403Please respect copyright.PENANACqOVhZGxVG
403Please respect copyright.PENANA2KQL3yctJ3
'The voice?! Of course I403Please respect copyright.PENANABzV72DOIRa
can hear it, I embrace it, I follow it, I worship it for what it is! 403Please respect copyright.PENANAZlW4AK0Y1G
The word of god! And I am a holy messenger! You all are heathens! 403Please respect copyright.PENANAu7dsMIvwAo
Believers in false gods! You hide from the true voice, you fear it, you 403Please respect copyright.PENANApvUs36HoLb
shun it, you deny it! My only crime is that I am no coward!'403Please respect copyright.PENANAgMixojFZ2L
Extract from the trial 403Please respect copyright.PENANAVOI2BmOLDv
of Bloody Jack. Accused of murdering his whole village on the whims of 403Please respect copyright.PENANAqkf7WkZNjM
an ether being and sentenced to death.403Please respect copyright.PENANAkmSNoOnE2b
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------403Please respect copyright.PENANAyhDA7jvEO3
403Please respect copyright.PENANAsidQmrfAK0
"I don't get it, why don't we go to a different isle? The Imperialsh will have ush shurrounded in no time."403Please respect copyright.PENANAaPx4eJTCGT
~And here we go again, simple minded people asking simple minded questions~403Please respect copyright.PENANAK4nv5psx8W
"Too many people to move, they'll notice us."403Please respect copyright.PENANA7a9YWB1OWx
"Never shtopped ush before." A pause as the old man spat to the side. "What about fighting then, too little of ush?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAXquD3CipX5
Gob shook his head, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAeaUtv0MvO0
tired. David could understand that, and he was annoyed he could 403Please respect copyright.PENANAPqoYkKAm9v
empathize with Gob. As per Gob's decision every time it was David's turn403Please respect copyright.PENANAryl2nC4o6j
to go patrolling Gob accompanied him. At first David found this 403Please respect copyright.PENANAw0m3bi4RFh
insulting, he was the paragon of trust after all, but after a few of 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmVdU9hR5Pv
such patrols he just found it annoying. Ever patrol was usually 403Please respect copyright.PENANAq1dt10MB3f
conducted with 3 or 4 people, usually with different people. There were a403Please respect copyright.PENANAMGN97hswlT
few constants in those groups though, the first was that David and Gob 403Please respect copyright.PENANANRo5kDvQL7
were in them and the second was that someone always asked when they 403Please respect copyright.PENANApice6V06hy
would move.403Please respect copyright.PENANAAyGwHLfVMo
Now David has only been 403Please respect copyright.PENANACi2vziBSFV
in the camp for a month now and managed to glean some information from 403Please respect copyright.PENANA8gxs2RucVl
the other rebels and just observations. There were three groups of 403Please respect copyright.PENANAGD72z1tf6L
rebels. Peasants, peasant-soldiers and soldiers, as David liked to call 403Please respect copyright.PENANAkI8o99zETG
them. Peasants and peasant-soldiers were the people with no, to only 403Please respect copyright.PENANAELCWOjg4oR
basic, military training. Such as Denis and his ilk. The soldiers 403Please respect copyright.PENANAncLrxCygK1
weren't necessary from the military, but they had more experience. 403Please respect copyright.PENANArAz3zFNrCR
Experience wasn't the only difference, civilians and civilian soldiers 403Please respect copyright.PENANAF3lHiTcsq1
loved and trusted both Gob and Francesca. Soldiers only trusted Gob. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAfmkLHMmk9O
Which worked out nicely for David as he could use this discord and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJlqdwxPnzJ
divided loyalties.403Please respect copyright.PENANAa284HA0LJ0
Another important thing 403Please respect copyright.PENANAjeLkjmfK3k
he managed to find out was that the rebels had stayed on the same isle 403Please respect copyright.PENANARx5gtfCBBm
for three months. Many of the rebels were unhappy with the prolonged 403Please respect copyright.PENANATdO22djoSr
stay, especially the soldiers. This resulted in that question and Gob 403Please respect copyright.PENANAo9LFIkACH2
giving the same answer to anyone who asked. It was really riveting stuff403Please respect copyright.PENANAm8WNtdoxeX
for David, especially after hearing it for the twentieth third time. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAHEsfmUJMZG
Ol' Stevie asked it around two or three times over the past few days to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAKAFRNiIWwH
their destination.403Please respect copyright.PENANA7e3ncHwkAS
Today they were out 403Please respect copyright.PENANAhIv2KD2xam
looking at the new imperial camp, turning into more of a makeshift fort,403Please respect copyright.PENANA1ANmGoTP3p
being built around the wreckage of the 'Flying Fish'. It was a crude 403Please respect copyright.PENANAz3cx8tfUKf
construction, something that could be easily taken apart. They were 403Please respect copyright.PENANAKYBcptPBem
joined by Rock and another rebel, called old toothless Stevie, on 403Please respect copyright.PENANAei4kggEOEy
account of him being old and having lost most of his teeth. 403Please respect copyright.PENANA46LU74t55C
"Yes, now shut up and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAXYbiRzBCqI
