418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVHUm4ftfl
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX5Noi68tz
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H8mKkkjl4
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRv8rsgWEQ
But there was something else.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf6fWAS7fz
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t4t1JkfoV
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tV8quYPOp
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjGRdoBnPo
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl1xLLg1X5
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZAzLheHFX
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsorh5gRue
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDSrLvwP2U
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeJRyriwve
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT3PdbfLWQ
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hDmyyb3J1
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.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo9WAJjrZG
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3hGbVQcd7
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N0bWVQoi1
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp8US0MA3y
“And what would be your business here?”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMuGuT2CPu
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.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGHHph30FF
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jERwm4JDK
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkOUG3l8FX
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt7fHkNz3x
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEQpqOCtXn
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQujgbr4R8U
“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?”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6Ou7ultr8
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?”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7Q639XTFs
“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?”.
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkbNFQyO6O
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeet524l8Cj
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmCaYVLUa6
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YhFMUtA8C
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2KOt4863v
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl6WEX9Xp1
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.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0gXuG5VQ4
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXmrELZAhO
But there was something else. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgufNDm9AcJ
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SoMNC98f7
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykmkSc8AVK
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrldCOhMV9
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDVolrRyno
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.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3zltKdioO
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdk8fJyvI5
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx0Bit7hgk
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiwu5xc812
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmSURznaaA
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkR7jrxQyP
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.”418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCOKLlqlIt
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVl7EX8Z4n
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioDtcY8dci
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdbGDvX5TA
“And what would be your business here?”418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI5j34rvvl
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5mZIxupAz
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZdr6xGNAk
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0fxKWrr0X
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuRtPTJ8dZ
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTp8M66diY
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvDtaqGj72
“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?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hS2YlgaCp
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?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaniFfA0fzV
“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?”. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvQTRFnJRq
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLLVBK4mIH
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqAmojPKE7
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqGeONHBl2
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZnCKrwr1g
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq8ocfsdp4
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.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6IpkvbwA0
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fCyLmLbg8
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafQssEQvks
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WIPL6EOZ9
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTVQOBJsOt
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfn4Faaugm
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhWpXmnUjx
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cYfZkpn4a
418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6gQQ8aIIN
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