Nell stepped through the gate and into the dark streets of the castle. 
The gate slammed behind her. An iron vise clamped around each of Princess 
Nell's upper arms; the men had seized her with their gauntlets. They lifted her 
into the air and carried her for some minutes through the streets, stairs, and 
corridors of the castle. These were completely deserted. She did not see so 
much as a mouse or a rat. No smoke rose from the chimneys, no light came from 
any window, and in the long hallway leading to the throne room, the torches 
hung cold and blackened in their sconces. From place to place Princess Nell saw 
another armored soldier standing at attention, but, as none of them moved, she 
did not know whether these were empty suits of armor or real men.