687Please respect copyright.PENANAk9rxhUH2HC
687Please respect copyright.PENANALObgQ2A7e8
'The voice?! Of course I687Please respect copyright.PENANAlmLeTGrJAh
can hear it, I embrace it, I follow it, I worship it for what it is! 687Please respect copyright.PENANA964paEAesf
The word of god! And I am a holy messenger! You all are heathens! 687Please respect copyright.PENANASROnnuDB1l
Believers in false gods! You hide from the true voice, you fear it, you 687Please respect copyright.PENANA9nywVtDjiY
shun it, you deny it! My only crime is that I am no coward!'687Please respect copyright.PENANA3sHrGIrRMF
Extract from the trial 687Please respect copyright.PENANAPd7PzpV3gp
of Bloody Jack. Accused of murdering his whole village on the whims of 687Please respect copyright.PENANAhVbPEli6JI
an ether being and sentenced to death.687Please respect copyright.PENANAwqNSJejkVW
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------687Please respect copyright.PENANAbI7eVJuKb2
687Please respect copyright.PENANAhXKsQbHhjh
"I don't get it, why don't we go to a different isle? The Imperialsh will have ush shurrounded in no time."687Please respect copyright.PENANAuUjhFl744G
~And here we go again, simple minded people asking simple minded questions~687Please respect copyright.PENANAF3D2L8LAso
"Too many people to move, they'll notice us."687Please respect copyright.PENANA9irkktSJEg
"Never shtopped ush before." A pause as the old man spat to the side. "What about fighting then, too little of ush?"687Please respect copyright.PENANA2c6T9m21jp
Gob shook his head, 687Please respect copyright.PENANAz0f2IClD7q
tired. David could understand that, and he was annoyed he could 687Please respect copyright.PENANASY4KAg7kgh
empathize with Gob. As per Gob's decision every time it was David's turn687Please respect copyright.PENANAch8nu1VLyG
to go patrolling Gob accompanied him. At first David found this 687Please respect copyright.PENANAj3pl9tASwW
insulting, he was the paragon of trust after all, but after a few of 687Please respect copyright.PENANA2gWzIaCFlg
such patrols he just found it annoying. Ever patrol was usually 687Please respect copyright.PENANAZBZBpquAgH
conducted with 3 or 4 people, usually with different people. There were a687Please respect copyright.PENANAhLEHMBRsXx
few constants in those groups though, the first was that David and Gob 687Please respect copyright.PENANAtQPpXTwVyZ
were in them and the second was that someone always asked when they 687Please respect copyright.PENANAQmPZOxCcuG
would move.687Please respect copyright.PENANAlN3sQZSEwD
Now David has only been 687Please respect copyright.PENANA7iZLnRDvz1
in the camp for a month now and managed to glean some information from 687Please respect copyright.PENANANLXcQNZs26
the other rebels and just observations. There were three groups of 687Please respect copyright.PENANA6wUOvxJ9zM
rebels. Peasants, peasant-soldiers and soldiers, as David liked to call 687Please respect copyright.PENANA99HvwDva0S
them. Peasants and peasant-soldiers were the people with no, to only 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmRZqMVfM4l
basic, military training. Such as Denis and his ilk. The soldiers 687Please respect copyright.PENANA2uxQMp79E1
weren't necessary from the military, but they had more experience. 687Please respect copyright.PENANA15ZdR5CdKF
Experience wasn't the only difference, civilians and civilian soldiers 687Please respect copyright.PENANAw5VBbXYM6x
loved and trusted both Gob and Francesca. Soldiers only trusted Gob. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAGTUcdsn38i
Which worked out nicely for David as he could use this discord and 687Please respect copyright.PENANAq0Y2eOlCpG
divided loyalties.687Please respect copyright.PENANAsPqAjyAJDh
Another important thing 687Please respect copyright.PENANAzTpoMdTWYD
he managed to find out was that the rebels had stayed on the same isle 687Please respect copyright.PENANAs1FT6nPB8S
for three months. Many of the rebels were unhappy with the prolonged 687Please respect copyright.PENANA31Rk0mM4QW
stay, especially the soldiers. This resulted in that question and Gob 687Please respect copyright.PENANAgtGHPS8fbD
giving the same answer to anyone who asked. It was really riveting stuff687Please respect copyright.PENANAoIVdZDX2PQ
for David, especially after hearing it for the twentieth third time. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAVcqAGW5Ujq
Ol' Stevie asked it around two or three times over the past few days to 687Please respect copyright.PENANA7iIrSRKSIc
their destination.687Please respect copyright.PENANAxoiPSZZ2ys
Today they were out 687Please respect copyright.PENANAzEiZ6NW4Nw
looking at the new imperial camp, turning into more of a makeshift fort,687Please respect copyright.PENANALPIAqFg671
being built around the wreckage of the 'Flying Fish'. It was a crude 687Please respect copyright.PENANANgjQuESYQk
construction, something that could be easily taken apart. They were 687Please respect copyright.PENANADrbMrVxbcM
joined by Rock and another rebel, called old toothless Stevie, on 687Please respect copyright.PENANA5GtvWboUL5
account of him being old and having lost most of his teeth. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAc9GeNFBxuN
"Yes, now shut up and 687Please respect copyright.PENANAEOqxNpPqNS
