Chapter 4
"Once word of this gets out," Aramis said, "every musketeer in the regiment will be ready to storm the chateau." He paced back and forth within the confines of the tent, from Athos' desk to the exit. He glanced at the bed that had been made, the small nightstand that held a candle, the book that lay next to it, and then again at the desk as he turned.
There wasn't a wine bottle in sight, but a list of casualties rested neatly in the top right corner of Athos' desk. Several letters had been written and sealed and were ready to be carried by messenger back to Paris. Aramis looked at the stack of papers that were discolored, dried mud clung to the edges, and several had been dampened so severely that the ink had bled. The last messages of those they had just buried.
Porthos stood with his arms crossed, feet shoulder width apart, and his jaw muscles flexed as he tightened and relaxed his jaw. He looked at d'Artagnan who looked carefully at the rough sketch of the chateau's layout that the Fontaine family had provided. Marc stood near the exit, his arm carefully braced against his chest, and Levi chewed his thumbnail as he glanced from the other captains to his colleagues.
"Laury is up a tree with my spyglass," Aramis added. "He'll let us know if there's any activity."
"How did they know where to find him?" Comtois said. "The tents have all been moved, repositioned. Hell, I didn't know where his tent was until I saw d'Artagnan step inside it. Athos' is larger than the men's, but not by much—"
"Maybe they were watching him?" Levi said. He fiddled with the hangnail on his thumb and then grabbed it with his teeth and pulled it off. He winced for a moment and felt his finger pulse.
"With as many soldiers that have been injured," Fain said with a shake of his head, "it would be difficult to tell who is in which tent." He rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. "Someone showed them, or told them."
"What about Captain Randieu, what do any of you know about 'im?" Porthos asked. "As irregular as Raboin 'as been, it's difficult to imagine anyone followin' 'is orders — much less supportin' 'im."
Fain shrugged, and Duris shook his head.
"He's young, ambitious, and heavy-handed when sharing his opinions," Captain Guidry said. "I don't know him as well as I should, but he's always been cordial."
Aramis huffed as he continued to pace. "Cordial or not, it seems odd to me that someone in his position would abandon their post, fighting in the 'most severe areas' according to Raboin, to show up here at a moment's notice and protect a general who is less than stable…" He shook head and tightened his fists once more. "Protect him from what? No threats have been made against him—"
"At least not yet," Marc said and quirked an eyebrow.
Levi snorted, but quickly stopped.
Aramis pursed his lips as he looked at those around him. "No threats have been made that we know of." He exhaled through puffed cheeks and collected his breath. "He's been well fed and has kept himself hidden behind the walls of the chateau."
"Where was Captain Randieu's company positioned before arriving to protect Raboin?" d'Artagnan asked. He shifted from his position near the tent support and placed the map of the chateau on the desk. He leaned forward with his hands on the surface he looked at the other captains, unconsciously echoing a stance both Athos and Treville had used several times.
"South of here, but north of Alsace," Captain Fain said.
D'Artagnan turned and looked at the rolls of maps Athos had brought with him from Paris. He pulled several from the confines of a bucket and unrolled them. Once he identified the correct map, he placed the inkwell on the far right corner, a book in the other, and held the bottom with his hand. He pointed to the area and looked at Fain. "That would fall under General Thorell's military." He looked at those in the room. "Unless I'm mistaken, and Thorell is further south than originally planned."
"East," Comtois said. He cleared his throat as he stepped closer and looked at the map. "This is General Raboin's command." He ran his right index finger along the northeastern side of the border. "His men were supposed to be here." He pointed north of the Saõne river.
"Then why would 'e 'ave men that far south?" Porthos asked as he looked over Comtois' shoulder.
"Maybe he didn't," Aramis said as he pulled back the flap of the tent and peered outside. He turned and looked at those behind him. "When we retrieved the supplies, we stopped at an inn not far from the Ramus Bridge… the proprietress mentioned men stopping in occasionally… she thought they were French, but couldn't be sure." He shrugged and looked at Porthos and then glanced at the others. "What if those men… weren't French soldiers?"
Captain Fain huffed and scratched his right ear. "Captain Randieu has a regiment of over 300 men. How could he find 300 traitors? And how would Raboin manage them?"
"Who's to say they were French?" Marc said and cupped his cheek.
"300 Spanish soldiers pretending to be French… it wouldn't be the first time something like this has been tried during times of war," Aramis said, and shrugged.
