“The Black Queen’s Castle” is a wonderful, romantic, very beautiful story. As in any fairy tale, there are wizards in it—good and evil. But magic has no real power unless honesty, courage, and a desire to do good come to its aid.
The eyes quickly grew used to the half-dark. Tall columns emitted a muted greenish light. The same light poured from beneath the stone slabs on which Alina stepped.
— The princess is waiting for you! Ah, how they’re waiting for you!—without stopping, the servants rustled, guiding her farther and farther.
Alina walked as in a dream. Patterned carpets, paintings in dull gilded frames, tall vases, flowers with intoxicating sweet scent.
Suddenly, small drops of water sprinkled Alina’s face. In the middle of the hall a transparent fountain was pounding. The girl wanted very much to drink or at least rinse her hands, bitten by mosquitoes. But she didn’t dare…