Hunter's Moon
Chapter Ten
"How could you let this happen?" the King asked petulantly.
The Musketeers stood to attention in front of the throne and said nothing. There was no answer they could give that would satisfy Louis.
"Typical Musketeer incompetence," Rochefort said.
"Yes. You continue to disappoint me," Louis said. "Did you find any sign of the assassin?"
"No, Sire," Athos said. "By the time we made sure you and the Queen were safe whoever it was had gone."
"The King isn't looking for excuses." Rochefort studied each of them in turn. "Tell me, where is your friend Aramis?"
Athos gave him a sharp look. "At the garrison."
"Is he, I wonder?"
"What are you implying?" Athos asked.
"It is known to the King that Aramis has no fondness for the Duke. Some misplaced belief that Savoy was responsible for the death of a troop of Musketeers six years ago. Can it be a coincidence that your most talented marksman isn't here on the day the Duke gets shot?"
"Aramis is not responsible." Athos' earlier doubts had disappeared now that he was past the initial shock. Aramis was an honourable man who would never stoop to this level.
Rochefort beckoned to the Captain of the Red Guard. "Go to the Musketeer garrison and arrest Aramis. Bring him here for questioning."
"Yes, Sir."
Athos bit his lip to hold back his protest. If not for the King's presence he would gladly have argued with Rochefort but now was not the time or place.
"We will soon have the truth, Your Majesty." Rochefort's satisfaction was plain for the Musketeers to see.
"Once again you prove your worth, Rochefort. Send word when he arrives." The King glanced at the Musketeers. "You are dismissed."
They bowed and backed out of the King's presence.
"Aramis wouldn't do somethin' like this," Porthos said, striding furiously down the hallway.
"Rochefort was looking a little too smug," d'Artagnan said. "Do you think he is involved?"
"Undoubtedly. This was a perfect excuse to damage the Musketeers. What I don't know is how he found out about Aramis and the Duke."
"Maybe Savoy told him," Porthos said.
"That hardly seems likely. Well, the damage is done now. We should head back to the garrison. Aramis will need our support and I don't like the idea of him walking through the streets unarmed. He will make a tempting target."
TMTMTM
Despite his hangover, Aramis couldn't sit still. He wandered into the stables, collected his horse's tack and carried it over to the table to clean it. As he settled into a comfortable routine of oiling the leather and polishing the metal he began to feel better. He smiled his thanks to Serge when the old cook brought out a pitcher of pleasantly cold water and a plate of bread and cheese. As the morning wore on he began to wish more and more that he was at the Palace with his friends. He also felt a deep shame for his behaviour of the previous day and resolved to present his apologies to Captain Treville.
He looked up with only casual interest when there was a commotion at the gates. A contingent of Red Guards entered the courtyard, the Captain demanding to see Treville.
"What do you want?" Treville came down the stairs from his office.
"We're looking for the Musketeer, Aramis."
"Why?" Treville indicated that Aramis should stay where he was.
"There has been an attempt on the life of the Duke of Savoy. We have orders to arrest him and take him to the King for questioning."
"This is ridiculous. He's been in the garrison all morning."
Aramis' heart missed a beat and he stepped forward. "Is the Duke still alive?"
"That's him," the Captain of the Red Guards said. "Take him into custody."
Two of the soldiers approached him and his hand flew to his sword. Other Musketeers in the courtyard also reached for their weapons.
"Don't make matters worse," Treville cautioned.
"I had nothing to do with this, Captain."
"I know that, but you can't ignore a summons from the King. Don't worry, I will speak on your behalf. Hopefully the King will still listen to me."
Aramis bowed his head before nodding and allowing the soldiers to disarm him. "I won't give you any trouble," he said.
The sound of hooves on the cobbles heralded the arrival of his three friends. Athos slid quickly from his horse and strode over to stand by his side. "We'll accompany him," he said.
"That's not necessary, Musketeer."
Athos gave the Red Guard his haughtiest stare. "Nonetheless, we are coming with you."
Aramis was encased in a phalanx of Red Guard, who unknowingly thereby provided him with some protection from the men seeking his blood. Porthos and d'Artagnan walked ahead with Athos bringing up the rear. They were no more than two hundred yards from the garrison when d'Artagnan looked up and saw a man leaning out a first storey window holding pistol.
"Look out," he yelled.
Athos immediately ploughed through the Red Guard and tackled Aramis to the ground. D'Artagnan ran toward the front door of the building, Porthos close behind. The man fired, hitting one of the Red Guards, before disappearing from sight. The remaining soldiers milled around in confusion, having been totally unprepared for any external attack. The man who had been hit lay on the ground holding his shoulder and groaning weakly.
Aramis stood up, brushing dirt from his uniform. "Thank you, my friend." Despite the hostile stares from the soldiers he immediately went to the wounded man and hunkered down. "Let me see." He peeled back the leather uniform and shirt and gently probed the wound. "The ball is still in there. You need to see a physician. It doesn't look like it hit bone so you should be fine."
When d'Artagnan and Porthos returned the young Gascon wore an expression of furious frustration. "He got away out the back door."
"What the hell's going on?" the Red Guard Captain demanded.
"Nothing that concerns you," Athos replied.
"One of my men has been shot so answer the question."
"I have enemies who would like to see me dead," Aramis said, returning to stand by Athos.
"Pity they're such a bad shot then," the Captain said. "Get moving. The King's waiting."
Two of the soldiers stayed to help their wounded comrade while the rest of them resumed their journey to the Palace.
TMTMTM
Raymond watched in amazement as someone else took a shot at Aramis. He hurried round to the back of the building just in time to see the man slip out the door and into an alley. He followed the failed assassin, pressing back into a doorway when d'Artagnan and Porthos came running out, looking around for their quarry. D'Artagnan's gaze swept over him without any recognition and he breathed easier.
Once they had gone Raymond walked down the alley. He caught the briefest glimpse of the man and began to follow. Their route took them into one of the rougher neighbourhoods and Raymond kept his hand close to his knife. He received some curious glances, mainly he guessed because of the colour of his skin, but no-one impeded his progress. They ended up at a tavern called the Falcon. He approached the bar and ordered a beer. The man he had been following joined a small group sitting around a table at the rear of the building. After apparently reporting his failure Raymond saw him cringe as the smallest man in the group leaned forward and began to berate him.
Raymond considered his next move. These were dangerous men but it appeared they had a common cause. Would they welcome him or see him as an impediment to success? His attempts to kill Aramis had been woefully unsuccessful. It seemed that Musketeers did not die easily, he thought wryly. Aramis and his friends were forewarned of the danger now and on their guard. A two-pronged attack might succeed where one man alone would fail. His hatred of the Musketeer overcame his fear and he walked over to the table.
A large man with a shaved head and a scar on his cheek stood up to block his way. "Get lost."
"You wish to kill the Musketeer, Aramis," he said. A knife was pressed to his throat and he swallowed nervously.
"Who are you?" the leader of the group asked.
"Someone who sympathises with your quest. I too have tried to kill him."
"Why?"
"He ruined my life."
"My name is Bastien Hebert." He gestured and the knife was removed.
"Raymond."
"Sit." Hebert indicated an empty chair. "Let us discuss how to achieve our mutual goal."
Tbc