219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjhe7AHclZ
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQKSAuvb14
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPfUyJHP1t
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.
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But there was something else.
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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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i8e8knws3
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxIErRriD6
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm6fH0MJAp
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ099CZJW2OL
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2KRA0KtMC
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUl3JKSpBu
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMty2ut1qo
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7ZbdmexfO
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.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHKlOlqrEN
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQfu8XpGBY
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS26KlFES8
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw22qu1snAI
“And what would be your business here?”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn2KsM9ZZD
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.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVeeGwqVNr
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjraLTx9Km
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB9QAG8K9Y
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejfRNwOfNe
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jrMyMTa6C
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5nWjPXokl
“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?”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghNJy1wl09
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?”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQdxQFrtKE
“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?”.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdO3atzGWT
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAxzCf2mLD
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YttVzwiwG
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYiOrwq2RO
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHoVrCQ2R3
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D4D0S88kg
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq2qSKSxHP
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRespgzwYv
But there was something else. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmEtoLf3SM
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN06MJ0maK
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2nECVbVD2
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9lxM2NVz7
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkydlyHb10
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRX3m0JkTy
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5YeSgTfrN
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCc2heD6ZO
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yAV7Gjf67
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawNB58rqty
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAc4rw6E8Z
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.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRPqaFxhEs
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmfk46Vebb
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkT4ectwL0
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNkzL2mDVR
“And what would be your business here?”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYd9q8bzDA
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazolQXGskS
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxQMqPWjQG
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafzvYzrWNl
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkHeKLEbFF
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S0jrkBBqM
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHIXFXrUxm
“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?” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPkmd5LaZd
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?” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i6lFcPJdn
“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?”. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4QKYDmuv9
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XiXxzWYlk
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y4wkBVni0
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTW8M20whJ
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp9ul6tSoD
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPRDNe1jVa
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.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz0npAR9fV
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wZOuKFPBW
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ9HOVbIaI
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QY0cHwj9n
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs9i2C8Dx1
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDCImgLj03
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