Chapter 4 –Find out how the others received his troubling news.
-----------------
Unto Dumas: 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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 4: Revealed
"I have it from someone I believe to be a trustworthy source that what seems petty vandalism is a harbinger of something far worse. If we are to act on this intelligence we must do so in utter secrecy and speed. We must find a means to get Louis to safety. In less than a month Paris will be in Flames."
"I'm sure my father…" D'Artagnan began but Siroc cut him off. "…No, he won't help us… the Queen mother also must not suspect what we are planning."
"Treason…" Jacques breathed. "You want us to kidnap the king?"
"That is the charge Mazarin will bring against us if we fail." Siroc nodded. "I didn't agree to do this thing. It is for you to decide; if we do nothing; our conscience alone will judge our decision. If we choose to act and succeed, we will have no reward but knowing we fulfilled our duty. If we fail, Mazarin will have us branded traitors and we will likely be executed. I am willing to die knowing I acted in service to the king…But I will not make that decision for you."
"Why does this fall to us?" Jacques frowned. "We are not officers surely Captain Duval would want to trust something of this import to more experienced…"
"I am Ramon Montalvo Francisco Esperanza de la Cruz:" Rising to his feet, fervor burning in his eyes, "I am not one to turn aside when danger threatens!" The Spaniard expostulated in grand style.
"And what are we to do about the Captain? Are we to sneak around behind his back as well?" D'Artagnan asked, with a wry frown. "Having been an Agent, 'Scarecrow' ought to understand the need for keeping 'Cardinal Marzipan' in the dark. Surely we can trust him to-"
Siroc cut him off "Don't call them that -- even when its just us -- you are going to slip up and say it to his face then you'll regret it…and the only reason I didn't suggest telling the captain is I don't want to get him in trouble…he won't be forced to lie about what he doesn't know
"What you think we should call Duval Dazy instead?" D'Artagnan asked, feigning innocence.
Siroc had that intense look that all but screamed 'THIS IS SERIOUS!' But, with some difficulty, he held his tongue. Siroc had known D'Artagnan long enough to realize his attempt at humor only betrayed his nervousness… but it was maddening none-the-less.
"So it is Siroc and I that are for doing what it takes and D'Artagnan and Jacques that are against the action." Ramon outlined.
"I never said I was against!" D'Artagnan frowned; angry in his own defense. "I was only outlining both sides of the argument," he huffed.
"And you Jacques… what say you? If we are not in accord we do not act." Siroc stated quietly.
"I am not against action itself, only rash action. I believe the captain can be trusted to give us sound advice – provided of course he doesn't find out what D'artagnan has been calling him – because then he'll advise us to scrub dungeon tiles for a week at least."
"Perhaps we should have more of a plan, before we consider getting anyone else involved." Siroc nodded, relieved they hadn't all rejected his news out of hand. He would have abided by the decision of course (as he promised Emris he would) but it would not sit well with him.
D'Artagnan looked thoughtful, "I've an Idea. We all know how fond his majesty is of hunting holidays…and we know how he hates all the fuss of an entourage and chaperones…If we approach him in the right spirit and suggest a private hunting excursion with only ourselves as guards he may permit himself to be smuggled out of the palace."
"We'd need to fetch Butterfly, too." Jacques nodded.
"Butterfly?" the others questioned.
"Butterfly…you know his horse." She rolled her eyes as if the fact was obvious. "Not the big white thing that needs a martingale to get across the courtyard… the little brown mare he's had since she was a pony… Last year His riding coach said she wasn't a suitable royal mount…"
The others looked at her as if she were asking them to bring along an elephant "Why?" D'artagnan asked.
Jacques sighed, "I've seen His 'notes' from sessions at court. Most are little more than drawings of her. At a guess, I'd say she was the last gift his father gave him. I imagine he would even agree to being disguised as a page if it meant he would have a chance to ride her again. What better disguise than a page riding with a musketeer?"
"Now we're getting somewhere!" Siroc rubbed his hands together. "but how to get out of the city… I was told that the violence will escalate quickly and it will be civil war. The people will consider musketeer as targets."
"If that be the case I too must speak for informing the captain. If there is to be trouble, then our brother guards must be ready and able to defend themselves." Ramon said nodding his certainty. Then he looked thoughtful. "I think also I may know how we can get out of Paris and easily to safety…" The Spaniard smiled slyly at D'Artagnan. "We call on your uncle."
"My uncle?" D'artagnen wondered aloud.
Ramon grinned "The Ile du Palais is just that: an Isle. While in Berry, I became well acquainted with your uncle's chamberlain, Mouse. He promised that all I need do is send word with one of the Pigeons he gave me, and in two weeks time Captain Porthos will gladly bring his 'pleasure ship' up the Seine and take us for a … what did he call it?…a nautical adventure."
"I thought you would have those pigeons roasted with rice and mushrooms by now." D'artagnan swatted at the Spaniard playfully.
"Come now, I do have some restraint…and pigeon is a might gamey for my tastes…now if they'd been homing chickens..." Ramón chuckled and then returned to the topic at hand. "What do you think about my Idea?"
"I don't know if his majesty…or any of us for that matter would be up for any 'adventure' involving my Uncle Paulie…" D'artagnan began doubtfully.
"Uncle Who?" Jacques interrupted, stifling the urge to giggle.
D'artagnan took a long breath and expounded: "Isaac Paulonius Olivier de Poitou; Baronet... Gypsy…Pirate -- The musketeer also known as Porthos: My father's best friend…making him my Uncle Paulie."
"So you don't like my Idea?" Ramon frowned...trying not to sound hurt.
"It is certainly an option" D'Artagnan had to concede. "It is difficult to track a ship at sea especially one as…ah... 'unpredictable' as his."
"I think it's a sound proposal Ramón." Siroc smiled. "We can have him bring us directly to the port in Berry le Fére; the guard there can be relied upon to keep the king safe 'till we get to the Abbey."
"Ohhh … It comes out." D'Artagnan smirked, "Your unimpeachable source is none other than my uncle Emris."
Siroc opened his mouth to explain but D'artagnan cut him off, "Do not deny it. That is why we absolutely must go to such lengths to make sure my father does not find out."
Ramón recalled Jacques had not been with them when they went to Berry and would not know the particulars. He leaned over and whispered "You would have heard of the musketeer Aramis…that's who he means: Emris De Ruse…he and D'artagnan senior don't get along, it's a touchy subject."
"You do not think his intelligence is reliable?" Siroc asked, eyeing the legend's son critically.
"Even my father agrees; his spy network has no equal save that of the former cardinal. Not even Mazarin's is as loyal or as exact. The only question my father has ever raised is a matter of allegiance; whom does the Vicar-General serve?"
"He said you would ask." Siroc nodded "His answer…Be he Emris or Aramis is, as it always has been, he serves God and France."
-----------------
Chapter 5: Full Marks –What is the Abbey hiding? Find out how Arimas came to be master of a network that rivals the cardinals own.
-----------------
