TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.

Chapter Twelve.

Royal Chambers.

Captain Tréville had felt somewhat reluctant in having to inform the king about the murder of Deacon Arouet, but it was something that had to be done, he felt an iritating niggle chipping away at his suspicious thoughts and couldn't quite shake them off. Cardinal Durand was uppermost in his thoughts, the cleric was indeed sinister. Something in the back of his mind was telling him he had something to do with the deacons murder, if not himself then someone working for him.

The king was slouched back in his chair as he heeded Captain Tréville's report. Cardinal Durand stood to his right, the mans posture was pompous as he stood listening, although his features changing swiftly at the mention on the deacons murder.

Porthos and d'Artagnan swapping discrete and rapid glances at the clerics response.

The king sat upstraight as Tréville announced the tragedy, his face turning ashen rapidly as he shot a glance at Durand.

"Dear Lord! did you know of this misfortune cardinal? he gasped. "Why would someone kill a man of God?

Durand kissed his crucifix before letting the chain drop.

"This is such sorrow Sire, I am at a loss, I shall prey for his sole. I am somewhat grief stricken at such tidings." he murmerd.

Louis turned to the musketeer captian.

"Have you any clue as to whom would want to murder a deacon Tréville?

Tréville turned his glare from Durand to a despondent look as he caught the kings eyeline.

"Not at present your majesty, but I have men out searching as we speak."

"Where has his body been taken? asked Durand suddenly.

"Captain Venell had him taken to the Palace mortuary your eminence." replied the musketeer leader.

Louis stood and began to pace the floor.

"I want him taken to the chapel of rest Cardinal...I will not have him become a spetical in a mortuary." he demanded.

Durand bowed his head slightly.

"I shall see to it forthwith your majesty." he answered.

"You may leave us now Captain." said Louis with an oblivious wave of the hand.

Tréville caught Porthos and d'Artagnan by the eye as he turned to the king.

"Before I depart your majesty, my men have arrested a certain Madame Anon, she is the woman who accused musketeer d'Artagnan of rape and attempted murder."

Porthos and d'Artagnan eyed each other discreetly.

Cardinal Durand suddenly figited with his robes, he took a handkerchief from his tunic pocket and began to blot the white calico over his face.

"Are you feeling quite well your eminence? asked Porthos "You look somewhat pallid."

The king followed the big musketeers gaze.

"Can you not see he is in distress over the deacons death man? pressed Louis.

Porthos bowed his head.

"Of course your majesty. he murmered.

d'Artagnan and Tréville swapped rapid glances.

The king turned back to Tréville.

"Why are we discussing this Madame Anon captian when we should be grieving for Deacon Arouet? he demaned.

Tréville eyed the cardinal as he stood almost statuesque, his features that of a troubled man.

"My men have spoken with her, she divulged that she was working for someone within your court, she was in fact paid to have my musketeer arrested for rape, the whole accusation was a charade."

The kings features suddenly turned almost stone faced as he stared at Tréville in awe.

"Are you suggesting there is a spy in our midst captain? Dear God is nothing sacred? I do hope your men have their wits about them Tréville, I want this renegade found and punished forthwith."

Durand stood almost frigid, his face downcast, he could feel the musketeers eyes boring through his very being as he slowly lifted his head and caught the musketeer captain glaring his way.

"My men are prepared your majesty, we will find the perpetrator." replied Tréville casting an eye over Durand.

Durand stood silent, his jaw clenched tightly.

"Prey tell me...where is this woman now? asked Louis suddenly.

"She is at present held within the garrison cells Sire." came the answer.

Louis shot a glance towards Durand then back at Tréville.

"Have her confined within the Bastille...I will not have these peasents raising revolt against the monarchy."

Tréville bowed his head.

"As you wish Sire."

oooooOOooooo

Bastille.

"You are making a big mistake musketeers...you will pay with your lives for this." shrieked Madame Anon as a red guard pushed her into the reeking and dismal chamber.

"Get your dirty hands off me man." she demanded.

The guard sniggered aloud ignoring her pleas.

The cell doors slammed shut reverberating the thud din off the gloomy passage walls as the red guard hooked his keys back onto his belt.

"Hey...show some consideration there is no need to treat her like an animal." groused Aramis as he and Athos watched the doors close behind her.

The red guard smiked into the marksmans face and snorted.

"They be all animals in 'ere musketeer...she is no different...the king wanted her locked in 'ere."

"I am well aware of the kings demand." murmered Aramis. "We received the order from our captain an hour ago."

The guard smirked as he began to walk away down the passage.

Madame Anon continued her rant as they walked.

"DO YOU HEED MY WARNING MUSKETEERS? she yelled.

The two friends glanced at one another, the marksman shook his head as they followed the guard.

