After three days in Tronjheim, Eragon is frustrated by the lack of progress toward deciding on a king due to clan infighting over minor issues. The most frustrating clan leader is Iorunn, the grimsthborith of Durgrimst Vrenshrrgn, a powerful and warlike clan whose only open alliance is with Urzhad. Iorunn finds a certain fascination with Eragon that he dislikes and finds discomforting. Of the others, Gannel of the Quan (religious) group is not inherently opposed to the Varden, while Nado of the Knurlcarathn (stoneworkers) is quick to point out it is not of much concern to him. Thus far, none of the clans or their leaders feel ready to step forward with a bid for the central election.

Eragon’s guard leads him out of the basement archives to the surface; Tronjheim is known as the City of Eternal Twilight because it is about a mile up to open sky, and above that looms the Farthen Dûr mountain range. Eragon speaks to Skeg, the leader of the team that is putting the star sapphire (or Star Rose)—Isidar Mithrim—back together, which was broken by Arya in the Battle of Farthen Dûr. During a break for lunch, Orik and his clansmen come to join him, and his foster brother reminds him to have patience; there is no way he can force them forward, or he would lose the bid.