~Anastasia ~
It was a brisk quiet afternoon of the following day when I opened my heavy eyelids again. The light of the winter sun peered over the snow-covered horizon.
The hunters had escorted me to a heavily guarded wing of the castle the night before. I was allowed to stay in a dark chamber with one arched window overlooking a large common square at the east.
The chamber smelled like dead autumn leaves when I first stepped in, but it had a cozy atmosphere. I could see from the window a cluster of small stone houses below, stretching out into the dark green wilderness.
The mist had cleared outside the frosted glass, but the chill hadn't ceased from the room. A burning fireplace provided its warmth and brightened the place with its golden glow. A set of old cushioned furniture spread
