595Please respect copyright.PENANAt9YBbNJcMl
595Please respect copyright.PENANARsX8kHMpwU
All taxes must be paid 595Please respect copyright.PENANAn3jPwJE7BN
in a timely and organized manner. Each prince controls tax 595Please respect copyright.PENANAncvyZDEsWV
collection in his princedom War is forbidden between the princes. All 595Please respect copyright.PENANA6byjvwjXNf
dissatisfactions must be dealt in a civilized manner. Via duels or by 595Please respect copyright.PENANA53vNphtGoo
lodging a complaint to the council of princes.The most powerful 595Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7LckxrGJI
traders shall form a council of 10; with each member being called a 595Please respect copyright.PENANAIzuxUOnT6x
prince. This council shall gather in emergencies: such as war, the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAMLM0jZiD5w
enactment of widespread changes, as well as to deal with any 595Please respect copyright.PENANAZudDsJ18xy
grievances between the princesIf any trader or isle within the trade595Please respect copyright.PENANAp4kZ7f0jhz
union territory is attacked all princes must come to the defense 595Please respect copyright.PENANAw2MfrX6wuk
Declaring war on foreign bodies is forbidden. If any trader or 595Please respect copyright.PENANA3zIig9HkLs
prince is found doing so they will be stripped of their goods and 595Please respect copyright.PENANAzzkDSe9ztG
factories and will have to contend with the war on their own.All magic 595Please respect copyright.PENANADRitqVuT22
is illegal and practitioners will be prosecuted595Please respect copyright.PENANAY4csVbSbzP
We are traders, not warlords. We thrive on income and civility, not chaos and murder.595Please respect copyright.PENANAcyVpiofUts
'The union codex, rules the traders abide by.'595Please respect copyright.PENANAcWvOMdpzf5
___________________________________________________595Please respect copyright.PENANAW1eCU0Bl7c
595Please respect copyright.PENANABhIhnl5LD2
David has been in jail 595Please respect copyright.PENANA1OGPSHvoOM
before, a flying jail, a jail on the ground ground. All kinds and types.595Please respect copyright.PENANAKVzHqdPTIZ
Honestly he felt kind of at home when he woke up on the cold hard floor595Please respect copyright.PENANA0h4ZfzU8v2
of a ship to metal grates wishing him good morning.595Please respect copyright.PENANATJwUUm2m7Y
The cell was big enough 595Please respect copyright.PENANAAwCSydH3hS
for him to stretch his muscles and walk around a bit. He checked his 595Please respect copyright.PENANAFKo54uLAGE
back pocket where kept Boyle's pendant but it was gone, good riddance. 595Please respect copyright.PENANAmR4rXjslcY
Luckily David didn't have any other belongings on his person and the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAQfo1N9CFRV
guards graciously allowed him to keep his clothes.595Please respect copyright.PENANAcHtvICh74N
David didn't even 595Please respect copyright.PENANAXSwDOuP43L
contemplate shouting, as it usually invited a guard and when you're the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAE90ASC25VS
one in the cell why would you want a guard to be nearby. So David did 595Please respect copyright.PENANAnxJBuCXqcj
what any sane person in his situation would, he went back to sleep on 595Please respect copyright.PENANATu5dUXZDGL
the bed hanging from the metal wall. 595Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y2gtHVsQy
Sadly event the best 595Please respect copyright.PENANAEpipWbn3zE
plans sometimes fall apart and it was the case here, as he couldn't fall595Please respect copyright.PENANAuCRU6nHTA1
asleep. There was something akin to ringing in his head, a feeling that595Please respect copyright.PENANA4u7Yzqwmqp
something was close, similar to something he feels when he's near 595Please respect copyright.PENANA8XokJ1dqDj
