358Please respect copyright.PENANAtthfq7mVXs
358Please respect copyright.PENANATzg1y5Z7Mt
All taxes must be paid 358Please respect copyright.PENANAcMec7AagvE
in a timely and organized manner. Each prince controls tax 358Please respect copyright.PENANAcPkSsAZV1z
collection in his princedom War is forbidden between the princes. All 358Please respect copyright.PENANAdnVhgCSefF
dissatisfactions must be dealt in a civilized manner. Via duels or by 358Please respect copyright.PENANAEQYDN3qNzX
lodging a complaint to the council of princes.The most powerful 358Please respect copyright.PENANAhUurFuXg3d
traders shall form a council of 10; with each member being called a 358Please respect copyright.PENANAb1rddf1pCV
prince. This council shall gather in emergencies: such as war, the 358Please respect copyright.PENANADWrXpL9eDZ
enactment of widespread changes, as well as to deal with any 358Please respect copyright.PENANADrQAx2rJr0
grievances between the princesIf any trader or isle within the trade358Please respect copyright.PENANAuzxGEwNtu6
union territory is attacked all princes must come to the defense 358Please respect copyright.PENANAWrrpSbHKcT
Declaring war on foreign bodies is forbidden. If any trader or 358Please respect copyright.PENANAyrNpzPPm8y
prince is found doing so they will be stripped of their goods and 358Please respect copyright.PENANAhDnEPBiAFw
factories and will have to contend with the war on their own.All magic 358Please respect copyright.PENANArM8OT1w0n5
is illegal and practitioners will be prosecuted358Please respect copyright.PENANANiWv5SWgh4
We are traders, not warlords. We thrive on income and civility, not chaos and murder.358Please respect copyright.PENANAVWeuM8XC8R
'The union codex, rules the traders abide by.'358Please respect copyright.PENANA2a9YEAbiMY
___________________________________________________358Please respect copyright.PENANAHy8kWu4DKO
358Please respect copyright.PENANAnbYtFSs6LO
David has been in jail 358Please respect copyright.PENANAkororSkwDt
before, a flying jail, a jail on the ground ground. All kinds and types.358Please respect copyright.PENANAEcPowHyTak
Honestly he felt kind of at home when he woke up on the cold hard floor358Please respect copyright.PENANAkCwm9a9Nr7
of a ship to metal grates wishing him good morning.358Please respect copyright.PENANAErXIexFhwE
The cell was big enough 358Please respect copyright.PENANAAI4WLVccy0
for him to stretch his muscles and walk around a bit. He checked his 358Please respect copyright.PENANAjDZ2OmnKWg
back pocket where kept Boyle's pendant but it was gone, good riddance. 358Please respect copyright.PENANAODrrn5GkqR
Luckily David didn't have any other belongings on his person and the 358Please respect copyright.PENANAmvamdazhpF
guards graciously allowed him to keep his clothes.358Please respect copyright.PENANAgsjLN5TAfS
David didn't even 358Please respect copyright.PENANArVWIvgHIRO
contemplate shouting, as it usually invited a guard and when you're the 358Please respect copyright.PENANAC0nWDtzyiz
one in the cell why would you want a guard to be nearby. So David did 358Please respect copyright.PENANAsTQzrYkh87
what any sane person in his situation would, he went back to sleep on 358Please respect copyright.PENANAyUuxeqIdlE
the bed hanging from the metal wall. 358Please respect copyright.PENANAgWl1knSOA4
Sadly event the best 358Please respect copyright.PENANAFKEfFFUyr0
plans sometimes fall apart and it was the case here, as he couldn't fall358Please respect copyright.PENANAWcZbRyEDBN
asleep. There was something akin to ringing in his head, a feeling that358Please respect copyright.PENANASdrZQqA9pc
something was close, similar to something he feels when he's near 358Please respect copyright.PENANAvh3nH0CiE6
Francesca. Soon enough David heard the sound of doors moving and he 358Please respect copyright.PENANA29xRdDPeHu
