Nightmare

Ethan didn't know how long he had been unconscious. The place was entirely unfamiliar. Where was he? Clearly, this wasn't Duke William's underground prison. Had he been teleported? Why couldn't he remember anything?

He tried to move, but his hands and feet were tightly bound by strong metal—strengthen with dark magic to tie him down. He should have been able to shatter that metal with magic. However, he couldn't even summon the energy to twitch a finger, let alone flow magic.

"I've got him! He won't cause any more trouble!" a hoarse voice exclaimed beside Ethan.

Ethan searched for Joanna, Duke Henry, and George. But everything was chaotic. Limbs scattered around him. His nose caught only the metallic tang of blood.

"What's happening?" Ethan mumbled. But then a blow to his head followed blood streaming from a cut on his brow.

Several bodies were strewn nearby. He saw guards carrying a few people away.