To Save a Father

October 1897

When three years had passed, Erik took Marigold and Frans on another one of their nature excursions just on the outskirts of the woods. Erik watched as Marigold was riding around in the fields on a beautiful young stallion with a deep dark brown coat. Three years ago, Artemis and Caesar had both became parents to a colt. After the colt had grown, Marigold begged Erik to let her keep him as her own horse. Soon, after guiding and teaching her, Erik had finally become comfortable with letting Marigold ride on her own. He could hardly believe how fast his daughter had grown. Now thirteen years old, she seemed adventurous and tomboyish, preferring to spend her time riding, sketching, and exploring. Though Christine would try as she might to teach her to be lady at the best of times, Erik knew exactly who she inherited her spirited side from.

Kit, who was also thirteen, was now inevitably showing signs of age. She wouldn't run around as much as she used to and would sometimes opt to rest more often.

Frans, who had also grown, was now fifteen and quickly learning under Erik's guidance for the day when he would eventually take over his grandfather's business. Erik would teach him the necessary skills for managing the theatre and overseeing the productions.

As Marigold dismounted from her horse, she lovingly stroked the horse's mane as Erik came up to her. "You've become quite a rider, my darling. You show good control and excellent form. It's as though you developed a special bond with…with…what did you name him again?"

"Helios, Father. His name is Helios."

"Ah. I believe that means sun god. A good, strong name."

Marigold looked over at Frans who was sitting under a tree, reading a book. "Frans, would you like to ride him?"

"Er…no, thank you. I'm…fine just watching you ride," Frans said, hesitantly.

Marigold looked puzzled. "Why does he seem afraid to ride? He likes feeding the horses but he never seems to want to ride. The only time he ever rode was when we both rode on Caesar together."

"Well, not everyone has to ride a horse. I would have thought after the first time you fell off Caesar when you were first learning, you would never want to ride another horse again," said Erik.

"Me? Not want to ride? Never," Marigold declared strongly. "It's the most thrilling experience. But I don't think I can get used to riding sidesaddle. How can women ride that way? It's so uncomfortable."

Erik chuckled. "I know you don't like it, but I don't think you can ride astride in polite society. Your mother would probably be appalled. But don't tell her that I let you ride astride when we're out here. She would have my head."

Marigold laughed a little. "Yes, Father."

Erik looked a little perplexed at her. "Why so formal with me? Whatever happened to 'Papa'?

"I thought I was supposed to call you father once I grew up to be a lady. Is that not all right?"

"Well, of course it is. I just…rather miss hearing you call me Papa, like you did when you were younger," he said, looking a little sadly. He missed how sweet and innocent she was when she was a little girl. Yet now, he had to come to terms with the fact that his daughter was growing up into a young lady.

As the day grew late, Erik looked at his pocket watch and observed the time. "It will be sunset soon. I suggest we all begin to head back." Marigold held Helios' reins as she walked beside Erik alongside the horse with Frans and Kit next to him. They walked on a trail around the woods until they came upon two strange men standing alongside the trail.

Erik froze as he saw the two men were gypsies. They stood in the middle of the trail, blocking their way. Erik slowly moved in front of his daughter. "Marigold, stay behind me." He murmured to her. Nervous, she obeyed him and hid close behind his back. Frans stood firmly at Erik's side, protectively.

"Care to hear your fortune, mam'selle? A centime for a fortune?" they said, looking at Marigold, who hid closer behind Erik's back.

"Marigold, I want you to get on the horse now. Frans, get on the horse behind Marigold. If something happens, I want you both to run." Erik muttered to them, calmly. Marigold slowly mounted Helios. Hesitant, Frans did so as Marigold extended her hand to help him up. "Pardon us, messieurs but we are not interested. Kindly let us pass," Erik said, firmly. Kit was growling at the gypsies as they stepped closer.

"Well, well, well. Who do you think you are? Talking to us like we're common filth? Perhaps she might like to hear her fortune, eh, dearie?" One of the men said he stepped closer to the horse, looking menacingly at Marigold.

"I warn you, stay back," growled Erik.

But then, he looked at Erik and froze. "That mask…those eyes…I know who you are. My father Vantus told me tales about a young boy with yellow eyes and a mask. And a face of death. You were The Corpse Child. What a chance meeting. You brought a lot of money from the sideshows. Then when you ran away, men who Vantus owed money to, decided to kill him. Because of you, my father is dead. Now, I shall take great pleasure in getting my revenge. Perhaps as an eye for an eye, I should take your daughter!"

The man tried to pull Marigold off the horse until Erik sharply kicked him away with Kit barking.

