325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQa1kNXm6E
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAimqltgjr
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSPFgTAJFl
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZcHh879us
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhDzY8LN2j
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDCJCZZE0o
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWQ2n9x0Uf
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qzrlLgEpG
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKFEedsHUV
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ZibX6rHL
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O4wELO74A
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡektUOZkjrV
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl25iYfT7n4
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ11WQnlVl
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuncI2ruN7k
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6KssXzLdb
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lpI1eRnCu
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmSnYcudlq
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaojHmq0RVO
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ8XWdZela
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QGsPfX2em
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlMnXJ3PvJ
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc9R0deL2q
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 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfw2Sb6Ei6
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwEWtiNwqP
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc24N7UjUsk
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizDrGlCRKR
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCqVUZR1yi
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4atIDqw223
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 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT6n0iH9p0
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKYRWc5LCT
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqWWvB7yiA
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbq6nBJx4Z
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjHyvm4MYB
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7YWykAYB5
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDXOTJsNRu
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyaFyoC5sX
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcUMVUFtyj
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR804dhX7a
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa3bkUXqyl
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjY4DM2Hgs
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKkuLiNy7n
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2Vd7rgWfs
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUT0B2K2BK
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPaP1tgLco
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmKXQ0ynQ8
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvFkk8v7wf
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2y9W3OPMe
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHg6hRpxf7
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0JuGvDZBR
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhUyULTs2Y
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvPpAjGRF3
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE3trg52T5
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZaBY4UCZV
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GXSZDBhg1
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RCqoQCTIY
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlpf0raPIE
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUWSsjcsMJ
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p2RyQTv1x
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0FaibXVgH
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypt1pVCDd9
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtybIaQP1QS
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWm0zcfHZg
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF561f396r
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91lzohxLMb
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk8JAJ4SjC
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0DW2vQPDQ
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrydTvF9ko
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4ktuYMD21
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WM3JdjHZi
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQFACHIvl0
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3y99wmyH6
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDgHtxxiRD
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncvlGZhtfu
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dM1IaUHQN
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 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuLP1m62CB
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cwJIHeIn6
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YmCw0Nd8X
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 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR4JP9Vs7i
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEp7JJNHsl
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI9AYr1eTH
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuFJyfvGiN
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw17RyDmzM
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwYgGLDrIF
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg69MZaypQe
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsivqc0dJsN
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKiR4LxvNG
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv83TVhDT9J
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8w5zcDbBY
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZa7uY7n3E
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYhak7ousJ
we leave?"
"When you are ready."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhR4EhSgGE
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfcC7U9aK6
