Early the next day Scott and Sam were touring a new recruit around the training grounds. The young man was Joshua Guthrie, Sam's younger brother.

"Well that is all for the grounds," Scott began, "all that is left for you to meet the others."

"Yes Captain." Joshua said.

Scott nodded to Sam who spoke, "The Musketeers are broken into two groups. The first are those who are full time members of the team. Captain Summers is, of course, in charge of this group, with myself as the junior officer. The other Musketeers are Roberto DaCosta, James Madrox, Douglas Ramsey, Jonothon Starsmore, Bennet du Paris, and Angelo Espinosa. You will be a part of the younger guard who are still in training. Your captain is Julian Keller, and your fellow junior Musketeers are Joshua Foley, and David Alleyne."

The three walked passed a group of darker skinned Musketeers, "Who are they Sam?" Joshua asked.

"Those are Roberto Dacosta, Angelo Espinosa, and David Alleyne. DaCosta and Espinosa were both recruited from the South of the New World, while Alleyne was the most promising fighter of the French settlement in the Africa's."

Joshua sputtered, "Sam…you can't possibly expect me to call someone with that color skin my…"

"I can, and I will," Sam cut him off sharply, "and I will hear nothing of that matter again out of you."

Joshua looked to the ground embarrassed but looked towards another man, "Why does he stand alone?"

Scott followed Joshua's gaze, "Ah, that is du Paris. The other musketeers are uncomfortable around him. Our loyalty is always to the King first, but most of these men are more attached to the other members of our group. They do not appreciate Bennet's obvious attachment to the King."

Joshua opened his mouth to ask another question when a horse whinnied from across the field. The group turned and saw Henry and his horse galloping towards them. Scott frowned, gestured for Sam to follow and the two walked towards Hank who dismounted his horse and moved towards them. Before Scott could speak, Henry hauled off and punched him square in the face. The other Musketeers quickly brandished their swords.

"Scoundrel!" du Paris yelled and lunged. Henry quickly dodged and slashed the younger man across the ear, which began to bleed freely. Madrox stepped in front of Henry next. He had once been trained by Henry and tried to calm his old friend down.

"Henry please, stop." He held up his sword in defense but made no move to use it. Henry knocked the sword aside and swept James's legs out from underneath him.

By this time Scott had recovered and tackled Henry from behind. "Are you TRYING to get yourself killed?!"

Henry swung his weight around and tossed Scott off of him. He pulled a letter out of his pocket and threw it at Scott, "He has been gone for one day. Already."

Scott read the letter and looked back at Henry, "I'm sorry."

Henry's eyes flared up, "No but you will be." He moved towards Scott who grabbed him again.

"Cannons killed your son. Not Musketeers. If you harm another of my men, I will not hold the others back." Scott said.

Henry nodded and turned. He strode to his horse mounted it, and rode off. Scott looked around, "Keller…take Bennet to a doctor…the rest of you continue your training."

The next night, the King sat across from Wanda at an extravagant table.

"Wanda please…eat." He implored her.

Wanda stared at her plate, "Please…sire…I did not come here to eat. After you sent for me when news of Kurt came, I came for help. I have no money, my father are and brother are dead, my mother…"

"Has a sickness of the lungs and your sister Anya is showing signs as well. I've had my doctor look at them both and he believes that with time in my country estate they will both recover."

"Sire thank you…"

"There is no need for thanks…just eat…"

Wanda's hands twitched but she still did not pick up her fork. The King rose and moved to her side, "I know that you have lost someone. I do not wish to take his place in your heart, but I do not wish for you to close off your heart. I just ask that you share whatever you are feeling with me. Now eat." Wanda nodded and picked up her fork.

Hours later the King led Wanda to a room, "You will stay here, in my guest quarters, until it is your wish to leave."

Wanda nodded her thanks, but then the King moved to the door, closed it and locked it. He walked to her, hungrily, and leaned down and kissed her. After she broke the kiss, she turned around.

"I can't."

Stryfe began to kiss her bare shoulder and neck, "Yes you can." At the same time he began to untie the back of her dress. "Kurt would not want you to give up on life."

Wanda turned around, this time, she leaned in and the two kissed passionately. A time later, the two lay in bed, fully undressed, Wanda was sleeping. Stryfe looked down on her,

"Beautiful."

Far away from the castle, Warren led a jumpy Bobby through the depths of an old building.

"Where are we going Warren? Into hell?" Bobby asked nervously.

"After this meeting we all may be going to hell Bobby."

They finally entered a room with many bookshelves and a large table with four chairs. Bobby looked around at the bookshelves, where there were no volumes, just skeletons.

