TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.

Chapter Twenty.

Flashback...

Captain Venell stood swiftly, he was suddenly disturbed from his paperwork by a low thud and what sounded akin to gasps. He opened his office chamber door and peered down the passage to see the two new guards dragging someone along the ground.

"Prey tell me...what is going on here? he yelled.

The two guards paused and swapped iritated glances as they let the motionless body of Athos fall to the ground. Both men turning instantly.

Venell approached them in the dimly lit passage, he picked up a torch from the wall sconce and scrutinised carefully noticing Athos' pouldron on his arm.

"What happened to him? enquired the red guard captain with a perplexed frown.

Ned Wade sniggered.

"He got in the way captain...you know the Cardinal wants rid...we are merely giving him a helping hand."

Venell stared into both mens haughty features.

"Are you both insane? as soon as the musketeers know he's missing they are going to come searching for him. You do know it is treason to kill one of the kings elite guard."

Ned Wade shook his head and grinned.

"They will never know it was us captain, we will be back in England before they realise what time of day it is."

James Payne glanced down at Athos' unconscious body then back to Venell.

"We already have plans prepared Captain...we will take him there now, they will never find him, once he's gone we capture another."

"You cannot keep him here, they will search the entire Bastille, they are not ones for giving up on each other, the four of them stick together like resin.

Ned Wade smirked.

"Do you not think we know that, we need to leave now, we are squandering time."

Venell sighed aloud, he knew Durand hated the musketeer regiment, he also knew there was something about these two guards, always seemed to be with the Cardinal, the same two that he suspected of killing Deacon Arouet.

"I will not hang because you two reprobates want to keep good terms with Durand." he sneered.

Ned Wade grinned with a quirk of a brow as he shot a glance at James Payne.

"Reprobates you call us...we are merely following orders dear captain that is all, I suggest you permit us to go about our business before Tréville and his men are upon us."

"Everyone knows that uniform...he will stick out like a ripe orange.

"Please Captain...you insult our intelligence." sniggerd James Payne.

Athos suddenly began to groan prompting three pairs of eyes to look down at him.

"He's rousing." said Wade reaching for his pistol and striking the butt over the back of the swordmans head.

Athos fell motionless once again.

"Get him out of here NOW! demanded the red guard captain.

Venell watched as the two men both lifted Athos by an arm each dragging him towards the tunnel entrance they used to take out the dead.

oo

Athos' eyes twitched slightly, his lids slowly blinked before opening. The pain in his head was a thumping dull pain. The swordsman closed his eyes tightly and winced as he peered though his foggy vision. Footfalls...loud...at least two pair. Athos squinted as he persevered to move, he couldn't, his arms seemed fast, his legs heavy. The sound of scraping chains as he tried to shift to no avail. He could feel the warm blood trickling down the side of his temple.

"Ah your awake musketeer Athos, I do hope you had pleasant dreams, afterall they may be your last." declared James Payne as he stood staring down at the helpless swordsman.

Ned Wade suddenly joined his friend and sniggered at his comrades comment.

Athos winced again, his head felt like it would explode.

"What is it...you want... with me? he gasped.

Ned Wade pulled up an overturned dusty wooden chair and sat.

"Oh its not just you...we aim to rid France of the entire musketeer regiment. As soon as you are dead we will go after another and then another." he sneered with a snort.

Athos forced a wry smile as he tried to sit up.

"That seems rather a sizeable undertaking given their are only two of you, but something in my aching head is telling me you are both involved in Madame Anon's murder and are probably working for...

"James Payne suddenly gripped the swordsman by the hair and glared into his face before he finished his sentence.

Athos clenched his teeth with rage unable to move.

"I was told you musketeers think you are the paragon of all regiments, but by the time we have finished with you, you will be nothing more than scraps for the starving rats."

Payne shoved the musketeers head back against the wall as he let go of his grip, he suddenly thrust his fist into Athos' stomach making the swordsman gasp and gulp. He pulled Athos's head back again practically touching distance and seethed into his face.

"By this time on the morrow musketeer you will be ashes in hell."

"I knew there was something about you two from the moment we met, you are both English are you not, you came to France on the same galleon the Cardinal voyaged on."

"You do not miss a trick do you, your inpeccable knowledge becomes you, pity you will not be using it anymore musketeer." seethed Ned Wade.

"And do not think your comrades will come...by the time they have worked out where you are, you will be nomore." sniggered James Payne.

Athos watched as the two men suddenly vacated the dismal chamber leaving the shackle keys on top of the kegs, scanning his surroundings, he realised one of the shackles on his left wrist had not locked properly into the haft as he fumbled with the manacles, the swordsman had his left hand free, he checked the door again, he could just make out the voices of the two men as they drank wine. Athos endeavoured to slide his body towards the gunpowder kegs without letting the chains rattle along the floor. Keeping his eye on the door he tried to stand, he had to reach the keys. The voices continued to drink and chortle. Sweat had beaded his face as he struggled to get to his feet to reach the keys, his breaths were laboured.

