Grizzly led them through the cobblestone streets.
The humans and Orcs both gave friendly greetings to the old man.
Ryan noticed how the Orcs kept their distance from Eragon.
The humans seemed fond of the blue Draconian, though.
Eragon didn't seem to notice or didn't care; Ryan wasn't sure which.
Grizzly lit a cigarette and looked at Ryan.
"Ryan, do you mind sharing a room with Eragon?"
Ryan answered after a moment's thought.
"I don't mind as long as there is enough room for me."
Grizzly smiled and pointed to Eragon.
"He does take up a lot of space, doesn't he?"
"It's these sweatpants, they make me look hippy."
The Draconian's expressionless face and his playful voice were something he would need to get used to.
He looked with slitted eyes at Ryan.
"It is no problemo, Ryan, our room is huge, and you travel light."
He tried to pat Ryan on the back, but he dodged.
They walked in silence until they reached the tavern.
It was mid-afternoon, and the tavern was relatively empty.
A few skeleton employees were serving some humans and Orcs.
When the Orcs spotted the group, they stopped their loud conversation, and they then paid and left without a word.
There was a voice yelling behind the bar, "Eragon, is that you?"
A very tall woman with slightly green skin and a mop of very long, grey, streaked hair stood up.
She was nearly at Eragon's eye level.
She slapped him on the shoulder, "How is my favourite bouncer?"
"You know, doing my best while being the prettiest lizard I know."
She looked down at Ryan, "How was the trip?"
He kept quiet.
She continued as if this did not bother her, "I know my boys can be a handful."
Eragon looked around and asked for someone named Bell.
Eena pointed to the kitchen, and he left with a wave to Ryan.
Ryan was just too late with his wave because he was too busy staring at this giantess.
He noticed she had a single small tusk and a small scar on her lip, which must be where the name of the tavern originated from.
After a long few seconds, Ryan's legs finally let him sit down.
She looked at Grizzly as if asking him a question, and the old man just shrugged.
He lit a cigarette, and an ashtray was in front of him in a heartbeat.
"Thanks, Eena, you are the best."
She smiled at him as he flicked ash in the ashtray.
'Don't you forget it, old man.'
Ryan kept staring at her.
She then brought her attention back to Ryan.
"Is it your first time seeing a half-Orc?"
She had a warm tone, and Ryan shook his head.
With a warm smile, she sat down on a stool so they could be at eye level.
Ryan moved his stool back.
She ignored his action and spoke kindly.
"I know I am just a barmaid in a small tavern, but for what it is worth, you can trust these two clowns."
She leaned in close to a stiff Ryan, "especially the old guy."
Grizzly coughed.
"It seems like I am the butt of the jokes today."
She rolled her eyes and brought out some drinks for them.
As she gave Grizzly his drink, she leaned close.
"How hard did you have to work to get him here?"
"No problems whatsoever"
Eena tapped on the counter a few times as she thought about Grizzly's words.
"That bad, huh?"
She looked at Ryan, "if you want, I could beat this old man's ass."
After that comment, she winked at Grizzly, and he gave her another warm smile.
Ryan sat rigidly in his chair, his face blank.
He didn't take a sip of his drink.
She then looked at Ryan and lost all pretences of being overly warm, "So, Ryan, when-"
A familiar clanking made her stop in her tracks as Femur barged in.
He saluted again.
"Mister Ryan, the Guild Master wishes to speak with you!"
With a gulp, Ryan got up and followed the skeleton.
As Ryan walked around the corner, he heard Eena say to Grizzly, "I wish I could get my hands on those bastards."
This was followed by what sounded like a heavy fist hitting a bar counter.
As Ryan sat stiffly at the bar, Eragon walked to the kitchen.
He was humming to himself.
He couldn't wait to tell Bell that he had made a new friend.
He walked into the kitchen and saw her standing over a large pot.
He weaved around the skeletons, prepping ingredients.
He placed his hand in one of the flames, and there was no effect.
"If you can't stand the heat..." The Draconian was trying to get a reaction from the redhead.
"Could you please not, Eragon? I am having a day."
The normally tall and strong young woman was hunched as if her life force had been taken from her.
She kept her head down while slowly stirring.
"What's wrong, B?"
The Draconian walked closer to her.
"I did it, I talked to him about how I feel."
She finally turned around, tears were streaming down her face.
Eragon very carefully asked, "What did Grizzly say?"
"He was flattered!"
She had a scowl on her face.
She then said in an exaggerated tone, "But I am just a kid and he's an old man."
She squeezed her wooden spoon so hard that it cracked.
"I have seen the way he looks at Eena."
She started sobbing as she broke the spoon.
