234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WUNFk9XLi
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemA86nov0H
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIvXjU0K6m
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkptWoISiP
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK99kNkf2sL
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJZrCtEl4b
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M8Oat1gCS
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMgDF3jjkj
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg6Bpnc3OW
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclz3zaNAOD
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyF32tfO5y
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtX2dowfrW
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWu9c7pUhL
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjPOXPLpZv
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKIRU9Rouc
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyc1TQJfqY
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJqT7CAC8U
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEu1F0UOZp
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YS8h6Nw46
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U5SjQ0xHo
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl91F2xYQU
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaSSpsuOgq
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvH4Ng42zH
of herbs from the garden.
"Tea?" she inquired to her guest.
The lord gently shook his head, "It is time Elsie."
She frowned. Elsie grew up with the little fellow. A hatchling 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXAO5fDinZ
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcMBkZOWeU
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYObffWGyiz
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMQFTwqS92
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKakRt3AOn9
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ms3oWPEJx
tea. Head lowered, his eyes looked upward to observe her.
"I will need it?"
"Yes. The council and I have decided the only person whom is 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArx9dFw7rk
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevaxN16cLb
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO6ok0PI2d
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aqEICMDkK
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuxYnCpYnl
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb9doC1Nof
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8KD2irY4Y
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb42UpRWp0Z
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8i9sQXFvG
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXs8raI3lI
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsuN7pVscr
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs2gT3XbUW
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuvUnii8ow
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR28zNUQ5Li
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskO9jniqCD
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN5EA1bElN
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFC3ipvLCp
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN9N9ZNVVP
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn6JVmxycl
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PqL2hN1H6
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAtj89nsto
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYUgJKd5zs
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77EbzhlYVX
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20CBGS3T3K
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybC74bwf7o
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalkRxWQjh8
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydWgsCXh3d
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy5MLckPyy
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZSOt5mLlh
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsS34KSwBC
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkAZTUmTH4
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m5eXaJBmr
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nWBzjIEHT
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0mOTLzV6I
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRBQgeiNnA
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXc6aC9Qtf
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvtAZAUTbX
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6b5qnu1RT
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aAWtHsF6N
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gZ5nIyWNh
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS0wAPLNVN
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7ASsn5eYU
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBuA8mkCsG
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQRIp3Qnv5
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e0WKJ9CsF
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs6w8F3G1n
fly in formation when in military discipline."
"Much like our airships," Elsie commented.
"The same. According to one report, there was a senior dragon and 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEEf9SQ5Rt
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F9Gjjkz5X
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQj8gzQBia
dragon was a scarred Obsidian named Rhylag."
"You know their names?!" Elsie looked for her journal.
"We know some. These are difficult to get. After the Boundary was 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp5iVyJ9RM
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6QI6GlEFl
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHoYCxguJw
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpjOcPLNBn
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5sTIWBYoz
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE8I6DyOsH
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwwlgJSPaP
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP2aMHhCZO
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB4KUbOsMA
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GDAmuvGoz
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c1Z1Af2ZW
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuSFGr4DG8
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw37LCWjO0G
we leave?"
"When you are ready."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHySsklsqld
234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWNYAqVXGP
