Brisinger Chapters 31-40
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amatyultareChapter Thirty-One: Blood on the Rocks
Eragon storms out of a meeting, upset with the slow pace of dwarf politics. We get a rundown of the candidates. Besides Orik, we have the head of the dwarf priest clan (whom we met briefly in Eldest) who is neutral on the Varden, a dwarf from the biggest stone-workers clan who opposes alliance with the Varden, and a dwarf woman who is so devious that no one is sure which side she supports. This Íorûnn is apparently fascinated with Eragon. The thought of a dwarf queen-candidate flirting with Eragon amuses me unduly.
The Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, the clan that swore opposition to Eragon back in Eldest, are of course making nuisances of themselves and supporting the anti-Varden candidate. Let’s look at how the moral, the uncorrupted-by-power Eragon considers this:
So, his plan is either to get them to call off the feud, OR to obliterate the clan. Charming.
Eragon walks up to the main section of the dwarf city and wanders around for a few pages worth of description about how lovely the city is and how many lanterns there are, etc. etc. We get to see the work going forward on reconstruction of the Isidar Mithrim, the Star Sapphire.
Let me mention something positive – CPao is giving Eragon another bit of consistent characterization by making him keep thinking about how he misses Saphira (this has been ongoing for the past few chapters). Who knows, one or two more books and CPao’s characters might be completely believable.
Eragon and Orik eat and discuss how things are going; Eragon doesn’t understand how the subtle currents and smaller deals that have been going on affect the larger question (naturally). Orik feels fairly confident, although no one candidate has overwhelming support yet.
Another session of dwarves meeting. CPao treats us to an ENTIRE PAGE of what everyone in the room is doing while one angry anti-Varden dwarf makes a speech. To summarize: they’re mostly bored and distracted. When we get to Íorûnn, she winks at Eragon with “voluptuous ease”. How ease can be voluptuous, I am not sure.
During the lunch break, Eragon goes wandering with his guards again. While in a deserted part of the underground city, he is attacked by seven dwarves who have undwarvish speed, magical protections against mental attacks, and blades that are also somehow magicked. With the amount and descriptions of fighting in this book, it’s starting to feel less like ‘Star Wars’ and more like ‘The Matrix’. (Note from the future: or perhaps Kill Bill is the more appropriate reference.) Observe:
Eragon manages to kill most of the assassins; the last one accidentally breaks a ‘flameless lanterns’, causing it to explode and kill him. Unfortunately, the head of Eragon’s guards had already been killed by the assassins. The assassins seem to have been sent from the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, although there is no definite proof. Eragon swears to avenge the attack and the death. Also, his blade was broken during the fight. Eragon thinks, not for the first time, that he needs a real Rider blade.
Chapter Thirty-Two: A Matter of Perspective
This is what we’ve all been waiting for: the chapter from Saphira’s perspective.
In terms of plot, not much happens. We start the chapter with Saphira flying and admiring herself (this is a pretty funny couple of paragraphs). After satisfying herself that she’s pretty much the most beautiful thing in Alagaësia, her thoughts turn to Eragon and how much she misses him. She sees Roran’s group returning and tells Arya of their approach. Then she has to return to camp and pretend to sleep to maintain the illusion that she and Eragon are doing night sorties, excusing Eragon’s absence from camp during the day.
In terms of characterization, it’s...interesting. I will accept Saphira’s arrogance as more-or-less fitting her character, but it is portrayed in extremes that I just don’t see. (“It was unthinkable that anyone would dare ignore her request” indeed.) Also, as other reviewers have noted, it’s distracting the way she keeps using descriptive phrases instead of just nouns when thinking about things. I understand where CPao is coming from, a sort of more animalistic thought process – wind-of-morning-heat-above-flat-land would be an example – but it comes off as contrived. Why have we never seen Saphira using this type of phrasing when she talks to Eragon, for example?
Chapter Thirty-Three: Kiss Me Sweet
Quick shift to Roran’s perspective.
Middle of the night, Roran is awake and brooding over the men he’s killed. Katrina wakes up and comforts him. She thinks he’s the greatest warrior in the army, and the fact that he hates killing is a good thing (true). He expresses the wish that the war was over so he could go back to being a farmer. They kiss and fall back asleep, Roran still depressed by how they are trapped by the war.
This chapter is so pointless. But at least it’s only three pages long. Back to you, Eragon!
