169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGxXyb8hM4
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VOUuLmYhr
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm2quxKlHB
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKLUN8wcXD
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpGqM8isBx
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Kl1YR5vJI
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXYR2hq7Qh
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lAb2kuHEt
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJw6VERudp
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt38827EXI
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68K5mXzKND
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZARhiHhcLK
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4LGpXLGcu
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ8gPbdwf0
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjY4dFVzuT6
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJMWmWXVPM
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEzhkoCDzi
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqDUwuyQ2w
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs28s82trbQ
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYZLN019Qm
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz4ywXIh54
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfECol6i9H
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmCO3iNYM9
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 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFivrPYIfTZ
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaMjCF97ZC
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlUV2m6k9T
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vJ0RR8vx3
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4fdQ7e1N4
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m721QCZ4n
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 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQg0OCKlC9
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETIOXtU9vf
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVagPuQKHAP
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtfGVtpQ0e
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERBAIhDGqI
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jBMYT7E7T
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7qvK80d5k
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYjtaoGCkr
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyO8ob6HY4
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ4zkPwWTE
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKit9or8Xu
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L8wO1A51g
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFWXbuBn6Z
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhznouNN4g
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFMwSLbfAD
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1LYKnsI8H
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV3Qp2sDf1
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bwXMHhg4n
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRt1iz5eRH
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGN0Wzt7KW
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y2DCKubnr
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTHcbWXg20
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7U4jXtf4p
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xNrSqk4vu
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKdsXysAMP
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFKOk1bXdr
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmvXEfbwP1
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8YqpOupu8
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22eQHeclQV
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkewD6LIJQU
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDANP0k4AN
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq78ZMvcTq
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAmXVm4N6m
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuKwk6SIxC
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyZeIoYM2K
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEJGqjnXhC
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkCBe4v48m
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7dBxJJAmi
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXGaGpGspb
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIuk3bSl32
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X02Vp1YpK
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtXEjzIRvO
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUD4P9ECYL
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrU1sKHBXK
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhdZLpYwtS
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfEePqlXCE
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 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBwktLRz5Q
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJNk7bXqyn
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdP9sKSJot
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 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5ICikuC6g
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbax0FCV8V
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZQI5ifSxe
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiotczm3nET
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVrC5GZZJ9
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd3ZiuYLY2
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMTcs3plqN
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDuFxmMyIW
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtlLPLjES7
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UhMalp5Vu
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tQrxhEtJ6
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvb21jTFVb
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1V0iFkoKP
we leave?"
"When you are ready."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs3XSp22td
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPrkNtQVyx
