Black Crystal Part 1 - The Origin

Chapter Five ~ Warriors of Another Kind

 Garen, Peter, and Anne left the church after a little while and began walking along the cobblestone road through the throng of people. The sun was bright, but it was still cold outside as winter was coming, and grey clouds began to roll across the sky.

"Am I the only one excited for this escort job?" asked Anne, sort of jumping up and down as they walked. "How long has it been since they gave us a job that required us to leave town!? It's been far too long!"

"Perhaps because the roads outside the village are unsafe," said Peter. "Monsters, wild animals... all sorts of dangers lie beyond the village's bounds, Anne. It's even dangerous here in the village for children like us. Anyone would probably be more than willing to... I don't know; do something awful?"

"You're thinking too negatively," Garen replied, putting his hands in his pockets. His middle fingers poked through holes at the bottom of the insides of the pockets. "Don't you realize what we're capable of? You should know this yourself, Mr. Hero!"

"Again, with this mockery?" Peter laughed, shoving Garen to the side. "I'm no hero, I just do a lot for the good of the people!"

"And that's not a hero?" Anne scoffed. "Peter, you play the modest hero role far too well. Did you secretly study Theatre or something and never tell us this?"

"Enough." Peter couldn't help but smile, and Garen was happy to see him smiling. He worried about Peter too much, especially since Peter always seemed to take the majority of the stress they were meant to handle together as a team.

The three children finally left the village's center and headed into what looked to be a pub along one of the alleys. The patrons were confused to see such young children in a place, but the bartender, a middle-aged woman with a husky build and a deep voice, knew them.

"Well, if it ain't the Children of the Church," she chuckled. "Y'know a whole bunch a' ye just came in! Izzere somethin' goin' on, kiddos?"

"The Bishop's sending us on another mission," said Garen. "We just held a meeting about it, the three of us."

"Oho, izzat so?" the bartender chuckled. "Well, kiddos, get on into headquarters! Ye'll wanna get ready!" The bartender turned around and pulled the lever to what looked like a beer tap, but it actually made the entire click from its place and open up as a revolving door. She pushed it open as Garen, Peter, and Anne walked further in, and she closed it behind them. The secret wall led into what looked like the hallway of an Inn; a staircase leading to the second floor, various rooms from left to right, and a window on the far end, illuminating the hallway with sunlight.

"Everyone must be upstairs," said Peter. "I don't hear them in any of the rooms over here."

"Well, that's where HQ is," Anne retorted. "Don't tell me you're already getting so old that you're forgetting something as simple as that."

"'Twas a simple mistake, my dear," Peter said in a false posh accent. "And 'tis one I plan on not making again." The three of them chuckled as they walked towards the wooden staircase and started to ascend it. There was a slight murmur atop the stairs. The other children. Unlike when they were in the bell room of the tower, they weren't shouting and hollering; they were simply talking amongst one another, laughing, enjoying each other's company. They approached the second floor, where the other twelve kids were already dressed in their "mission clothing": neat clothing given to them by the members of the church when they were tasked with a mission. "Are you all heading back to the temple for something?" asked Peter. A young boy stepped forward to speak.

"The Bishop wanted us back once we were dressed normally," he said. "It's a task he wanted us to handle here in the village." Peter rose an eyebrow and tilted his head, but then he shrugged, gesturing for them to head out of headquarters. He, Garen, and Anne walked past the children and opened their own personal closet spaces.

"Finally, we get to wear regular clothing," Garen sighed as he walked into his closet, so he could change without being seen by the other two. "I hate my old, tattered clothing."

"Well, for some reason, the garments we have each serve some sort of different purpose," said Anne from her closet. "I can't say I know why, but the Bishop knows what he's talking about, I'm sure. ...I hope so."

They went silent as they finished changing into what looked to be more like clothing a regular child would wear; a vest over a loose blouse, comfortable pants, and boots. They each also did their hair so as to look more like regular children.

"I have a question," Anne began. "Why would the Bishop have the other children here change first? Does he really have a separate mission for them or something like that?"

"I doubt it," Peter chuckled. "I'll bet that he deceived them into thinking they have a mission, when in reality, he just wanted them to look night for the morning service in the chapel."

"Well, good method," Garen replied, looking out the window at the streets of their village below. It was already quite busy, despite it just barely being daytime outside. He couldn't help but think about Princess Lenora. She was in the church; if he really wanted to see her again, he could just walk back over there, couldn't he? He turned towards Peter and Anne. "I think I'm gonna go back to the church," he said. "I want to talk to the Bishop about a couple things."

"No you don't," Peter chuckled, crossing his arms as he grinned at Garen. "You just want to see the Princess, don't you?"

"Pfft; no!" Garen scoffed out of denial, but both Peter and Anne knew he was lying. "Well, forget you guys. I'm heading over there myself."