As Eragon left the stage, it was Eena's turn to shine.
As a Priestess of Thalara, she was left to bless the new baby.
The crowd went silent as if they hadn't been roaring a few minutes prior.
At the end of the ceremony, the crew were taken to a massive sealed door by the King himself.
The Dwarves had constructed a small camp outside the door.
"I thank you for your help, good luck."
He bowed, and Grizzly bowed back.
The Dwarves left, and Grizzly fixed his attention on the crew.
"Ryan, you are new to the group, so we need to know what everyone can do."
Ryan took a deep breath.
"I am a half-Elf, and I have the shadow ability."
In her confusion, Bell asked, "What is that?"
"It means I can disappear in peripheral vision. Would you like a demonstration?"
She gave a quick nod.
He faced her and ordered, "Look ahead and try to follow my actions."
She did as instructed and watched as he walked toward her.
One moment, he was passing on her right, and she focused on his presence, but it disappeared.
It was as if he teleported.
She thought back to the bar and realised how much he held back.
Ryan felt her tremble and moved next to Grizzly.
Eragon moved next to Ryan after giving a glance at his friend.
"Dude, that was slick."
"I'm next, I can use healing magic, and I have nature's knives."
He held up his claws for Ryan to see.
He scratched the wall and left deep scars in the rock.
Ryan was surprised by the ease with which he had dug trenches in the wall.
"Don't worry, I never use these on friends."
His tone was warm, but Ryan was still cautious of the Draconian.
Ryan's gaze then fell on Bell.
"Um... I am good with my sword and shield."
He stared blankly at her.
Grizzly came to her defence.
"If she couldn't handle herself, she wouldn't be here."
The old man smiled at her, and Ryan saw her blush and look away.
Ryan didn't like that.
Grizzly started taking off his leather jacket.
"My turn."
He looked over at Ryan.
"Do you remember when I broke your dagger?"
As he removed his jacket, Ryan saw a desiccated arm up to Grizzly's elbow.
Ryan didn't show a reaction on his face, but he was surprised by the old man's mummified arm.
He took out a large black revolver from his hip.
"I found this thing a few decades ago, and it turned out to be cursed."
Ryan stared at the weapon.
Guns were obsolete, and yet Grizzly had one.
"Cursed? How?"
Grizzly lit another cigarette.
"It reloads by using my life force, and I get a random amount of bullets."
He placed it back into its holster.
"Also, I can't use any other weapons; otherwise, they get destroyed."
Ryan thought back to their first meeting.
Ryan nodded.
Eragon decided to chip in at that moment, "I call it Black Jack."
Grizzly groaned.
"Stop calling it that!"
He then looked back at Ryan.
"How do you feel about this team?"
"What is my position?"
"Kid, I asked you a question."
"I don't know."
Grizzly took a long drag and motioned for Ryan to follow him away from the team.
"Look, Ryan, I think it might be for the best if you wait for us here."
"No."
"Why do you want to come with us so badly?"
He was trying to keep his monotone, but he failed.
"Because I need to do this."
Grizzly saw Ryan's balled fists and decided to relent.
"Fine, but while we are in there, I need you to focus on the team."
"Understood, Sir."
"Don't call me that."
Grizzly led him back to the team.
"We had a talk, and Ryan will be the tail."
Their plan seemed simple.
Eragon took point because he could see in the dark.
Grizzly and Bell were in the middle, and Ryan was at the back as a lookout.
Ryan felt uncertain about what he would contribute.
After an hour, they were ready to enter.
Everyone checked their gear.
They were ready to move.
The Dwarves had sealed the area to keep the Cursed Dwarves in.
It was dark and quiet.
Ryan could hear banging in the distance.
As they explored the dark maze, he heard breathing close by.
Ryan was just in time with a warning.
"Ahead to the left!"
Just as Eragon reacted, a small figure leapt at him.
The Draconian caught the blade of the axe in his hand and disarmed his opponent.
Bell leapt forward and knocked him back with her shield.
She then lunged forward and stabbed him in the chest.
The second enemy was on the opposite end of the hall.
He tried to go for Grizzly's back.
Ryan noticed before he got too close.
"Grizzly, behind you!"
Grizzly spun much faster than Ryan thought he could.
He slapped the hammer away, and it turned into smoke.
He punched the Dwarf so hard that he flew and hit the back wall.
He dove onto the Dwarf and started punching its face into the ground until it stopped twitching.
As the two cursed Dwarves were dispatched, Grizzly stood up.
"Look around for anything; we don't know if there are more of them."
Everyone started searching the dark, barren rooms.
As Ryan looked around, he spotted a sconce that was askew.
As he looked around, he pushed on it.
A secret door opened close to him with a screech.
There were two hooded figures.
Their faces were obscured, but it felt like they locked eyes with Ryan.
With no hesitation, one lifted their hand, and a bolt of fire flew directly toward him.
It was as if time slowed down for Ryan.
A half smile crossed his face as he accepted his fate.
Just as the fire started burning his face, he saw a head of red hair appear as if by magic.
She barely made it in time as the explosion knocked them both back.
The bolt destroyed her shield.
As Ryan came to his senses, he looked at his saviour.
Half of her face and torso were burned entirely black.
He could smell her burnt flesh, and she looked at him with her ruined face.
She whispered, "You...ok?"
She coughed a few times, and her eye closed.
He felt intense anger.
He stood up, and he knew what to do.
"B!" Eragon yelled as his voice turned into an animalistic roar.
They took off at full speed.
Eragon moved so fast he almost turned into a blur.
He grabbed the figure by the neck and barreled him into a wall.
