294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqXfQVltCE
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5P1hrlkDOV
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz47H7cBZ7H
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxiucrETRe
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjgzE9gJxe
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacudn4o49y
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAhMX9vs0V
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsyelxFbZy
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H2PMD5iyR
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XjVkarQKi
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCph6ucXPc
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1eEU3IX79
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3wRoUOG1y
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAeEq9C2H3
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYkllZguOh
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkZsqI5bKs
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EHLMWujI9
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrk2jAfrSd
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6XxxWeJLa
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoL00J9nF8
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMs8X5zwv0
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB24H6ctES4
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegpenXKNsF
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 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOGE9XKomf
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgidH0OCvd
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7XgY9vVNK
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWirQ5166h
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rr96PvCYq
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNlpabedxU
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 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaAkYTadoZ
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40ykcOrVbq
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XxGhEHVTP
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAjdLA9diP
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6JySWprJK
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnb6nJF9Lt
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrttcSaKHgX
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD5G5Yr6Bj
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6R6WpUxyH
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoChCqhS78p
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKldODa0y3a
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHOqqI0WbD
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKy3KDqRhGX
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MsahHT3PB
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bDUc0a5zz
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDsVwrwzSF
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRlQPfdtBJ
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FqdWeuNCm
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAWTnmcsyL
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcSFNzOEBi
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprc8qhSqbC
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPQcHiKwAd
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60K6kMoZpE
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPLTTUTiJk
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkBj98pHjq
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbLxRfZPco
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoDrV3Apvv
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFcGs83sMd
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGn44VLdFa
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgc0hyjsF7
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpEUGMBHYQ
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOUJAGvQtD
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGe8LMofXF
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX1uOHjo9T
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav5Zei4nOe
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYepGZsOzc
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLqiwcw9PK
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts4xGOKo4e
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljdwnvrisF
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYPVvZ8wl6
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Xm8J4sbm8
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bNbE1JQDa
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF9DcpQfBQ
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv2ylvLgLM
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGiKUgtfNK
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjJoe5mG3M
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 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCES1qjbejE
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfoULEKeTG
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa66gr6QNdr
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 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c3VruXNSJ
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71O1DmKYSv
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeOYyQq5ra
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkDJnF7F87
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIysiFCDS1
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PbgdqXVgv
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdGFo4lx0F
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7TxwW28fc
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54hWsAQ8AR
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCVFOm2ADi
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2bUm9VLs7
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JkGOGrBJE
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyqMe65Z4c
we leave?"
"When you are ready."294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvB5YiTBvO
294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRboSEmyWQ8