Francesca. Soon enough David heard the sound of doors moving and he 595Please respect copyright.PENANA97NLuhRlbK
opened one, the only one that was working, eye. Through his eye he could595Please respect copyright.PENANAoEGNHUp1Cb
see two guards carrying...something big, leaving a trail of blood. Now 595Please respect copyright.PENANAm5www4Ldj6
while David didn't get a good look that did seem to eerily look like Gob595Please respect copyright.PENANA48PWI024pP
or at least what David wished Gob would look like. Either way that was 595Please respect copyright.PENANATnL0Ttg9GG
enough to get his attention and he stood up, as the guards locked the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAqrhyMLWeex
cell next door.595Please respect copyright.PENANAU6smbUch9z
Another soldier came up 595Please respect copyright.PENANAFhRoQJoNz7
to David's cell, and David recognized him as the one who was trying to 595Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZObsWWaaC
talk Gob down. The officer gestured at the soldiers and they quickly 595Please respect copyright.PENANAH7SaAvKcwo
unlocked David's cell, who promptly presented his hands in submission. 595Please respect copyright.PENANA92kd7Cu1CA
Sadly the guard didn't seem to care as one of them punched David in the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAFaHoAszvvu
gut and the other handcuffed his hands, putting them behind David's 595Please respect copyright.PENANAOwBmLvUdtq
back.595Please respect copyright.PENANAkKJ9EB3MJ8
While David would've 595Please respect copyright.PENANAJqSUIxZXpC
preferred everyone to be civil, his mind was too preoccupied with one 595Please respect copyright.PENANARF5ZKc8RmT
fact, the tug was definitely stronger when closer to the officer. It 595Please respect copyright.PENANAq94a0rUT9n
seemed he was the other chosen, David was hoping there were more as 595Please respect copyright.PENANAV8beFMHSqG
Jesters words came back to him. 595Please respect copyright.PENANAO1XBoUiMKD
The walk itself didn't 595Please respect copyright.PENANA7k6aA4kkzL
last long as they arrived in a room with a table and two chairs, on 595Please respect copyright.PENANAZzXV37DEqz
opposite sides. It was downright friendly if you ignored the blood 595Please respect copyright.PENANA4ugeVIDdXN
splatters all around the room.595Please respect copyright.PENANAmIQ6jkzUaX
David was put into the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAeih8dHLyOk
chair further away from the door and his hands attached to the handles. 595Please respect copyright.PENANAAspEx57mNC
The officer motioned for the guards to leave them and took a sit at the 595Please respect copyright.PENANA9U9lmxNHIi
other chair, staring into David's soul.595Please respect copyright.PENANAL9aLZYn1mU
"Who are you?" So the questioning has started.595Please respect copyright.PENANA32hO3l0m8Q
"I'm David, the rebels 595Please respect copyright.PENANAIpZsGNOlkA
have caught me and took me hostage. I would like to..." before he could 595Please respect copyright.PENANAe9dCvT4rJ9
finish the interrogator held his hand out to stop David.595Please respect copyright.PENANAxVeg4JLkej
"Where are you from?"595Please respect copyright.PENANAxfp1dbEuGO
"The Isle Commonwealth, Capital isle. I was..." again the hand came out. And notes were made.595Please respect copyright.PENANA2ogBXxKt0g
"Why were you meeting with the trade union?"595Please respect copyright.PENANAqpU9pa7K6A
"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 nodded595Please respect copyright.PENANAUgmEMnWpt6
"Where did the rebels move?"595Please respect copyright.PENANAaEPMDoBWSc
"Gods, we're not getting595Please respect copyright.PENANAu0mKxzCnWh
anywhere here. I'm not a rebel. I was just captured by them if you want595Please respect copyright.PENANAmD8ozju5lC
to know names I'll give you them! I owe them no loyalty."595Please respect copyright.PENANAxTqadh6Kmf