Chapter Thirty-Four: Glûmra
I must and shall find a sad or serious-looking picture of CPao and make an icon that says, “Why so Glûmra?”
In other news, I think it’s a CPao rule that at least one chapter in three must begin with elaborate descriptions. To wit:
Orik is doing his best to find out, clandestinely, who ordered the attack before tomorrow’s meeting. Eragon goes to the mother of the slain guard to tell her of the death; the mother is the eponymous Glûmra. She is excessively upset, naturally, to the point of cutting off the tip of her little finger. (!) She seems to calm down after that, and tells Eragon that the dwarves are mostly grateful to him for his destruction of Durza; this attempt on his life will be bad for the anti-Varden faction.
We get a brief digression on theism and atheism. Glûmra strongly believes in the dwarf god pantheon and in the afterlife, and Eragon feels the desire to share her beliefs, yet cannot bring himself to believe in something he can’t prove. As an agnostic myself, I rather like this bit; I’ve felt the same way at times myself.
She invites Eragon and his guards to stay for supper, and they stay until Orik sends a messenger for them to return.
Chapter Thirty-Five: Clanmeet
Through some really fast detective work, Orik has determined that the assassins were indeed sent by the head of the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin. He even has the three dwarves who gave the assassins their orders in custody. This is going to be good for him if handled properly, since every other clan will have to denounce this type of behavior (attacking a guest is one of the worst things a dwarf can do). The risk is the possibility of clan war, but Orik has a plan.
While waiting for the meeting and trying to sleep, Eragon daydreams. At least, that’s what I THINK he’s doing.
Then Eragon has a dream about Morzan. Creepy.
Clan meeting time! The head of the meeting asks what the heck happened yesterday. Orik is all, ‘I thought you’d never ask’ and starts a major speech.
He reviews quite a bit of dwarf history. He also implies that it was a huge mistake for the dwarves to never get involved in the whole Dragon Rider thing. He feels, among other things, that it leaves the fate of the dwarves in the hands of other races. Using this as a segue, he talks about Eragon, how he’s the only hope of defeating Galbatorix, and some of his feats and powers. He also brings up that Eragon has embraced the dwarves like no previous Dragon Rider, to the point of becoming one of them. And yet, he says, the dwarves have mostly treated Eragon with scorn and contempt. And even violence
(He also uses the phrase “their minds are as moldy as a lump of year-old cheese”. *giggle* Seriously, Orik, I love you.)
He then tells of the attack on Eragon, and presents his evidence. The head of the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin tries to weasel his way out of it by claiming that if Eragon is an adopted dwarf, he can’t be considered a ‘guest’, but the other dwarves call bullshit. Then he says that if he is arrested, or any action is taken against his clan, they’ll consider it an act of war. So there!
Orik, however, has already thought of this. They’ll banish the whole clan, refuse to interact or trade with them. It’s not ‘action’ per se, nothing aggressive, just – nothing. If the clan repudiates the clan chief’s action, they can return, but he himself will be an outcast forever. The other clan heads agree it’s a fitting punishment.
The current of public opinion is clearly with Orik, so he raises the topic of holding a final vote for dwarf king/queen. The vote will be in three days. Eragon runs off to scry Nasuada and have her send Saphira to attend the coronation.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Insubordination
Hi again, Roran.
Roran is on another mission, this time to drive out Imperial soldiers who are looting and burning within Surda. Since his previous captain was injured, he has a new commanding officer whom he doesn’t particularly like or respect as a leader. Still, he’s doing his best to follow orders and be a good soldier.
The Varden watch as the Imperial soldiers search an empty village – the villagers have already fled. Unfortunately, one family stayed behind and are captured. The Varden charge, but the Imperial soldiers have crossbows. Crap. Disobeying his original orders, Roran has his group take cover and shoot at the Imperial soldiers. Then he uses the confusion to get the captain out of the tight spot he’s in.
Incredibly, the captain then orders the men to STOP FIGHTING and rejoin the battle with hand-to-hand combat. Please note, the Imperial soldiers outnumber the Varden three to one. When Roran protests, the captain insults his courage. Then he rides away.
Roran disobeys. He sets most of the men to shooting from cover, and takes a few men to attack the Imperial soldiers directly but with magical wards. He also indulges in a bit of creative insults towards the Imperial soldiers. There’s a lot of fighting, and some interesting references to Roran’s present as a fighter versus his past as a farmer.