opened one, the only one that was working, eye. Through his eye he could358Please respect copyright.PENANABJcGzqJxBW
see two guards carrying...something big, leaving a trail of blood. Now 358Please respect copyright.PENANAbMQHYjlvbg
while David didn't get a good look that did seem to eerily look like Gob358Please respect copyright.PENANA5bYzp0Uu1e
or at least what David wished Gob would look like. Either way that was 358Please respect copyright.PENANAutUdW73m1z
enough to get his attention and he stood up, as the guards locked the 358Please respect copyright.PENANAUXOiUVggLL
cell next door.358Please respect copyright.PENANAkFRyqPDYMa
Another soldier came up 358Please respect copyright.PENANAWXCdyd0td6
to David's cell, and David recognized him as the one who was trying to 358Please respect copyright.PENANApsflWG6W1p
talk Gob down. The officer gestured at the soldiers and they quickly 358Please respect copyright.PENANADQfXmWkVCu
unlocked David's cell, who promptly presented his hands in submission. 358Please respect copyright.PENANAiorYMMovHR
Sadly the guard didn't seem to care as one of them punched David in the 358Please respect copyright.PENANABYWi6GHgmW
gut and the other handcuffed his hands, putting them behind David's 358Please respect copyright.PENANAR6sLGCOgNo
back.358Please respect copyright.PENANA3MoupgEvWB
While David would've 358Please respect copyright.PENANAWn07sdYoAB
preferred everyone to be civil, his mind was too preoccupied with one 358Please respect copyright.PENANAykJe27HiBk
fact, the tug was definitely stronger when closer to the officer. It 358Please respect copyright.PENANAaC4CouYXsE
seemed he was the other chosen, David was hoping there were more as 358Please respect copyright.PENANAbWT974Ogei
Jesters words came back to him. 358Please respect copyright.PENANAvI152ERnxn
The walk itself didn't 358Please respect copyright.PENANApcd3U0gSoA
last long as they arrived in a room with a table and two chairs, on 358Please respect copyright.PENANANyeMDokk9q
opposite sides. It was downright friendly if you ignored the blood 358Please respect copyright.PENANAtqffhF3Mfl
splatters all around the room.358Please respect copyright.PENANAc7LNH4VqlK
David was put into the 358Please respect copyright.PENANAmTCaQMdr51
chair further away from the door and his hands attached to the handles. 358Please respect copyright.PENANAb0Ehvepvn8
The officer motioned for the guards to leave them and took a sit at the 358Please respect copyright.PENANArwNoG3Coqz
other chair, staring into David's soul.358Please respect copyright.PENANAs8aMq335q2
"Who are you?" So the questioning has started.358Please respect copyright.PENANAiMtq7luJBo
"I'm David, the rebels 358Please respect copyright.PENANAvZpvcdqGgS
have caught me and took me hostage. I would like to..." before he could 358Please respect copyright.PENANASTa3XcHisP
finish the interrogator held his hand out to stop David.358Please respect copyright.PENANAk4q7aeiSjU
"Where are you from?"358Please respect copyright.PENANAzQV6DBISXV
"The Isle Commonwealth, Capital isle. I was..." again the hand came out. And notes were made.358Please respect copyright.PENANAeJDYiC8vnU
"Why were you meeting with the trade union?"358Please respect copyright.PENANAI2hz6yJeF4
"Didn't you hear me? I'm a hostage they didn't share anything with me!" David was adding agitation to his voice. The man nodded358Please respect copyright.PENANAedSj3Pld7D
"Where did the rebels move?"358Please respect copyright.PENANA7IvQGNh1UV
"Gods, we're not getting358Please respect copyright.PENANAAc23J9oirz
anywhere here. I'm not a rebel. I was just captured by them if you want358Please respect copyright.PENANAUQVnQaSYGh
to know names I'll give you them! I owe them no loyalty."358Please respect copyright.PENANADjri8FWssC
"We know the rebellion 358Please respect copyright.PENANAeEyBdsW9y7
is led by Francesca Horrikh. He second in command is Gob D'Fortez. With 358Please respect copyright.PENANANFFIxGb3qZ
the help of officers chosen by them they lead the rebellion..."358Please respect copyright.PENANAW3CZI6udng
"Well if you know all 358Please respect copyright.PENANAI6FXCvnu6Z
that then why are you asking me? Go ask Gob you have him here!" David 358Please respect copyright.PENANA8hxVT7te47
interrupted the officer, acting more agitated and scared. Act clueless 358Please respect copyright.PENANA1uQgyQjRLo
make them doubt themselves. Sadly that tactic didn't seem to be working 358Please respect copyright.PENANAry2bLA2SvI
on the imperial soldier.358Please respect copyright.PENANAGQN3XABGiq
"I wanted to make this 358Please respect copyright.PENANAN0vonoqLd5
civilized, sadly you don't seem to want to answer my questions and I've 358Please respect copyright.PENANAyngf7YTaEF
no time. If you truly are but a simple hostage then you have my 358Please respect copyright.PENANAnFhvWKMAqy
apologies. My name is Fernand Schumah and if you so wish you can curse 358Please respect copyright.PENANAxeewuYsOd2
my name in the afterlife." Fernand gathered his notes, got up and was 358Please respect copyright.PENANAcYubXOmIlg
about to leave the room. David had an idea of what was about to happen 358Please respect copyright.PENANAh5MkpSfsZV
but judging by the blood on the floor he wanted no part of it.358Please respect copyright.PENANAW8HcOVubCT
"Wait wait!" Fernand 358Please respect copyright.PENANAY7KXyz1he4
paused. "I've heard them mentioning moving to a different isle, one of 358Please respect copyright.PENANAz8UCLCIdKy
their previous hiding spots. I don't know where exactly...or how."358Please respect copyright.PENANAsU8oulX1zh
Fernand was shaking his 358Please respect copyright.PENANAG807KDJlVk
head. "Useless, we guessed they would move to a different isle, we can't358Please respect copyright.PENANAgfuAsnPFPT
keep guessing where." Fernand paused "We can't risk you knowing where 358Please respect copyright.PENANA96Fg57AB2X
they went, my apologies." For what it was worth Fernand seemed genuinely358Please respect copyright.PENANAIfZ3RgjvzW
sorry. But David was close to panicking now. Torturers were sadists by 358Please respect copyright.PENANAUI4b0KhX8j
nature, they wouldn't care about anything but the screams they elicit. 358Please respect copyright.PENANA1QviJrlCj4
"Did you have any strange dreams? Someone telling you to do, or find, something?"358Please respect copyright.PENANA86kMAtBG8S
That made Ferdinand 358Please respect copyright.PENANAjN9GjeFNqd
pause and sit back; David could finally see a flicker of emotion on the 358Please respect copyright.PENANACs0CWyA7mw
man's face. "Why would you know about that?"358Please respect copyright.PENANAwhR2HSX7pu
Fernand wasn't denying 358Please respect copyright.PENANAScfhZbTjuG
it, David was glad of that. "I had a dream like that as well, and so did358Please respect copyright.PENANAmlPLagkunO
the rebellion leader, Francesca. Apparently they're The Five trying to 358Please respect copyright.PENANAFyl4jmoAFy
get us do something." 358Please respect copyright.PENANArbAf7SdGLs
"Blasphemy, he 358Please respect copyright.PENANAD03LCPiijk
introduced himself as such but is most likely a demon. A noble should 358Please respect copyright.PENANAJEdsqSbAwx
know better." Fernand dismissed, but didn't immediately stand up.358Please respect copyright.PENANAy8BbKZ9028
"Are you also going to tell you don't feel a tug when you're near me? Or what about the fact that we had the same dream" 358Please respect copyright.PENANAI4Josqb49d
"Demons tend to plan 358Please respect copyright.PENANAwtkeT9KpnI
elaborately for their objectives." Fernand paused and sighted. "But 358Please respect copyright.PENANAELBtoWEnmL
let's say it's true, what did your vision ask of you?"358Please respect copyright.PENANAbXy86eNbjf
