The Last Siege

The castle has stood here for almost a thousand years. Its walls have heard the noise of barons and kings—boisterous feasts and long sieges, heroism and betrayal... There are rumors that even a ghost lives here—what kind of respectable castle is without ghosts? The glorious days are behind; the ceilings have partly collapsed; the castle is empty. In summer, tours are held there; in winter, children ride sleds down the slopes of a dried-up moat. Who could have thought that the castle would get new owners—or invaders? That it will have to withstand another, its final siege, although there will be only three defenders and in the modern world they are considered children. That the enemies will climb the siege ladders again, and from the embrasures shells will rain down on them... And that in the castle there will be a place once more for courage and loyalty.