11

When Eragon woke up the next morning it was just before sunrise. He remembered that today they were going to be learning from Eressmiss. He wondered if he'd also be learning from Oromis or if Oromis would be learning from Eressmiss as well. He was not looking forward to being around Oromis today if yesterday was an indicator of how he was going to be.

As he reluctantly bathed and shaved he heard Eressmiss trying to talk to him again. He let him this time.

We won't be meeting for a couple of hours yet, but I was wondering what happened yesterday to make you as angry as you were.

It was nothing. So where are we going to meet?

Down by the river outside of the stubborn point ears hut. You do know that if you want to talk about this nothing that has you upset you can always talk to me right?

Yes of course Eressmiss.

Good, I'll see you later then.

Eragon finished cleaning up and had his breakfast. It was the usual elf fare that he had eaten ever since he had arrived in Ellesmera. He had just finished when he heard a soft knock. He cautiously approached the trapdoor, usually no one ever came to visit him this early. When he looked outside he saw Oromis outside with a tray of food.

"Morning Eragon, I was hoping to find you before we had lessons with Eressmiss this morning. I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was rude and you were only trying to do what you thought was right."

"That's all right, but you didn't have to bring any food, I have already eaten breakfast."

"Oh, very well; do you mind if I eat here though. I am somewhat reluctant to try going down the stairs with a full tray of food."

"No that would be fine." Eragon let Oromis into the house and followed him to the table where he cleaned up his mess. Oromis ate silently as he watched him clean. Eragon wondered what he was thinking about. He still was not very happy with the way that he had been treated yesterday but he was not as upset as he had been. Eragon finished with the dishes and was pondering whether or not he should go up to the study until it was time for them to meet with Eressmiss when Oromis cleared his throat.

"I was just wondering if I should continue to give you lessons, these other two have made me somewhat redundant." His words were light and he didn't appear to be upset but Eragon could tell that he was a bit dejected about someone else taking his role and making him feel less than adequate. He thought carefully before he answered, the last thing he wanted was to upset Oromis again, even if he had brought the subject up himself. An irate elf was not a pretty sight.

"Well I don't know about that, they might know different things than we do but what if they miss something. I'll still need you to teach me what they miss."

Oromis scrutinized him carefully for a few moments. He then twitched his lips lightly in an amused smile as he apparently decided something. He picked up his dishes and walked to where Eragon had cleaned his earlier.

"Either I am loosing my ability to act or you are getting good at reading me Eragon finiarel. I should not have allowed my feelings of hurt to color my actions towards you yesterday, and I won't allow them to do so in the future. You need to learn all that you can in the time that you have been given and I will not allow myself to stand in the way.

No, we will learn from this hel brisingr dragon and that beor rider, and I will try to keep my indignities and insults to myself."

"If it makes you feel any better about thinking those insults, they do sometimes refer to you as 'the stubborn point ears'."

Oromis looked at him for a few moments before he let himself smile slightly.

"It does help me feel less immature to know that."

Eventually it was time for them to head down to the river. When they got there they saw Eressmiss, Glaedr, Saphira, and surprisingly enough Roran and the little baby dragon. Roran was seated as far from the others as he could. Eressmiss looked at them and asked them to have a seat on a nearby fallen log.

I think it would be best if I were to find out the extent of the knowledge that there was before the majority of dragons and their own were killed. If you would be so kind as to tell me I would know how best to approach what you have not learned yet.

There is a great deal that we did know and it will take quite a long while for me to tell you.

Very well, afterwards if you feel like it then.

Fine

"Umm, why am I here?" Roran asked from where he was sitting.

Because you are a rider, blunt ears.

"No I'm not, my cousin is."

Then why do you have a silver palm might I ask?

"I don't have a silver palm."

Fine then, you do not wish to believe that you are a rider, I will not force you. But you will stay here and learn.

"Why should I?"

Because it is good for your health

"How is it good for my health?"

Eressmiss brought his head down close to Roran and blew a plume of smoke at him

Do not ask me that, stubborn blunt ears, or I will be forced to answer.

Roran coughed on the smoke and pulled away from the dragons large head.

I think the best place to begin is physical combat

But we already know how to fight with swords.

But can you fight with only your arms and legs?

