Bloodshed all around... drops of red drain pouring from the sky in torrents... savage fighting enveloping all that is good and pure... and at the centre, a young boy, kneeling on the floor with a precious gem-like egg cradled in his arms...
The Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini, is not very widely known or appreciated. But it remains my firm favourite till date. Only Harry Potter, I should think, can precede it on my list of best novels to read.
Though the series has borrowed a lot from various others, it retains much originality and the style of writing is just superb. What really caught my attention, though, was the vividly described history of the land of Alagaesia.
Beginning from the times when only dwarves dwelt in the land, at one with earth and stone, until the Great Dragon War almost destroyed the kingdom, every bit of its history is as fascinating as the present proceedings.
The elves arrived at Alagaesia much later than the dragons, but with their pride, burning spirits and carefree youth soon put the dragons in danger of subordination. They treated the dragons as mere animals and when one young elf made the mistake of hunting a dragon down as game, the others were enraged. Conflicts ensued, and this soon turned into an out-and-out war. The elves attempted to explain themselves, but the dragons' ferocity in their onslaught made them retaliate in kind. There was soon no stopping of this war. Both races would fight to extinction. During these dark times, many evil weapons and strategies were forged. The 'dauthdaert', the dragon-killing spear, was forged then and it is said that the blood of the dragons poured down from the skies like rain!
Destiny plays many games, and so it was that a young elf named Eragon came upon an abandoned dragon egg one day. He hatched the youngling and named him Bid' Daum. Soon a friendship as strong as the bond of brotherhood was forged between the two, and then Eragon and his dragon travelled the kingdom, pleading for peace between the two sides at war. Resulting from their effort, treaties were signed that stopped further hostility or violence.
These treaties formed the very essence of the story, they forged a bond between dragons and elves which resulted in the formation of the Dragon Riders.
The working of this bond, I leave you find out, by reading the story yourself, and do believe me when I say, it will definitely be worth your time...
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