264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSannN7kAd
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzB9G05VdP
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCigp4j2s5
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr2J673gA3
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g1fr3LaEl
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqIFP54Vdr
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvsRtca6xk
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C73MzWtDp
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlQKmeYjQv
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMUoIBH4Rn
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdY9EquIO2
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx7hnljSkA
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9fHnc4ycp
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn8Xvn7fI8
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVEVXEKjgB
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6NYFSVlve
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMjfNpTGDS
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuni6Pp3Mdc
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GGyEz9iwE
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uUPmgO5DW
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGfRrNyfAO
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXoYyUkraQ
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKAjFokuKD
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 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VqSSqOLI3
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSsKsx62jm
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJonfZrLpOP
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03SUEwthVl
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz8JuQJgya
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GNr712Jr1
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 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESqpk3YyrM
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXudj6DbIQ
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyglpoez8b
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx4RS8xjGJ
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHMCexCG30
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mSLFXLgaK
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlrwdfmZge
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBcu0yF37A
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANDtavgAyB
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXH5FCq0jX
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM426RMHam
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oPQrPh6yr
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWVPCxsiSi
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpHTIHMaoj
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun8gxRrY6Z
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TKvfpmLgQ
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV19yuiEbR
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhJyNb2QRf
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72VLYVlecw
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkYGPeY68k
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLJczVc3IG
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMaFuyUNv9
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5rcQonGhj
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf0xkmXmvP
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDmKXE7Esy
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPc6G5MxSt
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAEadDnlTG
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIrZ6dzC2M
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9yJlWbfaJ
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mQCuvxtKI
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7UFIABFSq
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYUsdEYM13
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGi4PACuXc
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYTCKOMggB
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFM7X46EAA
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Cw8Bid7G6
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaK6fZkvan
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHBVaFi7dF
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1gYK9bbSD
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLHPGkcmo0
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUE1MsIuqE
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVPIhnciNp
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nuDoMMnzG
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIa9E2KC0t
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCRxNafGYi
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUahWvTTISB
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 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzhBqZZCUh
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ4GDF3ybE
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZOD6ERTsC
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 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h3pt4AXOW
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PBgFsuH0K
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zy8LZMO1p
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpNfMdQbFy
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIwpnrG0pJ
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowysLGEaX2
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEJZMbTzJD
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF66S79UxRQ
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl5TyT4p5p
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2dJPZxVsO
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5muQktXJH
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLBqvNIwHb
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdSMumntUU
we leave?"
"When you are ready."264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39bxrdCLKu
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlJxzoBojJ
