603Please respect copyright.PENANALZaLkK3Rd3
603Please respect copyright.PENANAxzvn4ClnU9
'The voice?! Of course I603Please respect copyright.PENANAHF8QveXeZ6
can hear it, I embrace it, I follow it, I worship it for what it is! 603Please respect copyright.PENANAyGcsrf0BPt
The word of god! And I am a holy messenger! You all are heathens! 603Please respect copyright.PENANABpFi7m1vZJ
Believers in false gods! You hide from the true voice, you fear it, you 603Please respect copyright.PENANAGypgpEYoOG
shun it, you deny it! My only crime is that I am no coward!'603Please respect copyright.PENANAz38aTtKd9Z
Extract from the trial 603Please respect copyright.PENANAPZNnexsvVs
of Bloody Jack. Accused of murdering his whole village on the whims of 603Please respect copyright.PENANAL77bR058Dn
an ether being and sentenced to death.603Please respect copyright.PENANARQ7J3YGPDw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------603Please respect copyright.PENANA44vabbYhfX
603Please respect copyright.PENANA31pWNOBdXb
"I don't get it, why don't we go to a different isle? The Imperialsh will have ush shurrounded in no time."603Please respect copyright.PENANAqNaAj7jBSB
~And here we go again, simple minded people asking simple minded questions~603Please respect copyright.PENANAvzpNMXt0lU
"Too many people to move, they'll notice us."603Please respect copyright.PENANAXfr568f3Mc
"Never shtopped ush before." A pause as the old man spat to the side. "What about fighting then, too little of ush?"603Please respect copyright.PENANA2ceK8NRw8i
Gob shook his head, 603Please respect copyright.PENANALtQwkK7RNO
tired. David could understand that, and he was annoyed he could 603Please respect copyright.PENANAYaTPzSnEWo
empathize with Gob. As per Gob's decision every time it was David's turn603Please respect copyright.PENANAw2nBvGXEqF
to go patrolling Gob accompanied him. At first David found this 603Please respect copyright.PENANAR8mf95p6wJ
insulting, he was the paragon of trust after all, but after a few of 603Please respect copyright.PENANAxZal5CAnCJ
such patrols he just found it annoying. Ever patrol was usually 603Please respect copyright.PENANAcqyiEWwi6r
conducted with 3 or 4 people, usually with different people. There were a603Please respect copyright.PENANA6wrmA6Bt18
few constants in those groups though, the first was that David and Gob 603Please respect copyright.PENANAv8HvNlQviS
were in them and the second was that someone always asked when they 603Please respect copyright.PENANAwcc2xzSHTl
would move.603Please respect copyright.PENANAMJ5lNiaxKh
Now David has only been 603Please respect copyright.PENANAvCy7NY9E6T
in the camp for a month now and managed to glean some information from 603Please respect copyright.PENANAey8Y5O0QCW
the other rebels and just observations. There were three groups of 603Please respect copyright.PENANAk1rM7tEfYU
rebels. Peasants, peasant-soldiers and soldiers, as David liked to call 603Please respect copyright.PENANAlX7RjyLQsN
them. Peasants and peasant-soldiers were the people with no, to only 603Please respect copyright.PENANAeHIcSqYVHy
basic, military training. Such as Denis and his ilk. The soldiers 603Please respect copyright.PENANAbyvWDPDLpa
weren't necessary from the military, but they had more experience. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAhBm0VGO4pu
Experience wasn't the only difference, civilians and civilian soldiers 603Please respect copyright.PENANAUNrh64i2Z0
loved and trusted both Gob and Francesca. Soldiers only trusted Gob. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAfjllOXfbsj
Which worked out nicely for David as he could use this discord and 603Please respect copyright.PENANA51jqJdS2ld
divided loyalties.603Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2ZeP21nvN
Another important thing 603Please respect copyright.PENANAPkJm6JpU6M
he managed to find out was that the rebels had stayed on the same isle 603Please respect copyright.PENANAUOXoY8Udqi
for three months. Many of the rebels were unhappy with the prolonged 603Please respect copyright.PENANAKAWeo9mKjc
stay, especially the soldiers. This resulted in that question and Gob 603Please respect copyright.PENANAnDgq0y4Ia3
giving the same answer to anyone who asked. It was really riveting stuff603Please respect copyright.PENANAARZdWuurAo
for David, especially after hearing it for the twentieth third time. 603Please respect copyright.PENANA9E8dBhhGC1
Ol' Stevie asked it around two or three times over the past few days to 603Please respect copyright.PENANACgm6pbvgmy
their destination.603Please respect copyright.PENANA5lh3wCLsCm
Today they were out 603Please respect copyright.PENANA8G4Zp2Wiwu
looking at the new imperial camp, turning into more of a makeshift fort,603Please respect copyright.PENANAiNd15kfRm3
being built around the wreckage of the 'Flying Fish'. It was a crude 603Please respect copyright.PENANAC6uoMQ3ERx
construction, something that could be easily taken apart. They were 603Please respect copyright.PENANArHZk9aHEvK
joined by Rock and another rebel, called old toothless Stevie, on 603Please respect copyright.PENANAp2wSJCqa4u
account of him being old and having lost most of his teeth. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAWQyGhRPkoK
"Yes, now shut up and 603Please respect copyright.PENANA91xCXmwrlS
remember everything you can about the imperials." Stevie shrugged at 603Please respect copyright.PENANAc0Su5Asq6X
that and continued looking through his binocular. David kept further 603Please respect copyright.PENANAGD7G9Wkflt
away from the pair, watching their backs with Rock, the youth did not 603Please respect copyright.PENANA4aOMu14NhB
become any more talkative during Davids stay in the caves.603Please respect copyright.PENANAxz0dUGETp3
They were at their 603Please respect copyright.PENANAVQxFykvF4P
lookout spot for a few hours at this point and David was glad he didn't 603Please respect copyright.PENANAvfREcBau8v
feel any magical tugs coming from that direction, after discussing it 603Please respect copyright.PENANAdzl7UZNj69
with Francesca it turned out that what David felt was a magical tug, 603Please respect copyright.PENANABdQB0lQtdT
looked like the imperial soldier wasn't anywhere near it.603Please respect copyright.PENANAXiAI6aZvum
"Alright, that's enough.603Please respect copyright.PENANAGFdIp9nPV0
Let's head back." Gob proclaimed to the group and David sighted in 603Please respect copyright.PENANAMY2jsnzBcS
relief. Thankfully David was given new shoes, to help him walk, as well 603Please respect copyright.PENANA3p1NN8Bzip
as new clothes and even an eyepatch. The walk itself was silent and 603Please respect copyright.PENANAy62SuAYeIw
brutal. Gob set a murderous pace and he didn't look back to check on any603Please respect copyright.PENANAQPguohyydU
of them except for Rock, who bore it with his usual silence.603Please respect copyright.PENANACb1u4RBdbz
David walked in silence 603Please respect copyright.PENANAx1howxy5gi
as well. More to preserve his breathe, than anything else, as he felt 603Please respect copyright.PENANApDiFGiKTYH
that he would fall to the ground if he even tried speaking. Toothless 603Please respect copyright.PENANAPspsOCiyO3
Stevie may have been old and not have teeth, but he had more stamina 603Please respect copyright.PENANAEfXrwtrOob
than David, farm work really built you up for long hours of activity.603Please respect copyright.PENANA7FnWWMaqKl
A walk that would've 603Please respect copyright.PENANARHjO76m5h2
taken most of the day was managed in about half a day. David was so glad603Please respect copyright.PENANABoQfJ1Dez3
to see the damp cave that he was ready to kiss the rocks when he came 603Please respect copyright.PENANANUl7EDLOkZ
inside. The camp itself did not change much over the past month and 603Please respect copyright.PENANAZbfUEVPm5D
David was still the new guy. Though he made good strides in integrating 603Please respect copyright.PENANAtWBdvEK3v6
himself as most of rebels waved to him in greeting.603Please respect copyright.PENANAbGeTNpLPBX
"I'll go report to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAWHjCDG0B7t
Francesca. You can go relax." Gob passed David without a glance at him. 603Please respect copyright.PENANA8hxFffaPMI
The fact that Gob didn't glare or spit at David's direction must've 603Please respect copyright.PENANA6zM9Vzc4bs
meant that he was finally warming up to him! At least it was more than 603Please respect copyright.PENANAqyM1Emiyyx
David got over the past month, in fact he was ready to give up on ever 603Please respect copyright.PENANA2M8LvcGiMn
winning Gob over.603Please respect copyright.PENANA7Nc3OP4rVV
Francesca on the other 603Please respect copyright.PENANAqVSvUdDyuS
hand warmed up to him quite fast. As Denis summarized and David 603Please respect copyright.PENANAxS5dDnIoMp
confirmed she was a noble, a well read and knowledgeable noble but 603Please respect copyright.PENANA8MvxPvKusS
someone who hasn't left her estate a lot and has never traveled outside 603Please respect copyright.PENANASCZ042ZdS3
the empire. While David was the well-traveled dashing smuggler. He 603Please respect copyright.PENANAbslTxhxAYA
managed to enthrall her with made up stories and adventures. To be fair 603Please respect copyright.PENANACS0W9tTPCY
to Francesca she wasn't the only one falling under David's charm. As 603Please respect copyright.PENANAPy08wcjPgV
most of the rebels found it hard to resist the dashing rogue act.603Please respect copyright.PENANArxhmOUc9eQ
David just wished he 603Please respect copyright.PENANAa5OgfYgG8M
could win them over without going on patrols and risking his life. Oh 603Please respect copyright.PENANAnktcw0K0S3
well no one said being a parasite was easy.603Please respect copyright.PENANAQhEM7OoZQd
Further down the camps 603Please respect copyright.PENANASz3jOQslJW
he could see Twitch, the nervous brother of Denis. Over the past month 603Please respect copyright.PENANAf8RsqbFCvV
he integrated himself with the siblings, becoming a part of their gang. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAgpDgQhYglI
As the siblings were liked by the rebels in general this made them trust603Please respect copyright.PENANA8qlDhOhn6P
David all the more. David decided to join Twitch so he snuck up behind 603Please respect copyright.PENANAliNq4LfD1h
him. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAoXn719OGTS
"What'cha doing?"603Please respect copyright.PENANAobVo6vRkoU
Twitch practically jumped out of his own skin. "Agh! Oh D-david. Don't s-scare me l-l-like that."603Please respect copyright.PENANAyruI9wz46U
