705Please respect copyright.PENANABXNczZD6np
705Please respect copyright.PENANAXY96mhbc6u
'The voice?! Of course I705Please respect copyright.PENANAAGsqaihk2Z
can hear it, I embrace it, I follow it, I worship it for what it is! 705Please respect copyright.PENANAW9a2APFGqp
The word of god! And I am a holy messenger! You all are heathens! 705Please respect copyright.PENANAWuaIRl26Wa
Believers in false gods! You hide from the true voice, you fear it, you 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmBqROe6PPN
shun it, you deny it! My only crime is that I am no coward!'705Please respect copyright.PENANAnOSt17GPf9
Extract from the trial 705Please respect copyright.PENANAC1wpS6AuiD
of Bloody Jack. Accused of murdering his whole village on the whims of 705Please respect copyright.PENANA8wAjzuayZY
an ether being and sentenced to death.705Please respect copyright.PENANAHDXN4L9kE9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------705Please respect copyright.PENANAZe0dxU7YWg
705Please respect copyright.PENANAkL8VWOR6L4
"I don't get it, why don't we go to a different isle? The Imperialsh will have ush shurrounded in no time."705Please respect copyright.PENANARe1mb2lSbW
~And here we go again, simple minded people asking simple minded questions~705Please respect copyright.PENANACIXiyhQ4ZW
"Too many people to move, they'll notice us."705Please respect copyright.PENANAotIkPXMr24
"Never shtopped ush before." A pause as the old man spat to the side. "What about fighting then, too little of ush?"705Please respect copyright.PENANAZsomPilaVI
Gob shook his head, 705Please respect copyright.PENANAO5lY1wQduD
tired. David could understand that, and he was annoyed he could 705Please respect copyright.PENANAKyqYfFLAc0
empathize with Gob. As per Gob's decision every time it was David's turn705Please respect copyright.PENANAdRfuPGJl35
to go patrolling Gob accompanied him. At first David found this 705Please respect copyright.PENANAFL09rngPZA
insulting, he was the paragon of trust after all, but after a few of 705Please respect copyright.PENANASsTOm5Co9q
such patrols he just found it annoying. Ever patrol was usually 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbZ5ScjG1Po
conducted with 3 or 4 people, usually with different people. There were a705Please respect copyright.PENANAFl8iaGiKQI
few constants in those groups though, the first was that David and Gob 705Please respect copyright.PENANATJqtAnvGOf
were in them and the second was that someone always asked when they 705Please respect copyright.PENANAU9FZgq9cOt
would move.705Please respect copyright.PENANANMNcfhrQIh
Now David has only been 705Please respect copyright.PENANAVNaQreXeBG
in the camp for a month now and managed to glean some information from 705Please respect copyright.PENANA4Sn6UaHGE2
the other rebels and just observations. There were three groups of 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmnRXcVNpHG
rebels. Peasants, peasant-soldiers and soldiers, as David liked to call 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5kvjMQ1ofB
them. Peasants and peasant-soldiers were the people with no, to only 705Please respect copyright.PENANAZgrwEip9IE
basic, military training. Such as Denis and his ilk. The soldiers 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbXpTZ6l74A
weren't necessary from the military, but they had more experience. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAyV9c4MCmrj
Experience wasn't the only difference, civilians and civilian soldiers 705Please respect copyright.PENANANeUJGadvYo
loved and trusted both Gob and Francesca. Soldiers only trusted Gob. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAa4sewlScy8
Which worked out nicely for David as he could use this discord and 705Please respect copyright.PENANAoj0kNefSb6
divided loyalties.705Please respect copyright.PENANAAVaBA3p2Sw
Another important thing 705Please respect copyright.PENANAsno2qLYfbF
he managed to find out was that the rebels had stayed on the same isle 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5SX6e6jZgR
for three months. Many of the rebels were unhappy with the prolonged 705Please respect copyright.PENANATZJ0f2DvJz
stay, especially the soldiers. This resulted in that question and Gob 705Please respect copyright.PENANAJKbjWI9xaQ
giving the same answer to anyone who asked. It was really riveting stuff705Please respect copyright.PENANAUzyIMHp4ao
for David, especially after hearing it for the twentieth third time. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAt0UraF4bE2
Ol' Stevie asked it around two or three times over the past few days to 705Please respect copyright.PENANA0LDxEsZ59J
their destination.705Please respect copyright.PENANAOo9gxUMf2R
Today they were out 705Please respect copyright.PENANAcBhE4yzRdf
looking at the new imperial camp, turning into more of a makeshift fort,705Please respect copyright.PENANA9gPMZzG70I
being built around the wreckage of the 'Flying Fish'. It was a crude 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5RL5NRPLe8
construction, something that could be easily taken apart. They were 705Please respect copyright.PENANALr7lgbN4Yd
joined by Rock and another rebel, called old toothless Stevie, on 705Please respect copyright.PENANAiKUOSLz8ly
account of him being old and having lost most of his teeth. 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5MgGgwpu25
