Chapter 17: Tuatha du Orothrim

The first thing Oromis did was established that both he and Glaedr were to be called "Master." The second thing he did was assess their powers, beginning with Eragon. Oromis told Link that this process was known as tuatha du orothrim, or tempering the fool's wisdom. It was a training stage in a Rider's learning.

He had Eragon cast brisingr, adurna, and several other spells with varying intensity. Link was amazed at Eragon's skill; it must have taken him ages to progress that far.

Next, it was Link's turn. Link found himself rather nervous having to follow Eragon.

"Okay, Link," said Oromis. "I realize you aren't as experienced as Eragon. Go ahead and cast brisingr."

Link nodded and focused on the spell. "Brisingr!" he cried, holding out one of his hands. A great ball of green flame exploded from his hand and dissipated before doing any damage.

"I'm impressed, Link," said Oromis. "That was excellent for someone who has only been a Rider for a few months. Where did you say you were from?"

"I didn't," Link replied. "I'm from Hyrule."

"Hyrule," said Oromis. "Yes, that does make sense. I noticed that your ears were more prominent than an elf's."

"Do you know Hyrule?" Link asked.

"I've been there many a time," said Oromis. Link was stunned. Oromis had been to Hyrule?

"What areas?" Link asked, excited.

"Glaedr and I toured through the skies and visited Hyrule's vast variety of species. We visited the Zoras, Gorons, Kokiris, Hylians, and Gerudos."

Link was astounded, and quite joyous to hear that someone from Alagaësia had been to Hyrule.

"Did you know this, Eragon?" Link asked.

"No, I can't say I did," Eragon replied, equally perplexed.

"People in Hyrule City spoke legends of dragons," said Link. "I had never seen one before Vanilor, but I heard a few stories. They were not large in number, but the ones I heard were wonderful to listen to. In my heart, I had always wanted to see one. Now I have my own, and I am standing with the one they are likely talking about."

That means that someone spotted us together, said Glaedr.

"Yes, it does," said Oromis. "When I say we visited the many species, I mean that I did. I did not know if the people of Hyrule had ever seen a dragon, and was unsure whether I should show Glaedr. So I related the things I learned to him while I was speaking with the Zora King and King Darunia of the Gorons—"

"You know Darunia?" Link asked, shocked.

"We spoke for a brief time, yes," said Oromis. "He is as old as Islanzadí, as far as I could tell."

"Darunia is now one of the Six Sages," said Link. "Did you hear of them?"

Oromis was now surprised. "Yes, I heard of them from Darunia himself. He is the last I would have thought to be a Sage," he said with a chuckle.

"I was quite surprised as well," said Link.

Oromis cleared his throat. "Well, we can speak more of your home country at a later time. Go ahead and cast thrysta vindr. I trust you are familiar with that spell?"

"Yes, I am," said Link. He then focused his energy again and aimed for a knoll in the nearby winding river. "Thrysta vindr!" he cried, moving his body and hands in the same motion he had learned in Aberon. Instantly, a compressed ball of air shot from his hand and blasted through the knoll he aimed for, sending water spraying everywhere.

"Very good," said Oromis. "No doubt that Hylians are as proficient in magic as elves."

"That's what we've come to learn," said Link, gesturing to Eragon.

"Well then I expect your training won't take nearly as long as Eragon's has," said Oromis mischievously.

They continued Link's assessment, which didn't take much longer. Overall, Link was proud of the progress he had made since Aberon.

"Now," Oromis began, "we will divide Rider and dragon. I will do some training sessions with both of you at once, but know that since you are at different skill levels, most of it will be individual. For this exercise, I will go with Link and Eragon, and Glaedr will go with Vanilor and Saphira." Oromis motioned for Link and Eragon to follow him. They both complied.

Oromis led them both into a forested section of the gorge they were in. They stood in a small clearing, surrounded by magnificent pines. It was silent as the grave.

"Eragon has already underwent this exercise," said Oromis. "I want you to listen."

Eragon groaned quietly enough that Oromis didn't hear him, but Link heard him well enough.

"Listen?" Link asked. "To what?"

"Everything," he replied. "I want you to be able to tell me what living creatures are in this clearing. I want you to know the thoughts of the tiniest ant, and the emotions of the nearest squirrel."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Link asked.

"Eragon will instruct you," Oromis replied. Eragon did a double take.

"Me, Master?" Eragon asked.

Oromis raised his eyebrows and nodded. Without another word, he left the clearing.

Eragon groaned loudly once Oromis was out of earshot.

"I really don't want to do this," Eragon moaned.

"I know," said Link. "But this is my training. I need this."

"Please, Link," said Eragon skeptically. "I can't think of a time when hearing the individual thoughts of an ant has helped me."

"But Master wants it," said Link. "That should be reason enough."

Eragon groaned again. "Fine," he said after a moment. "First, you have to concentrate." He spoke in a monotone.

"Eragon, please try harder than that," said Link pleadingly. "You and I both need this. I think there's a reason Master decided to let you teach me how to do this."

"Okay, I'll do my best," said Eragon. "Sorry."

"It's fine," said Link.

Eragon then helped Link understand that the process of reading a being's mind is exactly like talking to a Rider's dragon.

"Reach out with your mind and touch their consciousness, just like you would with Vanilor," said Eragon. Link obeyed, but felt nothing. He tried harder and delved deeper into his own mind. Finally, he felt something. It was miniscule and faint, but it was there. He instantly grabbed hold of it, not letting it go. He dug into its consciousness until he had a firm grip and was able to relax.

He was then able to follow what he discovered was an ant through its daily work. It started off in the anthill. Link cast a spell quietly that let him see through the ant's eyes. It was crawling through tunnels that made him claustrophobic. It weaved through the network of tunnels seemingly aimlessly. Finally, the ant exited the anthill and began the descent down the side of it.

Meanwhile, Eragon watched Link in amazement. On his first try, he had grabbed hold of an ant's mind and was now following it through it's own eyes. It took Eragon weeks to master that technique.

It wasn't much longer before Link let go and came back to his own reality.

"Link, I'm very impressed," said Eragon.

"Why is that?" Link asked, puzzled.

"That took me weeks to get a handle on. You did it on your first try," said Eragon. "I think you will become one of the greatest Riders the world has ever seen."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

A/N: Whoa! How's that for an insanely quick update! I've updated faster before, but this is close. Hehe… R&R please! Some really exciting stuff in the next chapter (has to do with Solembum's prophecy!).