305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqM49CigDC
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.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ncA6pK5v1
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.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJrMzFc80e
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.
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But there was something else.
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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.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydonmhHGhr
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.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSbfrVMkB5
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.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh26v6vJCm
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.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi433DZkbO
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.
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"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
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Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
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"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyMCQt8a8U
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qADcGDKnq
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDTnSDFz7s
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.”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL4Dfiy83M
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5lmAdJxfh
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.
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Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOnUhTAhD4
“And what would be your business here?”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q5zR6saue
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.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIw3TTTohd
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy1RCvZdTQ
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
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Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eVbFI3SAm
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OzjSapoDE
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8uzh41DOM
“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?”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNzdyezAKi
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?”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBOwoJLhDk
“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?”.
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsqml3UAGi
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mXliotIBf
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA4kcitqFw
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpUgluLD54
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ1BCp6zx2
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghQYx3DJhc
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.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfdFGdlJgp
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9GQHIV7xK
But there was something else. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeFBjP2zZ1
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ1jp9F4Up
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqLakLyyKM
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIw8ff4Js0
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5HLezc0vV
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.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RFZNmsMV8
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKjP2MYxXq
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsS6Qi5Vq9
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG8HGa5Q41
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiu19DMBhH
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMOF903QMw
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.”305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeJKGRVsPt
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ffmH0X7Eg
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x8Gy5QUDv
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8iQ2200ZH
“And what would be your business here?”305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq9PGWJLrZ
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. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hJK1FwELO
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1McmpoaB7
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZdIm786K8
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBUwjH1lVX
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0hciRxTsF
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzNCbv4yiI
“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?” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzoMsbVzyO
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?” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTDl6V6FZr
“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?”. 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TB9weWOoP
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZZkyONngC
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdXPEY63HW
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nFSLFFTuq
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5mEgaZCTn
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4mEN01zBg
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.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7j7DxPHso
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKkEyIRvdK
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmrXm5XN4F
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANehLBaMn0
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC8fSt1sZt
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WbxdMXJsf
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