remember everything you can about the imperials." Stevie shrugged at 687Please respect copyright.PENANATB8o3grYqN
that and continued looking through his binocular. David kept further 687Please respect copyright.PENANAypD3BnlrsZ
away from the pair, watching their backs with Rock, the youth did not 687Please respect copyright.PENANAYbm3ZaL27L
become any more talkative during Davids stay in the caves.687Please respect copyright.PENANAVGhhF1PLAW
They were at their 687Please respect copyright.PENANA5vX8MUAYqs
lookout spot for a few hours at this point and David was glad he didn't 687Please respect copyright.PENANArNVVc3j2Fy
feel any magical tugs coming from that direction, after discussing it 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmBbo3fCw8T
with Francesca it turned out that what David felt was a magical tug, 687Please respect copyright.PENANAGZ5vfQmn1a
looked like the imperial soldier wasn't anywhere near it.687Please respect copyright.PENANAN74GRWPJsc
"Alright, that's enough.687Please respect copyright.PENANAz11CLaG9Wg
Let's head back." Gob proclaimed to the group and David sighted in 687Please respect copyright.PENANAAF00iexgUl
relief. Thankfully David was given new shoes, to help him walk, as well 687Please respect copyright.PENANAl22Sac8PWQ
as new clothes and even an eyepatch. The walk itself was silent and 687Please respect copyright.PENANA72kvUrNgt9
brutal. Gob set a murderous pace and he didn't look back to check on any687Please respect copyright.PENANAEEeAZ2Ti2l
of them except for Rock, who bore it with his usual silence.687Please respect copyright.PENANAILJZa8g3WO
David walked in silence 687Please respect copyright.PENANA2kNWsrOgVd
as well. More to preserve his breathe, than anything else, as he felt 687Please respect copyright.PENANAiBrAMKhNao
that he would fall to the ground if he even tried speaking. Toothless 687Please respect copyright.PENANAWcMUH9t3PB
Stevie may have been old and not have teeth, but he had more stamina 687Please respect copyright.PENANA9qc5vflDLF
than David, farm work really built you up for long hours of activity.687Please respect copyright.PENANA3oLYTNXtFV
A walk that would've 687Please respect copyright.PENANA9a0GpibTHe
taken most of the day was managed in about half a day. David was so glad687Please respect copyright.PENANADuZozeM1jN
to see the damp cave that he was ready to kiss the rocks when he came 687Please respect copyright.PENANAhg3HuPomCt
inside. The camp itself did not change much over the past month and 687Please respect copyright.PENANAEBcPjf8tTX
David was still the new guy. Though he made good strides in integrating 687Please respect copyright.PENANABMkHaUdoep
himself as most of rebels waved to him in greeting.687Please respect copyright.PENANA7wDGq9jZcZ
"I'll go report to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAx4rtpeXmsO
Francesca. You can go relax." Gob passed David without a glance at him. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAtcaXQf1FdE
The fact that Gob didn't glare or spit at David's direction must've 687Please respect copyright.PENANAg31j6pgpmb
meant that he was finally warming up to him! At least it was more than 687Please respect copyright.PENANAMXUwgA3iOq
David got over the past month, in fact he was ready to give up on ever 687Please respect copyright.PENANAfA7z2zbIis
winning Gob over.687Please respect copyright.PENANABc0hju7clE
Francesca on the other 687Please respect copyright.PENANAhYSzQu7F9w
hand warmed up to him quite fast. As Denis summarized and David 687Please respect copyright.PENANArJhf9cyezK
confirmed she was a noble, a well read and knowledgeable noble but 687Please respect copyright.PENANATZ087P2KLY
someone who hasn't left her estate a lot and has never traveled outside 687Please respect copyright.PENANAlCpswYGLr0
the empire. While David was the well-traveled dashing smuggler. He 687Please respect copyright.PENANATopf69VHm3
managed to enthrall her with made up stories and adventures. To be fair 687Please respect copyright.PENANAyDhMezmQxb
to Francesca she wasn't the only one falling under David's charm. As 687Please respect copyright.PENANA3jM1q8ahI0
most of the rebels found it hard to resist the dashing rogue act.687Please respect copyright.PENANAz2UHCwTra8
David just wished he 687Please respect copyright.PENANAx40y2KXVqg
could win them over without going on patrols and risking his life. Oh 687Please respect copyright.PENANAL5VyTx0L3q
well no one said being a parasite was easy.687Please respect copyright.PENANApfQmPM7mug
Further down the camps 687Please respect copyright.PENANAOsGY5PFVhB
he could see Twitch, the nervous brother of Denis. Over the past month 687Please respect copyright.PENANARkNgVaT8Y1
he integrated himself with the siblings, becoming a part of their gang. 687Please respect copyright.PENANADsY22lNcTq
As the siblings were liked by the rebels in general this made them trust687Please respect copyright.PENANAuesLau7e8v
David all the more. David decided to join Twitch so he snuck up behind 687Please respect copyright.PENANAC0sivCw65k
him. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAY5MylaSVTi
"What'cha doing?"687Please respect copyright.PENANAyYa59T0WdH
Twitch practically jumped out of his own skin. "Agh! Oh D-david. Don't s-scare me l-l-like that."687Please respect copyright.PENANA7kTs6rxOqu
"Sorry, twitch." David said patting the boys shoulder. "Didn't mean to, you know I hate doing it." He loved it687Please respect copyright.PENANAMQJa7nbCmV
