TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
Chapter Thirty Three.
Musketeer Garrison.
"I am most pleased my friends, it must have been quite a spectical to have Durand actually confess his true crimes, I would like to have witnessed his face when you both emerged from the darkness." said Aramis.
The musketeers were sitting at their usual table in the courtyard of the garrison having had an hour of sparring.
Porthos chuckled as he picked up a pitcher and poured ale into his tankard.
"You could say that, I thought he was about to rupture a gasket."
Aramis and d'Artagnan laughed aloud at the big mans comments.
"I believe we timed it well." added the Gascon taking a swig of ale. "It worked admirably for all."
Aramis patted d'Artagnan on the back and smiled.
"Yeah...the captain 'as been smilin' from ear to ear since." growled Porthos.
"It would seem a good job was done by the both of you, the captains delight is expected." grinned Aramis.
That instant d'Artagnan stared past his two friends with raised brows.
"What is he doing? he exclaimed.
Both Aramis and Porthos turned their heads swiftly as the Gascon suddenly leaped to his feet.
Aramis and Porthos swapped perplexed glances as they watched Athos struggle to walk and find his bearings, the swordsman was clinging to the stone wall as he slowly put one foot in front of the other and approached the voices.
"What the hell." gasped Aramis as he began to rush towards his friend followed by Porthos and d'Artagnan.
Aramis stood in Athos' path and grabbed his free arm.
"Just what in Gods name do you think you are doing Athos? you are in no fit state to be out of bed let alone go walking around." berated the medic.
Athos lifted his face towards the sound of an angry Aramis, he could just make out the outline of Porthos and d'Artagnan as he took in his surroundings.
"I am growing weary and bored, I wanted some fresh air." replied the ailing musketeer.
Porthos shook his head in disbelief and sighed aloud.
"You 'eard Mis...you are in not fit state 'Thos...and you need to rest your eyes...and your wearing yer shirt back to front."
Aramis shook his head slightly and rolled his eyes.
d'Artagnan squeezed Athos' shoulder prompting the swordsman to flinch slightly as he turned his head.
"Come now my friend, lets get you back in there, we shall keep you company."
Athos am I to get Porthos to throw you over his shoulder or are you going back to bed where you belong, that wound in your side is still raw." declared Aramis shooting a glance to his big friend. "We do not want it becoming infected."
All eyes glared at the swordsman as he clung to the wall.
"Porthos would be a fool to attempt it, he knows better than to even think such a thing, I just want to sit at the table and drink ale with you."
Porthos' loud belly laugh reverberated around the garrison courtyard.
"Do you wanna put that to the test 'thos, your as weak as a bloody kitten...If I picked you up now there ain't nothing you are going to do about it."
Athos scowled as he tugged free of Aramis grasp prompting the medic to scratch his head with iritation.
"Athos my friend come now, you are becoming your stubborn as a mule self, I implore you to come back to bed." urged Aramis.
Athos suddenly turned his back on his friends and began his slow meander back from whence he came.
"Very well mother hens...you win...I shall do as you ask...it seems I am outnumbered.
Porthos chuckled.
"Yeah...told yer!
Aramis took Athos by the arm.
"Come...lets get you back...remember Lemay is binding your eyes later."
Athos grunted with vexation.
"And suppose it does not work again...am I to resign my commission and live the rest of my life in fog?
Aramis caught the sympathetic looks from Porthos and d'Artagnan as the swordsman ranted.
"Have some faith my friend, we will endeavour with the treatment until your vision returns. God will do what is best." he comforted.
"God had no part in this." growled Athos as Aramis aided him through the infirmary doors.
oooo
Following Day
Palace Main Hall.
The sound of indistinct mingled voices gave forth to a low humming around the main hall of the palace. Dignitaries and court officials filled the entire chamber. Suddenly the large doors were thrown open as the king and queen entered followed by captain Tréville, Porthos and d'Artagnan prompting the hum of voices to cease.
The throng of courtiers and dignitaries bowed in unison as the two young monarchs strode past them towards their thrones. Also present was a small group of cardinals representing His Holiness The Pope.
Queen Anne fixed her gown around her seated form as she looked up at her audience, her pale and beautiful features serious as Louis stood and glared across the hall towards his guards before turning swiftly to his dignitaries.
The court officials stood in a row, all eight adorned in black attire with white mantles around their shoulders, Louis turned to them, each man bowing to his king.
Louis turned back to his guards.
"Bring forth the prisoner." he yelled.
All eyes of the entire chamber turned as the doors were suddenly opened. Durand was led in by two red guards. His face ashen as he kept his eyes downcast to the floor. The drone of voices began to hum once more as Durand made his way past the crowd towards the court officials. Anne and Louis swapping swift glances as he neared them.