Bobby turned to Warren, "A crypt? Why are we in a crypt?" The two whirled around when another of the door opened. Bobby smiled with relief when Scott walked through it. The last door opened and Henry entered. Scott and Henry's eyes instantly looked and both stiffened.

Before either could make a move, Warren stepped in, "I am sorry for the secrecy, but I need all three of you here. It is a matter of importance. Please, sit." Scott and Henry quickly sat on opposite ends of the table. Bobby looked at Warren and rolled his eyes, then he took the seat next to Scott. Warren sat next to Henry. Warren took a breath and began,

"When we were young, if we saw a wrong, we righted it."

Scott interrupted, not taking his eyes off of Henry, "And now that we're wiser we learned that not all problems can be solved with fighting."

"And some can't be solved without it." Henry said sharply.

"If I may," Warren interrupted, "the Jesuits openly rebel against the King, and so he has requested me to find the general of the Jesuits and kill him."

Henry snorted, "Typical."

"So why are you telling us Warren? Why not find this general and warn him?" Bobby asked.

"Well that would be difficult, since I would be speaking into the mirror." Warren said.

Bobby rose an eyebrow, and Scott and Henry tore their eyes away from each other to look at Warren, "Yes. I am the general of the Jesuits."

Bobby held up a hand, "Wait. I'm confused. What exactly is a Jesuit?"

"A traitor to the King." Scott said sharply.

"And you are a traitor to your friends!" Henry said.

"Shut up! Both of you!" Bobby yelled. Both looked at him surprised but he turned to Warren, "So the King is calling for your death?"

Warren nodded, "Yes."

"What would you have us do?" Henry asked.

Warren looked at Scott, "Replace the King."

Scott stood up, "I can't listen to this!"

"It can't be done!" Bobby said.

Warren nodded, "It can. I know it."

"I am with you." Henry said.

Warren looked to Bobby who grinned, "Of course."

Warren looked to Scott once more, "Scott?"

"No."

"We need you."

Scott shook his head, "I made a promise to my King."

"And when the King is unjust you are absolved from your promise!" Henry shouted.

"A promise cannot be broken because it is a promise!" Scott yelled back.

Henry stepped closer to Scott. Warren and Bobby both stood, "WHY DO YOU FOLLOW HIM WHY? We used to fight for something greater than King! Greater than country! What do you fight for now?!"

"I fight for the belief that every man can be better than what he is! Even Stryfe!" Scott roared.

Henry nodded and turned to Warren, "Whatever the plan, I am with you," he turned back to Scott, "the next time we meet, one of us will die." With that he quickly strode out of the room. Bobby looked from Henry to Scott, and then began to chase after Henry,

"Henry! Wait!" After the two were out of the room, Warren turned to Scott as he began to leave,

"Even if I weren't a priest, I would know something is heavy on your heart. Can you tell me?"

"I cannot."

"Why? You used to tell us everything. Back when you could call us brothers."

Scott shook his head, "I cannot betray…my King."

Warren nodded, "Then God be with you, because the three of us will not be." Scott nodded and walked out one of the doors, and Warren followed Scott and Bobby.

Warren caught up to the others and led them to another room, where a man with black hair sat in front of a furnace.

"Who is he?" Henry asked. The man got up and turned around.

"This is my forge," Warren said, "Show them."

The man pulled a smoldering piece of metal out of the furnace. It was shaped like a mask.

"I don't get it." Bobby said.

Warren snorted, "You wouldn't. But you will."

The next morning, when Scott arrived at his office he found Stryfe already waiting for him, "Yes milord?"

Stryfe paused before speaking, "It has come to my attention that yesterday, a man came to the grounds, planning to kill me. Do we let would be assassins just walk away now Captain Summers?"

Scott did not drop the King's gaze, "He was trying to kill his own pain. He lost his son. I can't imagine that grief."

"What about losing your King?" Stryfe asked sharply.

"It depends on the King." Scott said back just as angrily.

"Oh, I see."

Scott paused, "When I joined the Musketeers, I was told that every time I kill, I shouldn't ask what I was killing, but what I was allowing to kill. Do you know who told me that?"

"No."

"Henry did. So if he is now our enemy, we must ask why."

Stryfe looked up at Scott, "Well we cannot do that. Henry is gone. Robert is missing from the brothel, and Warren is not at the church. You know them better than anyone Scott. Are they a threat?"

Scott continued to stare at Stryfe, "If they are, we needn't seek them out, they will find us."

Stryfe walked up to Scott and stood very close, "I suggest you find them first." Stryfe turned on his heel and walked away.

Late that very night, inside of the Vault, the man in the mask stood looking out his window. He glanced at the moon and then sat on the floor of his cell. He had used scraps of food and a piece of chalk he had found to draw the different shapes of the moon on the stone floor. He rose once more to peer through the bars, but instead of watching the moon, he saw a small rowboat approach the Vault, from its entrance through the river.

He looked at the moon, and then his moon map. It was Sunday. "Confession," he muttered.

Many floors below, the boat had entered the Vault and one of the three men inside tied it to the dock. They were swiftly approached by Dukes and Toynbee, who knew none of the men.

"Who are you?" Dukes demanded.

"I am here for confession." The fattest of the men responded.

Dukes looked at Toynbee, puzzled. "It's Italian." Toynbee said. "Do you speak French?"

"No, I don't."

"Who are you here for?"

The man smiled, "The King's…special…prisoner."

Toynbee nodded and turned to Dukes, ""e's for 'im upstairs."

Dukes nodded as the man struggled to climb out of the boat, seemingly unaccustomed to his weight. As he disembarked Dukes pointed at the other two passengers who had yet to say anything, "Wha' abou' them?"

The fat man looked at Toynbee, "They remain here."

Toynbee nodded and led the man up the stairs to the man in the mask's cell. As the fat man entered and closed the door behind him, he found the young man already on his knees, his hands clasped in prayer. His face fell when he looked upon the mask. The young man looked at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry if the sight of me startles you."

The fat man shook his head, "By the end of this night it will be I who apologizes to you. My name is Warren, I'm here to help you." Warren quickly began to unbutton his robe, and out of it fell the still body of a man, the iron mask that the forge had crafted sealed around his head.

The young man quickly jumped to his feet and hunched over the dead man, "Who is this?!"

"It is you." Warren said smiling.

"What?"

"We are here to set you free! Now come, this will be uncomfortable."

A time later, Toynbee and Dukes reentered the cell and saw the fat priest hunched over who they thought was the prisoner. "Oy, wha' 'appened to 'im?"

"He is dead…the plague!" Warren responded.

"The plague?!" Toynbee shouted incredulously.

"What?" Dukes demanded, "'e brought the plague in 'ere? Get 'im ou'!"

As Toynbee began to muscle Warren out of the cell, Dukes hunched over the prisoner and began to eagerly touch the iron mask. Warren quickly moved back into the cell holding a torch, shoved Toynbee aside and began to cover the body with hay, and lit it ablaze.

"He has the plague…he must burn."

Dukes grabbed him again and shoved him down the stairs. Warren quickly climbed back into the boat and Bobby, still taking care to hide his face, untied the boat from the dock, and the Musketeers along with their newly liberated friend floated away from the Vault.

Hours later, a chariot arrived at a small settlement. Bobby and Henry stepped out of the chariot as Warren climbed out, still in his fat priest attire. He untied his robe and allowed the prisoner to fall to the group. He quickly covered his eyes from the brightly lit day. Bobby's eyes lingered on him, while Henry surveyed the settlement where they stood. A number of men and women wandered around, some with crops, others with freshly laundered clothing, all smiling merrily at each other.

"Where are we Warren?" Henry asked.

Warren smiled, "These…are the Jesuits."

Bobby eyed the women hungrily, "And you are their King?"

Warren frowned, "General…we don't have kings."

Bobby waved a hand inconsequentially, "It is no matter. If you are the general what does this make me?"

Warren rolled his eyes and carried the young man into the main house. Henry clapped Bobby on the back, "It makes you the general's friend who happens to own a brothel and smells like old alcohol and genital disease. Just like at home."

Bobby shoved Henry in mock anger as the two followed after Warren.

As the three entered the house Warren looked down at the man, "Can you hear me?"

The man nodded, "Yes, sir."

"Bobby, Henry, hold his arms." Warren gently placed the man in front of a furnace and the two grabbed his arms. Warren took a mallet out of the furnace. "This will hurt. But hopefully the result is well worth the pain." The man nodded.

Warren lifted the mallet and brought it down hard on the mask's metal cage. The man screamed in agony and Bobby and Henry tightened their grip on his arms. After almost thirty hard strikes of the mallet, the lock holding the cage in place cracked and fell off. Warren smiled as he pulled the cage holding the mask in place off. Warren paused and looked at Bobby and Henry, and then took the mask itself off. All three men looked down at what they saw. Under the mask was a young man, but beyond that no facial features were recognizable, his hair as well as beard and mustache had completely obscured his face. Trembling, the man looked at his hands, and then brought them to his face, a moan of relief escaped his lips.