She dropped the spoon and covered her face with her hands.
"Why doesn't he want to look at me?"
Eragon knelt on one knee and was almost at her eye level.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug.
"It's not your fault, B, and it isn't his fault either."
Eragon held her as she cried.
He always felt so warm.
"Why can't you always be like this, Blue?" she asked as the tears started dying down.
"A serious Dragon makes people nervous, but I will always make an exception for you, B."
He kept hugging her until she calmed down.
Her tears stopped, and she let go of her big friend and went back to her work.
"How do you feel?"
"Better, thanks."
A blush started up her neck.
"Thank you, Blue, I needed that."
He stood up and started eating from the pot.
"What are friends for?"
Bell hit his hand with a spoon, and he pulled it back in mock pain.
She started laughing and said, "Tell the others that lunch is ready."
"Before I leave, the new guy, his name is Ryan, try to be nice."
She crossed her arms.
"I am always nice, Blue man."
"Forgive me, Your Highness."
He did a deep bow.
"Could you be nicer than normal to the new guy? He had it rough."
"If you put it that way," she trailed off and nodded after a few seconds.
Ryan walked down a very long and straight hallway.
There were torches on both sides that made all the shadows dance on the walls.
What caught Ryan's attention were many paintings of people, Orcs and skeletons in mundane situations.
His favourite was a Diner with a skeleton working behind the counter, and a human and two Orcs were sitting down.
Ryan took a deep breath as Femur saluted and clanked away.
He entered through the door that said, "Guild Master".
The man he saw sitting at the massive desk had a skeleton show Ryan to a large chair in front of him.
"Welcome, Ryan. I hope your tour has been fruitful?"
He held up his hand, and a familiar skeleton clanked up to Ryan.
"Sir, would you like some tea?"
Before Ryan could react, he had a cup of tea in his hands.
"Thank you?"
He then gave the man behind the desk a proper look.
He wore a very sleek black suit with a black shirt and red tie; he was a pale man with very long black hair and fangs.
Just as Ryan had the thought to toss his tea and run, the figure spoke.
"You need not be afraid, I make it my priority not to harm those in my care."
His voice was deep and calm.
"Why should I believe you?"
Ryan was focusing on every minuscule movement the Guild Master made.
He put his untouched tea on the floor while never looking away.
"You shouldn't."
He smiled, flashing his fangs.
"I am a Vampire, but you do know that we of the monstrous races are not always heartless."
Ryan froze and grabbed hold of the armrests.
"How should I know that?"
For a moment, he didn't want to maintain eye contact.
"They sent you to kill many of my kin, did you not see the fear in their eyes?"
Ryan's whole body was tense, and he quickly grabbed hold of his dagger.
"Do you want revenge? Is that why no one said you were a monster?"
"No, I believe that revenge should be reserved for those who are irredeemable, and you fall short of that."
The Vampire stood up and walked around his desk, and faced Ryan.
He ignored Ryan's dagger as he stood before him.
"Forgive my rudeness," he said, placing his right hand on his chest.
"I am Baron Aleksandar Drakonovich, and I am a Vampire, and in my past, I was a creature of the night."
He then bowed.
"I promise, on my honour as a Baron and master of this Guild, that I shall not judge nor punish you."
At the Vampire's sincerity, Ryan could only force out a weak, "thank you."
The Vampire walked back to his desk.
"Did you know that not all enjoy the privilege of freedom?"
"What do you mean?"
"Before I came here, I and all of those that crossed over were bound by our fate to be no better than beasts."
He took a look around his office.
"Here we enjoy the same freedom as you."
He then looked Ryan in the eye.
"The freedom to be good, evil, or to be redeemed."
The Vampire paused as Ryan decided to speak.
"Is that why you run the Blood Rose?"
"No, I manage the Blood Rose because I truly care for this world and all those that reside in it."
"Do you expect me to believe you? What if I had chosen one of the other guilds?"
"Then you would be there."
Ryan froze at his answer.
"Just as with the Silver Tongues, you would have to change part of yourself to belong."
Ryan stood up and lost his monotone.
"Really! How would I have to change?"
Aleksandar was just as calm as when Ryan entered.
He pointed to a skeleton, and Ryan received another cup of tea.
"They do each have cultural or gender expectations for you to follow."
Ryan had a cup of tea in one hand and his dagger in the other.
He didn't like the softness in Aleksandar's eyes.
"Don't look at me like that!"
"You are welcome here, Ryan, and you are welcome as you are."
"Why do you believe in me?
Ryan asked as he put away his dagger and at back down.
"I don't, it is Grizzly who does, and it seems that I now know why."
He gave Ryan a fanged smile.