CHAPTER TWO

A surprising revelation

Athos

Selene D'Amboise. Lady Selene D'Amboise if I'm using her full title, had returned to Paris. Deadly, calculated, the only female musketeer in existence and most importantly, Captain Treville's most beloved goddaughter.

And I know what you're asking yourself, how had a lady become one of the kings muskteers?

Her mother was part of the French nobility and caused quite a stir when she married one of the king's musketeers. A tragedy saw Selene come to the garrison when she was 10, her parents will clearly stating that should anything happen to them, Selene would be raised by her fathers closest friend Treville.

Military strategy, hand-to-hand combat, swords, pistols, honor and death – this was the world that Selene grew up in. And she lived for it.

A favorite among the musketeers, including Porthos and Aramis, everyone loved her. Except for me. We clashed at every turn, she was stubborn, proud and refused to take orders. She was always causing me trouble and enjoyed making me look like a fool.

I'd known her for years, since I first decided to leave my old life behind and join the musketeers. The last time I had seen her she looked like a teenage boy, hair chopped off, in men's clothing challenging the new recruits to a duel. That was more than two years ago. Treville never revealed where she had gone, just that she was on a mission and would return when it was complete.

I had forgotten about her the day she left, had never thought on her during her absence and relished in the calm.

And now here she was, sitting in front of me, holding my weapons looking very pleased with herself.

Selene

The familiar rumble of the city, the smell from the bakeries, the feeling in the air…I took my first step into Paris in more than two years and it just felt right.

After a long journey on the water it was good to finally be on a solid ground. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, taking in everything around me.

I was home. And the city welcomed me back into its arms.

"Give us your money and we won't have any problems," a voice behind me demanded.

I felt the familiar feel of a knife against my throat. Ah Paris, I truly had missed this city.

"You dumb or somethin'? I said give us your money!"

I smiled, keeping my eyes closed, "Well I'm certainly not dumb, so I must be something," I said to the men.

"Wha.."

He barley had time to finish his sentence before I slammed my head back, breaking his nose. I grabbed the hand that was at my neck, snapping his wrist and taking the knife. I slammed it into his stomach before he even had time to scream. I heard his body hit the ground and smiled, I did take a sick satisfaction in violence.

I turned around and looked at his companions, the men still not quite sure what had just happened. Looking at each other than looking at me, standing half in the shadows with the bloodied knife in my hand.

"Well gentleman, as your now dead companion said, are you dumb or something? I think you should think on this and then make your decision," I said, throwing the knife in the air and catching it.

The men looked at each other again and then turned and ran in the opposite direction.

'Smart move.'

Now what to do? The night was still young and I was back home. I think a celebration was in order.

'Should I go surprise father now? Or maybe the boys?'

My feet started moving of their own accord, taking me through the city while my mind wandered.

When I left Paris I was shattered, devastated that I would be away from my family. The musketeers were my world, my everything and I never thought that I would fit in anywhere else.

I cried so much when I left, wondering why this had happened to me. I could hardly hear the final words from my father echoing in my head "Someday you will understand why this happened…"

Spain. I was to go to Spain and report to the king what was happening. I was to be a lady of the Spanish court. Placed perfectly to hear all the gossip and talk and report back to France.

Who better than a woman to do such a mission? No one would ever suspect a harmless lady of the court to be a spy. For two years I had been pretending to be something I'm not, training in secret and sending reports to France.

But not anymore. No, I was home, back with my adopted family, no longer having to live a lie. And it felt good! I could do what ever I wanted tonight. Now where had my feet taken me?

'A tavern, perfect!' I smiled to myself, good work feet. 'The Wren, a slightly dodgy establishment and the favorite watering hole of a certain musketeer…this was a surprising development in the evening.'

I pulled my hat lower as I stepped into The Wren, it was packed, loud, noisy and smelled. I couldn't have been happier. Looking round the room I couldn't see my target. 'Where was he?'

There! Not surprisingly he was in the corner, a bottle of wine in front of him, almost finished. I smiled to myself and took a step towards him then faltered.

'Out of everyone, he was the first person I wanted to see when I got off the boat, him? Well…why not have some fun first.'

With a smirk on my face I walked towards the bar, a young barmaid saw me walk up and turned her attention to me.

"Evenin sir, what can I get for you tonight?"

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, I was wearing men's clothing. "I'll take two bottles of red," throwing some money down on the bar.

I saw her surprise at hearing my soft voice and startled, she quickly got my wine without haste. I gave her a smile and turned to find my target exactly where I left him, looking distracted.

'Perfect.'

I waked through the bar, careful to keep myself in the shadows and dodge the rowdy patrons. He still hadn't seen me creep up behind him, this really was all too easy.

With precision I slid his knife out, carefully unhooked his pistols and let gravity drop them into my waiting hands. He still hadn't noticed, I couldn't stop the smirk that was appearing on my face.

I put the pistol to his neck and whispered "My, my what have I got here? A king's musketeer caught off guard and unarmed in a dangerous tavern in Paris. It must be my lucky day."

His hands went to his weapons in a second, then I heard him sigh as he realized they were gone. This was too easy!

"It appears you have the upper hand madame, I find myself unarmed and defenseless," he said.

A warmth spread through my body, hearing his voice for the first time in years. He still had that polished tone, a darkness and mystery, that confidence in his words. I was surprised to realize then just how much I had missed him. I pushed my pistol into his neck a little harder.

"Unarmed yes, defenseless I think not. Drunk, distracted and now at my mercy, what would your captain say if he saw such behavior?"

He didn't move, a seasoned musketeer, he knew he needed more time to figure out a way out of this situations.

"Do I at least get to know the identity of my executioner?" he said.

"Hmmm…..I'll give some clues and we'll see how smart you are. I do so love to play games," I said.

I was smiling, wondering if he would realize who I was.

"I don't play games," he answers.

"Only because you always lose to me."

He turned his head slightly, 'Ah, he remembered.'

"Selene." I removed my pistol.

"Well what do know? You can win a game after all."