Blood or Water

Chapter 25: Senses

Blood or Water

Chapter 25

Senses

Percy knew better now, he knew to ask rather then believe what other people say. The difficulties of the beginning of his marriage taught him that. When he left the room earlier he went to confront Peter to ask him if he saw anything. He wanted to know if Peter may have thought Chauvelin might have followed Eve to the manor...but what began as a questioner...ended in disaster once again. Its not what he wanted to on Eves return home. So once again he found himself on horseback chasing his daughter. He had to find her...he needed to find her...his Eve.

What he saw wasn't what he expected. Demon was rearing up as if he found a snake. Eve was on the ground backing away from a man rather then the horse. Percy jumped off his horse and ran over to his daughter picking her up and looked down at the man who freighted his daughter.

" What is your name sir?" Percy asked

"He's my dad..." Eve said looking back around at the man who smiled at her.

"Oh Eve...I've finally found you." The look on the girls face showed that she was none to pleased with such a notion.

Percy helped Eve back onto Demon who chuffed as if he didn't like his little trinket being near such a loathsome man. He butted the man away from his master and walked on without Eve even having to tell him to. Eve just let her horse walk her back to the manor.

Percy looked at the man before him.

"Speak fast sir, you aren't in good company." Percy said his hand on the hilt of his blade the whole time.

"It would seem she's believed that Republicans then." The man said and sat down on the road pulling out a flask and drank from it before offering it to Percy who shook his hands and crossed his arms. "Well when my wife was killed my daughters were held in the Palace of Justice waiting for trial. The youngest purchased by the man you know as Chauvelin to be his personal stable boy, while the eldest was to be trained to be a hand maiden. I soon found out the eldest tried to help my youngest escape...she didn't get to far and I heard of her demise. I was imprisoned as well thought to be a traitor conspiring against the government. I was only just released...and come to find out my youngest did indeed break free and move to England with the help of the Pimpernel...god bless that man." He said and took off his tattered hat.

" I however...didn't know she was adopted by a noblemen such as yourself. Although...not very happy." He said gesturing to his daughter who still sat upon the horse named Demon.

"So your saying the Republicans lied to her about you giving her away?" Percy asked. The man nodded his head fast. "Am I to believe your going to want her back then?" Percy asked this made him feel even more angry when the man nodded again.

"Take it up with the courts. I will not give her to you on your word alone. From the way she looked at you earlier, I don't think she wants to go with you anyways." Percy turned back around and climbed back onto his horse.

"From the look of it Sir Percy...she didn't want to be with you either." This burned deeply into Percy's soul. Such the words he had never wanted to hear. He steered his horse back toward the manor and closed the gates behind him. Once Valiant was beside Demon Percy reached over and picked Eve clean off the saddle and deposited her onto his own horse.

"I'm sorry...I know your heart hurts because of what transpired here today, but I promise you I don't love you any less. I love you Eve alright?" He said pulling her close and kissing the wind blown locks of his daughters and turned her to look at him. Her cheeks were still wet with the fresh tears.