A guest reviewer (thank you) told me Aramis wouldn't have his musket with him because it is too long a weapon to be carried on horseback. The long pistol he has with him is called an arquebus. It is similar to a musket but the barrel is shorter. When I have time I will amend the previous chapter. It is always enjoyable to learn something new.

A Father's Love

Chapter Seven

Aramis used the stock of his weapon to shatter the glass. The windows were narrow, restricting the angle at which he could hold his gun and limiting his field of fire. The bandits were almost in range and he forced himself to wait. He couldn't afford to waste even one bullet. When his experience told him that it was time he aimed at one of the foremost men and fired. His target flew backwards from his horse and the onrushing pace slowed. With deft fingers, he set about reloading. If he was lucky he would get in another couple of shots before the men got too close to the chateau. His second and third shots were equally successful but almost immediately after that the angle became too acute and he abandoned the arquebus.

He drew his brace of pistols and left the room in search of d'Artagnan. He found the young man down the hallway, standing outside a door that was firmly closed.

"We have three less to worry about but that still leaves a dozen."

"We've faced worse odds," d'Artagnan said.

"Yes. Unfortunately, we have the women and the Dauphin to worry about this time. Are they secure?"

"The door is locked."

"Good. You should go and help Athos. I will stand guard here."

There was no argument from d'Artagnan, who was happy to get the chance to fight alongside his mentor. Although Aramis was uneasy at leaving his brothers he knew that their only imperative was to protect the Queen and Dauphin. He was the last line of defence and would lay down his life before allowing any harm to come to them. He listened carefully, waiting for any indication that the bandits had breached the chateau. It came soon enough. There was the sound of metal striking metal followed by the sound of men's voices. He readied himself, both pistols pointed straight out and ready to fire.

When the first two men rounded the corner from the staircase they were met with lethal force. Aramis only had a split second to worry about his friends before another man appeared and stalked towards him. He dropped his pistols and drew his sword. His opponent was a brawny young man armed with a long knife.

"Where are they?" the bandit asked. "The women and the baby? Reckon they'll be worth a pretty penny judging by the fancy coaches they were riding in."

"Leave now and I won't have to kill you," Aramis said.

The man laughed and shook his head. "My friends are just finishing off the soldiers downstairs and then they'll all come up here. How're you going to fight ten men on your own?"

That was interesting and suggested that at least two more of the bandits were dead or incapacitated. "I think you underestimate the skills of a Musketeer." He edged forward, his sword outstretched.

"Musketeers, eh? Who are you guarding that's so important…?" His words trailed off and his eyes widened.

Aramis knew the minute the man made the connection. "You don't stand a chance. Walk away."

"I was a soldier," the man said, offended. "I know how to fight."

"Then let's get this over with." Aramis moved forward rapidly, his sword tip seeking an opening.

With very little finesse his sword clashed with his opponent's knife and slid to the side. A less skilled swordsman would have been pulled off-balance by the move, but he was already adjusting his stance to keep his weight centered. The man lashed out and Aramis retreated strategically. He made sure that he was still barring the way to the room that contained the Queen and his son. He stopped abruptly and lunged forward, scoring a line across the bandit's arm. Attack and retreat; that was the pattern when facing an unpredictable opponent. The man howled with rage and came forward brandishing his knife. Aramis, by contrast, was just as calm as he had been at the beginning of the fight. He had long ago learnt the lesson that Athos was desperately trying to instill in d'Artagnan. At least he was calm until two more men came racing along the hallway.

"They're in there!" his original foe called out, gesticulating wildly towards the door.

The men separated and Aramis found himself being edged away from the door while facing two of the enemy. The third began to kick at the lock. The time for subtlety was past. He kept his back to the wall and attacked. The fight was brutal and he only had room for one thought in his mind. These men had to die before their colleague managed to break down the door. There were screams from inside the room now although he knew none of them would come from Anne or Constance. He was glad that Constance was with here. He'd seen her fight and knew she was a fierce as any Musketeer.

One of the knives caught him in the side but the force of the blow was blunted by his leathers. Although he felt a burning pain it wasn't an incapacitating blow. His sword flicked between his two opponents until he saw his opening. He quickly drew his main gauche, using it to engage one of the bandits while he slid his sword through the defences of the other man, catching him in the throat. There was a gurgling sound and the man fell away, his hands frantically scrabbling at the wound.

He didn't have time to feel any satisfaction before he was fighting for his life again. He heard the sound of timber cracking and there was a single piercing scream. He had run out of time. Even if he immediately dispatched the man facing him he couldn't reach the Queen and Dauphin in time. He increased the speed of his blows, driving the bandit back down the hallway. He threw away his main gauche and caught the man's right hand in a bruising grip. It cost him a slice across the palm from the knife but he ignored it. While the man struggled to get free Aramis kneed him in the groin. The man screamed and dropped his knife. Aramis reversed his sword and brought the hilt crashing down on his enemy's temple. He didn't wait to see the man drop but spun and ran towards the open door.

The bandit was standing right in front of the Queen, menacing her with a knife. "Hand over the child and no-one needs to get hurt."

The Queen, clutching the Dauphin to her breast took a couple of small steps backwards. Aramis slowed his approach. He couldn't afford to spook the man who was within easy striking distance of the woman he loved and his son. Suddenly he saw Constance move. She buried d'Artagnan's dagger between the man's shoulder blades, once and then again. He staggered and fell to one knee.

Aramis was there immediately, placing his sword against the man's neck. "Drop your knife and you might yet live to see another sunrise."

He was obeyed immediately. He checked for concealed weapons before turning his attention to the man's injury. It was disabling, but not fatal and he quickly instructed Constance to keep pressure on it until he had time to stitch the wound. During everything his thoughts were only with the Queen and Dauphin. As soon as he could he walked over to them and held out a finger for the Dauphin to grip.

"Once again you are our savior," the Queen said, bestowing a glowing smile on him.

"Only by God's grace and the strength and courage of my brothers." He raised the crucifix to his lips, never breaking eye contact. The other occupants of the room were forgotten as he gazed at Anne's radiant face.

"Aramis," Constance called. "You should check on the others."

He took a deep breath and looked away. "Yes." He bowed to the Queen and left the room.

The man he had knocked unconscious still lay where he had fallen and was presenting no threat. His other opponent was lifeless, open eyes staring unseeing at the ceiling. Satisfied that everything on that floor was secure he walked quickly towards the stairs. He was still a hundred yards away when d'Artagnan ran up them, his face unusually pale.

"Aramis, come quickly. It's Athos."

Tbc