Vocans. I did not know that was our destination until I heard the carriage driver shout its name, a muffled cry filtering through the velvet curtains of the carriage windows. It woke the Inquisitors, who cursed at him. But they did not stop me from pressing my face against the glass, to see the ancient castle in all its glory.

It was made up of four rounded turrets above a square building, surrounded by a moat of dark water. I caught no more than a glimpse before we were trundling across its drawbridge. Moments later, the Inquisitors dragged me up the stairs within a dim, walled courtyard at the castle's front and into the hallowed halls of the castle proper.

Inside was a great atrium, held up by oak beams and lit by crack- ling torches in the walls as well as a round skylight in its ceiling. Five stories of balconies rose up on either side of me, with winding staircases between them, and doors and corridors in the walls of each floor.

Opposite me, another set of double doors stood open, with benches and tables within. I could see students sitting and eating, but that was not what drew my eye. Above the doors were beautiful carvings of demons, their eyes set with jewels. The display was breathtaking, though I had barely a few seconds to look at it. Soon an impatient servant was leading me up the stairs.

I could hardly keep up, for the servant was in a hurry, ignoring my breathless questions. Even so, I could not help but stop and marvel at the great tapestries and paintings hung along the walls, as well as the armour that ancient warriors once wore.

One painting even depicted the famous Battle of Watford Bridge, and I found it very hard not to pause at the sight of an orcs' rhino charge being blasted aside by an heroic summoner in the midst of battle.

More fascinating still were the orcish weapons on display, great clubs studded with stones, as well as bone armour and feathered jewellery. Perhaps most interesting of all were the myriad demons floating in jars, the containers stacked in rows within glass cabinets.

The servant tutted and fretted the whole way, cursing me for taking so long. Soon, I was led to a small room in the west tower, at its very top.

There were plenty of rooms to choose from.

"Not many of you commoners this year," the servant said. "You're to stay here until after breakfast. The others will be up soon."

Then he left me.

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