260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPeheEgGpM
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNE7Mj3Hld
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hPaAuVJvo
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8zBvvzQ7P
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBK4BdgEtG
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwTFMZIW3F
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8VbF4QZ5U
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fu7H24iJ1
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqAf53A2B0
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCJ2QzUa1t
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh6uH21tUU
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmsqLX01Nx
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ36FurwFV
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEDDBda5wm
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡud9jl5fJVo
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFniGPAaJO
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQqrNiegIr
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o0fYy502O
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWNVX2urez
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XaX2AOM1s
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVEGmsd7BX
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgebF53AZX
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxzeKhix3U
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 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwghePEFYsa
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9lCRZxiDq
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqfXypeUzY
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o4MVRW9za
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWfT9zLNnV
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTZoNZKb1E
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 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhTD4fOsQQ
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnUxSWV8Xs
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyAHgZJILH
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLaepeGzL9
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS66us9Y5DK
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkciHUhN2A
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQZ1yi6ZVr
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxnHO9DhHl
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1G6Vq7jDM
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhj5P46aeZ
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH5xHC78Se
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRjew4PIMZ
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfiTWYmzlZ
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1o6eXS4aT
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbzqJOqBBS
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nRSzJGcO4
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanbpE8vlgw
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5PTSeZ0ao
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrAJP9VGuf
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtWCvIn8ug
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlLezcZfmU
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIVCxO16UM
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CtFWvZhE3
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl62TokC54g
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn96fnK9U2
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFuYbCONct
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6HeTOHqVo
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTmkWMfzWq
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl0u1NFTzq
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CdNZXsW4q
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB1sGS2Ug1
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1xNmiFBWc
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T324MEsgG
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFHErYEW1H
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG3r7hndZD
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoZoLsuUk4
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsf4emWkVDc
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3DfK2mpKq
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FasklPRMt
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8nIGa1vCe
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bRfhwD8UD
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jmXnoioEu
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81yneMffp0
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArDx3VPpXv
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTxcIz2w53
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5AxLzmFB2
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 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNLpMs3EXA
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHraIIKdzo
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ICI7OFCPS
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 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5OE1md7a0
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQaUaBt7Hf
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzINAJUrKx
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwCb74Aykg
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgnitTGPux
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnC92NmnFP
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6YkweGTIi
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli1G4zcJ7N
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfBPsmOEc2
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdauzYPA70V
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtp3j42n98
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCGde1hmB2
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ5wH8Vkkw
we leave?"
"When you are ready."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjascvtwPe
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27pqz6qDqZ
