The Orb And The Onslaught {COMPLETE}

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   She had spoken as though just to Quentin, but it was loud enough for the vendor to hear; and to Florence's delight she brought herself into the conversation. 

"Oh, you should, madam. The market will be here everyday throughout the season, do come back to us while you stay." 

   "I will, it is a little busy though isn't it?" 

The woman beamed, "It is, I haven't seen it this busy in a long time, despite the recent calamities we are thriving, thank the heavens." 

    There it was. Florence had caught just what she needed and she forced a concerned look on her face.

"Calamities?" She looked to Quentin and just as she hoped, he was playing along with the same fake concern on his face. 

   "Oh, it's nothing to worry about I assure you. Just a handful of deplorable wretches who think they can change our dear Domain, as if it needs to be changed." 

Florence was starting to see just how delusional the woman was. It would make it so much easier to question her without worrying that their true motives would be discovered. 

"I see, how awful! And they're causing trouble around here, trying to change things?" 

    The woman nodded and pointed towards the walls Florence had noticed before. "There, they painted brightly coloured atrocities about our splendid Administrators... And I overheard a few days ago they painted something terribly vicious about our illustrious church. It boils my blood to just think of it." 

Florence feigned her own anger, "That is terrible, I can't believe they'd do such things. I hope nobody was hurt." 

    "No, thankfully not but the miscreants weren't apprehended either, it's a ridiculous state of affairs to have them parading around and painting their blasphemy." 

Florence wanted to ask what they might have written but other customers were perusing the stall now and she didn't want to push her luck with the woman. 

"Well thank you for your help and these lovely brooches, we'll be sure to watch ourselves out here." 

    The woman nodded her head and eagerly moved to speak to her new potential customers. Florence pushed Quentin away and moved him to the side of the market, trying to stay out of earshot despite the crowds and beggars nearby.  

"That's our under the skin information, isn't it?" Quentin asked, arching his brows and managing not to wince. 

"It is, it sounds like they have a rebellion going on and it's aimed at the Administrators as well as the church." 

   "The church of Blind Faith? Isn't that the church you and Herb told me about?" 

"Yes but it wasn't called that when I was last here, nor did it have such a large and delusional following." 

    Quentin pursed his lips, "But it is the same church we heard them talking about in the towns we passed?" 

Florence nodded and peered around them, people of all types were staring and though they soon moved on, it made Florence uneasy. 

    "We did, they were preaching it in the streets and I have a feeling they have more going on that just religious teachings... and it sounds like there are others who are thinking the same thing. At least we know more of what's happening here, if there's a rebellion bubbling then there are people who are tired of the troubles here. They may even need help to shake things up and I wouldn't mind helping them if they can help us in return, maybe right a few wro..."