722Please respect copyright.PENANAazNGT1w3HQ
722Please respect copyright.PENANADzLtHpUvK8
All taxes must be paid 722Please respect copyright.PENANAlip1Z12U1N
in a timely and organized manner. Each prince controls tax 722Please respect copyright.PENANAV35D4HIBTu
collection in his princedom War is forbidden between the princes. All 722Please respect copyright.PENANAPwtBzqJPCl
dissatisfactions must be dealt in a civilized manner. Via duels or by 722Please respect copyright.PENANAi0D0DH3Ist
lodging a complaint to the council of princes.The most powerful 722Please respect copyright.PENANApD3tF6dYu0
traders shall form a council of 10; with each member being called a 722Please respect copyright.PENANAoYZgme8ulO
prince. This council shall gather in emergencies: such as war, the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAWESO2XTx8l
enactment of widespread changes, as well as to deal with any 722Please respect copyright.PENANABU8gKIQI8m
grievances between the princesIf any trader or isle within the trade722Please respect copyright.PENANA0Wtdla1Eya
union territory is attacked all princes must come to the defense 722Please respect copyright.PENANAxnCRJXfuD1
Declaring war on foreign bodies is forbidden. If any trader or 722Please respect copyright.PENANAfqJRdZ5oxJ
prince is found doing so they will be stripped of their goods and 722Please respect copyright.PENANATzyIOgp1hz
factories and will have to contend with the war on their own.All magic 722Please respect copyright.PENANA7rlwAZqCFq
is illegal and practitioners will be prosecuted722Please respect copyright.PENANAz67aeneKfv
We are traders, not warlords. We thrive on income and civility, not chaos and murder.722Please respect copyright.PENANAMSwrXdsRy5
'The union codex, rules the traders abide by.'722Please respect copyright.PENANAuxpKMYld1P
___________________________________________________722Please respect copyright.PENANA631I1yeMR4
722Please respect copyright.PENANAjLR7eoEzH6
David has been in jail 722Please respect copyright.PENANA6s6vhR34lD
before, a flying jail, a jail on the ground ground. All kinds and types.722Please respect copyright.PENANAvMJFsMPhDs
Honestly he felt kind of at home when he woke up on the cold hard floor722Please respect copyright.PENANAzvg1t7AVp1
of a ship to metal grates wishing him good morning.722Please respect copyright.PENANAgWdTWM4cF5
The cell was big enough 722Please respect copyright.PENANALxxQKUofzr
for him to stretch his muscles and walk around a bit. He checked his 722Please respect copyright.PENANAwJzh1zyvFV
back pocket where kept Boyle's pendant but it was gone, good riddance. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAz4EGPGjhRM
Luckily David didn't have any other belongings on his person and the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAh41uXn3oI0
guards graciously allowed him to keep his clothes.722Please respect copyright.PENANAFGP86q7BHU
David didn't even 722Please respect copyright.PENANA1BE3zjwtdX
contemplate shouting, as it usually invited a guard and when you're the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAIyjPJh96CA
one in the cell why would you want a guard to be nearby. So David did 722Please respect copyright.PENANALmWA4xZEHw
what any sane person in his situation would, he went back to sleep on 722Please respect copyright.PENANA3jiII7Sx0h
the bed hanging from the metal wall. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAXp2IrgESCr
Sadly event the best 722Please respect copyright.PENANACI8DJnlH5v
plans sometimes fall apart and it was the case here, as he couldn't fall722Please respect copyright.PENANARGBl0uAeqL
asleep. There was something akin to ringing in his head, a feeling that722Please respect copyright.PENANAI54IQcKTYi
something was close, similar to something he feels when he's near 722Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2yI5fIk4C