"Sorry, twitch." David said patting the boys shoulder. "Didn't mean to, you know I hate doing it." He loved it603Please respect copyright.PENANAwrSbLPtBIr
Twitch nodded and stood beside David." 'S alright. I-I-I'm just easily sca-ar-ared."603Please respect copyright.PENANA8IIuyMNgnK
David nodded. The boy 603Please respect copyright.PENANAkc0Hw9WhBb
was lucky to have any friends at all." Nothing wrong with being scared."603Please respect copyright.PENANAzZkHTSRXGO
He said with a comforting smile. "We all have our own strengths, like 603Please respect copyright.PENANABP4xax1h8e
you..." David paused for a bit racking his mind for something to say. "A603Please respect copyright.PENANA5yYY08hnCR
poet! A man of dreams! How're your poems going anyway? I still want to 603Please respect copyright.PENANARksshtOLCH
read them someday."603Please respect copyright.PENANAFJ80QVx1T1
Twitch muttered 603Please respect copyright.PENANAFRG4MByywE
something under his breathe. David motioned with his hand for him to 603Please respect copyright.PENANA5jr1lj5vMZ
speak up. "...n-not poems. But son-so-songs."603Please respect copyright.PENANAzId1zXiGNk
David stopped himself from shrugging and smiled. "Songs, even better then! Why not create a song for the rebellion?"603Please respect copyright.PENANARXQk5cqQTy
Twitch started shaking 603Please respect copyright.PENANAFfoTqUMLRn
his head but before the words: 'No' formed on his mouth a voice 603Please respect copyright.PENANAvoydEUt26X
interrupted them. "A hymn truly sounds marvelous!" Francesca made Twitch603Please respect copyright.PENANAzjPNkoAw60
jump back even more than David did603Please respect copyright.PENANAl3W4J6ZNrE
"I-I-I" He continued in that vain for a while.603Please respect copyright.PENANAEhjRo1GslB
"Speak up soldier!" Gobs603Please respect copyright.PENANAfSxX37URAQ
voice resounded around the cave, making everyone glance at Twitch, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAz3kUq8HiUJ
which should've made his stuttering worse. But his fear of Gob took over603Please respect copyright.PENANAlQHNanv642
any instinct he had.603Please respect copyright.PENANAKPJNhJm0dF
"I'mnotgoodenough!" He 603Please respect copyright.PENANAtdCFg5q3iA
said as fast possible. David was astounded it was probably the first 603Please respect copyright.PENANAEzC04A4Foz
time the boy didn't stutter. Not that he could understand what he said 603Please respect copyright.PENANA2lZM3RHWTT
now.603Please respect copyright.PENANAFSR40ZcQql
"Nonsense." Francesca 603Please respect copyright.PENANAQYLpQoVckI
put her hand on Twitch's shoulder. She didn't seem to have any trouble 603Please respect copyright.PENANAfg2By4wJQS
understanding him. "Write me a song when you can, and we will sing it, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAjXHNuC1Eok
all of us together." She projected her voice to others nearby which 603Please respect copyright.PENANAm51ygweDrA
raised a rugged cheer. That just made Twitch hide his face as it went 603Please respect copyright.PENANArkzPDIJaNQ
dark red.603Please respect copyright.PENANAqBCVaTe1Sn
Francesca spared Twitch 603Please respect copyright.PENANAH6rv0N9qnx
one last warm smile and turned to the rest of the rebels standing 603Please respect copyright.PENANAewDHQ8RMW2
around. "It's time for your daily studies! Spread the message!" Both 603Please respect copyright.PENANA1HT5yf5D1s
children and adults listened to Francesca, without a hint of 603Please respect copyright.PENANAn17K5wanCh
disobedience, and started moving in one line to the study cavern, as it 603Please respect copyright.PENANAecCAoKqOHj
was popularly called.603Please respect copyright.PENANA6BTVeqb4js
The rebels not only 603Please respect copyright.PENANASboHX2RUd6
respected Francesca for her leadership and attitude towards the 603Please respect copyright.PENANAllMlYbZIu7
peasantry, but also her attempts to educate them. Most of the rebels 603Please respect copyright.PENANA0t5ZmuQ5dW
didn't know how to read or basic math while Francesca was an educated 603Please respect copyright.PENANAebK9hUV4AR
noble, thus she decided to teach everyone in the rebellion the basics. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAoHHnw6P68I
No one was barred from the lessons and both young and old were invited 603Please respect copyright.PENANAKKQHQetv9l
to them. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAbcYShpgHNt
David attended one of 603Please respect copyright.PENANARIwbh58QbL
those lessons but found himself too bored to continue. They were talking603Please respect copyright.PENANAuepj6kvAPi
about letter and numbers and some researcher named Vesputti or 603Please respect copyright.PENANAwV7g5XIt1z
something similar. Thus, he skipped over on those lessons, he wasn't the603Please respect copyright.PENANA2HEUf1vsH7
only one as most of the adults had decided that they were too old to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAhkCEBm4pXu
learn anything new.603Please respect copyright.PENANA5I68jaZdGk
Before leading her group603Please respect copyright.PENANA8IBZwuNvqF
to the secluded cavern, Francesca approached David. "I'd like if you'd 603Please respect copyright.PENANAYDlEKpFKLY
dine with me tonight, if it's to your liking?"603Please respect copyright.PENANAyQBShnacTz
"Of course, I'll see you603Please respect copyright.PENANAwfhSKL6KMu
later." Francesca did that sometimes, inviting David over. Chatting 603Please respect copyright.PENANAPsgAcu6GGh
about trivialities, like whether he had any more vision about The Five. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAtRInnIGd3M
Thankfully Jester didn't deign to appear yet so David managed to sleep 603Please respect copyright.PENANAzENvkvi4xV
peacefully, well not accounting the strange dreams about some boy crying603Please respect copyright.PENANACBhWU3Msx5
and calling for his mummy. Those dreams made David wake up in a foul 603Please respect copyright.PENANAxAHZoWZRvw
mood, he wasn't certain why but thought it could be because he didn't 603Please respect copyright.PENANAK620dS7UiN
remember his parents or family.603Please respect copyright.PENANAyERhWZ1XsM
Francesca, unaware of 603Please respect copyright.PENANAKcU9jGNAdq
David's thoughts or dreams, nodded with a smile and led her group from 603Please respect copyright.PENANAddJoMWEGgt
the main cavern. Twitch following her and joining his sibling to whom 603Please respect copyright.PENANAhOfYhcYH60
David waved. Turning around he came face to face with Nook.603Please respect copyright.PENANAjr0XM8Bt4F
"I'm off duty now, got some guys looking for a game. You're in?"603Please respect copyright.PENANAePxLtBQuY2
Nook was an interesting 603Please respect copyright.PENANAaYaGOkhMIf
case, while he was definitely Gob's man he didn't seem to be as 603Please respect copyright.PENANAEp4opNYFZL
disciplined as the other soldiers. He was also one of the few soldiers 603Please respect copyright.PENANAMFedWQutvp
who was friendly with David instead of following Gob's lead and hating 603Please respect copyright.PENANApfTpZ77SQs
his guts. So they decided to have a card game here and there while 603Please respect copyright.PENANAUBf7hhMidf
inviting other people, a card game in which David lost more often than 603Please respect copyright.PENANAQtOjhDKQlh
not. While David hated losing in cards it was a good method of making 603Please respect copyright.PENANAENMDBAW7d6
friends and getting to know people. As well as a guarantee to keep 603Please respect copyright.PENANAfeFmXmoR5n
getting invited as long as you lost smart and graciously accepted it.603Please respect copyright.PENANAphf2j1Td12
"Aye, why not Nook. Maybe I'll clean house this time."603Please respect copyright.PENANAapv3Pjfr4W
Nook grinned a 603Please respect copyright.PENANA5GwF3m5Lfg
predator's smile and led David towards a secluded table. While gambling 603Please respect copyright.PENANALnWTtbrM1E
wasn't banned or anything, as long as you were off duty, it was frowned 603Please respect copyright.PENANA0SMywrEDFl
upon by Gob. That and most rebels having limited resources. Having only 603Please respect copyright.PENANAFufNCTrmc6
their clothes and weapons stolen from the empire or brought on their 603Please respect copyright.PENANATfAX5kYZli
backs.603Please respect copyright.PENANAkFZRNC7gDd
Thus any card games were603Please respect copyright.PENANAe3smpRoOik
just that, games to pass the time. At least until David proposed to bet603Please respect copyright.PENANAiGCWmg5Eg1
their rations. Everyone received the basic rations few times per day 603Please respect copyright.PENANACVkG8ep7DI
and it was up to them how much of that they ate. It was barely enough to603Please respect copyright.PENANATTfGRReNbU
feed a healthy adult. As they have been on this isle for a while it was603Please respect copyright.PENANArKTQPcvfRK
harder to find fresh animals to hunt every day. A lot of the rebels 603Please respect copyright.PENANA2iHRCLflyP
were opposed to that idea as they'd loose on the last bits of food they 603Please respect copyright.PENANAKMp5O3xYwq
did have.603Please respect copyright.PENANASUGS0SbQHS
Some did think it was a 603Please respect copyright.PENANAv7nNYw8z55
brilliant idea and David was sitting down with a few of them right now. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAyOjYYn1rLK
Nook, he was confident in his card abilities. Apparently before joining 603Please respect copyright.PENANASWe8Bvw3sJ
the rebellion he was a militiaman in his village and gambled a lot. As 603Please respect copyright.PENANAxpwP6C5vqZ
far as David could see he was more lucky than actually good. Old 603Please respect copyright.PENANABfMqCD1TR0
toothless Stevie, he joked that if he did lose his rations that it would603Please respect copyright.PENANABr3umOZcGC
save his last teeth. He also wasn't afraid to bet most of his rations 603Please respect copyright.PENANA5QpdUH6EYH
scaring the other players into folding, a good bluffer. Finally there 603Please respect copyright.PENANAM7PnlrsCbs
was Tiruk, a huge man who definitely needed more rations just to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAdxFEfzzU8Y
survive. It surprised David anyone could keep that weight with tight the603Please respect copyright.PENANAm9daDSRmmh
food has been.603Please respect copyright.PENANAVeFKqRcfAR
They were the four main 603Please respect copyright.PENANA5VYCG5nDBt
players who usually joined the gambling games. Sometimes others joined 603Please respect copyright.PENANANX4dbAXH11
but they usually stopped after going hungry for a day or two as they 603Please respect copyright.PENANAStJyklDsEk
lost their rations. These four though didn't give up after losing, 603Please respect copyright.PENANA453fI2GRXC
