Ryan moved to the gate to let his blue friend in.
Before he moved to the hall where the door was, he hesitated.
He took a deep breath and opened the door.
Eragon ducked in and slapped Ryan hard on the back.
In a girly voice and a girly pose, he spoke.
"My hero!"
Bell shoulder-checked him so hard he stumbled to the side.
"Ryan, are you ok?"
She had a worried look on her face as she hugged him.
"I am doing better, now that it is over."
He put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.
He heard her breath hitch.
She let go, what seemed to Ryan, too soon.
Her messy red hair was all over her face.
In a moment without thought, he reached out and moved the hair from her eyes.
"Your eyes are blue. I never noticed."
Her expression went from shock to her looking at her feet.
"Ye-yes, they are."
Eragon's head rested on her shoulder and whispered.
"Tell him you liked his abs."
She turned to Eragon and started slapping him on the shoulder.
Ryan started laughing at their display.
She then turned back to Ryan.
"The fight looked really bad. Are you sure you are ok?"
Ryan nodded.
"I am, but I do wonder how my opponent is doing."
Bell had a small scowl.
"She threw sand in your face. I would like to give her a few hits myself."
Ryan smiled at her, and that seemed to take the malice from her face.
"I am sure I gave her enough hits."
It was at this point that Aleksandar entered the hall with the three.
He bowed and led them to the room with Grizzly and Eena.
He motioned for everyone to take a seat.
"First, I must congratulate both of you on your victories. Some were more labourious than others."
His gaze lingered on Ryan for a second longer.
"Secondly, Jarl Nyberg has asked Ryan and Grizzly for an audience, and two guards will escort you as soon as I leave. That is the end of formalities."
He gave them a very wide, fanged smile.
"Ryan, you have come a long way in a very short time. When you joined us, you seemed to me nothing more than a broken man, and Grizzly was the one who saw your worth."
He opened his jacket and pulled out a simple ring with a small ruby that was flush with the band.
"Place the ring on your throwing hand."
He then pulled out a very ornate dagger with a ruby in the hilt.
On the handle and sheath were carved roses.
"When this dagger is thrown, it will return to the hand with the ring."
Aleksandar held out the gift, and an awestruck Ryan just stared.
"I don't deserve this."
Aleksandar smiled again and turned his attention to Eragon.
"Do you believe that Ryan is worthy of my gift?"
Without missing a beat, Eragon answered.
"Yip."
The simple answer made Ryan smile as he took the weapon and ring from Aleksandar.
"Our Guild inherited its name from this weapon. Many years ago, a hunter tried to take my life with this very weapon, and for a long time I saw it as nothing more than a trophy."
Ryan held onto the gift, his eyes never leaving Aleksandar's.
"The hunter used that weapon to protect his people. All I ask of you is to continue his spirit and protect your people."
Ryan looked down at the dagger.
He put the ring on his middle finger and tied the weapon to his belt.
"Thank you, Baron. I will."
Aleksandar smiled and bowed again.
"Unfortunately, I must go, but when you return, I expect to hear about your adventures over tea."
Before he left, he looked at Eragon.
"Eragon, would you mind escorting me to my ship?"
Ryan saw confusion on the Draconian's face.
"Sure," he turned to the crew, "I will see you all later."
As the two of them left, two Viking guards entered.
"You are summoned to Jarl Nyberg. This way, please."
Grizzly kissed Eena and got up.
Ryan looked at Bell.
He felt a blush work up his neck when he thought of kissing her.
She smiled at him and raised an eyebrow.
In his embarrassment, he turned on his heel and left the colosseum with Grizzly.
They were led to another Viking Airship.
As the ship left off Grizzly lit a cigarette and spoke.
"How is it going with you and Bell?"
Ryan, who was lost in thought, was jolted back to reality.
He spoke while looking down.
"What do you mean?"
Grizzly started laughing.
"I saw the way you two were looking at each other. At the end there you looked like you wanted to kiss her."
Ryan hid his face in his hands and barely got the words out.
"I did…"
Grizzly laughed again and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, you are on the right track. Keep doing what you are doing, and soon enough she'll want to kiss you too."
With a red face, Ryan looked up at Grizzly.
"How did you and Eena get together?"
Grizzly smiled.
"At first, we couldn't stand each other. She is the Vice-Leader, and I'm just a guy who showed up one day. I tried smoking in the tavern, and she punched me in the face."
He took a big drag and blew a big cloud.
"I fought back, and we wrecked the entire tavern. We called each other the worst names in the book, and for a year she refused to serve me if I smoked inside."
The old man lay back on his seat and chuckled to himself.
"We then got a call. A little blue Lizard was wreaking havoc, and on a whim, I decided to take him in. After that, she started being nice to me, and the rest is history."
