Palancar Valley Summary

The following day, Eragon must return home empty-handed. He hikes his way out of the Spine, a place where not even King Galbatorix would send his army. Eragon is one who, unlike most, does not fear the Spine, although he knows it is a place in which he must be careful because unexpected things, like his finding the stone, happen there.

Eragon takes 2 days to hike out of the Spine and to find his way to reach the ridge above the Palancar Valley. He sees smoke rising above Carvahall, his isolated village. He descends the mountain, making his way to the butcher shop to buy meat for his family. Sloan, the butcher, welcomes him with derision, asking if he has brought back any meat from his hunt.

Eragon answers that he failed in his hunt, but that he wants to purchase...