Ryan and Eragon lay in their beds.
"Eragon, are you still sleeping?"
He heard a stir in the dark room.
"Nah, what do you need?"
Ryan took a deep breath.
"Do you remember the tattoo?"
After a second, Eragon answered.
"Yes."
"Have you ever heard of the Silver Tongues?"
"I have."
Ryan gathered his nerve for a few seconds.
"They took me when I was a child and moulded me-"
He wanted to stop speaking, but knew he shouldn't.
"-into a killer"
He took a deep breath and forced the rest of the story out of his soul.
"They made me do things I did not want to," his voice started cracking, "for the first time I feel like I might belong."
Eragon climbed out of his bed and walked to Ryan.
"It's ok, Dude, you don't have to say anything else."
He squatted down next to his bed.
"Seeing as you shared something," he stood up and lit the torch to light up the room.
"Grizzly told me to show up the day we met," Ryan said, sitting up at Eragon's words.
"Why?"
"He wanted to see your reaction. He told me what you went through and said you might need a friendly face."
This absurd statement made Ryan laugh.
"He wanted to see how you would react. At that point, we didn't know if you were an escapee or-"
He trailed off and looked to the side.
Ryan nodded.
"Or an assassin or spy, I think I understand Grizzly better now."
Eragon squatted next to Ryan's bed again.
Ryan continued, "It makes sense why everyone went out of their way to speak to me."
He locked eyes with Eragon.
"What is your verdict?"
The Draconian looked at him with the same expressionless look.
"I judge you to be a cool guy." He stood up and killed the torch.
"Bell also thinks that."
In the darkness, Ryan asked, "She really thinks that?"
He felt a warmth build in his chest.
"Good night, Ryan."
Ryan went to sleep with a smile on his face.
The next morning, the team gathered at the airship.
Ryan had his hair tied up in a high bun, which showed off his small, pointed ears.
Eragon was leaning against the airship, and he was blowing fire rings from boredom.
Bell was the next to arrive; her normally wild red hair was styled into a beautiful braid.
Seeing her, Eragon choked on his fire and laughter.
This caused the girl's cheeks to redden.
Not out of embarrassment, but anger.
She walked up to him and started punching him.
He did his normal feigning of injury.
When she was done, she looked at Ryan.
"Good morning, did you get some sleep?"
Ryan nodded, and very softly he added, "The braid. It looks nice."
Her face flushed, and Eragon's laughter started again.
She quickly turned and attacked him again.
Ryan couldn't help but smile at these two.
He then saw Grizzly and Eena walk closer with linked hands.
She bent down and kissed Grizzly.
The old man saw Ryan look at him.
Grizzly's face was impassive, but he did get a smile and a wink from Eena.
When the group was together, Eena gave each one a hug and farewell.
Grizzly did get the longest hug.
Ryan also heard the old man whisper, "I'll miss you."
That pang hit Ryan again.
When she gave Ryan his hug, she whispered in his ear, "Be careful."
Never in his life had he given such a tight hug.
Their airship took off.
Everyone was on deck and waved at Eena.
The airship felt so big and empty.
Ryan spent most of his time on deck as they flew.
He had a lot to think about.
He knew that Eragon and Bell were below deck.
They would take turns playing games and play-fighting.
Even though they were important to him, sometimes he felt suspicious.
That was what he wanted to figure out.
During his thoughts, he heard a familiar clanking.
"Why are you out here alone, Sir?"
With a half smile, he answered, "I am thinking."
"What about, Sir?"
"My place."
"Your place is below deck with the others, Sir. It is warm."
He was caught off guard by this skeleton, again.
When he turned around, he received a small salute from Femur.
"Sly skeleton," he said to himself.
He then went below deck.
Grizzly was staring out the window with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth.
As he walked past, he placed a hand on the older man's shoulder.
"We will see her soon."
Grizzly looked up and gave him a smile and a nod.
He then kept staring out the window.
Eragon walked up to him.
"We need a ref!"
Bell shoved him to the side.
"Eragon is cheating."
He shoved her in turn.
"I am not, I am simply better than you."
She started punching him in the stomach repeatedly.
With a smile, Ryan asked, "How is he cheating?"
Bell grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him to the gaming system.
"He keeps blowing fire circles to distract me."
He felt an unfamiliar feeling the entire time they played.
A few hours before they landed, the crew was called for a meeting.
"It is time that we talk about the trial."
He lit a cigarette and took a drag.
"I didn't tell you guys because I didn't want you to worry."
The crew sat down.
All the merriment in the group vanished.
"I am sorry," he took another drag with a deep breath, "this is bigger than we thought."
Bell got up and started pacing.
"Bigger how? What happened?"
"When the magic was drained from Eragon, a portal opened."
Eragon rose.
"Where?"
Grizzly shrugged.
"I don't know. Aleksandar told me to keep you guys safe until he gets there."
Ryan decided to speak up, "What does this mean for Eragon?"
Eragon and Bell looked at Grizzly.
"I don't know, but we will figure it out together."
Ryan felt a pit form in his stomach.
He stood up and went outside.
He held onto the railing and emptied his mind.
He might have to kill, and he needed to be ready.
Just as his mind wandered to what he could have to do, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
When he turned around, he locked eyes with Bell.
She flinched.
"Ryan, are you ok?"
"Yes."
He wanted to feel nothing, but he couldn't.
"No, I am not ok, Isabelle. I am worried about Eragon."
She smiled at him.
"I am worried too, that is what friends do."
He smiled back at her.
"Isabelle, what is your plan if they wish to punish Eragon?"
She frowned as she thought for a few seconds.
"If they want to hurt Eragon, they will have to go through me first."
Ryan nodded.
He was ready.