404Please respect copyright.PENANARroY9YCEzu
404Please respect copyright.PENANAI6wSlzQgvI
'The voice?! Of course I404Please respect copyright.PENANAMsNfjaEUcb
can hear it, I embrace it, I follow it, I worship it for what it is! 404Please respect copyright.PENANAemAuFP9wmv
The word of god! And I am a holy messenger! You all are heathens! 404Please respect copyright.PENANAdH5eNEtf06
Believers in false gods! You hide from the true voice, you fear it, you 404Please respect copyright.PENANAsjz2RgUGjB
shun it, you deny it! My only crime is that I am no coward!'404Please respect copyright.PENANAbiSt0JXArJ
Extract from the trial 404Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ1zj3DrsW
of Bloody Jack. Accused of murdering his whole village on the whims of 404Please respect copyright.PENANA5DNEZEvIik
an ether being and sentenced to death.404Please respect copyright.PENANA5iQGlRkciX
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------404Please respect copyright.PENANAMWoxg3ddzo
404Please respect copyright.PENANAOgE9fT9D9g
"I don't get it, why don't we go to a different isle? The Imperialsh will have ush shurrounded in no time."404Please respect copyright.PENANAl0Q7tTrfse
~And here we go again, simple minded people asking simple minded questions~404Please respect copyright.PENANAthw69wkgKL
"Too many people to move, they'll notice us."404Please respect copyright.PENANALM6SUaJJjf
"Never shtopped ush before." A pause as the old man spat to the side. "What about fighting then, too little of ush?"404Please respect copyright.PENANAZJQbMI2NvS
Gob shook his head, 404Please respect copyright.PENANAcwAjp8XDVO
tired. David could understand that, and he was annoyed he could 404Please respect copyright.PENANAfe2M7eB3dw
empathize with Gob. As per Gob's decision every time it was David's turn404Please respect copyright.PENANAyq59JL7OEO
to go patrolling Gob accompanied him. At first David found this 404Please respect copyright.PENANAxRQYBxTmnY
insulting, he was the paragon of trust after all, but after a few of 404Please respect copyright.PENANADnEfoe1qAq
such patrols he just found it annoying. Ever patrol was usually 404Please respect copyright.PENANAYroWSbIHk6
conducted with 3 or 4 people, usually with different people. There were a404Please respect copyright.PENANAue5oZCXBkO
few constants in those groups though, the first was that David and Gob 404Please respect copyright.PENANAxH80wchq5h
were in them and the second was that someone always asked when they 404Please respect copyright.PENANAchrlrPn9HQ
would move.404Please respect copyright.PENANAyBLl7bk21J
Now David has only been 404Please respect copyright.PENANAEwhNDs5W2Q
in the camp for a month now and managed to glean some information from 404Please respect copyright.PENANAoHFPsK313H
the other rebels and just observations. There were three groups of 404Please respect copyright.PENANAo6DZBpJjNw
rebels. Peasants, peasant-soldiers and soldiers, as David liked to call 404Please respect copyright.PENANA0kpQYMnjGc
them. Peasants and peasant-soldiers were the people with no, to only 404Please respect copyright.PENANAhQFQDaopIq
basic, military training. Such as Denis and his ilk. The soldiers 404Please respect copyright.PENANAGmtzqKqvae
weren't necessary from the military, but they had more experience. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAUETKgtE6JA
Experience wasn't the only difference, civilians and civilian soldiers 404Please respect copyright.PENANApQEaMSv42G
loved and trusted both Gob and Francesca. Soldiers only trusted Gob. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAL7LMbGHARK
Which worked out nicely for David as he could use this discord and 404Please respect copyright.PENANAPNso9BR0Gt
divided loyalties.404Please respect copyright.PENANAx9auvc84tU
Another important thing 404Please respect copyright.PENANAKIkjQA6FdG
he managed to find out was that the rebels had stayed on the same isle 404Please respect copyright.PENANAy3pQzzfskb
for three months. Many of the rebels were unhappy with the prolonged 404Please respect copyright.PENANAftGLpWMtyf
stay, especially the soldiers. This resulted in that question and Gob 404Please respect copyright.PENANAxXNAY0FAdi
giving the same answer to anyone who asked. It was really riveting stuff404Please respect copyright.PENANANMsTMapGVq
for David, especially after hearing it for the twentieth third time. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAgbb8aEks6d
Ol' Stevie asked it around two or three times over the past few days to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAFvNOgp2b7a
their destination.404Please respect copyright.PENANACh2s3oxY4U
Today they were out 404Please respect copyright.PENANAVHvgrDA94K
looking at the new imperial camp, turning into more of a makeshift fort,404Please respect copyright.PENANAWvVhvwLdx0
being built around the wreckage of the 'Flying Fish'. It was a crude 404Please respect copyright.PENANArfGw4eblar
construction, something that could be easily taken apart. They were 404Please respect copyright.PENANAUXOW9zMLn3
joined by Rock and another rebel, called old toothless Stevie, on 404Please respect copyright.PENANABZS6MjU2Kr
account of him being old and having lost most of his teeth. 404Please respect copyright.PENANA0MfwBi0kV0
"Yes, now shut up and 404Please respect copyright.PENANAwyX7JqejCh
