Chapter 6. Over the Next Few months

"Abr…It means of…Ach…it means do or does…Adurna…is the name for water…" Roran recited every word and glyph he learned from Tenga so far.

After fiftieth word Tenga raises his hand and speaks in the ancient language, "Very good Nissari…From now on we will speak in the ancient language…"

"Yes Ebrithil…" Roran responded in the ancient language.

Roran had been in training under Tenga for the past two months during which time his knowledge of the ancient language became very extensive. In addition to his knowledge Roran's physical abilities increased as well. He could now see for miles in every direction and could hear the footsteps of insects. Through the discipline Tenga instilled into Roran he was able to focus his mind and hear only what he needed to hear. Roran's body also became more agile, he could jump up into a tree with minimal effort or leap great distances. He gained a great respect for nature in general, but not like the Elves as he learned from Tenga Elves were vegetarian and didn't even eat eggs at least eggs that had been fertilized. Not so for an Elman everything had its place in life.

Roran's studies also included the languages of Dwarves and Urgals to which he protested vehemently to. "Why would I want to have a conversation with an Urgal…"

Tenga just smiled, "Why indeed…When you are the master you can do whatever you wish…since I am the master…You will obey…Unless you can defeat me in a duel of magic…"

Arrogantly Roran challenged Tenga to a duel, he put up a good fight, but eventually Roran lost. So he bunkered down and learned to speak Ugralga and all their customs. He also learned about the Razac, their parents the Lethzberka and their weaknesses.

During this time Eragon was captured by a Shade. While in Gilead Roran could not scry Eragon and learned the reason why. Durza…A shade had powerful spells around the city. When Eragon escaped he had picked up a third companion an Elf. Roran could see her because of the Dragon. The trio traveled towards the desert and when Eragon tried to turn sand into water he wanted to run all the way to the desert to help him, but Tenga restrained Roran. To his relief Eragon survived and found a way to get water in the desert…his Dragon would dig deep holes then Eragon would pull the water up from below. He smiled at his cousin's ingenuity.

Roran continued his training learning the languages of the desert clans. Then Tenga began his lessons on the ins and outs of transmutation. He learned to make trap spells and how to use the energy of something else to fuel his spells.

"I call this a mirror ward…It rebounds the spell of an attacker back at them killing them with their own magic…"

"You invented this ward?" Roran asked.

"Yes it took me years to work out the details and then confine the spell to a glyph I made up…You are the second person I taught this too…"

"Master how many apprentices have you had…"

Tenga looks up in thought, "A lot actually…Then I met Angela and dedicated myself to finding Elman and training them…"

Roran sat down, "Master…something has been bothering me…You said we Elman are immortal…"

Tenga nods, "Yes…"

Roran is thinking of Katrina, "Can I make someone who is mortal…and make them immortal like me…"

Tenga takes a seat as well, "There are spells, but granting someone immortality is dangerous…A weak mind will not be able to handle the unchanging long years…A human mind can only stretch so far…Your mind is much different from what it was five months ago…If you allowed a human mage into your mind they would lose themselves…Same goes with an Elf or a Dragon rider who is not one but two with his Dragon…Only an immortal can perceive the mind of another immortal…"

"But it is possible to make a human immortal…"

"Yes…I suppose you are thinking of that redheaded lass Katrina…" Roran nods, "A word of advice Roran-Vodhr…Get her permission before you cast the spell…Her mind will be a lot stronger if you tell her of your intentions…"

Roran sighs, "What of children?"

Tenga smiles, "I don't know…I neither Angela have any children…Although I would suspect that she is still capable…If you had children with Katrina…There is a possibility that they will be immortal…Or they may develop some of your immortal traits…Or maybe only the males of your children will be immortal while the girls remain like their mother…There are too many variables to consider…"

The next time Roran scryed Eragon he was racing for his life through the Beor Mountains from the Urgals or Kull a bigger version of the Urgals. He watched them until they reached the Varden. At first Roran could no longer see Eragon because of the wards in Farthendur, but he was able to circumvent the wards in Farthendur and watch Eragon's progression.