341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3313cD1my
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8FsyIsSfD
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqdZhBY5KY
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRssAXNUepL
But there was something else.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pwjw4LUid
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbOrv7eMZU
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tQ47iqVAH
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEScZysMCLU
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0342r41897
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFMHbs8fni
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFKHxc2OZs
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoAPooG4Kp
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrysfVPvhOP
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjLkmkMQCR
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2I0rm6JqX
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.”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB04lZJhO7
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID3yoMfP8f
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUZ1tVYJ4U
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY5yyMmzAw
“And what would be your business here?”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JbVjoSv9a
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHZ5zBhYzE
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CTgaNViTJ
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilDc8UFw5h
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmX9VWkdVR
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyYWyqN7T2
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO0ZwK1woE
“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?”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGOZT7Cf8G
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?”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfhJmrUZCR
“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?”.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw2nF1SncM
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7HKM2IixS
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f7KvWnU68
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwjakIcWm6
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeEThyM7BX
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ131Sdbx5hB
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.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHclbNnYOB
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB87rcd7fWM
But there was something else. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOfpWlXaJB
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1shoJlcPzf
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1u0PrISfp
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrAkvQztLe
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYWGqjZW0o
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.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxVi1IoiAB
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bUIyyeNfb
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFidi3nwyI
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC6pNDvQWq
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8szN2ckxH
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ512JIp8Qyq
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.”341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrmICcXKXf
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNNkF1o9Nu
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyDguExwjZ
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WdHGZN9oo
“And what would be your business here?”341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmYsz01VOe
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. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lVJGdVI0V
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjdD1Sets5
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUsOnD1uOa
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArS5aCOfl8
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF8t7H9vLS
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeMlLP0lia
“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?” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGesPPrnEq9
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?” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMboTrzyqUt
“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?”. 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2El2xahfmp
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4EifjfWmn
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugonkcPAs7
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MTXASlvn3
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl45H9dYFb
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdqU7Sgf47
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.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6etmxXjY46
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ5XwIQ4Zo
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZ5cWjBdvl
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34XVIEWI9l
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96SFwT9pL4
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7V8tMiw2v
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpplzIN5Nt
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gmbc5LQyX
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW9Z5abfKC
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