Francesca. Soon enough David heard the sound of doors moving and he 722Please respect copyright.PENANAmRUWfhIMYc
opened one, the only one that was working, eye. Through his eye he could722Please respect copyright.PENANAosS17rUpyZ
see two guards carrying...something big, leaving a trail of blood. Now 722Please respect copyright.PENANAe6zCmoJ9vK
while David didn't get a good look that did seem to eerily look like Gob722Please respect copyright.PENANAg6wv7V2Vpl
or at least what David wished Gob would look like. Either way that was 722Please respect copyright.PENANArwbOzroqwn
enough to get his attention and he stood up, as the guards locked the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAYUKT6DexQG
cell next door.722Please respect copyright.PENANAZnpcC2Hq5v
Another soldier came up 722Please respect copyright.PENANANZy6Pb1Aov
to David's cell, and David recognized him as the one who was trying to 722Please respect copyright.PENANAZhhvGFsd1B
talk Gob down. The officer gestured at the soldiers and they quickly 722Please respect copyright.PENANA2F1nAhPdkT
unlocked David's cell, who promptly presented his hands in submission. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAslvV9pQXm7
Sadly the guard didn't seem to care as one of them punched David in the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAjtkXotS0eh
gut and the other handcuffed his hands, putting them behind David's 722Please respect copyright.PENANA6OxTAzJC9J
back.722Please respect copyright.PENANAAOSJsYAzPh
While David would've 722Please respect copyright.PENANAhchLAVcMpg
preferred everyone to be civil, his mind was too preoccupied with one 722Please respect copyright.PENANA73wWzMToXU
fact, the tug was definitely stronger when closer to the officer. It 722Please respect copyright.PENANADCWpco1sf1
seemed he was the other chosen, David was hoping there were more as 722Please respect copyright.PENANAruOTLD1Izc
Jesters words came back to him. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAn6Pg5bj2Bf
The walk itself didn't 722Please respect copyright.PENANAoHdqa7hvvg
last long as they arrived in a room with a table and two chairs, on 722Please respect copyright.PENANA5aJtu57QCm
opposite sides. It was downright friendly if you ignored the blood 722Please respect copyright.PENANA0k1bFEFOF1
splatters all around the room.722Please respect copyright.PENANAtREqg4LdP5
David was put into the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAmF7OBSUykQ
chair further away from the door and his hands attached to the handles. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAxTUnHzyFwl
The officer motioned for the guards to leave them and took a sit at the 722Please respect copyright.PENANA9cn6btsu90
other chair, staring into David's soul.722Please respect copyright.PENANAFgbaypGNwA
"Who are you?" So the questioning has started.722Please respect copyright.PENANA8DBoKZDOmJ
"I'm David, the rebels 722Please respect copyright.PENANAWZ95ffvNtJ
have caught me and took me hostage. I would like to..." before he could 722Please respect copyright.PENANAGK9cTtFryX
finish the interrogator held his hand out to stop David.722Please respect copyright.PENANAist5NXmiXb
"Where are you from?"722Please respect copyright.PENANAYG1mVyoeBU
"The Isle Commonwealth, Capital isle. I was..." again the hand came out. And notes were made.722Please respect copyright.PENANAsI7JBiGA26
"Why were you meeting with the trade union?"722Please respect copyright.PENANAvtYSwQawEe
"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 nodded722Please respect copyright.PENANAKRshmQ1gc0
"Where did the rebels move?"722Please respect copyright.PENANAKzOtmqtVqR
"Gods, we're not getting722Please respect copyright.PENANAgnawgpq8qo
anywhere here. I'm not a rebel. I was just captured by them if you want722Please respect copyright.PENANADNIw2aWRsA
to know names I'll give you them! I owe them no loyalty."722Please respect copyright.PENANAd3QZDDjMdp