"Yes, now shut up and 705Please respect copyright.PENANAYdh5Ro0vCn
remember everything you can about the imperials." Stevie shrugged at 705Please respect copyright.PENANAFbleBaDQej
that and continued looking through his binocular. David kept further 705Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5TMxNZ4om
away from the pair, watching their backs with Rock, the youth did not 705Please respect copyright.PENANAwdQPEHtUVj
become any more talkative during Davids stay in the caves.705Please respect copyright.PENANA0fgyAw0l6V
They were at their 705Please respect copyright.PENANAYTDYEysqDa
lookout spot for a few hours at this point and David was glad he didn't 705Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ma8IjjeGF
feel any magical tugs coming from that direction, after discussing it 705Please respect copyright.PENANAk7qcxL6P4z
with Francesca it turned out that what David felt was a magical tug, 705Please respect copyright.PENANA39Yd1VG14w
looked like the imperial soldier wasn't anywhere near it.705Please respect copyright.PENANAFlh0lk5tno
"Alright, that's enough.705Please respect copyright.PENANAawg6JxntnG
Let's head back." Gob proclaimed to the group and David sighted in 705Please respect copyright.PENANAMWFwDCr2OK
relief. Thankfully David was given new shoes, to help him walk, as well 705Please respect copyright.PENANAR9jJigyaKG
as new clothes and even an eyepatch. The walk itself was silent and 705Please respect copyright.PENANAShKb5IHUzE
brutal. Gob set a murderous pace and he didn't look back to check on any705Please respect copyright.PENANAe1R22ZSskm
of them except for Rock, who bore it with his usual silence.705Please respect copyright.PENANAbKZkrt0Lqw
David walked in silence 705Please respect copyright.PENANAA0A3rCKvZn
as well. More to preserve his breathe, than anything else, as he felt 705Please respect copyright.PENANASsA6XtBlNW
that he would fall to the ground if he even tried speaking. Toothless 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvhtnRHRlPD
Stevie may have been old and not have teeth, but he had more stamina 705Please respect copyright.PENANAJGFrCNOuCC
than David, farm work really built you up for long hours of activity.705Please respect copyright.PENANA8EFxjvgXg5
A walk that would've 705Please respect copyright.PENANA4W6GNkJiX4
taken most of the day was managed in about half a day. David was so glad705Please respect copyright.PENANAfAxbgzFz5v
to see the damp cave that he was ready to kiss the rocks when he came 705Please respect copyright.PENANAwYRharTAKz
inside. The camp itself did not change much over the past month and 705Please respect copyright.PENANAMNIjX8gc7h
David was still the new guy. Though he made good strides in integrating 705Please respect copyright.PENANAMzyCfBhEiT
himself as most of rebels waved to him in greeting.705Please respect copyright.PENANAy1Hy6e30i5
"I'll go report to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAWRZ4dPrdsc
Francesca. You can go relax." Gob passed David without a glance at him. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAYUXQsJ3vXB
The fact that Gob didn't glare or spit at David's direction must've 705Please respect copyright.PENANAFNT2PLsTtX
meant that he was finally warming up to him! At least it was more than 705Please respect copyright.PENANAlMHl98Q47S
David got over the past month, in fact he was ready to give up on ever 705Please respect copyright.PENANAdZFSYiKHC6
winning Gob over.705Please respect copyright.PENANArI3BtvBmJO
Francesca on the other 705Please respect copyright.PENANAoOPfLNMi6F
hand warmed up to him quite fast. As Denis summarized and David 705Please respect copyright.PENANAotq43Gca2Q
confirmed she was a noble, a well read and knowledgeable noble but 705Please respect copyright.PENANA7X75uMnt0i
someone who hasn't left her estate a lot and has never traveled outside 705Please respect copyright.PENANA2JC8TGUgh6
the empire. While David was the well-traveled dashing smuggler. He 705Please respect copyright.PENANAVaBlB4spLI
managed to enthrall her with made up stories and adventures. To be fair 705Please respect copyright.PENANAoaYYSIVvia
to Francesca she wasn't the only one falling under David's charm. As 705Please respect copyright.PENANAAo0UnwqE5I
most of the rebels found it hard to resist the dashing rogue act.705Please respect copyright.PENANAE22aKa5r7N
David just wished he 705Please respect copyright.PENANAVF0vuKOjqK
could win them over without going on patrols and risking his life. Oh 705Please respect copyright.PENANAB0OQoImokC
well no one said being a parasite was easy.705Please respect copyright.PENANAnpS6VcSxbM
Further down the camps 705Please respect copyright.PENANAEdPJ7AqbgV
he could see Twitch, the nervous brother of Denis. Over the past month 705Please respect copyright.PENANAeaJoLe3cEq
he integrated himself with the siblings, becoming a part of their gang. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAYNPrmiYWVB
As the siblings were liked by the rebels in general this made them trust705Please respect copyright.PENANA6qH59VrCDH
David all the more. David decided to join Twitch so he snuck up behind 705Please respect copyright.PENANAO8230QY3gX
him. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAVBCROvV1CR
"What'cha doing?"705Please respect copyright.PENANA7VJYwX6Jtf
Twitch practically jumped out of his own skin. "Agh! Oh D-david. Don't s-scare me l-l-like that."705Please respect copyright.PENANAcYQ5zQ600v