because they knew that their chances of a feast were just around the 603Please respect copyright.PENANAmuQq1ai4Op
corner. That fact created a sense of comradeship between the players. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAnlMYo7iCV5
Even if they were playing against each other they understood the risks 603Please respect copyright.PENANAOoc6r8C3jN
and accepted them.603Please respect copyright.PENANAoeToQZiyc8
"''Ello boys." David 603Please respect copyright.PENANAdowJvPsiMw
said sitting down at the table with Nook. There were nods all around the603Please respect copyright.PENANAiopqcd4JAs
table and the cards were dealt. They were playing a card game called 603Please respect copyright.PENANA0sKJ2MJwXQ
match 'n go. Most of the rebels had not heard of the game or at least 603Please respect copyright.PENANAjrLea9xnoT
knew it under a different name but most of them caught on fast, it was 603Please respect copyright.PENANAvJxzANDJRO
often just played for fun. But the best games came from betting. As the 603Please respect copyright.PENANAVoHSyaQvUi
risks went higher you tried to fool your opponent into thinking that you603Please respect copyright.PENANAeFtuRowpai
had the match or a higher card. David loved risk games like that, he 603Please respect copyright.PENANA6UefTqyGpX
loved reading the other player emotions and using it against them or at 603Please respect copyright.PENANAwLdLM6twLS
least for his own benefit. 603Please respect copyright.PENANA9y4Gm8Fnuc
Nook was the first to 603Please respect copyright.PENANA45MApoWAsH
play. "I'm betting half of my rations on this. Gots a good deck, that I 603Please respect copyright.PENANA9y60jMFGWh
do." David could see the plastered smile on his face. At this point 603Please respect copyright.PENANA0GiBm9YH6M
David could tell fake between real in a heartbeat. Nook was bluffing.603Please respect copyright.PENANAmDT87yIINn
"Alright, I'll call that." David answered.603Please respect copyright.PENANAiCZHYZgdpe
Tiruk, in answer, just 603Please respect copyright.PENANAUiYenSplMp
shook his head and folded. He wasn't risking it. Stevenson with his 603Please respect copyright.PENANApUvFIIqnA9
gaped smile called it as well and cackled a bit.603Please respect copyright.PENANAecpcTFLFz3
Next card revealed. A 3 603Please respect copyright.PENANAxMK7m9OHtn
for Davids two threes. He'd have to fold that game, too high chance of 603Please respect copyright.PENANAOwcSNivq9V
winning. So it went on and on, rations were won and lost. David won a 603Please respect copyright.PENANAB9iOAkHCBB
few games but then he bet everything and lost on purpose, made Stevie a 603Please respect copyright.PENANA6aNruD2ydL
very happy, old, man.603Please respect copyright.PENANAD7UqeUYJQV
Since David didn't have 603Please respect copyright.PENANAJF19PnCUBk
anything to bet with anymore he made his excuses and left the table. He 603Please respect copyright.PENANApSUvAQlLK0
took a look around for Gob and didn't see him anywhere so decided it 603Please respect copyright.PENANAqgB5x8tobb
would be safe to take a walk.603Please respect copyright.PENANAdd88f5LjRA
Another thing he took to603Please respect copyright.PENANAqj2LtpllpV
doing over the past two weeks was exploring, finding any secret spaces 603Please respect copyright.PENANA2ciJASknYU
where he might hide. The rebels themselves only found one possible 603Please respect copyright.PENANA9cSSNTu09w
emergency exit while David found three. Of course the other two exits 603Please respect copyright.PENANAocevJVZSfP
only were wide enough for one person to pass through at a time. So it 603Please respect copyright.PENANAMRbi948M3o
could be that they just didn't consider them as such.603Please respect copyright.PENANAa7EMltj3u2
He also found various 603Please respect copyright.PENANAGt7O7B0URx
hiding spots, not only for him but for items he stole. Weapons, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAC4vPXbzN5I
ammunition, food and the like. If only a small amount disappeared at a 603Please respect copyright.PENANADrq6nVnkKL
time no one really noticed and attributed it to absentmindedness. Though603Please respect copyright.PENANAzpOLN4wNmN
David believed Gob was getting suspicious so he would need to start 603Please respect copyright.PENANAZFxITBzxH2
being more careful.603Please respect copyright.PENANAwLxud0E6j8
The caves themselves 603Please respect copyright.PENANANAfYp1rJi9
seemed to go through the whole isle, David didn't believe he explored 603Please respect copyright.PENANAA9XtwnYhXA
even half of it. Gob tried to send a few soldiers every day to explore 603Please respect copyright.PENANAhFNmZcETvO
further into the caves, but many were afraid of the dark, believing 603Please respect copyright.PENANAsPMV3jEjAM
various beasts were residing in them. Refusing to go inside without Gob 603Please respect copyright.PENANANBVT4RjNZ0
and since Gob was usually busy either creating or being out on patrols 603Please respect copyright.PENANA0jXH4yJRlo
himself that limited their exploring time.603Please respect copyright.PENANAKRYDyDguii
That let David offer his603Please respect copyright.PENANAGVzlGW9BDV
services as an explorer. He would explore the further caves and would 603Please respect copyright.PENANAZKi5wj3u6m
report on any worrying circumstances. Gob was reluctant to let him go 603Please respect copyright.PENANAIytWtRTft5
