112Please respect copyright.PENANAXuYROGSM9T
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 112Please respect copyright.PENANAJA5Dljsjd9
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 112Please respect copyright.PENANA7IS1nQjywJ
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 112Please respect copyright.PENANAMKRLSBCUV0
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 112Please respect copyright.PENANAG30Pk0WcHF
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 112Please respect copyright.PENANAF9Ib0lw1zD
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 112Please respect copyright.PENANASYrNNQinfY
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 112Please respect copyright.PENANA88unkq01e4
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 112Please respect copyright.PENANA11pWsX7at9
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 112Please respect copyright.PENANAwVF69XhFbT
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 112Please respect copyright.PENANA19igau9I1M
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 112Please respect copyright.PENANACXHymQQ2ea
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 112Please respect copyright.PENANA3IHSYz717m
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 112Please respect copyright.PENANAGpdNSm5Lnp
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 112Please respect copyright.PENANAT8GtwuA86w
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 112Please respect copyright.PENANAswyYOF4o10
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 112Please respect copyright.PENANAMRd7pWXMrB
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 112Please respect copyright.PENANAjHeayMkZPw
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 112Please respect copyright.PENANASCsvNmukin
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 112Please respect copyright.PENANAvu0hRlD1JX
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 112Please respect copyright.PENANAJmxTX2Hgn0
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 112Please respect copyright.PENANApIgnax5pbI
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 112Please respect copyright.PENANAqxpetBfDMv
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 112Please respect copyright.PENANAH7k4NTABvU
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 112Please respect copyright.PENANAu8qFg2PlH5
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 112Please respect copyright.PENANAmOMU3F3OuG
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 112Please respect copyright.PENANAPTvzjxxrKm
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 112Please respect copyright.PENANA99YTKGwV9V
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 112Please respect copyright.PENANAnQuiZw86vi
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 112Please respect copyright.PENANA4ksPdjThGb
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 112Please respect copyright.PENANAKXcp8vqY2z
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 112Please respect copyright.PENANAhh4SLreuAd
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 112Please respect copyright.PENANASbNDeI0PWy
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 112Please respect copyright.PENANACqlyB8twBf
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 112Please respect copyright.PENANASDTO1WqZOb
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 112Please respect copyright.PENANA33QoT9pcFg
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 112Please respect copyright.PENANAZpRdu1d4T0
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 112Please respect copyright.PENANAW2AYMngmQw
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 112Please respect copyright.PENANA1X60bHywXO
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 112Please respect copyright.PENANAgTae4S06KK
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 112Please respect copyright.PENANAzcju5Unlpw
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 112Please respect copyright.PENANAlpdGjrvQtX
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 112Please respect copyright.PENANAMJo0xjEUz3
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 112Please respect copyright.PENANAmqanLRlmsw
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 112Please respect copyright.PENANAQncglGhBVG
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 112Please respect copyright.PENANA8uk8BA4WAX
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 112Please respect copyright.PENANA4GFB3cEo4S
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 112Please respect copyright.PENANArjMgReyR0T
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 112Please respect copyright.PENANAMFbkwJhD6E
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 112Please respect copyright.PENANACr5EZOlVdx
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 112Please respect copyright.PENANA5YoGQRO0kk
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 112Please respect copyright.PENANA1WhxMjM7bC
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 112Please respect copyright.PENANAo72sSC6MIE
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 112Please respect copyright.PENANAgENU7Gv8dy
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 112Please respect copyright.PENANAtcuM3UNyxN
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 112Please respect copyright.PENANAV44oKYKU39
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 112Please respect copyright.PENANA81jIi0ct3H
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 112Please respect copyright.PENANAFPPXD1SrKs
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 112Please respect copyright.PENANAGogzJPqxSV
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 112Please respect copyright.PENANAvDQHht1hIp
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 112Please respect copyright.PENANAV3nSA7zgrw
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 112Please respect copyright.PENANAfDbbjrxvJG
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 112Please respect copyright.PENANAGvTvAnyxar
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 112Please respect copyright.PENANAIQaLCRuzWM
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 112Please respect copyright.PENANANuRZUtYVhG
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 112Please respect copyright.PENANAd44YtCLxKo
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 112Please respect copyright.PENANASBtA9edFQX
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 112Please respect copyright.PENANA0vZO6i15fV
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 112Please respect copyright.PENANAQFENvzODRk
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 112Please respect copyright.PENANAxZ0o2Ubg9R
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 112Please respect copyright.PENANAcACszmGaVs
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 112Please respect copyright.PENANAR8zbx9ftU2
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 112Please respect copyright.PENANArC8FxP8czt
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 112Please respect copyright.PENANASdqvmsYcbf
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 112Please respect copyright.PENANAqzsVkIghId
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 112Please respect copyright.PENANAos8K6Xa7s7
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 112Please respect copyright.PENANAy7ZF0mgsyA
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 112Please respect copyright.PENANAImr8oWaV10
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 112Please respect copyright.PENANA7sZbZbDVPp
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 112Please respect copyright.PENANAqcwxgZfQmJ
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 112Please respect copyright.PENANAW5fQ67Xgy2
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 112Please respect copyright.PENANAz1iE6quXMQ
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 112Please respect copyright.PENANAIOmYQLR9xo
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 112Please respect copyright.PENANAAa8FzuTlBE
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 112Please respect copyright.PENANAVHWNNXDSiI
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 112Please respect copyright.PENANAIcdXOJI7kJ
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 112Please respect copyright.PENANAEMM83ULSoc
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 112Please respect copyright.PENANABFpSkqkrn1
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 112Please respect copyright.PENANABy9o09jyGt
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 112Please respect copyright.PENANALHN4xU4yXp
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 112Please respect copyright.PENANAtodnqEYmnZ
we leave?"
"When you are ready."112Please respect copyright.PENANALi6qRj1Kg2
112Please respect copyright.PENANAfylmYeLZeZ