That would be suicide

No it would be suicide not to know, as a man made weapon can be taken from you easily.

For the rest of the morning they learned how to fight with only their arms and legs to protect them. Before they were done Eragon thought that they were doing quite well and he felt exhilarated afterwards. Oromis did complain occasionally that it was barbaric to fight like this, but only to Eragon in his mind and always with a bit of laughter in his tone.

After they had stopped for dinner and had cleaned the sweat off of themselves they returned to learn more. The dragon decided that it was time for them to learn some of the basics about the elements. He would not teach them how to do actual magic with the elements, which was Sahkur-rahs specialty; he would just explain some of the fundamentals to them.

The most important thing to know of the elements is that to call an actual elemental forward you have to use the elemental name in the ancient language.

There are no elemental names in the ancient language Oromis broke in just the names for the elements, brisingr for fire, adurna for water, deloi for earth-

Pardon me but I was under the impression that I was the one teaching here

Yes well there are no elemental names in the ancient language

Yes I heard you the first time but there are and this is not a topic that is open to debate. Now as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, to call an elemental you must use the elemental name. Oromis sat back clearly unhappy with being dismissed, and called rude. Eragon raised his hand as Eressmiss had told him to a few minutes into the early morning lesson when he had a question.

Why must we use a different name for the elements when trying to use elemental magic?

Because you are not using a normal means of magic. The usual means that sorcerers use is to summon spirits to do their will, which is dangerous as you no doubt know Shadeslayer. How you approach magic is to use the energy within yourself or occasionally those around you to do magic. This also has the potential for great danger for yourself and those around you, though not as much as the sorcerers' way. This third way is to call on the elements of nature themselves, and to do that you cannot use the normal terms for them. What you see and summon when you use the term adurna is simply water, no more or less powerful than anything else. When you want elemental water, and not just the water from a stream you must use the word undine. This is the elemental water. It has all of the destructive and healing powers of creation.

Eragon was silent a few moments before he raised his hand again.

But isn't there danger if the elemental gets out of control?

Yes, of course there is, but that does not happen unless the person wishes it to happen. An elemental is not a spirit, it will never possess someone. It will never become exhausted or die because it has no limits to its potential. If an elemental is unleashed with no restrictions it depends on what its will is what will happen.

Like a flood, or a forest fire?

Kind of but not exactly. Usually the land and elements are in harmony, but if something were to disrupt this harmony and twist the elements whether knowingly or unknowingly then there is discord. If an elemental is unleashed during a time of harmony the worst would be a mild forest fire or a slight monsoon. Maybe a small earthquake, and so on depending on the element. If there is something wrong with the land then the elementals will converge on the thing or individual that is causing the discord and there will be disasters and absolute chaos as the elementals try to get rid of what is hurting them. It is dangerous to set loose an elemental unless you know what it is that they will focus on, it could just as easily kill its summoner in the process of getting to what has hurt it.

So what are its limitations?

It's limited by two things Oromis, Your imagination and the need for balance and harmony with all things. An elemental will not destroy another elemental; will not allow itself to be twisted to do so and will only destroy where discord already exists.

They were all quiet for a few minutes after that. Eragon knew what the implications of that meant. Were they to unleash an elemental now, then they would most likely set it on the kingdom of Galbatorix and destroy the capitol and everything in its way. This was a very powerful force they were talking about and it could very well even the odds, maybe tip them in their favor, but they would have to be careful with it. Even Oromis looked as if he were pondering the implications of this knowledge and how it would influence the war.

Ahh, I see that that has gotten your attention. Now the names for the elementals are Undine for water, Infernia for fire, Gaia for earth, Iluminar for light, Thantas for lightening, and Duodins for air. You can say them now but nothing will happen, with training however you will be able to use this knowledge well.

Do all the riders know this where you are from?

No Oromis they do not. Only the ones that will not be changed by the power are taught it. They all know of it, but the ones who will be affected by it are not taught the names of the elementals.

They spent the rest of the afternoon studying other things that he had not heard mention of before. Oromis seemed interested briefly but soon he clearly became restless. Eressmiss let them leave while there was still plenty of daylight left. While Eragon was walking away Oromis caught up with him. There was something on the elf's mind but Eragon was not exactly sure what. Oromis did not leave him in suspense for long.

