266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjUYrZRkO1
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5brOnH2ctt
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcrzgGAlyt
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1HBC0a8Qy
But there was something else.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh34akIN9o7
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyWMUnQTIQ
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwQD2SRAqx
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfSodyWnsj
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nmPl83DGN
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.
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"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
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Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcHWmUNi9w
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizRortghWU
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2othQfULJs
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX78Z9ZHtF9
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi2UP669LF
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAsKqwErab
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDOAl9F4Rt
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIyEQx2Ty0
“And what would be your business here?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj0KxXxW9N
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6SE7X1oMY
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq29z3eOyX
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX1fBWtI2U
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE1DlVqPCw
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpBw4ml36Z
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzym20btJA
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELgO73jf1x
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglvbFCBcw8
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J5JUlCIMI
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjB9mAbHzk
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMvjKyFIuY
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP4qpg6RMl
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmFBzH2fuj
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the
greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoFeYN5YQD
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTBv735icS
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcDZ0iKBs0
But there was something else. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECnuxiBLqb
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eFy1FkscV
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjsuSVndKk
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXyxIGSPzr
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzX2gSDu3j
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7uZR74RXK
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kgL6EYycT
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppQtr1IQbI
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8oZuYGcCv
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ893ldgygJr
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK2Yd9llNs
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg696dZryCT
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxL3S8EATx
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4URiC7YGnX
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt74kvm0Dhs
“And what would be your business here?”266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVT1IWdunj
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxbdubwWRz
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHJfLycOkk
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7WXjkXDA6
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzAkkoF5Ep
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj7pj6XaFb
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWtGkr3ehu
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHKIQLUw1t
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO7Cedwnxo
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”. 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3mY9DgUQz
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BgkR9EcV2
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkYT8vN27f
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpVdnnurw7
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AO3k6xFfg
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODspXMSNiP
The Earl sighed, “My roundsmen brought a child but a fortnight ago, saying he stole a loaf of bread. I fed him, shoed him, and sent him on his way. Last I saw, he was heading west.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOBw8YBIuc
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDQXBHl1nl
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoPLgR1OsK
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY7iGYBxmC
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5LaSnowRo
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELssJYD8Sw
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnuYncJMbZ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8vIajjS2B
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOBt4H1O5g
