TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
Chapter Thirty Five.
Raven Tavern...
"My men have indeed come here for, shall I say...a quiet drink, if you red guard continue to rile and provoke I am certain his majesty the king would be most interested in heeding what I have to say about his red guard's behaviour."
Every eye in the room turned as Captain Tréville walked slowly from the rear of the tavern and joined his own men. His glare not shifting from the guard who stood next to Porthos. The big man's clenched jaw began to relax as he nodded towards his superior.
Tréville eyed the guard as he neared him.
"So if I was you I would join your friends and leave my men be, do I make myself clear? he said through sonorous tones.
"You treat them as children...can they not answer for themselves?
Porthos shifted before moving forward, he glared into the guards face.
"Thats our captain you are talking to, 'ave some bloody respect." he growled.
Aramis and d'Artagnan had joined the big musketeer, Aramis placing a hand on his shoulder muttered in his friends ear.
"Come mon ami...do not give them glee...they are drunk."
Porthos' glare diminished as he turned and followed his friends back to his seat.
The guard's glaring features waned as Porthos stood down, he caught Aramis and d'Artagnan's eyeline before returning to his comrades.
Tréville joined his musketeers, the din of low voices and sniggers persisted once again.
Aramis grinned as he poured ale into Treville's tankard, the older man took his seat next to Athos.
"Well captain it would seem they heeded your word." muttered the marksman glancing around the table at his brothers.
"I will speak with Captain Venell, I will not have my regiment targeted every time they have off duty relaxation." replied Tréville taking a swig of ale.
"No disrespest Captain, but I think we can take care of them oafs, they are just out to cause trouble." growled Porthos.
d'Artagnan raised his brows as he drank.
"Trying to impress their new recuits more like." mumbled the Gascon.
"New recuits? muttered Athos. "I trust the king knows of this charade, you do know Durand had the last word when it came to recuiting...hence the two Englishmen?
Tréville side glanced his lieutenant and nodded.
"Indeed...it has been noted, the king knows, he has his spies taking a particular interest."
"Tell me Athos, have your eyes improved? asked Tréville suddenly.
"Doctor Lemay is paying a visit on the morrow captain, he will be binding his eyes again." replied Aramis glancing across at his stubborn friend.
Athos stared across at Aramis, the marksman was sat opposite him.
"It is my eyes that are incapacitated I will have you know Aramis, not my vocal cords."
Porthos let out a loud guffaw promting the others to chuckle.
d'Artagnan slapped Aramis on the back, the Gascon trying to stifle his own mirth.
Aramis refilled Athos' tankard and grinned.
"You are still my patient my friend."
Athos shot a glance at Tréville.
"If there was a champion for mother hen, he would win hands down." he dead- panned.
"Why thank you mon ami." exaggerated Aramis stifling a chuckle.
The laughter erupted once again around the table, the impassive look on Athos features making the whole conversation akin to a burlesque parody.
Porthos squeezed Athos shoulder as he sniggered.
"Aramis is merely looking out for you 'thos, as are we, you are still recoverin' he grinned.
Athos swigged back the rest of his ale, he glanced around the table.
"Well my recovery needs wine, I shall indeed request a three bottles." he said scanning the room for the serving wench.
Three bottles of wine arrived, the serving wench placing them down one by one.
"You are most kind mon amour...what is your name." asked Aramis with a winsome smile.
The girl giggled aloud.
"It be Emile monsieur...we don't get many musketeers in 'ear."
Aramis grinned.
"And now five turn up all at once." chuckled the marksman.
Athos shook his head as he filled his goblet and rolled his ailing eyes.
"I did wonder how long it would take him." he mumbled under his breath.
Porthos and d'Artagnan swapped glances of merriment.
"You are all very 'andsome...I must say." beamed Emile.
Aramis put a hand on his heart and smiled warmly.
"As you can probably perceive mon amour...I am the most handsome."
The girl chucked out loud prompting the others to shake their heads at their friends antics.
oooo
Rome:
Colosseum Dungeons.
Loud cries of agonising anguish emitted into the darkness followed by the rasping of chains as they were dragged along the dirt ridden ground. Foul smelling passageways vanished into the darkness as more groans of mercy reverberated around the dank stone walls and collumns.
Durand sat against the cold wall hugging his knees, his head bent forward, the man overcome by the utter humiliation he had endured in the presence of the French king and his dignitaries including the Popes most trusted advisor. A solitary candle flickered at his side almost burnt down to the wick.
