357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbdhclkiUj
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn89gXJM2oO
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0EeB2NrbG
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4C8bQS4MT
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87yCLWh1X9
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwEWXTXbju
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRJ9L9gYBv
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKDVmGtx4g
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4jTn20YHs
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DAcrXtSKc
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0UYHb2L2h
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXq1bENgGi4
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc0exzOZYp
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7sjQUh3Ec
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoVVanTa8I
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazXQRA4zAf
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10KBLcCg2z
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEif4xyQ0bM
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13feEfqta7
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvz9RcOoP2
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIIp6fKOkl
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe9Ywr39tR
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPufq3MBnCw
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 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRkckNZAQS
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uk8Ij5yId
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VPwh8s38k
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsQwrBCKqe
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYMy5QvKVJ
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUdNJQ8Lrs
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 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HkU5mqiZq
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCgtUKXWRV
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxK4ZfDoaC
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V02xl2wKe
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG72SMzQsVK
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRy5A8thiZ
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpSWWHz3tO
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZhZLQ1O5t
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr9c8gJjSn
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94ok2jLP7Q
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAehKkClHBN
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUSNSLUYTu
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoF7zyjLuJ
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwtWIEbUFq
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGkM7ouxF5
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigzY9SFGSU
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGGt9wiPxT
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLFZqIGfyF
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX10V7KQjd
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhPV3PorzD
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DVGtVO4BD
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sz8TD7B4s
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2X3xjWLJP
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX66lTzixUu
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uZee7dKdb
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8EW4u8w39
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCrCj3vB41
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0AZhQVnNJ
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSNL8eRWe5
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGotQxidgWR
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDNmrjPKCz
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq51xo1125
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL92Coy7qG2
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqEbAq1ldd
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ5fsfRI4k
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAyWptvI7K
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4xLLmtiDj
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkW4ZmONpU
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxhCTXl78d
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGRcmg49JT
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYr9IrMGcK
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNtQgxjlLQ
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxATg4LPpaE
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3wtm6UZAc
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreoW3v8dOS
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsEGF4mhs0
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 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxANxmD4wA
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj8I5kNXWM
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9bGlTAonz
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 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTc3t9D2yC
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBvGZqL8xV
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDtQ590W2D
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaXAwtprJ4
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEkuQ5eRvV
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKlCXxFNbW
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK8dmmwP1L
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ5Zu7OrmF
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWFe09TC5C
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArLj99OqEg
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIEobCETH6
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtagLE9YaYg
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKhhRoSaCO
we leave?"
"When you are ready."357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvyXPEjQcX
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEstpM0O0XQ