but was convinced by Francesca that it would be a grand idea as it would603Please respect copyright.PENANA71PENhAcGL
free more people for patrols and other duties.603Please respect copyright.PENANAJFvEejjWMC
This time though he had a603Please respect copyright.PENANAbXhjzB2RQS
destination in mind. A bit further into one of the pathways, about an 603Please respect copyright.PENANAanIGbXCJ57
hour from the main cavern, there was a small pathway where a thin person603Please respect copyright.PENANANRSAGzXYQD
could barely fit. Following that pathway, if you could survive the 603Please respect copyright.PENANA4BIFM84SMG
feeling of getting crushed by the walls, was a pool. David was surprised603Please respect copyright.PENANAPL1RQEtb1w
when he found and astonished when he discovered the water was hot. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAm4rhV8nRDg
That's where he was 603Please respect copyright.PENANAMHEqLin04E
going now; he needed a clear head for Francesca's meeting. No matter how603Please respect copyright.PENANAAXTIwc4e0u
she acted she was a noble, they always sought the best deals for 603Please respect copyright.PENANAYys6XrtU3h
themselves, always trying to ledge a situation in their favour. David 603Please respect copyright.PENANA2z5ESD58xx
would need to be on his toes. Or maybe he just wanted to actually relax 603Please respect copyright.PENANA1L7UxEj7Ip
without anyone screaming or crying, he didn't decide which one sounded 603Please respect copyright.PENANAZJYbFlLPAK
better in his mind.603Please respect copyright.PENANAh2GfaB2sC7
Thus grabbing a torch as603Please respect copyright.PENANAWIFnJOSKmM
many of the pathways further down weren't lit, he began his, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAgbauhZNyTE
uneventful, journey. Luckily he reached his destination in a timely 603Please respect copyright.PENANAtRd1YFfRis
manner, though he hated going through that cramped space. He gave a 603Please respect copyright.PENANAogEj5LRcRi
satisfied sigh as he sat down in the pool, his muscles losing the 603Please respect copyright.PENANAR1lN06bDBm
tension he gathered over the past few weeks, the water reached up to his603Please respect copyright.PENANA7zAmYft7gg
chest and he dunked his head under the water finally enjoying a proper 603Please respect copyright.PENANAtpVhRhyIE4
clean. He was careful to keep track of time but other than that he let 603Please respect copyright.PENANAMq2gFby42G
his mind wander and just blanked out. 603Please respect copyright.PENANArkffHf8mdx
Before he even noticed, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAof13IqzeWZ
to David's disappointment, it was time to leave. He was also saddened by603Please respect copyright.PENANAGTKvwNi81H
the fact that the water ended up a bit darker after his bath, a way to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAu42HyDUEOD
hit a guys confidence. With a sad sigh he put on his dirty and worn out 603Please respect copyright.PENANAWQpuGBjiPA
clothes and went back to the main cavern to the sound of activity and 603Please respect copyright.PENANAccNeiePSoc
the smell of unwashed masses.603Please respect copyright.PENANANGrKy8i7KF
It did seem that David 603Please respect copyright.PENANALQye20ipWQ
came back just in time as people were gathered near the cooking pots to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAnp6DhjwcGG
gather their rations. David did the same and then found Stevie, sitting 603Please respect copyright.PENANAhl5mmMDNYm
with some other older rebels, and gave him his rations. Stevie nodded 603Please respect copyright.PENANAROzOQWOTTO
and had a sparkle in his eye. "Maybe nexsht time you can save me 603Please respect copyright.PENANAoytep1XB5l
teethsh." And he cackled at his joke. David managed a weak laugh that 603Please respect copyright.PENANAs6K9EBQaPg
seemed to satisfy Stevie.603Please respect copyright.PENANAnUTpmJvBi7
"Don't keep Francesca 603Please respect copyright.PENANAJtGAaRoXUZ
waiting." Came a gruff voice from behind. David tried to hide his 603Please respect copyright.PENANAiVNBJzuPgj
annoyance at the fact that Gob managed to sneak up on him and scare him.603Please respect copyright.PENANAspdIr9m1O5
Some people just had no sense of proper manners.603Please respect copyright.PENANAwZLb5BwCAV
"Oh I wouldn't dare." 603Please respect copyright.PENANAyQ1bRGvlNA
He gave a mock bow which seemed to infuriate Gob more. "I was just out 603Please respect copyright.PENANAePsFi5jl7h
exploring, nothing to report so far, sir Gob." Gob just grunted and 603Please respect copyright.PENANAO4dp4LO8F8
walked away. 603Please respect copyright.PENANACtTlJwOHjh
David smiled and waved 603Please respect copyright.PENANAjO4x5kJiC6
after him, the guy really needed to unwind. With nothing else to do but 603Please respect copyright.PENANAKHGI59Einp
shrug at that thought David went towards Francesca's room. Even if 603Please respect copyright.PENANAZWjKP0Cxa4
Francesca did pretend to be all for equality and the like she still had 603Please respect copyright.PENANAAsZZj5tfa9
her personal quarters, such as they were, as well as an actual bed, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAJCyEXVWqVE
table, chairs. They were shoddy work at best, crafted quickly by some of603Please respect copyright.PENANA11khMlfXM8
