558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hH74GEXiy
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvWtX3b7Ua
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzFlIAJvuB
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUTyHM8xXu
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAiQXvs8yd
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5r2U64AgN
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kiaFIZeVX
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfY7hgp2jn
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9tHrr6l5l
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemHd5pUnxh
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6zm3cPXJX
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSctjrLh5p
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2vxCF6n6o
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLcGZftBXp
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe76zZ8KCo
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodY749mFYw
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx16SGkf0V
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya0WkmWdNP
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKq2LRWaxg
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyog8rZtIOZ
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjTptBZ0Vt
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3CaaaoanL
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q0l24EsQB
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 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYcMtA5vHX
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6pAffqirc
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW8QZRs3Ej
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01MxhLNALt
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK0UUP40On
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RPxkxBoKL
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 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCttZIwzUb
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbreT8zGkJ7
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzje1MRz9Q1
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5091MNMZL
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkTWXMC0SQ
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3wjGV4dFl
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrmPltBqGI
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHGDlP3tDE
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAKUCUldcO
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFmtmrZ7Ww
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrpF5yPzLl
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNPikh4ceS
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxACgAWgTGo
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi78Gv84ydu
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuadQ7oeXZ
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVSdJhcjmM
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxifezpq3Jf
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoJitYSKuI
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmjw2WAqiY
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbKsH03Qj3
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLo5nLXav2
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdr3Kh4YSP
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ50qolbqC
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqHUzpx3jz
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBfLI8Ri07
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeD2vDNhGN
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EDGSb7kZz
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4J6IrFux1
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQmrnp3hus
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO9q3yr9Kg
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcI0QD88Kj
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOUQQZt21n
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUjGLC6yZT
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV5EDVjlCT
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHOuvsgbz3
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdNPt7Y7Rg
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSimz8BVld
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUElrNUX6p2
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuthSUk6zh
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5AUYbwtTx
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztGKJmV6hn
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX2T8Noak3
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEEk0UCdFi
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXf9TRZGyV
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fpGUbQyV8
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM7iiS97kB
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 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBSWTt0WFV
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpObFLgAQxP
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfyBDTfaCr
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 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyOsnXOgfM
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp04YCC2hcS
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizWow3UrYm
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13X5BUGd6k
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUmE069JZH
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejPTJT6A1T
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruTzNT0rRP
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9vzTn8sRF
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwCZ8BED2H
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK0keLa9Q2
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcMVF1cFwj
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6xuKFgePb
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgmBaKB4T6
we leave?"
"When you are ready."558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RWKaaNlIO
558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf1rrYq0u7
and then Add to home screen.