Twitch nodded and stood beside David." 'S alright. I-I-I'm just easily sca-ar-ared."687Please respect copyright.PENANABaycMHZeNe
David nodded. The boy 687Please respect copyright.PENANAJHvDhObK0F
was lucky to have any friends at all." Nothing wrong with being scared."687Please respect copyright.PENANAFNqkISxWZl
He said with a comforting smile. "We all have our own strengths, like 687Please respect copyright.PENANAO0iPgJUNSn
you..." David paused for a bit racking his mind for something to say. "A687Please respect copyright.PENANAt4GKxI1lVX
poet! A man of dreams! How're your poems going anyway? I still want to 687Please respect copyright.PENANA8XMJoloEob
read them someday."687Please respect copyright.PENANAWTyNqsNv28
Twitch muttered 687Please respect copyright.PENANATeAeXWdjYM
something under his breathe. David motioned with his hand for him to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAWh5y3sL2Tz
speak up. "...n-not poems. But son-so-songs."687Please respect copyright.PENANAxM1eLfC3GQ
David stopped himself from shrugging and smiled. "Songs, even better then! Why not create a song for the rebellion?"687Please respect copyright.PENANA0wEqSySBWs
Twitch started shaking 687Please respect copyright.PENANAVh9Z8b7sxG
his head but before the words: 'No' formed on his mouth a voice 687Please respect copyright.PENANA0rESDa6eF0
interrupted them. "A hymn truly sounds marvelous!" Francesca made Twitch687Please respect copyright.PENANA2btEXKqBmk
jump back even more than David did687Please respect copyright.PENANAHHnZofmWen
"I-I-I" He continued in that vain for a while.687Please respect copyright.PENANABHOjLKgZtn
"Speak up soldier!" Gobs687Please respect copyright.PENANAnfvYgtmKPa
voice resounded around the cave, making everyone glance at Twitch, 687Please respect copyright.PENANAXxnjeFsA2N
which should've made his stuttering worse. But his fear of Gob took over687Please respect copyright.PENANAC6pB8MAZMv
any instinct he had.687Please respect copyright.PENANAFchFia7T0S
"I'mnotgoodenough!" He 687Please respect copyright.PENANACJ7ophBgQL
said as fast possible. David was astounded it was probably the first 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmKPrhlsVNB
time the boy didn't stutter. Not that he could understand what he said 687Please respect copyright.PENANAOKXgcdal8b
now.687Please respect copyright.PENANAU5buWwZe5u
"Nonsense." Francesca 687Please respect copyright.PENANAiGSqESSN0M
put her hand on Twitch's shoulder. She didn't seem to have any trouble 687Please respect copyright.PENANAUmRIQdAfdy
understanding him. "Write me a song when you can, and we will sing it, 687Please respect copyright.PENANA4gqwLchr4T
all of us together." She projected her voice to others nearby which 687Please respect copyright.PENANAbGItlW4d7z
raised a rugged cheer. That just made Twitch hide his face as it went 687Please respect copyright.PENANAyj1ed5mSF6
dark red.687Please respect copyright.PENANAkK43nHXB5A
Francesca spared Twitch 687Please respect copyright.PENANA7cm7GLp0yJ
one last warm smile and turned to the rest of the rebels standing 687Please respect copyright.PENANAWik0G0MWDI
around. "It's time for your daily studies! Spread the message!" Both 687Please respect copyright.PENANA7CLWbybkBP
children and adults listened to Francesca, without a hint of 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmQxKMuSpCt
disobedience, and started moving in one line to the study cavern, as it 687Please respect copyright.PENANACwHpIhY5j8
was popularly called.687Please respect copyright.PENANA84uJiBacvM
The rebels not only 687Please respect copyright.PENANAHrV3TjpcHh
respected Francesca for her leadership and attitude towards the 687Please respect copyright.PENANA2kPyRXinmf
peasantry, but also her attempts to educate them. Most of the rebels 687Please respect copyright.PENANAhxnbNb5gYz
didn't know how to read or basic math while Francesca was an educated 687Please respect copyright.PENANAqJUiNBQSEy
noble, thus she decided to teach everyone in the rebellion the basics. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAU8OXSB6s7M
No one was barred from the lessons and both young and old were invited 687Please respect copyright.PENANAdeiJdp624E
to them. 687Please respect copyright.PENANASED6QM5yuZ
David attended one of 687Please respect copyright.PENANAuwd3Twai40
those lessons but found himself too bored to continue. They were talking687Please respect copyright.PENANAoZk2AdN3nz
about letter and numbers and some researcher named Vesputti or 687Please respect copyright.PENANARk9wNTD73w
something similar. Thus, he skipped over on those lessons, he wasn't the687Please respect copyright.PENANA5HcXLnmK9v
only one as most of the adults had decided that they were too old to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAH1svzE2y0x
learn anything new.687Please respect copyright.PENANA6UajmkC8bI
Before leading her group687Please respect copyright.PENANAECcGCWHKkQ
to the secluded cavern, Francesca approached David. "I'd like if you'd 687Please respect copyright.PENANAovMVYnY8Df
dine with me tonight, if it's to your liking?"687Please respect copyright.PENANAINQnAQ6SPj
"Of course, I'll see you687Please respect copyright.PENANA3x0mQSkq3P
later." Francesca did that sometimes, inviting David over. Chatting 687Please respect copyright.PENANATX8nkWkGDS
