I'm posting three chapters tonight, they're pretty short, and then three tomorrow. Thank you again for the feedback, I really appreciate it! Two more stories yet to go!

Chapter 9

Despite Laury's short legs, he sprinted across the field, wove between the trees, and shouted for those in his way to part. He pumped his arms like a madman, and he forced his thighs to move despite the burning sensation of overtaxed muscles.

"Lieutenant Porthos!" Laury shouted. He kept running toward Athos' tent as the captains exited. "Where is Lieutenant Porthos?"

Musketeers stopped what they were doing, looked up and watched the young man sprint through the campsite. Haircuts were paused, freshly laundered clothing was suddenly abandoned, hoof trimming suddenly stopped, and meals were forgotten. Even Gentry paused in his stirring of beef soup and watched the young man run like wildfire.

"Lieutenant!"

Porthos stepped from the tent as Laury pulled himself to a stop. He frantically caught his breath and then pointed toward the chateau.

"I think they're going to hang him. Captain Athos. They've put up a noose and are saddling a horse, sir." Laury wiped his brow free of sweat and suddenly felt the frigid chill of air against his skin. He wiped his hand on his britches and struggled to capture his breath.

"That's not military procedure," Captain Duris said.

Aramis frowned and shook his head. "What about any of this is military procedure?" He looked at Laury. "Did you see him? Did you see Athos?"

"Only briefly, sir," Laury said through quick breaths. "I think he's being held in the storage room beneath the chateau."

"The undercrofts," Captain Fain said.

Laury shrugged. "They're attaching a beam to a high peek of the stables and saddling a horse. I saw men trying a noose."

Aramis cupped his hand over his mouth and chin and ran his fingers along the edge of his mouth. He glanced toward the chateau, shook his head, and then ran toward his tent. "I'll be back!" He shouted over his shoulder.

"Get back up in that tree and find Marcus — he can send messages back to us if you see anything else," Porthos ordered and watched Laury turn and sprint back toward the tree.

"We would should storm the chateau, Lieutenant," Musketeer Germaine said as he stepped forward. Several others stepped behind him. "He's our captain."

Porthos clinched his jaw, closed his eyes, and looked around as more musketeers stepped forward. Laury's display of urgency had caused everyone to stop and listen. "We will not storm the chateau —"

"Then 'ow are we goin' to save 'im?" Another shouted.

"He's been a good captain — I'm not going to watch him hang!"

More shouts echoed. The men grew closer together, supported one another, and stood strong.

Porthos raised his hands and watched his men while the other captains looked for their own men, who too were noticing the commotion. "Our duty is to manage and guard the line!"

"What about Captain Athos?"

"Hold the line!" Porthos shouted. "Athos would be the first to order it!" He looked at those who suddenly grew quiet. "If the Spanish cross into French territory an' get by us — we leave the king exposed — Paris exposed, your families exposed!"

The men shifted uncomfortably and mumbled amongst themselves.

D'Artagnan turned to face the tent and leaned toward Porthos. "What if we break up the men — put some of them on guard to watch the Spanish, and the others can help us…" he looked him in the eyes, "if we can — we should try to save him… try to save Athos."

Porthos clenched his jaw and watched Aramis as he left his tent, musket in hand, and he ran toward the tree where Laury was hiding from view. "Aramis?"

"I will not let him hang!" Aramis shouted, and continued to run. "I won't do it, Porthos!"

The men shifted again and their voices grew louder.

"Marc, Levi — Order your companies to the front — The Spanish may use this as a distraction!" Porthos waved his hand toward the battlefield. He stood strong, shoulders back, and his head held high. "Watch for cannons an' more projectiles!"

Marc nodded, tucked his arm close to his chest, and then raised his other hand in a circular motion and shouted for his men to follow. Levi did the same, only he stood atop a tree stump to get a better view of his company.

Porthos turned toward d'Artagnan and said, "Take Aramis' company, position them in box formations near the canal an' tell them to prepare to fire if I order it — only," he stressed, "if I order it. I will not 'ave our men fire upon French soldiers without cause!"

"What about a trade?" Captain Comtois suggested. "What if we request of the general a moment to negotiate a trade —"

"Trade what?" Porthos snapped as d'Artagnan ordered his men forward and motioned for Aramis' company to ready themselves. "What do we possibly 'ave to trade for Athos' life?"

"General Thorell is going to be here in three days' time — possibly sooner —" Captain Guidry said and shook his head as he excused himself to order his men to the front.

"Athos 'as 'ours — if that!" Porthos, in a moment of frustration, bit his left thumbnail and tore the tip from his finger. He spit, gripped his thumb in the security of his fingers, and watched the surrounding chaos grow. The men were uncertain, angry, and confused.

"Why would Raboin hang him?" Comtois said.

A few men had remained and continued to listen.

"There hasn't been enough time for a tribunal —" someone shouted.

"How much time would he need?" Captain Fain said with a shrug. He looked toward the field, the men as they mustered and prepared for their duties. "General Raboin has been unconventional for a while… if he has decided to charge Athos with a military crime — and I would assume he has — then he will act accordingly —"

"Athos did nothin' wrong!" Porthos frowned and arched his shoulders forward.

"I didn't say he did, Lieutenant Porthos," Fain said and took a step back. "But we're dealing with a man who, by all appearances, has turned his back on France and may… possibly… be fighting for the Spanish. If he is," he raised his eyebrows, "then Athos would be the first one he would kill — Athos is, after all, Raboin's biggest threat."

"Then how do we save him?" Captain Comtois asked. "If we have nothing to negotiate with, and Athos might as well be in the Bastille, the chateau has been surrounded by Captain Randieu's men for several days now." He turned, waved his hand, and ordered his men to circle back.

"We have the men," Fain said.

"A siege could last for weeks, if not months," Comtois said. "And that would leave us open for another attack from the Spanish."

"Days," Porthos said. "Just until Thorell arrives."

"That doesn't help Athos," Fain said.

"No," Porthos said. "It doesn't."