272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1aFKqovR6
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQYgKUpzV7
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZpmHgniA2
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwWw3UrfjZ
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2xMopmJs3
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsICnHYtZIE
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3QxyB8iOb
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHRgny69AC
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3QZnODKn6
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xhrmh9rAe
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg1tCsKwVD
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbOPpQLzmb
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwHOjFFhF4
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAVo6y7f80
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f2kN1Vhu2
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmETDajEGyC
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1YlXJag1n
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdIPEJXEw0
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROPuUVHpLP
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ9IPqGInd
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqyWYbSdui
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIeKDgVNtx
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6oSHQcbXo
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 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wDMHa0wiT
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs1OpfzH1D
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF8acmSWRf
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KMY0DpcDO
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0S8MeNKGj
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZIacoZGXP
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 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE1MUJt43k
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pcbmq8Obv
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWGTrzI0Ex
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vkmy2ySDQ
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoGDuGie42
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GIDvedNzb
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcKXDTfEL7
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm63ZNuIvH
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLalynryKGv
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOkbVlxGeY
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAIsqgKxnB
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ejy0tEAKn
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfTldrMPPC
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1H4k5N15h
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP4xybl2Uh
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOsaOHWD6G
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgmghmB4Hp
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hN1EsRBeV
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zsw2ndgRe
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ9cFMdEQH
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFhpQrTuTm
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7uDeP6hv0
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg42bitnkyx
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisPYG6fARP
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDQWeveKuY
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorVHEAq005
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC1digq7Sp
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLuCWIrZYN
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2QAMKwFaM
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTBei8Up0L
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxzsd4ABL9
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitvrZlAnhv
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCet1cHAF8J
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JZQVbsz3F
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYV1s5ExfT
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHQSqQHgF4
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEISTB2eJS
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DRBbXyytu
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczMaHsLpT2
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzSSK3zfAt
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaeR0f70YG
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyOenlRRTX
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMauluC3KE
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEU0Ueyque
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBclZEoTtY
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eC7MNKTI9
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 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPyXktVzun
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPozd6VzTMY
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkcljXga5c
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 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiVZGrZcWX
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHKM7AHdyb
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpjY64o4qW
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFg5LmT1gR
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz0gUdVtq0
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenjjkjsz3l
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj6euXnzK4
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNezDYKcQs
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PIpHJJV3w
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotAmJVGzcA
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2UYSGDBD0
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGmJyzwJ8Y
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUXUhq4Jzc
we leave?"
"When you are ready."272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKA1k73pb8
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0vWPBOAmo
