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So here's the next chapter and profuse apologies if my proof reading has not been accurate and errors have lipped through!

CHAPTER 44

I

Athos easily matched Captain Tréville stride for stride as they left Richelieu's office. The older man was furious with the Cardinal who had insisted that the service at Notre Dame would go ahead as planned, despite the Musketeers' concerns. Richelieu's excuse was that any attempt upon the safety of those participating would be the proof they needed regarding the Spanish Ambassador's treachery.

"More likely that, contrary to what he claims, he's hoping that some debacle tomorrow will bring a halt to the Treaty anyway and to hell with those it hurts in the process. He's just willing de Calatrava to do the dirty deed," Tréville spat out as he and Athos mounted their horses.

There was nothing Athos could say as they rode away from the palace and let the Captain vent his anger and frustration. He knew that once that had been achieved, the rational debate would ensue.

It was not long before Tréville sighed his resignation.

"Aramis and Porthos will keep de Calatrava and Gallegos under observation this afternoon. Ferdinand is spending every possible moment with the Queen so I will just have to hope that the Musketeer guards at the palace will suffice for the next few hours."

"There are plenty of Red Guard as well," Athos reminded him, "and their presence has already been increased since the Spanish arrival. We have no reason to suppose that any attack would be made within the palace itself; there is too much security in place. The procession route is far more vulnerable in too many ways."

Without warning, Tréville suddenly pulled on his horse's reins and veered in a direction away from the garrison, taking the younger man by surprise but he spurred on his own mount and quickly drew level, waiting for an explanation. The Captain was not one to do anything without reason.

"I want to see for myself how the searches are unfolding," Tréville announced.

The morning muster had been a busy one with all non-duty time cancelled. Musketeers were out in force on the Paris streets, covering the route from the palace to the cathedral, searching buildings and sealing any empty and abandoned ones. In other, vulnerable places, they had ensured that all was well and set up positions from where they would, from their places of concealment, guard the route and a rota had been drawn up to relieve the men at four-hourly intervals.

Still Tréville was not satisfied and pressed Athos for his opinion as to possible places where an attack might be staged and how it might be carried out for neither Musketeer wanted to see a repetition of what had happened to Loret.

There was one specific point where the road narrowed between tall, medieval buildings and a number of archways led through to enclosed rear courtyards, ideal places from which an attack might be launched were it not for the pairs of Musketeers already positioned there. They were to ensure that no assailants had the opportunity to move into place before the next day's procession from the palace. At least the skies were clear with no hint of rain that would inevitably add to the discomfort and misery of an exterior duty.

"If I were to stage an attack, it would be in this area," Athos admitted, "but we have taken some steps to make it more secure."

Tréville looked around him. "And we will make it even more so. We will increase the presence of Musketeers and Red Guard lining the route here and we will ensure that nothing can be moved suddenly to create obstacles. There will be no stalls set up and no carts, hand or otherwise."

"There will not be another Loret," Athos said quietly.

The Captain's eyes met his. What had happened to their prisoner still rankled with the two men.

"No there will not," Tréville said determinedly. "Now let's move on to the cathedral. After that, we'll get back to the garrison, go through the arrangements again and make the adjustments we deem necessary. Then I can update Richelieu before this evening's wretched banquet."

Green eyes betrayed their amusement. "You are not enjoying the banquets then?"

"Not when they're every night, I don't. You can have too much of a good thing. Why the King is adamant that I am included at the table rather than supervising the duties, I'll never know, and there is only so much small talk I can share with Richelieu. And another thing, the food is too rich, too fancy for my liking. I never thought I would hear myself admit that I prefer what Serge produces." Tréville's brows furrowed as he levelled a warning at Athos. "Don't you ever tell him I said that or I'll never hear the last of it."

II

"This is just as excitin' as yesterday," Porthos complained as he and Aramis waited outside the only door that gave access to the chapel where Mendez lay, and the Spaniards were conducting their vigil.

"At least whilst they're all in there, we know they aren't plotting something," Aramis said, equally bored with standing and doing nothing.

Although used to long hours of duty on guard at the palace, at least there was usually plenty to do, see and listen to for they were in the King's receiving rooms more often than not. Down here, in a poorly lit corridor, outside stout wooden doors, there was no-one passing to add interest.

"'Ow much longer are they goin' to be? It must be at least two hours already."

"Hard to say. The door could open any minute, or they could decide to stay in there for the rest of the day."

"Can't imagine the Ambassador wantin' to stay in there for hours on end on 'is vigil. If 'e was thinkin' the opposite to Mendez about the treaty, I doubt there bein' much love lost between 'em. I reckon this is all for show an' for delayin' puttin' his signature on a piece of paper."

"You might well be right but with Ferdinand in there too, he would be taking it very seriously and de Calatrava probably feels he can't hurry things along, so to speak, in case he is seen as disrespectful," Aramis reasoned.

"You spoken to Brondate today?"

"Briefly, but he was expected to attend this vigil too."

"How is he? Hungover?"

Aramis smiled. "No. I would compare his alcohol recovery ability to almost rival Athos."

"Except I'm thinking Brondate doesn't have the same capacity seein' as how he got drunk so quickly yesterday."

