Black Crystal Part 1 - The Origin

Chapter Twenty Seven ~ Fateful Departure

November 30th, 1809.

"The Black Falcon", Above the Willamette Valley, Oregon Province.

Even sailing through the air, the ride was very tense for everyone. Especially for Rin, whose eyes were still red from her sorrowful sobs the night before as she piloted the Airship. Lucius watched her, feeling awful for her. "You really shouldn't have let her come," Lucius whispered to Nohr with a bit of anger. "If what Bartholomew says is true, she would..."

"Do you know anyone else who can fly this thing?" asked Nohr. He leaned up against the side-rail of the Black Falcon, looking at the earth below. Lucius went silent at his words. Nohr nodded. "We need Rin. I'm not some compassionless monster, Lucius. I'm well aware of the heartache she's feeling right now, but in order to prevent another catastrophe, we need her with us." Nohr turned towards Rin. Both Garen and Xander were beside her, trying to console her. "Garen's a good kid."

"What?" Lucius turned around and looked at Garen, Xander, and Rin. "What makes you say that all of a sudden?"

"Do you remember when Xander first met him? When you all finally brought Lenora back to us?" Nohr smiled. "Xander resented him, and I think it was a sort of protectiveness over his sister. But in only a matter of days, Garen and Xander suddenly became thick as thieves. And Lenora likes him too. He's a good kid." Lucius chuckled quietly as he leaned up against the side-rail of the Black Falcon beside Nohr.

"He really is," he said. Nohr looked over at Lucius.

"Say... does Garen know who his parents are?" he asked. Lucius raised an eyebrow and thought a bit.

"Um... I don't know. Well, I don't think so." He crossed his arms and looked at the ground. "He spent most of his life in the temple down in our little village, just like Peter and the other orphans. Bartholomew, whom of which we thought was our benevolent Bishop, adopted them."

"It's chilling to think about..." Nohr sighed. "Why would Bartholomew adopt a bunch of orphans? He's not exactly the face of kindness and generosity."

"He was at the time," Lucius chuckled a little. "Our entire village was convinced he was Bishop John Sleadd."

"That's another thing that weirds me out." Nohr looked back up at Lucius. "John Sleadd was Garen's biological father. Why would he take that name up? I can understand wanting to hide the fact that he's the Bartholomew we all know and hate, but why would he use John's name? John is still alive."

"He is!?"

"Yeah, he is. He went missing about four years ago."

"And Bartholomew took his name almost ten years ago... but why? Why would he do that?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, but soon, it won't matter." Nohr turned around and walked toward the bow of the ship. "He'll be dead before dusk; I swear it on my life." Suddenly, the Black Falcon was quickly losing altitude. Both Lucius and Nohr dropped to the deck to keep from falling.

"Rin!" Lucius shouted. "What's happening!?" But Rin wouldn't respond. She had a solemn expression on her face as she quickly gained control. She was landing the vessel near the fallen city of Eugene. The landing was very rough, but no damage to the actual Airship was done. Lucius and Nohr stood back up as they followed Rin, Garen, and Xander out of the Black Falcon. Rin looked around with absolute shock. The entire city was reduced to rubble and ash with a plume of black smoke surrounding the city. Rin wanted to cry, but instead, her sorrow became anger as she clenched her fists.

"Bartholomew dies tonight..." she whispered, quivering with silent rage. "I'll kill him with my own bare hands if I must, but he dies tonight."