TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.

Chapter Thirteen.

Bastille.

The cold extinguished spark in her eyes was blank, her lips blue, the sudden fearful horror that had etched itself on her features as Madame Evette Anon had had her life taken from her within seconds. Her throat cut so severe it had almost severed her head. Blood had pooled around her neck and shoulders and had channelled towards the cell doors.

Captain Venell and two of his men stood among the musketeers as they scrutinised the body.

Tréville wiped both hands over his face and sighed as he caught Athos' iritating glance.

"My lieutenant gave you a direct order to check on her every hour, what part of that order did you not comprehend? growled the musketeer captain enraged. "He even asked for a guard to be put outside the cell door."

Venell glared in Tréville's direction as he pushed through the group of men.

"How dare you blame my men for this Tréville, they did check her every hour without fail, she was fine. And as for sparing men to stand guard for one prisoner is unheard of."

"I trust your men have checked the back tunnels to the Bastille? inquired Athos suddenly.

Venell turned on the swordsman and eyed him with a clenched jaw."

"And may I ask who you are to question me musketeer? he seethed.

Athos glared at the man blankly as Tréville's enraged tones filled the air.

"A prisoner has been murdered in the Bastille, a prisoner my men apprehended, I would say that gives them the right to ask as many questions as they want Venell."

Aramis glanced up at the two red gaurds.

"Have you had any other prisoners confined to the Bastille in the last couple of hours?

The two guards shook their heads.

"No...noone entered after you musketeers left, just the rota shift change that is all."

"Rota shift? queried Porthos.

The two guards eyed the big man.

"Yes...our relief guards...what else do you think we meant, we do not reside here all the time you know."

"So where may I ask are these relief guards now? asked d'Artagnan turning his head towards the group.

Venell shook his head with rage as he almost spat out the answer.

"On duty at the entrance...where they should be."

"Then we shall speak with them." said Athos as he tapped the Gascon on the arm in gesture to accompany him before moving off towards the passageway.

Tréville turned back to Venell.

"I suggest you have her body moved to the Paris mortuary swiflty Venell. Something tells me this is not over."

Venell glared at the musketeer captain as he moved off followed by Aramis and Porthos.

He turned back to his two red guard, both men swapping perplexed glances.

"Well you heard him...have the body moved to the morgue NOW!

oOo

The two red guard both glanced up on hearing the booted footfalls as Athos and d'Artagnan approached them.

"Well well, it seems we have company." said James Payne to his comrade in muted tones as they noticed the two musketeers.

"Ahh so these are two of the famous four? murmered Ned Wade under his breath.

Both men stood almost stauesque either side of the entrance gates as the two men drew nearer.

Athos eyed each man in turn, he had not been aquainted with these two guards before, but then again they swapped the regiment like the king swapped his courtiers.

"I trust you have both been informed of the killing of a prisoner this night? asked the swordsman vehemently.

Ned Wade side glanced his friend discreetly and pursed his lips.

"We have yes, a bad business." he replied.

"Captain Venell informed us you began your duties an hour before the murder, did any of you see or hear anything? asked d'Artagnan.

James Payne could feel Athos's eyes boring into him, he had been warned about the musketeer regiment from Cardinal Durand, how impassioned they were when it came to solving any misdeeds.

"I saw nothing musketeers! came the pompous answer.

"And I heard nothing." added Ned Wade.

Athos eyed both men, his eyes averting from one to the other, there was a haughtiness in both men, something he had not witnessed before within the red guard regiment, they were usually swift to mock or become reluctant to answer questions.

"I heed you checked on Madame Anon every hour, did anything seem amiss at any time? asked the swordsman flatly.

James Payne shook his head.

"That is correct...she was fine everytime I checked, she was eating bread and cheese the last time I saw her alive."

Athos nodded as he listened.

"Did anyone come to visit? asked d'Artagnan suddenly.

Ned Wade stifled a grin that had not gone unnoticed by Athos.

"This lot don't receive visitors musketeers, they are doomed from the moment they enter."

The Gascon caught Athos's swift eye contact, both musketeers on the same line of thought.

"I am well aware of that, I am merely speaking of Clerics or court officials." came the reply.

James Payne exchanged glances with his comrade, he knew in his own mind he had to rid all irresolute notions that the musketeers may have.

