Eldest

I am twenty-one now and, to my continual astonishment, have already published two novels.

Oromis shook his head. “Foolish,” he said, “very foolish. If I had committed more to maintaining my spel , that would have kil ed you. Never use absolutes.”

“You do the Varden a disservice if you insist on overworking yourself. No one can function properly without occasional peace and quiet. They don’t have to be long breaks, just five or ten minutes. You could even practice your archery, and then you would stil serve your goals, albeit in a different manner…. That’s why I had this laboratory constructed in the first place. That’s why I blow smoke and play with

quicksilver, as you put it—so that I don’t scream with frustration throughout the rest of the day.”

“What,” asked Eragon, keeping his voice low so as to not disturb anyone, “do most elves do for a living or profession?”

Arya answered just as quietly. “Our strength with magic grants us as much leisure as we desire. We neither hunt nor farm, and, as a result, we spend our days working to master our interests, whatever they might be. Very little exists that we must strive for.”

“Our strength with magic grants us as much leisure as we desire. We neither hunt nor farm, and, as a result, we spend our days working to master our interests, whatever they might be. Very little exists that we must strive for.”

“Everything that we need or want we sing from the plants, including our food. It would be barbaric to make animals suffer that we might have additional courses on the table…. Our choice wil make greater sense to you before long.”

“I live here, on the brink of the Crags of Tel’naeír, because it provides me the opportunity to think and study in peace. My mind works better away from El esméra and the distractions of other people.”

At last Islanzadí cried out and embraced Arya, saying, “O my daughter, I have wronged you!”

a symbol of status and luxury. The more gold you had, the more often you could afford steak and veal. Even the minor nobility ate meat with every meal.

You can’t give up hope. You still have a chance to find a mate, but you have to be patient.