Warren turned to Henry, "Take him to my office, top floor." Henry nodded and began to walk with the man.

Next, Warren looked at Bobby, "On the grounds are two young women, Allison, and Danielle. Find them, and take them to my office to help this man."

"Are they…" Bobby began.

Warren held up a hand to silence him, "You may do with them what you will later. Now, the boy is all that is important." Bobby nodded and walked away.

Henry and the young man entered his office, and Henry led him to a chair. The young man still hadn't looked up. Henry grabbed a goblet from a counter and filled it with water and offered it to the young man. As he brought it to his lips, he gagged and sputtered it on the desk at which he sat.

He quickly tried to wipe the water with his sleeves, "Sorry…sorry."

Henry grabbed his hands, "It is fine. Do not worry." Henry looked down at him once more, and began to move towards the door.

"Why was this done to me?" The boy asked. Henry turned back in surprise.

"You don't know?" The boy shook his head, "What do you remember of your life before the mask?"

The young man closed his eyes, trying to remember, "I lived in the country, with no family. Just a nun and a priest. One day, when I was eight years old a man in white came to my home He took me to the Vault, and he put me in the mask."

"And you had no idea why?"

The young man shook his head, "I realized that something about my face needed to be hidden. But I do not know what."

Henry nodded. The boy was perceptive. "What is your name?"

The boy hesitated, as if trying to recollect an unimportant fact, "The nun called me…Nathan."

At that moment two young women, one with black hair, one with blonde, entered the office and spoke in hushed tones to Henry. He nodded, "Nathan, this is Allison and Danielle. They are here to clean you up. They will not hurt you." Henry turned and began to leave the room.

"Thank you." Henry turned once more and looked back at the boy who had finally looked up, "Thank you for your kindness." Henry gave an uneasy smile and nodded, and he left.

Bobby sat at a table in the kitchen, prodding a piece of meat with his finger. Warren looked at him as he carried a basket of vegetables into the kitchen.

"What is wrong with you?" Warren asked. Bobby just continued to stare at the ground.

Warren sat right next to him, "Bobby you are my best friend, but I grow tired of this attitude. Now what is the problem?"

Bobby shrugged, "When we rescued the boy there was no fighting…no killing…no blood. I was useless."

Warren sighed, "Robert you are surrounded by adventure, intrigue, and nature…what more can you want?" Bobby sighed melodramatically as a young woman walked in. Bobby's eyes quickly flashed to her, but he looked back down.

Warren's eyes danced, "Bobby this is Katherine Pryde, a housemaid." Katherine giggled but Bobby didn't look up.

"Women do not tempt me any longer. I have had enough of this world." Bobby rose, paused to look Katherine up and down once more, but then marched out of the kitchen. As he exited, Henry entered.

"Who is he?"

Warren did not look up, "You search for fact when you should search for truth."

"Don't toy with me Warren. You are not my priest and wouldn't be even if I had one."

Warren smiled and met Henry's eyes, "How bitter of you. Maybe you need a priest. You lose your son. Then Scott, your best friend."

Henry stood up angrily, "What gives you the right to play God with my feelings? The fact that you are so much holier than us all?"

Warren nodded, "Well…yes." Suddenly there was a scream of pain from outside of the house. The two ran out the door to find Bobby hunched over in agony. Henry quickly grabbed him for support while Warren brandished a sword.

"What's wrong?" Henry asked.

Bobby's eyes rolled up into his head, "Kidney stones. Hurts when I shit and piss. I'm just a useless old fart. I'm going to kill myself…once I'm sober."

Warren rolled his eyes and grabbed Bobby's other arm. "Warren?" A voice shouted from across the courtyard. The three men looked up to see Allison leaning out of Warren's office. "He is ready."

As the three men sat at a small wooden table, Nathan shyly entered the room. Henry's and Bobby's eyes widened in shock as the looked at Nathan's face, now clean shaven and trim. He looked exactly like Stryfe. Henry continued to stare at him as Bobby turned to Warren, who did not look surprised. Warren gestured for Nathan to sit.

Warren cleared his throat, "The greatest mystery in life, is who we truly are."

Nathan nodded, "Yes…it is."

"Allow me to solve this mystery, it begins on the night that Stryfe was born."

"I remember that night," Bobby interrupted, "Myself, Henry, and Scott were all off duty. Scott was dead drunk, the only time I've seen him that way."

Warren nodded in agreement, "I was the only one on duty. I was called to the rear of the palace, where King James placed a baby in my arms."

"Do you understand this Henry?" Bobby interrupted again, "It confuses me."

Warren held up a hand, "If I may? Jean had given birth to twins, and I held the younger of the two. Suddenly, James found himself with two heirs. He had seen too many kingdoms torn apart by familial wars and ordered me to take the younger of the two, you Nathan, and make him disappear. I brought you to the countryside where you were to be cared for. However, ten years ago, on his deathbed, James told your mother and Stryfe that you were alive. Jean had been informed that you had died at birth, and immediately wished to restore you to your birthright, but since your father was dead, Stryfe was the King. He was afraid to kill you due to fear of damnation, so he ordered that the only other living person who knew of your existence, me, to have you brought to the Vault, and have your face hidden."

Nathan's eyes grew wider and wider with each word and Bobby and Henry both looked at Warren incredulously. Warren looked down ashamed, "One day I will ask you to forgive me. But not until I give you back what is yours."

"What do you mean?" Bobby asked.

"We replace Stryfe, with Nathan." Warren said.

"That's your plan?! It's ridiculous!" Henry shouted.

"I promise you, it isn't. What did you think we were doing?"

Henry slammed the table, "Planning for war, revolution."

"Death in the streets?!" Warren demanded.

"At least it's a change." Bobby said conversationally.

Henry cut him off, "It is one thing that they look similar. Stryfe has an arrogance and manner about him—"

"Which can be adopted!" Warren said.

"People close to him—"

"Did you not think that I considered all of this? That I didn't consider every last detail?" Warren asked.

Henry paused, "Did you consider that it is not only our lives that we risk, but Nathan's?"

Warren stopped, looked at Nathan and continued, "That is why he, much like the both of you, has a choice." He paused, "You have spent ten years in prison thanks to your brother. Do you wish to sit idly by as he steals, and punishes your people for crimes that they did not commit? As they starve and live lives of poverty? Or do you have the resolve to do something about it?" Nathan did not respond. "Do you Nathan?" Warren asked, this time more forcefully.

Nathan gaped, but then rose and began to walk towards the door. He stopped at the doorway and began to tremble. Henry shot Warren an angry glare as he walked towards Nathan and put a hand on his shoulder. Nathan met his gaze, but still shook.

Meanwhile, in the palace, the King sat at his desk. As he stared at the paper in front of him, Allerdyce walked into the room with a box. "Milord, this came from the Vault. They said it was for your eyes only."

Stryfe eyed the box knowingly. He took the letter that was attached to it and scanned it briefly. He nodded and handed it back to Allerdyce, "Take this to my mother."

Once Allerdyce had left, he opened the box. Inside was the mask. He picked it up with trembling fingers and examined it. He moved the mask to his face, but the second the cold metal touched his skin, he shuddered and threw it back into the box and slammed the lid, still panting.

Elsewhere, the Queen ran sobbing to the room with the coffin and knelt before the footstool once more. She traced the letters embroidered on it with her fingers and sobbed harder, "My son. My child. Please…forgive me." She lay across the footstool and her shoulders shook. She sat upright when she heard a voice behind her.

"Jean?"

She turned and saw Scott standing behind her. She stood quickly, "Scott." She collapsed into his arms and continued to cry. When she sobbing slowed she pulled back and looked him in the eyes. Before either knew what was happening, they were kissing without intention of stopping. Scott quickly ripped his lips away and looked at her.

"We can't. If anyone sees…it is death."

Jean continued to gaze at him, "If I don't kiss you I will die." She began to lean in again, but Scott stopped her,

"I have always loved you Jean and cannot bear to see you cry. Please tell me what is wrong." He searched her face.

Jean looked at the ground and the pulled away from him, "I cannot." With that, she ran from the room, leaving Scott to look curiously at the small footstool where she had sat. His eyes rose and met the coffin where James had been laid to rest,

"I'm sorry, my King."

Back in the Jesuit settlement, Warren sat at his desk, "WINE!" He bellowed as Henry entered the room, "How is he Henry?"

"He is tired it has been a long day."

"Wine?!" Warren shouted again.

"Warren, please. I cannot do this."

"Yes you can."

"Nathan is like a child, with a year, maybe two."

Warren cut him off, "Three weeks."

"Three weeks?!" Henry sputtered.

Warren nodded, "The King is having a masquerade ball, everyone's face will be covered. It is the PERFECT time to strike. MORE WINE!" Warren looked out of his office and turned back to Henry, "Where is everyone?"

Outside in the barn Bobby laid naked with Katherine, equally nude, draped across his chest, "When this ordeal is over, you will come back to France with me, and be my bride."