remember everything you can about the imperials." Stevie shrugged at 404Please respect copyright.PENANAvHEX1Xc7xr
that and continued looking through his binocular. David kept further 404Please respect copyright.PENANAs55XDA3HG5
away from the pair, watching their backs with Rock, the youth did not 404Please respect copyright.PENANA2n9rPSz4lZ
become any more talkative during Davids stay in the caves.404Please respect copyright.PENANAzqbd0Gn8pS
They were at their 404Please respect copyright.PENANApJNgLxbc5G
lookout spot for a few hours at this point and David was glad he didn't 404Please respect copyright.PENANAVwoN1htMTl
feel any magical tugs coming from that direction, after discussing it 404Please respect copyright.PENANASbiSZLFgjk
with Francesca it turned out that what David felt was a magical tug, 404Please respect copyright.PENANAA5DrVqLXQA
looked like the imperial soldier wasn't anywhere near it.404Please respect copyright.PENANAKQLJMyRSQC
"Alright, that's enough.404Please respect copyright.PENANAHxX4VqlhEG
Let's head back." Gob proclaimed to the group and David sighted in 404Please respect copyright.PENANAae93qIhZ5e
relief. Thankfully David was given new shoes, to help him walk, as well 404Please respect copyright.PENANAl9QXHkfQdN
as new clothes and even an eyepatch. The walk itself was silent and 404Please respect copyright.PENANAlMgkPPKh1G
brutal. Gob set a murderous pace and he didn't look back to check on any404Please respect copyright.PENANAYjnTwWewUT
of them except for Rock, who bore it with his usual silence.404Please respect copyright.PENANA2EOF5LPMUJ
David walked in silence 404Please respect copyright.PENANA8KGmxjxria
as well. More to preserve his breathe, than anything else, as he felt 404Please respect copyright.PENANAw99OnIbafo
that he would fall to the ground if he even tried speaking. Toothless 404Please respect copyright.PENANA8l0HFBRhFL
Stevie may have been old and not have teeth, but he had more stamina 404Please respect copyright.PENANAhN3nbC4aSR
than David, farm work really built you up for long hours of activity.404Please respect copyright.PENANAlfQXgyOoNO
A walk that would've 404Please respect copyright.PENANAQrOL4Zrqz7
taken most of the day was managed in about half a day. David was so glad404Please respect copyright.PENANAy1gVtZBq4l
to see the damp cave that he was ready to kiss the rocks when he came 404Please respect copyright.PENANAuUEPh9wE2m
inside. The camp itself did not change much over the past month and 404Please respect copyright.PENANAT3IAqnDeI7
David was still the new guy. Though he made good strides in integrating 404Please respect copyright.PENANAMCxTC4Z2DO
himself as most of rebels waved to him in greeting.404Please respect copyright.PENANAg76kVpMQCP
"I'll go report to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAV7C5O9V6x1
Francesca. You can go relax." Gob passed David without a glance at him. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAUSgll3eANz
The fact that Gob didn't glare or spit at David's direction must've 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXSPQFT02wj
meant that he was finally warming up to him! At least it was more than 404Please respect copyright.PENANAOMSKN1BVU8
David got over the past month, in fact he was ready to give up on ever 404Please respect copyright.PENANAJRZTREF2vb
winning Gob over.404Please respect copyright.PENANAFYN1DV6vXV
Francesca on the other 404Please respect copyright.PENANAmUoTQRTxME
hand warmed up to him quite fast. As Denis summarized and David 404Please respect copyright.PENANALULtwWFSOV
confirmed she was a noble, a well read and knowledgeable noble but 404Please respect copyright.PENANAJynu3IUfnA
someone who hasn't left her estate a lot and has never traveled outside 404Please respect copyright.PENANAsXBxQK0Hbp
the empire. While David was the well-traveled dashing smuggler. He 404Please respect copyright.PENANA2KvHYre8rE
managed to enthrall her with made up stories and adventures. To be fair 404Please respect copyright.PENANAJKhrL4caJh
to Francesca she wasn't the only one falling under David's charm. As 404Please respect copyright.PENANACPmFvJsgiQ
most of the rebels found it hard to resist the dashing rogue act.404Please respect copyright.PENANAz7R2n535iz
David just wished he 404Please respect copyright.PENANADa9G1HnEaT
could win them over without going on patrols and risking his life. Oh 404Please respect copyright.PENANA1t1K0Z3z4k
well no one said being a parasite was easy.404Please respect copyright.PENANAo7iuA0RC45
Further down the camps 404Please respect copyright.PENANAYvMGuE6DZr
he could see Twitch, the nervous brother of Denis. Over the past month 404Please respect copyright.PENANAfmmHSIkuMC
he integrated himself with the siblings, becoming a part of their gang. 404Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZOirmICCs
As the siblings were liked by the rebels in general this made them trust404Please respect copyright.PENANApkG23CpVMQ
David all the more. David decided to join Twitch so he snuck up behind 404Please respect copyright.PENANAgZmtedlqR5
him. 404Please respect copyright.PENANANRpmEnoRpG
"What'cha doing?"404Please respect copyright.PENANADzivVCtVSs
Twitch practically jumped out of his own skin. "Agh! Oh D-david. Don't s-scare me l-l-like that."404Please respect copyright.PENANAYWEWJ8itRz