about trivialities, like whether he had any more vision about The Five. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAst68uv069W
Thankfully Jester didn't deign to appear yet so David managed to sleep 687Please respect copyright.PENANAeYDvQiNP2I
peacefully, well not accounting the strange dreams about some boy crying687Please respect copyright.PENANAT3Nmr7aF9W
and calling for his mummy. Those dreams made David wake up in a foul 687Please respect copyright.PENANAbJcDGYiT9n
mood, he wasn't certain why but thought it could be because he didn't 687Please respect copyright.PENANAB6mAUyuvBq
remember his parents or family.687Please respect copyright.PENANAGTVILSrxWn
Francesca, unaware of 687Please respect copyright.PENANAtPmZyX0CrB
David's thoughts or dreams, nodded with a smile and led her group from 687Please respect copyright.PENANA7exom25C66
the main cavern. Twitch following her and joining his sibling to whom 687Please respect copyright.PENANASIYFnURLuG
David waved. Turning around he came face to face with Nook.687Please respect copyright.PENANAllvBnE36lH
"I'm off duty now, got some guys looking for a game. You're in?"687Please respect copyright.PENANAEjJeLhG5mQ
Nook was an interesting 687Please respect copyright.PENANACFVA7cKfwD
case, while he was definitely Gob's man he didn't seem to be as 687Please respect copyright.PENANAcf9wVqFGVd
disciplined as the other soldiers. He was also one of the few soldiers 687Please respect copyright.PENANAqLNkO5YyHy
who was friendly with David instead of following Gob's lead and hating 687Please respect copyright.PENANA7m1RSexlgK
his guts. So they decided to have a card game here and there while 687Please respect copyright.PENANAXSd0OKrIG8
inviting other people, a card game in which David lost more often than 687Please respect copyright.PENANAIEbCktBkdw
not. While David hated losing in cards it was a good method of making 687Please respect copyright.PENANAgRIh1H0kD1
friends and getting to know people. As well as a guarantee to keep 687Please respect copyright.PENANA5FBtFWpNuv
getting invited as long as you lost smart and graciously accepted it.687Please respect copyright.PENANAUeudByEoTi
"Aye, why not Nook. Maybe I'll clean house this time."687Please respect copyright.PENANA8cjPNMDAMc
Nook grinned a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAD9c62XSJLu
predator's smile and led David towards a secluded table. While gambling 687Please respect copyright.PENANAkoACecowNr
wasn't banned or anything, as long as you were off duty, it was frowned 687Please respect copyright.PENANAQaJ0NyG9n7
upon by Gob. That and most rebels having limited resources. Having only 687Please respect copyright.PENANArkgjE4Af5u
their clothes and weapons stolen from the empire or brought on their 687Please respect copyright.PENANAhhw0qOdaaQ
backs.687Please respect copyright.PENANAcPDaP4HdDZ
Thus any card games were687Please respect copyright.PENANAuBXgfORHeH
just that, games to pass the time. At least until David proposed to bet687Please respect copyright.PENANAJRyjub4DQL
their rations. Everyone received the basic rations few times per day 687Please respect copyright.PENANAGupP0FWPSU
and it was up to them how much of that they ate. It was barely enough to687Please respect copyright.PENANABdEjJDs1ev
feed a healthy adult. As they have been on this isle for a while it was687Please respect copyright.PENANAophxUsE3cy
harder to find fresh animals to hunt every day. A lot of the rebels 687Please respect copyright.PENANAC32T6Rr6T4
were opposed to that idea as they'd loose on the last bits of food they 687Please respect copyright.PENANA02EsMukLMa
did have.687Please respect copyright.PENANAHRZguBraqi
Some did think it was a 687Please respect copyright.PENANADdaaeuot10
brilliant idea and David was sitting down with a few of them right now. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAl05V9AQeyS
Nook, he was confident in his card abilities. Apparently before joining 687Please respect copyright.PENANAjQalYVSgzC
the rebellion he was a militiaman in his village and gambled a lot. As 687Please respect copyright.PENANAqOdCjfMlrf
far as David could see he was more lucky than actually good. Old 687Please respect copyright.PENANAGHhH4IYcka
toothless Stevie, he joked that if he did lose his rations that it would687Please respect copyright.PENANAHkWZqFW1ig
save his last teeth. He also wasn't afraid to bet most of his rations 687Please respect copyright.PENANASDUruLhlin
scaring the other players into folding, a good bluffer. Finally there 687Please respect copyright.PENANAPtBiFlpKUU
was Tiruk, a huge man who definitely needed more rations just to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAhIXNzsyDbh
survive. It surprised David anyone could keep that weight with tight the687Please respect copyright.PENANAu5PfFYeS6u
food has been.687Please respect copyright.PENANAlIypsjUAq4
They were the four main 687Please respect copyright.PENANAVtzvZc7fBh
players who usually joined the gambling games. Sometimes others joined 687Please respect copyright.PENANAMIXvtfnpkV
but they usually stopped after going hungry for a day or two as they 687Please respect copyright.PENANAT8QCVbXgzS
lost their rations. These four though didn't give up after losing, 687Please respect copyright.PENANAy34Ss9rnBK
