703Please respect copyright.PENANAx2YFbCxiBP
703Please respect copyright.PENANAnxdIPIWyC3
'The voice?! Of course I703Please respect copyright.PENANAYqy5pufbv3
can hear it, I embrace it, I follow it, I worship it for what it is! 703Please respect copyright.PENANAEdG9bUABbi
The word of god! And I am a holy messenger! You all are heathens! 703Please respect copyright.PENANAYyzeTU58Vc
Believers in false gods! You hide from the true voice, you fear it, you 703Please respect copyright.PENANA5LiMxRmWNm
shun it, you deny it! My only crime is that I am no coward!'703Please respect copyright.PENANAsbJUgY0MOa
Extract from the trial 703Please respect copyright.PENANAVjCRfL9pBP
of Bloody Jack. Accused of murdering his whole village on the whims of 703Please respect copyright.PENANAvJjWXLoKCZ
an ether being and sentenced to death.703Please respect copyright.PENANAcwpQVJW4Xp
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------703Please respect copyright.PENANA4rOX2OVesT
703Please respect copyright.PENANAEjFhyWZWQ9
"I don't get it, why don't we go to a different isle? The Imperialsh will have ush shurrounded in no time."703Please respect copyright.PENANAD6R7euVBaz
~And here we go again, simple minded people asking simple minded questions~703Please respect copyright.PENANAhIRC3XrhTB
"Too many people to move, they'll notice us."703Please respect copyright.PENANAoCMvfdKZvS
"Never shtopped ush before." A pause as the old man spat to the side. "What about fighting then, too little of ush?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAD9SxBiQncB
Gob shook his head, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAAYZnym1UFR
tired. David could understand that, and he was annoyed he could 703Please respect copyright.PENANA0b0mRgOaBp
empathize with Gob. As per Gob's decision every time it was David's turn703Please respect copyright.PENANAoQkMqR04jl
to go patrolling Gob accompanied him. At first David found this 703Please respect copyright.PENANALAC0UUiGpu
insulting, he was the paragon of trust after all, but after a few of 703Please respect copyright.PENANAkW9UhXrFQT
such patrols he just found it annoying. Ever patrol was usually 703Please respect copyright.PENANAAcDE5CVuvk
conducted with 3 or 4 people, usually with different people. There were a703Please respect copyright.PENANAWV5FNxul2s
few constants in those groups though, the first was that David and Gob 703Please respect copyright.PENANA4tlzvYT27u
were in them and the second was that someone always asked when they 703Please respect copyright.PENANAuGDYHJDOTn
would move.703Please respect copyright.PENANAw0H6bBmDPp
Now David has only been 703Please respect copyright.PENANARtSVvj0uCw
in the camp for a month now and managed to glean some information from 703Please respect copyright.PENANAcB3Blgh5vu
the other rebels and just observations. There were three groups of 703Please respect copyright.PENANAkdQBIOB8I1
rebels. Peasants, peasant-soldiers and soldiers, as David liked to call 703Please respect copyright.PENANAzLC5eBTDlf
them. Peasants and peasant-soldiers were the people with no, to only 703Please respect copyright.PENANAvjqPD8LgKV
basic, military training. Such as Denis and his ilk. The soldiers 703Please respect copyright.PENANABUCFCAnQqw
weren't necessary from the military, but they had more experience. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAtSGeDDEJZ5
Experience wasn't the only difference, civilians and civilian soldiers 703Please respect copyright.PENANAYB6cKuINYQ
loved and trusted both Gob and Francesca. Soldiers only trusted Gob. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAExHMHIjWKF
Which worked out nicely for David as he could use this discord and 703Please respect copyright.PENANAknFxrreKPF
divided loyalties.703Please respect copyright.PENANAK7huoZG9Vu
Another important thing 703Please respect copyright.PENANAceVBtM0Nm3
he managed to find out was that the rebels had stayed on the same isle 703Please respect copyright.PENANAZUMk1jQmSc
for three months. Many of the rebels were unhappy with the prolonged 703Please respect copyright.PENANAAgpx00ps5B
stay, especially the soldiers. This resulted in that question and Gob 703Please respect copyright.PENANAGtuPwiBFt1
giving the same answer to anyone who asked. It was really riveting stuff703Please respect copyright.PENANAv0Uc5EAIRo
for David, especially after hearing it for the twentieth third time. 703Please respect copyright.PENANABypQNtAxfR
Ol' Stevie asked it around two or three times over the past few days to 703Please respect copyright.PENANA7qtKsE2CQZ
their destination.703Please respect copyright.PENANAjzsIw6lzVT
Today they were out 703Please respect copyright.PENANApSjeuymjzo
looking at the new imperial camp, turning into more of a makeshift fort,703Please respect copyright.PENANANWnafwmPNI
being built around the wreckage of the 'Flying Fish'. It was a crude 703Please respect copyright.PENANAOlqk5jvdeQ
construction, something that could be easily taken apart. They were 703Please respect copyright.PENANAP2K6r0GjoB
joined by Rock and another rebel, called old toothless Stevie, on 703Please respect copyright.PENANAjDAbsYcs1u
account of him being old and having lost most of his teeth. 703Please respect copyright.PENANA8bN3bNvMge
"Yes, now shut up and 703Please respect copyright.PENANA9jTm2FblAC
remember everything you can about the imperials." Stevie shrugged at 703Please respect copyright.PENANAKnZ8FqmSxj