remember everything you can about the imperials." Stevie shrugged at 403Please respect copyright.PENANAgLanYHWQhg
that and continued looking through his binocular. David kept further 403Please respect copyright.PENANAtRmdAP7yar
away from the pair, watching their backs with Rock, the youth did not 403Please respect copyright.PENANAjcifeopCnI
become any more talkative during Davids stay in the caves.403Please respect copyright.PENANAg8t61LrlwV
They were at their 403Please respect copyright.PENANA9RtIxLrIXH
lookout spot for a few hours at this point and David was glad he didn't 403Please respect copyright.PENANAh1SnBKdKfo
feel any magical tugs coming from that direction, after discussing it 403Please respect copyright.PENANAyiZNKwwy17
with Francesca it turned out that what David felt was a magical tug, 403Please respect copyright.PENANA1UaVZpx23D
looked like the imperial soldier wasn't anywhere near it.403Please respect copyright.PENANA8yPwOOUYKF
"Alright, that's enough.403Please respect copyright.PENANAylHmjXe31t
Let's head back." Gob proclaimed to the group and David sighted in 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmGZhmLCgsW
relief. Thankfully David was given new shoes, to help him walk, as well 403Please respect copyright.PENANAPXnyhn4mum
as new clothes and even an eyepatch. The walk itself was silent and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAubl3ulGpg3
brutal. Gob set a murderous pace and he didn't look back to check on any403Please respect copyright.PENANAAegxD6gM4X
of them except for Rock, who bore it with his usual silence.403Please respect copyright.PENANAH6LH0M2hCu
David walked in silence 403Please respect copyright.PENANAERF6jQGWNM
as well. More to preserve his breathe, than anything else, as he felt 403Please respect copyright.PENANAIKqjXifNiC
that he would fall to the ground if he even tried speaking. Toothless 403Please respect copyright.PENANATY5Zp8kzxz
Stevie may have been old and not have teeth, but he had more stamina 403Please respect copyright.PENANAkKsr2Z3Sj2
than David, farm work really built you up for long hours of activity.403Please respect copyright.PENANAKPkMjPwVpV
A walk that would've 403Please respect copyright.PENANAAW3mvh1mv8
taken most of the day was managed in about half a day. David was so glad403Please respect copyright.PENANAkyEqk3NtlJ
to see the damp cave that he was ready to kiss the rocks when he came 403Please respect copyright.PENANA81KSSoaRrx
inside. The camp itself did not change much over the past month and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAxGbits3hrL
David was still the new guy. Though he made good strides in integrating 403Please respect copyright.PENANAT29aXAIldx
himself as most of rebels waved to him in greeting.403Please respect copyright.PENANAWwPBLTqbhX
"I'll go report to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAkx8TEbsB2Z
Francesca. You can go relax." Gob passed David without a glance at him. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAdo3xRPGV90
The fact that Gob didn't glare or spit at David's direction must've 403Please respect copyright.PENANAp0mdV3To1q
meant that he was finally warming up to him! At least it was more than 403Please respect copyright.PENANAzLfKc7LLN5
David got over the past month, in fact he was ready to give up on ever 403Please respect copyright.PENANASbAK3Mc1rY
winning Gob over.403Please respect copyright.PENANAZSDCN87WE8
Francesca on the other 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmmc2DKG84A
hand warmed up to him quite fast. As Denis summarized and David 403Please respect copyright.PENANAGC12t9LcKd
confirmed she was a noble, a well read and knowledgeable noble but 403Please respect copyright.PENANAQksg8pGqKM
someone who hasn't left her estate a lot and has never traveled outside 403Please respect copyright.PENANAnErBAzs5Xb
the empire. While David was the well-traveled dashing smuggler. He 403Please respect copyright.PENANANQ5xh68Asy
managed to enthrall her with made up stories and adventures. To be fair 403Please respect copyright.PENANAzsioc978Rw
to Francesca she wasn't the only one falling under David's charm. As 403Please respect copyright.PENANAPkqWDmu0QZ
most of the rebels found it hard to resist the dashing rogue act.403Please respect copyright.PENANAgvWTbS2TFy
David just wished he 403Please respect copyright.PENANAuxUx2JQhVY
could win them over without going on patrols and risking his life. Oh 403Please respect copyright.PENANA8oyCjziRuo
well no one said being a parasite was easy.403Please respect copyright.PENANAT2p1EfIPcw
Further down the camps 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6T5KAWM6Zl
he could see Twitch, the nervous brother of Denis. Over the past month 403Please respect copyright.PENANAaulLL6MwQG
he integrated himself with the siblings, becoming a part of their gang. 403Please respect copyright.PENANA9WD1KUUoSn
As the siblings were liked by the rebels in general this made them trust403Please respect copyright.PENANAVKQPU93LwP
David all the more. David decided to join Twitch so he snuck up behind 403Please respect copyright.PENANAUxkl3ngVzc
him. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAgzLuziZjcY
"What'cha doing?"403Please respect copyright.PENANA19T2nY8nRk
Twitch practically jumped out of his own skin. "Agh! Oh D-david. Don't s-scare me l-l-like that."403Please respect copyright.PENANA9KO1zaSiL1
