Black Crystal Part 1 - The Origin

Chapter Forty Four ~ The Plan: Revision Numero Uno

December 21st, 1816.

City of Eugene, Oregon Province.

Millicent paced about the inn with a bit of a panicked expression on her face as she did so. She clutched a letter in her hand and continuously scanned it with frantic eyes. "Not good..." she whispered. "Not good, not good, this is so not good...!"

"Mom?" Rin's voice came from the stairway. While Millicent didn't turn her eyes away from her letter, she noticed that Rin had descended the stairs. "Mom? Is everything alright?"

"Our friends are in big trouble, sweetheart," Millicent replied. "I just got a letter from Lenora."

"Lenora?" Rin smiled a bit. "I feel like it's been an eternity since I last saw her. What's the letter about? It can't be good if they're in trouble."

Millicent was hesitant to say anything, but she sighed and closed her eyes. She leaned up against the front desk of the inn as she explained what the letter said. "Lenora sent it late last night," she began. "The Chancellor of the Washington Province has practically invaded the Capitol City with the intent that they arrange a marriage between Lenora and the Chancellor's son. However... he's brought an entire military to back him, and it's rumored that there are more heading their way." Rin looked at her mother with a worried expression.

"Almost like the War of 1806," she gasped.

"Exactly like the War of 1806," Millicent replied. "Only back then, the Chancellor wanted the Queen. Now he's passing the buck to his damn son, tryin' to get that little monster to marry sweet Lenora." She shook her head with disgust. "That man is evil."

"We're going to help them, right?" asked Rin, and almost like it was cued, they saw a horse-drawn carriage approach the inn from the northern entrance.

"That might answer your question," Millicent chuckled. She and Rin exchanged glances and hastily walked through the inn's front door. The galloping of the horses got louder while the carriage got closer, and very shortly, they could see Lenora and Xander in the carriage. "Well, I'll be darned... if it isn't the kiddos themselves." The carriage driver pulled the reins back and stopped the horses.

"I assume you're the friends the Prince and Princess spoke of?" asked the carriage driver. Lenora stepped down from the carriage and looked at Rin with a smile and tears of joy. Rin smiled upon seeing her old friend and the two of them ran into each other's arms. They embraced each other tightly, as if they never wanted to let go.

"It feels like it's been an eternity since I saw you," Rin chuckled with tears in her eyes as well. Lenora let go of her and they exchanged joyful and tearful glances. As soon as Rin caught Xander walking towards her, she smiled and ran towards him, practically tackling him with an embrace.

"It's good to see you too," Xander chuckled. He wrapped his arms around her in an affectionate embrace as well. After the emotional reunion, Lenora exchanged glances between Millicent and Rin.

"We need your help with something," she said. "Did you guys get my letter?"

"Unfortunately so." Millicent held the folded letter up between her index and middle fingers. "So, the Chancellor's back and reigning hell?"

"Essentially," Xander replied. "Just like how the War of 1806 began, only this time, Lenora's a major victim in this—"

"Hold it," Lenora interrupted Xander. "I'm not going to be a victim. In fact, that's the whole reason I came here. Garen's missing, but because of that, I knew it was my turn to initiate the fight."

"That child, bless his heart," Millicent sighed.

"We were wondering if the Black Falcon was still battle-ready," Lenora said, looking at Rin. "Last I heard, the Washington Province Military was marching through Hood River, in masses. Does the Black Falcon have firebombing capabilities?"

"If the military is as large as they say in legends, I don't think there would be enough firepower to take them all out," Rin replied.

"We don't need to take them out." Lenora looked down at the ground. "I was thinking of something different."

"Oh?" Rin's head tilted slightly. Now she was more curious about Lenora's plan. "What did you have in mind?" In a small break of silence, Lenora looked around. The streets were quiet, despite all the people walking and standing about.

"Let's discuss this inside," she said quietly. "I prefer not blurting this all out in public." They went silent and headed back into the inn without another word. This time, Horace was up, out, and about the inn.

"Best night of sleep I had in a long time," Horace yawned, walking down the staircase as he stretched. "G'morning, Milli—" He saw Lenora and Xander and laughed.

"Well, if it ain't the royal kiddos!" he exclaimed, running to embrace both of them. "How have you been!?"

"We've been better, unfortunately," Xander chuckled nervously. Horace let go of them and examined their solemn expressions.

"Somethin' tells me you kiddos aren't here on a pleasure trip," he said. "What's going on?"

"The War of 1806 is starting again," Lenora began explaining. "Ten years later, history begins to repeat itself. The Washington Province Military is heading towards the Capitol as we speak in groups that far outnumber our military forces." She paused and looked at Rin. "We need enough firepower to ambush them from the frontlines and take out enough of them to make them retreat." Lenora's heart felt a little heavy upon mentioning her plan, knowing that it would result in ending the lives of many, but she shrugged the feeling off and continued. "I won't be able to go with you guys in order to keep up appearances, but—"

"You can trust us to get it done," Millicent replied with a smile. "It's a good plan, sweetie. And once we assure the Capitol's safety, we'll look for Garen as diligently as we could."

"I have a question, though," said Rin. "While we're taking care of the military, what are you going to do about the Chancellor and his son?" Lenora slightly lifted her skirt and revealed that she had a dagger hidden in her boots.

"I'll have to start up acting again," Lenora chuckled. "Just enough to convince Nicholas that I actually want this, and on the day of the wedding, I'll be hiding this in my hand." She kicked backwards and swiftly pulled the dagger out. "He won't see it coming." Rin smiled proudly.

"Garen would be quite proud to know you're taking charge," she said. "When we find him, we'll have to tell him about this."

"We have a lot to prepare for," said Lenora. "And not a minute to waste, either. Is the Black Falcon still in that hidden storage hangar below the city like it was last time?"

"Don't tell me you'd expect it to be elsewhere," Horace replied with a grin. "That's its home, after all. Let's go!"