115Please respect copyright.PENANA4XR0dtQn5c
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANA6t18XfvCfY
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAgAODaG1LD7
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAhXCqCYZohB
But there was something else.
115Please respect copyright.PENANA0BgZ2f6h6z
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANA2Oo1rIAcjh
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANA9E572jHOpF
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAYjtmiV5sdx
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAESIP0UyyPI
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANADTvilgp4tl
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAfjrbTrrDEQ
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAJXAriJGBMM
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
115Please respect copyright.PENANAmmEsDhVgre
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
115Please respect copyright.PENANAIqALEFiyQU
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
115Please respect copyright.PENANA4C1LDAsAmE
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.”
115Please respect copyright.PENANAEBriTo58CX
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAfSSwPeixwi
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAjRzIZrTXcx
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
115Please respect copyright.PENANANpU0UfhZUJ
“And what would be your business here?”
115Please respect copyright.PENANAjJlDJjiRSO
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.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAjIokMZAUWP
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
115Please respect copyright.PENANA27X6z6ijff
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
115Please respect copyright.PENANA5zXiUZMF5d
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAhc1ssZdFrv
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
115Please respect copyright.PENANAhbrnHjvgmR
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
115Please respect copyright.PENANALXrNf8LlNw
“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?”
115Please respect copyright.PENANALOZDfesvBL
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?”
115Please respect copyright.PENANA7Txib3EAHO
“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?”.
115Please respect copyright.PENANAyYx3cxrnuT
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
115Please respect copyright.PENANARUTlkYOkjx
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
115Please respect copyright.PENANA7rs9LD3qY6
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
115Please respect copyright.PENANAzh1mMI0hl4
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 115Please respect copyright.PENANAIw1jeWQgSk
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAA9QtE8A2rv
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.115Please respect copyright.PENANArFl4umQtDu
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAkQcu7WJBCN
But there was something else. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAyUR7SPy8D2
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAWMuk6Uoga8
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAeL7qUb82f0
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAgEBsRYAhox
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANACGrDrJ47MW
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.115Please respect copyright.PENANAHBbpLmScHo
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.115Please respect copyright.PENANAe1D7JjR6do
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.115Please respect copyright.PENANAjT9L2JGyMa
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAXVrvw8pgdl
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”115Please respect copyright.PENANAxn6ccJOokq
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.115Please respect copyright.PENANAesddaCJldE
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.”115Please respect copyright.PENANA9WZqK6P4uK
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAve7Gsu9D1c
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANADEdlIVYoS3
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.115Please respect copyright.PENANA5qRdddOgP2
“And what would be your business here?”115Please respect copyright.PENANAQK1ILFRUsN
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. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAw1ttrCVYkb
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.115Please respect copyright.PENANAslxEIEA0Jo
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAudUDcQuOS6
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAKBbNtrnn1f
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”115Please respect copyright.PENANABvzWNgPwE9
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 115Please respect copyright.PENANASVO3GbSsoR
“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?” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAmGVEg1vIgV
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?” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAzbeHLvRK79
“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?”. 115Please respect copyright.PENANAg7rvwIGNkJ
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAqbvnCgEv9Q
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAQkcIdEPz69
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 115Please respect copyright.PENANA3KAoKmOS2S
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAT9XYoyIysY
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.115Please respect copyright.PENANAifcZFjC6MB
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.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAnrmtfaaf4b
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.115Please respect copyright.PENANAUC6sPk8m7i
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAsTrNDk43uA
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANAkEGfUmM0yW
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 115Please respect copyright.PENANA93FHIH9Sbw
115Please respect copyright.PENANA7wR6aa3KVA
115Please respect copyright.PENANAOWsAWK6ZwC
115Please respect copyright.PENANAXjO1wza65w
115Please respect copyright.PENANAhJcil6Nion