Disclaimer: I own neither Christopher Paolini nor the Inheritance Cycle.
Author's Note: Thanks everyone for the feedback, I really appreciate it. Chapter 5 is here!
Chapter 5: Tenga
Christopher let out an inaudible sigh of relief when he saw that the person watching him was just an old man. True there was something eerily familiar about him but try as he might, he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Finally, he gave up and collapsed onto his cot with a resigned sigh.
Breathing slowly and deeply, he studied the old man warily knowing he was not quite what he seemed but not too worried. He had, after all, most likely created him as an Author so he was under his control. Then again, if he was captured by one of those Warlocks then who knew what damnation could happen?
The old man was nothing fearsome in particular, really. He was about four and a half feet tall – neither fat nor thin, but rather of a stocky-in-between sort. Thin wisps of white hair crowned his otherwise bare skull and his face was wrinkled with age. Nonetheless, electric blue eyes gazed back at him with an uncanny sense of perception. He studied Christopher with a thin, lipless smile that made his skin crawl.
Who was this weirdo?
As if on cue, he the old man spoke up his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Hallo," He said jovially seemingly without a care in the world. "I am known by many names but you can call me Tenga. What may I know you as?"
Tenga! Chris's mind reeled.
Of course!
He was the crazy lunatic that Eragon encountered while returning to the Varden. He had big plans for Tenga but couldn't decide whether to have him serve Galbatorix or the Varden or even himself for that matter. He had even invented a new race called the Grey Folk who were Immortals and lived before the Ancient Language was created.
This Tenga was supposed to be the last of their kind and would somehow swear his allegiance to Eragon and the rest of the good guys. But how he had no idea nor did he know what Eragon needed of him, information probably – perhaps there were secret passageways within Uru'Baen and Tenga knew of them. These would be invaluable to Eragon.
On second thoughts since he was the Author couldn't he use his Author Powers to create secret passageways, crypts, and tunnels wherever he pleased? He had asked Shay as much to which his teacher answered 'no' since it would be too great a power causing an unbalance in the laws of nature. The universe would not be able to withstand such a fluke that would violate everything that was anything.
It was true that Christopher had more powers than any magician, sorcerer, or Dragon Rider; but they were different and in a way he was thankful. The temptation was less and besides, it would enable him to better come up with a Book IV since that was the whole reason why he had been sent here to Alagaësia – to overcome his Writer's Block.
"Are you feeling quite all right?" Tenga queried most imperiously. "Because if not I have some Periwinkle Tea that is a great soother for frazzled nerves!"
Oh, great! Chris moaned. Not another Angela! These two should just become a couple already since they are perfect for each other.
*grumble, groan, and gripe*
"Pardon me," Tenga said with an infuriating smile, clutching his hand to his ear as if straining to hear. "I didn't quite catch that."
Sucking in a deep breath, Christopher swallowed hard and forced himself to react.
"Hello, Tenga," He said as politely as possible. "My name is Christopher, Christopher Paolini actually but you can call me Chris."
Tenga's smile became almost feral.
"Is that so?" He asked. "Because I could have sworn that was not your True Name. Then again, you silly humans are not given your True Names at birth and are left to find them on your own. Still, I wonder..."
"How can you tell what's a True Name and what isn't?" Christopher asked curiously.
Shay had briefed him on True Names but he tried not to think of her much. It was too painful considering how they last parted.
"It is really quite simple," Tenga said, nodding sagely. "Anyone at all will say only their false name even if they believe it to be their True Name such as you. If they do not know their True Name then they will tell me another name, as a True Name is one's greatest secret. For example, if I knew of your True Name and was not an ally I could possess you and make you my slave. Sound familiar?"
"Murtagh and Thorn," Christopher sighed, nodding his head in acknowledgement.
"Aye," Tenga said sadly. "I do not think that they will be too pleased to learn you are the one who put them in their state."
"What do you mean?" Christopher yelped, his eyes wide in astonishment.
Had Tenga found him out? How? But the old man only laughed. Well, to be honest it was more of a cackle.
"You are a god amongst men, lad," Tenga said at last, great tears of mirth rolling down his cheeks. "But a foolish and dim-witted one. You can manipulate Mother Nature herself if you like. It all boils down to imagination."
