Chapter 3. A Man Named Tenga
An elderly looking man riding a black stallion and leading a brown one rode into Therinsford from the south. He paused and closed his eyes, then he opened them and urged his horse forward. Dempton and Roran had just stopped to eat lunch when a man came up clearing his throat. "Excuse me…but are you Roran Garrowsson?"
Roran stands up, "Who is asking…"
"My name is Tenga…And I have a proposition for you…" As the man spoke Roran could feel an itch in his mind. "May we speak in private…"
Roran looks at Dempton who hunches his shoulders, "Go ahead!"
They walk to the side of the mill to speak, "Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya…" The strange words send a tingle through Roran. "I have been searching for you for a longtime…Roran son of Garrow…"
"What does that mean…How do you know me?"
"You recently had a dream yes?"
"How do you know that…"
Roran grabs the sides of his head as Tenga's voice sounds in his mind, ("I know because I touched your mind and read your thoughts…") Roran looks at him in fear, "You don't have to fear me…For the same power lies in you untamed and untapped…You are an Elmen…"
Roran starts to walk away, "Look I don't know who you are and you are talking non-sense…"
"Letta!" Tenga barks. An unseen force grips Roran in place where he stands, "I am not finished…"
"Someone help me!" Roran screams.
"No one can hear you…As you have guessed by now I am a mage…A spell caster…The first Elmen…"
"What do you want from me?"
"As I said you are an Elmen…The third of our kind and if you are agreeable the second I will train…"
"What is an Elmen?"
"I will explain…Many years ago Dragons and Elves warred on each other…A foolish elf hunted and killed a Dragon…Dragons are intelligent and they can reason as well as you or I…Then later on a young Elf named Eragon…" Roran gasps, "Yes…an Elf named Eragon found a Dragon's Egg…"
Roran remembers the blue stone his cousin Eragon found, "I need to sit down…"
With a wave of his hand a barrel in the alley slides to Roran and he takes a seat. "He raises the Dragon in secret and together they forge a peace between Elves and Dragons…The Dragons bind their souls with that of the Elves…The Elves become immortal and all Elves are blessed with magic…This is also how the Dragon Riders are started…"
"It can't be…" Roran whispers to himself remembering the funny way Eragon acted after the traders left.
"Many years later humans are added to the spell that bounded Dragons and Elves…Then human Riders join the Order of Riders…That story Brom told you is true and he knows because he is a Dragon Rider…Now what are Elmen you ask…Unlike Elves humans benefited from the Dragon bond later…Elves became immortal, magical, and powerful…I am the first human to be gifted with Elf like abilities…I can run, see, hear, and smell as well as any Elf…I am also as powerful…You Roran Stronghammer…are Elmen…There are few of us in Alagaesia…I had a vision of you about a month ago…As I traveled north to find you I scryed you and saw your plans to come to Therinsford…As you may have guessed by now the stone Eragon found is a Dragon's egg…It hatched…the day after you returned home from the Traders…"
Roran was breathing heavy, "I saw my father die in my dream…"
Tenga sighs, "I am sorry…but what you saw is the future…A vision…"
Roran jumps up but he is still unable to leave the spot where he stands, "Let me go!"
"You are too late…Your father is dead…And your cousin has gone with his father to avenge Garrow…You cannot do anything…But you can get revenge…Come with me…Let me train you in the ancient language…In magic…You can become one of the most powerful human spell casters in all of Alagaesia…Or you can return to Carvahal and try to build a life with that beautiful young woman…Katrina!"
Roran sneers, "Stay out of my head!" He warns.
Tenga smirks, "Become my apprentice…Take my knowledge and protect the ones you love…For if Galbatorix's servants fail to capture your cousin…The king will send his allies after you and all those you care about…They will use them and you to get to Eragon…" With a wave of his hand Tenga releases Roran.
Roran slowly walks by Tenga and enters the mill to find Dempton hard at work, "Well what did he want?" Roran's mind is racing as he blankly stares at Dempton. "Are you well?"
Roran blinks his eyes making a decision, "I have to leave…"
"Why?"
Roran looks back at Tenga who is standing in the doorway, "I got a better offer…" Dempton grunts as Roran walks past him to go pack his things.
When Roran comes back downstairs Dempton is waiting with Tenga, "I can't say that I am pleased, but if I were your age I would take a better offer as well…" He offers his hand to Roran, "I'd hate to lose you…You're a good worker…" Then Dempton pays him for the two days of work.
Tenga offers Roran the brown horse and they ride off together. "Wait!"
Tenga stops his horse, "What is it?"
"I don't know about this…My father…"
"Is dead! You can mourn him later…Now we need to leave…"
"Can't you train me in Carvahal…"
"I could! But it would draw unwanted attention…Galbatorix watches Carvahal, his attention has been drawn away from it, but it is a chance I am not willing to take…Now come…And question your choice no further…" Reluctantly Roran urged his horse to follow.