Denote: Like I said before, this series of fics are set in an Alernate Universe. So, facts about the strike will be different like Blink was one of the leader of strike and he betrayed the newsboys. Just thought I'd mention that so no one would get totally confused. The whole "real strike" realm and "movie strike" realm will clash soon ;) Thank you to everyone who has been reading this series!
***
The four Revelators and Bale stopped for the night to rest. Bale informed them his kingdom was about 45 leagues from their present stop.
"Now, my friends, tell of these powers thy hold" Bale said, stoking the fire they were circled around with a stick. John had found another added talent he possessed: making fire with the swipe of his hand.
"You won't believe us if we told you" Blink replied, smiling mischievously.
Bale laughed. "Oh, after thou display earlier and thou hast created fire with thine hand, I shall believe more than before."
"If you say so." Blink hesitated, preparing his mind on what to say. "Not even 24 hours ago, an angel from heaven visited us and has sent us on these missions. She gave us these trinkets that give us the abilities to do all those things you saw."
The older man nodded, taking in all the information. "I understand clearly, my friend. Believe, I do. Much the Lord can do."
"I'm starting to see that too now" Mush mumbled, almost inaudibly, running his fingers over the gold wrist band and saying a silent pray of thanks for his talents.
Bale continued, curiously. "But, what art these missions you speak of?"
"Vigil, the angel" Race broke in, leaning forward. "told us we have to find these sacred amulets in these different times and all. There's one in this time. That's why we're heah, we just gotta find it."
"Verily, I say unto you, I shall help in the recovery of this amulet. Please say thou shall help in the fight of the land."
Blink raised a hand. "It's okay, Bale. We're here to help, no matter what." He could tell Bale let out a sigh of relief.
"Bale, why were those men after you?" Mush asked.
"Yeah. They seemed to really want you dead. Does that have anything to do with your kingdom?" John spoke up in a concerned tone.
Mush and Race exchanged a competent glances over the camp fire at each other. They were starting to know John better. The more and more they were with him, the more he reminded them of Blink.
Bale's expression sobered from a smile to a frown. "Those men were of the kingdom of Luxbey. Thou were after my head for I am a spy of my kingdom. Thy good King Richard sent thee to witness on his behalf. I witnessed harsh treatment in thou land. The people were crying out for food. Rags gathered on their feet and bodies. Some lay dead in the streets. I approached the duke and duchess of the land. Thou laughed at me and shut the door! I threatened an informant of what hath thou doing. The news turned thou attitudes against me. I barely was delivered by the skin of thy teeth."
Race snorted at the end of the telling. "We sure know how those people feel. Dang Pulitzer and Hearst."
Bale cocked his head. "Hast thy been thru the ordeal thyself?"
"Yeah, we have" Race answered, lowering his head. "I don't know about John, but me, Henry, and Shawn worked for a newspaper distribution office." From the confused look on their English friend's face, he went on to explain what a newspaper was and how life as a newsboy was. The strike of 1899 soon came into the story. Race told about how the owners of the newspapers were being unfair. Mush took over through mid-telling. Blink lowered his head in shame at the mention of his betray of his newsboys. It wasn't anything he was proud of, to say the least.
"Thee hast been thru a battle several times." Bale stared at the fire in disbelief. "Thou art strong from this. I can tell. What is thine tale, John?"
The quiet boy looked up from his gaze at the ground. He quirked a small smile. "I don't have much of an interesting story like they do. I was born in Chicago - that's a type of kingdom in our land - to a middle class family. My father was a book keeper from New York City…" he gestured to his band mates. "the same land where they are from. My mother was a school teacher and she was from Chicago. That's why we lived there.
"When I was seven, we were taking a trip to New York City when the some of the cars on the train derailed. I was in a few cars ahead, so, I wasn't hurt. My parents and younger brother though were in one of those cars and died. I was sent back to an orphanage in Chicago since none of my relatives could take me in.
"I lived there till I was old enough to support myself. Hull House helped me find a job at a book keeper's office and found me a shelter I could live at. But, the shelter burned down a week ago. The book keeper didn't want a homeless employee. I lost my job as well. I was going to starve and freeze to death on the street till Vigil came for me. She saved me. Thank the Lord, she did."
