Chapter 1

Eragon was wearing a dark robe in order to sneak into the shade's castle undetected. Unfortunately he was spotted by one of the guards midway through the yard. Eragon pulled his sword ready to defend himself.

The guards came running and surrounded him. Eragon fought well, but after killing three of the guards, one of them stroke him in the back with a sword. He screamed in agony and tumbled to the floor. He was able to fight off the guard who stroke him, but was suddenly stopped by another who hit him over the head with a cloak.

He awoke a few hours later, cringing from the pain in his back. He was lying on the ground in a dark cell within the castle or so he assumed. He looked around but just made out a little cot with straw on it in the far corner of the cell. He crawled towards the cot and laid on it with his stomach. His back was sweaty and sticky. He was feeling the dried blood glued to his shirt. Every time he tried to moved, the dried blood broke off his wound and opened it up yet again. Eragon felt dizzy, he could tell he must have lost a lot of blood. Why are they leaving me alive? He thought. Wouldn't it be easier to kill me to get rid of Saphira...Saphira-where was she at the moment? He wished now that he did not insist on coming alone. She was too far away from him to reach out with his mind towards hers. After lying on the cot for a few minutes, he lost consciousness.

A few hours later when he awoke again, he thought of some of the magic spells that Brom had taught him. After experimenting around for a while, one of them actually opened the door for him. He carefully looked around and then stepped out of his cell. Across the hall he saw his sword belt hanging on a wooden hook with his sword still attached to it. He slowly walked across, being cautious of every move he made. He did not want to risk to get detected again.

When he reached the other side, he put the belt back around his torso. He had to be very careful not too stretch his back too much. Then with his magic vision he looked a bit closer at his surroundings. He slowly turned in a circle and behind one of the other doors, he saw Arya.

When he opened that door, he looked at the elf. She was lying on the wooden table cringing in pain as the shade still controlled her body and mind. "You shouldn't have come, Eragon. It is too dangerous" she said when she noticed him standing in the doorway. He looked at her surprised. "But you asked me to come and save you." He now realized that it was actually the shade that had controlled her mind and made him step right into his trap.

Eragon pulled his sword to get Arya free. But the shade had already appeared. He showed no surprise, but rather disappointment. He looked at Eragon with amazement and said: "So you are the new rider. Well I knew you were young, but I expected more...ah…well…more."

Eragon raised his sword ready to attack. But unfortunately the shade was faster and used a spell to make Eragon drop his sword right on the spot. Then with his magic he lifted a spear off the ground. Eragon used another magic spell to stop him, but the shade was too strong and more experienced in the use of magic. Eragon only became weaker and stumbled a few steps backwards.

The shade laughed at Eragon. Then he moved his arm and the spear came shooting right at Eragon. Eragon tried to jump aside but was still hit the upper right shoulder. He fell to the floor. When he realized he was hit, he grabbed the spear and pulled it out. Out of reflex he threw the spear back at the shade and hit him in the head.

The shade was startled and disappeared into fog. The spell over Arya was temporarily broken. She got up from the table and ran over to Eragon. Eragon was close to loosing consciousness. "Eragon, Eragon, please get up, we need to leave." She screamed. Eragon tried to get up but barely did so. Arya was helping him and lend him her shoulder. Eragon held onto her.