"Both of you, run! Go now!" he shouted, as he slapped the horse on the rear. Helios reared up and rode away as Marigold tried to desperately look back as her father was fighting off one of the gypsies.

Then, as he was occupied, the other man took a leather sling and flung a rock towards them, hitting Frans sharply behind the head. He grunted in pain and fell off the horse, landing on the ground, unconscious. Marigold had also fallen off the horse as well and crawled over to Frans as he lay helpless. "Frans, wake up!" she cried, trying to shake him. Then, the other gypsy ran over to her.

"Marigold, run!" cried Erik.

But before she could, the gypsy scared Helios off and he ran away. Then, he attempted to get a hold of Marigold, who tried to fight him off. "Easy, girlie. It's not you that we want. But by the time you wake up, you won't ever see your father again," he jeered, covering her mouth and nose with a cloth.

"No-" she protested, but soon was forced to breath in the strange aroma from the cloth, causing her to faint. She could hear her father screaming her name as she drifted out of consciousness.

Almost half an hour passed as the daylight was growing dimmer. Frans and Marigold both lay helpless and unconscious in the grass, unaware that Erik had been knocked out and abducted by the gypsies.

Kit was licking Frans face frantically as he came to. He groaned as he felt sharp pain throb from the back of his head. He looked around and saw that Erik was nowhere to be seen. Then, he looked to the side and found Marigold, also unconscious. He crawled toward her and tried to wake her up.

"Marigold! Wake up! Please, wake up," he said, desperately.

She moaned and opened her eyes slowly. She coughed as the strong aroma still lingered and Frans tried to help her sit up. Kit was then licking her face as she pet her to reassure her.

"Frans?" she said, wearily. He sighed in relief. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes. And you?" she asked, to which he nodded.

She looked around for Erik. "Where's Papa? Where did they take him?"

They stood up and ran back to the spot where the gypsies were. "Papa? Papa!" she called out but no answer. Frans carefully looked at the ground where he saw footprints scuffled in the dirt. Then he saw two sets of prints on the side of a long lines, giving the appearance that they had dragged Erik away. There was also a rock with a small bloodstain on it. Marigold gasped at the sight of it.

"Don't worry. He may have been knocked out and dragged off. They must have a camp nearby. No doubt they took him there. We must get home and tell your mother what happened. Maybe she can get help. Your horse is gone. It'll be dark by the time we get home," Frans said.

"Helios wouldn't run far away from me," said Marigold, who whistled loudly. Soon enough, Helios came running back to her.

"Good boy," she said, patting him. After she mounted, Frans climbed up behind her and they both rode off back to the cottage with Kit running beside them. When they made it there, they frantically told Christine what had happened.

"The last thing I saw was Papa fighting them off. When we woke up, we saw that he was gone. They must have taken him to their camp in the woods."

"My god, Erik…" gasped Christine. "All right, listen to me. Both of you stay here while I go fetch help. Monsieur Rahim is visiting again in Valence. I'm going to fetch him and he will help us."

Marigold watched helplessly as Christine ran to get Artemis, mounted her and sped off. When Christine left, Marigold paced nervously across the floor as Frans just watched her.

"It will take Mother hours until she returns with Uncle Rahim. Papa could be in great danger right now and only we could probably find where their camp is. Papa taught us those woods and how to find our way through it. I can't just sit here and wait when my father's in danger." Marigold stood up and ran upstairs to her room. Grabbing a rucksack, she packed a map, compass, and a slingshot. Quickly, she changed out of her dress and into her riding breeches, boots, blouse, and an old long jacket with a hood. She placed two small clothed pouches inside her pocket. These pouches, when thrown hard against the ground, would create a small explosion of smoke. She surmised that such things would prove useful if they needed to make a quick getaway.

Running downstairs, she went into the kitchen and put some food in her sack. "What are you wearing?" Frans asked, perplexed.

"Riding breeches. Girls wear them when riding in England. Why?"

"Never seen a girl wearing trousers."

"Well, you can't expect me to go riding into the woods and rescue my father in a dress and petticoat, can you?" smirked Marigold.

"Riding in the woods? What about what your mother said?"

"Listen, my father could be in great danger. By the time my mother comes back with Uncle Rahim, it could be too late to track them. I can't sit here and not help. I have to do something. He saved my life many times before, and now it's my turn to save him," she said, taking her rucksack and walking to the backdoor. "This will be dangerous, but if we hurry, I think we can save him. Frans, you are my best friend. I can't do this without your help. Will you help me, please?" she said, pleadingly.

Frans thought for a moment, then nodded. "Always." He ran upstairs to pack his rucksack while Marigold ran to the stables to fetch the horses.