308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZdY422yDf
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaqN9Sg5y2
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn51mOna8z
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwx6Ypir0d
But there was something else.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiULqSFsn6
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M9sfAieZO
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAVFuRL1EL
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRVD65e3r9
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDfZ8hcSq0
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85KbZjVcHh
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnr2xeAmo86
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagkFjTSP8h
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJllj1ILvm1
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdRHzq5UUH
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUQ6LVh7rz
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.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgenFX8UK0
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oyVq8yjwM
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZvDNTi91S
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHZN8T9DB5
“And what would be your business here?”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPc4lO3J6r
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.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CjGYfIkfV
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rD0fbfeuD
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRc4Tn0m5v
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHSyjjsz1w
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYIbBlnLI1
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDtAOG2fds
“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?”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15m4OEW4kp
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?”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECyFmH9x1A
“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?”.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnJAgmJWuM
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fg6f2r6Yc
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCBKIRGEZj
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLd7hFKt6E
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyqPwZmDk3
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxjeknej0I
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.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ2BHWj7qL
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7L6HrDavJ
But there was something else. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BnwcmUzM2
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQycmjlxqnQ
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYXsSOTxUV
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vfp3kEROn
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SsxLwvAV1
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.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU6i7zegHy
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBaRgjPt7g
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Rl0c5LDTY
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDahC6HBIMw
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPmb0AISq0
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0g3RuP4Eq
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.”308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq7tDiMjrw
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sO0uUW9Ct
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsR6UvGqGa
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOmxhbn3ex
“And what would be your business here?”308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnXYZg2QWa
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. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY70kEiU8Q
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RROru8ts4
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWVRDOjrub
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJO6Y01vvv
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaOVYZ9t1J
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TM3xE35kw
“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?” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNCeD5IXiM
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?” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKD8MQ8FR8
“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?”. 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMeJuaCVJ5
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lFnZnPByd
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOVLE1CyDY
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcKq1FA92j
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVatPHpwiB
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW0PmPJfXv
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.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xzr4UpMei
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQcXVCYkLJ
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIbEGYxCAX
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eR6BWf75l
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP641MFQNXu
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBwpbmbW3E
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0eBkgHelt
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q4gNQ0wIK
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtZeffyIpA
