Hi again, it's me. How've you been? Good? Not good?

Here's chapter 5

Gregor jumped at the realization. Vikus caught them in the act. There was no denying.

"Now that must be the reason for Luxa being so sad, I thought that her duties were the cause, looks like I was wrong."Vikus took a small break and continued." I do not know if the council will approve."

"The council can go and throw itself in the waterway!" Luxa bursted.

"I won't let them make you sad." Gregor tried to comfort her, but she still had something to say.

"I am calling off the suitors meeting. Vikus, could you transmit the message for me?"

"They won't be happy, but I will. And just so you know, you have my support."

With that Vikus left the room. The second he was out Gregor and Luxa resumed their 'chat'. It didn't last long.

"You done yet?" Ripred asked. We've been waiting for half an hour."

"Oh for the love of..." Gregor started but was cut off by Ripred.

"You'll have plenty of time to do that and more. But for now we have to get to the war room. You might have to put those guns to use."

"Yeah...let's hope that we don't."

"What are guns?" Asked Luxa.

"This..."Gregor said as he picked his rifle"...is a gun."

Luxa looked for a moment and than said:

"What does it do?"

"Well, it's kind of hard to explain, but basically it works like a bow."

"Hmm..."

"What is it, Ripred?"

"From what I know, they work like anything, but a bow."

"It does the same thing."

"Whatever, let's go!"

Fifteen minutes later in the war room.

"No, that is not possible!"

"Yes it is, the rebel Gnawers are a real threat."

The general told Luxa about the rebels Gnawers, pretty self-explanatory.

"Why now? why not six years ago? Back when the anti-gnawer sentiments were still a thing?"

"I do not know." The general answered

"How many are we talking about? A few dozen, a hundred or more?" Gregor asked.

"Between thirty to sixty." Said the general with a sad face which Luxa noticed.

"Why are you sad?"She asked.

"I do not know how to tell our troops that they have to go in battle with Gnawers again. I enjoyed not having them as an enemy."

"Hey, there are thirty Gnawers, maybe sixty, we can deal with them." Gregor said with confidence.

"How?" Asked the general.

"With this." Gregor said as he picked his rifle again.

"What is that?" The general asked.

"I have heard that question three times today, I'll just show you, can we go to the stadium? I don't want to damage the palace."

"That is fine."

In twenty or so minutes all of them were at the stadium in front of some targets for bows.

"Will you need those targets after this, because I don't think they'll make it out."

"Bring some of the old targets." Luxa commanded.

After the targets were in place Gregor asked:"You ready?"

They nodded. This was it. It has been some time since Gregor shot a gun, but he still had it. He lifted his rifle, switched the safety and aimed. After ten seconds, he pulled the trigger. Since the gun was on semi only one round was shot, but it was more than enough for Luxa and the general to jump. Even though the ar-15 had a suppressor the sound was still loud.

The old target was hit right in the middle and broke in half.

"I had no idea it had so much power." Luxa managed to get out.

"Is that thing common in the Overland?"

"Yes and no. The military ditched swords some one and a half centuries ago for guns. But the early ones were nothing compared to this, and even this model is forty years old. As for the civilians, some have guns for protection."

"Why do we not have such things? I bet they can damage an enemy really bad." The general said.

"It's not good to use one of these in a cave. Normally, when used, they are stupid loud. Without ear protection, you would be deaf. This one is not long because of this." Gregor said as he gestured to the suppressor.

Ripred decided that now was a good time to say it.

"Those Gnawers will wish they weren't born."


Ok, that's chapter 5 for you.

It took me a long time to figure out how to tell the Underlanders about guns.

For the next chapter I might have one of these two things done:

1 Some talk about (overland) military tactics and (overland) history OR 2 some romance between Gregor and Luxa.