"No, I don't believe it. I've met Captain Randieu on several occasions. I've never thought of him as a Spaniard, nor any of his men." Fain said with a shake of his head again.
"I agree," Captain Guidry said with a frown. "Raboin, for whatever reason, has put himself into a position where he cannot win. His sensibilities are too fragile, and his priories are no longer France. That does not make him a traitor to France."
Captain Comtois looked up from the map and then turned his attention to Porthos and Aramis. Levi and Marc both shifted their feet, while D'Artagnan focused on the curled paper before him.
"If," Comtois said, "if… Raboin has committed treason, we are well within our rights to protect France and the king —"
"We need proof," Captain Fain said. "You cannot accuse a general of treason and not have solid evidence. I will have no part of that. The man is unstable, yes, but treason?" He winced, crossed his arms over his head, and looked at his feet. "I cannot partake in an insurrection. It would be different if Spain held the stronghold — but they do not."
"That you know of," Porthos said. He took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck. "We need to get Athos out of there — Regardless of Raboin's purpose — or his crimes, nothing good will come of this."
"Keep, Laury… it's Laury isn't it?" Captain Guidry said and continued when Aramis nodded. "Keep him in position and should he notice anything irregular… perhaps we," he looked at those around him, "can relieve Raboin of command after…" he shrugged, "a medical evaluation?" He scratched his jaw. "He will not be the first general, nor will he be the last, that is forcefully removed from his position because of unforeseen circumstances."
"The man is healthy," Captain Duris said as he shifted his position by the door. "We can all be charged with sedition for planning something like this."
"If he kills Athos," Comtois said, "he'll come after the rest of us."
Captain Pruette, who had been silent the entire time, cleared his throat and looked at those in the room, but focused his attention on the musketeers. "You were sent here for a purpose," he said and looked at Porthos and Aramis and then the others. "The king does not send his best regiment to fight in a war with his weakest general. Raboin has been weak for years… he has been preoccupied, and his devotion to his military command has greatly diminished. I might assume," he paused and raised his eyebrows, "that he is conflicted — for what reason," he shrugged, "I don't know. But," he shifted his feet, walked to the desk and looked at the map. He placed his finger on the eastern side of France, "This is where the heaviest fighting is taking place. Spain has aligned themselves with the Holy Roman Empire and the Germanic states will not surrender their faith, nor will they hand over their land."
Pruette looked at those around him. "Why did King Louis send you?"
"To help protect France," d'Artagnan said.
Porthos shook his head just enough for d'Artagnan to notice and cleared his throat. "The reasons the king 'as for sendin' 'is men anywhere is up to 'im — not us, not you, nor anyone else in this room." He squared his shoulders and looked at Pruette. "It's because of the musketeers that the Spanish aren't marchin' to Paris as we speak."
"Does King Louis suspect General Raboin has committed treason?" Pruette persisted. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and raised his right eyebrow. "Men like the musketeers are not sent to fight for men like General Raboin — Thorell, yes, but not Raboin."
"King Louis' choices aren't to be questioned," Porthos said. He looked at d'Artagnan and then at Aramis and said, "Our priority is protectin' France an' keepin' the Spanish from gettin' to Paris. If you don't want to 'elp us find Athos, so be it. None of us will 'old it against you." He shook his head and walked to the exit.
"Athos would be the first to tell you to protect France above all else," Aramis said. "It's because of him and the musketeers that your men have food in their bellies and gunpowder for their muskets." He looked at the captains, and then glanced at Levi and Marc, who both nodded. "Instead of questioning the king's reasoning… help us."
"He's right," Captain Fain said with a slight nod. He took a deep breath, placed his hands on his belt, and shifted his feet. "Athos is your captain… what would he do if the roles were reversed?"
Porthos quirked a knowing eyebrow and said, "Find out 'ow many men are protectin' the chateau. Is it an entire regiment or just a few men from Captain Randieu's best company? If his entire company is here — or close by — where are they? And how do we get inside without being seen?" He pulled the rough sketch of the chateau from beneath the map d'Artagnan had been looking at and drew his hand along the outer perimeter, and the canal that ran along the front and left side.
"Perhaps Monsieur Fontaine might have a better idea?" Levi said and turned to the exit. "Any good father would have secured his estate — particularly with daughters in the home."
The men chuckled, watched him leave, and then gathered around the desk.
"No matter what happens — we must protect France," Porthos said. "Athos would never forgive us if we can't keep the Spanish behind their lines."