Right in the middle of the giant back-garden, laid the main tent. Sunshen knew not if it was called that, but there was simply no way around it. From the outside, the leather and fabric bound covers hanged from the biggest tree in the garden, creating a tent that could host a banquet of giants. The yellowy covers showed a number of silhouettes, as the people inside were lit by fires and lanterns. But what baffled Sunshen the most, was that the tent had floors. At least five by the shadows.

Still, tent looked even wider from the inside. The interior made in image of ancient stages, half of the tent was filled with floors and places to sit, the other with a stage, huge and well-lit. Everything made so the scenes would be viewable by everyone attending. The décor was colorful and intricate, weaving together an image of a well-furnished theatre. It took Sunshen around two minutes before he remembered that he was in the heart of a rebellion, instead of an opera-house. The thing that took him out, Herner walking onto the platform, along with Percy and Nataniel.

By now, Sunshen did lose some of the idealism he held in his view of Herner. The man was clever and capable, but he was also prone to theatrics. But there was something about the way the trio walked, as if there really was a hidden quality to it.

"Friends, colleagues and warriors, I welcome all of you, to the very fist full gathering of our force." Herner had let the moment stand for applause, but the crowd was dry. He fixed his toe and continued. "It has been nigh two centuries, since the age of dark had befallen us. A century of what could be called a comfortable yet miserable life. Surrounded by the impending darkness of the fog and the piercing light of the niatras. Yet, the world moves on, seemingly unwilling to change."

"That is why we have gathered and that is why we rage." As Herner finished the word a bundle of cloth has been revealed by nataniel. On it a picture of their mayor, a man with an eye-glass and a hat. Sunshen couldn't help but notice the cartoonish evil grin they painted on him.

"The tyrant sits while we bleed. He watches and eats and watches and eats as the world gets slowly consumed. Unable or incapable of improving, it matters not. It is of high importance to rid ourselves of the blind head! What has he done? What has his predecessor accomplished?"

This time, murmurs began to form in the crowd, people talking over one another while Herner moved to a second picture, held by Percy. It showed...sky. Surely it had to be sky. From all the stories Sunshen had heard, it fit all of them. A blue sea above, with white clouds. Serene like a good dream.

"This is what they had forgotten, what they surrendered to the whims of this world. But we, will do no such thing! We want our skies! Days clear of fog! But the first step to the world we dream of, is ridding us of our blind head!"

This was a bit much, at least from Sunshen's view. The mayor obviously wouldn't disagree if a solution to the fog came to pass. He would become the mayor that overthrew a catastrophe. He would be remembered. Then again, maybe that was what Herner might be after...

Sunshen found himself doubting what was going around him more and more, while the crowd cheered with boosted vigor him.

"Something wrong?" Nataniel appeared next to him, a gentle smile on his face.

"No, not at all. Just feels a bit...well..."

"Much? I agree." Nataniel nodded.

"Wait weren't you-" the words stuck in Sunshen's throat as he looked onto the stage, where Nataniel was still holding the picture of the mayor, now with cartoonish horns drawn over his head.

"How?" Was all that Sunshen managed to let out.

"A lookalike, Tommy. Herner insisted that I have to be a part of the 'big three' as he calls it. But I much prefer to be in the crowd." Nataniel sat down next to Sunshen. "I understand why this may sow doubts as to what we want to accomplish, but please, do not forget why we are here."

Sunshen looked onto the wide painting of the skies.

"It would be beautiful." He conceded.

"It will be, if we manage to do what has to be done."

"What is that?"

"I am afraid you don't have the clearance for that just yet." Nataniel laughed softly. "Herner would talk my ear off if I told you."

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"He wouldn't know."

"I would. It wouldn't be right anyway, look around you. These people are here on faith, none of them know of our plan, it is enough for them to know there is one. It's sad, what the world has come to."

"You are saying it like you saw it yourself before." Sunshen laughed.