that and continued looking through his binocular. David kept further 703Please respect copyright.PENANAj5yscNLPuP
away from the pair, watching their backs with Rock, the youth did not 703Please respect copyright.PENANAxmKBoA730q
become any more talkative during Davids stay in the caves.703Please respect copyright.PENANAwLayNu1orT
They were at their 703Please respect copyright.PENANAs1HYfSHPay
lookout spot for a few hours at this point and David was glad he didn't 703Please respect copyright.PENANAt6oaDQpE4o
feel any magical tugs coming from that direction, after discussing it 703Please respect copyright.PENANAlDaVfGEMFG
with Francesca it turned out that what David felt was a magical tug, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAUMmKrXloHy
looked like the imperial soldier wasn't anywhere near it.703Please respect copyright.PENANAvn4C2IiuGE
"Alright, that's enough.703Please respect copyright.PENANAdKud8U4T2U
Let's head back." Gob proclaimed to the group and David sighted in 703Please respect copyright.PENANApp7ar3jFKj
relief. Thankfully David was given new shoes, to help him walk, as well 703Please respect copyright.PENANAQChyMrQpzk
as new clothes and even an eyepatch. The walk itself was silent and 703Please respect copyright.PENANAmfHJKRcX4P
brutal. Gob set a murderous pace and he didn't look back to check on any703Please respect copyright.PENANAxrXbrSzt1q
of them except for Rock, who bore it with his usual silence.703Please respect copyright.PENANAJ62ZvJEIrU
David walked in silence 703Please respect copyright.PENANA533E91dGwL
as well. More to preserve his breathe, than anything else, as he felt 703Please respect copyright.PENANA47VTWS1jvD
that he would fall to the ground if he even tried speaking. Toothless 703Please respect copyright.PENANAkGUvrXRzX8
Stevie may have been old and not have teeth, but he had more stamina 703Please respect copyright.PENANAItvizZ9uIf
than David, farm work really built you up for long hours of activity.703Please respect copyright.PENANAK3YOMDAtIx
A walk that would've 703Please respect copyright.PENANAzwkHDzOOjC
taken most of the day was managed in about half a day. David was so glad703Please respect copyright.PENANAzxbmQBnmMl
to see the damp cave that he was ready to kiss the rocks when he came 703Please respect copyright.PENANAQuhqCQoilg
inside. The camp itself did not change much over the past month and 703Please respect copyright.PENANAuPe7eWJHRv
David was still the new guy. Though he made good strides in integrating 703Please respect copyright.PENANAP0ZgELbVPt
himself as most of rebels waved to him in greeting.703Please respect copyright.PENANAFrL1xQFc3X
"I'll go report to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAIG6Ig7tuoH
Francesca. You can go relax." Gob passed David without a glance at him. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAQgXWMGqgL8
The fact that Gob didn't glare or spit at David's direction must've 703Please respect copyright.PENANAr7uRwS0nfc
meant that he was finally warming up to him! At least it was more than 703Please respect copyright.PENANA6auRhlvFtL
David got over the past month, in fact he was ready to give up on ever 703Please respect copyright.PENANAWQIA2O4QE7
winning Gob over.703Please respect copyright.PENANAVnb5xvHPU1
Francesca on the other 703Please respect copyright.PENANAa8TEiW4vPk
hand warmed up to him quite fast. As Denis summarized and David 703Please respect copyright.PENANA3xMsksLrBG
confirmed she was a noble, a well read and knowledgeable noble but 703Please respect copyright.PENANAoORPxWWViY
someone who hasn't left her estate a lot and has never traveled outside 703Please respect copyright.PENANASenMB28SON
the empire. While David was the well-traveled dashing smuggler. He 703Please respect copyright.PENANAAY8Nkpyy26
managed to enthrall her with made up stories and adventures. To be fair 703Please respect copyright.PENANA4lKd8FkRxh
to Francesca she wasn't the only one falling under David's charm. As 703Please respect copyright.PENANAn8WhRh4S6e
most of the rebels found it hard to resist the dashing rogue act.703Please respect copyright.PENANAZ13vf7zDL7
David just wished he 703Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7UZg8vEH8
could win them over without going on patrols and risking his life. Oh 703Please respect copyright.PENANA2ThBuRm0hS
well no one said being a parasite was easy.703Please respect copyright.PENANAAKRjl7au27
Further down the camps 703Please respect copyright.PENANAh3Kp7Q02cS
he could see Twitch, the nervous brother of Denis. Over the past month 703Please respect copyright.PENANAH34NW5Jw04
he integrated himself with the siblings, becoming a part of their gang. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAt6IAhTOWBd
As the siblings were liked by the rebels in general this made them trust703Please respect copyright.PENANAQS9MbMTR8I
David all the more. David decided to join Twitch so he snuck up behind 703Please respect copyright.PENANAiaOiXpuM4a
him. 703Please respect copyright.PENANASrZ0JXMJDS
"What'cha doing?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAWKQHejEyYV
Twitch practically jumped out of his own skin. "Agh! Oh D-david. Don't s-scare me l-l-like that."703Please respect copyright.PENANAeVVpbr8p4F
"Sorry, twitch." David said patting the boys shoulder. "Didn't mean to, you know I hate doing it." He loved it703Please respect copyright.PENANAreKGpQKITx