"To find something, he 358Please respect copyright.PENANACqexqcaYi9
wasn't specific." David was afraid of that, Francesca's vision seemed to358Please respect copyright.PENANA5FSLtIhmgt
be pretty clear on what she had to do and David was sure it was the 358Please respect copyright.PENANApS39vJFCqZ
same for Fernand.358Please respect copyright.PENANAZnUfuToF1C
Fernand was about to say358Please respect copyright.PENANA68FF54w40j
more but shook his head. "All this just makes you more suspicious. You 358Please respect copyright.PENANAHRdwS3eFkN
knew of Francesca's visions, which means she trusted you enough to 358Please respect copyright.PENANAtAL7OBnAlT
reveal that. Unless you know of a way of how I can feel Francesca as I 358Please respect copyright.PENANAytHEExbtXV
feel you from a distance, the apparitions and their orders are useless."358Please respect copyright.PENANA3NmDhe6zwp
David quickly rummaged 358Please respect copyright.PENANAFrQ0qo8msg
his brain on what else he could use to hook the soldier. "She'll be back358Please respect copyright.PENANAerEa3B4FCK
to the last isle, the one you just attacked. She seemed keen to find 358Please respect copyright.PENANAknW9mzcJZ6
something on it. If you manage to find that something first you'd be 358Please respect copyright.PENANAcbzry5GkUF
able to trap her."358Please respect copyright.PENANAYNuUP9oIf7
"And you know what it was or where I can find it?" 358Please respect copyright.PENANAyUuW8hGWSH
"I just know it's on the previous isle. But I'm sure I can find it!" David said pleadingly, most of the acting gone by now.358Please respect copyright.PENANA071vkhrZMi
"And how will you do 358Please respect copyright.PENANA4ev1pHt2hn
that? That isle has an expansive underground system.. It was lucky we've358Please respect copyright.PENANAAPH4rL2Akv
managed to find you in the first place." Shaking his head Fernand got 358Please respect copyright.PENANAPfPGI2GiQ5
up. "Enough delays, you seem to know more than you're telling me this 358Please respect copyright.PENANAjoFARTnyqe
little chat proved it beyond a doubt."358Please respect copyright.PENANAxQOzjxxvFG
"But I don't! I really 358Please respect copyright.PENANAJQj92viiqf
don't! I told you everything I know!" David was shouting, the whole act 358Please respect copyright.PENANAOyU4rBewAR
gone, torturing isn't something one came back fully from.358Please respect copyright.PENANABLcnTKXmwR
"Ah captain Schumah, a 358Please respect copyright.PENANALvfRv0akeQ
pleasure as always." Came a jolly voice from the outside as Fernand 358Please respect copyright.PENANApvlZve95CF
opened the door and left the room. A tall man came in shortly. Wearing a358Please respect copyright.PENANAm0dQfF8TW6
mask to hide his identity but still revealing his teeth, half of them 358Please respect copyright.PENANA4Z1CVVjDtp
black. 358Please respect copyright.PENANAz36t5ktG8X
"Well, well. What do we 358Please respect copyright.PENANARsaGtqXdYp
have here?" The man asked as he deposited a bag on the table. Coming 358Please respect copyright.PENANABT520GawgI
closer to David and investigating his burn scars.358Please respect copyright.PENANAegSQhgEpHP
"Look, I swear to all 358Please respect copyright.PENANA4GnHeWkLeV
gods. I don't know anymore. I'm..." his jaw was shut violently, causing 358Please respect copyright.PENANAMDYwO79gfE
his teeth to hurt and gums to bleed. 358Please respect copyright.PENANAFKyELkpsIY
"We will find out if you358Please respect copyright.PENANAcfGyuJbMHX
do or not. Everyone is honest in front of the almighty god of pain." He358Please respect copyright.PENANATjZo6L8BHh
cackled at that. But then gave David a dissatisfied look. "Cheer up; by358Please respect copyright.PENANAvSnEEyhoJq
the time we're done here, we'll be good friends."358Please respect copyright.PENANAT21KsOY31v
David struggled against 358Please respect copyright.PENANA46xMVlkTHc
