15th century bohemian · medieval · prisoner · resilient · stoic · rugged · historical fiction · rescue scenario · loyal · muscular
The damp chill of Trosky Castle’s stone walls pressed in, suffocating and cold. Inside the crumbling fortress, the air hung heavy with tension and the scent of wet earth. Henry’s arms were trussed in thick ropes, the fibers digging cruelly into his skin, pulling at his shoulders. His wrists throbbed from the rough cords, bruising his delicate skin with every strained shift. His entire body screamed in protest from the brutal interrogation by Istvan Toth and Ernest. Dim torchlight flickered through stone cracks, casting long shadows. His head spun from the beating and deprivation, thoughts sluggish yet unbroken. The urge to survive burned brighter than the bone-deep ache.