Twitch nodded and stood beside David." 'S alright. I-I-I'm just easily sca-ar-ared."703Please respect copyright.PENANAojOGv6D2ux
David nodded. The boy 703Please respect copyright.PENANAjbTxvABzg9
was lucky to have any friends at all." Nothing wrong with being scared."703Please respect copyright.PENANAdf9zGraIH3
He said with a comforting smile. "We all have our own strengths, like 703Please respect copyright.PENANAHPPMTNT3Qq
you..." David paused for a bit racking his mind for something to say. "A703Please respect copyright.PENANA1in5jT7upP
poet! A man of dreams! How're your poems going anyway? I still want to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAWvKlMXURuo
read them someday."703Please respect copyright.PENANAJUmPm4uiR7
Twitch muttered 703Please respect copyright.PENANAhsJzrIIoUV
something under his breathe. David motioned with his hand for him to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAtKm8dJXrzk
speak up. "...n-not poems. But son-so-songs."703Please respect copyright.PENANADZ0ojjUa2N
David stopped himself from shrugging and smiled. "Songs, even better then! Why not create a song for the rebellion?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAb633waJz2b
Twitch started shaking 703Please respect copyright.PENANANCdPGFYMFX
his head but before the words: 'No' formed on his mouth a voice 703Please respect copyright.PENANAliPst11RJr
interrupted them. "A hymn truly sounds marvelous!" Francesca made Twitch703Please respect copyright.PENANAKPZ2XWEoHq
jump back even more than David did703Please respect copyright.PENANAjsYvOxH2HL
"I-I-I" He continued in that vain for a while.703Please respect copyright.PENANAXDtU0Kl6oS
"Speak up soldier!" Gobs703Please respect copyright.PENANABbHQ0x80vM
voice resounded around the cave, making everyone glance at Twitch, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAiGvenUYKLt
which should've made his stuttering worse. But his fear of Gob took over703Please respect copyright.PENANArUcR5S2T7H
any instinct he had.703Please respect copyright.PENANAYsBVmAf4gA
"I'mnotgoodenough!" He 703Please respect copyright.PENANAY0oZDbIMgA
said as fast possible. David was astounded it was probably the first 703Please respect copyright.PENANACJ1lzDdYAV
time the boy didn't stutter. Not that he could understand what he said 703Please respect copyright.PENANAFEe68o8aqP
now.703Please respect copyright.PENANAhVKIFBazIA
"Nonsense." Francesca 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPavCazBtpd
put her hand on Twitch's shoulder. She didn't seem to have any trouble 703Please respect copyright.PENANALamczWAumg
understanding him. "Write me a song when you can, and we will sing it, 703Please respect copyright.PENANA3E7yiKcM0r
all of us together." She projected her voice to others nearby which 703Please respect copyright.PENANAyVbFVYLaLT
raised a rugged cheer. That just made Twitch hide his face as it went 703Please respect copyright.PENANA3gNhNVhHcf
dark red.703Please respect copyright.PENANAU6i8sAOCz4
Francesca spared Twitch 703Please respect copyright.PENANAVZcHNtpgsm
one last warm smile and turned to the rest of the rebels standing 703Please respect copyright.PENANAoI9KtoDK1e
around. "It's time for your daily studies! Spread the message!" Both 703Please respect copyright.PENANAW1xRsUiNbP
children and adults listened to Francesca, without a hint of 703Please respect copyright.PENANAUdeD4e6V1b
disobedience, and started moving in one line to the study cavern, as it 703Please respect copyright.PENANAq33SaCIWbO
was popularly called.703Please respect copyright.PENANAqur00LQ81e
The rebels not only 703Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZuZ0ClZPv
respected Francesca for her leadership and attitude towards the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAFHoJd0aX35
peasantry, but also her attempts to educate them. Most of the rebels 703Please respect copyright.PENANAwmuXwKCHkB
didn't know how to read or basic math while Francesca was an educated 703Please respect copyright.PENANAFQyI9VMRM4
noble, thus she decided to teach everyone in the rebellion the basics. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPk1zbBlLWl
No one was barred from the lessons and both young and old were invited 703Please respect copyright.PENANAOErHJSZJ82
to them. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAKaxanxmavt
David attended one of 703Please respect copyright.PENANAr2Z6ciGdNk
those lessons but found himself too bored to continue. They were talking703Please respect copyright.PENANAyo0BARpChH
about letter and numbers and some researcher named Vesputti or 703Please respect copyright.PENANAYIs46up565
something similar. Thus, he skipped over on those lessons, he wasn't the703Please respect copyright.PENANA4vv9AzKE6Z
only one as most of the adults had decided that they were too old to 703Please respect copyright.PENANArBkrjogmCu
learn anything new.703Please respect copyright.PENANAA4JthHxFma
Before leading her group703Please respect copyright.PENANAMmZ2UU3WXd
to the secluded cavern, Francesca approached David. "I'd like if you'd 703Please respect copyright.PENANAC8kMhz6kAH
dine with me tonight, if it's to your liking?"703Please respect copyright.PENANA13YyPiL8L0
"Of course, I'll see you703Please respect copyright.PENANAl0yhfbgX9F
later." Francesca did that sometimes, inviting David over. Chatting 703Please respect copyright.PENANAEuMoZDdwKB