"I want her cell checked every hour, there are plenty who want her free, I suggest you have a guard on duty outside the door at all times." ordered Athos.

The guard paused in his tracks and chuckled.

"She won't escape from 'ere musketeer, them there doors are thick steel."

Athos rolled his eyes and sighed as he cast an iritating look at Aramis.

"It is not the her I am worried about, it is whom may try and enter in order to release her." replied the swordsman.

"You musketeers are all the same...you think you are better than us...rest assured no one will enter or exit."

"I do hope your right about that." said Aramis sounding unconvinced and quirking both brows towards Athos.

oooooOooooo

Cardinal Durand paced back and forth in his office chamber, pausing now and then as he thought deep and hard, he scratched at his temple with iritation before moving to his desk and pouring out some brandy into a goblet. With one gulp he threw the contents into his throat and poured another. The doors suddenly shot open as two red guards entered. Durand glanced up, he gestured them towards him with a swift finger movment. The two guards lifted their heads up to acknowledge the cleric, the same two men that Durand had suddenly drafted into the red guard regiment, James Payne and Ned Wade.

"Were you seen? asked Durand.

James Payne shook his head.

"Come now Cardinal, you insult our intelligence." he murmered.

Durand poured another brandy and re-took his seat at his desk.

"I trust you have both heard that Evette Anon has been incarcerated in the Bastille? he asked hoarsly.

The two guards exchange knowing looks.

"We do Cardinal. " replied Ned Wade. "And now you want us to get her out."

Durand glared in his direction, he hated the English arrogance, but he also knew they were very good at what they did and right now he needed as much help as he could get.

"No gentlemen I want her dead, she has a lose tongue, I can not afford to have her alive, she is more a hinderence than anything else, if she speaks to Tréville I am a dead man."

"I thought you had her two associates taking care of her escape from the musketeer garrison? quieried James catching his comrades eye.

Durand sipped more brandy.

"Them two are oafs...they failed. Too many of Trévilles men on guard at one time they said...cowards...but I will use them for another task."

"I take it you have made arrangements for us to gain entry to the Bastille cardinal? asked Ned Wade.

Durand nodded.

"I will have you put on Bastille duties in the coming hour when the next rota shift is over."

"What about the musketeers, you said they want to speak with her." asked Ned.

"Those two dolts will take care of them, I have a plan prepared."

oooooOooooo

Musketeer Garrison

Three Hours Later.

The torches around the garrison courtyard burned in rows as darkness fell around Paris. The rain had abated allowing a cold wind to blew through the archway and sweeping up hay and dust in swirls.

The candles were lit in the dining chamber as the musketeers ate supper, served up to them by Serge the old veteren cook.

"My money is on Durand killin' the deacon." growled Porthos as he wiped a chunk of bread around his bowl of stew and chomping at the remains.

d'Artagnan nodded around the table and eyed his brothers.

"Having witnessed Durands behaviour this day my friend, I have to agree."

Athos quirked a brow as he poured out ale into his tankard.

"I fear the Cardinal is as clandestine as they come." commented the swordsman. "He makes Richelieu look rather meek in comparison."

The men chuckled at the swordmasns remark.

Aramis supped his ale and sat back in his chair.

"It is indeed strange that the poor mans body was found on the same road our dear Cardinal was travelling on. If not him, then one of his entourage."

"Lets not get too far ahead of ourslelves gentlemen." said Tréville hoarsly as he joined his men at the table and began to eat.

"We still need to find Madame Anon's two associates."

That moment the men glanced up from their meal as the dining chamber doors flew open and Brujon rushed in, he held a sealed missive in his right hand as he appraoched Tréville. The young cadet's features pink with the sudden and immediate scoot.

The four musketeers swapped curious glances.

"One of the kings guard conveyed this Captain, he said it was paramount you read at once." he said with rapid tones.

Tréville eyed the boy curiously as he broke the seal.

"Ah the Cardinal's seal...now I wonder what is so urgent that I need to know in haste? he pondered.

The men watched as Tréville's features turned to disconcerting anguish, the colour drained from his face.

"Captain...what is it." asked Athos suddenly.

Tréville slowly looked up from the parchment and let it drop onto the table.

"Its Madame Anon...she has been found dead in her cell...her throat cut."

Athos glanced back at his brothers, before catching Aramis eyeline.

"So what happened to checking every hour." growled the marksman. "I knew we couldn't trust them lot."

"LETS GO! growled Tréville standing.

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TBC...

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your comments, love them all.

Hope you are all doing your Christmas shopping, it's one thing I'm not keen on, but I know it has to be done at some stage.

Hope you will stay with the story, it will become more intense for the boys.

Speak soon

Pippa xxxx

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