In the end, Roran kills – one hundred and ninety-three Imperial soldiers. Holy crap. Did Roran accidentally also kill Realism? Just asking…
Most of Roran’s men are still alive. Most of the other two groups are still dead. The captain is alive, however, and promptly removes Roran from command for his insubordination.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Message in a Mirror
Seriously, CPao. Chapter titles. They’re an art and a science. Also, it’s Saphira-time again!
Saphira is napping in the sun when she hear a commotion. Commotions are not exactly uncommon in the Varden camp, so she ignores it and goes back to sleep until Nasuada comes to consult with her. (Oddly, Nasuada – who in Saphira’s previous chapter was referred to simply by her name – now has one of those weird hyphenated-description-names. Consistency is a virtue....)
First, a human member of the Varden has killed three Urgals. He didn’t even have the reason of personal vengeance; he simply hates Urgals. Nasuada is going to have him executed, but she fears that the Varden will be unhappy with her. Plus, she isn’t exactly a huge Urgal fan herself – after all, Urgals killed her father. Saphira reassures her that she’s making the right decision.
Then Nasuada tells Saphira about the attack on Eragon, and the upcoming coronation. Saphira basically goes, those dwarves are lucky I wasn’t there. They would be dead, and I’m not speaking metaphorically. And now, I’m going. Kthanxbai! And she heads off towards Farthen Dûr.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Four Strokes Upon the Drum
Much like Saphira, we now return to Eragon.
It’s time for the vote. Tension! CPao drags this out as long as possible. In the final tally, Orik wins. Yay! Not a surprise, but I’m still happy.
Also, I feel I must quote the passage from which comes the chapter title.
Orik is, naturally, happy and a bit stunned. His major opponent, the Varden-hater, is clearly not happy, but swears his oath of fealty with the rest of the clan leaders without incident. After some general congratulations and chattering, Eragon heads out to find Saphira, who presumably has just or is about to arrive.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Reunion
About half the chapter is Eragon running through Farthen Dûr, dodging or jumping over dwarves. The other half is his joy at being with Saphira again. The emotions are a little clumsily written, but fairly genuine. It’s actually quite sweet.
Hee. Saphira complains about how Eragon is always getting in trouble when she’s not around. He counters that he gets into trouble when he’s with her too, but she responds that she “eat[s] the trouble before it eats you.”
Then Saphira gets the hiccups. LOL.
Chapter Forty: Ascension
I’m sorry, Saphira cracks me up.
It’s time for the coronation. There is a ton of description, even by CPao’s standards. Lots of beautiful clothing. Rose petals falling. (?) A choir singing. Drums beating. Orik slowly proceeding up towards the throne. He kneels and the dwarf high priest calls on Gûntera, the king of the dwarf gods. And...he shows up! Or something that looks like him does, some kind of shade or image. It crowns Orik, who then officially takes the throne.
There are pledges of loyalty. The clan leaders pledge, again. The heads of guilds pledge. Eragon pledges. Tons of other dwarves pledge. Then there’s a round of gift-giving. Eragon gives Orik an Magical Armband of Immunity to Dangers. Saphira fixes the Isidar Mithrim as her gift. And then there’s a banquet.
(Note: I have already heard people arguing that Gûntera is the god that Eragon was supposed to ‘meet’ according to CPao’s pre-book statements. I really wouldn’t characterize this as ‘meeting’ him. I would argue the meeting-the-god event was in chapter 13.) (Note from the future: yup, wrong about this one. Although I still wouldn't count 'being in the presence of' as the same this as 'meeting' a god.)
Eragon storms out of a meeting, upset with the slow pace of dwarf politics. We get a rundown of the candidates. Besides Orik, we have the head of the dwarf priest clan (whom we met briefly in Eldest) who is neutral on the Varden, a dwarf from the biggest stone-workers clan who opposes alliance with the Varden, and a dwarf woman who is so devious that no one is sure which side she supports. This Íorûnn is apparently fascinated with Eragon. The thought of a dwarf queen-candidate flirting with Eragon amuses me unduly.
The Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, the clan that swore opposition to Eragon back in Eldest, are of course making nuisances of themselves and supporting the anti-Varden candidate. Let’s look at how the moral, the uncorrupted-by-power Eragon considers this:
One of these days, thought Eragon, I will have to find a way to make peace with them. That or I’ll have to finish what Galbatorix started. I refuse to live my entire life in fear of Az Sweldn rak Anhûin.