because they knew that their chances of a feast were just around the 687Please respect copyright.PENANATREA1WUKEX
corner. That fact created a sense of comradeship between the players. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAdrKELUYVa0
Even if they were playing against each other they understood the risks 687Please respect copyright.PENANAzgMcNqsFHB
and accepted them.687Please respect copyright.PENANAngPeO9JbuZ
"''Ello boys." David 687Please respect copyright.PENANAYT1y2qhS0Z
said sitting down at the table with Nook. There were nods all around the687Please respect copyright.PENANAFn4ESEjH8F
table and the cards were dealt. They were playing a card game called 687Please respect copyright.PENANAo7hDcx1GWs
match 'n go. Most of the rebels had not heard of the game or at least 687Please respect copyright.PENANAGmNGIEKpxe
knew it under a different name but most of them caught on fast, it was 687Please respect copyright.PENANAPlshMpTIw3
often just played for fun. But the best games came from betting. As the 687Please respect copyright.PENANAsr8KORfOPX
risks went higher you tried to fool your opponent into thinking that you687Please respect copyright.PENANADgS1ASusXM
had the match or a higher card. David loved risk games like that, he 687Please respect copyright.PENANAy1DjnXeTu6
loved reading the other player emotions and using it against them or at 687Please respect copyright.PENANAWJMCIroQ62
least for his own benefit. 687Please respect copyright.PENANArLY6jMsFGx
Nook was the first to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAFAFUz9iaSN
play. "I'm betting half of my rations on this. Gots a good deck, that I 687Please respect copyright.PENANAJQOos9dWu7
do." David could see the plastered smile on his face. At this point 687Please respect copyright.PENANAosy0MtsZYc
David could tell fake between real in a heartbeat. Nook was bluffing.687Please respect copyright.PENANAkDexGOhMRk
"Alright, I'll call that." David answered.687Please respect copyright.PENANAk2h8oQeqPN
Tiruk, in answer, just 687Please respect copyright.PENANAdBQY4vsaZ3
shook his head and folded. He wasn't risking it. Stevenson with his 687Please respect copyright.PENANALgv9xLgS6F
gaped smile called it as well and cackled a bit.687Please respect copyright.PENANA52o7MOxh2v
Next card revealed. A 3 687Please respect copyright.PENANAR9yt0pBxUA
for Davids two threes. He'd have to fold that game, too high chance of 687Please respect copyright.PENANAETbebO2U8K
winning. So it went on and on, rations were won and lost. David won a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5HRucrDNB
few games but then he bet everything and lost on purpose, made Stevie a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAkqSWTBoMGE
very happy, old, man.687Please respect copyright.PENANAmbWFFGc41B
Since David didn't have 687Please respect copyright.PENANAnxy8xbesQc
anything to bet with anymore he made his excuses and left the table. He 687Please respect copyright.PENANAI6f1TRII85
took a look around for Gob and didn't see him anywhere so decided it 687Please respect copyright.PENANAxdb6QepX7c
would be safe to take a walk.687Please respect copyright.PENANAg6gXIwNwfV
Another thing he took to687Please respect copyright.PENANAqM4uLzp2PO
doing over the past two weeks was exploring, finding any secret spaces 687Please respect copyright.PENANAyhSy3C9u1l
where he might hide. The rebels themselves only found one possible 687Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4vFW6ffIW
emergency exit while David found three. Of course the other two exits 687Please respect copyright.PENANA5m07vzhhwD
only were wide enough for one person to pass through at a time. So it 687Please respect copyright.PENANAoL4WAMgRrw
could be that they just didn't consider them as such.687Please respect copyright.PENANAmk84uf4DH3
He also found various 687Please respect copyright.PENANAgGbGfG6riX
hiding spots, not only for him but for items he stole. Weapons, 687Please respect copyright.PENANA0POjUNI8i6
ammunition, food and the like. If only a small amount disappeared at a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAbplGAoIZlj
time no one really noticed and attributed it to absentmindedness. Though687Please respect copyright.PENANAbYzfippsBw
David believed Gob was getting suspicious so he would need to start 687Please respect copyright.PENANAdDlTyxH8Kr
being more careful.687Please respect copyright.PENANABPRnII2vSE
The caves themselves 687Please respect copyright.PENANA7BitzPcT22
seemed to go through the whole isle, David didn't believe he explored 687Please respect copyright.PENANA09tQv6BoYy
even half of it. Gob tried to send a few soldiers every day to explore 687Please respect copyright.PENANAALBoR3gW74
further into the caves, but many were afraid of the dark, believing 687Please respect copyright.PENANA8loYfsR1hJ
various beasts were residing in them. Refusing to go inside without Gob 687Please respect copyright.PENANA3WGJD4jCIS
and since Gob was usually busy either creating or being out on patrols 687Please respect copyright.PENANAjIorCKMiZi
himself that limited their exploring time.687Please respect copyright.PENANAJHbPAWX00B
That let David offer his687Please respect copyright.PENANAzwmMJckVnh
services as an explorer. He would explore the further caves and would 687Please respect copyright.PENANAI4SEY4068K
report on any worrying circumstances. Gob was reluctant to let him go 687Please respect copyright.PENANAY9S8qEv84F
