257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsujK5PNGIS
The wind polished the stones smooth. Wildflowers grew in 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsPyKj09L0
abundance, the air crisp and clean. Thin clouds streaked across 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ix2ZvIV7F
the bright sky on this day.
A few trees dared to grow. The handful that did were solid and 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65wRSNJY3H
stubborn, much like the people. In the distance, a formally shaped 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2vUzaJ6Eb
stone building stood in defiance of the wind. When all other 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSxlC8y0Rw
structures were round stone domes, the Milborrow family kept the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFxnYDZ6u2
traditional building.
A road to the lower valley wobbled past the estate. Stone walls 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ102KBU3til
telling the road were it stopped and the estate began. A vineyard 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFkmGpYFhA
poked around the corner. Soil brought up from the lower valleys 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk04rEqSb2F
made a garden. A small stream hidden behind a stone stall for the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZxQJy0QoG
estate's horse dashed across the lawn only to disappear over a 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGokDizQL1x
nearby cliff face.
Inside, fieldstone fitted together by quality masons define a 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4jDWCeFhV
rectangular structure to create an estate of old. Timber, brought 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdW6gXWFYD
from the lower valleys, replaced portions of the stone. A 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej6CJXlwC7
hexagonal fireplace offset from the centre of the room heated a 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2eOxhprGC
stew destined for tonight's supper. A long oak dining table 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzuZehiEIW
pushed against a far wall showed signs of formality slightly past 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi9vECsyd0
its date. A large cat stretching across a chair fulfilling its 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJihbazTG6
obligation of doing absolutely nothing.
The adjoining room appeared to be built by accident. The noise of 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlRVSPGErC
pots, pans, and opinions expressed overflowed into the main 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcCGzAleGL
dining area. Elsie Milborrow was finishing the process of making 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DjKQpzMZJ
her signature soap. She prided herself on using only the finest 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAnl5ltbwi
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 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAERa1iAXdr
when she was young, they both grew up together. Now Lord Auberon 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2zboodWOO
was taking the little one away, transporting him to a far away 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IX4aZzprG
land.
"I can put together a travelling kit for him. I will include 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFgw6271xJ
feeding directions and general care." She finished the statement 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUM7rLO9yu
while rubbing her hands in a dish towel, her hands already dry.
"Good. You will need it," Lord Auberon sipped the last of his 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW341KCyzh
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 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdhSZojf1p
qualified to transport your friend to his homeland is you, 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N5g7k7YFg
Estella."
"But I need to run the house. Aunt Ascelyn won't be back for 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdSbaS7p7Q
another month!"
"We have made arrangements. I have spoken with your aunt 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WhoYVmq9c
regarding your trip. She is fine with the idea." The unusually 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFETeu3y2cy
tall gentleman placed the teacup gentle back in its saucer, elven 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLzcYr8PPW
lineage showing in his movements.
Elsie patted her apron clean, "It's quite a trip." She paused 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E4yso8tR3
while she thought. Glancing around the room she made a quick list 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiiG1zbREG
of all the things that needed to be done, "but what about 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIR89X8B69
Katharine! She can bring the dragon home."
"The dragon almost ate her."
"Well there was that one incident," a furrowed brow, "but I'm 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe6ZM5AKAx
sure they'll get along."
"We are not so sure." Auberon pushed the teacup and its saucer 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRedGtSYQT
towards the centre of the table creating a space just large 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRejeSUzocy
enough for an envelope and then continued, "These documents were 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGEdI56hzR
drawn up by the scribes. They are of the finest of writing as 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZadJI0yl9h
both elven and dwarven cultures demand it. You are to lead a 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUUEK87QzH
expedition to the Silver Forest Fortress of Illytheria. From 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd8zP9TE2P
there, you are to gather a representative of the elven lineage and 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsenIr91L7
travel to the dwarven stronghold of Black Ironbear located in the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEOkXg8UIP
Coppermines mountain range. You will present your expedition 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvx5bhTqE5
papers and its purpose to the managing authority. Dieliununi 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCnILox5av
Mountainbane has recently passed and we are unaware of whom the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AYTlm7G0J
new leadership is."