Tréville glared in his direction, how he had deceived the entire monarchy and musketeer regiment for his own personal gain. Now he was reaping what he had sown.
Durand was led to a wooden plinth were he stood facing the court officials. The clerics swapped serious and enraged glances as Durand stood with his hands tethered in front of himself.
The principal court official slowly sauntered towards the high table, he bowed to both monarchs before averting his eyes towards Durands direction.
"Cardinal Theodore de Durand you are charged with the heinous crime of high treason, how do you plead? he asked in strident tones.
The cardinal lifted his face slowly, he caught a glimpse of Louis and Anne staring right at him, before he noticed Tréville and two of his musketeers glaring in his direction.
"Not guilty Monsieur...an error of judgement has been made."
Porthos and d'Artagnan side glanced each other, both knowing what each other was thinking, the man was unbelievable.
Both Louis and Anne were akin in their thinking as the king shook his head in disgust at the mans sheer audacity.
The principal official stared at Durand.
"Prey tell me Monsieur...are the accusations false? he asked sounding almost aghast.
Before Durand could reply the Captain Tréville move forward and stood beside the king.
All eyes were upon him.
"Forgive my intrusion Monseiur...there is sufficient evidence you may want to hear." growled the musketeer captain.
The low hum of intrigued voices emmitted once again.
Porthos and d'Artagnan exchanged contented but knowing glances.
The court official turned to Louis, his features that of anger at being interupted.
"Your majesty?
The king was resting his head on his hand as he glanced from Tréville to the court official, he suddenly sat up straight and nodded.
"I will permit this evidence...I trust captain Tréville with my life."
Tréville bowed to Louis as he passed a parchment to the principal official.
The man read the missive before placing it down in front of his associates.
The officials whispered into each others ears.
The entire chamber still hummed low.
"This should be interestin.' " murmered Porthos under his breath, only d'Artagnan could heed his words.
The Gascon raised his brows and nodded slightly in acknowledgement.
The principal court official suddenly stood.
"The court will heed new evidence." he yelled. "Guards if you will bring forth Monsieur's Ned Wade and James Payne."
Durands eyes bulged as he glared towards Tréville, he wanted to vomit up his entire stomach contents,
Surley they would not betray me now, am I finished, am I to be exiled, am I to be executed...he could feel the musketeers staring at him, he could swear he could see them smiling.
The large doors were suddenly opened, the two Englishmen were ushered in by two red guards, their hands shackled behind their backs. The thrum of low voices erupted once again as the two men meandered towards the officials, Ned Wade caught the enraged eyes of Durand as he was ushered past him.
The principal official stood swiflty, the low hum waned.
The king nodded towards him to proceed.
"I summon James Payne first...do you know this man as Cardinal Durand?
Durand glared, his jaw twitched.
James Payne stared back at him, he swallowed hard and glanced back at the court.
"I do Sir."
"Did this man give you an order to have the Musketeer Regiment slain?
Payne glanced from Ned Wade to Tréville. He could see the fire in Trévilles eyes, he was a man he would not want to ever cross again, he held his life in his hands. All he wanted was to return to England, would they get that wish, his mouth was dry as he turned to the court.
"He did Sir, we were ordered to kill the musketeers one by one."
The whole chamber began to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices as people began to take in what they had heard.
Durnad closed his eyes with enrage, his head falling forward with wretched misery.
Tréville averted his eyes towards Porthos and d'Artagnan, both musketeers giving him a slight nod of approval.
The king and queen exchanged glances of inconceivable vexation.
The hum waned as Ned Wade was summoned, all eyes watched him as he moved forward to the court officials.
"Monsieur Wade...were you also ordered to have the musketeers killed?
Ned Wade was staring at the ornate floor before lifting up his head towards the court.
"I was indeed Sir, we were told that we would be hanged if we defied an order."
Durand wanted the floor to swallow him up as all eyes fixed their stares upon his very being, how was he to escape this foreboding mortification.
The principal official turned swiflty towards Durand.
"It would seem you are indeed doomed Durand...you have lied to the court, you have committed high treason, you have conspired behind your kings back, you have plotted to have his majesties elite guard murdered for your own gain, what have you to say on such matters as these?
Durand wanted to run, he knew he couldn't, how he wanted to wipe that smirk from Tréville's face.
ooooOOoooo
TBC...
Hello Guys,
Hope you are all safe and well.
Sorry in advance for the late posting, still very busy with work.
Will do my best to update ASAP!
Thank you for you fabulous comments, love them.
Speak Soon
Pippa xxx
.
.
.
.
.
.