about trivialities, like whether he had any more vision about The Five. 703Please respect copyright.PENANARqAtQFYroS
Thankfully Jester didn't deign to appear yet so David managed to sleep 703Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZPiJT4H9W
peacefully, well not accounting the strange dreams about some boy crying703Please respect copyright.PENANADTCXDIquPu
and calling for his mummy. Those dreams made David wake up in a foul 703Please respect copyright.PENANAmJcl48P2ba
mood, he wasn't certain why but thought it could be because he didn't 703Please respect copyright.PENANAtJi8VUg6fM
remember his parents or family.703Please respect copyright.PENANAPMCENMQB9r
Francesca, unaware of 703Please respect copyright.PENANAUZh5SET19k
David's thoughts or dreams, nodded with a smile and led her group from 703Please respect copyright.PENANAESKr6QlztD
the main cavern. Twitch following her and joining his sibling to whom 703Please respect copyright.PENANAa3kdXAHc9A
David waved. Turning around he came face to face with Nook.703Please respect copyright.PENANAMxWmdzjaGU
"I'm off duty now, got some guys looking for a game. You're in?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAftH64YtFtf
Nook was an interesting 703Please respect copyright.PENANAujItC2RpRw
case, while he was definitely Gob's man he didn't seem to be as 703Please respect copyright.PENANAgCcVTOIs8Q
disciplined as the other soldiers. He was also one of the few soldiers 703Please respect copyright.PENANA2cxVZaCg1U
who was friendly with David instead of following Gob's lead and hating 703Please respect copyright.PENANADpmDmGHZ99
his guts. So they decided to have a card game here and there while 703Please respect copyright.PENANAb8cB0yWiKp
inviting other people, a card game in which David lost more often than 703Please respect copyright.PENANAs0uNT0WqEW
not. While David hated losing in cards it was a good method of making 703Please respect copyright.PENANAVF7oIxrRmD
friends and getting to know people. As well as a guarantee to keep 703Please respect copyright.PENANAKAY0L3QYcR
getting invited as long as you lost smart and graciously accepted it.703Please respect copyright.PENANAClNyHn1uuH
"Aye, why not Nook. Maybe I'll clean house this time."703Please respect copyright.PENANAW5r856ihS4
Nook grinned a 703Please respect copyright.PENANAfTNeynksyX
predator's smile and led David towards a secluded table. While gambling 703Please respect copyright.PENANAo19j3DKWDS
wasn't banned or anything, as long as you were off duty, it was frowned 703Please respect copyright.PENANA4VKEMrOZiC
upon by Gob. That and most rebels having limited resources. Having only 703Please respect copyright.PENANAMp8E9xBIkY
their clothes and weapons stolen from the empire or brought on their 703Please respect copyright.PENANATglegDWUko
backs.703Please respect copyright.PENANAqW6gVjgs4Q
Thus any card games were703Please respect copyright.PENANAAeJtDvpnKa
just that, games to pass the time. At least until David proposed to bet703Please respect copyright.PENANA8tCWopccDA
their rations. Everyone received the basic rations few times per day 703Please respect copyright.PENANAnfAcuD2TrY
and it was up to them how much of that they ate. It was barely enough to703Please respect copyright.PENANA7HG1eX02nG
feed a healthy adult. As they have been on this isle for a while it was703Please respect copyright.PENANAuNzbjz26hc
harder to find fresh animals to hunt every day. A lot of the rebels 703Please respect copyright.PENANAYNOqCR6sVn
were opposed to that idea as they'd loose on the last bits of food they 703Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ14eyyxeK
did have.703Please respect copyright.PENANA1Q8UCIaJNM
Some did think it was a 703Please respect copyright.PENANANjKe47JWCo
brilliant idea and David was sitting down with a few of them right now. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAsmnxdoFWnM
Nook, he was confident in his card abilities. Apparently before joining 703Please respect copyright.PENANAojEXDTXXXE
the rebellion he was a militiaman in his village and gambled a lot. As 703Please respect copyright.PENANAtBCSiSam0G
far as David could see he was more lucky than actually good. Old 703Please respect copyright.PENANALubKSmtNqp
toothless Stevie, he joked that if he did lose his rations that it would703Please respect copyright.PENANAaa8lwLdZ6T
save his last teeth. He also wasn't afraid to bet most of his rations 703Please respect copyright.PENANAwqmb6XElzo
scaring the other players into folding, a good bluffer. Finally there 703Please respect copyright.PENANAwj8qSGkrcG
was Tiruk, a huge man who definitely needed more rations just to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAY5Oo8qF7ic
survive. It surprised David anyone could keep that weight with tight the703Please respect copyright.PENANAdqa3xF8Pxl
food has been.703Please respect copyright.PENANAP4vG4EQamT
They were the four main 703Please respect copyright.PENANAxAVRtFkNxk
players who usually joined the gambling games. Sometimes others joined 703Please respect copyright.PENANA609DPTqzYs
but they usually stopped after going hungry for a day or two as they 703Please respect copyright.PENANA9hq3qyedE7
lost their rations. These four though didn't give up after losing, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAAU4jWaGUkq