"I have been thinking of moving my home. It seems to me that I have been isolated for too long."

"And this sudden realization would have nothing to do with the large green dragon that has decided to camp out there at nights?"

"No, of course not, not entirely anyway, I can always find someplace to go when I crave solitude."

"You know the house where I have been put up is really too large for just one person. Of course I'm used to living in small houses. If you want I could make an additional room for you to use."

"That is a generous offer but I want to look for myself for a while before I accept."

"The offer is there if you want to take me up on it."

"Thank you Eragon."

When Eragon finally returned to the Eyre he saw someone hovering outside of the wide opening that was meant for a dragon to fly through. He walked over and opened it and saw Sahkur-Rah flying just outside.

"You know you could just use the stairs?"

"What and go through all that work when it is easier and faster to fly?"

"True, so what is on your mind?" He asked as he stepped back and allowed her to fly in. It was the first time he had been able to look at her wings for an extended period of time up close. He was surprised that they were the same color as her skin; the only difference was that they were scaly.

"I have been looking over what information I was given about the Ra'zac and I find that I am missing some things."

"All right, what did you need to know?"

"Well how many of the pupae and adults have been seen? Knowing that would provide a clue as to how many there actually are."

"Two pupae and two adults that have been seen; How many do you suspect there are?"

"Two adults and two pupae?"

"Yes"

"That would make at least twenty pupae and ten adults."

Eragon sucked in his breath. He had not expected there to be that many.

"Please tell me that you are joking."

"Wish that I were, Shadeslayer. Don't worry; this is yet another good reason for you to learn elemental magic."

"But if there are thirty of the blasted things, and they are tough enough to harm even with magic how will we survive. And how exactly do you know this."

"For starters these things are smart, which is part of why they are so dangerous. Because they are smart they do not let it be widely known just how many there are of them. If there are only ten pupae only one might be seen at a time. If there are twenty pupae only two at most will be revealed. Usually one clutch of one adult contains two eggs. Usually the eggs do not become pupae until the other pupae are almost adults. So we can figure on at least thirty capable of defending themselves and twenty eggs."

"Twenty eggs; But there should only be ten because there have to be at least five males, One for each female."

"Actually the Ra'zac, when they reach adult hood, are hermaphrodites."

"What?"

"Hermaphrodites, they possess the sex organs of both genders."

"So that means"

"That they can both impregnate and become impregnated as well. The only other creature that is normally a fully functional hermaphrodite is the earth worm. At any rate this allows them to boost their numbers exponentially and the fact that they can hold several clutches of eggs without having to lay them means that they do not have to pause for mating for long stretches of time in order to shore up their numbers."

"Oh crap. How exactly are we supposed to live through this?"

"Elemental magic, like I said it is a good idea for you to learn it."

"And this will help us against thirty of those things how?"

"Because tough as they are to hurt with the magic that you have learned, they are nothing compared to the power that the elementals can unleash on them. Personally I say save the girl them roast them all with elemental fire in their den."

"But if there is another entrance?"

"There won't be. They are smart not creative and not good at planning for the unexpected. Another entrance would be too much work to defend and they will not be expecting anyone capable of using this kind of magic."

"But how did any escape from your land to get over here?"

"They most probably stowed away on a ship heading here."

"Oh, ok. I think I'm going to sit down now."

"Actually there is more than that that I wanted to discuss. I have been pondering the Dragon and rider that I have sensed that are being held against their will for some time now. They want to leave and get away from that king but they are unable to because of a strong binding oath that the king forced from them. I am thinking that this should be a two part mission. Save the girl and while we are at it release the rider and dragon."

"Well since we're talking about doing completely insane things why not throw in saving the last egg in Galbatorix vaults. After all if we're going to commit suicide lets be as spectacular about it as possible."

"That is an idea."

"You are insane, completely insane. It must be the elf in you."

"I beg your pardon but did you say that elves were insane." Eragon turned around and saw Oromis standing behind him.

"Not all elves Oromis but it must be the elf part of her that is insane because of what she is proposing we do."

"You are part elf?" Oromis asked with some interest.

"Actually ¼ elf, ¼ dwarf, ¼ dragon, and ¼ human."