So, his plan is either to get them to call off the feud, OR to obliterate the clan. Charming.
Eragon walks up to the main section of the dwarf city and wanders around for a few pages worth of description about how lovely the city is and how many lanterns there are, etc. etc. We get to see the work going forward on reconstruction of the Isidar Mithrim, the Star Sapphire.
Let me mention something positive – CPao is giving Eragon another bit of consistent characterization by making him keep thinking about how he misses Saphira (this has been ongoing for the past few chapters). Who knows, one or two more books and CPao’s characters might be completely believable.
Eragon and Orik eat and discuss how things are going; Eragon doesn’t understand how the subtle currents and smaller deals that have been going on affect the larger question (naturally). Orik feels fairly confident, although no one candidate has overwhelming support yet.
Another session of dwarves meeting. CPao treats us to an ENTIRE PAGE of what everyone in the room is doing while one angry anti-Varden dwarf makes a speech. To summarize: they’re mostly bored and distracted. When we get to Íorûnn, she winks at Eragon with “voluptuous ease”. How ease can be voluptuous, I am not sure.
During the lunch break, Eragon goes wandering with his guards again. While in a deserted part of the underground city, he is attacked by seven dwarves who have undwarvish speed, magical protections against mental attacks, and blades that are also somehow magicked. With the amount and descriptions of fighting in this book, it’s starting to feel less like ‘Star Wars’ and more like ‘The Matrix’. (Note from the future: or perhaps Kill Bill is the more appropriate reference.) Observe:
Eragon drove his legs against the floor and jumped up and forward. He spun halfway around and struck the ceiling feet-first. He pushed off, spun halfway around again, and landed on his hands and feet a yard behind the three dwarves. [Then, after beheading them...] Leaping over their truncated bodies, Eragon twisted in midair and landed on the spot he had started from.
Eragon manages to kill most of the assassins; the last one accidentally breaks a ‘flameless lanterns’, causing it to explode and kill him. Unfortunately, the head of Eragon’s guards had already been killed by the assassins. The assassins seem to have been sent from the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, although there is no definite proof. Eragon swears to avenge the attack and the death. Also, his blade was broken during the fight. Eragon thinks, not for the first time, that he needs a real Rider blade.
Chapter Thirty-Two: A Matter of Perspective
This is what we’ve all been waiting for: the chapter from Saphira’s perspective.
In terms of plot, not much happens. We start the chapter with Saphira flying and admiring herself (this is a pretty funny couple of paragraphs). After satisfying herself that she’s pretty much the most beautiful thing in Alagaësia, her thoughts turn to Eragon and how much she misses him. She sees Roran’s group returning and tells Arya of their approach. Then she has to return to camp and pretend to sleep to maintain the illusion that she and Eragon are doing night sorties, excusing Eragon’s absence from camp during the day.
In terms of characterization, it’s...interesting. I will accept Saphira’s arrogance as more-or-less fitting her character, but it is portrayed in extremes that I just don’t see. (“It was unthinkable that anyone would dare ignore her request” indeed.) Also, as other reviewers have noted, it’s distracting the way she keeps using descriptive phrases instead of just nouns when thinking about things. I understand where CPao is coming from, a sort of more animalistic thought process – wind-of-morning-heat-above-flat-land would be an example – but it comes off as contrived. Why have we never seen Saphira using this type of phrasing when she talks to Eragon, for example?
Chapter Thirty-Three: Kiss Me Sweet
Quick shift to Roran’s perspective.
Middle of the night, Roran is awake and brooding over the men he’s killed. Katrina wakes up and comforts him. She thinks he’s the greatest warrior in the army, and the fact that he hates killing is a good thing (true). He expresses the wish that the war was over so he could go back to being a farmer. They kiss and fall back asleep, Roran still depressed by how they are trapped by the war.
This chapter is so pointless. But at least it’s only three pages long. Back to you, Eragon!
Chapter Thirty-Four: Glûmra
I must and shall find a sad or serious-looking picture of CPao and make an icon that says, “Why so Glûmra?”
In other news, I think it’s a CPao rule that at least one chapter in three must begin with elaborate descriptions. To wit:
Hundreds of feet below Tronjheim, the stone opened up into a cavern thousands of feet long with a still black lake of unknown depth along one side and a marble shore on the other. Brown and ivory stalactites dripped from the ceiling, while stalagmites stabbed upward from the round, and in places the two joined to form bulging pillars thicker around than even the largest trees in Du Weldenvarden. Scattered among the pillars were mounds of compost studded with mushrooms, as well as three-and-twenty stone huts. A flameless lantern glowed iron red next to each of their doors. Beyond the reach of the lanterns, shadows abounded.
