Greetings. Many thanks for reading and commenting upon the last chapter.
This one sees them boarding ship and bound for Dover. It is a shorter chapter than the others but I really wanted to end it at this given point; to continue would potentially have made it very long and, perhaps, losing impact.
CHAPTER 10
I
"I must not sleep," Athos ground out again. "Tanquerel."
All that was needed was the one word to remind them of the reason for their being bound for England.
"Porthos will stay with him to ensure that he is fine whilst I remain with you," Aramis said reassuringly but Athos was ignoring him.
"I cannot sleep," he insisted. "You must do something."
"There is nothing I can do."
"Aramis, please," Athos begged. Yet another indication that all was not well with the man and Aramis was unnerved by it, the guilt at causing his friend so much obvious distress beginning to blossom.
"All will be fine, you'll see," he said soothingly. "Asleep, you will not be aware of the ship's movements and will not feel so ill."
Athos shook his head vehemently. "I cannot save myself!"
Aramis exchanged perplexed glances with Porthos.
"I don't understand you. What do you mean? Why would you have need of saving yourself."
The remedy that Athos had swallowed was working as the Musketeer fought to stay awake, his eyes heavy and unfocussed now whilst his grip on Aramis' clothing weakened with each passing minute and, in so doing, exacerbated the sense of panic that was overwhelming him.
"The ship …when it flounders … need to save myself."
"Perhaps I should leave you for a while, until he is settled," Tanquerel offered. "I shall go off to the other side to watch our departure."
"I'll join you shortly," Porthos said, distractedly, for he had forgotten that the man was there. He, too, was greatly disturbed by Athos' behaviour.
Aramis, meanwhile, had gently reached out to cup Athos' face in his hands. "You must calm yourself, my friend. Nothing is going to happen to this vessel, I assure you."
"You cannot promise me that." The words came out on something akin to a sob.
Worried by his friend's reaction, it took Aramis a second to weigh up the preference between honesty and bluff; the truth won.
"No, I cannot promise you. but many voyages are concluded safely. Why should this not be one of those? I promise you I will not leave your side as you sleep. Should anything happen, I am here for you. I will not allow anything to harm you." He gave a cheeky grin. "Besides, if it came to it, I think the cold water would rapidly bring you back to your senses."
Porthos crouched beside Athos. "We'll save you together. All for one, remember? That goes for bein' on water as well as land."
He chuckled at his comment, as did Aramis, but there was no placating the stricken Musketeer as rolling eyes attempted to fix upon the big soldier.
"Watch Tanquerel," Athos ordered, breathing hard as he struggled against the remedy's impact. "Search the ship."
"What am I searchin' for?" Porthos was puzzled.
"The men," Athos groaned as he battled to keep his whirling thoughts in some semblance of order. "On board?"
"I'll keep an eye out for 'em," Porthos said as Athos suddenly slumped against him. He looked over the dark head at Aramis and whispered loudly, "I can't watch Tanquerel and search the ship if you're stayin' 'ere with Athos."
Aramis shook his head in warning. "He's not quite asleep yet." He eased his jacket from between Athos' fingers without any difficulty. "We'll sort something out. Help me make him more comfortable."
Together, they moved Athos so that he was lying on his side along the grain sacks and used his cloak to cover him whilst he mumbled incoherently.
"I am here," Aramis sought to reassure him, not understanding what had been muttered. "Give in now and sleep. We are about to leave Calais."
The shouts of the ship's crew could be heard as they cast off from their moorings.
"I will wake you when the crossing is over and we are at Dover," Aramis continued. He stood and stretched his back, looking over the ship's side and seeing the space between vessel and land gradually increasing. "Sleep, brother," he urged again softly.
"'E's gone," Porthos confirmed, keeping his voice low.
Glancing down, Aramis saw that Athos had, at last, succumbed to the remedy he had been given. His chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm and his eyes were firmly closed.
"Don't like seein' 'im like that; the fear an' all," Porthos continued. "It's always when 'e's on board a ship."
"And it doesn't get any easier with the passing of time," Aramis sighed. "He is not pleased that I have given him something to make him sleep."
"'An' that anger is still goin' to be there when 'e wakes," Porthos added regretfully.
"I don't doubt it. I am quaking at the very thought," Aramis tried to make light of the situation and failed. "I have greatly upset him, but I genuinely meant it for the best; he suffers so much at sea. I worry that he will not forgive me very soon."
Porthos grinned. "You underestimate 'im. It might not 'appen while we're in England as 'e's still facin' the journey 'ome but as soon as 'e's back in France, 'e'll be 'imself again; all sweetness an' light an' forgiveness."
Aramis snorted. "I suppose I can hope for one out of three!"
II
Tanquerel had removed himself to the opposite side of the ship and closer to the quarterdeck so that he was out of sight of the Musketeers. As he stood at the rail and stared out to sea, his lips moved as though talking to himself.
"So far, all is going according to plan. The detour was unexpected and the decision of their lieutenant, the one called Athos. Letting them see you follow us and again in Calais definitely has disturbed them, him more so than the others and he distrusts me. It is causing an entertaining division between him and the other two, who are more ingratiating.
"They are not anticipating any move against us until we are in possession of the reliquary and so they will be more alert from Calais to Paris. Therefore, we will pre-empt their concern and so, in Dover Castle, we will put into action the plan I outlined to you in my letter."
There was a movement in the shadows to his left. A figure stood there, listening silently to Tanquerel's words.
"A second unexpected advantage has come to us. It seems that this Athos is a poor sailor. His friend has given him a draught to make him sleep and will, no doubt, do the same for the return journey, thereby rendering him vulnerable. He is reputedly a fine swordsman, so it is better that we do not have to witness the evidence of his skill. Let him be your first. He will be easy to overwhelm when asleep.
"Then it will be one down with two to go. The odds are improving in our favour."
There was a slight noise to his left and Tanquerel glanced in that direction but whoever had been lurking there had disappeared into the bowels of the vessel.
Turning back to look out to sea, Tanquerel allowed himself what could only be described as a satisfied smirk.
All was definitely going to plan.