312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWyVXDHf3L
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h07TB1rhu
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI88VvJ6IHX
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNwWGF5Yfr
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9CQRgMPby
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVdasIxbB4
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQe8n7OjI89
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeVB13mK0K
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S0MZeC8N0
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeOQOEQPpd
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXNqCBQHFu
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqjjpDV2OK
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGQZ0xEVsL
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVZ9uBCFBZ
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyiWUHLwgj
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQFSxyzJiO
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtczSMzdLCg
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgG7BFytcD
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnFTvVuakx
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p0AORkJ9k
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78fn6fPJgJ
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpXPtAA5Ai
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tuI1CBQes
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 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOqtGJJUxA
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZBgFXW13a
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk5THbQOVA
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AscWVihUW
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbyRhznSNH
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBvxlicBlY
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 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh41Q7oR1pX
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwebD9OgXhZ
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiNI4exZAS
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7p5dlOyUG
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZglrNmZHth
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqvpczmrUi
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftcY0bl0Nl
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS26ZvOuJM
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kg9Cctrog
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlTmi5LJec
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9j63YiOdh
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5fFR2ekJ5
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlGXCGGaWA
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Em5JYEDu
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4boq5E2MNe
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr16KzuH4OY
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8c9xrBN6x
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIqognHVYI
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6dl7ntspX
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7joc3wKPe
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7iJZdA1lo
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWzz9Xi7e2
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfHuBoAXyL
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQcX7AZggZ
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v8ewWd9ls
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZkU3S1cZk
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUPF3crTXx
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDWvCI0vCL
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xvLh05tr8
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK1LGSPPXS
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnxWnA9G1R
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmsqkkBbdF
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJAN92QWYA
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZX1lQHnUm
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBTV74Rsrx
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbREUTNU2VQ
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkbgbPObzc
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgBW73JdfD
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFAxz2J9xD
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBChnrNnjY
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnhVFB4YDo
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb4mcqAAmC
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJKRuA9nWs
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfZ3DOEF2c
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaN4MUdx8K
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs3hxHfI1j
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 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo8wWomJU1
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8OLm2E81b
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJBI4vxmEE
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 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlGVgygcKE
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngbZhxHKdv
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4DMrdGSKv
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ma9L3rO0K
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNUmsRWONf
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqdGbKe2Ql
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpvqIPD29B
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcg8Z0dX89
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuSjRf2yi0
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeOPipqk1D
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0ZrxN5ERz
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBimfSxVKfZ
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERcwgeoHh9
we leave?"
"When you are ready."312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbKRHco0nN
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MV1UdT6uy