"Sorry, twitch." David said patting the boys shoulder. "Didn't mean to, you know I hate doing it." He loved it404Please respect copyright.PENANANrD8DMrKAO
Twitch nodded and stood beside David." 'S alright. I-I-I'm just easily sca-ar-ared."404Please respect copyright.PENANADOy6GRzIt4
David nodded. The boy 404Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZUnOUmG6x
was lucky to have any friends at all." Nothing wrong with being scared."404Please respect copyright.PENANAwX5dGEUoi1
He said with a comforting smile. "We all have our own strengths, like 404Please respect copyright.PENANAR3wGTajCr9
you..." David paused for a bit racking his mind for something to say. "A404Please respect copyright.PENANAByyGABqnjp
poet! A man of dreams! How're your poems going anyway? I still want to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAGUMydbmc51
read them someday."404Please respect copyright.PENANAzLygvJ1wDF
Twitch muttered 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXxyM2gbZ3X
something under his breathe. David motioned with his hand for him to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAgjojFjf7N8
speak up. "...n-not poems. But son-so-songs."404Please respect copyright.PENANA02pLNKEhP0
David stopped himself from shrugging and smiled. "Songs, even better then! Why not create a song for the rebellion?"404Please respect copyright.PENANA5PrGQd1b6y
Twitch started shaking 404Please respect copyright.PENANAD6baoMALEK
his head but before the words: 'No' formed on his mouth a voice 404Please respect copyright.PENANA0LPjX2276C
interrupted them. "A hymn truly sounds marvelous!" Francesca made Twitch404Please respect copyright.PENANAhkIxF64evs
jump back even more than David did404Please respect copyright.PENANAfTxKclsUHZ
"I-I-I" He continued in that vain for a while.404Please respect copyright.PENANAJyt39tQJU7
"Speak up soldier!" Gobs404Please respect copyright.PENANAPPcF1xWdm4
voice resounded around the cave, making everyone glance at Twitch, 404Please respect copyright.PENANALdcPDZW7VD
which should've made his stuttering worse. But his fear of Gob took over404Please respect copyright.PENANAlrdn9dCpM3
any instinct he had.404Please respect copyright.PENANABqWVFsmWvp
"I'mnotgoodenough!" He 404Please respect copyright.PENANAlCarYbsDHg
said as fast possible. David was astounded it was probably the first 404Please respect copyright.PENANAZDz9wTik6J
time the boy didn't stutter. Not that he could understand what he said 404Please respect copyright.PENANAVw6L7gjTTa
now.404Please respect copyright.PENANAhDNqIFk8vB
"Nonsense." Francesca 404Please respect copyright.PENANA7SAU89syIM
put her hand on Twitch's shoulder. She didn't seem to have any trouble 404Please respect copyright.PENANA2lgmofY0bj
understanding him. "Write me a song when you can, and we will sing it, 404Please respect copyright.PENANAzD904L5OIJ
all of us together." She projected her voice to others nearby which 404Please respect copyright.PENANAhYYVsnsRrF
raised a rugged cheer. That just made Twitch hide his face as it went 404Please respect copyright.PENANA3UWa9TaOey
dark red.404Please respect copyright.PENANAdCJdKQEF9y
Francesca spared Twitch 404Please respect copyright.PENANAvUDoZ2h0CV
one last warm smile and turned to the rest of the rebels standing 404Please respect copyright.PENANAnDMfpNr9mj
around. "It's time for your daily studies! Spread the message!" Both 404Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZYfpjsTw9
children and adults listened to Francesca, without a hint of 404Please respect copyright.PENANABpctk0vZbr
disobedience, and started moving in one line to the study cavern, as it 404Please respect copyright.PENANAhje44zd90F
was popularly called.404Please respect copyright.PENANADo34UOsReb
The rebels not only 404Please respect copyright.PENANALzxSqxrqFT
respected Francesca for her leadership and attitude towards the 404Please respect copyright.PENANA3IC3twwnoT
peasantry, but also her attempts to educate them. Most of the rebels 404Please respect copyright.PENANAFEdyAC4t4V
didn't know how to read or basic math while Francesca was an educated 404Please respect copyright.PENANAdgTw4qaUgl
noble, thus she decided to teach everyone in the rebellion the basics. 404Please respect copyright.PENANA9uZc0Yc79G
No one was barred from the lessons and both young and old were invited 404Please respect copyright.PENANAeImy4Da6Zc
to them. 404Please respect copyright.PENANA4n7VPku4lN
David attended one of 404Please respect copyright.PENANAgQmZgwBa4n
those lessons but found himself too bored to continue. They were talking404Please respect copyright.PENANAZBDD7P7T1D
about letter and numbers and some researcher named Vesputti or 404Please respect copyright.PENANA1a8vT1W1YE
something similar. Thus, he skipped over on those lessons, he wasn't the404Please respect copyright.PENANAKEb4z3L3Xb
only one as most of the adults had decided that they were too old to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAVmzys6f8Q3
learn anything new.404Please respect copyright.PENANABLz1l6yMST
Before leading her group404Please respect copyright.PENANASHRhX2NAG6
to the secluded cavern, Francesca approached David. "I'd like if you'd 404Please respect copyright.PENANAov7csiKbvh
dine with me tonight, if it's to your liking?"404Please respect copyright.PENANA6owza0LoUw
"Of course, I'll see you404Please respect copyright.PENANAwf02FP4zmU