"We know the rebellion 595Please respect copyright.PENANA0MwwtCfqye
is led by Francesca Horrikh. He second in command is Gob D'Fortez. With 595Please respect copyright.PENANArI6datDYxj
the help of officers chosen by them they lead the rebellion..."595Please respect copyright.PENANAkb1TkIanFE
"Well if you know all 595Please respect copyright.PENANAod8ypAqlcP
that then why are you asking me? Go ask Gob you have him here!" David 595Please respect copyright.PENANA6rWMS249rA
interrupted the officer, acting more agitated and scared. Act clueless 595Please respect copyright.PENANAB7bYWjwq7j
make them doubt themselves. Sadly that tactic didn't seem to be working 595Please respect copyright.PENANA71cUkZiMPN
on the imperial soldier.595Please respect copyright.PENANACOVdI9VOnY
"I wanted to make this 595Please respect copyright.PENANAhtPWU44X2a
civilized, sadly you don't seem to want to answer my questions and I've 595Please respect copyright.PENANAmY3TUL9ghE
no time. If you truly are but a simple hostage then you have my 595Please respect copyright.PENANAKG9cFiWu6l
apologies. My name is Fernand Schumah and if you so wish you can curse 595Please respect copyright.PENANARLvsFQDB8B
my name in the afterlife." Fernand gathered his notes, got up and was 595Please respect copyright.PENANALBKpcBCUlJ
about to leave the room. David had an idea of what was about to happen 595Please respect copyright.PENANAXjFgBdO5g9
but judging by the blood on the floor he wanted no part of it.595Please respect copyright.PENANAkNGMzoqZEt
"Wait wait!" Fernand 595Please respect copyright.PENANAFYPirv7BDc
paused. "I've heard them mentioning moving to a different isle, one of 595Please respect copyright.PENANADCMQljax7l
their previous hiding spots. I don't know where exactly...or how."595Please respect copyright.PENANAoqjnG8OdtQ
Fernand was shaking his 595Please respect copyright.PENANAEloKQt5Y9S
head. "Useless, we guessed they would move to a different isle, we can't595Please respect copyright.PENANAVryL6q3B84
keep guessing where." Fernand paused "We can't risk you knowing where 595Please respect copyright.PENANAR0v5jPyhPc
they went, my apologies." For what it was worth Fernand seemed genuinely595Please respect copyright.PENANAidyStTlO0b
sorry. But David was close to panicking now. Torturers were sadists by 595Please respect copyright.PENANA25FDd8N0tK
nature, they wouldn't care about anything but the screams they elicit. 595Please respect copyright.PENANAPldsk1OltF
"Did you have any strange dreams? Someone telling you to do, or find, something?"595Please respect copyright.PENANAhtoD3dKsVx
That made Ferdinand 595Please respect copyright.PENANAC6GpHWXwd7
pause and sit back; David could finally see a flicker of emotion on the 595Please respect copyright.PENANA4B4ou6aD94
man's face. "Why would you know about that?"595Please respect copyright.PENANAti0ZevKEsV
Fernand wasn't denying 595Please respect copyright.PENANAOiJWz0qFmg
it, David was glad of that. "I had a dream like that as well, and so did595Please respect copyright.PENANAimKoex3Qzj
the rebellion leader, Francesca. Apparently they're The Five trying to 595Please respect copyright.PENANAKZaBi4xzKZ
get us do something." 595Please respect copyright.PENANAtJQfT2EwoF
"Blasphemy, he 595Please respect copyright.PENANAjvuOVXWBg3
introduced himself as such but is most likely a demon. A noble should 595Please respect copyright.PENANAguFkwp7jzp
know better." Fernand dismissed, but didn't immediately stand up.595Please respect copyright.PENANAIp53uBuKaC
"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" 595Please respect copyright.PENANAZhoAhqmr2Q
"Demons tend to plan 595Please respect copyright.PENANAyZUazqTnDM
elaborately for their objectives." Fernand paused and sighted. "But 595Please respect copyright.PENANALKIQy8RwYk
let's say it's true, what did your vision ask of you?"595Please respect copyright.PENANApv0vmXdKBj
