348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzn6eqzOit
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPKyPQMeY7
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOeg4p8bLp
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZcJSj9apq
But there was something else.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGxx3JcWDW
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKlOlSITP2
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigSsjv4dVB
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRwlLqUhUq
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkPrN6j9dd
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3legGVQZlm
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzouKbob3C
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7xujZ73DJ
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU4zIsf35k
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z1TkwtyKB
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sU6p9xQbc
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.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbYEx0l8Aw
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQYoovHcZS
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uoykvwY3s
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cm62zAKI4
“And what would be your business here?”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uLm078XGy
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.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsAToew8GM
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsPpeNLL0k
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13blYezvRC
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCObrxhIwHs
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8TyVXv5l7
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2tDgF6NwD
“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?”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFqH3fyH7s
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?”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqXQxlmNOM
“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?”.
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAEOaUjps5
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnXNg5ib0F
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys9EypGLhc
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nGmr4oQWh
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8JmxslJGC
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJIH5epv6C
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyIxTusEdQ
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx9DJiKGmH
But there was something else. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbuxumUOfW
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCzbjCxv10
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBnSCnAF2k
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurlHw84zWq
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rWgDXHacX
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIf84NIA4S
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAJdtaTgkM
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwzig2yXou
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbTTmcKhS9
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMpw4BidEt
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAAvnf5WKu
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.”348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTrbEPWI9K
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RGseKVgKC
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi39Cb7LzL
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyhh5ZeFyf
“And what would be your business here?”348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtLBiCitsw
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIFRdsbc1W
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hONbJAOl5
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe4XewP3FS
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7nLNcSsFK
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwyPRMzruc
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWZq2CVoJg
“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?” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzA6TOPJSx
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?” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIvaXgQald
“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?”. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UFGOXy5ac
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dVAJoO7sZ
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfqbnXE5CN
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvICwcirViF
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n5iMs4ygR
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq89OaPXfO
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.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uOwbBZtdM
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGPyNRdc5W
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFcIXfgOi9
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrVIBo6cyM
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9wR1YI48O
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJZlVWe1Nw
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvLZFdsOUY
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSKKDXSdKC
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7qEwgntVl
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