later." Francesca did that sometimes, inviting David over. Chatting 404Please respect copyright.PENANAmZJoEwJXfd
about trivialities, like whether he had any more vision about The Five. 404Please respect copyright.PENANA3xFj9j2Z8f
Thankfully Jester didn't deign to appear yet so David managed to sleep 404Please respect copyright.PENANATWtChUHhKx
peacefully, well not accounting the strange dreams about some boy crying404Please respect copyright.PENANAM51qUWEBlk
and calling for his mummy. Those dreams made David wake up in a foul 404Please respect copyright.PENANAYFG81yycOh
mood, he wasn't certain why but thought it could be because he didn't 404Please respect copyright.PENANAP4LYKPFROn
remember his parents or family.404Please respect copyright.PENANA91AqKAdu51
Francesca, unaware of 404Please respect copyright.PENANA1Gn7czkDOi
David's thoughts or dreams, nodded with a smile and led her group from 404Please respect copyright.PENANAuGCmkPVM5j
the main cavern. Twitch following her and joining his sibling to whom 404Please respect copyright.PENANAmj0JyPCmlA
David waved. Turning around he came face to face with Nook.404Please respect copyright.PENANAjpPjwuZUdp
"I'm off duty now, got some guys looking for a game. You're in?"404Please respect copyright.PENANAZlm0uoxcLF
Nook was an interesting 404Please respect copyright.PENANAExcsuRIuXn
case, while he was definitely Gob's man he didn't seem to be as 404Please respect copyright.PENANAD3NVxBzm60
disciplined as the other soldiers. He was also one of the few soldiers 404Please respect copyright.PENANA6RVkMD9Ijp
who was friendly with David instead of following Gob's lead and hating 404Please respect copyright.PENANA3Kr4FLp05R
his guts. So they decided to have a card game here and there while 404Please respect copyright.PENANAHLV0TLQUhl
inviting other people, a card game in which David lost more often than 404Please respect copyright.PENANAD2QvOYVYA9
not. While David hated losing in cards it was a good method of making 404Please respect copyright.PENANA7fsgCJwNDz
friends and getting to know people. As well as a guarantee to keep 404Please respect copyright.PENANATE2MKiW0MU
getting invited as long as you lost smart and graciously accepted it.404Please respect copyright.PENANAnV52eMqusU
"Aye, why not Nook. Maybe I'll clean house this time."404Please respect copyright.PENANAO1Li1bB2c9
Nook grinned a 404Please respect copyright.PENANA9byCVxiVMc
predator's smile and led David towards a secluded table. While gambling 404Please respect copyright.PENANAb9DlIfetNd
wasn't banned or anything, as long as you were off duty, it was frowned 404Please respect copyright.PENANAleQoKpTTFT
upon by Gob. That and most rebels having limited resources. Having only 404Please respect copyright.PENANA4u8cOrWy1R
their clothes and weapons stolen from the empire or brought on their 404Please respect copyright.PENANAx9l7t278m0
backs.404Please respect copyright.PENANAUTmfz5ogel
Thus any card games were404Please respect copyright.PENANAK9bd0puAq3
just that, games to pass the time. At least until David proposed to bet404Please respect copyright.PENANAL1Tch9QPLP
their rations. Everyone received the basic rations few times per day 404Please respect copyright.PENANAuXPe7VRF8Z
and it was up to them how much of that they ate. It was barely enough to404Please respect copyright.PENANAzlxl7nwCdA
feed a healthy adult. As they have been on this isle for a while it was404Please respect copyright.PENANAQOwz13Gy9Z
harder to find fresh animals to hunt every day. A lot of the rebels 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXceQAjLmy1
were opposed to that idea as they'd loose on the last bits of food they 404Please respect copyright.PENANAMs37fV9IrI
did have.404Please respect copyright.PENANAjapicSyT16
Some did think it was a 404Please respect copyright.PENANAE6grxOKOpk
brilliant idea and David was sitting down with a few of them right now. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAzYOnG7lfzT
Nook, he was confident in his card abilities. Apparently before joining 404Please respect copyright.PENANAK7z0aUAA2T
the rebellion he was a militiaman in his village and gambled a lot. As 404Please respect copyright.PENANAxgob5RHcMS
far as David could see he was more lucky than actually good. Old 404Please respect copyright.PENANAKfQ7xGxZAR
toothless Stevie, he joked that if he did lose his rations that it would404Please respect copyright.PENANA2wDHPFCcQw
save his last teeth. He also wasn't afraid to bet most of his rations 404Please respect copyright.PENANATxkG8WTmag
scaring the other players into folding, a good bluffer. Finally there 404Please respect copyright.PENANAoaO4IvNg0Z
was Tiruk, a huge man who definitely needed more rations just to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAEugQZAKaIg
survive. It surprised David anyone could keep that weight with tight the404Please respect copyright.PENANANv5HCRrfhw
food has been.404Please respect copyright.PENANAa6JD1OiCeg
They were the four main 404Please respect copyright.PENANAvZlu1FpZc6
players who usually joined the gambling games. Sometimes others joined 404Please respect copyright.PENANAwkinedH1Ry
but they usually stopped after going hungry for a day or two as they 404Please respect copyright.PENANAj3ki2gy3Jl
lost their rations. These four though didn't give up after losing, 404Please respect copyright.PENANALRZGGyeAbP