"But why do we need the dwarves?"
"This is an issue for all Sapiens." Lord Auberon watched Elsie, 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5JHaWpc2u
"additionally, the expedition needs to cross their lands. Without 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1O065AsMs
formal approval, we cannot travel over their mountains."
"Why not fly over them? Airships do that all of the time," 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV1a3ExPjP
Elsie was stamping her heal on the ground, there had to be some 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE8uAFVbZG
way out of this.
"Trade. Dwarven made goods are highly praised. The merchant 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjKKMMHMYB
guilds would not sign on as support agents without that 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF0y7MaUcg
requirement. We must have dwarven authority to cross their 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQTfFwCEmJ
lands."
"And what if they don't agree?" Find something in a pocket. Maybe 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ115338SZ1i
the answer is in this pocket here.
"That is your responsibility." This stopped Elsie cold. "As 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYY8bE65AZ
expedition leader you will need to make your case to both the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71lKPSTY2b
elves and the dwarven leadership as to the validity and necessity 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIfNDg2TUs
of your cause."
"But the," she searched for the strange word, "elves have already 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGyouTkqVD
agreed?"
"Mostly."
Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier Province was rummaging through 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ461TTKy8qO
the towel in her hands looking for an answer. And found none. "I 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBVARgIIed
am an 'expedition leader'?"
"Yes."
"But I don't know how to be an expedition leader," her voice 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuAFKmf5lN
trailed off.
"We have assigned the Flying Salamander with its captain to the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFga72WoL0W
expedition. The merchant guild of Kovale has funded the auditor 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sxK3lQW09
Obadiah McNarlin. They will support you." Lord Auberon slid the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbxd9uR79F
papers back into their envelope then left them on the table. "It 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZurS74f4IF
is our conclusion that if this expedition fails, war is eminent."
"War?!"
"Merchants have noticed an increase to demand to supply soldiers 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAFdnoOY66
in Lorfell. The previous time this occurred was before the 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzHcBrfFQG
outbreak of the Athorn War. Additionally, the airship guilds have 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv61OtVPAnp
noticed an increase in dragon activity along the Boundary. 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIqaAtadiv
Several reports of dragons flying in formation have been 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTiVRZ2N3U
received."
"Flying in formation? That is only done if they are regimented."
"Yes. According to the few books that we have, the dragons will 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiNL2bSMnf
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 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3SHIXX3fC
two adolescent dragons all of the stone variant." Deep lines 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57iUysvvOT
appeared across the elder gentleman's face as he spoke, "the lead 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegOWYeHYN2
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 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh7Ul4NHUa
established communication between the two sides have been poor." 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmPeFD6l89
He watched as Elsie scribbled notes into a small journal. "We can 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnFviYbiMK
supply you with --"
"Most of what you know about dragons was from my aunt," she 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmGYf302EC
paused, "I'll review this with our family records. Are you sure 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuyy5NIQMa
Katharine won't go on this trip?"
"The dragon tried to eat her."
"There is that point." Estellaese Milborrow of Oldfarrier 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP4S7eiXtv
Province which is located in the Shire of Greenspan Southlands 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vMp6NsIKJ
was of the bloodline that few nobles dared to cross. Her lineage 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhAHkvKEHB
was in every major battle and went back several centuries. Few 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7NtTT3kuL
dared to be in a stone's throw of a dragon of any size, yet they 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0qbgqg0DO
looked at these creatures in the eye. Few could tame a dragon, or 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUcXVecion
them.
The ancient fire of an old lineage travelled to the surface. An 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYpIdIEVvF
energy that created the world leapt forth, "Okay, I'll go. When do 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP3J17RFxG
we leave?"
"When you are ready."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzydPuWYnmM
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwUuFFmFd7
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