"Sorry, twitch." David said patting the boys shoulder. "Didn't mean to, you know I hate doing it." He loved it705Please respect copyright.PENANAZZNdrma1hw
Twitch nodded and stood beside David." 'S alright. I-I-I'm just easily sca-ar-ared."705Please respect copyright.PENANAugHZo0S8ch
David nodded. The boy 705Please respect copyright.PENANAzLdjBwjkvz
was lucky to have any friends at all." Nothing wrong with being scared."705Please respect copyright.PENANAWFEfjn7wTO
He said with a comforting smile. "We all have our own strengths, like 705Please respect copyright.PENANA7ScqiVYaly
you..." David paused for a bit racking his mind for something to say. "A705Please respect copyright.PENANAyODQG9Mxxx
poet! A man of dreams! How're your poems going anyway? I still want to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAGyCy354zOr
read them someday."705Please respect copyright.PENANAkrFcfetOtM
Twitch muttered 705Please respect copyright.PENANArioryV5PM0
something under his breathe. David motioned with his hand for him to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAhpRw3EfzNB
speak up. "...n-not poems. But son-so-songs."705Please respect copyright.PENANAvN86ofEkdE
David stopped himself from shrugging and smiled. "Songs, even better then! Why not create a song for the rebellion?"705Please respect copyright.PENANABiPQrArNPB
Twitch started shaking 705Please respect copyright.PENANA7fnj0rIHw4
his head but before the words: 'No' formed on his mouth a voice 705Please respect copyright.PENANAlj0WWdsWHE
interrupted them. "A hymn truly sounds marvelous!" Francesca made Twitch705Please respect copyright.PENANALCn0cxB7oh
jump back even more than David did705Please respect copyright.PENANAoDHe1qwK0p
"I-I-I" He continued in that vain for a while.705Please respect copyright.PENANAzEspk4KMUY
"Speak up soldier!" Gobs705Please respect copyright.PENANAZziOxIoPOw
voice resounded around the cave, making everyone glance at Twitch, 705Please respect copyright.PENANAMXw5WY91n6
which should've made his stuttering worse. But his fear of Gob took over705Please respect copyright.PENANAzjNdU1od1F
any instinct he had.705Please respect copyright.PENANAGNVZFvfgnL
"I'mnotgoodenough!" He 705Please respect copyright.PENANAEsGdXbQHSW
said as fast possible. David was astounded it was probably the first 705Please respect copyright.PENANARwvFQMyxgk
time the boy didn't stutter. Not that he could understand what he said 705Please respect copyright.PENANAHjHR2rwL4t
now.705Please respect copyright.PENANA3N81lHAMXG
"Nonsense." Francesca 705Please respect copyright.PENANA6mhFND7sv3
put her hand on Twitch's shoulder. She didn't seem to have any trouble 705Please respect copyright.PENANAk30eU7FR7O
understanding him. "Write me a song when you can, and we will sing it, 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5OKhVshXav
all of us together." She projected her voice to others nearby which 705Please respect copyright.PENANAldkJlf7MuW
raised a rugged cheer. That just made Twitch hide his face as it went 705Please respect copyright.PENANAviFaLY6b5e
dark red.705Please respect copyright.PENANAA5OZwdh8aF
Francesca spared Twitch 705Please respect copyright.PENANAyrVi3gIwZ4
one last warm smile and turned to the rest of the rebels standing 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbXzY0MXzwv
around. "It's time for your daily studies! Spread the message!" Both 705Please respect copyright.PENANAh5OpD7mstQ
children and adults listened to Francesca, without a hint of 705Please respect copyright.PENANAh4A6VHLSdp
disobedience, and started moving in one line to the study cavern, as it 705Please respect copyright.PENANAQFQzkjcjbg
was popularly called.705Please respect copyright.PENANAvnDlI26AqI
The rebels not only 705Please respect copyright.PENANAst2eJdsZqD
respected Francesca for her leadership and attitude towards the 705Please respect copyright.PENANAA5QQdK5OV3
peasantry, but also her attempts to educate them. Most of the rebels 705Please respect copyright.PENANAK5LHdrDzct
didn't know how to read or basic math while Francesca was an educated 705Please respect copyright.PENANALu6xif0dAq
noble, thus she decided to teach everyone in the rebellion the basics. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAf2PBIkzces
No one was barred from the lessons and both young and old were invited 705Please respect copyright.PENANAfMR7qW6Nhz
to them. 705Please respect copyright.PENANARce4lrNXIi
David attended one of 705Please respect copyright.PENANA7JKbiVhUBv
those lessons but found himself too bored to continue. They were talking705Please respect copyright.PENANAMAtpt7n2bT
about letter and numbers and some researcher named Vesputti or 705Please respect copyright.PENANAf8KZvxPlZE
something similar. Thus, he skipped over on those lessons, he wasn't the705Please respect copyright.PENANAkKT2dXGknY
only one as most of the adults had decided that they were too old to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbjaU2EDRon
learn anything new.705Please respect copyright.PENANAoNbGiAC6yU
Before leading her group705Please respect copyright.PENANA58iVKA2w7C
to the secluded cavern, Francesca approached David. "I'd like if you'd 705Please respect copyright.PENANAVbeD47BDhr
dine with me tonight, if it's to your liking?"705Please respect copyright.PENANAy0xzRYjtdD
"Of course, I'll see you705Please respect copyright.PENANAiSps92Lm0V