but was convinced by Francesca that it would be a grand idea as it would687Please respect copyright.PENANASZHCr5hv9U
free more people for patrols and other duties.687Please respect copyright.PENANAKhc6mvozDS
This time though he had a687Please respect copyright.PENANAUQSwO9FazD
destination in mind. A bit further into one of the pathways, about an 687Please respect copyright.PENANAKJKtGR2k7G
hour from the main cavern, there was a small pathway where a thin person687Please respect copyright.PENANAoKvawRPNqG
could barely fit. Following that pathway, if you could survive the 687Please respect copyright.PENANAI84JV3QBnv
feeling of getting crushed by the walls, was a pool. David was surprised687Please respect copyright.PENANAf0drBBYgPi
when he found and astonished when he discovered the water was hot. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAVL7SVdIXkp
That's where he was 687Please respect copyright.PENANAsCIchrEnUg
going now; he needed a clear head for Francesca's meeting. No matter how687Please respect copyright.PENANAxgAwDa3KzC
she acted she was a noble, they always sought the best deals for 687Please respect copyright.PENANAcDiApdikMu
themselves, always trying to ledge a situation in their favour. David 687Please respect copyright.PENANA8EZzMPmZ57
would need to be on his toes. Or maybe he just wanted to actually relax 687Please respect copyright.PENANAQii958earY
without anyone screaming or crying, he didn't decide which one sounded 687Please respect copyright.PENANAWFNTXGhI1C
better in his mind.687Please respect copyright.PENANAufUP91c50J
Thus grabbing a torch as687Please respect copyright.PENANA5gGgLBz4At
many of the pathways further down weren't lit, he began his, 687Please respect copyright.PENANA3JJcaHa7yX
uneventful, journey. Luckily he reached his destination in a timely 687Please respect copyright.PENANAyVxqDOvUU5
manner, though he hated going through that cramped space. He gave a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAabUJqFVnwO
satisfied sigh as he sat down in the pool, his muscles losing the 687Please respect copyright.PENANAXCNSt3YvcC
tension he gathered over the past few weeks, the water reached up to his687Please respect copyright.PENANAuIYgyx5lIl
chest and he dunked his head under the water finally enjoying a proper 687Please respect copyright.PENANA9RHaW3Yl8v
clean. He was careful to keep track of time but other than that he let 687Please respect copyright.PENANABZRD9uW65S
his mind wander and just blanked out. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAKx7odkaK73
Before he even noticed, 687Please respect copyright.PENANA9CofhUqj0p
to David's disappointment, it was time to leave. He was also saddened by687Please respect copyright.PENANATBOO6gtvqN
the fact that the water ended up a bit darker after his bath, a way to 687Please respect copyright.PENANANFYgFv1u79
hit a guys confidence. With a sad sigh he put on his dirty and worn out 687Please respect copyright.PENANAh7yElBUePo
clothes and went back to the main cavern to the sound of activity and 687Please respect copyright.PENANAiokOr293pi
the smell of unwashed masses.687Please respect copyright.PENANAQItBN66PIg
It did seem that David 687Please respect copyright.PENANAbDL18flOxd
came back just in time as people were gathered near the cooking pots to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmXCgihIESy
gather their rations. David did the same and then found Stevie, sitting 687Please respect copyright.PENANAkMj01QtzxP
with some other older rebels, and gave him his rations. Stevie nodded 687Please respect copyright.PENANAnihMTRyGiN
and had a sparkle in his eye. "Maybe nexsht time you can save me 687Please respect copyright.PENANAqGeqCPHNVV
teethsh." And he cackled at his joke. David managed a weak laugh that 687Please respect copyright.PENANAsuHm2SMiEL
seemed to satisfy Stevie.687Please respect copyright.PENANADcT78DHDEL
"Don't keep Francesca 687Please respect copyright.PENANA4BQS1lzBP0
waiting." Came a gruff voice from behind. David tried to hide his 687Please respect copyright.PENANA2z6KqFHzIy
annoyance at the fact that Gob managed to sneak up on him and scare him.687Please respect copyright.PENANAhf5FC1llBJ
Some people just had no sense of proper manners.687Please respect copyright.PENANAUY7HqFZjuC
"Oh I wouldn't dare." 687Please respect copyright.PENANA87Jrc3z3X5
He gave a mock bow which seemed to infuriate Gob more. "I was just out 687Please respect copyright.PENANAffPnlLX7YU
exploring, nothing to report so far, sir Gob." Gob just grunted and 687Please respect copyright.PENANA0LkJUxh9qM
walked away. 687Please respect copyright.PENANArLZpFdAiqn
David smiled and waved 687Please respect copyright.PENANAH0dUC62UBu
after him, the guy really needed to unwind. With nothing else to do but 687Please respect copyright.PENANAONDuFLCxpm
shrug at that thought David went towards Francesca's room. Even if 687Please respect copyright.PENANAO65pZQK75D
Francesca did pretend to be all for equality and the like she still had 687Please respect copyright.PENANAFJEhrXZqQ3
her personal quarters, such as they were, as well as an actual bed, 687Please respect copyright.PENANAZHkjWT70gh
table, chairs. They were shoddy work at best, crafted quickly by some of687Please respect copyright.PENANATv1lCPCF9X
