Torment and Heartache
Chapter Fourteen.
"There must be at last fifteen men in collusion with Rochefort, three of them took the queen away to him." said Constance tautly, her voice breaking through the sheer anxiety.
d'Artagnan slid his arm around the young womans shoulder and squeezed prompting her to glance up at him, her tear stained pale features actually glowed in the dim light of the passageway.
"Did you notice many weapons? asked Athos suddenly.
Constance put her hand to her forehead as she began to muse.
"I just remember waking up in a cell next to the queen, we were both shackled to a wall, she said I had been unconscious. I did see pistols and swords."
d'Artagnan's jaw twitched as he heeded Constance's words, the anger evident on his face.
"So thats why your brow is bruised...I'll kill him myself."
Athos glanced at the Gascon then back at Constance.
That instant footfalls and voices were reverberating off the walls. The orange hues were once again lighting up the passageway.
"Come...into this cell hastily." whispered Athos abruptly as he ushered both Constance and d'Artagnan into the open and dark chamber.
All three rushed into the darkest corner of the cell, there they stood rigid making no sound as the voices and footfalls became louder.
"You are certain they were the musketeers? asked a strident voice from the darkness.
"Certain...there were two of them, they have to be still within the chateau...they took the whore with them...they will be looking for the queen." answered the tall guard.
Constance shuddered as she heard his voice, instantly recognising the scoffing tone of the bane that had shackled her and Anne.
d'Artagnan embraced her closely as he felt her iritation.
"Come...we need to inform Rochefort in haste, he will not be pleased." came the disembodied reply.
The orange hues vanished down the passageway, the voices trailed off.
lll
Rochefort sat opposite Anne as he ate, he suddenly picked up a cloth and dabbed his mouth, he glanced across at her.
The queen sat rigid, her hands cupped together as she scanned her surroundings. The food in front of her was untouched.
"I suggest you eat something your majesty...it would be such a shame to have to endure you waste away to nothing." he sneered.
The queen glared across at him.
"I do not want your food...I would rather starve than take anything from you." she seethed.
Rochefort stood and picked up the wine pitcher, he filled her goblet with the red liquid and grinned mockingly.
"Prey allow me to quench your thirst." he pressed.
Anne could feel her insides churning, where would this all end, what had they done to Constance, she suddenly swept up her right hand and hurled the full goblet across the chamber.
Rochefort gave her a piercing stare.
"GO TO HELL! she screeched. "What is it you actually want...the king will have your head on the block for this...you are a madman."
Rochefort sat back at the table and picked up his own goblet, he sipped the wine.
"You will not be seeing your king again, like I have already stated we will be sailing for England."
Anne swallowed hard as she watched him pour out more wine into his goblet.
That instant a rapping was heard prompting Rochefort to glance up swiftly.
"Come! he yelled.
The door opened with a creak as one of his men entered abruptly and agitated.
Rochefort gave him an irritated glance.
"Well!
"Two musketeers got into the chateau Comte...they have taken the whore."
Anne's eyes widened with a self satisfied feeling of joy as the guard spoke.
Rochefort's features had altered dramatically as he glared at the guard, and leapt to his feet rapidly.
"How could you allow this to happen...are you all complete and utter fools."
"There only seems to be two of them Comte." commented the guard.
Rochefort gave the man a scathing glare.
"Two of them...where there is two there is four...those flunkies do not do twos."
"FIND THEM! he demanded. "You know what to do...GO!
The guard nodded in acknowledgement and left.
llll
Anne stifled her relief as she glanced across at Rochefort, his mood had plummeted somewhat, he drank a swig of wine and began to muse.
"Just when you thought your little scheme had worked Rochefort, it would seem the walls are beginning to crumble around you." scoffed Anne.
Rochefort glared at her making her feel suddenly vulnerable. Anne averted her eyes to the fireplace, the flames burned low, it felt cold within the chamber.
He grinned towards her.
"You couldn't be more wrong dearest majesty, your so called hero's have walked into a trap."
He suddenly lunged at the door and opened it rapidly, a guard glanced up.
"Get in here NOW!
The guard obeyed and bowed his head.
"You will stay here with her, do not let her out of your sight for a single moment otherwise I will have to kill you, do I make myself clear?
The guard shot a glance at Anne and nodded.
"Yes Comte."
Rochefort's sharp eyes met hers with a slight mocking grin making Anne shudder.
He turned sharply closing the door behind himself, his voice reverberating off the walls as he went.
"GUARDS...we have musketeers to find and kill."
ooooooOOOoooooo
TBC...
Hi Guys,
Hope you are all ok, thanking you for the lovely comments, I appreciate the time taken to write, means alot.
Speak soon
Love
Pippa xxx
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