Thorn (Inheritance)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Thorn is a dragon from Christopher Paolini's Inheritance trilogy. He is bound to the Dragon Rider, Murtagh.

[edit] Appearance and Personality

Thorn is a red male dragon, smaller than Saphira (because he is younger), but wider in the legs and shoulders. Like all dragons, Thorn's eyes match his sparkling ruby hide, and his talons, teeth and neck spikes are snow white. Thorn is trained by the king's dragon Shruikan in the Riders' arts, and although he is younger than Saphira he is extremely skilled at aerial combat and is more than a match for her in the air, even when he is severely injured. Murtagh is unwillingly under Galbatorix's control, but is unclear how Thorn feels about their predictament. In Eldest it is implied that Murtagh and Thorn argued over letting Eragon escape at the Battle of the Burning Plains. Otherwise, Thorn has not spoken.

Thorn as painted by John Jude Palencar on the cover of Eldest

[edit] History

After the events in Eragon, Murtagh was captured by the Empire. Murtagh was brought to Galbatorix. One of the dragon eggs that Galbatorix was keeping hatched for Murtagh. The dragon was named Thorn. It is unclear how Thorn matured to rival Saphira despite their age difference, but Christopher Paolini has stated that it will be revealed in the third book of the trilogy.[1]

Both Thorn and Murtagh were forced to make an unbreakable magical vow in the Ancient Language to King Galbatorix to serve him. Galbatorix knows their true names-- the names which the Ancient Language has for them-- and is therefore able to completely control them, unless he chooses to release them. Thorn and Murtagh have no free will, and Galbatorix binds them further by continually forcing them to make further oaths to him in the ancient language.

"He knows our true names, Eragon...we are his slaves forever." - Murtagh

Eragon and Murtagh are brothers (their father is Morzan) as discovered in Eldest. Apparently, Thorn will be given a much bigger part in the third and final book of the Inheritance Trilogy.

[edit] Trivia

In a poll on Inheritance Forums, Thorn was voted the second most popular dragon (after Saphira), even though he has only made one appearance in the trilogy so far. [2]

This article related to the Inheritance trilogy by Christopher Paolini is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Trilogy
Books	Eragon \| Eldest \| Book 3
Films	Eragon
Main Characters	Eragon \| Brom \| Arya \| Galbatorix \| Murtagh \| Roran \| Ajihad \| Nasuada \| Angela \| Saphira \| Oromis \| more...
Places	Alagaësia \| Beor Mountains \| Carvahall \| Dras-Leona \| Ellesméra \| Farthen Dûr \| Hadarac Desert \| Helgrind \| Surda \| Teirm \| Urû'baen \| more...
Events	Blood-Oath Celebration \| Battle of the Burning Plains \| Battle for Carvahall \| Dagshelgr Invocation \| The Fall