388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVgQfschLj
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgZaRZJfHy
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x9zAtML0N
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYciYSDWWI
But there was something else.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwsHMVp9WR
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARpbCyBzdF
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMujc7Vy3CR
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCrJrJxQ1a
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePKQy5yKKv
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXLgAeF0WE
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN3NT7VAlE
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Pz06ubO9
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1CfzczV1a
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGDmtk2gRT
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRiH98Gwmi
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.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HXh7fGlN6
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfx3YdSBw5
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdenouxQC6Z
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D33yrU74L
“And what would be your business here?”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ddlxawOzZ
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.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASN8dskizS
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLChv7B5jkM
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMhvkqTAtN
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7M1QI8PTQ
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRBsjBgViF
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgoDJpApJs
“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?”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfZq9LsIrv
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?”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbDUuEMPvw
“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?”.
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuiPQaZWm5
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWZZnje9Bo
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY2t3sTcEs
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG4GdMfkZq
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi7VmbasQR
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFB676USYj
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCf5KrAaLS
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NLAlqI6KI
But there was something else. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7cQqIswZD
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSheWwwtGE
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXY5iq2oEj
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW8iqvoHei
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNK1zi2cxY
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQue0ebleC
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g6JQIIH0V
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlijiuKFjkk
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OdmYMmrEI
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPc8cpCSuH
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpf2tMqu1W
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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpUWcq9zGW
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSChtTuYfZ6
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPye30p6fh
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmXPzaTlt8
“And what would be your business here?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVddfjVdpc
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLzXKm1Sjf
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVy4E83fCb
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu7NkeVk3G
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9oDsh9pHo
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYzCcN3yiJ
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5kA8WQlTO
“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?” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXqiSIYKgO
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?” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3sUtPe7rT
“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?”. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn1t0cGVOD
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCpHxrrycT
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr2Lw8U7pE
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO6v8gur4m
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwEd2EObim
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X3UZPqwwd
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.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nh50kpBlt
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkA2ww9SIbO
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWZjrG9tKK
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtZzygRj9g
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqt9D52fkD
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHu2b3tVkD
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wvqSlttxe
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR96ICiUFF8
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAIdhnCCgG
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