236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtuoKIpCTJ
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfRH0c53XX
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC2pIjiYO9
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeKwD010I1
But there was something else.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJHK3mO1Gv
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjNm9Vqoap
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5VBs4KzCM
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g3z03mrNV
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnJpf5mws6
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b9n2JyBB9
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAoLEvwf7o
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDIKPO3RnN
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuQ1RmHZGy
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KXYqEsdjz
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.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJuErdTxga
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkVWFWTRrx
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y6qRVf7qS
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqbH8fzutC
“And what would be your business here?”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TCFCv3nit
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.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbzJgLdOy9
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcmoDzOr1u
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQgEkIX1xj
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGaSBIoQhN
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OTz5XFJ5y
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSyY3hrsBJ
“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?”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHEa0Ktiiy
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?”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pRXUxdw4U
“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?”.
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEqtQp5zNN
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tzpKmsFMI
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9e49xDebk
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LN9rxQyA7
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoRr7MIocM
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRJPnkw4qs
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmREgcTuYm
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8547pw9SR
But there was something else. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyvaUGEhz7
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8Q1Lw6tag
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJuh53Cgl0
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPJH0xXlOF
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvko5buaLya
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEKVcE1KOd
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCHrHj4DXn
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsk2WAfcm4
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZLuymXbl7
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLNsXgIvTI
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRR540W5cT
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.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyQJJeYegY
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAAnf8XqsD
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DAzGUWqJH
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpa95ueUJ4
“And what would be your business here?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BSgsQ39g2
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoCL6kR625
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwzn6CM4nr
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnOsGLpyfN
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MbL2AVA0X
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hoPOfJS9z
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkagogSbiYj
“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?” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDH9E2cFxj
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?” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXWeF8fwgW
“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?”. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1feT9vYFMl
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITikmP6b5U
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6cQacF7Md
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxMSFrqIp0
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sFFxQPrVH
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUHA6eyEGN
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.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFOulTtkct
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UUyBYl35E
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVJ4lG3tVr
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15bTSAZqhg
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9PSIjo4jH
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsKZRpQLh5
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236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ622Aj3SafX
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl7boHQrSW