"We know the rebellion 722Please respect copyright.PENANAGtatZI635a
is led by Francesca Horrikh. He second in command is Gob D'Fortez. With 722Please respect copyright.PENANAHl4De3bwQZ
the help of officers chosen by them they lead the rebellion..."722Please respect copyright.PENANAZEX7JsxQD0
"Well if you know all 722Please respect copyright.PENANAb8gHRVSUDz
that then why are you asking me? Go ask Gob you have him here!" David 722Please respect copyright.PENANATTRLwNCcYO
interrupted the officer, acting more agitated and scared. Act clueless 722Please respect copyright.PENANArIydwFkA3Y
make them doubt themselves. Sadly that tactic didn't seem to be working 722Please respect copyright.PENANAMyXlL6Nh79
on the imperial soldier.722Please respect copyright.PENANApvyrgpVCPk
"I wanted to make this 722Please respect copyright.PENANAEEoDz1HD2D
civilized, sadly you don't seem to want to answer my questions and I've 722Please respect copyright.PENANA2MXXJiAOZG
no time. If you truly are but a simple hostage then you have my 722Please respect copyright.PENANAUWEadZM6fG
apologies. My name is Fernand Schumah and if you so wish you can curse 722Please respect copyright.PENANA2csbGwJlPy
my name in the afterlife." Fernand gathered his notes, got up and was 722Please respect copyright.PENANAf4Fb7yNTv0
about to leave the room. David had an idea of what was about to happen 722Please respect copyright.PENANAknnmYmuaJt
but judging by the blood on the floor he wanted no part of it.722Please respect copyright.PENANAUewt6bAbwD
"Wait wait!" Fernand 722Please respect copyright.PENANAb2oCxtHhtj
paused. "I've heard them mentioning moving to a different isle, one of 722Please respect copyright.PENANACZ6b0XbnUI
their previous hiding spots. I don't know where exactly...or how."722Please respect copyright.PENANAcA9YIDasmP
Fernand was shaking his 722Please respect copyright.PENANATumgOC4JPg
head. "Useless, we guessed they would move to a different isle, we can't722Please respect copyright.PENANAPRZsVwIpVj
keep guessing where." Fernand paused "We can't risk you knowing where 722Please respect copyright.PENANAzLAG33iiVc
they went, my apologies." For what it was worth Fernand seemed genuinely722Please respect copyright.PENANA6sbOQH6woi
sorry. But David was close to panicking now. Torturers were sadists by 722Please respect copyright.PENANAUeFSLuDq1s
nature, they wouldn't care about anything but the screams they elicit. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9w5eW7jXX
"Did you have any strange dreams? Someone telling you to do, or find, something?"722Please respect copyright.PENANAt1lAHh65De
That made Ferdinand 722Please respect copyright.PENANAZMWpX21jn9
pause and sit back; David could finally see a flicker of emotion on the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAdj7VjeXXKm
man's face. "Why would you know about that?"722Please respect copyright.PENANAswJLthVpiz
Fernand wasn't denying 722Please respect copyright.PENANAKs2JB3paE9
it, David was glad of that. "I had a dream like that as well, and so did722Please respect copyright.PENANAsTFgIcD7ix
the rebellion leader, Francesca. Apparently they're The Five trying to 722Please respect copyright.PENANA1KwcIgY1Cp
get us do something." 722Please respect copyright.PENANAf6FXqJ4fVJ
"Blasphemy, he 722Please respect copyright.PENANAzVYdc8Fd4B
introduced himself as such but is most likely a demon. A noble should 722Please respect copyright.PENANAjGMgZO6FPt
know better." Fernand dismissed, but didn't immediately stand up.722Please respect copyright.PENANAVSnIFCxMon
"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" 722Please respect copyright.PENANAuIlinDcVcs
"Demons tend to plan 722Please respect copyright.PENANAKD8MungNnN
elaborately for their objectives." Fernand paused and sighted. "But 722Please respect copyright.PENANAqExSpWb3sA
let's say it's true, what did your vision ask of you?"722Please respect copyright.PENANAKNDZ3PjB9e
