The Five [EDITING]

Preface: The Vision

   Five castles aflame. One surrounded of snow and ice; one with a view of the ocean beyond; one with flowers in many colours; one made of the strong white wood of silvertrees; one set into a stone mountain.
   Five objects. One glass eye, silver in colour; one blue scale reflecting green; one gold ring in the shape of a rose; one chain of long silverwood beads; one curved talon, sharp and gleaming.
   A single silver needle in water. First it lay still, then it quivered and pointed south---
   pointed south-west---
   north-east---
   east---
   pointed south-east.
   Five castles aflame. Five objects. All going faster and faster in urgency until I---
   I---
   I---
   until I---
   until I woke up.