592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg5X4KlL5W
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4kzxl8N5j
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PiwcS3Olh
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeY3U872CG
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsBueGNHy7
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEt6o2JxPI
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vOjPaUIOe
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OnDWBMkNE
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqhggSapSa
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLcO9e60tX
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3nkhFRemy
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEeM6F1EHN
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zM2aGZOAR
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqmBYubRyG
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6k7tKvHCz
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLsRBiZUu1
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgUhBY2yox
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe0gwPusOI
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzWptczubO
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ4q1CpVE3
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lrZV5mgQp
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY0CO0B7ic
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Edy7Exd5b
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 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrYT9zDpgs
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7N5h0U0PJ
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTGsTOSKjU
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch1hDOSvQ2
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42P5Qypwbn
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxcvRd2DMT
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 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZlOUCh3zE
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuRuRU4D7h
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwOsIC2XIO
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqS07NOvcI
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1imZ2D6jow
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5U6S6P91w
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNee3S296AO
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE10ei9LMO
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy47Ecrjq9
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna6tUdg9TV
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf9qx97mlu
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxiOLpAeEf
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JfzpVaCCF
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSytCmnsXtp
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvqphi7VbE
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKZpVRcPtf
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa81ZvfxDfY
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXiNN8oZDP
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmkoP0vDKf
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb18fi7t6d7
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mOXkcBK5v
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHCngMTSmJ
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MwVCqcwni
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq4WwdumsK
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtOs71BK9V
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwXzRELCKG
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMhWcHRUma
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYepXtnLFA
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjZfZ2eruK
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFTvmUA03W
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN03JQcdmK
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAFEafSOA8
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEXZGK6ub5
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyB25tpGsb
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINh17qNB9X
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONyeMSmHWm
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS64Gopt3AE
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Rea3uPyK
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob4oCdsymc
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZurEgpZEP
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2tr1mIa3q
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjYkQ19RCm
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXQlS3yWrb
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fyc5JHRon
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdS6IrUG4B
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXDG4kg2Bz
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 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKCTUeESqe
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEIiYjmQhO
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT2MWsZNvQ
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 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXV1aAJJUI
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ858EYzjsZK
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCTsmnui8d
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8N2pSGcLU
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Lx92KCzwd
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCmpOCY67s
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDNmShCye4
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkGRSIOwLg
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc1ANEJcZC
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oSey5HZNL
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRzizx6UC7
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z7V3JEhYT
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCg9kGw42a
we leave?"
"When you are ready."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDrX040sL6
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuPfe0d7dI
and then Add to home screen.