Chap 2: 2 gifts and 1 secret
2 years later a small raven hair beauty lay in front of her parent's bedroom door fast asleep.
Her papa looked at her mother with loving eyes. "Should we wake her to tell her she has a baby brother?"
"No let her sleep she will find out in the morning."
Her papa picked his gift (that was his nickname for her) off the floor and placed her in her bed.
Then he went to see Marie and his new son Gerard. He watched his wife sound asleep with the baby in her arms.
He crept across the room and picked up his son. "Now I have two gifts. "Tears of happiness fell from his eyes. He sat there just staring at his son for hours.
The sun was starting to rise in the sky he heard little footsteps running down the hall. "Papa where baby papa?"
Her papa looked at her with love deep within his heart. "In here my gift!"
She looked at the small bundle in her fathers arms. "Was I that small papa?"
He looked into her big green eyes that were filled with wonder. "Yes my gift"
She wrinkled her nose with curiosity. "What's name papa?"
He smiled upon his little girl "Gerard."
She leaned over the sleeping infant in the arms of her papa. "Oooh Hi Gerard I am going to best him papa!"
He looked at her trying to be serious and said "not now my gift." She looked at her papa and stuck out her lip and pouted. "Why?"
Her papa laughed at her naïve words. "He is to small my gift when he gets bigger."
She tilted her head in understanding "Ok papa."
Then she ran off to pretend she was a great Musketeer like in the stories her papa read her. He let out a little laugh and shook his head.
In Paris there was a young blonde who was unsure of what he was there for. The men were all wearing red. One of the men was wearing a red hat he was a man of god. That's what his Uncle told him. He seemed to be the one in charge.
He was yelling at the one he called Captain "The legend and his FRIENDS hid the child I want her found and killed. She is wearing the gold cross that she got from he father. How many little girls have gold crosses? With the cross she has proof who he father is. Do not disappoint me Captain"
The other man just bowed and left. Then the man in red noticed the boy left in his care.
The boy had very curious eyes. The man in red looked upon the young boy with anger apparent in his eyes. "What is your name boy?"
The boy quickly answered. "My name is Jacques sir."
The man in red hovered over the boy to show the boy he was to be feared. "It is NOW Siroc! Did you hear what was said boy?"
The boy looked at the man in red. His eyes full of wonder why would this man of God want this girl killed. He looked up at the towering man and answered quickly "Yes sir!" Because he was told never to lie especially to these men.
He was brought here after his family was murdered by the gypsies. (That is what his Uncle told him he was unsure if he trusted his Uncle but he was the only family he had left).
His uncle left him in the care of these men. He had said he had to deal with the family fortune. That is what he had told the man in red they had laughed at his uncles words. The boy watched unsure of what to make of what was happening to him.
He was the son of a Duke. Queen Ann was his Aunt. Why was he in rags? Why did he have to leave his home? He had so many questions no answers.
"What Exactly did you hear boy!"
The boy looked up at him with fear deep within his heart. "You said you want the girl killed because of who her father is and the Legend and his friends know where she is."
The man sneered at the frightened child "You are a very smart boy not to lie to me.
I have a very specific job for you."
He led him in the tunnels of the castle. Finally the boy spoke again. "When can I go home?"
The man laughed in a cold voice "You are home! Your Uncle gave you to me as a gift. A gift for the Cardinal!"
The boy suddenly realized he had no one left to care for him he was all alone. He shivered in terror at the name Cardinal. He wanted to cry from the fear he felt deep within his soul. But he knew they would only be harder on him if he showed weakness. He knew that he was Siroc the slave and nothing would change that. Jacques was now dead within this world he now lived within.
He was brought to a room with a flat table with piece of leather attached to it. The boy's eyes grew wide at the site. He saw another room with bottles filled with liquid and strange devices lying everywhere.
The boy knew that he would watch all that happened. His thirst for knowledge would overcome his emptiness he felt deep within his broken heart.