"How did that happen? I am fairly certain that dragons are not capable of mating outside of their species and dwarfs and humans have a difficult enough time being in any relationship with an elf let alone one that could produce offspring."

"It is a very long and very boring story. At any rate Eragon was just questioning my sanity because of the general ideas that I have come up with to help me decide on the best course of action when we go after the Ra'zac."

"No I was objecting to what you propose we do afterwards."

"Oh you mean free the other rider and his dragon and rescue the last egg? Well then I can understand you questioning my sanity. Of course you didn't hear what I have in mind for a distraction."

"Do we want to hear?"

"You might not want to Oromis but you might as well know. I'm planning on releasing all six elementals on Galbatorix at once. If that doesn't keep him busy nothing will."

"But the city"

"Will be razed to the ground and Galbatorix will be temporarily a king without a throne until he finds a new place and that will make him very vulnerable for quite some time. Even when he does find a city to replace the one he lost he will not be as safe as he was before."

"But all the people"

"I will transport the ones that could be called innocent out of there first, but there will be very few of them." Oromis bit his lip as he thought the idea over and finally came to a decision.

"I wish that there was a better way of doing this but there is none. When will we be learning this Elemental magic?"

"When I am satisfied with the plan that has been devised, by the way Eressmiss was looking for you. He wants to know when you will be talking to him."

"Soon, I was just looking for another place to live."

"I am sorry; I don't think he meant to chase you out of house and home."

"He didn't"

"Right, I suppose elves usually uproot themselves and relocate where they live on a regular basis."

"No it's just that I suddenly wish to have some company."

"By the way a word of caution when learning from Eressmiss, He is not very patient with elves especially when they act bored all the time and interrupt. He takes an abnormal delight in charring their hair short."

"What?" Eragon could not fathom why he would char hair short as a punishment.

"Charring their hair short, I don't know about here but with the elves where I come from only children who misbehave have short hair and well, you get the idea."

Oromis looked somewhat taken aback by this news but he did not seem unduly alarmed.

"I will keep that in mind."

"Good, well I will be seeing you shortly. I have only a few more things to add before I am completely satisfied with this plan then I'll see if any of you have anything to add to it." With that Sahkur-rah flew out the tree house.

"She is different" Oromis remarked after she had flown well past earshot.

"Aye"

The next two days passed without much happening. They learned from Eressmiss in during the day and well before sun down he would let them leave. Oromis and Roran both moved into the tree house as Oromis did not find a place that he wanted to move into, and Roran had finally come to accept that he was a rider. He had started talking to the baby dragon at nights and had eventually decided that Silvress was a good name for him. Oromis seemed to chuckle about the name for a while but Eragon could not find out why. On the third day they were again practicing fighting without weapons. Oromis however was acting strange today, he would yawn loudly when Eressmiss was not looking and did not appear to want to do anything.

Oromis, would you please stop acting like an immature child for a few moments.

I don't know what you are talking about.

You do very well know what I am talking about and you would do well to pay attention, foolish point ears.

I am sorry it won't happen again.

It had better not.

Eressmiss went back to instructing them as to how to block a sword blow with only their forearms when Oromis rolled his eyes. Eressmiss snorted, small gouts of fire came out of the one nostril.

Eragon, Roran, Saphira, Glaedr, Silvress please return to your house for the rest of the day.

Roran appeared about to protest but Eragon could tell that Eressmiss was in a foul mood so he put his hand over his cousins mouth and dragged him back as fast as he could, Oromis seemed surprised that they were leaving. Eragon guessed that Eressmiss had not let him hear his instructions to the rest of them.

When they got to the tree house Eragon opened the dragons' entrance to allow the others in. Surprisingly enough they had discovered that Glaedr could fit inside the house. They soon flew inside, Glaedr looking somewhat worried.

I should have stayed, who knows what that crazy dragon's going to do to him.
Why didn't you?

He made me leave. I was flying towards Oromis to help him when a strong wind forced me back and Eressmiss told me to leave him there. What is he going to do to him?

He won't do anything horrible; at least I don't think that he would.

They waited silently for Oromis to come back. They only had to wait an hour when they heard footsteps on the stairs. Before long a stench wafted up to them through the trapdoor.