because they knew that their chances of a feast were just around the 703Please respect copyright.PENANApnufTnVImo
corner. That fact created a sense of comradeship between the players. 703Please respect copyright.PENANA0rD775Y6Qr
Even if they were playing against each other they understood the risks 703Please respect copyright.PENANAc6KiIK4SVC
and accepted them.703Please respect copyright.PENANAmqpWBrJPRW
"''Ello boys." David 703Please respect copyright.PENANATiFqhyTCkp
said sitting down at the table with Nook. There were nods all around the703Please respect copyright.PENANArVP90tjVso
table and the cards were dealt. They were playing a card game called 703Please respect copyright.PENANAyhY4yDgSpb
match 'n go. Most of the rebels had not heard of the game or at least 703Please respect copyright.PENANAbXVFZ9jBlw
knew it under a different name but most of them caught on fast, it was 703Please respect copyright.PENANAZZMrkznXV6
often just played for fun. But the best games came from betting. As the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAZmRmd7i9CD
risks went higher you tried to fool your opponent into thinking that you703Please respect copyright.PENANAOckEejpofs
had the match or a higher card. David loved risk games like that, he 703Please respect copyright.PENANARIDbuR6YMS
loved reading the other player emotions and using it against them or at 703Please respect copyright.PENANAevSRFGnFwy
least for his own benefit. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAgCqZ8YQ6Gg
Nook was the first to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAwX3grKD0ND
play. "I'm betting half of my rations on this. Gots a good deck, that I 703Please respect copyright.PENANAEaXuQlLeIy
do." David could see the plastered smile on his face. At this point 703Please respect copyright.PENANATdZN90izI1
David could tell fake between real in a heartbeat. Nook was bluffing.703Please respect copyright.PENANAHTxsqvmq6f
"Alright, I'll call that." David answered.703Please respect copyright.PENANAEzMFuoQPvQ
Tiruk, in answer, just 703Please respect copyright.PENANAbNcrx0WOlC
shook his head and folded. He wasn't risking it. Stevenson with his 703Please respect copyright.PENANAjjpgSQo9v0
gaped smile called it as well and cackled a bit.703Please respect copyright.PENANArywhjxnq8q
Next card revealed. A 3 703Please respect copyright.PENANApFROyvYIOO
for Davids two threes. He'd have to fold that game, too high chance of 703Please respect copyright.PENANAP2mYkRPFQn
winning. So it went on and on, rations were won and lost. David won a 703Please respect copyright.PENANAObRxuc0azE
few games but then he bet everything and lost on purpose, made Stevie a 703Please respect copyright.PENANA6SnA3SX9ns
very happy, old, man.703Please respect copyright.PENANAIaJflRAPiN
Since David didn't have 703Please respect copyright.PENANAg7xuh2mVyY
anything to bet with anymore he made his excuses and left the table. He 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPoBnTjKR67
took a look around for Gob and didn't see him anywhere so decided it 703Please respect copyright.PENANAvRfOUcGnvG
would be safe to take a walk.703Please respect copyright.PENANAxV4sW5EMdF
Another thing he took to703Please respect copyright.PENANAfpE7nrZ8Pw
doing over the past two weeks was exploring, finding any secret spaces 703Please respect copyright.PENANA80COgyK7md
where he might hide. The rebels themselves only found one possible 703Please respect copyright.PENANAxhxhgF2c4u
emergency exit while David found three. Of course the other two exits 703Please respect copyright.PENANAhDkulAGllf
only were wide enough for one person to pass through at a time. So it 703Please respect copyright.PENANAvm25BJJXi9
could be that they just didn't consider them as such.703Please respect copyright.PENANA7GsbBDp6R4
He also found various 703Please respect copyright.PENANAhBaKPQYbqR
hiding spots, not only for him but for items he stole. Weapons, 703Please respect copyright.PENANA75AbsLtQlZ
ammunition, food and the like. If only a small amount disappeared at a 703Please respect copyright.PENANAYlGTtc0Inr
time no one really noticed and attributed it to absentmindedness. Though703Please respect copyright.PENANAGtXTyZrpPD
David believed Gob was getting suspicious so he would need to start 703Please respect copyright.PENANAKpmxOvGM3I
being more careful.703Please respect copyright.PENANAvDBIvx4RvK
The caves themselves 703Please respect copyright.PENANAe99vt9DfcZ
seemed to go through the whole isle, David didn't believe he explored 703Please respect copyright.PENANAcAC076402H
even half of it. Gob tried to send a few soldiers every day to explore 703Please respect copyright.PENANAV7HmI61y0q
further into the caves, but many were afraid of the dark, believing 703Please respect copyright.PENANArvEhTUuItA
various beasts were residing in them. Refusing to go inside without Gob 703Please respect copyright.PENANAeSQuJXyWEk
and since Gob was usually busy either creating or being out on patrols 703Please respect copyright.PENANASyM8cktmmF
himself that limited their exploring time.703Please respect copyright.PENANAE5sKIrbSkz
That let David offer his703Please respect copyright.PENANAAsIn1z273y
services as an explorer. He would explore the further caves and would 703Please respect copyright.PENANAKokeob1OBh
report on any worrying circumstances. Gob was reluctant to let him go 703Please respect copyright.PENANA49VELJevco
