248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrioFkBASd
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOs1GZScNh
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBBNPF8xtR
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFsRsQR77K
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjje3RBRox
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LtrqCXMAP
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKjaTfUElc
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgP7O4GCJt
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz5vazW1SX
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yPDLfSI3X
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrB2tmb3Zy
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTrjconXBO
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qkQnCNmUC
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysLrZxu7jX
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoxuuKpM28
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ7X8CN3OR
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof8T17FK1R
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzRF2OukNv
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6tBaLmCDE
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoSHOzCaE4
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEWf2S29fY
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxQgZnYo95
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX23R224d5
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 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWQ4jWteXO
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAOusDrzMj
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXZp4fsX3m
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAeDCO31CC
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jvq5xQHMj
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jIwnXbi9I
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 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaJyeLYpRK
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKHfKlrqBM
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXL3qB1C4V
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfRkCOYd8b
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F2yxDSERP
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5boY9b3Vk4
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLWUTivTmS
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNPCoQqJao
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf9rdy5uR4
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0c5oJUCOO
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAJPsivope
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB85Bi0kvYP
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEweOfdQct
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO45sDIcv5
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVGP9y6OQK
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8bKMReewj
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUaYlaCfsY
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpn8ax1EkV
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdbqSxM8Co
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkU2Vw6Pd6
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybk9fjAskM
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVwzAHpoSW
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF9VTibaOY
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bYvf9lMgZ
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniUA1evkuS
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqRfdCDfVA
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisIozCI2cs
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDCJ3i3hTs
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlsDiUFGaS
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBX4SiH6f8
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h8INXm05W
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1ICwQRLWu
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bSCNP2Z8U
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cV8DGc78x
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ8uYzeV0r
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6y2fbjRKM
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp2Ie9p929
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE6SdsOdBC
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqWTYpTeaP
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthlqbOE3sM
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ7qMGbxXx
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPyU6G5ECT
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgLgJh8woy
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RM1N0kTTy
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopW8jeP5Y2
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOppw1PxMak
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 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL9gvlnQb8
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygBW3WiWtl
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE8snDqR0u
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 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkztFOAR4y
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUhgbc7UD0
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81v9XJSlSV
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlx58pdBcb
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETVn83eSBV
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoL9Vs1Lg2
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vvSAmN4DX
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZkbF59Wf1
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6WDK7fZh7
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE8PgqBuYK
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqvIGPxhTI
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ge0YmtskX
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbXOstg8t6
we leave?"
"When you are ready."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3o7kM3lx0
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gvmjTpu1x
