Brisingr was a hand-and-a-half sword with a curved cross-guard and a slightly longer hilt than usual. During Rhunön's interrogation, Eragon had mentioned that he prefers to wield a sword and a shield, but that he rarely had a shield at his disposal. In the end, Rhunön and Eragon agreed that he needed "a sword for all occasions," one that he could use just as easily in Farthen Dûr's tunnels as he could in a large battlefield. Eragon also commented that he would like to comfortably grip the hilt with both hands for more powerful blows.