"Sorry, twitch." David said patting the boys shoulder. "Didn't mean to, you know I hate doing it." He loved it403Please respect copyright.PENANAYk9ohlPUjQ
Twitch nodded and stood beside David." 'S alright. I-I-I'm just easily sca-ar-ared."403Please respect copyright.PENANAMhNCHa83KV
David nodded. The boy 403Please respect copyright.PENANAhigf2BjhiA
was lucky to have any friends at all." Nothing wrong with being scared."403Please respect copyright.PENANAVGFsqWNllZ
He said with a comforting smile. "We all have our own strengths, like 403Please respect copyright.PENANAgLRz37Q5Hv
you..." David paused for a bit racking his mind for something to say. "A403Please respect copyright.PENANAckjCCojpRO
poet! A man of dreams! How're your poems going anyway? I still want to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAX52OLimbye
read them someday."403Please respect copyright.PENANA4Y8qsO6TW8
Twitch muttered 403Please respect copyright.PENANAHVvjSkmeu9
something under his breathe. David motioned with his hand for him to 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6vdBixtIHb
speak up. "...n-not poems. But son-so-songs."403Please respect copyright.PENANAbzinzEXpGJ
David stopped himself from shrugging and smiled. "Songs, even better then! Why not create a song for the rebellion?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAqSUOsCHQt9
Twitch started shaking 403Please respect copyright.PENANAUXS5RQEV4s
his head but before the words: 'No' formed on his mouth a voice 403Please respect copyright.PENANAMKKavGiiqL
interrupted them. "A hymn truly sounds marvelous!" Francesca made Twitch403Please respect copyright.PENANALqj5UCH40c
jump back even more than David did403Please respect copyright.PENANAuCUiz7VkVk
"I-I-I" He continued in that vain for a while.403Please respect copyright.PENANAKSg3s7xYiC
"Speak up soldier!" Gobs403Please respect copyright.PENANABGXHxT18YX
voice resounded around the cave, making everyone glance at Twitch, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAxUmtwTnNwn
which should've made his stuttering worse. But his fear of Gob took over403Please respect copyright.PENANAj5uHsqDBxb
any instinct he had.403Please respect copyright.PENANAsq0TzXlRu7
"I'mnotgoodenough!" He 403Please respect copyright.PENANABYBqEgNWGY
said as fast possible. David was astounded it was probably the first 403Please respect copyright.PENANAW8vzmFJ2XP
time the boy didn't stutter. Not that he could understand what he said 403Please respect copyright.PENANADvizHxzxrB
now.403Please respect copyright.PENANA5xME0uEU2e
"Nonsense." Francesca 403Please respect copyright.PENANA91fIGk4hiD
put her hand on Twitch's shoulder. She didn't seem to have any trouble 403Please respect copyright.PENANAxPN29G9dA9
understanding him. "Write me a song when you can, and we will sing it, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAWRJSYP3JKk
all of us together." She projected her voice to others nearby which 403Please respect copyright.PENANAK36OeU1ylf
raised a rugged cheer. That just made Twitch hide his face as it went 403Please respect copyright.PENANA9soZtwZIsj
dark red.403Please respect copyright.PENANAaimh0688bU
Francesca spared Twitch 403Please respect copyright.PENANA75QRdFZ18R
one last warm smile and turned to the rest of the rebels standing 403Please respect copyright.PENANAQmmOcrWUje
around. "It's time for your daily studies! Spread the message!" Both 403Please respect copyright.PENANARK73snSWMA
children and adults listened to Francesca, without a hint of 403Please respect copyright.PENANAgciTPfTdvu
disobedience, and started moving in one line to the study cavern, as it 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6ikRKPSSUd
was popularly called.403Please respect copyright.PENANAjNvXvPCBr5
The rebels not only 403Please respect copyright.PENANAgc42nbp8K4
respected Francesca for her leadership and attitude towards the 403Please respect copyright.PENANAoUAASH7gay
peasantry, but also her attempts to educate them. Most of the rebels 403Please respect copyright.PENANAd4qcjvuXnB
didn't know how to read or basic math while Francesca was an educated 403Please respect copyright.PENANA60JzBNoOXX
noble, thus she decided to teach everyone in the rebellion the basics. 403Please respect copyright.PENANA2IRJ6KA9KV
No one was barred from the lessons and both young and old were invited 403Please respect copyright.PENANAKMNcMiPCV9
to them. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAOqeqWSexh8
David attended one of 403Please respect copyright.PENANAatgu4jnm2L
those lessons but found himself too bored to continue. They were talking403Please respect copyright.PENANA0l7p8Y1n9C
about letter and numbers and some researcher named Vesputti or 403Please respect copyright.PENANAauLyuOyeUm
something similar. Thus, he skipped over on those lessons, he wasn't the403Please respect copyright.PENANAi1TzF53CvA
only one as most of the adults had decided that they were too old to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAKKKFfqRCXc
learn anything new.403Please respect copyright.PENANAKRgwQ7SiWI
Before leading her group403Please respect copyright.PENANApU3wAyFu5Y
to the secluded cavern, Francesca approached David. "I'd like if you'd 403Please respect copyright.PENANAEeisJu5q8T
dine with me tonight, if it's to your liking?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAjjGz231UFX
"Of course, I'll see you403Please respect copyright.PENANAPXbmvlKvfo