Orik is doing his best to find out, clandestinely, who ordered the attack before tomorrow’s meeting. Eragon goes to the mother of the slain guard to tell her of the death; the mother is the eponymous Glûmra. She is excessively upset, naturally, to the point of cutting off the tip of her little finger. (!) She seems to calm down after that, and tells Eragon that the dwarves are mostly grateful to him for his destruction of Durza; this attempt on his life will be bad for the anti-Varden faction.
We get a brief digression on theism and atheism. Glûmra strongly believes in the dwarf god pantheon and in the afterlife, and Eragon feels the desire to share her beliefs, yet cannot bring himself to believe in something he can’t prove. As an agnostic myself, I rather like this bit; I’ve felt the same way at times myself.
She invites Eragon and his guards to stay for supper, and they stay until Orik sends a messenger for them to return.
Chapter Thirty-Five: Clanmeet
Through some really fast detective work, Orik has determined that the assassins were indeed sent by the head of the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin. He even has the three dwarves who gave the assassins their orders in custody. This is going to be good for him if handled properly, since every other clan will have to denounce this type of behavior (attacking a guest is one of the worst things a dwarf can do). The risk is the possibility of clan war, but Orik has a plan.
While waiting for the meeting and trying to sleep, Eragon daydreams. At least, that’s what I THINK he’s doing.
The frame of his consciousness dissolved into the disordered fantasy of his waking dreams. Yet conscious of the mosaic of colored stones mounted upon the wall opposite him, he also beheld, as if a glowing scrim draped over the mosaic, scenes of his life in Palancar Valley before momentous and bloody fate had intervened in his existence. The scenes diverged from established fact, however, and immersed him in imaginary situations constructed piecemeal from fragments of what had actually been.
Then Eragon has a dream about Morzan. Creepy.
Clan meeting time! The head of the meeting asks what the heck happened yesterday. Orik is all, ‘I thought you’d never ask’ and starts a major speech.
He reviews quite a bit of dwarf history. He also implies that it was a huge mistake for the dwarves to never get involved in the whole Dragon Rider thing. He feels, among other things, that it leaves the fate of the dwarves in the hands of other races. Using this as a segue, he talks about Eragon, how he’s the only hope of defeating Galbatorix, and some of his feats and powers. He also brings up that Eragon has embraced the dwarves like no previous Dragon Rider, to the point of becoming one of them. And yet, he says, the dwarves have mostly treated Eragon with scorn and contempt. And even violence
(He also uses the phrase “their minds are as moldy as a lump of year-old cheese”. *giggle* Seriously, Orik, I love you.)
He then tells of the attack on Eragon, and presents his evidence. The head of the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin tries to weasel his way out of it by claiming that if Eragon is an adopted dwarf, he can’t be considered a ‘guest’, but the other dwarves call bullshit. Then he says that if he is arrested, or any action is taken against his clan, they’ll consider it an act of war. So there!
Orik, however, has already thought of this. They’ll banish the whole clan, refuse to interact or trade with them. It’s not ‘action’ per se, nothing aggressive, just – nothing. If the clan repudiates the clan chief’s action, they can return, but he himself will be an outcast forever. The other clan heads agree it’s a fitting punishment.
The current of public opinion is clearly with Orik, so he raises the topic of holding a final vote for dwarf king/queen. The vote will be in three days. Eragon runs off to scry Nasuada and have her send Saphira to attend the coronation.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Insubordination
Hi again, Roran.
Roran is on another mission, this time to drive out Imperial soldiers who are looting and burning within Surda. Since his previous captain was injured, he has a new commanding officer whom he doesn’t particularly like or respect as a leader. Still, he’s doing his best to follow orders and be a good soldier.
The Varden watch as the Imperial soldiers search an empty village – the villagers have already fled. Unfortunately, one family stayed behind and are captured. The Varden charge, but the Imperial soldiers have crossbows. Crap. Disobeying his original orders, Roran has his group take cover and shoot at the Imperial soldiers. Then he uses the confusion to get the captain out of the tight spot he’s in.