"To find something, he 722Please respect copyright.PENANAKVPMwoyOwv
wasn't specific." David was afraid of that, Francesca's vision seemed to722Please respect copyright.PENANAz3GiLtBF8W
be pretty clear on what she had to do and David was sure it was the 722Please respect copyright.PENANARQIlux1U3U
same for Fernand.722Please respect copyright.PENANAjG6SpaK3AF
Fernand was about to say722Please respect copyright.PENANAPXDyxOWQVS
more but shook his head. "All this just makes you more suspicious. You 722Please respect copyright.PENANAz4ABWNJwF6
knew of Francesca's visions, which means she trusted you enough to 722Please respect copyright.PENANAW8laXJOeOn
reveal that. Unless you know of a way of how I can feel Francesca as I 722Please respect copyright.PENANAHv6bzNj2hy
feel you from a distance, the apparitions and their orders are useless."722Please respect copyright.PENANAwjWdCx9lYY
David quickly rummaged 722Please respect copyright.PENANAhmRPALylIi
his brain on what else he could use to hook the soldier. "She'll be back722Please respect copyright.PENANApQg4OXInnw
to the last isle, the one you just attacked. She seemed keen to find 722Please respect copyright.PENANAxPke0OfzbU
something on it. If you manage to find that something first you'd be 722Please respect copyright.PENANAOk9Hsf9GR1
able to trap her."722Please respect copyright.PENANAc8aSeMuRls
"And you know what it was or where I can find it?" 722Please respect copyright.PENANAzS4H6RM8NZ
"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.722Please respect copyright.PENANAkLlpldUtJR
"And how will you do 722Please respect copyright.PENANA9DpdDaYcT0
that? That isle has an expansive underground system.. It was lucky we've722Please respect copyright.PENANAx8FEbwp5qZ
managed to find you in the first place." Shaking his head Fernand got 722Please respect copyright.PENANAZHgCRRJFR0
up. "Enough delays, you seem to know more than you're telling me this 722Please respect copyright.PENANAXLBvcCKIw9
little chat proved it beyond a doubt."722Please respect copyright.PENANAIivYZE7uar
"But I don't! I really 722Please respect copyright.PENANAeLVgh5Qmkh
don't! I told you everything I know!" David was shouting, the whole act 722Please respect copyright.PENANAp9aLQx7nZ9
gone, torturing isn't something one came back fully from.722Please respect copyright.PENANAqcSGwhWb5M
"Ah captain Schumah, a 722Please respect copyright.PENANAaZAJJmnUfP
pleasure as always." Came a jolly voice from the outside as Fernand 722Please respect copyright.PENANAXpB1OYtGY5
opened the door and left the room. A tall man came in shortly. Wearing a722Please respect copyright.PENANAUjdKvjaN0h
mask to hide his identity but still revealing his teeth, half of them 722Please respect copyright.PENANAz70uQpLi6J
black. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAnaiME4NkPa
"Well, well. What do we 722Please respect copyright.PENANA8L7EUaH7Wu
have here?" The man asked as he deposited a bag on the table. Coming 722Please respect copyright.PENANAw0t1QmR8Yr
closer to David and investigating his burn scars.722Please respect copyright.PENANALUMHa9mduw
"Look, I swear to all 722Please respect copyright.PENANABxd60RORNJ
gods. I don't know anymore. I'm..." his jaw was shut violently, causing 722Please respect copyright.PENANAM5fFS6B8gU
his teeth to hurt and gums to bleed. 722Please respect copyright.PENANAT4v9SLBqWq
"We will find out if you722Please respect copyright.PENANAQnc5RmZayX
do or not. Everyone is honest in front of the almighty god of pain." He722Please respect copyright.PENANAo677JdLKed
cackled at that. But then gave David a dissatisfied look. "Cheer up; by722Please respect copyright.PENANALeSoJeXsJd
the time we're done here, we'll be good friends."722Please respect copyright.PENANAbJaJlzNAmM
David struggled against 722Please respect copyright.PENANAh2lrO9Keei
