259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6ezfzr1SC
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8z0QEKTp4
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzMQT58i39
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZUskPFsOe
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O8gUbwywG
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjof4bTRqn
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhf4GJYsbx
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6MFKTE7r7
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TeL6K42HZ
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmjVPs84CL
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19eLwiJcmM
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyHLYObudZ
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI30D4rlUwm
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjob01y7ol8
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAK6c2Z3dZ
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgoHSdEwKW
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEgEHbokf0
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H6Q4UAYIE
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsTx1HcTRu
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdCmdHO04c
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QcR3n4moA
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue4DYsWULC
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobYzRdeAam
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 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sBmG7xHSy
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKWVhbimQ7
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFWeatVrTs
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorayClevcV
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV3Q14ljdE
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9rgFw2puF
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 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbrI2gNQqg
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2YSxWEXLR
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLg2oXlniI
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6sxGSvsEB
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2eAtTLFOm
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI7qTiaL5V
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE7bWedoE0
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe4JIsG1Mq
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgGfvU4XDS
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEuHZMCeVi
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIJnVJNNDy
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW3DtvQdXo
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpjpYB35lT
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBEmffk5MN
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tYO8VceUV
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo2GeLdsf2
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5iJe6OECe
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuYzyGV65X
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNptqlHl27
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyrdtZo4Vk
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfQP04Le0t
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL4bFdx3R5
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI4aRxRdRC
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDYPDXzQVf
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqFAcSRK7L
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfqh9AVINb
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYrmEcpStI
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KHEQORPkc
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCrM4tFpjN
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6gLB8G5kZ
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo87lb2MIiQ
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mQrPf0is6
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwLAttdIGS
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcm5MJ3otzR
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3yyM9m6tI
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnZEv24MJ0
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG1mYn11rK
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAgEEKZ2xw
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMnkGIWqXy
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6kzhldmok
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEHaJPlTjo
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG7FNMPNfC
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4F5YKTget
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gZMQFFqSr
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZASjMyHHpJ
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4GaBufPMS
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 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0isaZ0LSvN
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt4Va4bfAq
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVVs0lBfis
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 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK60QyhZmX
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC5qt0bAGa
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsqyHTKVlg
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnucjG2NrH
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ubwAkV22
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrl4H7sr7K
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOqGifztXu
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgreEnMlBoU
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8fcu6uokx
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDgxd9egiO
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o4lom1KtJ
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTll5ZOG3Cw
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaXnlcVTGW
we leave?"
"When you are ready."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPIrKVbeZu
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGSMaf8tlV
