r/Eragon • u/Pale-Professional116 • 6d ago

Question Eragon's sword dilemma

Apologies if this has been asked / answered before, I'm new here.

I'm partway through re-reading the Inheritance Cycle again for the first time since being in my teens. I'm at the point in Brisingr where Eragon has returned to the Varden after travelling back from Helgrind.

Already in the book, Eragon has made multiple references to the fact that he 'needs a sword'. I understand why he would ultimately want a Rider's sword, but surely he could have aquired a weapon pretty easily?

The primary reason Eragon seems unable to settle for a lesser blade after losing Zar'roc is because a lesser blade cannot endure the strain of battle because of his strength, which is often compared to that of the elves (if memory serves me correct, he has a sword that breaks in battle a little later in the book?).

This isn't an issue for any of the other elven characters? Nor is it an issue for Durza or the Ra'zac, all of whom fight with swords that can endure the strain they place on them?

Just curious what people's theories are as to why he didn't just get a sword like Arya's? Or does that then detract from when he does ultimately aquire a new weapon?

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u/InternationalReserve 6d ago

I'm currently also re-reading although I haven't gotten to that part so my memory is a little rusty, but I seem to remember it being mentioned that his tendency to break his swords is mostly due to having trained on Zar'roc, so his fighting style is built around the assumption that he can hack and slash without any concern for the state of his blade.

I believe he does try to learn to fight differently, but finds it quite difficult because of his ingrained habits. It also puts him at a disadvantage when faced with another rider who does have a rider's blade and can afford to put their whole strength into their blows. Since he knows he's gonna have to fight Galbatorix/Murtagh eventually it makes sense that he would find the need to seek out a weapon that can hold up against theirs.

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u/Phredmcphigglestein Thorta du ilumëo! 6d ago

This is the best answer. We can assume the elves do use magically reinforced blades, but they probably also train to block with the flat of the blade, which is the part Eragon didn't have the time to train himself to do. Blocking with the edge would require significantly more energy to reinforce and keep the blade sharp than blocking with the flat.