"To find something, he 595Please respect copyright.PENANALJnivhVaxh
wasn't specific." David was afraid of that, Francesca's vision seemed to595Please respect copyright.PENANAr5lHdrQUCf
be pretty clear on what she had to do and David was sure it was the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAl18YYNebpH
same for Fernand.595Please respect copyright.PENANAi6iKG8X3VQ
Fernand was about to say595Please respect copyright.PENANATVDZbDskaK
more but shook his head. "All this just makes you more suspicious. You 595Please respect copyright.PENANAkjqJ0bkk8B
knew of Francesca's visions, which means she trusted you enough to 595Please respect copyright.PENANA23bsByjK6j
reveal that. Unless you know of a way of how I can feel Francesca as I 595Please respect copyright.PENANAttHcXgdwFK
feel you from a distance, the apparitions and their orders are useless."595Please respect copyright.PENANApyGBh5Cu6p
David quickly rummaged 595Please respect copyright.PENANAWm5kCsSUj0
his brain on what else he could use to hook the soldier. "She'll be back595Please respect copyright.PENANApOHfuUUWAh
to the last isle, the one you just attacked. She seemed keen to find 595Please respect copyright.PENANAdfLnfnLSwr
something on it. If you manage to find that something first you'd be 595Please respect copyright.PENANAVT3ZAt6HBi
able to trap her."595Please respect copyright.PENANA21u0cOY4VG
"And you know what it was or where I can find it?" 595Please respect copyright.PENANAffI9Cf5gVS
"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.595Please respect copyright.PENANAusVE7aahCO
"And how will you do 595Please respect copyright.PENANAX4vEOBac7b
that? That isle has an expansive underground system.. It was lucky we've595Please respect copyright.PENANAmFViWUxQNn
managed to find you in the first place." Shaking his head Fernand got 595Please respect copyright.PENANA6dEsuusSAk
up. "Enough delays, you seem to know more than you're telling me this 595Please respect copyright.PENANAheGvCsCh94
little chat proved it beyond a doubt."595Please respect copyright.PENANAptWWtjd9EM
"But I don't! I really 595Please respect copyright.PENANAmZC7Nqkqsj
don't! I told you everything I know!" David was shouting, the whole act 595Please respect copyright.PENANA28LhPkcn9O
gone, torturing isn't something one came back fully from.595Please respect copyright.PENANAdCdz6PHNpU
"Ah captain Schumah, a 595Please respect copyright.PENANAntAEnvLBRf
pleasure as always." Came a jolly voice from the outside as Fernand 595Please respect copyright.PENANAzHGYhDkGNi
opened the door and left the room. A tall man came in shortly. Wearing a595Please respect copyright.PENANAA0LGa027pO
mask to hide his identity but still revealing his teeth, half of them 595Please respect copyright.PENANARnN4vEbScf
black. 595Please respect copyright.PENANAheRyPZ5e89
"Well, well. What do we 595Please respect copyright.PENANA9lA9k3sCs1
have here?" The man asked as he deposited a bag on the table. Coming 595Please respect copyright.PENANAB3d6V0KO62
closer to David and investigating his burn scars.595Please respect copyright.PENANAkoGh2AejMn
"Look, I swear to all 595Please respect copyright.PENANAkHqfWbMC9O
gods. I don't know anymore. I'm..." his jaw was shut violently, causing 595Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZYbNSZcOe
his teeth to hurt and gums to bleed. 595Please respect copyright.PENANAhj5ZxV2mem
"We will find out if you595Please respect copyright.PENANAtdnqt7lqgP
do or not. Everyone is honest in front of the almighty god of pain." He595Please respect copyright.PENANAUwyfqj70fl
cackled at that. But then gave David a dissatisfied look. "Cheer up; by595Please respect copyright.PENANAm4dJWXIQaA
the time we're done here, we'll be good friends."595Please respect copyright.PENANAnP6bPdV4U8
David struggled against 595Please respect copyright.PENANAQLroKc7BhW
