As Eragon followed Aleksandar to his ship, he felt a familiar awkwardness.
He never knew what to say around the Vampire.
Because of that, he just followed silently until they reached his personal ship.
Aleksandar motioned for him to follow.
The interior had the same human and monster paintings as his office.
They walked to the main cabin.
There was a small empty desk.
Aleksandar sat down, and Eragon sat down across from him.
"Eragon, you have gone through much, but I do have a few questions for you."
Eragon nodded.
"What do you need to know, Baron?"
Aleksandar smiled at Eragon.
"There is no need to be so formal. I have heard that you refer to me as Alex to others. I prefer that you keep using that when you speak to me."
Eragon took a deep breath.
"Ok, Alex. What do you need to know?"
The smile vanished from his face.
"I heard from Grizzly that you had a vision in Goldhaven?"
Eragon recounted what he saw with as much clarity as he could.
Aleksandar didn't interrupt once, nor did it seem like the descriptions fazed him.
When Eragon stopped talking, Aleksandar spoke.
"Eragon, I have been here for many decades, and I have never heard of this tale. I believe it is in your best interest to keep this a secret."
Eragon was confused.
"Why? From what I can tell, it is how magic got here.
Aleksandar rose.
"The reason you must keep it secret is that it may cause panic. If people panic, they may direct their frustrations at you. Similarly to the trial you just survived."
Eragon nodded as he digested what the Vampire said.
"You have a point."
Aleksandar moved to the door.
"Let me escort you off the ship."
As Eragon stood up, he asked.
"What do you think it means?"
Aleksandar shook his head.
"I do not know. I will look for some answers, and as soon as I discover anything, I will tell you."
Eragon left the ship and went to his room to play games.
Ryan came back that night and quietly went to bed.
His conversation with Bjorn was still in his mind.
That night, Ryan did his best to get some sleep, but none was to be found.
As he tossed and turned, he heard a roar.
"Dude, what's wrong?"
He sat up straight.
"I feel bad for Sombra."
He heard a sigh.
"She got what she deserved. She fought like a punk and was dealt with like one."
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
"That is true, but I went too far. I almost killed her."
He heard another sigh and the sound of heavy feet hitting the floor.
"Get dressed."
Eragon stood by the door as he switched the light on.
Ryan was confused.
"What? Where are we going?"
With a smile, Eragon answered.
"To get my friend some sleep."
Ryan followed Eragon in the shadows.
For a massive creature, he was exceptionally stealthy.
Many times, he warned Ryan of roaming people.
Ryan then saw where they were.
They called it a clinic, but it was more like a hut for the wounded to wait for care.
Sombra was here.
Ryan turned to Eragon.
"You are going to heal her?"
Eragon nodded and slapped Ryan on the back.
"You saved my life. I owe you, buddy."
With a smile, he followed the Draconian inside.
The clinic was empty, except for a single patient.
They were extra stealthy; they didn't know if any other Amazons were nearby.
Every creak felt like an enemy discovered them.
Their suspicions were unfounded as they found a battered Sombra on her own.
The guilt made Ryan's heart feel very heavy as he looked at her face.
Her face was bandaged, but the swelling underneath couldn't be hidden.
"If we are going to do this. You will have to grab her legs, and I'll grab her hands."
Ryan nodded after he took a deep breath.
Eragon took a deep breath, and they took their positions.
"I think it'll be quick, because the damage isn't that bad."
He had no idea how wrong he was.
Eragon started glowing as he gathered his magic.
"Here we go!"
He forced his magic into Sombra.
Her eyes shot open, and she tried to scream, but the sound of a deflating tyre was all they heard.
Ryan could hear bones snap into place in her skull as she fought.
The deflating started sounding like a whistle, and that whistle evolved into a scream.
Ryan looked at Eragon and yelled.
"Grab the pillow, cover her face!"
Eragon muffled her screams with one hand and healed her with the other.
These three looked like they were part of the worst assassination ever.
As Ryan thought he couldn't hold on anymore, Eragon stopped the magic.
He fell on one knee.
"What the hell. Her vocal chords were removed."
Ryan went to his side, and a voice came from the bed.
"What did you do to me?"
Ryan looked at a petrified Sombra with her hand on her throat.
He could barely see the scars between her fingers.
"He healed you at my request."
She jumped off the bed and grabbed him by the collar.
She raised him to her eye level.
"Who asked you, boy? You have no idea what you have done!"
She threw him back.
He almost tripped over Eragon.
She started pacing and talking to herself.
"She is going to kill me."
Eragon stood up.
"Listen, lady. I am sure you'll be fine."
She stopped dead in her tracks.
"You don't understand. I gave up my voice to protect the Matriarch's secrets. She will kill me."
Ryan walked up to her.
"Her secrets are not important to us. If we talk to her, she could be persuaded to let you live."
Sombra gave him a grim laugh.
"Maybe in the past, but she isn't that way anymore."
Ryan thought hard for a moment.
"Come with us. We will help you."
Sombra's jaw fell open.
"Why? After what I did-"
Ryan held up his hand.
"I am not doing this for you."
Eragon nudged Ryan and whispered into his ear.
"Dude, what are you doing?"
Ryan looked up at his friend.
"What if you were in her situation?"
Eragon thought for a moment and blew fire from his nose.
"Fine. Femur will help."
Ryan nodded and turned his attention back to Sombra.
"We can arrange a trip to the Blood Rose, but you must go tonight. Do you accept?"
She nodded and gave him a deep bow.
"I am not accepting this favour for free. You can expect payment from me when you need it."
Ryan shrugged at her words.
The three of them snuck through the village.
The docks were almost empty after the Orcs were freed.
They boarded the smallest Airship.
On the deck stood a sharply dressed skeleton.
As he sensed their presence, he stood at attention and exclaimed loudly.
"Good eve-"
Eragon and Ryan dove on him to muffle his words.
Eragon whispered to the skeleton.
"She needs to escape quietly, and we need your help."
The three stood up, and Femur looked at Sombra.
"Indeed. We shall take off at once. Gents, could you lend an old bone a hand?"
They nodded as they loosened the ropes and helped him get the ship ready.
Before Eragon and Ryan disembarked, they were stopped by Femur.
He walked up to them as a regular man would.
"I won't ask questions, but do you want me to take her to the Guild or to Aleksandar?"
Both men were confused by his actions, but Eragon managed to speak.
"Take her to the Guild, but let Aleksandar know."
Femur did his regular salute and clanked to the controls of the ship.
They left and watched the two fly from the docks.
As they walked back to their room, Eragon spoke.
"Do you think you'll get some sleep?"
Ryan smiled as he spoke.
"I think I will get a lot of sleep."
Eragon stretched.
"After that, I need a few days off."
Ryan chuckled softly as they went to their beds.