He bit down on his neck and the enemy and tore out his throat.
The enemy tried to scream in pain as blood sprayed everywhere.
Just as the second figure was about to attack Eragon, he was struck in the shoulder by a thrown dagger.
The pain in his ruined shoulder made him turn.
What he saw was a stone-faced Ryan who jumped and delivered a knee to his chest, knocking the wind from him.
The figure's back hit the wall.
He tried to stab Ryan.
He was ready; he caught the arm and wrenched it to the side.
Ryan struck upwards and shattered his elbow with a crunch.
With a spin, he elbowed the figure in the jaw, and with a swift back kick, he doubled over.
He grabbed the figure by the hood and pulled him close.
He tore his dagger from the figure's shoulder.
He stabbed him in the neck and threw his corpse to the floor.
At the moment, the attackers were dispatched, both men ran to Bell.
Grizzly was there; he had stood guard over her as the others dispatched the enemies.
Eragon took a deep breath and looked at Ryan.
"This won't be pretty!"
The scales on his back started to glow as the magic started to gather.
He looked over at the two men just before he placed his hands on her.
"You need two to hold her down!"
Both men nodded.
Ryan held her shoulders, and Grizzly grabbed her legs.
He grabbed onto her hands, and the blue magic forced its way into her.
Glowing blue streaks forced their way through her veins.
Steam started rising, and the men felt extreme heat emanating from her body.
The heat got so intense that Ryan almost wanted to let go.
They smelled the scent of burning flesh anew.
Her face healed first, and her socket bubbled as a new eye formed.
She then woke up.
She started bucking as her face and torso began healing.
Ryan had no choice but to fight her as her burns receded.
The glow from Eragon intensified as he forced her to heal.
No matter how much it hurt her, Eragon knew he couldn't stop.
He needed to save his friend.
As Bell was screaming and crying, she saw a massive glowing beast.
To others, it may seem as if it were getting ready to kill and devour prey.
She knew better.
Eragon was crying.
After what felt like forever, he stopped and took her into his arms.
There was still steam emanating from her.
"I'm sorry, B, but I had to," small roars escaped his throat.
Through groggy eyes, she saw Ryan.
He had a strange look on his face.
He didn't say anything; he just took off his jacket and placed it on her shoulders.
"Your clothes are burnt."
She looked down and blushed a little.
Eragon then stood up shakily and looked at Ryan, "Are you ok?"
"Don't worry about me."
He looked down at her and scanned her for any injuries that Eragon missed.
"Look after Issabelle."
Ryan was surprised by how perfectly she was healed on the outside.
Grizzly stood up and slapped Eragon hard on the back, "That was good stuff, Blue Leader."
The old man placed a hand on Ryan's shoulder, and Ryan didn't flinch or pull back.
"You did good, too, Ryan; that level of quick thinking saves lives."
Grizzly then gave the order, "Eragon, pick up Bell, we are falling back."
Grizzly scanned the surroundings and looked at Ryan.
"Ryan, as we fall back, I need you to take the rear and look after these two."
"Understood, Sir,"
Ryan walked up to Bell as Eragon picked her up.
"You didn't have to do that," he said in his monotone.
"I owed you," she coughed.
He looked her in the eye for a second and nodded.
"Thank you, Isabelle."
He took his position at the back of the group.
Ryan was extremely anxious the entire way back.
He believed each and every shadow was an enemy.
He started to relax the second the large door was sealed again.
Grizzly left the group because he had to send his report to Aleksandar, and he missed Eena.
Eragon stumbled into the base, and he put Bell gently on her bed.
He fell to his knees and lay down on the floor next to her.
"Are you insane? You almost died," he tried to sound angry, but his voice cracked.
He then heard a familiar monotone, "I almost died, too."
"Good point."
From the floor, Eragon gave a thumbs-up.
Ryan stepped over Eragon to get to Bell.
"How are you feeling? Do you have any lingering injuries?"
As he looked her over, she noticed the burns on his arm and gasped.
"Your arm, why didn't you tell us?"
"I was low priority. I didn't know if Eragon had enough magic for both of us."
Bell sat up straight and yelled, "You aren't low priority, I wouldn't have saved you if you were!"
She immediately groaned, and Ryan placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and lay her down.
"I meant that in terms of triage," he said, looking her deep in the eyes.
"You were badly injured, therefore high priority."
"Oh, I didn't know, I'm sorry," she blushed a little and looked away, "it seems it is my turn to embarrass myself."
"Don't worry about that," he gave her a small smile, "if you have any troubles, I will help you."
"Why?" Bell asked softly
"Because I owe you."
Eragon forced himself to his feet and inspected Ryan's arm.
"What the hell, dude? How are you conscious?"
The Draconian hesitated for a second and asked, "Do you want me to heal you?"
Ryan held out his arm for Eragon while keeping his attention on Bell.
Eragon healed Ryan's arm without a word.
Bell winced as she remembered her own healing experience.
Ryan kept looking at her without a flinch as steam rose from his arm.
"Sorry, dude," Eragon said as his magic ran out and he passed out.
Bell tried to get out of bed, but Ryan held up his hand to stop her.
His arm was mostly healed, but he still had a big scar.
At the sight, she lay back on the bed.
"That still looks really bad."
"It could have been worse," he inspected his arm.
He looked back at her.
"Thanks to you, I am not dead."
He gave her a small smile and spoke without his monotone.
"Isabelle, get some rest."
She tightened his jacket and turned over in the bed to hide her smile.
Ryan spent the next ten minutes trying to get the Draconian on a bed.