Katherine traced a line down his chest, "But for now, I will worship your body." The two began to kiss for a time, but as Katherine moved down his body, Bobby stopped her, "It is no use, my sword isn't straight."

Katherine frowned, "Don't worry, you're just, taking a while to get started."

A naked Allison then rose from the hay, "I can make your sword straight." Danielle sat up right next to her. Bobby shook his head and stood up,

"No, no I am useless." He left the barn and began to walk towards another shed.

Back inside Warren and Henry continued to argue, "Three weeks to learn all that he must know?" Henry said.

Warren nodded, "He was educated as a gentleman for eight years."

"Yes, and then for ten more he lived in that mask not knowing why. Now he knows that the people who should have loved him subjected him to a life of pain."

Warren turned, "You care for the boy."

Henry angrily stepped towards, "Don't play got with my emotions Warren, nothing can replace my son." Henry stopped as he saw Bobby walking naked towards a shed, "What is Bobby doing?"

Warren spared the window a glance, "Walking to the shed. About to hang himself I presume."

"Hang himself?!" Henry asked.

As Bobby entered the shed he found a rope already hanging from a beam, "A sign from God," he muttered.

"If Bobby wants to kill himself, he's bound to find the opportunity to." Warren said calmly. Henry looked at him in disbelief and ran outside.

Bobby carefully tied the rope around his neck and tightened the newly made noose. "Goodbye cruel world," Bobby said. He jumped off the platform but as he fell, the beam holding the rope snapped and Bobby fell to the ground causing a bang.

Warren and Henry made it outside when the crash was heard. "What was that?" Henry asked.

'Don't worry I sawed the beam." Warren said confidently. At that moment, the entire shed fell around Bobby. Henry turned to Warren, his eyebrows raised.

"Well I'm a priest, not an engineer." The two ran to the shed's remains and began to dig for their friend. As the found Bobby's still alive form, the young man gave a moan of anger.

"Worthington! You knew I would do this! You sawed the beam." He picked up the broken beam and held it threateningly at Warren. "Admit it! Admit it!"

"Of course I did!" Warren roared, "You've been moping around for weeks. Now that you've gotten the idea of hanging yourself out of your head you can shut up, stop boring everyone and be useful!"

Bobby looked at the ground sheepishly. Warren looked him up and down, "Aren't you cold?"

Bobby grinned, "Never."

"Well put some clothes on." Warren took off his cloak, and draped it around Bobby who handed the beam to Henry. As Warren and Bobby walked inside, Henry tossed the beam aside and saw candle light across the field. He peered into the room and saw Nathan sitting at a chair, with the mask on. Nathan noticed Henry watching and quickly took it off.

When Henry entered the room he saw Nathan sitting by the fire, holding the mask. "I've worn this thing so long, I almost feel unsafe without it."

Henry nodded, "I don't sleep well either."

Hours later, Henry's word proved false as he sat dozing in a chair, as Nathan sat awake. He finally rose from his chair and threw open his window, and for the first time in ten years, he finally had a complete view of the moon.

The next day Nathan sat by the lake as Bobby, Warren and Henry approached. "I've been in prison for ten years," Nathan said. "You have freed me, but now ask me to enter another prison."

"The palace is hardly a prison." Bobby said reasonably and winced when Henry punched him in the arm.

Nathan gazed across the lake, "Do you see those young women. I would remain here and tend the fields with them for the rest of my life."

"Nathan please. We offer you a chance to be King!" Warren implored him.

"No." Nathan said angrily, "You offer me the chance to pretend to be King, a King you all hate."

"Not everyone hates him." Henry said quietly.

"Don't you?" Nathan asked. Henry did not respond. "Until you give me a reason that I must do this, I will not."

"We are all God's tools Nathan," Warren began, "we must keep faith. Although it can sometimes be hard."

"Of course it is hard Warren!" Bobby shouted, "But that is why we must eat, drink, and make love to life! When you are King, if you want one of those young women, you can have a hundred—"

Warren punched Bobby, "Bobby, shut up. You miss the point."

"What is the point?!"

"The point is that we have not given Nathan a good reason for him to do this. He is right." Henry said.

"I know your reason Henry." Nathan said quietly.

Henry's eyebrows shot up, "Oh do you?"

Nathan nodded, "Bobby told me about your son."

Henry shot a glare at Bobby who became very interested in his boots. Henry looked back at Nathan, "You are wrong. Yes, Kurt is my reason, but not the way you would think. When we were young each of us pursued something greater than ourselves. Warren, his faith, Scott, his loyalty, Bobby his lust…for…life, and I had my son. But collectively, we all wished to serve a King worth fighting for. I taught my son to believe in that dream, and he is now dead. My hope for you is that you prove that my son did not die in vain. Did he?"

