just me though.

Arya shows up as he tries to get Glaedr to talk to him. Her hair is damp from washing - how does he know this as opposed to being damp from the rain, I don't know. It was raining after all. My first thought would be it was damp from the rain. This Narrator Knowing Stuff - Eragon in this case - even though he has no way of knowing it, is really very, very irritating. It keeps on happening.

She also smells like crushed pine needles and Eragon wonders if it's natural or she makes a spell to smell that way. Actually, the smell "attends" her. So now I have this image of the broken bodies of pine needles floating around her waving themselves like fans.

We get a paragraph of description for Arya:

Arya placed her hands on either side of the Eldunarí and then closed her eyes. While she sat, he took the opportunity to study her with an openness and intensity that would have been offensive otherwise. In every aspect, she seemed the epitome of beauty, even though he knew that another might say her nose was too long, or her face too angled, or her ears too pointed, or her arms too muscled.

That's barely a paragraph here. And it doesn't even really describe her beyond "She's pretty". Or actually she's perfect. But there's nothing really there. No color or real description. What's epitome of beauty look like to Eragon?

I did a quick poll of some people. This is what they considered to be the epitome of beauty. They gave me male and female pictures because gender wasn't specified.

( Pictures of pretty people )

That's quite a difference, isn't it?

This is the perfect spot to describe what she looks like - and he completely doesn't. Hah.

Arya looks into Glaedr's heart of hearts and then pulls back declaring that he is a very unhappy creature. He is the most unhappy creature I have ever met.

..........................

OF COURSE HE'S NOT HAPPY! HE'S BURIED IN A CHEST IN A GROUND, UNABLE TO FEEL OR SEE ANYTHING, COMPLETELY BLOCKED FROM ALL HIS SENSES AND COMPANIONS AND WILL BE LIKE THIS FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY TO FREE HIM!!!

Tell me again why these hearts of hearts are a good idea again? We've been told over and over again that the dragons inside of them are miserable and lonely and yet they keep on doing it. God, don't they learn from each other? You would think after the first... hundred, maybe, they'd get the idea that's not the best thing to do with your afterlife.

I don't know if Paolini is trying to go for some cheap angst or deeper meaning or the misery of life, but it's like these dragons are stabbing themselves deliberately in the leg and then crying about it. And this is after they've seen a hundred other dragons do the same thing.

I have no sympathy for you Glaedr. You made your bed, now you have to sleep in it. FOREVER.

Idiot.

An interesting thing is, however, however Eragon wonders if he'll go mad. Arya says that if he hasn't already, he'll probably go soon. And they are sad about this.

He then asks about the Dues Ex Machina spear. Arya says she has it in her tent and wants to know if Eragon wants to bring it into his tent. Eragon say no because he can't carry it around, least Galby learns of its existence. Also keeping too many magical treasures in one place would be dangerous. Um. Because two different tents in the same camp are definitely not in the same place. Nope. Not at all. Nuh-huh.

Idiot.

Just before he can say something (what he doesn't know. No, really, it says he doesn't know what he's going to say as he's about to express an ache inside of him) Albriech comes running up to them. Apparently his mother is in labor (finally) and he wants Eragon to come and sit with them in case they need help with the birth. After all Eragon has healing magic and all.

And I'm sure he's given birth to SO many babies before that he knows what to do. Though he did cure cancer. I dunno, does that qualify him to be helpful when someone is giving birth. I'm sure, of course, he'll be needed. Otherwise what's the point of him coming over there, right? We must have tension! We must have OH NOES SHE'S GOING TO DIE MAYBE.

If the baby is a boy and they name him after Eragon or his uncle or some relation like that I am going to be very annoyed.