A small hut sat on the banks of a wide river, shaded over by trees. Puffs of smoke lazily drifted out of a chimney at the top, and shadows dappled the walls and the water. It would've been a perfectly ordinary sight, if not that the trees were a rainbow of vivid colors and descriptions, the water was a clear shade of emerald, and the building had been constructed entirely out of silver.

As the lavender sky darkened to a rich purple dusk, a boat drifted down the river to the bank. Its lone passenger, a tall, strange-looking man, stepped out and knocked on the door, which was quickly opened to allow him entrance.

Inside the hut it was airy but filled with the thick scent of incense. Bunches of herbs hung from the ceiling beams, and a long table to one side of the room held various odd-looking objects. The woman who'd opened the door stood back and greeted her visitor.

"Good evening, Terithian. I've been expecting you. You desire help in your search for the queen." It wasn't a question; obviously, Terithian thought, the oracle had Seen his coming.

"Yes." He sighed. "I've come no closer to any conclusion. Has anything come to you, Sitorra?"

Sitorra reached for a flat, oval gem on the table, binding it to her forehead with a length of cloth-like twine. At the sight, a black bird that had gone unnoticed flew up out of the shadows to her shoulder. She closed her eyes for a moment, one finger petting the bird's wing, then nodded, her hair-a deep peacock green with a hint of blue-catching the light from a candle burning in a silver dish. "Not exactly what you seek; yet still, I think, useful. Listen."

Terithian leaned forward as she closed her eyes again, the gem beginning to glow, and spoke in a steady, soft tone.

Go Silver Seeker to the Polluted World
The halfchild by the front gate is the object of your search.
Know her by her name and the aura that she bears
Melded stone and silver can be seen by eyes so marked.

The oracle reached out, eyes still closed, to a grey stone bowl on a tiny glass table, and with one finger drew a crude symbol in the sand it contained: two triangles, one on top of the other, middle points joined. An hourglass. Terithian held silent, and after withdrawing her hand she continued in a singsong voice:

Daughter of Eruinia,Daughter of Earth

A great destiny lies in the eyes unmarked.
Five shall be the company, thrice shall break the day
And above the hills afire, the stars shall light the way.

One unspeaking, on on goldenwing,
One above the flow of time, one half of one thing.
Through silver wood and heart of darkness
Secrets in the shadows lie
And fate on the mountain of jade awaits
Calling out to passers-by.

Save the miracle of Silver
Swept away on seas of Time!
Evil is its own undoing-
Unwitting help the most revealing-
Anger's weapons prove the fiercest-
Accidents shall show the crime.

Beware O bearers of the dawning!
All around you are the workings
Of the darkness ever seeking
To quench the hope that you are bringing

Some treachery is of the body
Other shall be of the mind.
Where truly does your heart lie, mother?
Seek beyond the world to find.

One side, whispers in the ashes fade

As dark descends and thought is banished-
Hollow barren echoes seeping out through broken doors.
The other, light and hope and laughter,
Triumph in the dawning day-
Sunrise sky awash with colors, radiating vibrant joy.

What promise does the future hold?

The choice, daughter, is yours.

A few moments later, she opened her eyes, finished. When nothing more was forthcoming, Terithian dipped his head to the woman in a nod of gratitude.

"Many thanks, ma'am. As of yet, I had not received a statement that would aid me better. Now I must be off to seek the place you told me of. Farewell, Sitorra, and may you be of good fortunes in these dark times."

"Luck to you also, Terithian. May you bring our lost ruler safely. Farewell."

With that, he swept out the door, cape billowing behind him, set his boat to the west, and sailed off.