The mood around the camp fire was somber for the rest of the night. John's band mates finally could put a past with the boy - it wasn't enlightening. They sleep on cloud-like cushions provided by John for the night, and woke early the next morning - riding to Bale's kingdom at full throttle.
***
The four Revelators and Bale stopped for the night to rest. Bale informed them his kingdom was about 45 leagues from their present stop.
"Now, my friends, tell of these powers thy hold" Bale said, stoking the fire they were circled around with a stick. John had found another added talent he possessed: making fire with the swipe of his hand.
"You won't believe us if we told you" Blink replied, smiling mischievously.
Bale laughed. "Oh, after thou display earlier and thou hast created fire with thine hand, I shall believe more than before."
"If you say so." Blink hesitated, preparing his mind on what to say. "Not even 24 hours ago, an angel from heaven visited us and has sent us on these missions. She gave us these trinkets that give us the abilities to do all those things you saw."
The older man nodded, taking in all the information. "I understand clearly, my friend. Believe, I do. Much the Lord can do."
"I'm starting to see that too now" Mush mumbled, almost inaudibly, running his fingers over the gold wrist band and saying a silent pray of thanks for his talents.
Bale continued, curiously. "But, what art these missions you speak of?"
"Vigil, the angel" Race broke in, leaning forward. "told us we have to find these sacred amulets in these different times and all. There's one in this time. That's why we're heah, we just gotta find it."
"Verily, I say unto you, I shall help in the recovery of this amulet. Please say thou shall help in the fight of the land."
Blink raised a hand. "It's okay, Bale. We're here to help, no matter what." He could tell Bale let out a sigh of relief.
"Bale, why were those men after you?" Mush asked.
"Yeah. They seemed to really want you dead. Does that have anything to do with your kingdom?" John spoke up in a concerned tone.
Mush and Race exchanged a competent glances over the camp fire at each other. They were starting to know John better. The more and more they were with him, the more he reminded them of Blink.
Bale's expression sobered from a smile to a frown. "Those men were of the kingdom of Luxbey. Thou were after my head for I am a spy of my kingdom. Thy good King Richard sent thee to witness on his behalf. I witnessed harsh treatment in thou land. The people were crying out for food. Rags gathered on their feet and bodies. Some lay dead in the streets. I approached the duke and duchess of the land. Thou laughed at me and shut the door! I threatened an informant of what hath thou doing. The news turned thou attitudes against me. I barely was delivered by the skin of thy teeth."
Race snorted at the end of the telling. "We sure know how those people feel. Dang Pulitzer and Hearst."
Bale cocked his head. "Hast thy been thru the ordeal thyself?"
"Yeah, we have" Race answered, lowering his head. "I don't know about John, but me, Henry, and Shawn worked for a newspaper distribution office." From the confused look on their English friend's face, he went on to explain what a newspaper was and how life as a newsboy was. The strike of 1899 soon came into the story. Race told about how the owners of the newspapers were being unfair. Mush took over through mid-telling. Blink lowered his head in shame at the mention of his betray of his newsboys. It wasn't anything he was proud of, to say the least.
"Thee hast been thru a battle several times." Bale stared at the fire in disbelief. "Thou art strong from this. I can tell. What is thine tale, John?"
The quiet boy looked up from his gaze at the ground. He quirked a small smile. "I don't have much of an interesting story like they do. I was born in Chicago - that's a type of kingdom in our land - to a middle class family. My father was a book keeper from New York City…" he gestured to his band mates. "the same land where they are from. My mother was a school teacher and she was from Chicago. That's why we lived there.
"When I was seven, we were taking a trip to New York City when the some of the cars on the train derailed. I was in a few cars ahead, so, I wasn't hurt. My parents and younger brother though were in one of those cars and died. I was sent back to an orphanage in Chicago since none of my relatives could take me in.
"I lived there till I was old enough to support myself. Hull House helped me find a job at a book keeper's office and found me a shelter I could live at. But, the shelter burned down a week ago. The book keeper didn't want a homeless employee. I lost my job as well. I was going to starve and freeze to death on the street till Vigil came for me. She saved me. Thank the Lord, she did."
The mood around the camp fire was somber for the rest of the night. John's band mates finally could put a past with the boy - it wasn't enlightening. They sleep on cloud-like cushions provided by John for the night, and woke early the next morning - riding to Bale's kingdom at full throttle.