275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEAcDpbY6v
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yPCK0h6CV
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3hyQRLndk
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQvRm9nohc
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWCMpxYOW5
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0lU2WJD0Z
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzztQrpKb5
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGzkNMAmdo
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M0TMjp4zF
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM5k4yWhDW
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrRvI108nN
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XyxX5Ko5p
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7lPC7Mhg0
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETSZwUp9DO
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6QS7yuFIt
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLc8NX2dn2
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIp6fkgvwR
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogP00mXcZC
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcrI5N8TxK
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAMNnuqBXB
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds9fiBAkDL
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfyQH5HKN4
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wWR18WZks
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 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zwdLNxwap
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfI0YWzRny
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MRvMPCysj
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Xjp5W2e3c
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAKgtMfdlO
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSLZSHR4Nm
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 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCeXHYQXBr
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v9Ym0jCRN
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkpS8ZO6Mk
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBvpRCtb1b
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakjZyLT5yU
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP90noaOSwt
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GLCwbL2xO
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpWCeaCFxw
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCj0qNSnzw
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRoSljKENz
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIPhDvT5AV
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vZu81XvuS
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBERWQpGGI4
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOGwBzbTp9
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUglDaKNSTZ
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ggOnUOurL
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uRtJXPBEw
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yn5ggdDEk
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKcQcsKwRp
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa7e9lWINN
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBgdCwzfYm
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS4bMhdcGX
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunc7bZCVDc
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7lZqfjbTp
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDhdmVcA5R
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBjo4iRxPi
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVA0gagwnf
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsRla5rRHc
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYkCOEDuGt
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu1X7O7xxT
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBeiDpFuDn
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPAVY8spdL
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb96lSjV4kb
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODd1Ir8FXx
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3VjG1lzwc
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaHIxWcSAx
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7ahaVrran
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAMFz1QxNY
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kqTYLg0ca
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWgId7ZXVD
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzxprT2epf
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQgwSivyrf
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oN9SsoXk8
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMk5IamWrv
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sPrAdWz5w
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYSLgromM2
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 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVgbhv5pvN
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNYpdFvEvp
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl2LtMn54o
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 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOa7n0CHUn
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hGfvrfiVw
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglFevLFzrk
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNTJA4t5BW
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OTAMIstHG
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oQax9bNYH
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmqTsBs9KN
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSvTXhyPQW
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgoixgC8yl
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwEgz3JqBJ
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16XTp9Xxzp
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tJ1ShedAB
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI07GlHw8p
we leave?"
"When you are ready."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiSJK3Aic2
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjFttEx4Zd
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