Hearing the clank of metal, Damien felt his sense of hearing and touch reawakening before his vision could adjust to the sudden flood of light. He fell still as he felt the cold manacles encasing his wrists. Gradually, he coaxed his frosty eyes open, and as the haze began to clear, his pupils began to dilate. A stream of harsh sunlight filtered in through a narrow crack high above him. He turned his head slowly, his tongue running over his dry lips.
With a jolt, Damien realized he had been relocated to the heart of an immense cavern. Observing the landscape, he surmised that he was in the Trelovian Mountains, nestled in the central region of the Duchy of Carter. The rugged and precipitous mountain range was in an isolated location where even the most alarming events could pass unnoticed.