That instant the swordsman felt the blade in his side as Ned Wade came at him throwing him to the ground with a thud. He was swiftly joined by James Payne as the two men once more shackled the swordsman down. Athos was panting for breath as blood oozed from the open wound.

"You do not give it up do you musketeer, maybe you will bleed to death instead, try to escape again and I will kill you here right now." goaded Payne.

"Why tarry...get on with it." panted out Athos.

"We would rather you suffer first." sniggered Ned Wade.

The swordsman could feel himself becoming weaker with loss of blood as he pressed his hand as close to the wound as he could.

"We will leave now, but do not fret dear Athos, we shall return very soon, we do not want to miss the firework spectical." sniggered Ned Wade. The door slammed behind them.

Athos felt addled and befuddled as he grew weaker, darkness once more enveloped him.

oo

Voices...footsteps...two sets...they have returned.

The swordsman felt a kick into his ribs as he roused again. His head was pounding again.

Madame Anon's two associates , why are they hear, where are the Englishmen. They are laying fuses, am I to be blown to kingdom come?

Athos fumbled with the bolt he had found in the dust, his trembling hands striving to unlock the shackles to no avail. He could hear the mens voices as they lay the fuses, he glanced up at the four kegs that sat piled up in front of him, the fuses leading from each one. The swordman winced in pain as he suddenly felt the click of his wrist manacle, it was open.

"LIGHT THE FUSES NOW! yelled one the men. "Lets get out of here."

Athos struggled with the bolt in the other shackle, his head was pounding, his vision becoming foggy again. His side was burning with agonising throbbing pain, he had to get free to warn his brothers of the impending danger. Click...his other hand was free. He gasped and winced as he stretched towards his ankles to pick at the haft. The swordsman averted his eyes towards the fuses as they travelled slowly towards him, he turned back to the shackles, another came free from his ankle, his breaths once again laboured as he continued, his bloodied hands still trembling as he hissed through the toment. He strived with the lock, it came open, he was free. The manacles had torn through the leather on his boots. Athos kicked them off before beginning to crawl towards the door, his eyes catching the travelling fuses, it was too late to extinguish them they had practically reached the kegs, besides their was too many to even count, the swordsman tried to stand, he was too dizzy. The fuses dear God...he crawled and grabbed at everything as he slid along the ground, he was practically at the door. Blood trailed along with him as he moved, Athos slowly pushed at the door, it scraped on the floor as it opened. He took one last look at the fuses, they had reached the kegs. He strived and tugged at anything to aid his crawl as he was now outside, a sudden strength seemed to gain on him as he threw himself into the long brachen before the the loudest blast erupted around him. Athos lay on his stomach, his arms over his head as fragments and splinters rained down over him, the ground seemed to shudder as he lay motionless.

End of flashback.

oooo

Aramis sat on the wooden steps half way up from Trévilles office chamber. His elbows leaning on his knees he rested his head on his hands, he sat deep in pondering thoughts, his features bereft as he stared into nothing, his mind unable to except his beloved brother Athos was gone. The whole garrison was in despondent mood, everything seemed different. The marksman scanned his surroundings as he noticed d'Artagnan sat at their favourite table, the young Gascon sat motionless with a hand clasped around a wine goblet. Porthos sat opposite, the big musketeer poured ale into a tankard and swigged a mouthful back, his face was filled with crestfallen anguish. The entire courtyard was an eerie silence, the cadets had ceased sparing in respect of their fallen comrade. Even certain market traders had even left posies at the gates having heard the tragic tidings.

oo

Musketeer Lucca stood on sentry duty with Brujon when the cart pulled up at the gates. An elderly man turned his head and glanced up at the archway. He slowly climbed down from the front perch and approached the gates.

Lucca eyed the man curiously as he cast a glance to Brujon.

"What be your business Monsieur? he asked swiftly.

The old man picked up a package from his seat and handed it to Lucca.

"I believe this belongs to one of your musketeers." said the man.

Lucca and Brujon swapped perplexed glances.

Lucca took the package that was wrapped in calico cloth, the musketeer unwrapped it, his face suddenly becoming ashen as he stared open mouthed down at what looked akin to Lieutenant Athos' pauldron.

Brujon's eyes widened as he looked from the pauldron to Lucca. Both men dumbfounded.

oooOOooo

TBC...

Hi Guys,

Apologies for the cliffy!

Thank you all for the fabulous comments, you are all very kind, love them. They make me want to write more.

I will update ASAP!

Speak soon

Pippa xxx

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