238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrrtiDGOZl
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OpOSX3pEr
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi4DeChyPA
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMdTvdE27h
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCazlPsWAO
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOWXrcxDnm
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdD9vYJXbU
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUnS6V2kkV
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByDBwC3Vkl
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3Eo3x8bQS
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡromkS7GkS4
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhUcu8gpIe
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZpXIY6sTR
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNO70qa2Fy
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKBGJn8iSi
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMO8ZekrTi
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh0G7KHbvT
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSwKPt03o3
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwLFqo8u6z
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPZBFXeMnV
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9jdD80C1U
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK23MjO8mIn
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E9YD9MFi0
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 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZNOQSt41N
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUaMEFRb1x
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFN7f2PbHE
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9qICFYcgn
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ttT287fEo
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhV9fjXO7K
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 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv1P8Ykeww
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOfQSuzyvD
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAU0aiGl0h
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE6gZQA90l
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKnBw7g5OR
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupSA7gFFe6
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUs2kL5S3R
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPncgA2uPIy
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHN1IUAgKu
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhz6Y46FmZT
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLPMEQ8Fr9
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5A3UTZ9kh
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHlI36OlwA
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc0s4HJl5t
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzFInMf1HA
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwqjn4BkxJ
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThWXdbxeDk
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBPm1N7DZD
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MDJuyAuIn
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmdvpf4v3v
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXLktubrzZ
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKp05jxZEY
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N0nE48G8p
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQh6zDBMN2
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyqdSDqQ47
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf4RR0BW7b
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXhPL0PTCU
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeEzOlPbvj
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFBDFuurZX
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob6YmEg50f
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj3heJ1blU
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYJZ7ZlK8Z
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHCkD2D5w2
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhCnWnhnwL
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAi5ZoyvEO
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ477zQBnrK5
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYPZgwm3YI
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbFQXXMND1
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XmLZ77q1a
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVh6UltEOp
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadVUczL6gh
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZsf38nWQh
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcAgN3oGFW
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJ6YpLP727
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjg4F9hOCO
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgHhBfX1ju
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 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAXUryMlfn
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR681hasWOs
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIeY7p0ctl
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 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y5Cggpf8q
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVBhN0s8BE
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmkJLMSzg1
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0I0kXwtVz
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3scOM6E9aF
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuZ2YfwP8S
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ddRrDoBrr
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SZUQkDL6G
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d35hBNCaw
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gn3e4mOnt
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY2OI8ogst
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOScO1k2MFO
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspFMC0i1ay
we leave?"
"When you are ready."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWfrXvlgm9
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUNkfGFOy1
然後按「加至主畫面」