Ryan started laughing.
"I would have liked seeing you two fight."
Grizzly took another drag.
"We fight all the time, but we make up because we are a team. If you remember that you and Bell might be something soon."
Ryan looked down again, and Grizzly started laughing again.
Ryan heard one guard whisper to the other.
"They are the champions of the arena?"
The rest of their short flight was uneventful.
The sun was setting as they flew over Bjorn's castle.
It was a very simple stone structure.
Smoke was billowing out of every chimney.
As they landed, they were led into the building.
Inside was not as simple as outside.
No paintings or ornate carpets were seen.
Beast heads adorned the walls, and skins were where carpets would be.
Each fireplace was lit, and the castle had a cosy warmth as they walked through it.
The guards knocked on the door, and when they heard an answer, they entered.
Bjorn was sitting behind a desk with a neat mountain of paperwork.
When he stood up to meet them, he had a blue suit on.
"The men of the hour. My apologies for not giving you a few days of rest."
He walked up to them and shook both their hands.
"Please have a seat."
As Ryan sat down, he felt a pang of guilt when he remembered the arena.
"First of all, Ryan, I want you to keep this meeting secret."
Ryan frowned.
"What are we going to discuss?"
Bjorn leaned forward.
"Matters that could be very bad for the Orcs that you freed."
At these words, Ryan nodded.
"I will keep everything secret."
Grizzly lit a cigarette.
Bjorn took a deep breath and started speaking
"Ryan, we decided that you have the right to know that we were working together. We wanted to free the Orcs and we needed some help from you."
Ryan shot up from his chair and glared at Bjorn.
"I knew you were scheming something. What is in it for you to free the Orcs?"
Bjorn motioned for Ryan to sit down.
As he took his seat, Bjorn continued.
"I have two reasons. Firstly, many years ago, I fought with Grizzly and saw an Orc fight and die to save him. The reckless abandon he showed in defence of a comrade made me worry. How would they fight to escape their oppressors?"
This answer on its own would normally suffice.
Ryan processed this answer and asked a question.
"What is the second reason?"
"My people relied too heavily on the labour of the Orcs. That made them weaker, and that weakness would just speed up the revolt of the Orcs."
Ryan felt a strange conflict in his mind.
"Do you not care about the Orcs?"
Bjorn shrugged.
"Not particularly, but this way they have their freedom, my people can become strong, and we might get an alliance with the Orcs in the future."
Ryan's mouth hung open.
Grizzly put his hand on Ryan's shoulder.
"Listen, Ryan, this is a good outcome. Remember, Eragon is alive, and the Orcs have their freedom. The why and how don't matter."
Ryan thought for a moment and looked at Bjorn.
"I think I understand your politics better. You seek solutions that benefit all, but how do you benefit?"
Bjorn smiled.
"I am a man of my people. If they are strong, I am strong. Even if that means I have to take from them."
Ryan looked down while processing this new information.
"Why did you tell me all of this?"
"Because Grizzly asked me to. The original plan was for Grizzly to fight alone, but that wasn't enough. That is why I sent those men to harass you."
Ryan nodded as he listened.
"I saw you protect your girlfriend and hoped you would stand up for Eragon."
After a few seconds of silence, Ryan kept talking.
"What if I didn't stand up for Eragon?"
Bjorn shrugged.
"I don't know. I took a gamble and it worked."
Bjorn motioned to the paperwork.
"All this is planning to either send Orcs back to their villages, or to turn their labour into legitimate work."
Ryan studied his face as he continued.
"Ryan, what you did was heroic, even if it doesn't feel that way."
Ryan scoffed.
"You are right, I don't feel like a hero. I feel like a liar."
Bjorn laughed at these words.
"Then you are the world's most convincing liar. You stood up to two Guild leaders, and you fought your heart out for your friend. I already use your bravery as an example to placate complaints."
Bjorn turned to Grizzly.
"I have spoken with Aleksandar, and I recommend that you escort the Orcs back to their villages."
Grizzly nodded.
"When will that be?"
Bjorn took a look at the paperwork.
"I give it about a week, that way all of you can rest. You have earned it."
Grizzly stood up and shook hands with Bjorn one more time.
"Goodbye, Grizzly. Send my regards to Eena and tell her I apologise for the green-skin comment."
Grizzly nodded, and Bjorn shook Ryan's hand.
"Goodbye, Ryan. I truly am sorry for what I put you through. One must be willing to do anything for those you care for."
Ryan nodded.
As they left the castle, it felt as if Ryan could breathe for the first time.
Just as the Airship was visible, Ryan spoke to Grizzly.
"I don't like Bjorn."
Grizzly lit another cigarette.
"You and me both."