“Going into that place, girl?” a heavily accented voice sounded behind me. My heart attempted to leave my chest as I whirled around to face the unknown speaker.

No wonder I had apparently walked right past her – she was so dirty and ragged that you could have passed her off as a mound of dust and rubbish. Hunched over, her hair matted, and her threadbare clothes hanging off a frail body, the woman peered at me with eyes that surprised me with their piercing gaze. It was as if she could see into the depths of my soul, and reveal its secrets to me.

“I wouldn’t go in there, if I were you,” she spoke again. “Only pain awaits you.”

Despite my usual skill in diplomatic responses – dealing with incompetent research assistants and a dinosaur for a boss had taught me to develop that skill – I failed to stop a derisive laugh from escaping me. I had read too many urban legends about Cradalu to be frightened by cryptic warnings.

“I’m sorry,” I eventually managed through my giggles. “I didn’t come here to be amused by children’s stories.”

The old woman, to her credit, did not look remotely abashed. “If you go into that place, young one, you’ll emerge a broken soul; that is, if you even come out alive…” she stopped for a moment, as if to cement the dramatic impact of her speech into me. I however, wasn’t having any of it, and continued to laugh softly in amusement.

“Do you get paid to do this to everyone who comes here, or are you here simply to brighten what has previously been a boring day of travelling?” I asked, unable to believe that this was happening.

Sadness crept upon her face, and for a moment, I felt guilty that I was being insulting towards her. Then, her gaze pierced me once more. “You may not believe me, but that place is a dominion of evil. If you are fool enough to go in, I will not stop you. But you have been given my warning to you, please heed it.”

I did not give her a reply; tired of this game, I turned and strode up the path, until I reached the large, heavy doors of the castle, and knocked firmly to request entrance.