later." Francesca did that sometimes, inviting David over. Chatting 705Please respect copyright.PENANA9pdog6eiTy
about trivialities, like whether he had any more vision about The Five. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAm9SHiiAcmG
Thankfully Jester didn't deign to appear yet so David managed to sleep 705Please respect copyright.PENANAaKkqSzONfy
peacefully, well not accounting the strange dreams about some boy crying705Please respect copyright.PENANAjbgkH6jOH3
and calling for his mummy. Those dreams made David wake up in a foul 705Please respect copyright.PENANAKW5SJ1jmCA
mood, he wasn't certain why but thought it could be because he didn't 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmOBG71CBLH
remember his parents or family.705Please respect copyright.PENANAjJOOe1LNNg
Francesca, unaware of 705Please respect copyright.PENANAjAL6MNjol9
David's thoughts or dreams, nodded with a smile and led her group from 705Please respect copyright.PENANAsdrEQO9fcE
the main cavern. Twitch following her and joining his sibling to whom 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbHoEIK7v3b
David waved. Turning around he came face to face with Nook.705Please respect copyright.PENANAcUWtSDtViJ
"I'm off duty now, got some guys looking for a game. You're in?"705Please respect copyright.PENANACs2j2W0ERW
Nook was an interesting 705Please respect copyright.PENANA4aph8NKMaa
case, while he was definitely Gob's man he didn't seem to be as 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvM0OPqjqIN
disciplined as the other soldiers. He was also one of the few soldiers 705Please respect copyright.PENANAiidtpw2sbs
who was friendly with David instead of following Gob's lead and hating 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvSuvTMIN9I
his guts. So they decided to have a card game here and there while 705Please respect copyright.PENANAWY80dzkafG
inviting other people, a card game in which David lost more often than 705Please respect copyright.PENANAY5Y9shSxEz
not. While David hated losing in cards it was a good method of making 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5G4nJVgcik
friends and getting to know people. As well as a guarantee to keep 705Please respect copyright.PENANAPg5qTuJ0iZ
getting invited as long as you lost smart and graciously accepted it.705Please respect copyright.PENANAxbF3jGQWnz
"Aye, why not Nook. Maybe I'll clean house this time."705Please respect copyright.PENANADb7RBDYmRP
Nook grinned a 705Please respect copyright.PENANAJYh2mc5TSw
predator's smile and led David towards a secluded table. While gambling 705Please respect copyright.PENANAG1dxQEMJPp
wasn't banned or anything, as long as you were off duty, it was frowned 705Please respect copyright.PENANATBDh9CTAuY
upon by Gob. That and most rebels having limited resources. Having only 705Please respect copyright.PENANAGFTmx7gxu7
their clothes and weapons stolen from the empire or brought on their 705Please respect copyright.PENANAA7GodV2LIb
backs.705Please respect copyright.PENANAF39FlT6ABa
Thus any card games were705Please respect copyright.PENANA4xaSPheESu
just that, games to pass the time. At least until David proposed to bet705Please respect copyright.PENANAUAlpbM74Do
their rations. Everyone received the basic rations few times per day 705Please respect copyright.PENANAkhMnbO1ieq
and it was up to them how much of that they ate. It was barely enough to705Please respect copyright.PENANAQtU6kNuEgE
feed a healthy adult. As they have been on this isle for a while it was705Please respect copyright.PENANAMg7cFyPauo
harder to find fresh animals to hunt every day. A lot of the rebels 705Please respect copyright.PENANADJpqQtvXVh
were opposed to that idea as they'd loose on the last bits of food they 705Please respect copyright.PENANAk9tlLWv4Oe
did have.705Please respect copyright.PENANAZshhgBmlhn
Some did think it was a 705Please respect copyright.PENANA27rGF99lXS
brilliant idea and David was sitting down with a few of them right now. 705Please respect copyright.PENANA20PjkvO0tN
Nook, he was confident in his card abilities. Apparently before joining 705Please respect copyright.PENANAxN6MZtgzkw
the rebellion he was a militiaman in his village and gambled a lot. As 705Please respect copyright.PENANAQXWpD1MmGG
far as David could see he was more lucky than actually good. Old 705Please respect copyright.PENANAd6ig8PpMR2
toothless Stevie, he joked that if he did lose his rations that it would705Please respect copyright.PENANArAmBR5fyeG
save his last teeth. He also wasn't afraid to bet most of his rations 705Please respect copyright.PENANAhE5rEUmN6N
scaring the other players into folding, a good bluffer. Finally there 705Please respect copyright.PENANAsmooI65nKx
was Tiruk, a huge man who definitely needed more rations just to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAaGd5v1NI3H
survive. It surprised David anyone could keep that weight with tight the705Please respect copyright.PENANA2oX0zj5LB7
food has been.705Please respect copyright.PENANAQrdxS1rEMf
They were the four main 705Please respect copyright.PENANAg4tn7zV2Dw
players who usually joined the gambling games. Sometimes others joined 705Please respect copyright.PENANAZND1nHeKk1
but they usually stopped after going hungry for a day or two as they 705Please respect copyright.PENANAU54RMnTFbo
lost their rations. These four though didn't give up after losing, 705Please respect copyright.PENANA0eNhQcvmzb
