Many thanks to all for your reviews and comments on the start of this story. Much appreciated.
Chapter Two
Aramis dropped his head into his hands, his elbows on the table.
"Aramis," Porthos said, lowering his voice and grasping his friend's arm to stop him running his hands through his hair, an action he did when exasperated. "That wasn't our fault."
Aramis lifted his head and stared at him, his eyes betraying his frustration;
"Of course it was!" Aramis hissed. "How could we let ourselves get overwhelmed like that!"
"It happens," Porthos said, carefully, not wishing to provoke Aramis into an angry retort.
The tavern wasn't busy but they were not familiar with it and needed to be cautious. He was also concerned that they could be being watched.
"What did just happen?" d'Artagnan asked, raising his eyes to Porthos from the bench he had sunk down onto. "Who's Rochelle?" he asked again.
"Keep your voice down," Aramis cautioned, tersely, as Porthos ordered wine from the girl who had appeared at their table.
"I don't understand," d'Artagnan said, as he held onto his temper. "Why didn't we fight?"
Aramis looked at Porthos, who shrugged, leaving it to him to explain. It was he who had challenged them and he who had subsequently escaped the musket ball by a couple of inches.
"Because," Aramis conceded, glaring at Porthos, "We were outnumbered. And because Athos did not want us to."
"He gave us the codewords," Porthos said, quietly, as his eyes roamed around the room.
"What codewords? I didn't hear anything," d'Artagnan said, looking confused.
Aramis and Porthos exchanged another look, before Aramis sat back with a sigh.
"You've not been with us long enough to witness it in action. It is a sentence we use when one of us is seeking intelligence that we otherwise are struggling to obtain."
"What, so you've done this before?" d'Artagnan asked, leaning forward now and looking intently at them. These men were still an enigma to him. He knew they weren't sharing everything with him but what they were sharing was welcomed, if a little disconcerting.
"A number of times," Aramis replied. "It's sometimes easier to gather information from within the groups we seek."
The barmaid returned with their order, dropping the bottle and three cups on the table, before quickly taking her leave, aware by their manner that they were not in the mood for conversation.
"So you just, offer yourselves up?" d'Artagnan said, in astonishment once she was out of earshot.
"Well, we try not to," Porthos grunted, as he poured the wine. "But in this case, they wanted one of us as a hostage and Athos got in first. We usually draw straws."
d'Artagnan thought for a few moments in silence, staring at the table.
"So," he eventually asked, "What are the code words? Just so I know in future?"
"Come the day," Aramis replied, quietly.
"So, Athos went with them so he can find out who they are and what they are planning?" d'Artagnan stated. "If he lives."
"They won't want to kill a Musketeer," Porthos replied, taking a mouthful of wine as his eyes continued to roam around the room, his ears alert to any nearby gossip. "They need him. They're plannin' something. Too much attention."
"I agree," Aramis said. "They could have killed us where we stood. We were useful to them. At least, one of us was. Which must mean they are planning something against the Monarchy," Aramis added, wearily as he rubbed his forehead;
"They want to keep us at arm's length and what better way than to take one of us hostage? We don't know how dangerous they are. This is all speculation at the moment, based on some activity that Richelieu's spies uncovered. Again, hearsay. We don't even know they were anything to do with the man we seek."
"Well, that's good to know," d'Artagnan muttered, taking his first drink. "Though they did say they'd send Athos back in pieces if ..."
"It could be an idle threat," Aramis interrupted, though he did not seem convinced.
"You both seem to be taking this remarkably calmly!" d'Artagnan, hissed, his temper finally fraying.
"They don't know Athos," Aramis huffed out a smile.
"I got the feelin' Athos had made a connection back there," Porthos said. "But he didn't 'ave time to tell us what."
They fell into an uncomfortable silence, all three ruminating on what had happened.
d'Artagnan rubbed at his forehead.
"I don't know you at all, do I?" he muttered.
Porthos clapped him on the back;
"You will," he said. "You'll soon be speakin' our language."
"So," d'Artagnan said, raising his head to glare at them, his fingers now rubbing at the table.
"For the third time. Who's Rochelle?"
Aramis looked at Porthos, but neither replied.
"We need to report back," Aramis said, suddenly, making to rise.
d'Artagnan though, was not moving. Aramis looked at Porthos and they seemed t reach an unspoken agreement. Porthos nodded.
Aramis sat back down and looked around the room before leaning in toward d'Artagnan.
"Rochelle" is our codename for a spy, Simeon," Aramis began. "In view of the recent incidents, Athos and I met him a few days ago when the recent trouble started and at that time, we arranged a second meeting. Athos is telling us to go ahead with the meeting, without him."
"Do you not think it is suspicious then that we were targetted after you met with him?" d'Artagnan asked, looking from one to the other.