because they knew that their chances of a feast were just around the 404Please respect copyright.PENANAMMPlrg6ENg
corner. That fact created a sense of comradeship between the players. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXYg4ZppCAa
Even if they were playing against each other they understood the risks 404Please respect copyright.PENANAei4qAe0t0p
and accepted them.404Please respect copyright.PENANAsjWZS9JlPB
"''Ello boys." David 404Please respect copyright.PENANAJiRPLtnrCo
said sitting down at the table with Nook. There were nods all around the404Please respect copyright.PENANAHshf4tIdqk
table and the cards were dealt. They were playing a card game called 404Please respect copyright.PENANARjm2VaSPKG
match 'n go. Most of the rebels had not heard of the game or at least 404Please respect copyright.PENANAHC6e6Nf2iO
knew it under a different name but most of them caught on fast, it was 404Please respect copyright.PENANAr1gQJw1h6B
often just played for fun. But the best games came from betting. As the 404Please respect copyright.PENANAACJiErRtwZ
risks went higher you tried to fool your opponent into thinking that you404Please respect copyright.PENANAgSRiDuXqvC
had the match or a higher card. David loved risk games like that, he 404Please respect copyright.PENANAQcfvUm0K7S
loved reading the other player emotions and using it against them or at 404Please respect copyright.PENANAgmDDzJC27d
least for his own benefit. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAppTjy92t0w
Nook was the first to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAMgJgyWxPA6
play. "I'm betting half of my rations on this. Gots a good deck, that I 404Please respect copyright.PENANAwddI3r9ja6
do." David could see the plastered smile on his face. At this point 404Please respect copyright.PENANAmT0UeJpTQK
David could tell fake between real in a heartbeat. Nook was bluffing.404Please respect copyright.PENANAz9PrJIRVt1
"Alright, I'll call that." David answered.404Please respect copyright.PENANAT3DGJ47JA4
Tiruk, in answer, just 404Please respect copyright.PENANAC0rEtNufmK
shook his head and folded. He wasn't risking it. Stevenson with his 404Please respect copyright.PENANAOoYbcf88nZ
gaped smile called it as well and cackled a bit.404Please respect copyright.PENANAh6CV6mkh2M
Next card revealed. A 3 404Please respect copyright.PENANA0kdn7genrP
for Davids two threes. He'd have to fold that game, too high chance of 404Please respect copyright.PENANAYZOSuuuOEI
winning. So it went on and on, rations were won and lost. David won a 404Please respect copyright.PENANAFrfXUE2BRr
few games but then he bet everything and lost on purpose, made Stevie a 404Please respect copyright.PENANA4sXMc47Pe7
very happy, old, man.404Please respect copyright.PENANAeQxQmi5MY4
Since David didn't have 404Please respect copyright.PENANA6jj43o1NDi
anything to bet with anymore he made his excuses and left the table. He 404Please respect copyright.PENANAoSlFJmqFtG
took a look around for Gob and didn't see him anywhere so decided it 404Please respect copyright.PENANALdLdswG5kq
would be safe to take a walk.404Please respect copyright.PENANAvmseGq5Dzz
Another thing he took to404Please respect copyright.PENANApiH4KeZrfo
doing over the past two weeks was exploring, finding any secret spaces 404Please respect copyright.PENANAcIefrme8bK
where he might hide. The rebels themselves only found one possible 404Please respect copyright.PENANANfDW9O3doM
emergency exit while David found three. Of course the other two exits 404Please respect copyright.PENANAR73xpkYcVL
only were wide enough for one person to pass through at a time. So it 404Please respect copyright.PENANAUlMzFDEaXn
could be that they just didn't consider them as such.404Please respect copyright.PENANA3CvVkg6nIq
He also found various 404Please respect copyright.PENANAM5Thqh8D9N
hiding spots, not only for him but for items he stole. Weapons, 404Please respect copyright.PENANADS4xl9PAts
ammunition, food and the like. If only a small amount disappeared at a 404Please respect copyright.PENANAEZsdoWfaDz
time no one really noticed and attributed it to absentmindedness. Though404Please respect copyright.PENANAAAHK7snDkZ
David believed Gob was getting suspicious so he would need to start 404Please respect copyright.PENANAi9JJLOtEwE
being more careful.404Please respect copyright.PENANAbvWmkMCuEr
The caves themselves 404Please respect copyright.PENANAQWJGA87Aj8
seemed to go through the whole isle, David didn't believe he explored 404Please respect copyright.PENANAkp9vaEzZxq
even half of it. Gob tried to send a few soldiers every day to explore 404Please respect copyright.PENANAnuAGtJzXwD
further into the caves, but many were afraid of the dark, believing 404Please respect copyright.PENANAMmVQxcelmL
various beasts were residing in them. Refusing to go inside without Gob 404Please respect copyright.PENANAR8nZqq8oUW
and since Gob was usually busy either creating or being out on patrols 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXAYaxU777k
himself that limited their exploring time.404Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1HZFvymRW
That let David offer his404Please respect copyright.PENANAFcRDYTr001
services as an explorer. He would explore the further caves and would 404Please respect copyright.PENANAGH7Fq0sUzU
report on any worrying circumstances. Gob was reluctant to let him go 404Please respect copyright.PENANAfWn6xn7Wrf