but was convinced by Francesca that it would be a grand idea as it would703Please respect copyright.PENANAe9c51i5bUX
free more people for patrols and other duties.703Please respect copyright.PENANA73tDwbC1sb
This time though he had a703Please respect copyright.PENANAnx30Qpc7qJ
destination in mind. A bit further into one of the pathways, about an 703Please respect copyright.PENANAbgqyKflwiN
hour from the main cavern, there was a small pathway where a thin person703Please respect copyright.PENANAOUSqyHEuua
could barely fit. Following that pathway, if you could survive the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAzRSTqcXz57
feeling of getting crushed by the walls, was a pool. David was surprised703Please respect copyright.PENANAMjAwnZt1Rn
when he found and astonished when he discovered the water was hot. 703Please respect copyright.PENANA1ur77uP7vw
That's where he was 703Please respect copyright.PENANAfemuKOa95D
going now; he needed a clear head for Francesca's meeting. No matter how703Please respect copyright.PENANAIYOa15ZKLi
she acted she was a noble, they always sought the best deals for 703Please respect copyright.PENANABkelsOhEIz
themselves, always trying to ledge a situation in their favour. David 703Please respect copyright.PENANA8M3ZivLUsz
would need to be on his toes. Or maybe he just wanted to actually relax 703Please respect copyright.PENANAthHXWFCipU
without anyone screaming or crying, he didn't decide which one sounded 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPfOZMGhvrV
better in his mind.703Please respect copyright.PENANAC28KeoPybz
Thus grabbing a torch as703Please respect copyright.PENANAHCzF88opFx
many of the pathways further down weren't lit, he began his, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAgDjzRZnCcx
uneventful, journey. Luckily he reached his destination in a timely 703Please respect copyright.PENANA1jEKaX4FuA
manner, though he hated going through that cramped space. He gave a 703Please respect copyright.PENANAkb1ovEGXli
satisfied sigh as he sat down in the pool, his muscles losing the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAkUz8yuOkhg
tension he gathered over the past few weeks, the water reached up to his703Please respect copyright.PENANA9zjye5Pt7h
chest and he dunked his head under the water finally enjoying a proper 703Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8azdh6Qix
clean. He was careful to keep track of time but other than that he let 703Please respect copyright.PENANADphMFSAfL4
his mind wander and just blanked out. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAQJzswQNlwP
Before he even noticed, 703Please respect copyright.PENANA34H9lbyxAT
to David's disappointment, it was time to leave. He was also saddened by703Please respect copyright.PENANAzUh2ZIvi6r
the fact that the water ended up a bit darker after his bath, a way to 703Please respect copyright.PENANApZ5evwWNT4
hit a guys confidence. With a sad sigh he put on his dirty and worn out 703Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2g0QVONKf
clothes and went back to the main cavern to the sound of activity and 703Please respect copyright.PENANA1EsU43ccSI
the smell of unwashed masses.703Please respect copyright.PENANAyCwttAnwGZ
It did seem that David 703Please respect copyright.PENANApqHN7plx0K
came back just in time as people were gathered near the cooking pots to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAtWbZYNzx0U
gather their rations. David did the same and then found Stevie, sitting 703Please respect copyright.PENANAO1VC0pn0op
with some other older rebels, and gave him his rations. Stevie nodded 703Please respect copyright.PENANAW50XICX7WV
and had a sparkle in his eye. "Maybe nexsht time you can save me 703Please respect copyright.PENANAEiArf6OcNj
teethsh." And he cackled at his joke. David managed a weak laugh that 703Please respect copyright.PENANAjSSYbhgdRk
seemed to satisfy Stevie.703Please respect copyright.PENANATX6TK4y7tt
"Don't keep Francesca 703Please respect copyright.PENANAq9SdR0Wtb8
waiting." Came a gruff voice from behind. David tried to hide his 703Please respect copyright.PENANAQcySFZqfSw
annoyance at the fact that Gob managed to sneak up on him and scare him.703Please respect copyright.PENANAuPQ4jKGMWQ
Some people just had no sense of proper manners.703Please respect copyright.PENANA7BvXsl3lCX
"Oh I wouldn't dare." 703Please respect copyright.PENANA3IXAmjvceq
He gave a mock bow which seemed to infuriate Gob more. "I was just out 703Please respect copyright.PENANAK2PaJ7iMvV
exploring, nothing to report so far, sir Gob." Gob just grunted and 703Please respect copyright.PENANAn5HhLaWhBA
walked away. 703Please respect copyright.PENANA1CM4vGVm6f
David smiled and waved 703Please respect copyright.PENANAZSrn5xLfeS
after him, the guy really needed to unwind. With nothing else to do but 703Please respect copyright.PENANAgVUigi9hVh
shrug at that thought David went towards Francesca's room. Even if 703Please respect copyright.PENANAXez9CejP9z
Francesca did pretend to be all for equality and the like she still had 703Please respect copyright.PENANAva1GaA1eX5
her personal quarters, such as they were, as well as an actual bed, 703Please respect copyright.PENANASaoripbn0I
table, chairs. They were shoddy work at best, crafted quickly by some of703Please respect copyright.PENANA7czIxL4JdX
the rebels, but they were more than anything any other rebel had. David703Please respect copyright.PENANAEcijNj3ttl
