429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZJOhCYgkl
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjLUxqo9if
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LHQcCwMRm
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvXQjgPDlw
But there was something else.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAXUkJSpP9
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DhGK6A5HK
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfQkr1tcvQ
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3yPM5Y9iu
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5gKIPFkK8
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xETp4B0eF
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMILZCx35v0
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2noa52e51
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAyGKPm4DZ
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc9mz33l4a
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy8tAeL5sb
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.”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRFnxSJVVH
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYjzADXEbu
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ceFIACp6f
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4bIOUJ3sc
“And what would be your business here?”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSe3iffjLc
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.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtt2mmIzLb
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xQ1zz0LQj
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwIZMQmgw6
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyZdtQCddw
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dZZVTo9HX
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwIWrLIsUb
“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?”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG3zIg0jd7
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?”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdIApCjCLY
“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?”.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMvvyUPqTY
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtMxq5sa0t
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1L2GCWcSm
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC20Y0FnZw
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qKcogOYEC
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGqw9Piftt
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTG3YMOEmP
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzTcoyjNlb
But there was something else. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDoT970TM8
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IeOamP4Ou
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcorZExw0M
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbvTiVihJu
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA40Jtrmp9E
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOTPZSAh1C
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyKdhb5tWO
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwDF3tkSHr
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF3ClVInYF
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1U25T9fgO
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZd43Mtk2z
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.”429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz7h4Xu41A
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqIEbft0Mv
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtAvWdBwX1
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgb7H7pJHi
“And what would be your business here?”429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eY3rtajzN
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. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC8yq2VcMd
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0TwX1MxSn
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XTSxoQjnG
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUh8jtOJJa
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGgzD6I56T
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObY0rdLl87
“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?” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPeUYyWvyp
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?” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHf1bTSx7e
“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?”. 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBib91sQ5It
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4ODavctIM
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69AoiMesCN
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyObrFj7rg
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZWbBGxhz6
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGEt64zRa0
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.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62ECuZRDTr
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2cpdhS2i4
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ8t3Kj4pv
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76IVGR1x7B
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeGNlJujDm
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrfDYdJNp2
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mwcUSlHGN
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFV9ILNQat
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLZCrunFxQ
