304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKIDJoqfJv
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWoOpl3Ocq
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGe5gz0ba8
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMeb6dmBDm
But there was something else.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClV669kMTp
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAAnY8fasN
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SZq8vQck8
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqCXFrHGYQ
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWSC103nue
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBWCY0AmuA
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwZIeiScOG
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkx1wvSYS4
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGFcjGq0RT
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXcfxKV9xt
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ9xjRLcAA
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.”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzYgwinco4
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX6yGbVl6U
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuKnJ7Ep6V
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rxKXBWCaD
“And what would be your business here?”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUjh1DPUT1
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.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OOMY3z8IK
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL9fPNZWdF
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVgDfRj8mo
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2itvci4fN
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooUB4TEHzg
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxi6FlnJ3K
“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?”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSLsx4lglE
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?”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l7lcxbXh0
“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?”.
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBZ3K4vnX1
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLvee3rTNl
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzHKa4BguM
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQLE1EtN4T
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVl2j4Zcvo
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZBcGN4ykr
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.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGruKIMg9L
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4hhvsmuVb
But there was something else. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6ngzhHe80
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tog4vTrC1
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOCJdiuAWp
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14I7paoNxT
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2x1wwKW6h
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.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaI6StdzsT
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8058FXYxkS
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q2bJIGTTE
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy9rK3tfVL
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v6e4YPpel
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sM8IaJt8b
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.”304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcSVBwHbZd
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kWvtSkH0A
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhClHAI1ZV
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCaabgFH5G
“And what would be your business here?”304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6HB1kGxsp
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDjshu6LJj
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAT6sAjrqL
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxZqnPbisa
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudZGRSv564
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI3BweNcV8
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb79OoJnHjy
“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?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyVx3B9zjT
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?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7grnK6qGE
“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?”. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM133gf6erq
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzURJ3x8Rjo
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmwDnByY1p
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdxvBrPK8a
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKFXIv0jzL
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZdU1RgOza
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.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY9UDuezAe
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth3bWSrgYp
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW078sPQyRQ
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkhgjlDeFM
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvESdkmFj0
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKkBeP9jPn
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Z1gms1kE
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuejoez8YWF
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL9G7KYerl
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