Chap.7 Duval's P.O.V.

D'Artagnan was giving me his report about Jacques' injuries.

I remember the day Jacques came to join the musketeers. I knew that was not his real name. But there was something familiar about that boy. He spoke the name as if he rehearsed it in his head many times.

He must have known about the boy or the boy personally. If there was any chance of finding of the real Jacques I had to try.

The girl went missing right before this boy showed up. I went in search of her but came up empty handed. I prayed that she hide so that those who wanted her dead would never find her.

Her wanted posters went up all over Paris. Everyone heard what had happened at the Roget farm. She did what she had to in order to survive.

Even some of the Cardinal's Guards were upset with how this girl was treated. Some of them took down the wanted posters when they thought no one was watching.

But right now I had to focus on the problem that stood before me. One of my best musketeers was lying in a bed injured because he was attacked by the Cardinals' guards.

D'Artagnan looks pretty shook up. Other musketeers have been injured before and it has never affected him in this way. D'Artagnan and this boy seemed to have gotten very close. It is as if they share a secret no one else knows about.

I saw Ramon and Siroc pacing outside my office door waiting for D'Artagnan to finish his report.

D'Artagnan kept speaking to me trying to explain what had happened over and over again.

Ramon and Siroc finally got so impatient. They burst through the door

Siroc looked at D'Artagnan and said "Jacqueline is in more trouble then you realize."

D'Artagnan got as white as a ghost and collapsed in the chair. And with his voice deceiving him said. "What do you mean? I was talking about our FRIEND Jacques not someone named Jacqueline."

Siroc looked back at him and said "Ramon and I know the truth. We want to help her."

I was sitting trying to figure out what they were talking about. I was getting more confused. I looked at my men "What are all of you talking about? What does Jacques have to do with Jacqueline? Someone explain it to me now!"

Then Siroc looked at me and said something that made my breath stop.

"Jacques is Jacqueline Roget and she is in great danger. She is the one who wears the cross The Cardinal wants her dead because of who her father is."

D'Artagnan looked at his friends and said her father is dead the Cardinals' Captain killed her father.

I looked at these boys who had been protecting the same girl I was supposed to protect.

I looked at them and said "that was not her real father. All will be reveled in due time."

"How did you find out about her and the cross?" Siroc then shocked me further by telling me his real name and what his Uncle Corbin and the what was said the day he arrived.

Then he started to yell "I WILL NOT LET THAT MAN HURT OUR FRIEND! MAN OF GOD OR NOT!"

Some of the other musketeers came running to see what was going on. I took one look at the men at the door and said "You can go on your way or clean the dungeons for two weeks." They rushed off with out another thought.

I looked at Ramon who was standing here taking everything in. Ramon I want you to close and lock the door and everyone sit down. They all quickly obeyed.

D'Artagnan looked at me and asked me how I knew about her and the cross.

I took a deep breath and told him the story of how the King and Queen had sent D'Artagnan's father to protect the girls mother and about his Godfathers and I were suppose to protect the girl and the farm that they rode past to make sure she was safe.

D'Artagnan looked at me and said "I remember the farm when I first came here I could not find it again. And I never saw the girl again."

I looked at D'Artagnan and said "Are you sure about that!"

He looked at me slightly puzzled and Then said "the beauty was her wasn't it captain."

Ramon and Siroc looked slightly amused by his comment.

I looked at the boy and realized he has been in love with her the very moment he saw her.

I looked at the boys I considered sons and told them that we will have to find a safer place to hide her. I will not have a woman in my garrison no matter how good she is with a sword. Then I laughed I knew the two people were safe that I swore to protect.

I dismissed them and told them to keep an eye on her until the arrangements have been made.

I took out a piece of parchment paper and started to write the letter.

They were only gone a few minutes when they shot back in my office They all had looks of shock on their faces. D'Artagnan had tears streaming down his face as he held tightly to a piece of parchment paper. And he kept saying she gone over and over again.

Ramon grabbed the letter out of D'artagnan's hand so I could read the letter that has made this boy so upset.

Dear Captain Duval,

I fear I may have placed you and all who know me in great danger. Please forgive me! I have grown so close to all of you. I can not allow anyone else harmed because of me. If anyone were to find out the horrible truth about me and what I did that day. I knew if I told you I was leaving in person. You would want to know the truth. I am afraid I do not know the truth as a whole. I beg your forgiveness. I am protecting those I love. Please know you and all of my new family will be in my prayers.

Yours Truly,

Jacques Lepnte

Some of the words were smudged from her fallen tears my heart broke as I read each word. I got out a new piece of parchment and started to write a new letter. We had to find her the treaty depends on her safety.