his bonds. But it was of no use, both his arms were attached to the 358Please respect copyright.PENANAtqkd96aixx
chair with metal bonds, while the chair itself was fastened to the 358Please respect copyright.PENANAsyBFBiubNM
floor. No matter how much he tried to buckle it didn't move an inch358Please respect copyright.PENANAoeNA7shBUs
"Now how should we 358Please respect copyright.PENANAuDlPKru8aD
start? With this?" The torturer took out a saw but then shook his head. 358Please respect copyright.PENANA2aRVnZMtU2
"No too early, need to warm up first." He rummaged in his bag for a 358Please respect copyright.PENANAcuYD3j2U6c
while longer but then stopped and looked at David. "You know, I was 358Please respect copyright.PENANALQvu2wjAI8
supposed to get three bodies. One was already dead so I couldn't have my358Please respect copyright.PENANALlbTrFX9dI
fun, the other one barely made any sound while I was having my fun, 358Please respect copyright.PENANAW2MdDzZ4xn
such a bore. So you my friend, I will definitely need to take my time, 358Please respect copyright.PENANAEG4cLD4Mm0
with you. Make sure to scream for me." He gave David a crooked smile, as358Please respect copyright.PENANA6VLe50Hnnp
he pointed a long finger straight at David's chest.358Please respect copyright.PENANATN5BvZotch
Before David could reply358Please respect copyright.PENANARazmhtAJEH
he smelt something burning under his nose, without registering the 358Please respect copyright.PENANAPGB1xYABGs
pain fully he saw smoke coming from the finger, then the pain hit him, 358Please respect copyright.PENANAvetL65UorJ
and he screamed.358Please respect copyright.PENANAYc0tWLHHIX
The torturer 358Please respect copyright.PENANAknP07ZOvC7
clapped."Perfect!" He was practically jumping with glee. "Magic! How 358Please respect copyright.PENANAGQk1kMU8rV
could I forget, you must forgive me, I should've just started off with 358Please respect copyright.PENANABa2ZHGM1A2
this."358Please respect copyright.PENANAv8IF1xqWTe
The torturer moved his 358Please respect copyright.PENANAFtaOQED30u
finger away from David's chest, but the pain didn't fade. Before David 358Please respect copyright.PENANAJyg92aPxQJ
could catch his breath, the burning finger was jabbed into his forehead 358Please respect copyright.PENANARrnneWECQb
and he screamed again. "Hahahah! And they say magic can't affect 358Please respect copyright.PENANAbFjtltaHMe
humans. Even if you can't control the mind or heal wounds directly with 358Please respect copyright.PENANA0d53HKQq7R
magic, you can easily control or brake with the power of magic, don't 358Please respect copyright.PENANAP7wOMzZ9XK
you agree?"358Please respect copyright.PENANA4qegPQ1mKM
The torturer stopped his358Please respect copyright.PENANA2WBnzwvYV5
smile and coked his head. "Oh, that reminds me, I should ask you 358Please respect copyright.PENANAzCd20wyaAY
questions. Now what should I ask, I believe the good captain left me a 358Please respect copyright.PENANAo04eOnhhiJ
list?" He took out some papers from his bag and gave them a quick glance358Please respect copyright.PENANAz9S1VTGkci
before discarding them on the floor. "Ah yes. Where did the rebellion 358Please respect copyright.PENANADhpLTAnifc
go?" 358Please respect copyright.PENANAHFZ0wXIzjy
David was trying to 358Please respect copyright.PENANAZFjrfzxtce
formulate an answer, a lie, a scathing rebuke, anything but his mind was358Please respect copyright.PENANAaDci4HncaW
too muddled to think of anything. The torturer nodded. Smiling "Now I 358Please respect copyright.PENANAKI5z2jblKK
guess saying you can't heal directly with magic is a lie, you can 358Please respect copyright.PENANA212PWAkmVB
cauterize your wounds! For example..." The torturer waved his hand and 358Please respect copyright.PENANAHhpLpzLPL6
David felt pain coming from his right arm, as he looked down he could 358Please respect copyright.PENANAKkXtoZbnpQ