How long do I have to tarry in wait for my execution, perhaps his holiness will show mercy. If I am to meet my God, I will haunt Tréville and his oafs forever.
Durand lifted his head as he stared into the gloom, several rats scurried along the filthy ground making their way through the barred gates and into the dismal passageway.
Another scream emitted into the darkness from another chamber, sniggers and snorts from the poor soles abusers as they took great satisfactory in inflicting such torture.
Durand squeezed his eyes shut and leaned his head back against the wall, he wanted to vomit, the stench was putrid of decaying flesh and rotten scraps of food.
I implore you Lord, have mercy on my sole, please give me forgivness for my crime, I became insane.
oooo
Aramis poured out more wine and passed the bottle to Porthos. The marksman held up his goblet and glanced around the table at his friends.
"I believe his Majesty derserves acclaim for his part in Durand's mortification my friends, his evil deeds are over." he said with feeling.
The others followed suit holding up their own drinking vessels.
"What will happen to the Englishmen captain? asked d'Artagnan.
Tréville swigged from his goblet and sighed.
"They have been granted passage back to England, there they will stand trail for treason, I am afraid they have sealed their own fate gentlemen."
"Well I will show no solace, they deserve everythin' comin' to them." growled Porthos.
Aramis nodded in ackowledgement and glanced across to Athos.
The swordsman was pouring more wine into his goblet.
"Especially after what they put our dear friend here through."
Athos looked up at his friends, he could make out their shapes, sometimes in certain light he was certain he could see clearer.
"And for that I am grateful to you all my friends, I shall not forget it." he murmered.
oooo
The musketeers sauntered down the street in the darkness on their way back to the garrison. The night air was chilly, a slight wind blew through from adjoining streets. Drunks and whores staggered from taverns and brothels as they went on their way. Athos being steered by his friends if needs be.
"He walks better drunk than sober." laughed Porthos.
Athos paused in his tracks.
"I will have you know that I am not drunk mon ami." he declaimed.
"I believe we are all slightly inebriated gentlemen." murmered d'Artagnan moving aside to allow two drunken men to stagger past him.
That instant six red guard emerged from around the corner, each one pausing as the musketeers approached.
Tréville shot a glance at his men.
"Keep walking men." he mumbled quietly.
The guards stood rigid.
"Well what have we here, the musketeers, they had the Cardinal exiled from France."
Porthos glared with clenched teeth as he glanced at the others.
"I think you will find, we had no word in his downfall, he had a fair trail." commented Aramis.
"We want no trouble gentlemen." growled Tréville, his hand feeling for the hilt of his sword.
The taller guard grinned.
"Just a word in passing captain Tréville...nothing more." he grinned.
Athos sniggered.
"Something amuses you musketeer? asked another as he stared at the swordman.
"He deserves everything coming to him, he brought this disgrace on himself, probably aided by you dolts." growled Athos.
d'Aartagnan and Aramis swapped glances.
"Athos." murmered Aramis nudging his friends arm. "Leave it."
"What did you say musketeer?
"Deaf aswell as an idiot." sniggered Athos.
"Why you...
Suddenly the guard lunged forward and punched the swordsman in the face throwing him to the ground.
That moment pistol fire emitted into the night air as Captain Venell walked up behind his men.
"Get back to the palace NOW! before I lose my temper." he yelled loudly.
The red guard dispersed and did as they were ordered, the musketeers receiving enraged glances from them as they went.
Venell nodded in acknowledgement at Tréville.
Aramis and Porthos rushed to Athos helping him to his feet, bloos oozed from above his eye.
"Athos my friend, you should have kept quiet, you riled them." scolded Aramis pressing his hankerchief to his friends cut.
Athos pulled free from his freind and put his hands over his face, he rubbed his eyes and scanned his surrounding.
He looked up to the moon lit sky then back to his friends, he suddenly grinned and sniggered.
The others exchanging perplexed glances at their friends behaviour.
"Athos...what is it...what's wrong? growled Tréville.
Athos turned to them, looking from one to the other.
"I can see you all, I can see, I see the moon, I see the houses...I can see." he grinned. "I see everything."
ooooOOoooo
TBC...
Hi Everyone,
Hope you are all safe and well, cannot believe we may be going into another lockdown, wish people would heed the warnings.
Anyway stay well guys.
Thank you for your lovely comments, they are awesome.
Story is coming to an end, but another is on the horizon.
Speak soon
Pippa xxx
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