"Lad has a point," Porthos shrugged.
"How long have you known this Simeon?" d'Artagnan asked, keeping his voice low.
"Since the Seige of La Rochelle in '27. He was a Royalist spy, and a good one," Aramis replied, looking to Porthos for confirmation. Porthos nodded in agreement and picked up his ale, indicating for Aramis to continue.
"He was able to come and go in the city," Aramis continued. "He worked along the whole of the north coast during the Huguenot uprisings but we had word a year or two ago that he had settled in Paris. Perhaps he is from around here, we don't know. We don't even know his full name. But he did bring us intelligence prior to, and during the Siege. If we want any information about that time, he is the one to ask."
"So you trust him?" d'Artagnan persisted, looking from one to the other.
"Enough to have another meetin'" Porthos replied, quietly.
"And he and Athos had an acquaintance of sorts," Aramis said. "Athos was a link back to Richelieu, who employed him. All I can say is, back then, yes, we trusted him."
"And all I can say," said d'Artagnan, bitterly, "Is I hope you are right."
Some men moved behind them to another table. They ordered food and began to talk about something inconsequential, but it was time to go. Porthos tilted his head toward the door and they all rose.
oOo
TWO WEEKS EARLIER
The Office of Captain Treville:
"There have been some attacks in recent days," Treville said, brusquely, as soon as Athos walked into his office, followed by Aramis, Porthos and then d'Artagnan.
Treville was standing behind his desk, scanning a sheaf of papers, having called them up to his office after morning muster and prior to breakfast, much to Porthos's disgruntlement.
"Nothing major, just fire damage and a few beatings," he added, with a frown, before passing Athos the papers. "But worrisome."
"No witnesses?" Porthos asked, from his place in the line-up, both hands tucked in his belt.
"No-one who wanted to speak, no," Treville replied, gruffly.
"Are there any connections that can be made?" Athos said, looking up, before passing the papers to Aramis, who stood on his right.
"Not really," Treville sighed, taking his seat and reaching behind him for a roll of thick parchment from one of his shelves.
Aramis scanned the papers. "A meeting room and a school," he said, softly.
"Where?" Athos asked Treville, as Aramis passed the papers on to Porthos, who, in turn, studied them closely.
Treville unrolled the paper he had retrieved and laid a map on the table and they all crowded around.
"Here," he said, pointing at the first location, before moving on to the next; "and here."
"Mainly around rue Saint-Honore," Athos said, before looking up.
"And here," Treville, added curtly, pointing once more.
"A chapel. They are all Catholic," Aramis mused. "The school used to be a seminary and the meeting room used to be used by the novitiate priests from the seminary."
Treville huffed.
"Why didn't Richelieu make that connection?" he muttered. "He is aware of his spies turning up this activity."
"Perhaps because apart from the chapel, the other establishments have fallen into disuse?" Aramis replied.
"Have they?" Treville said, looking up. "Are we sure of that?"
"I believe the Cardinal had a hand in relocating them. Perhaps we need to check that," Aramis conceded.
"Do so," Treville said, curtly. "At the moment, it is only we who are taking this threat seriously.
"What damage was done to the chapel?" d'Artagnan asked.
"The destruction of several icons. A damaged door."
"And the rest?" Athos asked.
"The people who were using the seminary were beaten and the meeting room had some internal damage to door and windows."
"If it is a Catholic connection, whoever did this may not know these two buildings are no longer used by Catholics," Athos said.
"Someone flexin' their muscles?" Porthos considered.
"So, perhaps someone who has been away?" Aramis ventured.
"Perhaps," Treville said. "Let us hope it comes to nothing."
Two days later though, there was more. Letters had been posted on some establishments, warning people to forgo their idolatry or suffer the consequences. Treville had been handed one that morning and now he stomped down his stairs and dropped one onto the table where his four men were breaking their fast.
"That's brave," Porthos grunted, as he scanned it.
"In a Catholic country, I tend to agree," Aramis frowned.
"This needs nipping in the bud," Treville said. "The days of the Religious Wars are over and were hard won. At the moment, The King is merely exasperated by this nonsense, but if this goes on, he will want a public show of force and arrests made. I can imagine Richelieu will compound his disquiet if this continues."
And then, when they were beginning to think it may be an idle threat that would be short-lived, the pictures began. Images of a wild animal, tacked onto buildings, promising worse to come.
"Clear incitement, Gentlemen," Treville said, curtly, as he spoke in quiet tones. "This has gone too far."
"This is how it started last time," Porthos said, ominously. "Slow at first and then, organised rebellions."
To be continued ...
A/N: There are thirty three chapters to this story. We will come full circle to find out what is happening with Athos by Chapter Seven. In the meantime, there is much to learn.