"Hey what smells like burning hair?" Roran asked as the trapdoor was opened. Oromis came into the house, his once long silver white hair not reaching past his shoulders and burned golden brown almost to the root. He walked past them quietly and through the partition into his room. Eragon looked at Roran. His cousin appeared startled at the elf's appearance.

Why did he char his hair short Eragon?

Oh boy. Could you stay out here while I check on him please?

Sure

Eragon knocked on the wood frame of the door before he went inside. He heard Oromis say something quietly that sounded almost like come in. At least he took it to mean that. Eragon stepped in quietly and closed the door behind him. He saw Oromis sitting on his bed staring at the wall. He didn't turn when Eragon had entered. Eragon took the stool that was sitting by the wall and brought it over to sit by Oromis.

"That was supremely foolish of me" Oromis muttered when Eragon had sat down next to him. Eragon didn't respond. Oromis continued with his thoughts as if he hadn't paused.

"I just had to act like an adolescent child who doesn't see the danger right in front of him today because I was bored. Instead of acting like the adult I am supposed to be I went right ahead and angered a dragon who I knew enjoyed burning hair short."

"Yeah I have to ask when they healed you did they maybe unintentionally make you immature, because this isn't the only time that you have acted childish since they got here." Oromis looked at him with a great deal of anger but then forced himself to calm down.

"I deserved that. I have been acting childish. I have no idea what got into me today. I have no idea what has gotten into me at all. Maybe they did make me immature."

"Personally I like the way you deal with immaturity better that the way Eressmiss does. At least with you I don't have to worry about loosing my hair."

"Aye"

"I'd better trim that burned stuff off or else your hair will grow back funny." Eragon looked around for something to trim hair with. He eventually found the Elvin razor that he had never used in the bathroom. He picked it up and debated it for a moment. If only it weren't so sharp he could use it. He thought about it for a moment, burned hair was always brittle so it shouldn't take much to get the rest of it off, all he would have to do was dull the blade a little bit then he'd be able to use the razor. He thought about his word choice carefully and eventually decided on an appropriate wording. He muttered his spell and tested it on himself. It worked perfectly, it would not cut his flesh but it did cut his hair. He went back to Oromis' room where he sat down behind the elf and began to carefully trim the rest of the burned hair away. Oromis made no comments as Eragon worked. Eventually the burned hair was cut away. Oromis looked liked a shorn sheep except for his forelocks which were undamaged. Eragon tried to keep from laughing but he was only partially successful. Oromis heard his chuckle and Eragon practically heard him raise one of his eyebrows.

"So this amuses you Eragon finiarel? I suppose seeing that your grumpy old teacher is capable of acting twice the dunce that you could ever be would be amusing to most." Eragon heard him chuckle slightly as he said it. He busied himself by evening the ends of Oromis' hair so that he didn't look so ragged.

"Do you remember the first day I met you and you told me that you did not want me to look like a tree with half its leaves blown off?"

"Aye, I am old, not senile; although today I am apparently immature."

"Well you look like a tree with half its leaves blown off. I'm sorry I can't make this look any better."

"That's fine Eragon. I will live through this somehow. How I am going to explain this to anyone I don't know. Perhaps it would be for the best if I kept myself hidden away until my hair grows back."

"But that will take a long time, maybe you should wear a bag over your head, that way no one will see that your hair is gone."

"What a waste of a perfectly good bag. No I will simply have to get a couple of dozen birds to land on my head each day that way I can still maintain the illusion of hair."

"No offense but that will not fool anyone and if you upset Eressmiss again I don't think that the birds will appreciate being caught in the line of fire."

"Sure ruin my plans."

"At least I have my hair."

"At least I don't have to shave."

"At least I'm not crazy enough to make a dragon angry."

Oromis laughed. Eragon was glad that he managed to get him to laugh about his problem.

"Now are you going to act mature tomorrow or do I have to tie you up for fear that you will act like this again leaving Eressmiss no choice but to singe your eyebrows off as well?"

"You have nothing to fear about my behavior tomorrow. I will be an adult and not a child."

"Good." Eragon stood up to leave, before he could go however Oromis stopped him.

"Thank you. I am glad that you didn't allow me to wallow in my misery."

"I would never allow you to do that."

He left Oromis' room quietly and spent the rest of the night sparring with Roran.