273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4OoLFRX67
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHlAmyMp0O
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1FPR0k9mc
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SPV8nty3W
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40aOiwDbkm
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznGDMOtp5p
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn918lCQ8mj
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq6hF2EkQV
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdVkz9YEER
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1F2D48Arp
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUStrIY8d0e
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TSqld1DiX
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSLoU0Ov47
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCndhrNT4dn
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jCBM95ROK
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlicRMI72QZ
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALV2c7Irq6
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIOHvBz1EM
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXzgVUd9LK
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKnwra3icv
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbihnlTAb9i
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruOhlvuSPG
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uXweVHjWm
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 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ652ZwuJ6b
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhB6CKsaUP
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN7AV4uhYR
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gjXzq6ZPm
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr1VB4G7jv
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhergckz6hu
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 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGQwhei6PY
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ebhLhLhVK
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFLknremCD
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmBL3RGnqd
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AjCywKE8M
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5vREH7k26
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Gney2K69X
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrJ8D6poyw
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatFVyOgtxa
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWya6VTSgBo
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHet4worTe
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27RyyNjAlg
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pKkRfPO2v
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyST2gXX8t
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3VhVAZlqJ
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquONgpX8Kl
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYg9a139Bg
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUH1rq7f7o
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFE0psRK3X
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rPtJapTCd
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jbaDf7Whv
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxSlLNwjsa
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv06YtmwrKm
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvNNvDPL9d
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyULTcjvAZV
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMIxqdfwS8
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf3NwsDemf
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhRzkrmLiG
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq071GUJBW
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRaak25dyG
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlAbjZ8pdL
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U6DYxiy6s
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsOub1fOQl
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3agK6sxtbx
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtNt4NiDmy
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoY6uYY6rq
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTH19Jth6t
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLewQkvYxz
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKBJwhnPKo
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbiRI1qTVC
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JkarWLDdG
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m9sTa1AXj
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5S3VoaA7d
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3PbZZtC67
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgk74O8dT6
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvRMhqu9ch
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 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtpIYyMDfP
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLlHQk1dQ0
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDaX034i5C
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 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUw1KEnmh6
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DiF5le7Qq
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYWsso0fmX
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmg1gJXT30
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi4vQB0GyT
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie6QlAVS3s
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfVrGTSAoY
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW3qWGx0nq
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwPsGtymg3
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI3z9K09Am
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0AdyaSEYx
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12ZOAaIIOB
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZz9ztouGI
we leave?"
"When you are ready."273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvkInylgZ7
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IMFJaUuIo
然後按「加至主畫面」