Into the Fire
Chapter 4
The feet
Chauvelin's Office
Eve sat down in a chair across from Chauvelin. She didn't look up, she just stared at her feet.
"Have you found out anything?" He asked her. She just shook her head.
"So you haven't found anything? And why is that? Its your job to press him for information...your suppose to help me find the boy. Do you want to die?" he asked grabbing her hair. She gasped and shook her head.
"No sir." she said tears flowing down her face.
"I think you need a new direction yes?" He asked she shook her head.
"I don't want to work for you anymore." She finally announced. "Sir Percy is a good man, you can kill me all you want." Chauvelin looked down at the girl.
"You don't want to...why is that?"
"Eve!" The voice echoed down the hallway. Percy was mad this time. He was beating on the door.
"Ah...finally the man breaks. I thought he couldn't stop hiding behind that British Aristocratic grin of his. " He said and looked down at Eve.
"At least you can still be of use to me..." He said and looked up at his guard. "Burn her feet...since she loves to look at them so much." He said and walked out of his room.
"You asked for it Percy." Chauvelin said as he walked by and out of the building as fresh screams from Eve echoed throughout the halls.
Later on into the Evening
Eve was pushed into the room only to take a seat just as she got inside. She looked up at Percy who had once again passed out. She crawled over to him, placing her tiny fingers onto his forehead. She crawled over to the cup of water and crawled back over to Percy who moaned when she put the cup against his forehead. It was all she had to help wake him. He suddenly shot up spilling the contents of the cup and scaring Eve under the table.
Percy looked around at the door.
"Eve..." He whispered closing his eyes.
"Sir Percy?" She whispered from behind him. He looked around under the table. He knelled down and held out his arms.
"I'm sorry...they took the pieces of your cravat and burned them." She said
"Why would they do a thing like that. Its not going to hurt anyone." He said and noticed she hadn't moved yet. "Eve...come here...please." He said holding out his arms again.
"I can't." She said her eyes were growing moist.
"What...Why?" He asked.
"Because they wanted me to betray you. They tried to get me to ask you were the young king was. I told them I wouldn't...I told them I didn't want to hurt you." She said and tried to move her feet into a more comfortable position. Percy noticed her winching.
"What did they do to you Eve?" He asked. He moved over to hold her hands.
"They burned my feet." She said bringing one up onto her knee. Percy was speechless, his own eyes watered up at this.
"I'll tell..." He said and turned to call through the door.
"I said I'll tell." He said the guard stood up and ran to find his commanding officer. It was about time to get his plan in motion anyways.
"No Sir Percy you can't...please you can't." The young girl was trying to pull away from him, but he held her firmly in his arms. He took the bandages from her hands and dipped them into the water. He bound her feet once more. The lace from his shirt wasn't as soft as his cravat but it would have to do.
The argument was short lived however as Chauvelin walked in. She clung to Percy shaking in his arms. He understood her childish fear of this man, he however only feared what he would do to her. He pulled her close trying to keep her out of sight.
"So you wish to tell me where the boy is hum?" Chauvelin had placed a strawberry into his mouth and noisily chewed in. Probably to egg Percy on.
"I will show you. If you go without me my men will not allow you safe passage." He said and looked down at the girl. "I only ask that she goes along with me. I don't trust any of you." He said tenderly running his fingers down her back to attempt to sooth the child.
"Fine...Guards...grab Sir Percy and the girl some warmer clothing...we're going on a trip." He said and looked down at the girl who held onto Percy's shirt tighter.
"But if you decide to point us in the wrong direction Percy...you, her, and your wife...will die." He said and smiled as he walked out of the room. Soon enough clothing was thrown down at there feet. He sat Eve down on the lone chair and began to undo the bonds on her feet so she could put the socks on.
"Do you think I can put these boots on you?" He asked motioning to the boots on the floor. They weren't her size, actually she was sure they wouldn't ever fit her.
"I don't think so...I think its somewhat..to big. I'll probably trip and fall in them. " She said looking down as he pulled some stockings onto her and pulled a shirt over her dirty one.
"More cloth to keep warm." He put his forehead against hers.
"Promise me, you'll stay with me, don't let go of me." He said and she shook her head.
"Nope...can't promise that...I gotta go to the outhouse sometime." She said and he chuckled. "Alright...but only then alright...other times you stay with me." he said and began to pull on his own clothing. It was already starting to get warmer in there little room.
"Get some rest...I'm sure they'll be wanting us to leave really soon." He said climbing into the bed and lay her down much like they had the first time in that room. This time however she turned in to put her forehead on his chest. He smiled down at her, and held her to him.
"Oh Eve...Lady Blakeney and I have got to have a long talk when I see her once more." he whispered kissing her head and closed his own eyes.