his bonds. But it was of no use, both his arms were attached to the 595Please respect copyright.PENANAOcL1I4NdUv
chair with metal bonds, while the chair itself was fastened to the 595Please respect copyright.PENANA0oAauQe9ZB
floor. No matter how much he tried to buckle it didn't move an inch595Please respect copyright.PENANA3yiJ35xIIk
"Now how should we 595Please respect copyright.PENANAAupzDseg5v
start? With this?" The torturer took out a saw but then shook his head. 595Please respect copyright.PENANABX8BHa0xrD
"No too early, need to warm up first." He rummaged in his bag for a 595Please respect copyright.PENANAqjrCSxGvBz
while longer but then stopped and looked at David. "You know, I was 595Please respect copyright.PENANApQ0i2SN0ld
supposed to get three bodies. One was already dead so I couldn't have my595Please respect copyright.PENANAre2GOEBcxb
fun, the other one barely made any sound while I was having my fun, 595Please respect copyright.PENANADwmTaFhi2B
such a bore. So you my friend, I will definitely need to take my time, 595Please respect copyright.PENANA6MBPhYRRjd
with you. Make sure to scream for me." He gave David a crooked smile, as595Please respect copyright.PENANAulPynnzssm
he pointed a long finger straight at David's chest.595Please respect copyright.PENANAFFe9gxNkM3
Before David could reply595Please respect copyright.PENANAYb4B2XjHeM
he smelt something burning under his nose, without registering the 595Please respect copyright.PENANA2Q2l9T9sOC
pain fully he saw smoke coming from the finger, then the pain hit him, 595Please respect copyright.PENANAy5UOBfXJA0
and he screamed.595Please respect copyright.PENANAvwo3aMqqzV
The torturer 595Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ik7fUf6p3
clapped."Perfect!" He was practically jumping with glee. "Magic! How 595Please respect copyright.PENANA1I1K2Sia0e
could I forget, you must forgive me, I should've just started off with 595Please respect copyright.PENANATU9FvRt6mc
this."595Please respect copyright.PENANA80Qen0CPhQ
The torturer moved his 595Please respect copyright.PENANAjvs1UEtdOA
finger away from David's chest, but the pain didn't fade. Before David 595Please respect copyright.PENANAeVoOTTW0D8
could catch his breath, the burning finger was jabbed into his forehead 595Please respect copyright.PENANAEoN1Q4lMJW
and he screamed again. "Hahahah! And they say magic can't affect 595Please respect copyright.PENANACj5SlqNEcw
humans. Even if you can't control the mind or heal wounds directly with 595Please respect copyright.PENANAlJxN53jcw7
magic, you can easily control or brake with the power of magic, don't 595Please respect copyright.PENANAVLgaQIv11x
you agree?"595Please respect copyright.PENANAfTuT6BzXg2
The torturer stopped his595Please respect copyright.PENANAxFi4yh7Nfl
smile and coked his head. "Oh, that reminds me, I should ask you 595Please respect copyright.PENANAGqxiegYAG7
questions. Now what should I ask, I believe the good captain left me a 595Please respect copyright.PENANAKZa45FhDAy
list?" He took out some papers from his bag and gave them a quick glance595Please respect copyright.PENANAk8YbQzv6vr
before discarding them on the floor. "Ah yes. Where did the rebellion 595Please respect copyright.PENANA1nZDC7TAl5
go?" 595Please respect copyright.PENANA9LYRsU2vbE
David was trying to 595Please respect copyright.PENANAF2bvmsO0Cd
formulate an answer, a lie, a scathing rebuke, anything but his mind was595Please respect copyright.PENANAbveh9IEsyy
too muddled to think of anything. The torturer nodded. Smiling "Now I 595Please respect copyright.PENANA69M9i6GORE
guess saying you can't heal directly with magic is a lie, you can 595Please respect copyright.PENANAC7TYGBnJVn
cauterize your wounds! For example..." The torturer waved his hand and 595Please respect copyright.PENANASesZt9s0gy
David felt pain coming from his right arm, as he looked down he could 595Please respect copyright.PENANAkkagUjBE0O
