453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3dF0uZIP6
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHoDp3mCSL
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGaYiXDgDy
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGpnGL7eeI
But there was something else.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y0UdATv3m
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQkKOHYEnV
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6YVXVapiw
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFy9Ri1D5I
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nbL7C9AyO
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQOdQ3gekm
"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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUCBrxlpgh
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOCF2zZrYr
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRwNjwujJM
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCh1MF27tr
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.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQVYUy6CjT
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwEzN0z0Pm
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoalFKnH5X
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF27J5KOL8p
“And what would be your business here?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEzmIQKRlS
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.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFAu7tqB1a
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd4OPmJFyg
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16xuioCGQY
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIurdVVDqVA
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OMs9jqyFd
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6CunSjOVb
“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?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDh8cnQds0
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?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMBNFDMXeJ
“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?”.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP9iuNWkXM
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSvrzvLdOh
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLnAQjaF6H
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYmwcz3lon
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLlIzOEIZk
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5UlV8LZDD
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.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGDqEsH2Uo
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM8ASscWA8
But there was something else. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz3ABDfJlU
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlVIEUew5w
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7sQpZCyuZ
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf31bx1t0Iu
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkev7SlZo0v
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.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnytVQMj6S
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7baXM5aJ9o
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJErTmTnFwn
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB3IxALyMe
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerOlN29oPJ
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6glzDMopm
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.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen3MLUktXa
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qwe6wW3FS
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcG993gGCO
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGkkkpDsB9
“And what would be your business here?”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kkhjtNeTj
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. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItUNaC0aGN
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthbgsolSo9
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYdhsD8RPe
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPoGjJGg37
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeJWZiKchG
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBKczGAHqK
“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?” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73dOJtRNcO
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?” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLlYrBTbbD
“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?”. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Mb3wlOLi
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsgqtHk1QA
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwl5vBHene
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyTftP4AWs
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NdL0KKguE
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xyJgHzA2t
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.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAa2WkqOX9
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpxpLv55Ss
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqm3VwjAVm
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX92qwA4Kp
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx8JC5iMaB
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTh4qCoJdp
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5A9kpnhPf
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSGQKdZjX9
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspkycFl4lY
and then Add to home screen.