Dawn of the Elements - Book 2: The Hand of Threngar

Chapter One: Visions

Silver stood in a field. The Original Master of Fire stood on one side of him. Threngar Silverlance stood on the other. He watched as Threngar went to blast The Master of Fire with The Hand of Threngar. He was watching the battle, as it happened in the past. Or he thought he was.

In a matter of moments, Threngar turned in him, and send a blast of all six elements in his direction. Then he woke in a cold sweat, sitting up, and keeling over. Lyna woke up quickly, and quickly held her fiancé close.

"What happened, Silver?" She asked, concerned. She had never seen him like this before. "It's alright. I'm here."

"I saw it." Silver stated. "Master BenKei told me, that there was a saying in my family. When The Hand of Threngar returns, The Master of Fire will see it in his minds eye."

"If that were true, then Gold would have seen it too." Lyna said, running her fingers through her fiancés hair. At that moment, Gold burst in the room.

"What did I just see!?" She asked, scared. "I saw The Original Master of Fire. Then I saw a man Ive never met, and he blasted me with this strange glove." She sat on the bed, at her twin's feet. "What was that?"

"A warning." Silver explained. "This means that The Hand of Threngar has returned." He moved to stand up, as Grenadine entered the room.

"The Master of Poison is here to see you." She said. As Lyna moved to stand as well, she continued. "Not you, Little Sister. He's come to see Silver. He says it's extremely urgent."

Silver stood, and while walking out the door, threw on his housecoat. He entered the office, the coat stuck on his prosthetic arm. That's when he heard a cough.

Looking up, he saw Toxis Thrune standing there, confused, and concerned. "Forgive the intrusion, Your Grace." Silver growled at the young man. "Sorry, forgot that you aren't used to that yet."

"Toxis, What could possibly be so important, that it can't wait till morning?" Silver went and sat at his desk. "Unless someone is dying, it could've waited."

"That's just it." Toxis said, taking a seat by the desk. "Fifteen diggers plus a man we can only assume is Mr. Reginald Forbear were found dead in a dig site, near the edge of the kingdom."

"Well, tell the Medical Team, that I'll deal with the autopsies in the morning." Silver said, through a yawn. That when Toxis gave a concerning cough.

"That's the thing." Toxis stated. "There are no bodies." Silver choked on his saliva a bit. "The only reason we assume that one of the diggers is Mr. Forbear, is he, and a partner were running the dig site."

"What do you mean there were no bodies!?" Silver hollered. ""If it was a cave in, then there would have to be bodies!" That was when Toxis set a small vial of ash on the desk.

"There were fifteen piles of ash in the cavern." He gagged a bit at what was on his mind. "This is a sample of the ash, that we assume is Mr. Forbear. Fifteen men, burnt to a crisp. That's why I came to you, being an expert on fire, and all."

"What did you say his partner's name was?" Silver asked, knowing the Master of Poison never mentioned it. Then he heard a name, he feared he would hear.

"His name is Loran Silverlance." Toxis said, pulling out a file. "Apparently, Caius funded his expedition." He flipped through papers. "No mention as to what he was looking for though."

"I'll interrogate Caius." Silver said, his adrenaline pumping. "Take that sample to the Medical Team. I want to know for sure, if that is Reginald Forbear or not." He rose from his seat, and got the door for Toxis, who quickly ran to the Med Lab.

Silver made his way to the dungeon, quickly recalling his time in there, with his siblings. He approached one cell in particular, hearing a voice, he thought he wouldn't hear for a long time.

"Ah, The Master of Fire, gracing me with his presence." Caius said, smugly. "To what do we owe this honour?" Silver slammed his hand on the bars.

"You funded Loran Silverlance's expedition!" He shouted, hollering at the disfigured Master of Shadows. "What was he searching for!?" Caius began chuckling at this outburst.

"You've started having the visions, haven't you?" The Master of Shadows smirked. "If so, then you know exactly what he was searching for." Silver had a sickening look of panic on his face. He ran from the dungeon, hearing Caius holler behind him. "Your end is at hand, Silver! And I'll be there, watching as you burn, by the element you embody!"

"Lock down the castle!" Silver shouted, getting the attention of several guards. "I want extra Guards posted at every entrance to the grounds, rotating every hour!" The guards mobilized, as Silver ran past them, and into the meeting room, where Lyna, Gold, Terry, Gerry, Gail, Stormie, Thraxis, Dresnia, Grant, Grenadine, And Queen Serenity were.

"What's happening?" Queen Serenity asked, adjusting her nightgown. "Why is the castle under lockdown ?" Silver took a quick second to catch his panicked breath.

"Our worst fears have come to pass." He said, watching panic wash over the faces of his family. "Loran Silverlance found it. He has The Hand of Threngar."