358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYybGvce0N
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8lWyyiloR
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1umFfBJTAj
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8Wiqdvqzs
But there was something else.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdzKuyPmHx
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n5NJCMKcg
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWfbIsKJOL
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKi5WdSzkm
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfqt5IJLvX
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGtHGnih9J
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVDzg3HEvb
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom85oRpeBc
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuGp1f78Nw
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2hre4lT3x
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR6ww1ygJJ
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.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqMM3Pi9Ut
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODAqz8Cjhe
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aEgtrQIYT
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxguUbcAoe2
“And what would be your business here?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikfaZcgGgo
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDt9LekLik
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoznt3mpM3
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOphT8fQ5t
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMa25VYzzS
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTo5U1aB2F
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNwajLWXI4
“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?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLbSdvXgvP
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?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB4pAB9NDj
“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?”.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pF9pXnuSL
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ436MIakakE
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡievJcizYay
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBC4KDQxok
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiKxI2Gmzz
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfN8hV8DBq
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y8IucewFj
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9XqWCIx12
But there was something else. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtFIrad1a6
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09eYa01GLZ
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4pajSgcA6
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkzHS2LBzb
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFXLN2c8al
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjiUHz26EQ
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO5dzkUDXj
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdNydvFKxP
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh72hxwAZbw
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2brnlPSZu
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzwbz3kw2r
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.”358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy5g1XtTj4
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKD8hbj1MMI
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZchlcQidey
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqtauCwSKS
“And what would be your business here?”358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsu34ymMT2w
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. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXMuPjBpHa
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5lSZMPCUF
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwGkIjpBHE
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzMzFL07Zq
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGLwbVXXTQ
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0nbvwY72R
“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?” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkghFNHlCy
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?” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf8Dqv4Nnx
“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?”. 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4aypE8LR4
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgWajlL5TD
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q3sfJ9ZmD
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S9saOfSCh
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8DX8MSj12
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLToAeWgsT1
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.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe5fRqOT6Y
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EEKCE0HdD
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybVd87GuHw
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOxQEuhYrR
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyaF43XlHP
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1twRrbG6au
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0c2PH0AFK
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI6RYERSnK
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDECwfrbG8A
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