Unto Pax, Disney and United Artists too

Give credit where credit is due,

I'd be writing something subtly different…

If not for all of you.

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Chapter 3: Surprises

Siroc arrived back at the garrison late in the night… He made his excuses to the watchman, woke a stable boy to care for his mount and made his way into the sleeping barracks. The thought of sullying clean sheets with his road weary flesh was repellant.

He stopped by his quarters only long enough to grab his towel and robe then headed for the bathing chamber. He did not even bother to take flint or candle to illumine the way.

As tired as he was nothing could stop his inquisitive mind from appreciating the skill that had gone into designing the great baths. Furnaces under the raised floors heated the water. The resulting steam was channeled through special chambers, spread under the floors and climbed into the walls.

This system worked so well that even this late at night that the thick floors retained enough heat feel pleasantly warm to his bare feet. The pool was a bit on the tepid side but it still felt unbelievable welcome to his tired muscles.

He lay; head back on a padded headrest and in truth must have dozed off… only to be woken some time later by the sound of furtive footfalls. Like most in the king's guard, Siroc washed his small clothes the same time as he washed the rest of him so gave little thought to his modesty. His first reflex was to reach for his towel to conceal the maze of scars that marked his chest and back.

Captain Duval's words came back to him, arresting the anxious movement. "Anyone likely to use the facilities during the off hours has just as much – or more to hide than you do." The newcomer was likely just as nervous of being caught here as he was. Siroc did not want to fright the man by making a sudden movement or noise so froze mid-reach and waited.

A sharp intake of breath betrayed that he had indeed been discovered. Siroc turned slowly to see a rather ashen-faced Jacque le Ponte.

"Ssiroc…Yyour back." The newcomer faltered voice unnaturally high in surprise… Mildly Siroc wondered if Jacques meant "You are back." or "Your Back!" The inventor had uncommon night vision but could not guess how well the other could see in the darkness. For his own part Siroc had no difficulty seeing the tension in Jacque's slight frame. Arms crossed tightly over the slightly bulging buttons of his (her?) nightshirt."

Siroc yawned to cover his surprise. "I must have fallen asleep…" There, that was politic wasn't it…to just ignore the fact that one of your best mates was actually a Maiden… he could let it slide. Save for one thing. He felt compelled to add, "If you wouldn't mind turning your back while I get my robe I'll leave you to your bath."

"Of course!" She said, husky voice sounding more like the Jacque he knew. Still her cheeks flushed as she turned away. Siroc clambered awkwardly out of the bath… muscles feeling somewhat waterlogged. Wrinkled fingers snatching up his warn robe and hastily shrugged his battered shoulders into it.

If she hadn't noticed his scars when he was up to his neck in water…she certainly saw them reflected in the mirror as he turned to grab his robe off the hook … they shone almost silver in the fading moonlight.

"Those weren't from one of your experiments exploding on you were they." She whispered.

"no" he whispered … If he kept her secret she would surely keep his.

She accepted that and said nothing else… so he took his leave.

o---------------o

The next day dawned both cold and dreary. Ramón and D'Artagnan had been sparring for some time in the gymnasium as the Courtyard was judged too rain slick for the exercise.

Fatigue hung heavily on both combatants. The poet still attacked vigorously with Sword and dagger. D'Artagnan flourished a folded cape to deflect the attack then neatly ended the match with a flash of his side sword.

Both musketeers were thoroughly winded as they yielded the floor to the next sparring pair.

"Have you seen Siroc?" Jacque asked offering a dipper of water to the sweaty victor.

D'Artagnan took it gratefully after one small sip he poured the rest over his head. "Didn't say when he'd be back."

"He's back… I walked in on… in TO him unexpectedly last night." she shrugged. "When he wasn't at breakfast I…I thought maybe he was avoiding me."

"Unlikely…You are too sensitive Jacque. You will learn our friend can be a might unsociable when the mood strikes him. Do no take it personally." Ramón smiled.

"Have you checked his lab?" D'Artagnan asked "Sometimes he gets so occupied with whatever he's about he forgets to eat."

"Of course… first thing, No answer, and the door was locked!" Jacque frowned; more concern in her voice then strictly suited her masculine persona.

D'Artagnan raised an eyebrow in warning but the Spaniard didn't seem to notice the lapse.

He clapped Jacque on the back affably. "Let's see what is become of our fine compañero. And we'd best see about feeding him while we're at it. Yes?"

o-------------o

Truth be told, Siroc did not wake till past noon. It had been a long hard ride and he HAD gotten back quite late. When the others came barging in his room, he was still relatively sleep ruffled.

"What time is it?" he yawned squinting at the dim half light out the window.

"Late and late…you've missed two meals, but do not fret we have saved some for you. Ramón smiled "Don't hide in the hall Jacque bring in the tray!"

Le Pont obeyed …eyeing the inventor curiously.

Ramón sat on the edge of Siroc's bed and helped himself to a handful of dried fruit before passing the tray to the still somewhat stunned Siroc.

D'Artagnan grabbed his desk chair and sat backwards in it arms crossed indolently atop the chair back. "Sooo, how was your trip."

Siroc frowned for a moment then sighed "You are all here. I expect this is as good a time as any…If you wouldn't mind closing the door Jacque, I've got something to tell you all."

Jacque's face whitened, afraid she knew what he was going to say… D'Artagnan knew her secret of course… but Ramon… With Ramon there were friends and then there were women …And if he went about trying to find a marble pedestal for her… she'd have to kindly knock him over the head with it. -- These and many other thoughts went galloping madly through her mind in the few scant heartbeats it took to pull the door closed.

When she turned around the grave look on Siroc's face made her fears seem insignificant. "Do you trust me?" he asked.

D'Artagnan and Ramon spoke simultaneously…

The Poet said "With my life Amigo." and the other spoke for both himself and Jacque "More than we trust the forces of gravity… we've proven that haven't we?"

Siroc only grunted. In his current mood not even the memory of that short…but miraculous flight could make him smile -- Which was indeed saying something.

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Chapter 4 –Find out how the others received his troubling news.

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