was impressed by how she had more and yet most still perceived her as 703Please respect copyright.PENANACe5OxVMnfg
the paragon of virtue.703Please respect copyright.PENANAsYqIDv4OeW
Her room, as per usual, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAALpb79gyZ2
was guarded. But the guard waved him on with a smile. David saw it as a 703Please respect copyright.PENANA3mWD06Qbna
pointless precaution anyway, but what could you do. Francesca herself 703Please respect copyright.PENANADYv6UmvOTS
was already seated, with a torch in the middle of the table, a pale 703Please respect copyright.PENANAXvMLYDKhqu
imitation of a candle. One thing the rebels had a lot of were torches, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAAJhm9grbXb
to light up all caverns and pathways. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAApcu6npv5A
"Oh, David! Please sit" she gestured towards the second chair.703Please respect copyright.PENANAr5xjNJEGkS
David sat down with a 703Please respect copyright.PENANAajHqUMezYs
nod and smile. They weren't eating anything extravagant, just what the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAxwTDqD85n1
rest were. Dried meat, nuts, sometimes if they were lucky they could 703Please respect copyright.PENANASCaQgSg5Wz
even get rabbit or vegetable soup, but that more of a luxury nowadays. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAFiTfDCqgJX
This time it was some dried meat of unknown origin and some water found 703Please respect copyright.PENANAd3EaTOnmI4
in a stream. Delicious.703Please respect copyright.PENANAHHlqGQvuTG
"So pleasantries first or business first?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAyynKqoibgb
"I found that going straight to business can ruin a healthy appetite."703Please respect copyright.PENANAekq96pNFqa
Francesca nodded and 703Please respect copyright.PENANA5LB1Ma0muW
began to cut her meat with her wooden utensils. While David had similar 703Please respect copyright.PENANAriAHwZDhxD
equipment he didn't really find much use of them and found it better to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAVmRRNoXlUg
eat with his own hands. Made it faster and when you're under cannon fire703Please respect copyright.PENANAzEzDhgPNBq
fast eating was paramount.703Please respect copyright.PENANAeBKtwjxXle
As expected David 703Please respect copyright.PENANAvFEGCiTTCn
finished his portion first and ended up waiting for Francesca to finish 703Please respect copyright.PENANAfiTVg2nNgi
hers, which took another 5 or 10 minutes. The girl was certainly a 703Please respect copyright.PENANAVJORpWW0k1
deliberate eater.703Please respect copyright.PENANASpQDwDMHY3
"So on to business." She703Please respect copyright.PENANAxwVwVgV6ul
paused making sure David was ready, once he nodded she continued. "Tell703Please respect copyright.PENANAHPMxE3Ch1v
me, do you know who actually hired your services?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAU7mmZOKiMA
"No idea, captain was usually tight lipped about our clients. I just always assumed it was one of you guys."703Please respect copyright.PENANAzswcuUYO2u
"In a way. It's someone 703Please respect copyright.PENANALW0FXL5AdY
who's...interested in our cause. One of Gob's friends. He is able to get703Please respect copyright.PENANACrmDKuvrvP
in and out of the isles without arousing too much suspicion."703Please respect copyright.PENANA7vZEcv3rLo
"Can't imagine you can tell me who it is?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAqBvwfAQIp3
"It's not for me to tell sadly, Gob was adamant that it's best kept as secret." Francesca smiled apologetically "apologies"703Please respect copyright.PENANAic0MqQRysd
David waved his hand in a playful manner. "No worries, I'm surprised you're telling me any of this in the first place."703Please respect copyright.PENANAVuUT3m6q4A
"Well, there is a 703Please respect copyright.PENANAr7qj1ppXFL
reason. Since the weapons we got previously are in the Empire's hands 703Please respect copyright.PENANA0a7DjJz0v1
and we can't fight them for it." Putting it lightly the rebels never 703Please respect copyright.PENANAVKP0P1Tr4O
really fought the empire in a straight on fight. Mostly raids and 703Please respect copyright.PENANAG1edcyfXU8
recruiting villagers with their possessions. Easy pickings. "Gob got in 703Please respect copyright.PENANAXCStLATpLA
touch with his friend again and luckily we managed to set up a meeting 703Please respect copyright.PENANALU0GC5IGxK
in a few days the edge of a different isle.703Please respect copyright.PENANASDwX72ZDe2
"We will also be moving 703Please respect copyright.PENANADxAPlxEEHZ
our base" she continued, sadly. "I can't keep us here with the danger 703Please respect copyright.PENANArOLH4bUBKq
increasing, so we will move slowly, to an isle we were based in before 703Please respect copyright.PENANA0qKU7eBi4P
so some will know where to go."703Please respect copyright.PENANA0tf7e4vSOG
"That's good, why did 703Please respect copyright.PENANAo94l7l1LMU
you want to keep us here for this long anyway?" While he was annoyed at 703Please respect copyright.PENANAfFJ0YfT8Tz
hearing that question every time he went on patrols, he couldn't deny he703Please respect copyright.PENANAaeYHvp39KA
was interested in the answer.703Please respect copyright.PENANA95Wox0d7B7