the rebels, but they were more than anything any other rebel had. David603Please respect copyright.PENANAMVse3czJe7
was impressed by how she had more and yet most still perceived her as 603Please respect copyright.PENANAYk0ZYGmwVc
the paragon of virtue.603Please respect copyright.PENANAdkSitq5IKq
Her room, as per usual, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAKbqeo5z6o5
was guarded. But the guard waved him on with a smile. David saw it as a 603Please respect copyright.PENANAzu8kE5V7eF
pointless precaution anyway, but what could you do. Francesca herself 603Please respect copyright.PENANAnvJJJL4oFk
was already seated, with a torch in the middle of the table, a pale 603Please respect copyright.PENANAanOHp6yiW8
imitation of a candle. One thing the rebels had a lot of were torches, 603Please respect copyright.PENANAlacMtexEgP
to light up all caverns and pathways. 603Please respect copyright.PENANA9rj2cGTj73
"Oh, David! Please sit" she gestured towards the second chair.603Please respect copyright.PENANAkBrdoc3g2j
David sat down with a 603Please respect copyright.PENANAvh7tUsOHGU
nod and smile. They weren't eating anything extravagant, just what the 603Please respect copyright.PENANA9lO7cu32V6
rest were. Dried meat, nuts, sometimes if they were lucky they could 603Please respect copyright.PENANAmW08mGQ6ud
even get rabbit or vegetable soup, but that more of a luxury nowadays. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAh6NG4moDbb
This time it was some dried meat of unknown origin and some water found 603Please respect copyright.PENANAgad2LY1w8z
in a stream. Delicious.603Please respect copyright.PENANAZHG4z6YaRr
"So pleasantries first or business first?"603Please respect copyright.PENANAbDOSl0facn
"I found that going straight to business can ruin a healthy appetite."603Please respect copyright.PENANAY0YJvvn7c9
Francesca nodded and 603Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ1rs1FEmg
began to cut her meat with her wooden utensils. While David had similar 603Please respect copyright.PENANAnwviQFJyv7
equipment he didn't really find much use of them and found it better to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAXfaonr2BJM
eat with his own hands. Made it faster and when you're under cannon fire603Please respect copyright.PENANA2MHgLFouXO
fast eating was paramount.603Please respect copyright.PENANAqypLQxtTmT
As expected David 603Please respect copyright.PENANAyhiMAvQXj3
finished his portion first and ended up waiting for Francesca to finish 603Please respect copyright.PENANA3g6Ixps0Px
hers, which took another 5 or 10 minutes. The girl was certainly a 603Please respect copyright.PENANARvxFKBy33Q
deliberate eater.603Please respect copyright.PENANACcfT3jBYt8
"So on to business." She603Please respect copyright.PENANACFVbDBHTjE
paused making sure David was ready, once he nodded she continued. "Tell603Please respect copyright.PENANAWjy9AhEsYQ
me, do you know who actually hired your services?"603Please respect copyright.PENANA9YcVBwtfP5
"No idea, captain was usually tight lipped about our clients. I just always assumed it was one of you guys."603Please respect copyright.PENANAafqNnI4IdZ
"In a way. It's someone 603Please respect copyright.PENANAEr6sf7FJ0i
who's...interested in our cause. One of Gob's friends. He is able to get603Please respect copyright.PENANAvyI4JniDCT
in and out of the isles without arousing too much suspicion."603Please respect copyright.PENANAmHfylHWKj9
"Can't imagine you can tell me who it is?"603Please respect copyright.PENANANxJCkDC1jU
"It's not for me to tell sadly, Gob was adamant that it's best kept as secret." Francesca smiled apologetically "apologies"603Please respect copyright.PENANAZdrR80978q
David waved his hand in a playful manner. "No worries, I'm surprised you're telling me any of this in the first place."603Please respect copyright.PENANA7tRnhUvZqF
"Well, there is a 603Please respect copyright.PENANAiOs8m4LRZZ
reason. Since the weapons we got previously are in the Empire's hands 603Please respect copyright.PENANAi00afqj49T
and we can't fight them for it." Putting it lightly the rebels never 603Please respect copyright.PENANALlLHpwF7DW
really fought the empire in a straight on fight. Mostly raids and 603Please respect copyright.PENANAUEYgqFXxTV
recruiting villagers with their possessions. Easy pickings. "Gob got in 603Please respect copyright.PENANAAhFAPDYJkB
touch with his friend again and luckily we managed to set up a meeting 603Please respect copyright.PENANAiIN66QipEA
in a few days the edge of a different isle.603Please respect copyright.PENANAek2ZJKLilT
"We will also be moving 603Please respect copyright.PENANA9VU3ThibU0
our base" she continued, sadly. "I can't keep us here with the danger 603Please respect copyright.PENANAEtxZWWUqhj
increasing, so we will move slowly, to an isle we were based in before 603Please respect copyright.PENANA5C5yp68foQ
so some will know where to go."603Please respect copyright.PENANAJucrCZ4b1p
"That's good, why did 603Please respect copyright.PENANAFXbtyCa5Y9
you want to keep us here for this long anyway?" While he was annoyed at 603Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6Xnnq2UmW
hearing that question every time he went on patrols, he couldn't deny he603Please respect copyright.PENANA6ON2oPxnlI
was interested in the answer.603Please respect copyright.PENANA7St6XFtDvA