see three of his fingers crushed, bone protruding. David couldn't even 595Please respect copyright.PENANAjeDy3wUVYL
let out a scream before fire overtook his hand, burning it to a crisp.595Please respect copyright.PENANAwa7mZLOB8N
"See, the bleeding stopped!" The torturer loved and David added his scream to this symphony of horror.595Please respect copyright.PENANA25iLWmUFsS
Then suddenly David was 595Please respect copyright.PENANAGs9vrIsqLX
his with a force of cold water strong enough to brake his nose as it 595Please respect copyright.PENANAShyYpbGP1N
made contact with his face. "Where are the rebels?" The torturers voice 595Please respect copyright.PENANAJUGBQytBct
changed, becoming more matter of fact. That mad glean from his eyes 595Please respect copyright.PENANArOU24RonpV
gone, David almost believed that the whole thing was an act. "I...I 595Please respect copyright.PENANACl2cdxeGDk
don't know."595Please respect copyright.PENANAG1Csw6mhoA
The torturer nodded and smiled again, the glean coming back. "Good."595Please respect copyright.PENANAUtlVMMfCPV
"Now, while magic is 595Please respect copyright.PENANATxjHMSgOVZ
amazing, variety is important as well. Wouldn't want you getting bored 595Please respect copyright.PENANA09WP8rlBOK
in your seat there." The torturer gave David a smile and pulled out some595Please respect copyright.PENANAi1UjHSKGZe
pliers out of his bag. "Nails are pretty useless, aren't they?" He 595Please respect copyright.PENANAatm3WYvBuI
tapped Davids fingernails with the pliers. "See it as me doing you a 595Please respect copyright.PENANAWdu1h0mhFx
favour." The first nail was ripped, it was a weird feeling for David as 595Please respect copyright.PENANAITJZtwftHi
he didn't feel pain at first, but then as the open skin was exposed pain595Please respect copyright.PENANAQjkeQcOAss
came and David screamed for someone to help595Please respect copyright.PENANAZaVFsm0QAh
~no one will come.~595Please respect copyright.PENANAzfGOFslYtB
After pulling out all 595Please respect copyright.PENANA15M2rRAVgC
the nails, David could hear the pliers hitting the table. His vision was595Please respect copyright.PENANAZvpTwstG4g
blurry he couldn't see or hear anything, only pain existed. "ull out 595Please respect copyright.PENANA4bvqayEh5P
teeth, but that's what everyone does. A hammer...." David could only 595Please respect copyright.PENANAcC286CCieB
hear bits and pieces of what the torturer said. He then felt his mouth 595Please respect copyright.PENANAtUY3yPj6Cd
being opened. David tried to resist, he truly did, but he didn't have 595Please respect copyright.PENANA9lhXqnHFdG
the strength nor the will to do anything substantial. David then sensed 595Please respect copyright.PENANAForeHdXV8p
something metal and cold in his mouth, touching one of his back teeth 595Please respect copyright.PENANAPiZKucSh39
and then pain and the taste of blood on his tongue, slowly filling his 595Please respect copyright.PENANAlOdcaWFcHm
mouth and dribbling on the floor. The scream came soon after, as David 595Please respect copyright.PENANAe3Uqw7kzKa
could only think of the pain, with only a small part hoping that someone595Please respect copyright.PENANATL7laIFEmN
would rescue him.595Please respect copyright.PENANATnduhRStul
~no one cares.~595Please respect copyright.PENANAqdn0HlqhxO
Next few moments were a 595Please respect copyright.PENANAFvhiBgKiJg
blur, David was sure the torturer did something else, but he had no idea595Please respect copyright.PENANAyk2gxuLKZr
what. Until finally the pain was too much and David lost consciousness.595Please respect copyright.PENANAmrpe5jh9vE
Thoughts that no one came and cared ringing in his mind as a constant 595Please respect copyright.PENANA6CqtjuUP0W
companion in the darkness.
595Please respect copyright.PENANAmPmfNegJnY
595Please respect copyright.PENANABSL73coXmb