but was convinced by Francesca that it would be a grand idea as it would404Please respect copyright.PENANANS71oHzruJ
free more people for patrols and other duties.404Please respect copyright.PENANAXKBZVk8YIS
This time though he had a404Please respect copyright.PENANAIIvREF19vs
destination in mind. A bit further into one of the pathways, about an 404Please respect copyright.PENANAGXC1VbyLTt
hour from the main cavern, there was a small pathway where a thin person404Please respect copyright.PENANAd48lyonbHf
could barely fit. Following that pathway, if you could survive the 404Please respect copyright.PENANA0rAnEBvNpg
feeling of getting crushed by the walls, was a pool. David was surprised404Please respect copyright.PENANALO8yQjWbiy
when he found and astonished when he discovered the water was hot. 404Please respect copyright.PENANA7r5e4urgk6
That's where he was 404Please respect copyright.PENANAKHpKCyRS2R
going now; he needed a clear head for Francesca's meeting. No matter how404Please respect copyright.PENANAnWPg4WG9ro
she acted she was a noble, they always sought the best deals for 404Please respect copyright.PENANAFHe8UoGk9e
themselves, always trying to ledge a situation in their favour. David 404Please respect copyright.PENANA9uaqBuEbrO
would need to be on his toes. Or maybe he just wanted to actually relax 404Please respect copyright.PENANA2QFZuZmXeA
without anyone screaming or crying, he didn't decide which one sounded 404Please respect copyright.PENANAEqtjPtdLWV
better in his mind.404Please respect copyright.PENANAQH1grOo3XV
Thus grabbing a torch as404Please respect copyright.PENANAvTFNvYivsd
many of the pathways further down weren't lit, he began his, 404Please respect copyright.PENANAtCgqBVP7ez
uneventful, journey. Luckily he reached his destination in a timely 404Please respect copyright.PENANAQh0V8lUGr7
manner, though he hated going through that cramped space. He gave a 404Please respect copyright.PENANA1VqEb0KQEI
satisfied sigh as he sat down in the pool, his muscles losing the 404Please respect copyright.PENANAKDnVj1fsTC
tension he gathered over the past few weeks, the water reached up to his404Please respect copyright.PENANAcPug8aPXaF
chest and he dunked his head under the water finally enjoying a proper 404Please respect copyright.PENANADhT759v6eH
clean. He was careful to keep track of time but other than that he let 404Please respect copyright.PENANASLOhxQabyJ
his mind wander and just blanked out. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAJF7oOv56x6
Before he even noticed, 404Please respect copyright.PENANAPMRxFeq5CK
to David's disappointment, it was time to leave. He was also saddened by404Please respect copyright.PENANA6lcjiI9ITy
the fact that the water ended up a bit darker after his bath, a way to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAWdEosyDNsT
hit a guys confidence. With a sad sigh he put on his dirty and worn out 404Please respect copyright.PENANATADTNM5Fxc
clothes and went back to the main cavern to the sound of activity and 404Please respect copyright.PENANAPorqr7IlGm
the smell of unwashed masses.404Please respect copyright.PENANA4m9f7adv0H
It did seem that David 404Please respect copyright.PENANAonjeePtN8U
came back just in time as people were gathered near the cooking pots to 404Please respect copyright.PENANA2oBDXi8qtG
gather their rations. David did the same and then found Stevie, sitting 404Please respect copyright.PENANAIFGdu6EDKH
with some other older rebels, and gave him his rations. Stevie nodded 404Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZHgu4DmHz
and had a sparkle in his eye. "Maybe nexsht time you can save me 404Please respect copyright.PENANAYsqsUwSBbm
teethsh." And he cackled at his joke. David managed a weak laugh that 404Please respect copyright.PENANAzp9fhVrStz
seemed to satisfy Stevie.404Please respect copyright.PENANALMK8WNjth9
"Don't keep Francesca 404Please respect copyright.PENANA6xx1nq5pDO
waiting." Came a gruff voice from behind. David tried to hide his 404Please respect copyright.PENANAxwQ6IaychW
annoyance at the fact that Gob managed to sneak up on him and scare him.404Please respect copyright.PENANAxuzggqjcTy
Some people just had no sense of proper manners.404Please respect copyright.PENANAhZzzXEq2c4
"Oh I wouldn't dare." 404Please respect copyright.PENANAdUYOQOk7yq
He gave a mock bow which seemed to infuriate Gob more. "I was just out 404Please respect copyright.PENANAdAEug2tM5U
exploring, nothing to report so far, sir Gob." Gob just grunted and 404Please respect copyright.PENANADexifjTcQ4
walked away. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAuUHCrHrUyi
David smiled and waved 404Please respect copyright.PENANAQWrZFWAQKL
after him, the guy really needed to unwind. With nothing else to do but 404Please respect copyright.PENANAIRF5Nem3dW
shrug at that thought David went towards Francesca's room. Even if 404Please respect copyright.PENANA7aRaNvCF1v
Francesca did pretend to be all for equality and the like she still had 404Please respect copyright.PENANAS1teBo2qD7
her personal quarters, such as they were, as well as an actual bed, 404Please respect copyright.PENANARDQCneXLgS
table, chairs. They were shoddy work at best, crafted quickly by some of404Please respect copyright.PENANAbV8yWG4LCI
