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Empire may be the title of the last novel in the Inheritance Trilogy. It is not certain, for Paolini has not told the public yet.

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If Murtagh is Eragon's only sibling then the title of book two would be "Elder", not "Eldest", according to the rules of grammar. Elder means older of two. Eldest means older of at least three. This may mean that Eragon has another brother or sister. Though Eldest may have been refering to the fact that Glaedr is the eldest to Shruikan and Saphira. Eldest may also mean Saphira is the eldest of the last three dragons.

Concerning How A Person Is Chosen To Be A Rider:

It is commonly thought that a person's parentage affects their chances of becoming a Rider. However, many, or even most, of the Riders had might not have Riders for parents. Probably the best reason is that it still depends upon a dragon in its egg to choose any given person as its Rider. Hence there exists no absolute chance of the above being true. This idea may have taken root from the fact that both Morzan's sons became Riders.

Paolini confirmed in a March 2006 interview that when a dragon and Rider become linked, the Rider's magic immediately takes on the color of the dragon's scales. However, this does not mean that if you are a magic user born with green energy, you cannot be paired with an amethyst-colored dragon, for example. On being linked, your magic will automatically change from green to purple - although you can change colors at your will. Paolini states that although Eragon's magic is blue, he could produce red fire if he wanted to. So far, however, Riders have chosen to use the automatic color - their dragon's color. Oromis uses gold magic, Murtagh's energy is ruby-red, and Eragon's is bright blue. Shruikan is black, although the dragon that actually chose Galbatorix might have been another color; the union between Galbatorix and Shruikan isn't a true dragon-Rider union, so Galbatorix's automatic color may still be that of his original dragon's, though he may have chosen to change it after so many decades.

There is popular speculation about Arya of the Elves being the next Dragon Rider, as the last unhatched egg contains an emerald male, and Arya's magic is green. However, the revelation made by Paolini in the March 2006 interview (over live chat) means that Arya may not necessarily become the next Rider just because her magic is green - another may be chosen, and their energy would them automatically give green magic. Supporters of the Arya theory also argue that she has green eyes, although the significance of this is debatable.

• Eragon will recite the words which Brom told him before he died.

• Eragon and Roran will kill the Ra'zac, along with Arya Dröttningu.

• Regarding the next Rider

• • The next Rider may be Arya Dröttningu, and her dragon (likely green) may become Saphira's mate. This may create the additional impetus necessary for Eragon and Arya to become romantically involved as well. Arya is also of royal blood and Angela predicted that Eragon would love someone of noble birth.

• • Roran is a likely candidate, as he shows leadership abilities and is the cousin of a Rider - this would make a family of Riders: Morzan, his sons Eragon and Murtagh, and Eragon's cousin Roran. It is likely that Nasuada, Murtagh, Eragon, Arya and Roran will be the main leaders in the war (apart from the reigning royals Islanzadi, Galbatroix, Orrin and Hrothgar's likely successor Orik), and it is therefore suitable that Roran's power is enhanced by a link to a dragon.

• • The next Rider could be Nasuada, as of the fact that she is leader of the Varden and a formidable force in her own right, and her dragon and Saphira may mate.

• • Both Eragon and Murtagh are the sons of Morzan, who was a powerful, albeit evil, Dragon Rider. Dragons chose to hatch for both the sons, and now they have both become Riders. It therefore makes sense if the third Rider for whom the last (and presumably green) dragon will hatch will be the descendant of a Rider. The only old Dragon Riders we know are the king, Morzan, Vrael, Brom and Oromis, and apart from Morzan it is not known if any of the others had children. The last Rider may be an entirely new character, or a character that has already appeared in the first two books.

• • Elva may become the next Rider, as she will obviously play a major role in "Empire" and we have yet to see what that role may be. She also has the mark of the dragons on her forehead.

• Concerning the third dragon:

• • The third Rider might name him after Bid'Daun, the First Eragon's dragon.