"Wait!...I thought I heard a noise down one of the tunnels, I went to investigate but nothing...probably rats."

Athos stared into his face, he felt an unease.

"You are not from Paris...am I right?

James Payne swallowed hard, he knew the swordsman was scrutinising him.

"That is quite correct musketeer...I come from the south...Avignon...my mother was from Helvetia...hence the blue eyes." he smiled.

Athos quirked both brows and nodded slightly as he eyed the guard. He turned swiflty on hearing his comrades footfalls, Tréville, Aramis and Porthos joined them.

"Anything? growled Tréville loudly.

"No captain...not this moment." came the swordmans sardonic reply.

Tréville gestured to the two men to open up the large doors.

The loud rasping creek reverberated off the stone walls as the doors were opened allowing the musketeers to vacate the building. Athos pausing slightly and catching both guards eye in turn.

They slammed the door shut behind them with a loud thud. Both men swapping iritated glances.

"Durand was right about them...they are thorough...very thorough." commented Ned Wade.

James sniggered as he bolted the doors.

"That Athos...I do not trust him...he asks too many questions...we need to act forthwith."

"We do not want to arouse suspicion my dear James, but do not fret we shall have our day."

oooOooo

It was past midnight when the musketeers rode into the garrison courtyard and had the horses retired for the night. Having been invited up to Tréville's office for a nightcap the four young men followed their captain up the wooden steps.

oo

Tréville poured brandy into five goblets and passed them around to each of his inseperables gesturing to them to sit.

"You look deep in thought Athos, what is on your mind? asked the older man as he took his seat behind his desk and sipped his drink.

Athos sat back and glanced at his brothers in turn, as he swirled the brandy around his goblet.

Athos is always deep in thought captain." chuckled Porthos squeezing the back of the swordmans neck.

Athos quirked a brow at his big friend and grinned.

"The two red guard d'Artagnan and myself spoke to prior to leaving the Bastille, there was something rather uncurbed about them."

"What do you mean mon ami? asked Aramis heeding his friends words.

Athos sipped his brandy and glanced at the marksman.

"Not quite certain yet, probably pure speculation, maybe after some sleep I will be more coherent in my thinking. I would like to return to the Bastille at first light captain if I may, I would like to ask more questions."

Tréville nodded.

"If you wish, you can meet us at the palace thereafter."

Athos swallowed the rest of his brandy and stood.

"Very well, I shall bid you all good night gentlmen.

"I am right behind you my friend." yawned Aramis placing his empty goblet on Tréville's desk.

oooOooo

Bastille

After Dawn.

Athos walked the short journey from the Bastille paddock and hammered on the large doors with a clenched hand. He stood back as he heard the loud rasping sounds of the portcullis bolting brackets being opened up in ready for access.

"Ahh you returned musketeer Athos, I thought you might." sniggered James Payne as he eyed the swordsman.

Athos stepped over the griddle at the foot of the doors and entered, he looked from one man to the other.

Loud cries and shrieks reverberated off the dark tunnel walls from the prisoners.

"How many of you are on duty at this moment? asked the swordsman as he scannned his surroundings.

"Six of us in total, Captain Venell is in his office, I trust you wish to speak with him.?

Athos nodded.

"You appear rather vexed musketeer Athos, is something else amiss? asked Ned Wade shooting a glance at his comrade.

The swordsmans eyes averted towards him. The strange feelings had returned, he did not recall telling these two men his name. But maybe he was becoming too suspicious, afterall the past days had been nothing but filled with trepidation and disdain.

"As you both know a prisoner was slaughtered whilst you were on guard duty gentlemen, I would say that was very much amiss as you put it." retorted Athos with an icy glare.

Both guards caught each others glances

"You say Venell is in his office? asked the swordsman.

"He is! came the reply in unison.

The swordsman turned on his heel and sauntered towards Captain Venell's office, the last thing he knew was the darkness that he had succumbed to.

ooooooOOOoooooo

TBC...

Hi Guys,

Well the Festivites are nearly upon us. I will probably wait until Christmas has passed before posting the next chapter, hope that is ok with you guys,

Thanks again for the fab comments, your very kind.

Well what has Athos gotten himself into this time?

Info: Helvetia is Switzerland today.

Speak Soon

Pippa xxx

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