Brisingr

This is an excerpt from Christopher Paolini's new book Brisingr. Forgive me if it is a bit too graphic for you, it is only to make a point.

"The young man lifted the weapon so that it slanted toward the highest peak of Helgrind. Then he dropped to one knee and, with and incoherent cry, brought the blade down across his right wrist.
Blood sprayed the rocks behind the altar.
Eragon winced and averted his eyes, although he could not escape the youth's piercing screams. It was nothing Eragon had not seen in battle, but it seemed wrong to deliberately mutilate yourself when it was so easy to become disfigured in everyday life."