Incredibly, the captain then orders the men to STOP FIGHTING and rejoin the battle with hand-to-hand combat. Please note, the Imperial soldiers outnumber the Varden three to one. When Roran protests, the captain insults his courage. Then he rides away.
Roran disobeys. He sets most of the men to shooting from cover, and takes a few men to attack the Imperial soldiers directly but with magical wards. He also indulges in a bit of creative insults towards the Imperial soldiers. There’s a lot of fighting, and some interesting references to Roran’s present as a fighter versus his past as a farmer.
In the end, Roran kills – one hundred and ninety-three Imperial soldiers. Holy crap. Did Roran accidentally also kill Realism? Just asking…
Most of Roran’s men are still alive. Most of the other two groups are still dead. The captain is alive, however, and promptly removes Roran from command for his insubordination.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Message in a Mirror
Seriously, CPao. Chapter titles. They’re an art and a science. Also, it’s Saphira-time again!
Saphira is napping in the sun when she hear a commotion. Commotions are not exactly uncommon in the Varden camp, so she ignores it and goes back to sleep until Nasuada comes to consult with her. (Oddly, Nasuada – who in Saphira’s previous chapter was referred to simply by her name – now has one of those weird hyphenated-description-names. Consistency is a virtue....)
First, a human member of the Varden has killed three Urgals. He didn’t even have the reason of personal vengeance; he simply hates Urgals. Nasuada is going to have him executed, but she fears that the Varden will be unhappy with her. Plus, she isn’t exactly a huge Urgal fan herself – after all, Urgals killed her father. Saphira reassures her that she’s making the right decision.
Then Nasuada tells Saphira about the attack on Eragon, and the upcoming coronation. Saphira basically goes, those dwarves are lucky I wasn’t there. They would be dead, and I’m not speaking metaphorically. And now, I’m going. Kthanxbai! And she heads off towards Farthen Dûr.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Four Strokes Upon the Drum
Much like Saphira, we now return to Eragon.
It’s time for the vote. Tension! CPao drags this out as long as possible. In the final tally, Orik wins. Yay! Not a surprise, but I’m still happy.
Also, I feel I must quote the passage from which comes the chapter title.
“Seek out the wardens of the mountain and tell them, ‘Four beats upon the drum. Four beats, and swing your mallets as you have never swung them before in all your lives, for we have a new king. Four beats of such strength, Farthen Dûr itself shall ring with the news.’ Tell them this, I charge you.”
Orik is, naturally, happy and a bit stunned. His major opponent, the Varden-hater, is clearly not happy, but swears his oath of fealty with the rest of the clan leaders without incident. After some general congratulations and chattering, Eragon heads out to find Saphira, who presumably has just or is about to arrive.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Reunion
About half the chapter is Eragon running through Farthen Dûr, dodging or jumping over dwarves. The other half is his joy at being with Saphira again. The emotions are a little clumsily written, but fairly genuine. It’s actually quite sweet.
Hee. Saphira complains about how Eragon is always getting in trouble when she’s not around. He counters that he gets into trouble when he’s with her too, but she responds that she “eat[s] the trouble before it eats you.”
Then Saphira gets the hiccups. LOL.
Chapter Forty: Ascension
I’m sorry, Saphira cracks me up.
“I have wool stuck between my teeth. Now I remember why I hate eating sheep. Horrible, fluffy things.”
It’s time for the coronation. There is a ton of description, even by CPao’s standards. Lots of beautiful clothing. Rose petals falling. (?) A choir singing. Drums beating. Orik slowly proceeding up towards the throne. He kneels and the dwarf high priest calls on Gûntera, the king of the dwarf gods. And...he shows up! Or something that looks like him does, some kind of shade or image. It crowns Orik, who then officially takes the throne.
There are pledges of loyalty. The clan leaders pledge, again. The heads of guilds pledge. Eragon pledges. Tons of other dwarves pledge. Then there’s a round of gift-giving. Eragon gives Orik an Magical Armband of Immunity to Dangers. Saphira fixes the Isidar Mithrim as her gift. And then there’s a banquet.
(Note: I have already heard people arguing that Gûntera is the god that Eragon was supposed to ‘meet’ according to CPao’s pre-book statements. I really wouldn’t characterize this as ‘meeting’ him. I would argue the meeting-the-god event was in chapter 13.) (Note from the future: yup, wrong about this one. Although I still wouldn't count 'being in the presence of' as the same this as 'meeting' a god.)