later." Francesca did that sometimes, inviting David over. Chatting 403Please respect copyright.PENANAnKHvQVepya
about trivialities, like whether he had any more vision about The Five. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAFq7uyaSpTH
Thankfully Jester didn't deign to appear yet so David managed to sleep 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8CnCjXK7k
peacefully, well not accounting the strange dreams about some boy crying403Please respect copyright.PENANAeLpJJW3gYv
and calling for his mummy. Those dreams made David wake up in a foul 403Please respect copyright.PENANAhx9ITF2L0B
mood, he wasn't certain why but thought it could be because he didn't 403Please respect copyright.PENANAEOgGghl7kQ
remember his parents or family.403Please respect copyright.PENANA27fjnoUHbO
Francesca, unaware of 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6c0Lsic1ST
David's thoughts or dreams, nodded with a smile and led her group from 403Please respect copyright.PENANAVgwIFeqykJ
the main cavern. Twitch following her and joining his sibling to whom 403Please respect copyright.PENANAzSgOAscLXL
David waved. Turning around he came face to face with Nook.403Please respect copyright.PENANAsUQQMW0djD
"I'm off duty now, got some guys looking for a game. You're in?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAuW0miaPz97
Nook was an interesting 403Please respect copyright.PENANAneXh4o4rEm
case, while he was definitely Gob's man he didn't seem to be as 403Please respect copyright.PENANAGvAlZgIxBg
disciplined as the other soldiers. He was also one of the few soldiers 403Please respect copyright.PENANAFkyzeMhjzo
who was friendly with David instead of following Gob's lead and hating 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmxyyTPEdpM
his guts. So they decided to have a card game here and there while 403Please respect copyright.PENANAoO6KPp8y3F
inviting other people, a card game in which David lost more often than 403Please respect copyright.PENANABqbMLv8Tdi
not. While David hated losing in cards it was a good method of making 403Please respect copyright.PENANA3IfRZxouUB
friends and getting to know people. As well as a guarantee to keep 403Please respect copyright.PENANArRRnvQZDf4
getting invited as long as you lost smart and graciously accepted it.403Please respect copyright.PENANA7UwVI0fqFf
"Aye, why not Nook. Maybe I'll clean house this time."403Please respect copyright.PENANA8QjmVpbfz2
Nook grinned a 403Please respect copyright.PENANADp0pM7BHZt
predator's smile and led David towards a secluded table. While gambling 403Please respect copyright.PENANA5wN9jh2Q9M
wasn't banned or anything, as long as you were off duty, it was frowned 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmHZDu9qXQ0
upon by Gob. That and most rebels having limited resources. Having only 403Please respect copyright.PENANAujharQ1nAw
their clothes and weapons stolen from the empire or brought on their 403Please respect copyright.PENANADLQKZuAksX
backs.403Please respect copyright.PENANANFOXgDCAcA
Thus any card games were403Please respect copyright.PENANARxZBk5V73W
just that, games to pass the time. At least until David proposed to bet403Please respect copyright.PENANAmi65KHdp32
their rations. Everyone received the basic rations few times per day 403Please respect copyright.PENANAB9DNYXfwPa
and it was up to them how much of that they ate. It was barely enough to403Please respect copyright.PENANAQbB42nXayW
feed a healthy adult. As they have been on this isle for a while it was403Please respect copyright.PENANAQNImvxMH8m
harder to find fresh animals to hunt every day. A lot of the rebels 403Please respect copyright.PENANAbero3ziGAP
were opposed to that idea as they'd loose on the last bits of food they 403Please respect copyright.PENANAanoxMqAIxI
did have.403Please respect copyright.PENANAjc78pjChKp
Some did think it was a 403Please respect copyright.PENANA5qL44XiDjd
brilliant idea and David was sitting down with a few of them right now. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAqEA1QSieyj
Nook, he was confident in his card abilities. Apparently before joining 403Please respect copyright.PENANAts5VBvFS9D
the rebellion he was a militiaman in his village and gambled a lot. As 403Please respect copyright.PENANAtmS0NgkeZM
far as David could see he was more lucky than actually good. Old 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmHIMCDuAWa
toothless Stevie, he joked that if he did lose his rations that it would403Please respect copyright.PENANAzH1dpp2EaH
save his last teeth. He also wasn't afraid to bet most of his rations 403Please respect copyright.PENANAjAEXdKecv7
scaring the other players into folding, a good bluffer. Finally there 403Please respect copyright.PENANAPerXIHNjON
was Tiruk, a huge man who definitely needed more rations just to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAGxiAiKrjEW
survive. It surprised David anyone could keep that weight with tight the403Please respect copyright.PENANAAMsrDJo1d0
food has been.403Please respect copyright.PENANAhb1bq8tVMe
They were the four main 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJiMNreIJ9V
players who usually joined the gambling games. Sometimes others joined 403Please respect copyright.PENANApk8Do53W6B
but they usually stopped after going hungry for a day or two as they 403Please respect copyright.PENANAw1jdaz1eTx
lost their rations. These four though didn't give up after losing, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAwfIDmHpfpq
because they knew that their chances of a feast were just around the 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6smBC3UCBk
corner. That fact created a sense of comradeship between the players. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAgY0L9u66xx
Even if they were playing against each other they understood the risks 403Please respect copyright.PENANA080FXDuqBF
and accepted them.403Please respect copyright.PENANAaxG2tAJvWS
"''Ello boys." David 403Please respect copyright.PENANAdBJBVddhwx
said sitting down at the table with Nook. There were nods all around the403Please respect copyright.PENANAthbTdHJ12f
table and the cards were dealt. They were playing a card game called 403Please respect copyright.PENANAAtnFv9Kll3
match 'n go. Most of the rebels had not heard of the game or at least 403Please respect copyright.PENANAD2yEL1HLtP
knew it under a different name but most of them caught on fast, it was 403Please respect copyright.PENANAnyPsF32RJ1
often just played for fun. But the best games came from betting. As the 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6ALCt4OaeA
risks went higher you tried to fool your opponent into thinking that you403Please respect copyright.PENANAF37FudCBpm
had the match or a higher card. David loved risk games like that, he 403Please respect copyright.PENANA8UUa7r2Cv1
loved reading the other player emotions and using it against them or at 403Please respect copyright.PENANA2g37LpVxiS
least for his own benefit. 403Please respect copyright.PENANA5GAK2kH2Nu
Nook was the first to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAgEpUVHaZNT
play. "I'm betting half of my rations on this. Gots a good deck, that I 403Please respect copyright.PENANAwbuYH5KLpk
do." David could see the plastered smile on his face. At this point 403Please respect copyright.PENANA9SbNzlga2e
David could tell fake between real in a heartbeat. Nook was bluffing.403Please respect copyright.PENANAWP8oaT0uN7
"Alright, I'll call that." David answered.403Please respect copyright.PENANACQ2qQtNQd9
Tiruk, in answer, just 403Please respect copyright.PENANAkDpONYdLT8
shook his head and folded. He wasn't risking it. Stevenson with his 403Please respect copyright.PENANAXyQuyd0kzt
gaped smile called it as well and cackled a bit.403Please respect copyright.PENANAnyVyiozHQr
Next card revealed. A 3 403Please respect copyright.PENANAn3Nf59wxta
for Davids two threes. He'd have to fold that game, too high chance of 403Please respect copyright.PENANAk6rmRy4yfS
winning. So it went on and on, rations were won and lost. David won a 403Please respect copyright.PENANAcQKWMviPRg
few games but then he bet everything and lost on purpose, made Stevie a 403Please respect copyright.PENANAMGR0PvIq0e
very happy, old, man.403Please respect copyright.PENANAwWUsEb6ILW
Since David didn't have 403Please respect copyright.PENANACzxkG2ZIUA
anything to bet with anymore he made his excuses and left the table. He 403Please respect copyright.PENANAMYo8QO24b8
took a look around for Gob and didn't see him anywhere so decided it 403Please respect copyright.PENANAIXW2ludunw
would be safe to take a walk.403Please respect copyright.PENANAokKKPFA2Gd
Another thing he took to403Please respect copyright.PENANACPHUpEbGRh
doing over the past two weeks was exploring, finding any secret spaces 403Please respect copyright.PENANA1887Kks6Wp
where he might hide. The rebels themselves only found one possible 403Please respect copyright.PENANA2V3E0O3dUP
emergency exit while David found three. Of course the other two exits 403Please respect copyright.PENANAKHKcj2eThv
only were wide enough for one person to pass through at a time. So it 403Please respect copyright.PENANAde8gJuBmcN
could be that they just didn't consider them as such.403Please respect copyright.PENANAT8Pc7mF3jX
He also found various 403Please respect copyright.PENANAimZ9mYSSSE
hiding spots, not only for him but for items he stole. Weapons, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmQSmhBARf9
ammunition, food and the like. If only a small amount disappeared at a 403Please respect copyright.PENANAWCUp2KB5H0
time no one really noticed and attributed it to absentmindedness. Though403Please respect copyright.PENANADbN5GhjK1K
David believed Gob was getting suspicious so he would need to start 403Please respect copyright.PENANAw3d8WnT3Dm
being more careful.403Please respect copyright.PENANAS7CBT0qKE7
The caves themselves 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4DVwssCVg
seemed to go through the whole isle, David didn't believe he explored 403Please respect copyright.PENANATwjFUrX3mJ
even half of it. Gob tried to send a few soldiers every day to explore 403Please respect copyright.PENANAA48clvORaF
further into the caves, but many were afraid of the dark, believing 403Please respect copyright.PENANAU7a1s0X6EQ
various beasts were residing in them. Refusing to go inside without Gob 403Please respect copyright.PENANAYWGSYHPWyx
and since Gob was usually busy either creating or being out on patrols 403Please respect copyright.PENANAhg8dmgQNNg
himself that limited their exploring time.403Please respect copyright.PENANAj3oxSpqWqV
That let David offer his403Please respect copyright.PENANAg3SiLIF7vz
services as an explorer. He would explore the further caves and would 403Please respect copyright.PENANAh1ULjciGOC
