Torment and Heartache
Chapter Eighteen.
Gripping a pistol in each of his gloved hands Athos aimed and fired at the two men that had instanty noticed his presence. The shots reverberated off the walls and down the various passageways, both men hit the ground dead as the musket balls struck prompting the other two to turn swiftly towards the musketeer as they too aimed towards him. Athos retreated back into the chamber to reload his weapons, leaning rigidly against the wall as he did so.
"You won't get away musketeer! roared one of the mens voices. "You may as well yield now, we have more man power than you will ever have."
Athos heeded their words as he tamped the lead ball down the barrel of one of his three pistols.
The swordsman remained silent as he bided his time.
Two dead and two left, but Athos knew there had to be more men, including Rochefort. He had to find the treasonist reprobate before he caused more mayhem.
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"I heard shots being fired." muttered Aramis as he sat up against the stone wall and whinced, his arm was sore. "Two rounds discharged."
Porthos had stood, his shoulder pained him, he was indeed glad it was not his fighting side.
"I 'eard it too."
The big musketeer began to yell.
"ATHOS!...d'ARTAGNAN!...we are down 'ere."
Both musketeers stared up at the hatch as though awaiting an answer. None came.
"We could be down here for bloody good." growled Porthos.
Aramis glanced across at the darkened image he could just make out as his big friend.
"Faith mon ami...have some faith."
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Athos scanned the chamber rapidly as an idea filled his stategic mind.
He noticed a small trinket box standing on a delapidated bureau and grabbed it quickly.
The swordsman suddenly heard rapid footfalls as more guards appeared from the gloomy tunnels.
The voice roared again.
"YOU ARE OUT NUMBERED MUSKETEER...COME OUT...NOW!"
Athos opened his gunpowder flask and began to fill the small box with the powder before replacing the cap and hooking it back onto his belt.
He glanced up as the voice continued.
"YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE MUSKETEER...THEN YOU DIE.!
Athos made his way towards the doorway that d'Artagnan and the queen had left by.
"TIME IS UP MUSKETEER!
The swordsman opened the door swiftly before turning back, unclipping one of his pistols the musketeer aimed towards the box.
The chamber doors were suddenly and robustly forced open by several guards.
"It is your time that is up." muttered the swordsman to himself.
Athos pulled the trigger towards the bureau, the sudden blast erupted outwards blowing the door off its hinges. Men were thrown into the passageway, some moaning in agony as they hit the ground. Splinters and debris filled the dismal gloom, the sound of coughing and spluttering as some men tried to get to their feet.
Athos slammed the outer doors behind him and rushed down the hallway, he had to find the others fast. And where was Aramis and Porthos, his mind wandered, he just hoped d'Artagnan had gotten the queen to safety.
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d'Artagnan led the queen to the outer Barbican, he just prayed that Constance was safe where he and Athos had left her.
Voices suddenly filled the courtyard prompting d'Artagnan to usher the queen behind the protuding stone wall.
The Gascon put his finger over his mouth to warn the queen, her features that of an anxious woman as she nodded in response. d'Artagnan peered slowly around the wall seeing the group of men walking towards the main hall entrance holding torches, their breaths emitting into the icey night air.
The familiar sound of Rochefort was heard by both as they exchanged short glances of agitation.
"Find the other two NOW! they must not escape...otherwise I will have your heads for this."
The Gascon tarried as he watched the group enter the doorway.
"Quickly your majesty...this way." he said taking the queen by the wrist and leading her towards the Barbican entrance.
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Constance was sat on an old wooden chair, a cloak draped around her shoulders as she stared into the flames of the fire Athos had lit for her. It seemed like an age since the two musketeers had left her to find the queen.
The young women's eyes glances up as she suddenly heard a thud.
Constance stood swiftly and grabbed the pistol d'Artagnan had left her, she aimed towards the doorway as whispered voices became louder, the door began to open.
Constance bit her lip with anguish as her hand trembled, her stomach churned, the aimed pistol began to shake. She suddenly felt instant relief as the queen and d'Artagnan emerged though the doorway. Tears of calmness filled her eyes as she dropped the pistol and rushed to Anne's side. Both young women embraced tightly.
"Oh your majesty...thank God you are safe...thank God...I was imagining all sorts of horror."
Anne smiled sofly into Constance's tear stained face.
"I am so grateful you too are safe dear Constance." she said moving hair from the young womans face.
The two women embraced again.
"Come your majesty get your self warm by the fire." said d'Artagnan.
"Where are the others? asked Constance as she sat next to the queen.
Anne shivered as she tightened her shawl around her shoulders.
"He should be here very soon...that is if everything went to plan." replied the Gascon.
d'Artagnan suddenly put his finger over his lips and glanced at both young women as he heard a slight creek of the outer doors. He gripped his pistol and waited as the door opened.
Both the queen and Constance grabbed onto each others arm as they watched with bated breath.
That instant Athos emerged from the darkness.
Relief evident on both faces of the two women.
"Athos...thank God." gasped Anne.
d'Artagnan lowered his weapon.
"I take it that loud blast sound was your doing." asked the Gascon raising a brow.
"Lets just say there are less guards than beforehand." answered the swordsman gruffly.
"Now we need to find Aramis and Porthos, I am hoping a certain good for nothing treacherous reprobate may lead us to them." muttered d'Artagnan.
Constance glanced up at both musketeers.
"The queen and I will be quite safe here, you should go, Rochefort needs to be found." she said.
Anne nodded in agreement.
"One of us should maybe stay with you both your majesty." said Athos. "He could be anywhere, he is alot of things, but he is not stupid."
Anne stood and approached both musketeers.
"Constance is quite right Athos, we will be fine here, this is probably the last place he will look, you should find your friends at haste."
Both men exchanged tenative glances.
"Very well your majesty...but we leave you both with loaded pistols."
Anne smiled.
"Good...now go...find him...I of all people want to see his head in a noose." she said.
"You are not alone in your thoughts your majesty." said d'Artagnan.
"Stay safe...both of you." said the queen eyeing both Athos and d'Artagnan.
Both musketeers bowed before leaving.
The door closed behind them.
Anne picked up a pistol and glanced towards Constance.
"I have never used one of these before Constance." she said sounding apprehensive at the thought.
Constance grinned slightly.
"Let us hope we won't need to, but pray do not fret your majesty...I have had quite a few lessons with such a weapon."
Anne glanced at the young woman in awe.
"Constance you really are a dark horse."
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Both musketeers ran swiftly across the courtyard and into the side doors of the chateau, pausing as they entered the hallway, a gust of icy wind swirling around the entrance as they closed the door behind them both.
The sound of voices emanated into the dismal surroundings. Both men swapped glances as they heard the familiar imperative tone of Rochefort delivering his orders. The two musketeers crept slowly down the dark hallway, staying within the shadows and out of sight as they went.
"No mention of Aramis and Porthos." whispered d'Artagnan.
Athos' gaze scanned the hall, he counted at least sixteen men sat around the table as they heeded Rochefort's orders. How had he come by such a large force of dissidents in such a short time, this had to be planned in advance.
Suddenly Athos was tussled forward prompting him to turn sharply, his grip tightening on his pistol.
d'Artagnan was stood rigid, a pistol aimed at his temple.
"DROP IT MUSKETEER! came the the voice. "Or I blow his brains all over the walls."
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TBC...
Hi Guys,
Thank you for your comments, love them, you inspire me.
I am sorry once again for the cliffy! I know you like them.
Stay safe
Pippa xxx
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