Part 2: Silver Tongues
After Eragon's sudden burst of magic, the hall was a wave of motion.
The Dwarves checked the integrity of their underground home.
Eena and Bell helped to patch up the wounded.
Grizzly worked with the King to bring order.
Ryan stood with Eragon.
The Draconian was on the ground with his back against the wall.
He looked up at his half-Elven friend.
There was blood dripping from his left hand.
He tried to stand, but Ryan's push was enough to keep him there.
"Dude, you're hurt, let me help."
"You can help by keeping still. As soon as there is an opening, I will go to Eena and Isabelle for help."
This seemed to calm Eragon.
Ryan looked down at him, and he clenched his jaw for a second.
"What did you see?"
"I'm not sure, all I know is that magic wasn't always a thing."
Ryan nodded and took his watch over Eragon.
"You need to rest. As soon as Grizzly comes back, we can figure out what comes next."
He heard a small chuckle from Eragon.
"Thanks, man, you're the best."
He smiled at Eragon as he closed his eyes.
Later, when he awoke, he saw Eena giving Ryan stitches.
Ryan's arm was covered in old scars, including the burn he couldn't completely heal.
He saw the edge of a tattoo peek out behind his sleeve.
"I didn't know you had a tattoo," Eragon said as he sat up.
Without a word, Ryan stood up and walked away while Eena was still busy.
"Ryan, wait."
He simply took his dagger and cut the string.
"You are done."
Eena stood up and reached out for Ryan, but he took a step back.
"You are done!"
His breathing increased as he backed away.
As he turned to run, he was met by a tall girl with red hair.
He tried to dodge her, but she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close.
She put a hand behind his head and gave him a gentle head-butt.
"Calm down, we won't hurt you."
He weakly tried to escape her grip.
This just earned him another gentle head-butt.
"Calm down."
He took a deep breath and stood up straight.
"Thank you," he turned to Eena and raised his sleeve and sat down, "my apologies."
Eena and Eragon shared a look as Bell walked over to check on him.
"How are you feeling, Blue?"
He sat up straight.
"I'm fine, how did you do that?"
"What are you talking about?" she looked over at Ryan, and he just looked down as Eena finished stitching him up.
Eragon pointed to Ryan and mimed her head-butting.
She rolled her eyes.
"He was somewhere else, I just brought him back."
Eragon shrugged and changed the subject.
"Is everyone ok?"
She nodded, "Yes, there were a few minor injuries, and apart from that, everyone is ok."
He let out a big sigh.
"Did you guys catch the guy?"
She shook her head.
At that moment, Eena was done with Ryan's stitches.
She walked over to Bell and sat down next to them.
She hugged the young girl.
"What you did for Ryan was very kind."
In the massive woman's arms and crushing hug, she forced out the words, "It wasn't anything major."
Eena kissed her on the forehead, "Exactly."
Ryan sat down next to Eragon.
"Sorry about the tattoo, Dude."
Ryan gave him an awkward smile.
"No, I am sorry, I overreacted."
They all sat in silence for a few minutes until Grizzly came back.
He stood over the group with a cigarette in his mouth.
"How are you guys holding up?"
Eena stood up and gave the old man a once-over.
"How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Ryan saw Grizzly try to hide his smile as Eena inspected him.
Ryan felt a pang in his heart for a second.
"I'm fine, and the Dwarves are fine too."
She nodded, and Grizzly shifted his attention to Ryan.
"After the blast, did you catch what happened to that Dwarf?"
Ryan shook his head and looked down.
"Look at me, kid."
Ryan took a few seconds to obey Grizzly's instruction.
"This isn't your fault. You were the only one to notice."
He went down on one knee so he could be at eye level.
"Thank you for looking out for Eragon."
"I failed!"
Grizzly put a hand on Ryan's shoulder.
For a second, he wanted to remove the hand, but he let it be.
"Eragon is alive, you are alive, and everyone here is alive. That isn't failure. You tried to do something, that isn't failure either."
Ryan's face stayed neutral.
Grizzly continued, "We are going to stay here a few more days. I am going to call Aleksandar."
As he left, Ryan looked at Bell for a second.
She was sitting next to Eragon and laughing with her friend.
He felt the same pang in his heart, and he had no idea what that meant.
He stood up and made an excuse that he wanted to go to the bathroom.
When he arrived, he felt the room close in.
He sat on the toilet and just tried to breathe.
He stayed there for what felt like hours.
He fought back his emotions, it was hard fought, and he almost lost.
Eragon's voice appeared in the bathroom.
"Ryan, are you in here?"
He took a deep breath and went to Eragon.
"Here I am."
The Draconian's expressionless face looked back at him.
"Grizzly is looking for you, are you ok?"
"I am fine, what does Grizzly want?"
Ryan felt bad because his voice was harsher than he intended.
"He wanted to tell all of us together."
He nodded and followed Eragon.
They walked in silence.
Ryan noticed how Eragon would glance at him every now and then.
"Is there something wrong, Eragon?"
For a split second, the Draconian flinched.
"I feel bad, my magic hurt you guys. I don't know what to say, or how to apologise."
Ryan frowned while meeting Eragon's eyes.
"You should not have to apologise, you did nothing wrong."
Eragon nodded.
"If that is the case, why are you beating yourself up?"
Ryan froze at Eragon's words.
"You have nothing to prove, Eragon."
"Neither do you."
Ryan let out a short, bitter laugh.
"Yes, I do."
He left Eragon to join the group.