the rebels, but they were more than anything any other rebel had. David687Please respect copyright.PENANARWGS0DXAjm
was impressed by how she had more and yet most still perceived her as 687Please respect copyright.PENANAStIpwjAbqW
the paragon of virtue.687Please respect copyright.PENANAI25fidPY6O
Her room, as per usual, 687Please respect copyright.PENANAb3oCytB18j
was guarded. But the guard waved him on with a smile. David saw it as a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAtF5FtABNpZ
pointless precaution anyway, but what could you do. Francesca herself 687Please respect copyright.PENANALvmrddM0xt
was already seated, with a torch in the middle of the table, a pale 687Please respect copyright.PENANAx0oJIh43ds
imitation of a candle. One thing the rebels had a lot of were torches, 687Please respect copyright.PENANAisvbA4xi4J
to light up all caverns and pathways. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAUqZlPJDHor
"Oh, David! Please sit" she gestured towards the second chair.687Please respect copyright.PENANAiAamEeFEL6
David sat down with a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmxNMyscAcp
nod and smile. They weren't eating anything extravagant, just what the 687Please respect copyright.PENANA1OW46WUfVr
rest were. Dried meat, nuts, sometimes if they were lucky they could 687Please respect copyright.PENANAeRm4Cs87h8
even get rabbit or vegetable soup, but that more of a luxury nowadays. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAYjpMxfbynE
This time it was some dried meat of unknown origin and some water found 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmc0dBF48db
in a stream. Delicious.687Please respect copyright.PENANAWZARPWTJdJ
"So pleasantries first or business first?"687Please respect copyright.PENANALNEYTSNpCP
"I found that going straight to business can ruin a healthy appetite."687Please respect copyright.PENANAZvXFUtUjSF
Francesca nodded and 687Please respect copyright.PENANACA1F4H4AeM
began to cut her meat with her wooden utensils. While David had similar 687Please respect copyright.PENANATluct0E5Sy
equipment he didn't really find much use of them and found it better to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAuw56JIoM8C
eat with his own hands. Made it faster and when you're under cannon fire687Please respect copyright.PENANAWbm5PRR1EU
fast eating was paramount.687Please respect copyright.PENANAc3kg6mqzif
As expected David 687Please respect copyright.PENANA0STfaAGWOp
finished his portion first and ended up waiting for Francesca to finish 687Please respect copyright.PENANAdDlloWRMp6
hers, which took another 5 or 10 minutes. The girl was certainly a 687Please respect copyright.PENANAS3o0kqGLgc
deliberate eater.687Please respect copyright.PENANABWTqFiYcE0
"So on to business." She687Please respect copyright.PENANALNzegOHj8W
paused making sure David was ready, once he nodded she continued. "Tell687Please respect copyright.PENANAeBWcNd5CDr
me, do you know who actually hired your services?"687Please respect copyright.PENANAYQ9waG4gdW
"No idea, captain was usually tight lipped about our clients. I just always assumed it was one of you guys."687Please respect copyright.PENANA2IhVNVshFk
"In a way. It's someone 687Please respect copyright.PENANAGpvV8N3Njs
who's...interested in our cause. One of Gob's friends. He is able to get687Please respect copyright.PENANAZTrEM90aGG
in and out of the isles without arousing too much suspicion."687Please respect copyright.PENANATrxjHjTmWx
"Can't imagine you can tell me who it is?"687Please respect copyright.PENANAZBAqh4uZfl
"It's not for me to tell sadly, Gob was adamant that it's best kept as secret." Francesca smiled apologetically "apologies"687Please respect copyright.PENANAKA6Ymt6PJW
David waved his hand in a playful manner. "No worries, I'm surprised you're telling me any of this in the first place."687Please respect copyright.PENANA1rb6lqlvwL
"Well, there is a 687Please respect copyright.PENANA5Fi0KQRvBP
reason. Since the weapons we got previously are in the Empire's hands 687Please respect copyright.PENANAUsdlsoyvix
and we can't fight them for it." Putting it lightly the rebels never 687Please respect copyright.PENANAVsi32zMNCM
really fought the empire in a straight on fight. Mostly raids and 687Please respect copyright.PENANAJZoePrKUbz
recruiting villagers with their possessions. Easy pickings. "Gob got in 687Please respect copyright.PENANAtxKL9Xk2d2
touch with his friend again and luckily we managed to set up a meeting 687Please respect copyright.PENANAw4Fs2roeBV
in a few days the edge of a different isle.687Please respect copyright.PENANAuzgxKMBLI9
"We will also be moving 687Please respect copyright.PENANAIHpAOCVinJ
our base" she continued, sadly. "I can't keep us here with the danger 687Please respect copyright.PENANArALRtl9OdB
increasing, so we will move slowly, to an isle we were based in before 687Please respect copyright.PENANAWhBhx4ZWYp
so some will know where to go."687Please respect copyright.PENANADbDdITxVLK
"That's good, why did 687Please respect copyright.PENANA0FV6VzvWoi
you want to keep us here for this long anyway?" While he was annoyed at 687Please respect copyright.PENANAqa7tJLzVkl
hearing that question every time he went on patrols, he couldn't deny he687Please respect copyright.PENANAe5zNadvXxo
was interested in the answer.687Please respect copyright.PENANAVsFBUqBfZ5
