 Eragon is a fifteen @-@ year @-@ old boy who has lived with his uncle Garrow and cousin Roran on a farm near the village of Carvahall , ever since his mother , Garrow 's sister , left him there right after his birth . While hunting in the Spine , Eragon is surprised to see the blue dragon egg , which he believes to be a stone , appear in front of him . A few months later , Eragon witnesses a baby dragon hatch from the egg . Eragon names the dragon Saphira . He raises the dragon in secret until two of King Galbatorix 's servants , the Ra 'zac , come to Carvahall ; though it is later revealed that they weren 't looking for the egg at first . Eragon and Saphira manage to escape by hiding in the Spine , but Garrow is fatally wounded and the house and farm are burned down by the Ra 'zac . Once Garrow dies , Eragon is left with no reason to stay in Carvahall , so he goes after the Ra 'zac with his newly hatched dragon , seeking vengeance for the destruction of his home and his uncle 's death . He is accompanied by Brom , an elderly storyteller , who provides Eragon with the sword Zar 'roc and insists on helping him and Saphira . 