"Granted," Aramis agreed. "He looked a little rough at the meeting with the Ambassador last night, but he explained things clearly and I had no issue with the information he passed on so I was happy that I could say that to Tréville."

"Did de Calatrava find out what had happened?"

"Not from us. We stuck to the story Tréville had already told him and he seemed happy enough with it. Brondate could always argue that he was merely tired from his responsibilities. We've seen Tréville looking ill with exhaustion enough times when something major has been happening."

Porthos nodded and then snorted. "Just thinking about a Spanish Captain and the Captain of the French King's élite Musketeers conspiring to tell an outright lie to a Spanish Ambassador."

Aramis shrugged and then flashed one of his disarming grins. "Needs must on occasions. I won't tell if you don't."

As they laughed quietly together, they heard footsteps and voices approaching the door from the other side and they straightened up.

"Looks like the vigil's over," Porthos announced, relief in his tone.

III

The remainder of the day was busy but passed without any new problems arising. Notre Dame had been thoroughly searched and, in agreement with all concerned, areas had been blocked off and seldom used doors locked. There were, unfortunately, many potential places of concealment for a would-be assassin and Musketeers would return at first light the following day to conduct a fresh search. It was deemed inappropriate to have armed soldiers within the sacred place all but theirs was a heavy presence outside, around at perimeter at all possible points of entry, be it window or door.

The regiment was stretched to its limits with an intense rota of duty changes but Tréville would not have any of his men become exhausted nor complacent. They were in positions in pairs for he did not want to run the risk of any man on his own – no matter how skilled he was – taken by surprise and overwhelmed.

It was going to be a long night with an even longer day to follow and Tréville knew there would be no rest for him until the Mass for the dead was concluded. Indeed, he thought he would never properly sleep again until the treaty was signed, and the Spanish contingent had departed the city to embark upon their journey home. Louis was still making noises about a hunting trip to Versailles to entertain Ferdinand and Tréville fervently hoped that the invitation would not be extended to include de Calatrava. If they could not find the proof that he was involved in attempting to sabotage the treaty, then the sooner he left France the better.

The problem then remained as to how Ferdinand would be escorted home if he elected to remain with his sister for a little while. Brondate was concerned enough that he did not have the manpower to escort the Ambassador; he certainly would not be able to divide his men to have some stay with Ferdinand. Tréville sighed for he could foresee what would happen; it would fall to a Musketeer escort and he would be left without a large group of men for several weeks until the Cardinal Infante could be met at the Spanish border by his countrymen and Tréville's soldiers returned to the garrison.

"That was a heavy sigh," Athos commented from his side of the desk as he gathered the papers together where they had made amendments to the security detail.

"I cannot wait until all this is over," Tréville admitted and went on to outline why he was worried anew. "I hate indecision. I want things arranged and sorted."

"I understand but feel that you just need to get through tomorrow and see what transpires before turning your thoughts elsewhere. It could well affect whether there will be a signing at all and that will then determine if there is to be a celebratory hunt to follow."

"You're right," Tréville agreed. He grew serious. "I want you in particular to watch Ferdinand and keep him safe as you and the other two will be with the Ambassador's coach. Aramis will be close to Brondate to liaise with him if necessary. Porthos will be another set of eyes and ears for what's going on around you, but his main focus will be on de Calatrava."

The Captain sighed again. "I hardly need to point it out to you that if an attack is staged on the Ambassador or Ferdinand, you three will be in a very vulnerable position, the last line of defence if our men in the street aren't enough to ward off those launching an assault."

Athos nodded sombrely for he had already realised the danger of their position, not that any of the Inseparables were strangers to high risk. This whole business with the treaty and what had befallen the three of them was stark evidence of that.

"We don't even know how many there might be," Tréville continued, his voice dropping and his face pained. "It could be a group of several, a small army or a lone perpetrator such as your scarred Spaniard. I know that I can trust the three of you to do your duty and that, after all that you men have been through in recent weeks, I am once more placing you all at risk but be careful, please. That's all I ask."

Athos took a deep breath and held the Captain's gaze. In the older man's eyes, he saw the conflicting demands of command. Yes, he and his brothers had sworn an oath to do their duty in service to their King, country and the man sitting in front of him who commanded them. They would fulfil that duty without question, were prepared to lay down their lives if need be and here was the Captain acknowledging the possibility that the ultimate sacrifice might be demanded of them the very next day.

The officer suddenly looked older, weary and weighed down with the responsibility of his rank, torn between making the right decisions and the knowledge that he was deliberately putting his best men into the metaphorical firing line, whilst agonisingly aware that it might also be the literal.

Tréville pushed himself to his feet, breaking the tense silence that had fallen between them.

"Walk with me in case something else occurs to me. For now, I am going to visit the kitchen and make sure Serge is coping with feeding men through the day and night as they change duties."

Athos stood and waited for the Captain to precede him, but the corners of his mouth twitched, and he could not resist making a comment.

"Are you sure that it is not just because you want to sample whatever it is that Serge has prepared as you appreciate his cooking so much?"

Tréville rounded on him in mock anger. "I'm warning you. Not a word!"