Mistresses of the Elements: Prologue

"I have called you here because of the warning message I have just received." Lord Liber stood at the strategy table. He relaxed a little as he looked around the table. The other Lords and Lady, along with their apprentices and Master Argyos, had gathered.

"Warning?" Sir Bane's eyes grew wide. "What kind of warning, Liber?" The worry could be seen on everyone's face.

"I have received word that we have been targeted. Should we refuse to obey the demands of 'The One' we will surely be facing a tough war." Liber sighed. He looked at his apprentice, Blue Bruin, and his fear was only mirrored. The normally happy-go-lucky, unofficial, court jester was as solem as his friends in the room.

"Demands?" Lady Dt spoke up. Wise beyond her years, Dt had been put in charge of the kingdom's Gemstone dragons and the powerful-but wild-Kairos. "What kind of demands are we looking at?"

"They can't be easy if Liber has called us." Sir Nate now spoke. Though he was gentle in nature, he would do whatever it took to protect the peace of the kingdom. Having preferred to stay out of the previous war, Nate had been an asset when it came to strategy and training the dragons. Now, it looked as though he would have no choice but to fight.

Liber unrolled the scroll. As he glanced over the list of demands he threw his fist on top of it. "We cannot, without giving up our peoples' freedom and peace, give in to these demands! We must prepare for battle."

"If I may?" Master Argyos, Keeper of Knowledge, spoke up. Liber had almost forgotten he had called the scholar. Argyos was generally quiet and preferred to stay in the Dragon Library learning all he could about their kingdom's history and the prophecies that had been declared. "We can't not win this war..." He held up his hand to stop those who would protest. "We can't not win this war unless we can find the 'Mistresses of the Elements' and their Generals."

"'Mistresses of the Elements'?" Essiw and Halo asked in unison.

"Are Dt's powers not enough?" Halo continued. Bane's young apprentice remembered stories about how Dt could control all eight of the basic elements.

Dt chuckled a little. "Halo, it is true I can control all eight of the basic elements... but this war would be too much for me. I can no longer control each element at the same time, nor can I control even one element for very long. Do not be mistaken, I am still very powerful, as I am the only one who can control the eight elements. And I will do whatever it takes to protect our kingdom and our people."

"Please, Master Argyos, explain who the 'Mistresses of the Elements' are. I vaguely remember hearing the prophecy many years ago as a child." Sir Bane invited the "Professor" to speak about the prophecy and what needed to be done to find them.

Arygos cleared his throat before speaking. "There are four 'Mistresses,' in truth, they are Enchantresses who can control two elements each. They are unique for they control the opposite elements. One controls Air and Earth, one controls Water and Lightning, one controls Plant and Metal, and the last controls Fire and Cold..."

"How is that even possible?" Essiw thought out loud, only to be silenced by a look from Sir Nate.

"For everyone else, it is not, young Essiw. But for these four women... they are powerful enough to harness the two elements at the same time." Argyos took a deep breath before continuing. "These women will come from the four islands and will probably live on the outskirts of the village."

"How will we know if we've found the right one?" Bane asked. They were going to need know the signs to look for.

"One sign is that they will be living on the outskirts of the village. They may live alone; they may not. You will know you have found the right person when you listen to your instincts. The biggest sign will be that they take care of the elusive Opposite hybrids. The most obvious will be that their hair is the color of one element and their eyes are the color of the other." Gasps erupted around the room. No one, not even Dt, is able to care for the Opposite hybrids. "This quest will be long, but it must be taken if there is to be any hope for our kingdom." Argyos finished.

Liber waited a few moments for the information and the urgency to sink in. "This quest is of the utmost importance. Apprentices, you will remain on your islands while Sir Nate, Sir Bane, and myself search for the 'Mistresses of the Elements'." The apprentices nodded in understanding and then made their way to their respective islands. Only the Lords, Dt, and Argyos remained in the room.

"There are three of us and four 'Mistresses'. How are we to divide this?" Nate looked between Liber and Bane.

"Sir Nate, you will travel to the Island of Air and Earth. Sir Bane, you will travel to the Island of Fire and Cold. I will take the remaining two: the Island of Water and Lightning and the Island of Plant and Metal." Liber replied. He knew that taking on the task of finding two of the four Mistresses was going to be tough. "Once I find one, I will send for Blue and he will escort her back here. Report back here as soon as you find the Mistresses and their Generals."

Dt laid twelve small, velvet bags on the table. "These necklaces will mark their status." She handed Nate and Bane one white bag each, while Liber was given two. "The white dragons are for the Mistresses. When they use their powers-magic-the dragon will glow. When they wear them for the first time, the dragon will shine like the sun. That will seal their destiny."

Argyos handed the brown and purple bags to Nate. "Sir Nate, the brown is for the General of Earth. It represents warmth and strength. A great defense in the battle for good. The purple is for the General of Air. It represents majesty and purity. A powerful defense in the battle for good."

"Lord Liber, the blue is for the General of Water. It represents tranquility and perseverance. A wonderful defense in the battle for good. The yellow is for the General of Lightning. It represents energy and hope. A unifying defense in the battle for good." Dt handed Liber the two bags.

"Lord Liber, the green is for the General of Plant. It represents life and wisdom. A mighty force in the battle for good. The orange is for the General of Metal. It represents endurance and fortitude. An everlasting force in the battle for good." Argyos handed the two bags to Liber as Dt waited.

She took a deep breath and looked at Bane. "Lastly, Sir Bane, the red is for the General of Fire. It represents heart and courage. An eternal force in the battle for good. The pale blue is for the General of Cold. It represents caution and peace. A chilling force in the battle for good." The three Lords looked at the bags in front of them and then at each other. The weight of the world seemingly resting on their shoulders.

"We will accept the tasks laid before us. For the security of the people, for the hope of future peace in the kingdom." Nate stood tall; his shoulders erect. He was ready to bare the weight of the world... as long as his friends were by his side. Liber and Bane nodded in agreement.

"There is one more thing." Master Argyos did not want to bring this up earlier; he saw no point in worrying the apprentices. "The most important thing, apart from finding the Mistresses of the Elements, is to keep the magic crystals protected. You all know, that without the crystals, the magic that keeps the islands afloat will fail. If the magic fails, the islands fall..."

"The apprentices and myself will protect the crystals until your return. Now go, with the power of the elements... with the hope of our people." Dt and Argyos stood outside the castle and the Lords took off on their journeys.