"It...It has to do with one of The Five. I can't reveal more in fear that it might interfere with your objective. "603Please respect copyright.PENANAq0U9oYxSFh
David nodded, not a full603Please respect copyright.PENANAr3DJnOaizI
answer he wanted but to push might create a rift between them. Religion603Please respect copyright.PENANAWF5GOLDzep
was pretty important to Francesca "Don't worry; you don't have to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAaXFJaFvY61
reveal anything you don't want want to." He said in a soothing tone603Please respect copyright.PENANAFrUe8uU3GD
"Thank you." She said 603Please respect copyright.PENANAdxW0CJQ327
gratefully. "Where was I? Oh, yes. We'll have groups with specified 603Please respect copyright.PENANAaCrAPoes7c
leaders going back to that previous isle, they'll lead them and we'll 603Please respect copyright.PENANAGCLozt6rK7
regroup at a specified point."603Please respect copyright.PENANAAYPkP4C2qL
"How will you get 603Please respect copyright.PENANAdjSe50DWOE
everyone over to the next isle?" Isles were divided by cracks, and while603Please respect copyright.PENANAxXlqEGZqS7
some you could jump over, others were so wide you could fit a full 603Please respect copyright.PENANA1wx90nzbcF
city.603Please respect copyright.PENANAgTPQvLN9zD
"We have small sky 603Please respect copyright.PENANAdnuSSFDWtH
boats. Some of the groups will use it...Others...Others will need to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAUPGVeyg3uR
find their own way" she said in bitter tones. "I don't like that, we're 603Please respect copyright.PENANAnrs0J2fMml
abandoning my people. But Gob said it's too dangerous traveling in a big603Please respect copyright.PENANAnFHILgxkVl
group."603Please respect copyright.PENANAhcV0uc9tJ8
"You're a good leader on your own. You should trust your own instincts." Ah finally! An opportunity to create that rift603Please respect copyright.PENANApktaHI1Yez
She gave him a sad smile603Please respect copyright.PENANApxQ44JvPq2
in response. "Thank you, but I do not a good head for tactics or 603Please respect copyright.PENANA2XHcVqAmDH
military matters. I've had some education on it, but Gob is much better 603Please respect copyright.PENANAVAiauSbnfV
at it." David still wasn't sure just what Gob did before the rebellion. 603Please respect copyright.PENANASf6k5f7onR
Francesca stated that the past did not matter and as long as they were 603Please respect copyright.PENANAK9udD6aKGX
willing to fight for the rebellions ideals they would be allowed to keep603Please respect copyright.PENANAl9t2cb9zyR
their past in the past.603Please respect copyright.PENANAKI4MSyc89N
"Now then, back to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAgXrbIZoIId
business." She said more cheerily. "Myself and Gob will be meeting that 603Please respect copyright.PENANApCcIA7aN63
person in a few days. We will have guards but I'd also like for you to 603Please respect copyright.PENANA6O1ErTiK2T
come. You're well-traveled and met many people; your advice would be 603Please respect copyright.PENANAar0sYchRtR
valuable, especially since we'll only be bartering for them."603Please respect copyright.PENANAqOCCqlXe2k
"You'll have it. I'm 603Please respect copyright.PENANAiDuu0Z75O7
more than happy to join you." While he wasn't looking forward to 603Please respect copyright.PENANAK2JxofxFoW
sleeping with all the insects again, it might help his back to not sleep603Please respect copyright.PENANAcyTAGjWfIu
on a rock hard surface.603Please respect copyright.PENANA5iBJGJtD3w
"Perfect! I'll let Gob know and convince him as well." She laughed sheepishly. "I didn't really confirm this with him you see."603Please respect copyright.PENANALFN7RCQ97k
"Oh, the guy loves me. It'll be easy." Francesca smiled at that, she knew just how much Gob hated David.603Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZaYUNqgAX
A lull in the conversation and then a question David was dreading "Did you have any more visions? From the one who chose you?"603Please respect copyright.PENANAyoOuwjKiTs
"Sadly no, I'm as 603Please respect copyright.PENANA2QuckIfhDM
clueless as when I was born." This wasn't exactly true. He knew he had 603Please respect copyright.PENANAtAFGrM9ASy
to find something, and suspected Francesca was after it as well he 603Please respect copyright.PENANA1ybcjImCnj
suspected it was on this isle. Francesca seemed to know more, but she 603Please respect copyright.PENANAoziq8USKQE
wasn't willing to reveal it. She might hide it under lofty ideals, but 603Please respect copyright.PENANAenJ5cXsjPF
she was concealing the truth from both David and the rebels.603Please respect copyright.PENANAWevEZ3zLo6
"Do not worry, I am 603Please respect copyright.PENANABivBUva7Di
su..." before she could continue their whole world rocked. As explosions603Please respect copyright.PENANAie6ZN1akRo
rang from outside and rubble started falling all around them., hitting 603Please respect copyright.PENANAAqWFlPyZ5R
the table and dislodging the torch, casting ominous shadows on the walls603Please respect copyright.PENANAdDO0jUWoD3
"Wha..." before David could finish his thought a very worried Gob barged in. 603Please respect copyright.PENANAst8R3DbdmE
"We're under attack, they found us."
603Please respect copyright.PENANAsZTNwAEOaC
603Please respect copyright.PENANA1MdCz8Qwcj