the rebels, but they were more than anything any other rebel had. David404Please respect copyright.PENANAwgyHuOBQON
was impressed by how she had more and yet most still perceived her as 404Please respect copyright.PENANASy1Oj4fTSY
the paragon of virtue.404Please respect copyright.PENANAUCv1L3X9i9
Her room, as per usual, 404Please respect copyright.PENANAnvHFm3c3TB
was guarded. But the guard waved him on with a smile. David saw it as a 404Please respect copyright.PENANARfE10N7JOH
pointless precaution anyway, but what could you do. Francesca herself 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXvASGYROLU
was already seated, with a torch in the middle of the table, a pale 404Please respect copyright.PENANAHupLVzgVUJ
imitation of a candle. One thing the rebels had a lot of were torches, 404Please respect copyright.PENANAnstDTWH5wm
to light up all caverns and pathways. 404Please respect copyright.PENANATgBcvlN4NL
"Oh, David! Please sit" she gestured towards the second chair.404Please respect copyright.PENANAzhr2o6ZoEN
David sat down with a 404Please respect copyright.PENANAeOgTjjO1mB
nod and smile. They weren't eating anything extravagant, just what the 404Please respect copyright.PENANAVjv17ynSbS
rest were. Dried meat, nuts, sometimes if they were lucky they could 404Please respect copyright.PENANAUcYsRvz5lB
even get rabbit or vegetable soup, but that more of a luxury nowadays. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAwL8c6F61kM
This time it was some dried meat of unknown origin and some water found 404Please respect copyright.PENANAWbgcjQRFVh
in a stream. Delicious.404Please respect copyright.PENANA8HZP1Izxwj
"So pleasantries first or business first?"404Please respect copyright.PENANA4zTzgL8qNT
"I found that going straight to business can ruin a healthy appetite."404Please respect copyright.PENANAx8ILoM4x2t
Francesca nodded and 404Please respect copyright.PENANAsAYJWYxZ9j
began to cut her meat with her wooden utensils. While David had similar 404Please respect copyright.PENANATztO55Zkfy
equipment he didn't really find much use of them and found it better to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXo51527Wy7
eat with his own hands. Made it faster and when you're under cannon fire404Please respect copyright.PENANA4J9dzRiUR1
fast eating was paramount.404Please respect copyright.PENANAu0r54TxkQ9
As expected David 404Please respect copyright.PENANAn1jNVB2LCY
finished his portion first and ended up waiting for Francesca to finish 404Please respect copyright.PENANAISJ4HQ3WWK
hers, which took another 5 or 10 minutes. The girl was certainly a 404Please respect copyright.PENANAiYEQJk0gd3
deliberate eater.404Please respect copyright.PENANACcxGIdWe3N
"So on to business." She404Please respect copyright.PENANAMgsjN3Awpb
paused making sure David was ready, once he nodded she continued. "Tell404Please respect copyright.PENANAGXczjzk4MN
me, do you know who actually hired your services?"404Please respect copyright.PENANA9wnVKiSsEP
"No idea, captain was usually tight lipped about our clients. I just always assumed it was one of you guys."404Please respect copyright.PENANAVWIoxgDckP
"In a way. It's someone 404Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ks8d6ACck
who's...interested in our cause. One of Gob's friends. He is able to get404Please respect copyright.PENANAM9RXgITHLW
in and out of the isles without arousing too much suspicion."404Please respect copyright.PENANAAyECIyKfZF
"Can't imagine you can tell me who it is?"404Please respect copyright.PENANA9o7PRF9IpQ
"It's not for me to tell sadly, Gob was adamant that it's best kept as secret." Francesca smiled apologetically "apologies"404Please respect copyright.PENANAz6D2T9IpYN
David waved his hand in a playful manner. "No worries, I'm surprised you're telling me any of this in the first place."404Please respect copyright.PENANA0BzrLqPdB3
"Well, there is a 404Please respect copyright.PENANAl6piWHJVVV
reason. Since the weapons we got previously are in the Empire's hands 404Please respect copyright.PENANAD92wBlHcDo
and we can't fight them for it." Putting it lightly the rebels never 404Please respect copyright.PENANAPewok3E98N
really fought the empire in a straight on fight. Mostly raids and 404Please respect copyright.PENANAMCmaPKuEci
recruiting villagers with their possessions. Easy pickings. "Gob got in 404Please respect copyright.PENANAg5sjSjfd7H
touch with his friend again and luckily we managed to set up a meeting 404Please respect copyright.PENANAoFVwNze9sl
in a few days the edge of a different isle.404Please respect copyright.PENANA5W9Qs25pcC
"We will also be moving 404Please respect copyright.PENANAFOJqKYtHbN
our base" she continued, sadly. "I can't keep us here with the danger 404Please respect copyright.PENANAELF8bUESiD
increasing, so we will move slowly, to an isle we were based in before 404Please respect copyright.PENANAUM2R6T37nC
so some will know where to go."404Please respect copyright.PENANAMdYQZcQ95b
"That's good, why did 404Please respect copyright.PENANADaCT68lM5k
you want to keep us here for this long anyway?" While he was annoyed at 404Please respect copyright.PENANATkkkSAxyTN
hearing that question every time he went on patrols, he couldn't deny he404Please respect copyright.PENANAz6gqEQSFfA
was interested in the answer.404Please respect copyright.PENANA2Lj3flLRRC