The Cardinal spoke in a cold hard voice. "You are mine boy you will never taste freedom again. Now clean this up!"
He pointed to the room with the table. The floor was covered with blood. The boy quickly obeyed his orders.
The Cardinal left room to see to other matters. The boy was all alone wondering if he would ever have a family again.
In another part of Paris the musketeer garrison.
There was a young private named Duval. He was a very adventurous. He would accept any challenge. He was engaged to the beautiful Alicia and he felt like there was nothing he couldn't do at that moment.
Captain D'Artagnan watched this young private and laughed at how he and his friends reminded him of himself and Athos, Porthos, Aramis. He knew he had to pick the right man for the job. He had spoken to the others and they were in agreement someone had to stay and keep an eye on the girl.
D'Artagnan was going on a very special mission for the King.
Porthos was on his ship in the middle of the ocean.
Athos and Aramis had other important missions to complete for the king that even D'Artagnan did not know what they involved.
D'Artagnan looked at this young man and knew if anyone could watch and protect her he could.
He tried to be as serious as possible and spoke like thunder. "Private Duval, in my office now!"
The young private was shocked to hear the Captain call for him. He and his friends had not left the garrison all day. But he knew better than to argue with the Captain. "Yes sir!" he hurried into office.
Once inside the Captain looked more relaxed. "Sit down private what I am about reveal to you is not to leave this room understood."
Duval looked shocked but quickly agreed. "Yes sir!"
The Captain got up and searched in his cupboard and got out a very strong port and two glasses. He poured the port into the two glasses and handed one to Duval.
Duval looked at the glass. The Captain shook his head and let out a deep sigh. "Drink it you will need it after what I am about to tell you."
Duval grabbed the drink and downed it in one gulp as did the captain.
The Captain looked upon his favorite soldier and took another deep breath to prepare him self to speak of what he swore to keep from the enemies of France.
"I want you to keep an eye on a little girl named Jacqueline Roget. She is to be protected at all costs! There are those who would harm if they knew her whereabouts she wears a gold cross around her neck. It was a gift from her father. Her safety must be insured for her future. No one else must know of her name or where she lives. You will patrol by her home but tell know one of your mission."
The private looked at the Captain he was very confused but nodded in agreement "yes sir."
"With this new responsibly I will be promoting you."
Duval had a look of uncertainty upon his face. "Captain who is this child? Why is she so special and who is her father?"
D'Artagnan poured two more glasses of port. "Her father is …"
Just at that moment the door of the office burst open in rushed private Jean- Pierre. "Captain the Lepontes have been murdered. We found their bodies all except young Jacques. We think the young boy was kidnapped. Corbin the Dukes brother said he came in to take the boy for an outing. He told us it looked like they were poisoned. He said he thinks the servants killed them."
D'Artagnan looked at Duval "I think you have your first mission Lieutenant Duval."
Duval looked as if he was uncertain of what the Captain had said. "Sir?"
D'Artagnan gave the young man a comforting smile. "You heard me right Duval, you are Lieutenant Duval of the musketeers."
Duval nodded in enthusiasm. "Yes sir!"
D'Artagnan got a more serious look upon his face as he addressed his new Lieutenant. "I want you to find out what happened to the Queen's sister's family."
Duval stood up and saluted his Captain "Yes sir!"
Captain D'Artagnan gave a sigh of relief knowing that he had chosen the right man for the mission.
"One more thing I want you to remember what was discussed you are not to say a word to anyone!"
Duval nodded in agreement "Yes Sir!" He gave his Captain a look of understanding of the importance of the secrecy of this information. Jean-Pierre stood there with a confused looked upon his face.
Then Captain D'Artagnan looked at both men and said dismissed. When they were out of range of the office
Jean-Pierre turned and faced his Duval. "What that was all about."
Duval looked at him and shook his head. "Secrets!" And walked away to get his friends for an adventure that would change his life forever.