"The sky used to be beautifully blue, the clouds a master's blur upon it's surface. The wind was healthy and wild. The animals plenty and thriving." Nataniel gazed into the picture. There was a pain in his eyes, the personal kind though from what Sunshen did not understand. "At least that is what is recorded in history books." Nataniel shook off the gaze. "It would be nice to see it for myself someday."

Herner continued with his presentation, bringing many curiosities and talking of many simply nonsensical things, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Every time something ridiculous happened, Sunshen had to chant Nataniel's word like a mantra, just so he would not lose the reason he came here. Thankfully, the whole thing was coming to a close, as Herner started to bow and the claps sounded all around Sunshen.

Herner's gaze traveled through the onlookers, his smile beaming as he watched them applaud. His brow deepened when he saw Sunshen sitting there still, sighing. Sunshen quickly clapped and became the loudest spectator in the room. The people around him watched him with confused and judging expressions, but Sunshen had to continue. Herner's happy face was too precious.

"Quite the show." Nataniel complimented as he sat down at the circular table. Herner slightly bowed with his head, then motioned the others to sit as well. Other than him, Nataniel, Percy and Sunshen, there were four more people there. One Sunshen recognized as the head of the most extensive library in the eight lakes, the others he did not know.

They were as surprised as him when Herner wanted him to sit on one of the nine chairs as well.

"Sunshen here, is fit to join our ranks. We talked extensively during my showing of the knight and we have stricken on a similar note. He agrees with our ambition and has sworn to defend it, relentlessly." Herner vouched for him. It seemed enough for the others, only Percy puffing some curses under his breath.

"Although we do believe Sunshen to have the potential-" Nataniel spoke. "He is still a newcomer, so today, we won't be sharing any dire information, nor will we be creating a radical course of action. This is more to...convince Sunshen. Convince him that our goals are as we present them. Hanadeya, please start if you don't mind."

"Well." A black skinned woman stood up from her seat, a long scar trailing across her arm, along with a smaller woman, covered in dark clothing that obscured her body as well as her face. "I had been working with Feyo and Dok. We managed to find the right mix of silver and other metals to carry the saliva at least until camp, but we were unable to prolong the time before it toxifies from the metal."

"Good work. Please continue, it may prove to be a pillar of our research." Both women sat down. "Gret?"

A towering hunk of a man stood up, slightly bumping into the table as he did so. His long brown hair reaching down bellow his knees.

"The hounds seem to be multiplying at a scary rate sir. They more than doubled in number since four months ago and I estimate their growth will only increase."

"Based on what?"

"Just my estimation sir, pure instinct."

"Well, it had never betrayed us before. Please take Naheila and hunt them down. Bring their leather and bone for cleansing. The meat we will throw away afterwards."

"Yes sir."

"Take the newcomer as well." Percy added. Sunshen blinked quickly in surprise.

"That is not necessary." Herner said.

"I disagree. I do not trust him. We'd be fools to take a Gureth for their word. Let him go. If he finds what we need and manages to come back? Great. I will be convinced to trust him a bit more. If he doesn't? Well, we really did not need him that much, did we?"

"I don't mean to disregard you, nor underestimate our new associates abilities, but I must point out that we have ventured into the darkness many times. It is still dangerous. And for all the qualities he sure has, he is not...able. He may become a liability."

"If he is to stay with us, he cannot be a liability under any circumstance. Even more reason to sent him out with the lot of you."

Sunshen was looking between the people, making sure that they all heard the same thing he did. Outside? To the fog? He had never ventured. He only heard grisly tales and scary stories of monsters and the death touch of the fog. And he should be there?

"I think you are being a bit too harsh. Sunshen had arrived just today, we cannot expect him to agree to this." Nataniel jumped to his rescue.

"Then what is he going to do then? Wait here until we decide we can trust him on a whim? No. He needs to prove himself." Herner agreed. Maybe Sunshen really started clapping too late.

"But this? Doesn't this seem excessive? He could just-"

"I will go." Sunshen interrupted him. "I want to."