because they knew that their chances of a feast were just around the 705Please respect copyright.PENANAiYMy5Iev2M
corner. That fact created a sense of comradeship between the players. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAnH04Js74Z3
Even if they were playing against each other they understood the risks 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmvj8NDcXRA
and accepted them.705Please respect copyright.PENANAIVoO2fWoRX
"''Ello boys." David 705Please respect copyright.PENANAf8WujuepAd
said sitting down at the table with Nook. There were nods all around the705Please respect copyright.PENANAFCULpEXr9O
table and the cards were dealt. They were playing a card game called 705Please respect copyright.PENANAozI7PjYxFy
match 'n go. Most of the rebels had not heard of the game or at least 705Please respect copyright.PENANA94pMHyj4qV
knew it under a different name but most of them caught on fast, it was 705Please respect copyright.PENANAsDSLSLqaZw
often just played for fun. But the best games came from betting. As the 705Please respect copyright.PENANAK8o30XtYMW
risks went higher you tried to fool your opponent into thinking that you705Please respect copyright.PENANA4hng3tK3Kc
had the match or a higher card. David loved risk games like that, he 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmhlcikf7E0
loved reading the other player emotions and using it against them or at 705Please respect copyright.PENANAi3Op9DpULU
least for his own benefit. 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5lAjR2K0LJ
Nook was the first to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAO8H5bFPVDv
play. "I'm betting half of my rations on this. Gots a good deck, that I 705Please respect copyright.PENANAy7B5j5diBn
do." David could see the plastered smile on his face. At this point 705Please respect copyright.PENANALu7WNfRF61
David could tell fake between real in a heartbeat. Nook was bluffing.705Please respect copyright.PENANAT7uTCeWZxP
"Alright, I'll call that." David answered.705Please respect copyright.PENANAVCkxTwR21Q
Tiruk, in answer, just 705Please respect copyright.PENANAzYFisaS5Xe
shook his head and folded. He wasn't risking it. Stevenson with his 705Please respect copyright.PENANADqmEowaaii
gaped smile called it as well and cackled a bit.705Please respect copyright.PENANAAiWSmFE3ce
Next card revealed. A 3 705Please respect copyright.PENANAp0YlXPbUEB
for Davids two threes. He'd have to fold that game, too high chance of 705Please respect copyright.PENANATNPl0ENf1N
winning. So it went on and on, rations were won and lost. David won a 705Please respect copyright.PENANAeETLqSPLIi
few games but then he bet everything and lost on purpose, made Stevie a 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbHB4tDLqFt
very happy, old, man.705Please respect copyright.PENANA5aZYaWjbbH
Since David didn't have 705Please respect copyright.PENANAntaqdt6Ydd
anything to bet with anymore he made his excuses and left the table. He 705Please respect copyright.PENANAY0C8uV4L1O
took a look around for Gob and didn't see him anywhere so decided it 705Please respect copyright.PENANATsicCNtZwu
would be safe to take a walk.705Please respect copyright.PENANAPwroEvcVAh
Another thing he took to705Please respect copyright.PENANAbhhUxVCchp
doing over the past two weeks was exploring, finding any secret spaces 705Please respect copyright.PENANAwR8frP3gYx
where he might hide. The rebels themselves only found one possible 705Please respect copyright.PENANA307hmrzGNa
emergency exit while David found three. Of course the other two exits 705Please respect copyright.PENANAEzmAsIkusM
only were wide enough for one person to pass through at a time. So it 705Please respect copyright.PENANAQjsDgBdGcf
could be that they just didn't consider them as such.705Please respect copyright.PENANAphjRJHfKPX
He also found various 705Please respect copyright.PENANAYiOsPrJOZK
hiding spots, not only for him but for items he stole. Weapons, 705Please respect copyright.PENANAxPiSoWAENz
ammunition, food and the like. If only a small amount disappeared at a 705Please respect copyright.PENANA0gEPsCn6Tn
time no one really noticed and attributed it to absentmindedness. Though705Please respect copyright.PENANASla9uMZvjD
David believed Gob was getting suspicious so he would need to start 705Please respect copyright.PENANAAO0AV2U0L9
being more careful.705Please respect copyright.PENANAh8C0uI36Ph
The caves themselves 705Please respect copyright.PENANA9wSMZEzvSO
seemed to go through the whole isle, David didn't believe he explored 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbhhvE7HmAY
even half of it. Gob tried to send a few soldiers every day to explore 705Please respect copyright.PENANApnGdIkMG0e
further into the caves, but many were afraid of the dark, believing 705Please respect copyright.PENANAFrnz8HsrHk
various beasts were residing in them. Refusing to go inside without Gob 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmW3bv04tkE
and since Gob was usually busy either creating or being out on patrols 705Please respect copyright.PENANAKxISr4y71D
himself that limited their exploring time.705Please respect copyright.PENANAHN3ATx2zRy
That let David offer his705Please respect copyright.PENANAucVGmuOVDf
services as an explorer. He would explore the further caves and would 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvyT2KKmA8r
