The cold air of the stone castle seemed to be growing steadily warmer, although Martin knew it was only his heart swelling with overwhelming excitement. He paced back and forth before the large double doors, waiting for them to open. The small corridor he was in had high, curved ceilings and very small windows. It was dark but for the small candlelit lamps along the stone walls. His footsteps made an eerie echo but he wasn’t paying attention to that. All he could think of was the small child lying in his mother’s arms on the other end of the castle.

The doors burst open and Martin stopped pacing and turned to look in the room. It too was dark but for a few lamps, and the shadow of a man a little taller than Martin stood at the far end of the large room. Martin took five enthusiastic steps into the room and the doors were closed behind him.