470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurNyJvpuYS
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD19vZJFYsQ
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMmUlPIG4c
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGQOrBYUXR
But there was something else.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlsUmbU7lY
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrYbEdnEbX
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOdW5yDW7y
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIlEWlUJJw
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl5faj2OS9
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCDtj78daA
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYG723fcFB
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5MFvtiBj6
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IWCanUyGu
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICcIkuyBLq
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2sdQdihEx
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.”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7Fo2MT5QM
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxRTErQyi9
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5a2Vz0HAL
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTIJsXsU8U
“And what would be your business here?”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSlNkLcsER
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.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUUFDL5xcC
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnojWDe1VaS
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjctincYYi
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSOiHryk88
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oWevYUvbw
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHJ9i3P0JJ
“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?”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D41fMV8ie
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?”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19vRFITvkb
“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?”.
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePmFosWr6U
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfKNCFH4sH
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIHssIiBG4
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBjN5s6023
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8MbM7oh4m
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYzsuNut6T
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.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfMKT7Smlw
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWCmGEtxW5
But there was something else. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwd47ejMBW
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTL5YO61LO
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMqFJynJ0W
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVbuNhFbz8
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5Ei8iwiiU
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.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRuWiH2GeL
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Jy4C6arDD
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKuOWmzGRr
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mx7EFNVjq
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNuNraN49N
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bWhCkdbiK
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.”470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYHq9XYRUV
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55U33yPSIp
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6GCbRLOIx
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwiYou5Dv5
“And what would be your business here?”470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93SLrjavLf
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. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99ygWKAQOZ
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAthL5bA91B
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cFNSykEZB
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPb0M5enLQ
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2a59dplTg
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9w72D3xyVd
“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?” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi93BdqfLZ
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?” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkpBXd7qta
“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?”. 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUlqe0EucD
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90mLUmMcLV
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBEVlgQkYi
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQXOxpxOPI
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4edtodkg3e
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94NE4FV0Fx
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.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi8STVBNCw
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JCK8sK0bz
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTmPodqJLa
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVExulca9Hl
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLVy2WsrOW
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuwqDO1mQH
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ394xYPsexN
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtE82Igehi
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFL99EKLV9
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