It is said that the events I am about to tell you, my dear, would take place around the time of Prince Mihnea III, also known as Turcitul, and Lady Neaga, along with her children. 

    The story goes that Mrs. Neaga, with her three daughters and the boy, had retired to her parents' house in Cislău, where they tried to live as well as possible, but without craving the luxuries of the time when they lived in the princely fortress.  The people of Arbănaș's land and the surrounding villages loved and considered Lady Neaga as their mistress.

    One day, several peasants came to her court with a complaint. And their lamentation was by no means ordinary. They complained to the Lady that the cursed Dragon was ruining all their savings, and wherever he passed, he left only charred remains.  

      Puzzled, Lady Neaga asked the poor people how she, a single woman, could help them? But the people had already spoken: only the sword and the brave heart of  Arbănaş, her lord's son, could defeat the Dragon.

      As soon as he heard about Dragon and the troubles that it causes to some innocent people, Arbănaş began preparations. What's more, the next day at dawn, he mounted his horse and set off. He passed through forests and over hills and soon arrived in Valea Slănicului.        

    Here he saw at every step the misfortunes that the Dragon had caused, but what saddened him most was that the people were very distressed and he pitied them because during the winter they had little to go into their barns with. The hideous creature had ravaged almost all their crops. Moreover, it had eaten or killed the animals in their households.