265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuST2zahWS
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpCSsD81ka
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rIAIzqTaa
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMjSKzcp9L
But there was something else.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDxv57rcQR
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17nrOirXXD
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBua9Xcq8p
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmOmLoVfJv
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5486psdz79
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6vQ8qxYeY
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIPwLjTnEO
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaqXFsCTbp
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWAuffkW9B
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnpEWajyjJ
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvHrRoZ2F8
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.”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VXSVvpL70
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzed7kLHmzY
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatS9mrbrTY
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB7TNUvA1T
“And what would be your business here?”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr8OXDqxvA
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.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIl5q3x3P8
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwFmqH2nhl
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAq9ZyA5iq
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSa8SRCrHS
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45hUe2d8tq
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJL9EzgNCQ
“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?”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesj0cAei2J
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?”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIsRijWBkb
“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?”.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ywaOYqboE
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ7WAPj2I6
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcVWJQvBlN
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPmZXd31vm
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ6Qwkeedl
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSjXSXKzMO
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSH3lq1SdXA
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhRHKHohKk
But there was something else. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gQlt68unS
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsqRT1dWpa
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPkE2bGnwu
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptHRkcrNPS
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltasQhXgBs
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmben8UWiU
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAu4OYCPRU
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeKyo9iVVn
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstbyc7u06n
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDM04Sg1D2
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSVX9l0Hiy
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.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRSomNv8wj
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0STn6oM822
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPeJXLbWQx
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyapYsIS5K
“And what would be your business here?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnNu7f7CbB
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutfRep9dHZ
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a9R5w0wIs
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKdWwwMMIX
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk9WqPnZFr
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DqSWfgi7k
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnkvHA0cyc
“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?” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsa2wyEcim
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?” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CPwEBYIOu
“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?”. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMic1F9pJZE
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPBKYGJ9XN
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C2hr5oDgg
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtIJtjVClj
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYMgf3rjWk
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFDJMmokCa
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.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFemou9i15l
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DRbG1urQY
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYmpXYszKi
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfU4vY9wwx
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EnFaz3iyl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklISnionCZ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xf01rdT7O
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9LWnW4tGK
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHpnek102H
