235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS7zJjO5WV
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuyrwrBoZG
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKMPaz6ckb
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ptoetFMSd
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqHkU8WwX9
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe3kx8ZSTl
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TR2kngS4Z
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcMPt9f0Zr
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpMnXXc66t
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5VmgM5mwl
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlbwhjxeii
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUARYRsnXS
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTH7Rn8Y1y4
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBigfb7ythg
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KmzYr7xqi
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgUzrB4pZ0
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygt29tAGx1
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u6MSHNRKW
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJdhydQqH1
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjEMG9LOOE
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrTiXzB1Ge
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbvOJmf5rf
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7D9YRz15r
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 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQVOI4Q9jc
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PK1k4tHrb
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXkCqoWvu8
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY35DTakj3Q
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraNDa513fw
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3sVMFSSrZ
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 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ibFpoHpg6
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzySSPrp60P
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HfvHJHgM2
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FI1bDYtBD
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA7ib8XHZ6
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02jDEUHJqL
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGTVvJEGjw
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzxATPAmFi
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctoszUX05O
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAOdqzLWek
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jM80UGeN4
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgFwFukIbp
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcpbboPd4f
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPVEIjYXNF
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82ysz6UDSr
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXRoJF9fKd
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNkPQ7SMPy
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbmXE7yhGW
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAePMFm2wvE
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Msy0Hc7Z4
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wkY4Rwl7s
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjHEVWPddR
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNrwx3Y3W9
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYlgg5lIYY
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJN2G4Y9iD
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykrnRiCks0
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoReIR3yvid
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXOmhRsXwm
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG4n4p1GED
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLrBOCPAB4
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFoDl0iYwO
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3umCe4fKX
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlfAalwaHW
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRFTnhFJZc
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtB51KPbgb
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb6Y7q41I9
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQlVtoHlH0
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q6xqYYKkJ
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCky4Lf5UnO
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh1R6fM0Pz
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSnKkjeFgT
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLBcIcENCE
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTpuMmMobI
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMmhehvhuP
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDmniXNcgB
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZv9DURHLX
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 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDXh2rpR7m
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68ZXC3OgA8
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjoNjMuKSM
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 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmXt09UYGV
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXAQRIu7JP
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn5usLCXBC
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kaCcCF3ld
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChWDdD14op
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwBoyMynq2
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIkPf2ytiK
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75C4jwDYIp
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgHxpk9REX
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9YsrdIXsR
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkebCECfA9X
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jnT3zCt1y
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZbfXzHxLn
we leave?"
"When you are ready."235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw87BAyPIUq
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbkZ9pMVPj