report on any worrying circumstances. Gob was reluctant to let him go 705Please respect copyright.PENANAyJipmvTn1p
but was convinced by Francesca that it would be a grand idea as it would705Please respect copyright.PENANAzZs730zHzI
free more people for patrols and other duties.705Please respect copyright.PENANAaPzXmcuTUo
This time though he had a705Please respect copyright.PENANACbzGxoQf5q
destination in mind. A bit further into one of the pathways, about an 705Please respect copyright.PENANAhlmzkNiG6i
hour from the main cavern, there was a small pathway where a thin person705Please respect copyright.PENANAYjEsunJI1j
could barely fit. Following that pathway, if you could survive the 705Please respect copyright.PENANAFrfcK1cU3X
feeling of getting crushed by the walls, was a pool. David was surprised705Please respect copyright.PENANA1MeDFsFP3h
when he found and astonished when he discovered the water was hot. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAXRzH1xmygS
That's where he was 705Please respect copyright.PENANAjAW7bVcxLJ
going now; he needed a clear head for Francesca's meeting. No matter how705Please respect copyright.PENANA26InZy2cqR
she acted she was a noble, they always sought the best deals for 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmYuF5yJRvj
themselves, always trying to ledge a situation in their favour. David 705Please respect copyright.PENANAoHAxGwdpFo
would need to be on his toes. Or maybe he just wanted to actually relax 705Please respect copyright.PENANA74K42sqZRj
without anyone screaming or crying, he didn't decide which one sounded 705Please respect copyright.PENANA8tyxF9mKdX
better in his mind.705Please respect copyright.PENANAb017m7E6UQ
Thus grabbing a torch as705Please respect copyright.PENANAFr33GCzRRV
many of the pathways further down weren't lit, he began his, 705Please respect copyright.PENANAeMrmjqxy4Z
uneventful, journey. Luckily he reached his destination in a timely 705Please respect copyright.PENANAgV06hbSTqb
manner, though he hated going through that cramped space. He gave a 705Please respect copyright.PENANAxuCVb9mmhq
satisfied sigh as he sat down in the pool, his muscles losing the 705Please respect copyright.PENANAPBFG52NIqe
tension he gathered over the past few weeks, the water reached up to his705Please respect copyright.PENANAoEpDBfkTo5
chest and he dunked his head under the water finally enjoying a proper 705Please respect copyright.PENANAfmrQMzhJ0J
clean. He was careful to keep track of time but other than that he let 705Please respect copyright.PENANAeykziO3RDk
his mind wander and just blanked out. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvJ7PPsHz1w
Before he even noticed, 705Please respect copyright.PENANA5Xq4LLUk1i
to David's disappointment, it was time to leave. He was also saddened by705Please respect copyright.PENANABxHq7cIPK7
the fact that the water ended up a bit darker after his bath, a way to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAQSWvKRVYdH
hit a guys confidence. With a sad sigh he put on his dirty and worn out 705Please respect copyright.PENANA0uoRzfQPQi
clothes and went back to the main cavern to the sound of activity and 705Please respect copyright.PENANANKzpsGK8ln
the smell of unwashed masses.705Please respect copyright.PENANADwdebqnKmH
It did seem that David 705Please respect copyright.PENANAwNZDfHYilz
came back just in time as people were gathered near the cooking pots to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmSCRbuACC1
gather their rations. David did the same and then found Stevie, sitting 705Please respect copyright.PENANAM8F6uSeXmL
with some other older rebels, and gave him his rations. Stevie nodded 705Please respect copyright.PENANAWLOFSfzFW3
and had a sparkle in his eye. "Maybe nexsht time you can save me 705Please respect copyright.PENANARK65uks63E
teethsh." And he cackled at his joke. David managed a weak laugh that 705Please respect copyright.PENANA89hl1P0Ut5
seemed to satisfy Stevie.705Please respect copyright.PENANABR1jlM3XEz
"Don't keep Francesca 705Please respect copyright.PENANAmeTw8NKHxR
waiting." Came a gruff voice from behind. David tried to hide his 705Please respect copyright.PENANA10HzsdghjC
annoyance at the fact that Gob managed to sneak up on him and scare him.705Please respect copyright.PENANA6QTyGeL2EI
Some people just had no sense of proper manners.705Please respect copyright.PENANAUFVR4bcZyw
"Oh I wouldn't dare." 705Please respect copyright.PENANAV2GEhtJcie
He gave a mock bow which seemed to infuriate Gob more. "I was just out 705Please respect copyright.PENANA6RfAbndMSu
exploring, nothing to report so far, sir Gob." Gob just grunted and 705Please respect copyright.PENANABlnhHBw1hE
walked away. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAFD81bSlcXb
David smiled and waved 705Please respect copyright.PENANAizRQfP6tb5
after him, the guy really needed to unwind. With nothing else to do but 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbE0FQ9KDnV
shrug at that thought David went towards Francesca's room. Even if 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvE0S5O495u
Francesca did pretend to be all for equality and the like she still had 705Please respect copyright.PENANA6TivNU7fZ0
her personal quarters, such as they were, as well as an actual bed, 705Please respect copyright.PENANASKzSgYzqfL
table, chairs. They were shoddy work at best, crafted quickly by some of705Please respect copyright.PENANAQWhtDdC2LK
the rebels, but they were more than anything any other rebel had. David705Please respect copyright.PENANAVuboAhq9wX
was impressed by how she had more and yet most still perceived her as 705Please respect copyright.PENANAYxteK7N07x
the paragon of virtue.705Please respect copyright.PENANA6cf0H7wUGP
Her room, as per usual, 705Please respect copyright.PENANA9QTeuinylN
was guarded. But the guard waved him on with a smile. David saw it as a 705Please respect copyright.PENANA6b3Kqa1PhP
pointless precaution anyway, but what could you do. Francesca herself 705Please respect copyright.PENANAMD2BTDwtdS
was already seated, with a torch in the middle of the table, a pale 705Please respect copyright.PENANA3cS9p8TmKe
imitation of a candle. One thing the rebels had a lot of were torches, 705Please respect copyright.PENANAnFl4oJPcpX
to light up all caverns and pathways. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAdkJSbFWIuL
"Oh, David! Please sit" she gestured towards the second chair.705Please respect copyright.PENANAi3yVhryD52
David sat down with a 705Please respect copyright.PENANAJWue53m521
nod and smile. They weren't eating anything extravagant, just what the 705Please respect copyright.PENANAZiO5pGDyGE
rest were. Dried meat, nuts, sometimes if they were lucky they could 705Please respect copyright.PENANAuiHs9G3axY
even get rabbit or vegetable soup, but that more of a luxury nowadays. 705Please respect copyright.PENANA4eS1II2QBj
This time it was some dried meat of unknown origin and some water found 705Please respect copyright.PENANApks0A01Qlj
in a stream. Delicious.705Please respect copyright.PENANAKYXkcNjaq4
"So pleasantries first or business first?"705Please respect copyright.PENANAEcr6l6HxiH
"I found that going straight to business can ruin a healthy appetite."705Please respect copyright.PENANA6fc9Ec0Uxn
Francesca nodded and 705Please respect copyright.PENANABOEfkbC4ek
began to cut her meat with her wooden utensils. While David had similar 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvnu0fmz9ev
equipment he didn't really find much use of them and found it better to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAAYIWl89eTg
eat with his own hands. Made it faster and when you're under cannon fire705Please respect copyright.PENANAFANCwlniis
fast eating was paramount.705Please respect copyright.PENANAEPdma90q7L
As expected David 705Please respect copyright.PENANAJn8Vs4Ka3L
finished his portion first and ended up waiting for Francesca to finish 705Please respect copyright.PENANAP0I23huJHD
hers, which took another 5 or 10 minutes. The girl was certainly a 705Please respect copyright.PENANAe0LoI26VYf
deliberate eater.705Please respect copyright.PENANAI2TgS1q8cB
"So on to business." She705Please respect copyright.PENANAIMb6tshR6V
paused making sure David was ready, once he nodded she continued. "Tell705Please respect copyright.PENANAUABHwrXXwo
me, do you know who actually hired your services?"705Please respect copyright.PENANACfVMBsM17K
"No idea, captain was usually tight lipped about our clients. I just always assumed it was one of you guys."705Please respect copyright.PENANA3hexWfLuJz
"In a way. It's someone 705Please respect copyright.PENANAXs4uTwOavC
who's...interested in our cause. One of Gob's friends. He is able to get705Please respect copyright.PENANAXpFLlQV1vR
in and out of the isles without arousing too much suspicion."705Please respect copyright.PENANAxL5vW5ZHKh
"Can't imagine you can tell me who it is?"705Please respect copyright.PENANAXHszKkYEbQ
"It's not for me to tell sadly, Gob was adamant that it's best kept as secret." Francesca smiled apologetically "apologies"705Please respect copyright.PENANAMNnASe7PnO
David waved his hand in a playful manner. "No worries, I'm surprised you're telling me any of this in the first place."705Please respect copyright.PENANAnKaiLRTIma
"Well, there is a 705Please respect copyright.PENANAktTPF8egaM
reason. Since the weapons we got previously are in the Empire's hands 705Please respect copyright.PENANAWOi9wtNNbT
and we can't fight them for it." Putting it lightly the rebels never 705Please respect copyright.PENANARsYVlIBxpB
really fought the empire in a straight on fight. Mostly raids and 705Please respect copyright.PENANAX55om53qj9
recruiting villagers with their possessions. Easy pickings. "Gob got in 705Please respect copyright.PENANAxnYdFqNNSS
touch with his friend again and luckily we managed to set up a meeting 705Please respect copyright.PENANACiJPHICCFt
in a few days the edge of a different isle.705Please respect copyright.PENANATCusW8bQNQ
"We will also be moving 705Please respect copyright.PENANAbO813ENftb
our base" she continued, sadly. "I can't keep us here with the danger 705Please respect copyright.PENANAycrmdJYgrD
increasing, so we will move slowly, to an isle we were based in before 705Please respect copyright.PENANAabNGeWmIZ3
so some will know where to go."705Please respect copyright.PENANAa3FmTRDg8I
"That's good, why did 705Please respect copyright.PENANADi5YqZNCvt
you want to keep us here for this long anyway?" While he was annoyed at 705Please respect copyright.PENANAjXfkLzUrQ2
hearing that question every time he went on patrols, he couldn't deny he705Please respect copyright.PENANAtWMnUixwQF
was interested in the answer.705Please respect copyright.PENANAdvYTRJK6Ss
