Mina had never been as self-conscious as she was when they cantered across the bridge towards Castle Bran.  Armored men lined the drawbridge with their swords raised overhead as a measure of respect to the small party, but Mina’s eyes wandered to the spires and battlements which towered overhead.  Her mother had spoken of castles many times during the telling of fairy tales, but Mina had assumed that castles were just another device of fantasy, like dragons or fairies.

She looked over at Lord Tepes.  His eyes remained fixed ahead, unmoving and proud.  Mina wondered if such poise was learned or passed on through generations of nobility.

Once over the bridge, the party passed through a large gate and entered the courtyard.  A nobleman in the green and yellow colors of the Hunyadi fa...

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