Okay, Christopher thought ruefully. This guy is really freaking me out. Why ever did I make him so crazy? Note to Self: Number 1 priority when Chris gets back home – Make Tenga Sane! Very important.
"Now, now," Tenga chuckled, shaking his head with a smirk. "None of that now, I was only having you on."
"Eh?" Chris asked, feeling confused and scratching the back of his hair.
"I was pulling your leg, lad," Tenga said his smirk growing all the wider. "It is a defence I use on strangers to make them think less of me."
"But why would you want to ruin your reputation?" Christopher asked, now feeling completely confused. "Why would you want people to think you are a raving lunatic?"
"Because here they will not shut you up in a nut house," Tenga said, spreading his hands out emphatically. "Here they will simply fear you thinking you are some sort of powerful magician turned mad by dabbling too deep in Black Magic. They will avoid you or try to kill you. It is easy to kill someone shrouded by fear."
Riiiiiiiiight! Chris thought sarcastically, but outward he nodded curtly as if accepting the fact.
"So," He said hastily after a moment of awkward silence. "What is this place? The last I remember was that you lived in a small log cabin by your vegetable garden. I don't ever recall you haunting an underground cavern system. Where are we?"
"Good question," Tenga smiled. "I like a boy who uses his head. To answer the first one, this is not an underground cavern but an ancient system of catacombs dating back to before the Dragon Riders."
Christopher listened with bated breath as Tenga continued, hoping he wasn't pulling his leg again.
"Do not fear," The man in question said, normally this time. "I am not joking this time and I speak the truth. At first, this was simply a labyrinth of underground limestone caves hallowed out by underground rivers and streams. Eventually, animals and the first humans used it as shelter. Then people began using it to horde their treasure. Later on, thieves and brigands would use it to secret their camps and stash away their own hordes.
"At one point, the elves investigated these tunnels and improved the stone work so that it would not collapse upon our heads. However, they did not like the darkness and there are evil creatures of ancient eras long past that lurk in the shadows. They pulled out eventually leading the Dragon Riders to form sanctuaries here. These caves were largely secret as unlikely as it seems and large enough for thousands of dragons.
"Even the Foresworn had a hideout here where they could easily launch an attack on other unsuspecting dragons who thought this was common ground. The labyrinth is vast and wild, very easy to get lost in. You are lucky you have me as a guide otherwise you'd die before you'd ever see a spot of daylight!"
Christopher shuddered at the disturbing thought and Tenga continued.
"Moving on," He said. "I found one entrance to the labyrinth within a secret passageway in that old ruin of the elvish tower Eragon saw. That was why I had built my camp there in a seemingly worthless place but to guard a most sacred relic of times long gone."
"And that is?" Christopher prompted eagerly.
"Books," Tenga replied unexpectedly with a smirk.
"Books?" Christopher asked incredulously wondering what the hell could be so important as books, in this world at least.
Hardly anyone was literate and Galbatorix had destroyed nearly all of the libraries in the world!
"Tens of thousands of books," Tenga said joyfully.
And before Christopher could quite react, the old man flicked his finger and a hundred small fires in glowing iron cauldrons burst into being. Shocked into action, Christopher whirled around only to freeze in surprise, awe, and wonder as he stared, gobsmacked, at thousands upon thousands of books, scrolls and manuscripts.
They climbed ten feet high in book shelves stretching one hundred feet long and scrolls were piled up five feet high in vast numbers. It was only then that Christopher realised he and Tenga were situated on a relatively tall ridge that overlooked a massive valley down bellow. They were still in a cavern system but numerous fires were scattered throughout the labyrinth of books, scrolls, and manuscripts making the young writer's mind reel with all that could be accomplished by this.
Tears of joy rolled down his cheeks, for he realised that this would not only help him to defeat the Mad King and the Warlocks but it would also help him to finish Book IV and maybe even more. He could write prequels and sequels and a host of encyclopaedias and almanacs. So elated was the poor boy that it was only a matter of seconds before all the glorious information went to his head and he promptly fainted.
To Be Continued...
A/N: So there you have it; Chapter 5 is here at last! Like it? Love it? Hate it? Leave a review so that I can make this fanfic better yet!