his bonds. But it was of no use, both his arms were attached to the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAdDe9HqU1G3
chair with metal bonds, while the chair itself was fastened to the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAU7cy4uT0YY
floor. No matter how much he tried to buckle it didn't move an inch722Please respect copyright.PENANAddrOBiBG8q
"Now how should we 722Please respect copyright.PENANAfSJ2ynNjBP
start? With this?" The torturer took out a saw but then shook his head. 722Please respect copyright.PENANABSzFvLL0wH
"No too early, need to warm up first." He rummaged in his bag for a 722Please respect copyright.PENANAEPxyV7Onol
while longer but then stopped and looked at David. "You know, I was 722Please respect copyright.PENANAajqKT1YQ17
supposed to get three bodies. One was already dead so I couldn't have my722Please respect copyright.PENANAu1NJRGr39S
fun, the other one barely made any sound while I was having my fun, 722Please respect copyright.PENANAz98jjAyQmm
such a bore. So you my friend, I will definitely need to take my time, 722Please respect copyright.PENANAKU1enNtpdY
with you. Make sure to scream for me." He gave David a crooked smile, as722Please respect copyright.PENANAXzmmsSVTNp
he pointed a long finger straight at David's chest.722Please respect copyright.PENANASbYEz5ugvS
Before David could reply722Please respect copyright.PENANAghE1LtwYkJ
he smelt something burning under his nose, without registering the 722Please respect copyright.PENANAWNYgHfpvA0
pain fully he saw smoke coming from the finger, then the pain hit him, 722Please respect copyright.PENANAIYkBz0TtXA
and he screamed.722Please respect copyright.PENANAR2v4wT0cqj
The torturer 722Please respect copyright.PENANAV8Qlnag9FS
clapped."Perfect!" He was practically jumping with glee. "Magic! How 722Please respect copyright.PENANAijundOPXJ7
could I forget, you must forgive me, I should've just started off with 722Please respect copyright.PENANAwBdD5o2xkg
this."722Please respect copyright.PENANAswoxFGWENQ
The torturer moved his 722Please respect copyright.PENANAtsJlm6baXo
finger away from David's chest, but the pain didn't fade. Before David 722Please respect copyright.PENANAZbNn5Smy45
could catch his breath, the burning finger was jabbed into his forehead 722Please respect copyright.PENANAkDnU10MyKY
and he screamed again. "Hahahah! And they say magic can't affect 722Please respect copyright.PENANAwZ3a0cazvE
humans. Even if you can't control the mind or heal wounds directly with 722Please respect copyright.PENANAXzhCaHDtLf
magic, you can easily control or brake with the power of magic, don't 722Please respect copyright.PENANAp53xhK85k8
you agree?"722Please respect copyright.PENANAACbBgftv8p
The torturer stopped his722Please respect copyright.PENANAaTxQE2nssZ
smile and coked his head. "Oh, that reminds me, I should ask you 722Please respect copyright.PENANAAceOozKGRm
questions. Now what should I ask, I believe the good captain left me a 722Please respect copyright.PENANA0Bams8Per1
list?" He took out some papers from his bag and gave them a quick glance722Please respect copyright.PENANAUBaUwYY94D
before discarding them on the floor. "Ah yes. Where did the rebellion 722Please respect copyright.PENANA5Zl99jPPtG
go?" 722Please respect copyright.PENANAnsYpguCpWD
David was trying to 722Please respect copyright.PENANAeEzVqSeICP
formulate an answer, a lie, a scathing rebuke, anything but his mind was722Please respect copyright.PENANAwjBrz46emN
too muddled to think of anything. The torturer nodded. Smiling "Now I 722Please respect copyright.PENANAD6orZA7aRs
guess saying you can't heal directly with magic is a lie, you can 722Please respect copyright.PENANA88gC5lb7hU
cauterize your wounds! For example..." The torturer waved his hand and 722Please respect copyright.PENANAZoTSiJRmvT
David felt pain coming from his right arm, as he looked down he could 722Please respect copyright.PENANAM7gbmRyYbJ