Nathan did not respond. He picked up a sword, nodded, and walked away. As Henry went to follow Warren stopped him, "Henry, if we fail in this, and we probably will, just know that it will be an honor to die beside you." Henry nodded and walked away. Warren turned to Bobby, "And you."

The next two weeks the three Musketeers spent all of their time training Nathan for his role as King. He received lessons in fighting, riding, dancing, speaking, even walking. He learned the rooms of the palace, and the names of the people with whom he would be surrounded. The final week of practice approached.

Meanwhile, in the palace, Wanda sat in front of a mirror in her room. The Queen's hand maiden Lorna entered her quarters holding a letter. "This is for you, dear." Wanda nodded, thanking Lorna and took the letter which bore her name in Kurt's writing. She opened it, and read it through, tears flowing down her cheeks by the team she finished it.

Later that night she lay in bed with Stryfe. As he kissed her she tossed and turned and did not respond. He sat over her and looked down,

"What's wrong?" She did not respond. "What's the matter?" This time, she turned away. Stryfe frowned and asked again, more forcefully, "What is the matter?"

She still did not turn back, "I received a letter from Kurt. He sent it directly here, knowing this is where I would be. How would he know that?"

Stryfe frowned, "He was irrational. I ordered him placed far from the fighting, but he charged in anyway. He was a fool."

"He was not." Wanda said sharply, "He forgave me for the sin he knew I would commit. I loved him Stryfe, I love him still."

"Still?" Stryfe asked quietly.

"And now in pretending to love you, I sin against love."

"You pretend?"

Wanda sat up, "I will burn in hell. As will you for making me sin as to receive your mercy."

Stryfe sat next to her and toyed with her hair, "No my love. You will burn in hell. I am the King, ordained by God, I will not go to hell."

The next day Warren and Bobby began to take bags from inside the store house and toss them into a chariot. Henry walked out from the main house,

"Where are you going?"

"I must return to France for preparation. You will need to complete his training alone."

"So not only do you ask me to do the impossible, now I must do it alone." The pair arrived at the carriage where Bobby was kissing Katherine.

"Get inside Bobby. This is not my choice Henry. Stryfe has ordered that all rioters by shot on sight. I have much to do."

"And I have the MOST to do and must do it alone?"

"I offer you the perfect opportunity. A revolution with no death, no bloodshed, and no treason, for he is of royal blood as well, so you must do this for me." The chariot took off as Henry watched them go.

Once they arrived back in the city, the chariot pulled up next to the church. As Warren and Bobby exited, one of the Jesuits handed Warren a note. Warren read through it quickly and let out a curse.

"What is it?" Bobby demanded.

"The ball has been moved up to tomorrow. The King is unhappy with his mistress and seeks revelry." Warren handed the note to the driver of the chariot, "Take this to Henry, immediately. Bobby?"

"I must get to the brothel and have the girls finish our robes. Do you need me for anything else?"

Warren shook his head as Bobby quickly mounted his horse. When he dismounted at the brothel he quickly ran to the door and kicked it open, bellowing, "The brothel is closed!"

A tall man with long blonde hair as well as a short man with dark brown hair rose. They had just emerged from a room with Monet and Jubilation.

"We're here to—" The taller man began.

"Find somewhere else to go tonight," Bobby said.

"Oh we'll go, and we'll take your money too!" The shorter man said as he brandished a knife. He charged Bobby who lazily dodged and landed an elbow to the other man's face. As he had the man bent over the table he heard a click and felt the nozzle of a pistol up against his head, courtesy of the tall blonde man. Before the man could fire, something knocked the pistol out of his hand, and a third man pushed the blonde man against the wall. Bobby turned and saw a third customer of the brothel, who had just been with Anna Marie.

"I don' t'ink dat's a good idea Monsieur Creed." Bobby grinned in recognition of the voice.

"Get offa me Lebeau." Creed growled.

"Dat man saved m' life once upon a time. You 'urt'im, you deal w'me. And dat's not a road you wanna go down." Lebeau's eyes glittered dangerously. "Now take Petros, an' leave like d'boss said."

Creed nodded and Bobby let Petros up as the pair ran towards the door. After they left Lebeau turned to Bobby and tipped his hat, "Until we meet again, mon ami." He turned back just before leaving, "An I t'ink you should keep that chere dat I was jus' wit. She's a winner." He gave one last wave and disappeared.

Bobby turned to the girl in question, Anna Marie, who held up a robe, "Ah finished your costume Bobby."