"It...It has to do with one of The Five. I can't reveal more in fear that it might interfere with your objective. "404Please respect copyright.PENANAgDonszf45P
David nodded, not a full404Please respect copyright.PENANA9606VLNlOU
answer he wanted but to push might create a rift between them. Religion404Please respect copyright.PENANAwg3QAElFPw
was pretty important to Francesca "Don't worry; you don't have to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAGeIpOzSfJc
reveal anything you don't want want to." He said in a soothing tone404Please respect copyright.PENANAQtAQENWKIY
"Thank you." She said 404Please respect copyright.PENANAkBL13e1YVT
gratefully. "Where was I? Oh, yes. We'll have groups with specified 404Please respect copyright.PENANA0PtHKv8Sgz
leaders going back to that previous isle, they'll lead them and we'll 404Please respect copyright.PENANABobhD12k6s
regroup at a specified point."404Please respect copyright.PENANABzfpPx3UMq
"How will you get 404Please respect copyright.PENANAYslb0Go9bu
everyone over to the next isle?" Isles were divided by cracks, and while404Please respect copyright.PENANAHadfEr452n
some you could jump over, others were so wide you could fit a full 404Please respect copyright.PENANAAx5MaxARZA
city.404Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ptrl6b4o3
"We have small sky 404Please respect copyright.PENANA05faX2pH9K
boats. Some of the groups will use it...Others...Others will need to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAvasVtrdDOY
find their own way" she said in bitter tones. "I don't like that, we're 404Please respect copyright.PENANAmq1FgHPCKt
abandoning my people. But Gob said it's too dangerous traveling in a big404Please respect copyright.PENANAOqWPKFYxVk
group."404Please respect copyright.PENANAQZj75zPqnl
"You're a good leader on your own. You should trust your own instincts." Ah finally! An opportunity to create that rift404Please respect copyright.PENANAeHEBU0fxGL
She gave him a sad smile404Please respect copyright.PENANAMoKzhnvADR
in response. "Thank you, but I do not a good head for tactics or 404Please respect copyright.PENANAENUOnOqHj0
military matters. I've had some education on it, but Gob is much better 404Please respect copyright.PENANAK1k1TrefMG
at it." David still wasn't sure just what Gob did before the rebellion. 404Please respect copyright.PENANA9zrTD4wukZ
Francesca stated that the past did not matter and as long as they were 404Please respect copyright.PENANALCYme9Kwfx
willing to fight for the rebellions ideals they would be allowed to keep404Please respect copyright.PENANA5A4pQ8keWE
their past in the past.404Please respect copyright.PENANAkNNrqiHrU9
"Now then, back to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAO5scxINrTJ
business." She said more cheerily. "Myself and Gob will be meeting that 404Please respect copyright.PENANA2C02eKZEdD
person in a few days. We will have guards but I'd also like for you to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAgpMYNlZltg
come. You're well-traveled and met many people; your advice would be 404Please respect copyright.PENANA4aggJ6gTGO
valuable, especially since we'll only be bartering for them."404Please respect copyright.PENANAhKkksMCIw3
"You'll have it. I'm 404Please respect copyright.PENANAStieP0jLKY
more than happy to join you." While he wasn't looking forward to 404Please respect copyright.PENANAh2C4yd5tms
sleeping with all the insects again, it might help his back to not sleep404Please respect copyright.PENANAPUlrzt6Whr
on a rock hard surface.404Please respect copyright.PENANAGR5JilaB1p
"Perfect! I'll let Gob know and convince him as well." She laughed sheepishly. "I didn't really confirm this with him you see."404Please respect copyright.PENANA3VppeAsfaC
"Oh, the guy loves me. It'll be easy." Francesca smiled at that, she knew just how much Gob hated David.404Please respect copyright.PENANAM673YYLVyk
A lull in the conversation and then a question David was dreading "Did you have any more visions? From the one who chose you?"404Please respect copyright.PENANAa7NPphVv3a
"Sadly no, I'm as 404Please respect copyright.PENANAnTLXiYPO0H
clueless as when I was born." This wasn't exactly true. He knew he had 404Please respect copyright.PENANAXQ4DhY1NNz
to find something, and suspected Francesca was after it as well he 404Please respect copyright.PENANAQSKPxYj9yu
suspected it was on this isle. Francesca seemed to know more, but she 404Please respect copyright.PENANAGX8PwhMVcG
wasn't willing to reveal it. She might hide it under lofty ideals, but 404Please respect copyright.PENANAEXOQ9ljG2d
she was concealing the truth from both David and the rebels.404Please respect copyright.PENANAMvmRN3BbTN
"Do not worry, I am 404Please respect copyright.PENANAqfbIthSRZy
su..." before she could continue their whole world rocked. As explosions404Please respect copyright.PENANAZkGkqCTpiy
rang from outside and rubble started falling all around them., hitting 404Please respect copyright.PENANAWqxXp9zNZI
the table and dislodging the torch, casting ominous shadows on the walls404Please respect copyright.PENANAnfXqD2LT4P
"Wha..." before David could finish his thought a very worried Gob barged in. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAWeiYxEiFqn
"We're under attack, they found us."
404Please respect copyright.PENANAzNMKya6kSq
404Please respect copyright.PENANAxGflLTanlt