Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on the last chapter. It's lovely to see so many of you rejoining the story.
CHAPTER 40
I
The soldier, introduced by Aramis as Captain Alvaro Brondate, was of a similar age to the Inseparables. He stood as tall as Athos and Aramis and was a handsome man, his lean face framed by a halo of raven curls. His dark eyes were hooded with a wariness on entering the room but were, nonetheless, intelligent. He snapped to attention as Aramis introduced Tréville and nodded to Athos, who was on his feet and indicating the chair he had just vacated.
Brondate looked to Tréville for guidance and the Musketeer also gestured that he should sit.
"Aramis, two more chairs and, Athos, the brandy. We can at least show our guest some hospitality."
The Spaniard watched their movements with interest and not a little surprise; he was obviously unused to such a welcome and treatment.
Once settled with a drink in their hands, Tréville raised his and proposed a toast.
"To the Treaty," he said, studying his guest intently.
Brondate turned, wide-eyed, to Aramis who translated for him. It was true, then, that the man had no French.
Grinning broadly, he held his cup aloft and eagerly repeated the toast in Spanish. Such was his innocent enthusiasm that it seemed inconceivable that he could be involved in any plotting by de Calatrava but Tréville was no fool to blindly accept him and he was determined that the younger officer would be scrupulously tested.
The afternoon wore on as the Captain and Athos painstakingly took Brondate through the arrangements so far whilst Aramis translated for him. There was a brief reluctance on his part when he realised that the Musketeers were insisting on being part of the Ambassador's immediate protection detail along with Brondate and his men but when Tréville reassured him that it would only be Aramis and Athos and one other whom he would meet later, then he was appeased.
With a potential threat to the Treaty still very real, he was forced to compromise, aware that his own manpower was limited. It had galled him that the Ambassador had insisted upon a much-reduced escort as he did not want to draw attention to his progress from Spain to Paris. That meant far fewer men than Brondate would have preferred when undertaking such a journey. To make matters worse, de Calatrava had not brought any servants and assumed the soldiers would also do tasks such as erecting the pavilion he had brought, building and lighting fires, tending lamps and even preparing his meals. When the quality of the food received complaints, the Spanish captain had had to bite his tongue from saying something he might later regret. There was, of course, the last-minute addition of the Cardinal Infante to factor into arrangements, although the young man was far more amenable and less demanding. Much of this, Aramis was to learn later.
Tréville explained that on the processional route to Notre Dame, he would ride out at the head the column with some of his men in front of the royal carriage which would have walking Musketeers on either side of it. More mounted Musketeers would come next, followed by the carriage containing the Ambassador and the Cardinal Infante; Richelieu would accompany the King and Queen. The vehicle carrying the Spanish would be flanked by Brondate, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, all on foot. They would be followed by Brondate's men with more Musketeers bringing up the rear. The entire route would be lined by the remainder of the King's regiment and the Red Guard.
With any subsequent questions answered and no further points for general discussion, the men prepared to take their leave of Tréville.
"I have a few more things to take care of here," the Captain said to Brondate, "so I shall head to the palace soon and meet you there so that we can talk through the arrangements with the Ambassador. I said earlier to him that I would do it." He waited as Aramis explained to the Spaniard.
Realising that the meeting was at an end, Brondate nodded, grinned and held out his hand to the Musketeer Captain. Shaking it warmly, for he was growing to like the young officer, Tréville asked Aramis to wait a moment and it was left to Athos to gesture to Brondate to precede him from the room. The Captain waited until he heard footsteps descending to the yard.
"Do what you can to befriend the man."
"You don't trust him?" Aramis frowned.
"I'd like to say I do; he's personable enough. It's the Ambassador I don't trust."
"Any reason?" Aramis asked in apparent innocence, as if he had not been present for the meeting at the Louvre.
Tréville huffed his amusement. "Oh I don't know. Maybe it was something to do with the Ambassador's less than friendly demeanour and blatant suspicion of us, the French, or it could be years of experience and gut feeling."