"Ah my girls. I love you all. I love life. Now, Jubilation, Monet, finish the other three pairs. Tonight, Anna Marie, you belong to me." Anna Marie let out a giggle as Bobby tackled her. Jubilation and Monet looked on jealously.

Later that day, Henry sat with Nathan at the table. Nathan picked up a goblet in front of him. Henry shook his head, "Servants have touched the King's goblet. Therefore, he will touch it as little as possible." He demonstrated, holding the cup with just his thumb and index finger. He gestured for Nathan to try again. This time, Nathan picked it up correctly, but fumbled with it on the way to his mouth, finally dropping the goblet.

"I'm sorry…sorry…"

"No. No. This is the point. You can make a mistake. But when you are King, even your mistakes are correct. And you must NEVER apologize." Henry said forcefully.

"Is this the kind of King you want me to be?" Nathan demanded. "Or is this just because he killed your son." Henry looked at him angrily and then looked to the ground. Nathan's eyes widened when he realized what he said. He grabbed Henry's arm.

"No…stop. I'm not mad at you Nathan. You must understand this. Of course we want you to be a good King. But first you must pass for your brother who is cold, and cruel. You mustn't care about me. You mustn't ask about…my son." With this Henry began to break down and cry, swiftly leaving the room.

Meanwhile, Queen Jean had entered the confession booth in the church. "Forgive me father, for I have sinned."

"As have I Jean." Jean's eyes widened in shock as she threw open the cloth covering the priest's face. "Warren!"

"For years I have prayed for forgiveness, my Queen. But I have now realized that my forgiveness must come from you, before it can come from God. For it was I who took your second son away from you."

The Queen's eyes fell to the floor, "I have sinned as well, because I was not brave enough to find the truth as I was told one lie after another. I have raised a son who destroys lives, while allowing another to die in an iron mask."

"No. God has intervened. All I ask, is that tonight, you allow myself, Robert, and Henry to dictate events, and both you, and your younger son may have another chance."

"I will do it."

"Thank you my Queen, Robert sends his regards."

"Tell him to be safe, and yourself and Henry as well."

Later on Henry sat at a table with Nathan and a diagram of the palace. "These rooms belong to you. Each of these rooms has a main entrance to another, and a secret pathway to yet another. The rooms to the left will belong to your mistress. Her name is Wanda. According to Warren's letter however, she will not be the woman at the ball with you, so do not address that woman as such."

Nathan nodded, "Who do these rooms belong to?" He gestured to another set.

"This room belongs to Scott, captain of the Musketeers, while these other rooms belong to your mother."

"M-my…mother?" Nathan stammered.

Henry looked at him smiling, "Yes. That won't be a problem will it?"

"N-no…of course not."

At this moment, a carriage bearing Warren arrived, "Are we ready?"

Henry and Nathan nodded. "Let us go." Henry said.

Warren grinned mischievously, "Of course. But I want to pick up a surprise for Bobby first."

Later that night the three arrived at the brothel. Warren knocked the code knock on the door, and Bobby opened it, already adorned in his robes, "What has taken you so long? I was worried."

"We're here now!" Warren said annoyed. Monet and Jubilation walked up to Bobby draping eyes arms around him. Each looked Nathan up and down,

"This is the new King eh?" Jubilation asked.

Monet grinned, "Perhaps we can expect a royal visit once he has taken the throne."

Warren shot an angry glare at Bobby for revealing their plan, but a fourth voice quickly cut in, "Once Robert and I are married you two will be the first to go, with this disgusting building a close second."

Bobby's eyes widened in shock and Henry and Warren, both grinning, stepped out of the way to reveal Katherine, "What are you doing here girl?" Bobby demanded.

Katherine's eyes danced angrily, "You said we were to be wed, how could you do this without my being here?"

"Excuse me one moment, my beauty," Bobby said to Katherine and grabbed Warren by the scruff of the neck, pulling him close, "I will kill you for this." He turned back to Katherine, "We will discuss this later, my dear, but for now, the four of us have much to do. The girls will entertain you while I'm gone." Monet and Jubilation eyed Katherine, eyes dripping with disgust.

The Three Musketeers and Nathan climbed back into the carriage, and put the finishing touches on their costumes. Before they arrived each gave him more advice.

"Remember," Warren began, "nobility is born in the heart."

"Make love without care, and fart whenever you wish," Bobby added.

Henry rolled his eyes, "Hold your goblet with two fingers and remember apologize for nothing. We must only get through tonight. If you get stuck just nod and say 'continue'."

"Tomorrow you will then have myself, Bobby, and Henry be brought to the palace and all will be well." Warren concluded.