562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLaoVDYbaC
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA494uFS5R7
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wBhSZED9u
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JgzgOnAru
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVVt1MZ5Sy
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4URw68M1x
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4j0w3ibhU
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJFepI6uP8
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxfoZ0xQPU
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDVOmmSrMa
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUmo3TZKvz
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rZgvN7gBU
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8ASIWYnlz
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4UTQ3ikOq
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0JEc87sUF
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3PVyHyS1I
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsosakQOvY6
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvbe6FdTYa
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLZLoU0knO
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7imold7N5
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JvVEbbm8V
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqYQTiD4q4
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgmueaqOGb
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 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcacfn0JG00
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBPKffH84u
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQutwcDmjP6
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHfgpXsjZe
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KXyB0tx16
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCpTnOXZ7G
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 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx3LfUAgUn
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWEdt5god6
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DKkdbPajw
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH902ECa12
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX2S4i79dd
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb4rlzwJd9
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CPVwYWNgu
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp7TA9DS4f
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooDy3jsmx4
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9n2dQ4aP9
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTPqxwUCYw
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXdQXMeNZX
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJhZSIW8Pn
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNXoWaJwTX
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCchlUTBsE
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPf3oNt5sw
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCUNTKvve6
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6htBrjiu1R
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeAZ90C3J9
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmODdxkVR0
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEOHH3SQ7n
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRGqpRv7Pc
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P2esEuYnL
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8FO92vuXE
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5hEfnrqO8
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHMO9ISUfk
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDgJ255Nbt
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMEgPkzD7K
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPheTHE7tap
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nASpWDtw9
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ej0sZvFjR
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBfH8KOYXp
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw6QMF3UJR
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKANNVozBK
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoTY7t6jhY
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJljsYCRuRF
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwfCDgA9cs
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LbElz1PLt
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2uPYkIobf
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWnbBNZHTB
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9TJhO4VJ1
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe0bEP3haL
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUDDcKDbYM
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS10iCwKIJG
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNAcRJg0w7
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs0k4KMFUu
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 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjiIghjTC6
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hDfYaEjSr
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoRU2pfhRe
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 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr4Nqto05q
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMkI44FASb
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKQmvEbGdS
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPGlOIeJDX
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuF6ShrKDD
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESyAd8vUJv
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mfC1P4XVI
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfwLMWCjBY
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzTmbhDiuj
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG3jD6aZGG
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElw7LQjkMA
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8UBrwkirs
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTZAoegvQJ
we leave?"
"When you are ready."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe4QXaZPqD
562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeFjgH5Ig0
and then Add to home screen.