report on any worrying circumstances. Gob was reluctant to let him go 403Please respect copyright.PENANA8RoIx2ANtc
but was convinced by Francesca that it would be a grand idea as it would403Please respect copyright.PENANAKlD27kFCSO
free more people for patrols and other duties.403Please respect copyright.PENANA0PXv7WsRQV
This time though he had a403Please respect copyright.PENANAxySCyFaRjc
destination in mind. A bit further into one of the pathways, about an 403Please respect copyright.PENANAyuAIlhTa9f
hour from the main cavern, there was a small pathway where a thin person403Please respect copyright.PENANAXviAxAEUw4
could barely fit. Following that pathway, if you could survive the 403Please respect copyright.PENANAzlvqqhSJ52
feeling of getting crushed by the walls, was a pool. David was surprised403Please respect copyright.PENANAStKibdm2iB
when he found and astonished when he discovered the water was hot. 403Please respect copyright.PENANACiUpPsQH5B
That's where he was 403Please respect copyright.PENANABox6QaMmwf
going now; he needed a clear head for Francesca's meeting. No matter how403Please respect copyright.PENANAVI5Z8YqpEF
she acted she was a noble, they always sought the best deals for 403Please respect copyright.PENANAGteAi1xp77
themselves, always trying to ledge a situation in their favour. David 403Please respect copyright.PENANAhhXlMG3cFS
would need to be on his toes. Or maybe he just wanted to actually relax 403Please respect copyright.PENANAtdVd65crge
without anyone screaming or crying, he didn't decide which one sounded 403Please respect copyright.PENANAdeE2mnoUhI
better in his mind.403Please respect copyright.PENANAeG9DtYOKPQ
Thus grabbing a torch as403Please respect copyright.PENANAuAhgvceA4x
many of the pathways further down weren't lit, he began his, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAkWTJnXQpvo
uneventful, journey. Luckily he reached his destination in a timely 403Please respect copyright.PENANAz7OZQMm86v
manner, though he hated going through that cramped space. He gave a 403Please respect copyright.PENANArruElrFzKt
satisfied sigh as he sat down in the pool, his muscles losing the 403Please respect copyright.PENANAzzizqupnld
tension he gathered over the past few weeks, the water reached up to his403Please respect copyright.PENANA0H5LhgLndM
chest and he dunked his head under the water finally enjoying a proper 403Please respect copyright.PENANAsOfqoai7X1
clean. He was careful to keep track of time but other than that he let 403Please respect copyright.PENANAwfMbwuLci2
his mind wander and just blanked out. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAofXLz5tqJD
Before he even noticed, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAN4Y1nkWNqo
to David's disappointment, it was time to leave. He was also saddened by403Please respect copyright.PENANAJTCeXWY39i
the fact that the water ended up a bit darker after his bath, a way to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAunY2gHzi04
hit a guys confidence. With a sad sigh he put on his dirty and worn out 403Please respect copyright.PENANAzDyu0jgGe2
clothes and went back to the main cavern to the sound of activity and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAiwHtgos15Y
the smell of unwashed masses.403Please respect copyright.PENANAkiPrSsRcKp
It did seem that David 403Please respect copyright.PENANAeMa5XFJdaM
came back just in time as people were gathered near the cooking pots to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAZQQU3PtJen
gather their rations. David did the same and then found Stevie, sitting 403Please respect copyright.PENANAqHysK4KeY4
with some other older rebels, and gave him his rations. Stevie nodded 403Please respect copyright.PENANANf9IYUx2tl
and had a sparkle in his eye. "Maybe nexsht time you can save me 403Please respect copyright.PENANAZHHF9fQg11
teethsh." And he cackled at his joke. David managed a weak laugh that 403Please respect copyright.PENANAd48C3riglh
seemed to satisfy Stevie.403Please respect copyright.PENANA7WkSfNo5NC
"Don't keep Francesca 403Please respect copyright.PENANAMFwGupYuFt
waiting." Came a gruff voice from behind. David tried to hide his 403Please respect copyright.PENANAUrjJ8adDFV
annoyance at the fact that Gob managed to sneak up on him and scare him.403Please respect copyright.PENANAldV2evHNct
Some people just had no sense of proper manners.403Please respect copyright.PENANAXXWpP61p6j
"Oh I wouldn't dare." 403Please respect copyright.PENANA12CPWHtGlz
He gave a mock bow which seemed to infuriate Gob more. "I was just out 403Please respect copyright.PENANAtsHCHad9Io
exploring, nothing to report so far, sir Gob." Gob just grunted and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAP77OS4njzh
walked away. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAnWEuBFA8Sz
David smiled and waved 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6uPolsxmK4
after him, the guy really needed to unwind. With nothing else to do but 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6kcdu8fouJ
shrug at that thought David went towards Francesca's room. Even if 403Please respect copyright.PENANA9JBcJuV4mn
Francesca did pretend to be all for equality and the like she still had 403Please respect copyright.PENANAjddyhKcZGt
her personal quarters, such as they were, as well as an actual bed, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAHAXnquhyUm
table, chairs. They were shoddy work at best, crafted quickly by some of403Please respect copyright.PENANAe37Hy7emVA
the rebels, but they were more than anything any other rebel had. David403Please respect copyright.PENANAL3kPmoGx2F
was impressed by how she had more and yet most still perceived her as 403Please respect copyright.PENANAR1kdlj8zy1
the paragon of virtue.403Please respect copyright.PENANAUoapoE9PV4
Her room, as per usual, 403Please respect copyright.PENANALVAYPxUdNg
was guarded. But the guard waved him on with a smile. David saw it as a 403Please respect copyright.PENANASkvlZJOePK
pointless precaution anyway, but what could you do. Francesca herself 403Please respect copyright.PENANAbTCFqjc5hw
was already seated, with a torch in the middle of the table, a pale 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJKiWIkvfmW
imitation of a candle. One thing the rebels had a lot of were torches, 403Please respect copyright.PENANAR7iLOMIYvs
to light up all caverns and pathways. 403Please respect copyright.PENANADcm0XH3gAW
"Oh, David! Please sit" she gestured towards the second chair.403Please respect copyright.PENANAuZexKXLbC5
David sat down with a 403Please respect copyright.PENANA2VmV6NUzjS
nod and smile. They weren't eating anything extravagant, just what the 403Please respect copyright.PENANAMSl3EiRuL3
rest were. Dried meat, nuts, sometimes if they were lucky they could 403Please respect copyright.PENANAdGnRXk6UTQ
even get rabbit or vegetable soup, but that more of a luxury nowadays. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAR5S6cz6iIu
This time it was some dried meat of unknown origin and some water found 403Please respect copyright.PENANA82Hs4zjoPq
in a stream. Delicious.403Please respect copyright.PENANAB5GIo0EmxG
"So pleasantries first or business first?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAaSc8cLNsAD
"I found that going straight to business can ruin a healthy appetite."403Please respect copyright.PENANA4pjSxYliUN
Francesca nodded and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAElhdOvF4lg
began to cut her meat with her wooden utensils. While David had similar 403Please respect copyright.PENANA69DudvYuaQ
equipment he didn't really find much use of them and found it better to 403Please respect copyright.PENANATAo4ty2Vuj
eat with his own hands. Made it faster and when you're under cannon fire403Please respect copyright.PENANAWmjsDWHVPT
fast eating was paramount.403Please respect copyright.PENANAlJwpafwF9V
As expected David 403Please respect copyright.PENANAs8LvffItUU
finished his portion first and ended up waiting for Francesca to finish 403Please respect copyright.PENANAu4nHahX0TE
hers, which took another 5 or 10 minutes. The girl was certainly a 403Please respect copyright.PENANA54srMANiX5
deliberate eater.403Please respect copyright.PENANAX4K5DdfdiN
"So on to business." She403Please respect copyright.PENANAVHreiI13gX
paused making sure David was ready, once he nodded she continued. "Tell403Please respect copyright.PENANAbX1JbyKsQQ
me, do you know who actually hired your services?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAyKYAq6eAUa
"No idea, captain was usually tight lipped about our clients. I just always assumed it was one of you guys."403Please respect copyright.PENANAnnCLrbZJV2
"In a way. It's someone 403Please respect copyright.PENANAoLocEbYr1o
who's...interested in our cause. One of Gob's friends. He is able to get403Please respect copyright.PENANAPnCyxaCAJr
in and out of the isles without arousing too much suspicion."403Please respect copyright.PENANAYnIWdqDa7M
"Can't imagine you can tell me who it is?"403Please respect copyright.PENANAR3ARy9lVDG
"It's not for me to tell sadly, Gob was adamant that it's best kept as secret." Francesca smiled apologetically "apologies"403Please respect copyright.PENANAcdYmkqkXKa
David waved his hand in a playful manner. "No worries, I'm surprised you're telling me any of this in the first place."403Please respect copyright.PENANAXre7zr2qHL
"Well, there is a 403Please respect copyright.PENANAozcgkqRMSf
reason. Since the weapons we got previously are in the Empire's hands 403Please respect copyright.PENANAtGwWUyfgHk
and we can't fight them for it." Putting it lightly the rebels never 403Please respect copyright.PENANAIj0v5ex5kw
really fought the empire in a straight on fight. Mostly raids and 403Please respect copyright.PENANAqvTojOa4WU
recruiting villagers with their possessions. Easy pickings. "Gob got in 403Please respect copyright.PENANANCQ0akbl1q
touch with his friend again and luckily we managed to set up a meeting 403Please respect copyright.PENANATjLNDIMfQZ
in a few days the edge of a different isle.403Please respect copyright.PENANA9JdLCpIXgg
"We will also be moving 403Please respect copyright.PENANAINp3eCS9Wl
our base" she continued, sadly. "I can't keep us here with the danger 403Please respect copyright.PENANADwnsbdbdlD
increasing, so we will move slowly, to an isle we were based in before 403Please respect copyright.PENANAc7gDdKrOxq
so some will know where to go."403Please respect copyright.PENANASpzktZ61FP
"That's good, why did 403Please respect copyright.PENANAg4fuSf3fCc
you want to keep us here for this long anyway?" While he was annoyed at 403Please respect copyright.PENANAVXlxUEPNlj
hearing that question every time he went on patrols, he couldn't deny he403Please respect copyright.PENANAuaxORtiwCl
was interested in the answer.403Please respect copyright.PENANArO5Z65PlhY