• Regarding Eragon's new weapon

• • Eragon's lost sword may be replaced by the weapon under the roots of the Menoa tree.

• • The weapon under the Menoa Tree might be the first Eragon's sword. This sword may be set with sapphires, following Rider tradition (Saphira's scales are brilliant blue). It may have once been Brom's sword before his Saphira's death (Brom's dragon was blue - confirmed by Paolini - and according to Rider custom Brom would have had a blue sword.) Brom obviously lost the sword at some point, because in Carvahall the only Rider sword he had belonged to Morzan.

• Eragon will learn his secret name in the ancient language

• Eragon may learn the forbidden secrets of how Galbatorix grows stronger, perhaps Galbatorix knows the name of the ancient language.

• Oromis (a.k.a. Togira Ikonoka) and Glaedr may die.

• The Quote of the Raven, Bladgen
  • Interpreting to mean Eragon and Murtagh are indeed half-brothers

While two <Children> may share two <Parents>

And one <Child> of two <Parents> is certainly one

One <Mother> might be <Mother to> two <Children of different Fathers>.

• Roran may be the logical successor to Galbatorix (The King Of Men), as he and Eragon may possess the "royal blood" that still flows in Palancar Valley. It is noted in the books how Eragon and Roran are different from the other people in Carvahall. This might be true especially if they are descendants of King Palancar. As a possible successor of Galbatorix, this may also mean Roran could be the next Dragon Rider.

• Regarding the Vault of Souls
  • The Vault Of Souls was, according to Solembum, to be used by Eragon when he was in need of great power. We have yet to see how this is achieved. It could be similar to Aragorn (in The Return of the King), where he enters the "Paths of the Dead" and bind the souls to help him fight the Orcs

• • Maybe a group of Dragons may re-emerge in Alagäesia from the Vault of Souls and will join forces with the elves,humans and dwarves in battle.

• • We may see Vroengard, which is possibly the location of the Vault Of Souls

• • The soul of Brom may somehow come and guide Eragon to the Vault of Souls, where he finds the soul of Eragon (the first rider) and therefore gains the power to defeat Galbatorix.

• • Elva and Angela the herbalist may play much larger roles.

• Regarding the Rock of Kuthian
  • The Rock of Kuthian could have been the old name for Helgrind, before the Raz'ac lived there.

• Eragon repairs the curse he mistakenly placed on Elva, and Saphira repairs the Star Rose of Tronjheim which was destroyed in the battle.

• King Orrin of Surda might be slain, as so far the leaders of two of the factions have died from one cause or another, and he might follow the pattern. Queen Islanzadi might be exempt from this chain of events however, as the Elves do not die easily.

• Nar Garzhvog will become the King of the Urgals.

• If Galbatorix is defeated, Murtagh and Thorn may emerge from their forced allegiance to the king and return to the Varden. However, it is doubtful whether or not the Varden would receive them. If this were to happen it would spur on the romance between Nasuada and Murtagh.

• We shall also see a lot more of Arya's earlier life and will understand why she secludes herself and behaves in such a haughty manner. (Perhaps she was romantically involved with Faolin, one of her escorts, who was killed by the Urgals under Durza's control when Arya was captured.)

• Regarding Eragon's dream in Deathwatch
  • In 'Death Watch' two persons, going back to the ship 'Dragon Wing' towards Vroengard, may be Eragon and Arya, and the person watching may either be Roran, Galbatorix, Murtagh, or Oromis.

• • The two dragons circling in the chapter "Deathwatch" could be Saphira and the third Green dragon who could become Arya's.

• • The dream Eragon has in "Deathwatch" could be of him and Arya leaving the land Alagesia forever as told by Angela.

• • Someone important could die in "Empire" thus explaining why the man on the beach in the chapter "Deathwatch" let out an 'aching cry'.

• • As Eragon percieves that one of the veiled people in "Deathwatch" is a woman, it seems very likely that the next rider will be female.

• Regarding Eragon and Arya
  • Eragon may marry Arya and become the next leader of the Riders. However, Angela prophecised that he would leave Alagaesia, forever.