"It...It has to do with one of The Five. I can't reveal more in fear that it might interfere with your objective. "705Please respect copyright.PENANAYkPHgEnSCI
David nodded, not a full705Please respect copyright.PENANACHQ2APsUIA
answer he wanted but to push might create a rift between them. Religion705Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6W7Mzj6Wy
was pretty important to Francesca "Don't worry; you don't have to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAeihdPhScgW
reveal anything you don't want want to." He said in a soothing tone705Please respect copyright.PENANAzHDeHCxP0u
"Thank you." She said 705Please respect copyright.PENANAcSxCnvSFlz
gratefully. "Where was I? Oh, yes. We'll have groups with specified 705Please respect copyright.PENANAVOKh5rk7z0
leaders going back to that previous isle, they'll lead them and we'll 705Please respect copyright.PENANA8OA3CRAeCk
regroup at a specified point."705Please respect copyright.PENANAshpbrtoSlk
"How will you get 705Please respect copyright.PENANAkM7abyTHkE
everyone over to the next isle?" Isles were divided by cracks, and while705Please respect copyright.PENANAKBNpyQh9Ow
some you could jump over, others were so wide you could fit a full 705Please respect copyright.PENANA6WRHt4oN26
city.705Please respect copyright.PENANAbDFStVzkGD
"We have small sky 705Please respect copyright.PENANAOsEDFdVbva
boats. Some of the groups will use it...Others...Others will need to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAiAyOX46SLb
find their own way" she said in bitter tones. "I don't like that, we're 705Please respect copyright.PENANAHZ1F49yOwt
abandoning my people. But Gob said it's too dangerous traveling in a big705Please respect copyright.PENANAlo7H4B6Lmq
group."705Please respect copyright.PENANAUzYrI2id3Y
"You're a good leader on your own. You should trust your own instincts." Ah finally! An opportunity to create that rift705Please respect copyright.PENANA1LFsEXcqvK
She gave him a sad smile705Please respect copyright.PENANAlT1c8tZLh7
in response. "Thank you, but I do not a good head for tactics or 705Please respect copyright.PENANAnjKqv0SdPf
military matters. I've had some education on it, but Gob is much better 705Please respect copyright.PENANAiHop0mLImy
at it." David still wasn't sure just what Gob did before the rebellion. 705Please respect copyright.PENANAioh4hFguYx
Francesca stated that the past did not matter and as long as they were 705Please respect copyright.PENANAQiHtaC2btR
willing to fight for the rebellions ideals they would be allowed to keep705Please respect copyright.PENANAwPbABqH0XD
their past in the past.705Please respect copyright.PENANAPAkv8QjrBD
"Now then, back to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAShYalV0ulk
business." She said more cheerily. "Myself and Gob will be meeting that 705Please respect copyright.PENANAo8RhLDYWg5
person in a few days. We will have guards but I'd also like for you to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAGWykCQ7NMg
come. You're well-traveled and met many people; your advice would be 705Please respect copyright.PENANAoPtTm3NGU6
valuable, especially since we'll only be bartering for them."705Please respect copyright.PENANA4QKMGHCrBi
"You'll have it. I'm 705Please respect copyright.PENANAetGW2tUAIJ
more than happy to join you." While he wasn't looking forward to 705Please respect copyright.PENANAO79CZ5a2Ra
sleeping with all the insects again, it might help his back to not sleep705Please respect copyright.PENANASQ0T1TCgVC
on a rock hard surface.705Please respect copyright.PENANAXsLkADCs2g
"Perfect! I'll let Gob know and convince him as well." She laughed sheepishly. "I didn't really confirm this with him you see."705Please respect copyright.PENANA3JskJUY6uD
"Oh, the guy loves me. It'll be easy." Francesca smiled at that, she knew just how much Gob hated David.705Please respect copyright.PENANAIPA2Ugik8q
A lull in the conversation and then a question David was dreading "Did you have any more visions? From the one who chose you?"705Please respect copyright.PENANAvBtWZh4pvp
"Sadly no, I'm as 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvxHsfldhgH
clueless as when I was born." This wasn't exactly true. He knew he had 705Please respect copyright.PENANAxPwJPXIWvN
to find something, and suspected Francesca was after it as well he 705Please respect copyright.PENANAAuv4EH1iky
suspected it was on this isle. Francesca seemed to know more, but she 705Please respect copyright.PENANAvGFEyG966X
wasn't willing to reveal it. She might hide it under lofty ideals, but 705Please respect copyright.PENANAQyOgZVWi2k
she was concealing the truth from both David and the rebels.705Please respect copyright.PENANARp5IFkD4Hf
"Do not worry, I am 705Please respect copyright.PENANAMbNlvqSjuU
su..." before she could continue their whole world rocked. As explosions705Please respect copyright.PENANAKUIihnLmsO
rang from outside and rubble started falling all around them., hitting 705Please respect copyright.PENANAnoSf72wY0p
the table and dislodging the torch, casting ominous shadows on the walls705Please respect copyright.PENANACfb8ElYhaT
"Wha..." before David could finish his thought a very worried Gob barged in. 705Please respect copyright.PENANA41NAJrMtYv
"We're under attack, they found us."
705Please respect copyright.PENANAn290sVlZBY
705Please respect copyright.PENANAiB0CBYQRTJ