"He might not welcome the hand of friendship from a lowly Musketeer; he is a captain after all."
Tréville shook his head. "You have the advantage of language and he is in unfamiliar territory. See what you can do."
"Leave it to me, Captain. I'll use my charm. Perhaps, as I accompany him back to the palace, I can show him a little of Paris, its people and what it has to offer."
"Don't detain him too long. He has to be back at the Louvre to make his report before the banquet."
"Don't worry, Captain. We'll be there."
II
Tréville was readying himself for a return to the palace and the second consecutive banquet. He had just picked up his hat and was patting it to dislodge non-existent dust when a knock sounded at the door.
"Come," he called out.
Athos entered. "I thought I would accompany you to the palace. As Aramis is with Brondate, I am going to relieve Porthos before he starts eating the furniture; he has not eaten since early this morning."
"Knowing Porthos, he will have found some way to get some food," Tréville said as they left the office, and he closed the door behind them.
"He would not have left his position," Athos reassured him. "You wanted him to watch the Ambassador closely."
Tréville chuckled. "It was not meant as a criticism. I know Porthos will maintain his watch."
The corners of Athos' mouth twitched. "I know and I apologise. It is just this treaty business; there is something about it."
"I know exactly what you mean. It is creating a bad feeling, one of distinct unease." They had reached the bottom of the stairs where the stable boy waited with their mounts.
"I tasked Aramis with finding out what he could from the Spanish captain," Tréville explained, placing a foot in a stirrup. He got no further as a figure appeared in the archway, struggling to keep a second man on his feet. "What the ….?"
"Aramis!" Athos gasped, dropping the reins and hurrying to his brother where he had stopped to readjust his hold on Brondate. One of the Spaniard's arms was draped around his shoulder where he clutched it tightly. His other arm was about Brondate's waist, holding him up.
Tréville joined, firing a string of questions. "What happened? Where is he hurt? How badly? Were you attacked?"
He stopped for breath but, before Aramis could answer, Athos spoke.
"He is drunk."
Tréville's expression rapidly changed from concern to anger and he glared at Aramis. "What have you done?"
"I've done nothing!" Aramis said, his eyes wide. "I made arrangements for our horses to be taken ahead of us to the palace as we decided to walk. He was ready to see a bit of Paris so, on the way, we stopped at the Wren. How was I to know I was with the only man in Spain who cannot hold his drink?"
"He is definitely drunk," Athos repeated unnecessarily, having tried to look into the man's rolling eyes.
"For heaven's sake, man, how much did you give him?" Tréville demanded.
"Two ales, I swear it," Aramis said, his face still one of shock. "One minute he was fine and the next," and he nodded to the man who was barely conscious.
"How many brandies did he have in your office?" Athos asked his captain, trying hard not to make his question sound like an accusation.
"Two," Tréville answered without hesitation. "Perhaps he has been a fool and not eaten today."
"Whatever the reason, he is not getting any lighter," Aramis grumbled and struggled to shift his hold yet again, but there was no stopping Brondate's knees from buckling.
Tréville clicked his fingers and gestured to a nearby Musketeer to render some assistance.
"Athos and I are heading to the palace. Take him," and he nodded towards the Spaniard, "to the infirmary and get him sober, whatever it takes. Make it quick and then come to the Louvre. I was supposed to be joining him in a meeting with the Ambassador. He will not be happy if he finds out about this. I will do my best to concoct some excuse to explain a delay in the Captain's return but you'd better sort this, Aramis, and soon!"
The Musketeer turned on his heels and strode back to his horse, his ramrod-straight back screaming his displeasure.
Aramis looked beseechingly at Athos, who merely rolled his eyes.
"It wasn't my fault," Aramis said again in his defence. He dropped his voice to be more conspiratorial. "Please try to put in a good word for me with the Captain and make sure that you tell him that there was some benefit to Brondate being drunk. The alcohol certainly loosened his tongue!"