see three of his fingers crushed, bone protruding. David couldn't even 722Please respect copyright.PENANAqjnZtsSFWC
let out a scream before fire overtook his hand, burning it to a crisp.722Please respect copyright.PENANAHjDbNa8Pb6
"See, the bleeding stopped!" The torturer loved and David added his scream to this symphony of horror.722Please respect copyright.PENANAsIrErBgaa6
Then suddenly David was 722Please respect copyright.PENANAo5x9RqeEjF
his with a force of cold water strong enough to brake his nose as it 722Please respect copyright.PENANAawd8fJcSsJ
made contact with his face. "Where are the rebels?" The torturers voice 722Please respect copyright.PENANA4Q3ksTEXgL
changed, becoming more matter of fact. That mad glean from his eyes 722Please respect copyright.PENANATVzyFpuNfC
gone, David almost believed that the whole thing was an act. "I...I 722Please respect copyright.PENANA3ioz7PcPq3
don't know."722Please respect copyright.PENANAVmsWCnGcso
The torturer nodded and smiled again, the glean coming back. "Good."722Please respect copyright.PENANAp9bL1nU2k0
"Now, while magic is 722Please respect copyright.PENANATa2HN1QnWV
amazing, variety is important as well. Wouldn't want you getting bored 722Please respect copyright.PENANAIIlkIU8ZW8
in your seat there." The torturer gave David a smile and pulled out some722Please respect copyright.PENANAJIRvqAqRgM
pliers out of his bag. "Nails are pretty useless, aren't they?" He 722Please respect copyright.PENANAukAfG3LeJ8
tapped Davids fingernails with the pliers. "See it as me doing you a 722Please respect copyright.PENANAdSTbJmjrv0
favour." The first nail was ripped, it was a weird feeling for David as 722Please respect copyright.PENANAInLoEFkKhb
he didn't feel pain at first, but then as the open skin was exposed pain722Please respect copyright.PENANARObfpUMexs
came and David screamed for someone to help722Please respect copyright.PENANAKTsW9bP3n9
~no one will come.~722Please respect copyright.PENANAGJNL0DvRl5
After pulling out all 722Please respect copyright.PENANAzhqqPnOINR
the nails, David could hear the pliers hitting the table. His vision was722Please respect copyright.PENANAjKpGHFVaNt
blurry he couldn't see or hear anything, only pain existed. "ull out 722Please respect copyright.PENANAjDfKiHK6Hv
teeth, but that's what everyone does. A hammer...." David could only 722Please respect copyright.PENANAnLVkHljYNx
hear bits and pieces of what the torturer said. He then felt his mouth 722Please respect copyright.PENANAagWFREfpgh
being opened. David tried to resist, he truly did, but he didn't have 722Please respect copyright.PENANAhTWzNEDXyf
the strength nor the will to do anything substantial. David then sensed 722Please respect copyright.PENANA1Jy8yIW7Rk
something metal and cold in his mouth, touching one of his back teeth 722Please respect copyright.PENANAZZV5igaiVy
and then pain and the taste of blood on his tongue, slowly filling his 722Please respect copyright.PENANAbeEkCWur6e
mouth and dribbling on the floor. The scream came soon after, as David 722Please respect copyright.PENANARCYQ72GZD4
could only think of the pain, with only a small part hoping that someone722Please respect copyright.PENANAjY7qH7dX8d
would rescue him.722Please respect copyright.PENANASdskFIgbSx
~no one cares.~722Please respect copyright.PENANAFwGPCqfhzH
Next few moments were a 722Please respect copyright.PENANAoLg98JngYd
blur, David was sure the torturer did something else, but he had no idea722Please respect copyright.PENANAdx3MStba3n
what. Until finally the pain was too much and David lost consciousness.722Please respect copyright.PENANARlcVnuvmNl
Thoughts that no one came and cared ringing in his mind as a constant 722Please respect copyright.PENANA4plDsLIPnP
companion in the darkness.
722Please respect copyright.PENANAzQS7Nk8kOq
722Please respect copyright.PENANAFUzsvwyGFq