Alexandru Dragos was tired and thirsty.  He had completed his patrol of the forest surrounding Castle Dracula with no sign of the invaders.  His steed Allegro was also exhausted and parched, and Alexandru led him to the banks of the stream.

Allegro had never left Alexandru previously, so Alexandra only loosely bridled him to some overhanging branches of a tree before taking a respite on some rocks along the banks.  He breathed in deeply and drank in nature's beauty.  It was hard to believe that war was coming to his peaceful and isolated homeland.  His was a young man, and his thoughts focused more on courting the beautiful Ana-Maria than the advancing Turkish horde.  He laid back on the cool, flat stone and drifted off to sleep.

Alexandru woke with a start.  He wa...

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