CHAPTER THIRTY-ONEWe arrived at the inn on the outskirts of Nagyzseben around noon. Stepping down from the carriage, I saw a young man come out of the inn and walk quickly up to Alex who, with Lajos and Mattias, had just dismounted.
By any standards, the newcomer was arresting. Dark, strong featured, grave, moving with decisiveness and swift economy, he seemed to be little older than Mattias, despite the stern expression on his handsome face. As Katalin and I approached the men, I saw his grimness vanish suddenly in a smile of genuine welcome.
“Zarescu!” he exclaimed, and then he was embracing Alex, speaking quickly in Romanian. Alex grinned, though he replied in Hungarian.
“It’s good to see you too! But let me introduce my friends.” He moved to allow the other men a better view of the
