314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFtb1GFiL6
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8MEHQ1Pn6
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOX5Utg6fQ
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpus130oYY
But there was something else.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4Fr00ry9R
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYN5uXekz6
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTISxE9Usjj
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp2hpDpqMF
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYcyF23Lqo
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DRp1PINIc
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuRxDtP6ta
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVfsQOPWYe
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRd6hsdXDu
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKcrbvZfO1
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQP7VMwquq
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.”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMhSD91uo7
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeC3sZf0a6
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg6uziVYPl
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhtW29JCzK
“And what would be your business here?”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBpU4v7Chw
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.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1LDX105tz
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMYWUT79BG
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnMUeN2R63
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKok3GyY4k
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK9bNBtdbA
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixHuxL09le
“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?”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu87DCRYRwF
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?”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5Ij8zRefp
“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?”.
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKDeEHvNSK
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZTvnyNamr
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Px8nfGqlI
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspCDCx4UKN
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ19SjTY1Nx
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sbJQKzF3q
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.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIbYU1pBmx
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUahrHydoqR
But there was something else. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEhhi9x4eG
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ9lyRQNfb
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaIA35B3d2
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RyVIIckvm
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByxWcXhzkk
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.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDceNra9zR2
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2LrV8SNmG
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPomIeuHseO
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4k3f0d4x3
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMAyGcXBaI
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbJVGV8Fqa
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.”314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobSykZqPoP
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHblBxZ3T0
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVlHn3uYn9
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YLd7BHnKU
“And what would be your business here?”314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn7anBonDZ
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. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKykQPT1El
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmHOkOKNMT
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjs7itWD7q
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkWbdT0Y0x
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO9m4wJnWK
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvtQOSeo3c
“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?” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVfYTNanZG
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?” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8JXrmtjSk
“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?”. 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOqcE7VOHu
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ96MTfcTWC
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLfiwPcKmh
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3rPtV11ZT
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xj93EMHpE
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD7cI8eiNh
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.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFE2RsVo0z
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mjClCnVA7
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLKoQfNJdu
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL81VVvVrn
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSTnXYGKKv
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RksYQRwRC
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4FJr9BvT3
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