• • Arya may discover that they are meant to be together.The reason being that she has been the egg courier for so long, hence dragon magic being unpredictable as it is, led to the dragon(Saphira) developing a link with her. Hence when Eragon became the dragon's (Saphira's) Rider he came to share in this connection with Arya. It also would explain why he was able to scry her and see her clearly even though he'd never seen her before, and why Arya knew she was being seen by him when she was imprisoned by Durza.

• • Murtagh might try to protect the Varden by giving them the third egg, thereby allowing the next Rider get chosen (for a list of probables see 'Regarding the next Rider', though Galbatorix may make him promise in the ancient language not to do this).

• Regarding Eragon's strengthening
  • Eragon becoming as strong as Murtagh or stronger.

• • Eragon might unlock the Vault of Souls giving him the ability to merge Vrael's (last leader of the Riders) soul with his to give him extraordinary powers.

• • Eragon might unlock the Vault of Souls and attain Eragon's (the first Rider) soul, therefore giving him the power to kill Galbatorix.

• • Eragon may store the energy needed to destroy Galbatorix in the star sapphire.

• • Eragon may meet and be taught by a surviving person of the "Grey Folk" race.

• Galbatorix might capture Eragon and have him drugged. Galbatorix then might have him join him the way he did with Murtagh in the Ancient Language.

• Eragon may learn how to draw energy from the elements surrounding him to defeat Galbatorix as was discussed in Eldest. Maybe that is how Galbatorix and Murtagh are so powerful and what Murtagh means when he talks of "ways to manipulate energy" that only Galbatorix knows.

• The name of the dragon who presided over the treaty with the Elves may be discovered

• A wizards' duel may occur

• Eragon and Az Sweldn Rak Anhuin will come to an agreement, which may involve either the clan or Eragon being banished from the Dwarf world.

This trilogy contains many similarities to plot, characters, and themes from the Lord of the rings and the original star wars trilogy.

Lord Of The Rings resemblances

• Ra'zac-Nazgûl(Black Riders)
• Lethrblaka-Fellbeast(steeds of black riders)
• Eragon-very similar to Aragorn(name)
• Alagaësia-Middle-Earth
• Domia abr Wyrda-Bilbo's Translations from the Elvish(Silmarillion)
• Thorn-Smaug
• Alalea-Aman
• Brom-Gandalf
• Arya-Arwen
• Murtagh-Saruman?
• Galbatorix-Sauron
• Surda-Gondor
• Varden-Rohan
• Tronjheim-Helm's Deep
• Roran and Katrina-Luthien and Beren
• Carvahall-The Shire
• Urgals-Orcs
• Kull-Uruk-Hai
• Ajihad-Denethor
• Nasuada-Faramir
• The map-Sea to the west, placement of mountain ranges
• Elves-coming from the west on silver ships
• Some primary characters leaving the land forever.

Star wars

• Brom-Kenobi
• Eragon-Luke
• Oromis-Yoda
• Galbatorix-Palpatine
• Murtagh-Han Solo/Calrissian/Darth Vader
• Tatooine-Palancar Valley
• Inheritance plot-Star wars plot

Inferences ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN EMPIRE(BASED ON TOLKIEN AND STAR WARS)

• Eragon will go to Oromis immediately.
• Oromis (and Glaedr?) dies.
• Brom's soul then visits Eragon.
• Eragon goes back, finds Roran, and attacks Helgrind.
• He defeats the Ra'zac and rescues Katrina.
• At some point, a city will be sieged by Galbatorix, and the elves ride to its aid.
• A final battle will be staged at Uru'Baen.
• Murtagh saves Eragon by killing Galbatorix.
• The Varden try to lure out the imperial army to help Eragon.
• Eragon leaves Alagäesia for Alalea.
• Roran becomes king of Alagäesia.

Please note that these speculations are inferred only from star wars and Tolkien writings, and these are here only because I have evidence from only Tolkien and Star Wars.

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