Tenga

“I search for the answer! A key to an unopened door, the secret of the trees and the plants.— Tenga

Tenga
Biographical information
Born	Unknown
Age	Unknown (at least 1,200 years)
Physical description
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Hair Color	Unknown
Eye Color	Unknown
Chronological and political information
Affiliation	Angela (formerly) Solembum (formerly)
Family	Ingvar (Father)

Tenga, son of Ingvar, was a presumably human spellcaster and a reclusive hermit that lived in Edur Ithindra, an ancient, abandoned elven outpost. Eragon (at the time separated from Saphira) came into contact with him in the third novel, Brisingr, after his successful defeat of the Ra'zac, the subsequent flight from Helgrind, as well as the banishment of Sloan for his crimes. He went missing in the aftermath of Inheritance.

History

Backstory

Tenga is over 1200 years old. 1200 years ago, he developed the spell which Eragon used to keep the Eldunarí concealed in a tiny speck above him.

In Brisingr

Initially appearing to be little more than slightly eccentric, Eragon was shocked to discover Tenga's vast array of Compendiums of the Ancient Language. Perhaps more startling was Eragon's observation that Tenga used magic silently, a practice thoroughly discouraged, even by the elves. These questions pose the possibility of him being a Grey folk descendant.

Tenga informed Eragon that he was in search for the answer to "the question," though he failed to detail what that question might be. There was foreshadowing that implied that the question could have a significant impact on the crisis with Galbatorix, though the reader was never informed as to how. Frightened by the man's vehemence towards the topic (as well as his apparent insanity), Eragon slipped away during Tenga's rant, though he appeared to be oblivious to Eragon's departure. However, Tenga knew Eragon was there when he was somewhat concealed upon arriving at Edur Ithindra. Tenga also had the power of observation to know that a similar question burned in Eragon's heart. There seemed to be more to Tenga than he wants others to believe.

In an interview, author Christopher Paolini stated that "Tenga was searching for something much more important than whether the rocks in the Beor Mountains are affected by the stages of the moon." Given this statement and Galbatorix's 40 year search for the Name of Names, it is possible that Tenga was searching for the Name of Names as well.

Eragon recounted his adventures upon his return to the Varden and was startled by Angela's revelation that she was Tenga's apprentice for a time. Solembum added that he is 'a man who kicks at cats.'

In Inheritance

In the Vault of Souls it is mentioned that an old hermit discovered the concealment spell that Eragon used to hide the Eldunarí at Vroengard some 1,200 years ago, and in an AMA, Christopher confirmed this was Tenga. This means Tenga's life has been extended or he possibly is immortal.

As part of Nasuada's plan to keep watch over magic users, she sent four spellcasters to Tenga's watchtower. When they did not return, she asked Arya and Fírnen to investigate. They discovered the bodies of the spellcasters but found no trace of Tenga.

Apprenticeship

As mentioned above, Angela was apprenticed to Tenga for an unknown amount of time. She told Eragon that Tenga was "constantly searching" for an answer to "the question" and implied that the scope of said questions varied from trivial in nature to profound. She also noted that after solving the question currently occupying him, Tenga would "invent" a new one. His "questions" mostly related to divining the secrets of elemental forces. In Inheritance, Angela also hinted that Tenga taught her the time-manipulation spell she used under Dras-Leona.

In Brisingr, Eragon notices small wooden statues of animals on the windowsill of Tenga's home. Eragon remarks that the statues are beautiful and asks who made them. Tenga replies saying '“She did … before she left. She was always making things.”' This most likely refers to Angela although it could have been someone else.

Appearance

Tenga's physical appearance is left largely undescribed, however, Eragon does mention that "Shadows covered his downturned face. His gray beard was so long, it lay piled in his lap like a mound of uncombed wool."

Speculation

Many people believe that the Keeper of the Tower mentioned in The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm, is actually Tenga. It is suspected due to both of their association with Angela and Edur Ithindra being a tower.

It is also possible, due to what he says about a "key to an unopened door" and "Fire, heat, lightning, light", that Tenga was searching for a way to use the energy from nonliving sources like fire and light, which no one has managed to do.