Duplicity

Chapter Eleven

Comfortingly familiar sounds greeted Athos when he woke. Muted voices, the ringing of steel on steel and horseshoes striking cobbles all reminded him that he was in the home he had chosen instead of the one that was his by birth. He lay for a while allowing only mundane thoughts to enter his mind. Finally, realizing that he was hungry, he stretched and got out of bed. He washed quickly in cold water and donned a clean shirt. The others would have to be laundered and that would mean imposing on someone's kindness as he couldn't leave the garrison to deliver them personally to the laundress. He would also have liked a bath, which was also barred under the terms of his punishment. The bath house was several streets away from the garrison. Shrugging aside these difficulties he buckled on his sword belt, checked that the sword was moving freely in the scabbard and stepped outside.

From the position of the sun he concluded that it was early afternoon. He visited the kitchen where Serge always left cheese, bread and cold meat for anyone who missed a meal. He was surprised to find only a couple of thin slices of ham, small chunks of cheese and the hard ends of loaves of bread. He loaded his plate sparingly and went into the yard. Aramis was sitting at the table, watching d'Artagnan sparring with one of the younger cadets.

"The boy shows promise," he said as Athos joined him.

Athos watched the cadet for a few moments before concurring. "He's clearly had some training."

"He's the third or fourth son of some lord. He doesn't say much about it and lacks the usual arrogance of his kind." Aramis grinned.

Athos raised an eyebrow. "Are you calling me arrogant?" he asked

"Far from it, my friend."

Although he knew he was being teased Athos also recognized that there were some occasions when he acted more like a lord than a soldier. Of late that usually happened when he had dealings with LeGrange. The man's mere presence seemed to bring out the worst in him.

He watched the match while eating. Aramis continued cleaning his pistol, before loading it automatically without needing to concentrate upon what he was doing. When d'Artagnan joined them he was flushed from the exercise.

"The cadets are worried," d'Artagnan said. "LeGrange has been telling them that there is little chance of a commission,"

"That's for the King to decide," Athos said. "They all acquitted themselves well during that ridiculous exhibition a couple of weeks ago. Any one of them would be worthy to join the regiment."

"A few are apparently reconsidering their choice of career," d'Artagnan said unhappily.

"A good captain would be encouraging his men," Aramis said. "An understrength and stagnant regiment is unlikely to survive."

"Thus playing directly into Rochefort's hands." Athos could feel his anger rising again. It was mingled with helpless frustration. He could still see no clear path that would lead to LeGrange's dismissal.

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. Athos sparred with d'Artagnan, declined to fight Porthos hand to hand in the interests of avoiding injury and then went to groom his horse. It was an activity that usually brought him peace as the rhythmic motion settled troubled thoughts.

They would have time for a meal before reporting to the palace. He saw Jacques saddling LeGrange's magnificent grey gelding and concluded that the captain was about to leave for the day. There was never any attempt to mingle with the men. Meals were taken outside the garrison and, apparently, Rochefort had secured him rooms in a minor wing of the palace.

LeGrange was descending from his office. He had barely reached the last step when Philippe stepped out from the shadow of the archway. He held a pistol, aimed rather unsteadily at the captain.

"Aramis," Athos called urgently, gesturing towards Philippe.

Aramis, who was closest to LeGrange, hesitated fractionally before standing and leveling his pistol at Philippe.

LeGrange had lost all colour in his face. "Shoot him," he commanded in a voice that betrayed his fear. "He is threatening a superior. You will shoot him."

As LeGrange was speaking Athos was cautiously walking towards Philippe. "This isn't the answer. If you shoot him it will be murder and you will hang."

"It'll be worth it. I can't let him live to bully someone else to death."

"Don't make me shoot you," Aramis pleaded, anguish in every line of his face.

"Better dead than condemned to wither away without my commission. I'd have been next to go, one way or another. He told me as much yesterday."

"I gave you an order." LeGrange's voice had risen in tone and volume.

Aramis ignored him but his pistol never wavered and his eyes never left Philippe's face.

Athos stopped. Philippe's gaze flicked towards him and then away. That momentary inattention would have been a perfect time for Aramis to fire. Instead he took the opportunity to place himself between Philippe and his target. When Athos looked over he saw with disgust LeGrange cowering behind Aramis.

"You can walk away now without any harm done," Athos said to Philippe.

"There is no justice." Philippe's arm was shaking.

"You don't seek justice," Athos said. "You seek vengeance and you are too good a man to shoot in cold blood. Besides, you would have to go through Aramis and I don't think that is something you are willling to do."

As Philippe's arm dropped Athos gently took the pistol from him. He saw that Aramis had lowered his weapon although his face gave away his strain.

Now that it was safe LeGrange emerged from behind Aramis. "Arrest him," he shouted hysterically.

Athos laid his arm around Philippe's shuddering shoulders. "Go. Get out of Paris."

LeGrange stepped forward, fear turning to fury. "I will not be disobeyed again."

Aramis intercepted him. "You've done enough damage. No more."

Philippe backed up a few steps before turning and hurrying away. Within seconds he was lost amid the crowd of people in the street outside the garrison.

"I will have you court martialled for this," LeGrange shouted. "You ignored two direct orders."

"You were never in any real danger," Athos said as he joined Aramis. "If Philippe had truly been intent on killing you he would have pulled the trigger the minute he saw you. The death of his friend temporarily unsettled his mind. He is no threat now."

"How can you be sure? He might wait in an alley and shoot me in the back."

"Unlike you Philippe is a soldier," Aramis said. "Soldiers have their own moral code. That's why, when it came to it, he couldn't shoot."

The implication wasn't lost on LeGrange. "Your time with this regiment is over. You will be discharged in disgrace." His gaze swept from Aramis to Athos, making it clear that he was speaking to both of them.

Athos, although internally in turmoil, kept his expression bland. "We were commissioned by the King and he is the only one who can dismiss us. You are free to suggest that course to him, but I think you will find that we have the right to appear before him to argue our case. That might prove embarrassing."

"You dare to threaten me?"

"I merely state facts."

"You will both remain here until you are summoned." LeGrange turned away. "Bring my horse."

Jacques hurried over leading the animal. LeGrange mounted without another word and rode out of the garrison.

Porthos and d'Artagnan, who had arrived part way through the confrontation, joined their brothers.

"What have you done?" d'Artagnan asked.

Aramis sighed. "I very much fear that we have destroyed our careers."

Tbc