"It...It has to do with one of The Five. I can't reveal more in fear that it might interfere with your objective. "403Please respect copyright.PENANALlzNXVg78w
David nodded, not a full403Please respect copyright.PENANAncQueDONvf
answer he wanted but to push might create a rift between them. Religion403Please respect copyright.PENANAv945RrV7GZ
was pretty important to Francesca "Don't worry; you don't have to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAhhAYWx09uB
reveal anything you don't want want to." He said in a soothing tone403Please respect copyright.PENANAjX6VnfoDmG
"Thank you." She said 403Please respect copyright.PENANAebqqctX4AL
gratefully. "Where was I? Oh, yes. We'll have groups with specified 403Please respect copyright.PENANAXqtDfM3Hfk
leaders going back to that previous isle, they'll lead them and we'll 403Please respect copyright.PENANASMGXDLqEEj
regroup at a specified point."403Please respect copyright.PENANAiLtYDVIUeD
"How will you get 403Please respect copyright.PENANAUl2u1HhNpw
everyone over to the next isle?" Isles were divided by cracks, and while403Please respect copyright.PENANAIvIrs7feFp
some you could jump over, others were so wide you could fit a full 403Please respect copyright.PENANACwYyswOJMt
city.403Please respect copyright.PENANAGYg7LLY4Nu
"We have small sky 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJpYFlivmlv
boats. Some of the groups will use it...Others...Others will need to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAuSU5EWNe1f
find their own way" she said in bitter tones. "I don't like that, we're 403Please respect copyright.PENANAVLCEBjeXGo
abandoning my people. But Gob said it's too dangerous traveling in a big403Please respect copyright.PENANAVdb2i73dxS
group."403Please respect copyright.PENANAoII2gq72eF
"You're a good leader on your own. You should trust your own instincts." Ah finally! An opportunity to create that rift403Please respect copyright.PENANA7kc84yVJb5
She gave him a sad smile403Please respect copyright.PENANA41LQE0nche
in response. "Thank you, but I do not a good head for tactics or 403Please respect copyright.PENANAmIFLMC9yiy
military matters. I've had some education on it, but Gob is much better 403Please respect copyright.PENANAruCmVu62L4
at it." David still wasn't sure just what Gob did before the rebellion. 403Please respect copyright.PENANArcWfycxzIl
Francesca stated that the past did not matter and as long as they were 403Please respect copyright.PENANA6tknDr9DRE
willing to fight for the rebellions ideals they would be allowed to keep403Please respect copyright.PENANAh2TfbTJEYx
their past in the past.403Please respect copyright.PENANAIPXMKlIiB4
"Now then, back to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAh87T5LweWJ
business." She said more cheerily. "Myself and Gob will be meeting that 403Please respect copyright.PENANAXaBliYksnq
person in a few days. We will have guards but I'd also like for you to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAnzOSyYC6Lb
come. You're well-traveled and met many people; your advice would be 403Please respect copyright.PENANAXpW75mYjKW
valuable, especially since we'll only be bartering for them."403Please respect copyright.PENANAimu60yCGtb
"You'll have it. I'm 403Please respect copyright.PENANAuXcQFt89LS
more than happy to join you." While he wasn't looking forward to 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJQSwxW6HRI
sleeping with all the insects again, it might help his back to not sleep403Please respect copyright.PENANAMYmd6pGJGL
on a rock hard surface.403Please respect copyright.PENANAekkbMOj61x
"Perfect! I'll let Gob know and convince him as well." She laughed sheepishly. "I didn't really confirm this with him you see."403Please respect copyright.PENANAdZ3fgeWp2W
"Oh, the guy loves me. It'll be easy." Francesca smiled at that, she knew just how much Gob hated David.403Please respect copyright.PENANAGbTXwbbvJ9
A lull in the conversation and then a question David was dreading "Did you have any more visions? From the one who chose you?"403Please respect copyright.PENANA2vRBVADiEl
"Sadly no, I'm as 403Please respect copyright.PENANAzP5B6Lg5AW
clueless as when I was born." This wasn't exactly true. He knew he had 403Please respect copyright.PENANA8OrhldTj2P
to find something, and suspected Francesca was after it as well he 403Please respect copyright.PENANAiz2kA1Fhoa
suspected it was on this isle. Francesca seemed to know more, but she 403Please respect copyright.PENANAKla8uHnd2T
wasn't willing to reveal it. She might hide it under lofty ideals, but 403Please respect copyright.PENANAllHmkTq26A
she was concealing the truth from both David and the rebels.403Please respect copyright.PENANAp85BE3zUHV
"Do not worry, I am 403Please respect copyright.PENANAJG6Vu87Doh
su..." before she could continue their whole world rocked. As explosions403Please respect copyright.PENANAzAJcgzc4KB
rang from outside and rubble started falling all around them., hitting 403Please respect copyright.PENANAA4j4xYF1kO
the table and dislodging the torch, casting ominous shadows on the walls403Please respect copyright.PENANAUS9NyX6E3Z
"Wha..." before David could finish his thought a very worried Gob barged in. 403Please respect copyright.PENANAIlJ1bGVWw3
"We're under attack, they found us."
403Please respect copyright.PENANARwR9E9WP07
403Please respect copyright.PENANAEuAjjkE9Jd