Chapter 9
Athos blinked trying to focus his eyes. It took several seconds before his sight was back in focus and he realized he was in the Captain's office. His hands were bound behind his back and he was sitting in a chair. The leader of the group that had taken the garrison hostage stood behind the Captain's desk. It grated on Athos' nerves; it was defilement.
"Finally," the leader snapped rounding the desk and standing in front of Athos. "Now, you're going to tell me where the captain is."
"I couldn't say," Athos said sounding bored.
The leader grabbed Athos by the throat and squeezed ever so slightly. "You will tell me," he sneered.
Athos gagged as the hand released him. He coughed trying to get his breath. He was then back handed across the face.
TM
"So Captain, what is the plan?" Aramis asked.
d'Artagnan looked over the men under his command. He trained them himself and he knew they were prepared. He took a breath. "I take a group through the garrison secret passageways taking out all the men guarding this side of the garrison to get to my office and you take another group and takeout whoever is left on the other side of the garrison."
"Secret passageways?" Aramis raised an intrigued eyebrow.
"I'll explain later, Minister," d'Artagnan said.
TM
Sylvie sat against the wall of the mess holding a sleeping Raoul in her arms. Elodie came over sitting next to her with Marie Cessette in her arms. The child was awake reaching for anything to grab hold of.
"How are you doing?" Elodie asked.
"You mean other than the fact the father of my child and the man I love has been taken by a madman?" Sylvie asked.
Elodie smirked. "Not really." Her expression turned more serious. "Aramis is out there as well as d'Artagnan."
"Aramis?" Sylvie asked surprised, but relieved. They needed all the help they could get.
"I caught sight of what was happening when I returned from the refugee camp," Elodie explained. "I was able to get away without being seen and went to straight away to Aramis."
Sylvie rested a hand on Elodie's arm giving it a light squeeze and a grateful smile.
"Hopefully d'Artagnan has found the cadets too," Constance said from the door peering out.
"Anything going on out there?" Sylvie asked.
"There are just a few men left," Constance said. "At least from here I can count three."
Brujon groaned a few feet from Sylvie and Elodie. "Sshh," Elodie shifted over next to the young soldier.
They heard a raddle coming from the door to the secret passage. Sylvie lifted her pistol from her side and aimed. Constance came over and aimed her pistol.
The door swung open and the First Minister of France came stumbling through.
"Bloody hell," Constance breathed out. She started to give Aramis a few words when she realized there were Musketeer cadets following him.
"Ladies," Aramis greeted. "Is everyone all right?" He noticed Brujon. "How is he?"
"Still alive," Elodie said.
"Sylvie, good to see you. Terribly sorry we meet under these circumstances," Aramis said. "Constance, there are two men to the west of this door and two on the east side."
Constance nodded. "I count three spread out across the other side of the yard."
"All right gentlemen, spread out through the passageway exiting through different doors to the yard," Aramis instructed. "Take out the two men on the west side. Madame d'Artagnan and I shall deal with the two on the east side."
The four cadets who were with Aramis went back into the passageway. "Ready?" Aramis looked at Constance. Picking up her pistol she met his eyes and nodded.
TBC