It was dark and all that could be seen was a light, a red light, shimmering away in the distance. This light grew larger and stronger, as it came nearer. Suddenly an explosion rang through the night air. The light exploded into millions of mini lights, which came together and formed the shape of a man. But no ordinary man, a Shade.

The Shade lifted its head as the light disappeared, and looked around. He was standing in an empty field, surrounded by corn. A feral smile crossed its lips, revealing pointed teeth.

The man's name was Durza.

Even in the dark, his face was deadly white, giving the appearance of a skull, which had had skin pulled over it to give the appearance of life. He had crimson hair, and maroon eyes which stood out in the darkness. He was wearing all black, so it was hard to the rest of his body.

The Shade's appearance was fooling, because even though he looked like a man; he had a body of an athlete, and was stronger than any man that was ever born because of what he was. He had once been a man; Carsaib. But then he had lost control of the spirits he had tried to conjure for revenge on the bandits who had killed his tutor Haeg, and they had taken over his body and mind.

It was very painful to become a Shade, to lose your personal identity, and mind. But instead of just one spirit taking over him, it had been three. One was enough to become stronger and more powerful than a man, but three, was too powerful. The spirits had turned his soul rotten, and his mind evil.

There was another problem as well. Shades can only be killed with a stab through the heart, making him almost immortal.

But he had been killed by a stab through the heart, and he had returned. The King had restored his old body, and now he was back!

The Shade looked round again.

He was in the right place. The message had been right. He then remembered the second part of the message; get the boy.

If he failed at this, he was in deep trouble. The king had forgiven him for the incident in Farthen Dur, but would not do the same again.

Durza began to move towards the nearest village at an inhuman speed. He was out of the field, quicker than any man would have thought possible. He got faster as it entered the village. It was small and rather dull looking. The village's name was Carvahall. It was totally empty apart from a large man running towards Durza. The man was tall and stocky, and had a large, black beard and hard, dark eyes.

He didn't see Durza in the darkness and accidentally bumped into Durza, knocking him over. Durza got up and looked at the man, and sneered revealing his pointed teeth.

"Oh sorry," the man started in a gruff voice, "I didn't mean to…to…" The man stopped abruptly, as he saw the Shades teeth. Terror appeared on the man's face, and he started to back away, his face turning pale.

"Going somewhere?" Durza asked, sneering.

"No." The man looked at Durza, then behind him but he couldn't see anything in the darkness. He started trying to walk backwards, but his back only hit a solid and cold brick wall behind him.

He was trapped!

Durza just laughed chillingly. The sound echoed through the empty village.

"Well, if you are not going anywhere…" Durza moved towards the man, and as he did so, he raised his right hand.

A shimmering red light appeared on his pale palm, lighting his whole hand and most of his arm up. The man's face was full of fear, and Durza just laughed again.

Suddenly Durza pressed the red light against the man's chest, where his heart was. There was a burning smell, and the man dropped to the ground, dead.

"That'll teach you to watch where you're going." Durza smirked, and turned away from the now charred and burnt body.

The Shade continued through the village, but met no-one else.

The Shade suddenly stopped outside a tarnished blacksmiths door, with a window in its top half, and peered through it. The window was dirty, but Durza could see well enough what was inside the house. There, sitting at a round, old, wooden table was a man, with darkish brown hair, and a look of sorrow on his face. His head was in his hands, and the man looked almost asleep.

The room was lit only by a flickering wax candle, which had nearly gone out. It gave the room a dark and miserable look.

The man looked up, and stared in horror at the Shade's face that was pressed against the doors window. A look of utmost terror crossed his face, as the Shade smiled revealing his pointed teeth. The Shade pushed open the door, and immediately, the man named Roran stood up, and backed away, hitting the table, and letting out a gasp of pain.

"Who are you?" Roran asked, terror showing on his face. He rubbed his leg. That had hurt.
"My name does not matter to you. But I believe your cousin, Eragon, knows me. A bit more than I would have liked, but that was not to be helped. You're Roran aren't you?" Durza questioned. He sneered revealing his pointed teeth again.
Roran just continued to stare, then nodded.
"Why are you here?" Roran asked after a while. He was still unsure of what to do.

He couldn't just tell the Shade to leave, for fear of angering him. If he did anger him, he knew he wouldn't escape with his life. Many men had done so, and they hadn't lasted more than a minute.
"For revenge on your cousin, and because the king sent me to get you a while ago, but so far I have, for want of a better word… been incapable, but now I shall forfill that duty."
"Well I won't go with you!" Roran shouted, backing away further. "I know what you are, and there is no way I will help the king, even if it is against my cousin, who caused my father's death."

"He caused your fathers death?" Durza sounded interested in this particular piece of information, but Roran was to busy thinking to notice. "Well now, he is in a bit of trouble isn't he?" Durza continued, "Still, I am afraid you have no choice."

Durza started to move towards Roran, and as he did so, he raised his glowing right hand again. Roran watched it, a pit forming in his stomach. "It will be good to have revenge on one of my most hated enemies." Durza sneered at the look of fear on Roran's face.
Suddenly, a red light hit Roran in the chest just as it had with the man, throwing him roughly against the wall behind him. Durza had made sure the blow had not been enough to kill Roran, just make him weak. There was a crunching sound, and Roran tasted blood in the side of his mouth. He tried to get up, but was pinned down to the ground by invisible ropes. He struggled weakly against them but had to give up. Durza sneered down at him.
"Now stay quiet and come along, and no-one will get hurt," Durza said, grabbing Roran by the arm, and lifting him off the ground easily.

Durza dragged him effortlessly out of the house. Roran tried to resist, but Durza was too strong for him. He knew Shades were powerful in magic and strength, but not so powerful that he could hold Roran's whole body, when only holding his arm.

So then how was he able to do that?

Roran nearly screamed as they passed the body of the man. Roran knew him; it was Horst, the owner of the Blacksmiths. He had been kind enough to let Roran stay with him, and it hurt Roran to see him lying there dead.

That Shades sick! Roran thought, looking up at Durza, who was looking at the body, and smirking.

"YOU THINK THAT'S FUNNY? THAT'S JUST SICK! YOU KILLED HIM DIDN'T YOU?" Roran shouted, trying to pull away from Durza.

The Shade nodded, and carried on walking, oblivious to Roran struggling beside him.

Roran wanted nothing more, than to be back in the Blacksmiths, safe and alone.

Roran was dragged out of Carvahall to a campsite a little way off. He was surprised that no-one else in Carvahall had noticed them leave, or the dead man. What had happened? Had the Shade killed the rest of Carvahall? He hadn't heard anyone scream, and no-one had come to alert him. It just didn't make sense at all!

At the camp, Durza tied Roran's struggling arms behind his back, and went and sat looking at him across the fire.

Durza's face was illuminated by the flickering flames, and Roran could now see his face fully in the light. He was scarier now, and his face looked gaunt and worn.

Roran tried to loosen the strong ropes around his wrists, but they were too tight and he only succeeded in chaffing his wrists, leaving them sore and red. Durza just smiled at his efforts to get free.