"It...It has to do with one of The Five. I can't reveal more in fear that it might interfere with your objective. "703Please respect copyright.PENANAAunk7ZHvKs
David nodded, not a full703Please respect copyright.PENANA49Hmu16SFj
answer he wanted but to push might create a rift between them. Religion703Please respect copyright.PENANA21AyWnPqfv
was pretty important to Francesca "Don't worry; you don't have to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAX3l45SBKno
reveal anything you don't want want to." He said in a soothing tone703Please respect copyright.PENANAq1zrCh2V0V
"Thank you." She said 703Please respect copyright.PENANAgCuYytDsr6
gratefully. "Where was I? Oh, yes. We'll have groups with specified 703Please respect copyright.PENANA1keN63ssPH
leaders going back to that previous isle, they'll lead them and we'll 703Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ1onhujtF
regroup at a specified point."703Please respect copyright.PENANAtavDXnvGm7
"How will you get 703Please respect copyright.PENANAOzPrzAH0Nn
everyone over to the next isle?" Isles were divided by cracks, and while703Please respect copyright.PENANAZjqNvbwroc
some you could jump over, others were so wide you could fit a full 703Please respect copyright.PENANAm3xi8mtIOs
city.703Please respect copyright.PENANAp98vkwFPWn
"We have small sky 703Please respect copyright.PENANAWHDCflncG7
boats. Some of the groups will use it...Others...Others will need to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAWQgGPASxuw
find their own way" she said in bitter tones. "I don't like that, we're 703Please respect copyright.PENANAhsqASoTjCs
abandoning my people. But Gob said it's too dangerous traveling in a big703Please respect copyright.PENANAc368dysruC
group."703Please respect copyright.PENANAbntP5Ri4aW
"You're a good leader on your own. You should trust your own instincts." Ah finally! An opportunity to create that rift703Please respect copyright.PENANAzABTe7fxTg
She gave him a sad smile703Please respect copyright.PENANA4l3MUccn8J
in response. "Thank you, but I do not a good head for tactics or 703Please respect copyright.PENANAk06xkqbFAc
military matters. I've had some education on it, but Gob is much better 703Please respect copyright.PENANAd5HyHdw43G
at it." David still wasn't sure just what Gob did before the rebellion. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAEzpwgu702F
Francesca stated that the past did not matter and as long as they were 703Please respect copyright.PENANAg3toJkp0lY
willing to fight for the rebellions ideals they would be allowed to keep703Please respect copyright.PENANArGiBOyZxki
their past in the past.703Please respect copyright.PENANAQgvD21K6H7
"Now then, back to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAkiJocXTJMp
business." She said more cheerily. "Myself and Gob will be meeting that 703Please respect copyright.PENANAvGKVLJN7Vx
person in a few days. We will have guards but I'd also like for you to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAxXBEVJFOEE
come. You're well-traveled and met many people; your advice would be 703Please respect copyright.PENANATRL3cUoxiR
valuable, especially since we'll only be bartering for them."703Please respect copyright.PENANA3vvWiR8Jc1
"You'll have it. I'm 703Please respect copyright.PENANAfyTRr6naYq
more than happy to join you." While he wasn't looking forward to 703Please respect copyright.PENANAmr6TgK0FAO
sleeping with all the insects again, it might help his back to not sleep703Please respect copyright.PENANAZpuSgfXQ3K
on a rock hard surface.703Please respect copyright.PENANAzjezyDFsOc
"Perfect! I'll let Gob know and convince him as well." She laughed sheepishly. "I didn't really confirm this with him you see."703Please respect copyright.PENANA3DerqDoA6R
"Oh, the guy loves me. It'll be easy." Francesca smiled at that, she knew just how much Gob hated David.703Please respect copyright.PENANA5ITRrssY3d
A lull in the conversation and then a question David was dreading "Did you have any more visions? From the one who chose you?"703Please respect copyright.PENANASF7eP3PZLd
"Sadly no, I'm as 703Please respect copyright.PENANA6hGkCGMSYp
clueless as when I was born." This wasn't exactly true. He knew he had 703Please respect copyright.PENANABhel2rthja
to find something, and suspected Francesca was after it as well he 703Please respect copyright.PENANAtYlIpOEkOz
suspected it was on this isle. Francesca seemed to know more, but she 703Please respect copyright.PENANAt53dIgVcBE
wasn't willing to reveal it. She might hide it under lofty ideals, but 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPZ2toYYQhb
she was concealing the truth from both David and the rebels.703Please respect copyright.PENANAs6ZVmZMCsN
"Do not worry, I am 703Please respect copyright.PENANA2dVgtZgxnQ
su..." before she could continue their whole world rocked. As explosions703Please respect copyright.PENANACDJ4jMulnt
rang from outside and rubble started falling all around them., hitting 703Please respect copyright.PENANAkYMMn5kkpE
the table and dislodging the torch, casting ominous shadows on the walls703Please respect copyright.PENANADPufNEmlci
"Wha..." before David could finish his thought a very worried Gob barged in. 703Please respect copyright.PENANA8yP61UlNyr
"We're under attack, they found us."
703Please respect copyright.PENANAF0XW4a5mp9
703Please respect copyright.PENANAECgqhAJf6O