see three of his fingers crushed, bone protruding. David couldn't even 358Please respect copyright.PENANAKsEr2HRK7t
let out a scream before fire overtook his hand, burning it to a crisp.358Please respect copyright.PENANAoEu0kJxc34
"See, the bleeding stopped!" The torturer loved and David added his scream to this symphony of horror.358Please respect copyright.PENANAJ62qKy2wO8
Then suddenly David was 358Please respect copyright.PENANAeb9Rq0IcwY
his with a force of cold water strong enough to brake his nose as it 358Please respect copyright.PENANAw7RzhKs71A
made contact with his face. "Where are the rebels?" The torturers voice 358Please respect copyright.PENANApkDXiKr7hG
changed, becoming more matter of fact. That mad glean from his eyes 358Please respect copyright.PENANA8FcRHVJrKI
gone, David almost believed that the whole thing was an act. "I...I 358Please respect copyright.PENANAGPSq0lFuUZ
don't know."358Please respect copyright.PENANAl9crbSAIQi
The torturer nodded and smiled again, the glean coming back. "Good."358Please respect copyright.PENANAv8j0Vf8nMf
"Now, while magic is 358Please respect copyright.PENANAkcLuodEw0x
amazing, variety is important as well. Wouldn't want you getting bored 358Please respect copyright.PENANApQANlZCWew
in your seat there." The torturer gave David a smile and pulled out some358Please respect copyright.PENANAjSqf2Ynx3B
pliers out of his bag. "Nails are pretty useless, aren't they?" He 358Please respect copyright.PENANAByiVe1clQN
tapped Davids fingernails with the pliers. "See it as me doing you a 358Please respect copyright.PENANA0p9sjQd6S8
favour." The first nail was ripped, it was a weird feeling for David as 358Please respect copyright.PENANAh9kp4rpYaa
he didn't feel pain at first, but then as the open skin was exposed pain358Please respect copyright.PENANATiYnIsMKTC
came and David screamed for someone to help358Please respect copyright.PENANAnRx30KDasO
~no one will come.~358Please respect copyright.PENANAMOn7na2JlG
After pulling out all 358Please respect copyright.PENANAph1PvOWE1g
the nails, David could hear the pliers hitting the table. His vision was358Please respect copyright.PENANARONHBNIKku
blurry he couldn't see or hear anything, only pain existed. "ull out 358Please respect copyright.PENANAmolWmimicY
teeth, but that's what everyone does. A hammer...." David could only 358Please respect copyright.PENANAnl279kQwdA
hear bits and pieces of what the torturer said. He then felt his mouth 358Please respect copyright.PENANA7Q489DKRAB
being opened. David tried to resist, he truly did, but he didn't have 358Please respect copyright.PENANAaBIqHT9XAP
the strength nor the will to do anything substantial. David then sensed 358Please respect copyright.PENANAxY2Z1yLMq1
something metal and cold in his mouth, touching one of his back teeth 358Please respect copyright.PENANAVRSCYAOkar
and then pain and the taste of blood on his tongue, slowly filling his 358Please respect copyright.PENANAHiob2OQkZf
mouth and dribbling on the floor. The scream came soon after, as David 358Please respect copyright.PENANAo6CVSss9ka
could only think of the pain, with only a small part hoping that someone358Please respect copyright.PENANAUJvGkyFyEE
would rescue him.358Please respect copyright.PENANAmR74DVMLW4
~no one cares.~358Please respect copyright.PENANA9JIKxkKi7e
Next few moments were a 358Please respect copyright.PENANAaAGWLvXfvq
blur, David was sure the torturer did something else, but he had no idea358Please respect copyright.PENANAnCSAldveV4
what. Until finally the pain was too much and David lost consciousness.358Please respect copyright.PENANA8txdqW9BVd
Thoughts that no one came and cared ringing in his mind as a constant 358Please respect copyright.PENANAJaVT88a0M3
companion in the darkness.
358Please respect copyright.PENANAzT492MQqW6
358Please respect copyright.PENANAIe2I99u1Y1