"It...It has to do with one of The Five. I can't reveal more in fear that it might interfere with your objective. "687Please respect copyright.PENANAuJvsRJ6VEz
David nodded, not a full687Please respect copyright.PENANABOdzsALY0L
answer he wanted but to push might create a rift between them. Religion687Please respect copyright.PENANAQS3yCn3JVn
was pretty important to Francesca "Don't worry; you don't have to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAvNJFByBbge
reveal anything you don't want want to." He said in a soothing tone687Please respect copyright.PENANANWB6e7gVcy
"Thank you." She said 687Please respect copyright.PENANAXA7Bns65qr
gratefully. "Where was I? Oh, yes. We'll have groups with specified 687Please respect copyright.PENANAeakxcH2FQ6
leaders going back to that previous isle, they'll lead them and we'll 687Please respect copyright.PENANAyDW2RiZijS
regroup at a specified point."687Please respect copyright.PENANABzIco0qF7y
"How will you get 687Please respect copyright.PENANAFlYcfex6Z6
everyone over to the next isle?" Isles were divided by cracks, and while687Please respect copyright.PENANASYapZPV1cg
some you could jump over, others were so wide you could fit a full 687Please respect copyright.PENANAVYrO5X2RMO
city.687Please respect copyright.PENANAdtzyAK0lI7
"We have small sky 687Please respect copyright.PENANAzdD3XaDhsf
boats. Some of the groups will use it...Others...Others will need to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAy5fPcrquPR
find their own way" she said in bitter tones. "I don't like that, we're 687Please respect copyright.PENANAGB4B9qX9RU
abandoning my people. But Gob said it's too dangerous traveling in a big687Please respect copyright.PENANArujmn6IqUo
group."687Please respect copyright.PENANAd0p9zKq0dh
"You're a good leader on your own. You should trust your own instincts." Ah finally! An opportunity to create that rift687Please respect copyright.PENANA0LlV3Hif4o
She gave him a sad smile687Please respect copyright.PENANALtF48TJxb6
in response. "Thank you, but I do not a good head for tactics or 687Please respect copyright.PENANAmcanK4AbV6
military matters. I've had some education on it, but Gob is much better 687Please respect copyright.PENANAsoncqG1ock
at it." David still wasn't sure just what Gob did before the rebellion. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAfLsIMZERq3
Francesca stated that the past did not matter and as long as they were 687Please respect copyright.PENANA38MBA4bTUP
willing to fight for the rebellions ideals they would be allowed to keep687Please respect copyright.PENANANH4bz3kQ7h
their past in the past.687Please respect copyright.PENANAoXCShhpPFE
"Now then, back to 687Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mn42WoHsU
business." She said more cheerily. "Myself and Gob will be meeting that 687Please respect copyright.PENANAq2tXvc93rt
person in a few days. We will have guards but I'd also like for you to 687Please respect copyright.PENANAXxfBMV25tp
come. You're well-traveled and met many people; your advice would be 687Please respect copyright.PENANAiKqfYgMmcD
valuable, especially since we'll only be bartering for them."687Please respect copyright.PENANAzsxfIqtVIZ
"You'll have it. I'm 687Please respect copyright.PENANAvA4MoO0u2s
more than happy to join you." While he wasn't looking forward to 687Please respect copyright.PENANA6L6Y3N5ZeD
sleeping with all the insects again, it might help his back to not sleep687Please respect copyright.PENANAp5mkHsm0HH
on a rock hard surface.687Please respect copyright.PENANA1ME9HcyxiB
"Perfect! I'll let Gob know and convince him as well." She laughed sheepishly. "I didn't really confirm this with him you see."687Please respect copyright.PENANAeHIATjg0tk
"Oh, the guy loves me. It'll be easy." Francesca smiled at that, she knew just how much Gob hated David.687Please respect copyright.PENANANYBzc5uvOL
A lull in the conversation and then a question David was dreading "Did you have any more visions? From the one who chose you?"687Please respect copyright.PENANASvbDSuW5Wi
"Sadly no, I'm as 687Please respect copyright.PENANA8qmiXQKt98
clueless as when I was born." This wasn't exactly true. He knew he had 687Please respect copyright.PENANAcQkoVT6jyj
to find something, and suspected Francesca was after it as well he 687Please respect copyright.PENANAnOe4XchWJY
suspected it was on this isle. Francesca seemed to know more, but she 687Please respect copyright.PENANAipMYvGTh4G
wasn't willing to reveal it. She might hide it under lofty ideals, but 687Please respect copyright.PENANAKwOFIMzF5Z
she was concealing the truth from both David and the rebels.687Please respect copyright.PENANAXcOWIp6Qy8
"Do not worry, I am 687Please respect copyright.PENANATSXmzzlVzt
su..." before she could continue their whole world rocked. As explosions687Please respect copyright.PENANAHCFEm0j6qv
rang from outside and rubble started falling all around them., hitting 687Please respect copyright.PENANAI4hYuLy6RJ
the table and dislodging the torch, casting ominous shadows on the walls687Please respect copyright.PENANAFNPqZjNqIH
"Wha..." before David could finish his thought a very worried Gob barged in. 687Please respect copyright.PENANAtUJydux0EX
"We're under attack, they found us."
687Please respect copyright.PENANAOcU1PK21nK
687Please respect copyright.PENANACOsumhTCgP