141Please respect copyright.PENANAnZx4zYfMJ1
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAt7zXPPrGOx
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANArOkaGvfhrN
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAZY1kaiS9lE
But there was something else.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAwg5IcBNka5
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAJTuBxVPqQb
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAXi1pAnlCnf
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAfDPYEJRo4q
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAaq6p5WjWQZ
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA91gQJ375vm
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAp6Qd0Y18DD
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAv5QPkRGOa4
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANACiIHj19DqV
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAYB9SmdyaF3
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAZDGzBZ80jW
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.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANANsAn9ZkGKO
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAzTc8JF3NTq
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA3d4JA5FTAJ
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA12PchHIGYU
“And what would be your business here?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAgorZtPf1sV
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.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA1nK1PZ2aPp
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAPvR6G0pYhu
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAcS0XRLREjd
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
141Please respect copyright.PENANACBgJ4Vx5gX
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA5SOUxzySwx
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAOWLK3kGDah
“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?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANASXWJa3tzHn
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?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAfPKNf9zVdH
“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?”.
141Please respect copyright.PENANADewJmeOJCG
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA6cMwNVjgfQ
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAvHL2Tg7Cgk
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAkSOuu9rkvb
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 141Please respect copyright.PENANAH4Z041GxXy
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAxIN5qenW89
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.141Please respect copyright.PENANAhTNOtCQG91
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAk6CDmRYwuP
But there was something else. 141Please respect copyright.PENANA8TQtbwazTR
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAeeOrUXWUQk
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANA4sNIJRQ3gg
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANANln0UcBuhI
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAAufy3GHqxr
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.141Please respect copyright.PENANA27K2Htodrs
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.141Please respect copyright.PENANA7bmnUVHDB7
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.141Please respect copyright.PENANAck4J3kbIcZ
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANANthxsklN2M
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAzIBX150QR7
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.141Please respect copyright.PENANAE91fIbTseO
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.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAB1ZbAfFhQY
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 141Please respect copyright.PENANA6TF2VAtFlW
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAT3uRNlyzmJ
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.141Please respect copyright.PENANALOynypbuUO
“And what would be your business here?”141Please respect copyright.PENANAY1P6NFZWiC
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. 141Please respect copyright.PENANA50U0PRRn0c
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.141Please respect copyright.PENANAQFSNvjF36a
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANA9KRhxeGqm5
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAJXLlgMjKwA
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAZuDFxZKWdo
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAezCEHnGEYK
“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?” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAXX3trsvhIx
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?” 141Please respect copyright.PENANABRQI5VKsdD
“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?”. 141Please respect copyright.PENANAVOI4G8E9XC
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAtdrMjuiz4Y
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANABaNKD4MDKI
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAaRAjPRJPdi
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAO9fdCQet5d
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.141Please respect copyright.PENANA5tEsKyBwbJ
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.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAIv6GBjcydr
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.141Please respect copyright.PENANAAlgftyFDkk
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAYOIu0tNDai
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAqzlboEzykV
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 141Please respect copyright.PENANAoMJV1R4ywg
141Please respect copyright.PENANAFgjDxF1qAC
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQiqXC3bGZx
141Please respect copyright.PENANAkxoUqZCgFC
141Please respect copyright.PENANADWe6hdm5M1