Here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dogtanian. Not at all!

Now, let's resume our story!


Monsieur Treville, Captain of the Muskehounds


Gavin yawned as he woke up the next day, stretching his arms out as he did so. "Ah, what a good rest," he said as he yawned again, before he smiled as he remembered what had happened the night before. 'Oh yeah! Me and Dogtania are dating now!' He thought with a large smile as he got up, before he started to get dressed. 'I better wish her a good morning!'

Right as he finished getting dressed, the door opened, and Dogtania stepped in, dressed up for the day, sword on her hip.

"Good morning Gavin!" She said to him, causing him to smile back.

"Good morning Dogtania," he replied as he walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek, making her face go red again. "Sleep well?"

"Very well," She replied as her blush started to slowly fade away. "You ready to go see Monsieur Treville?"

"I am, but first let's have something to eat," He said with a nod as his stomach started to growl with hunger.

"Alright," Dogtania replied, before she and Gavin left the room and headed downstairs.

After eating a delicious breakfast made by Juliette's uncle, the two headed out into the street, making their way towards the Muskehound Headquarters.

When they arrived, they stopped by the guard station, and watched as Aramis and Athos walked in, while other Muskehounds stood on either side of them, cheering for them.

"Boy oh boy, would I love to be a Muskehound!" Dogtania said as she and Gavin watched them, with Gavin nodding in agreement, his head once again covered by his hood. "Good morning!" She said to the guard, who had turned to them when she spoke.

"Good morning! Hey, don't I know you?" The man said, prompting the two of them to nod.

"Yep!"

Before the guard could speak again, they started to hear the "Clip-clop" of hooves behind them, prompting them to turn around. There, approaching them on horseback, was a stern-faced Captain Widimer, with several guards behind him on either side, a couple holding spears.

"Widimer and his guards!" Gavin said with surprise.

"Oh, it looks like trouble!" Dogtania continued, before they stood behind the guard a decent distance.

As Widimer and his men approached the gates, the guard got in front of them. "How can I be of assistance to you, Monsieur Widimer?" The guard asked him.

"I don't need your assistance to make an arrest!" Widimer snapped at the guard with a frown. "Stand back!" He then kicked his horse in the sides, making it whinny before moving forward past the guard.

As he passed them, Gavin and Dogtania stood to the side, frowning as they did so. "Who the heck is he going to arrest?" Gavin muttered quietly with some confusion.

"He's a big shot," Dogtania said, prompting the guard to speak.

"Why shouldn't he be? He's protected by Cardinal Richelieu!" The guard replied.

"Aramis! Athos! I've come to take you away!" Widimer called to the two Muskehounds, who turned around with confusion.

"What?" Athos said with shock.

"You're under arrest!"

"On what grounds?" Aramis asked him.

"Don't look so surprised! I know from my informants that you started a fight with the Cardinal's guardsmen!"

"Your guards were the ones who started the fight, monsieur Widimer," Aramis replied with her hands on her hips. "I wonder who he takes us for?" She muttered to herself.

"Be quiet! This is not the time for your flimsy excuses!" Widimer replied firmly. "Take them away!" he continued, gesturing to his men, who started to move forward.

"Alright, it seems they haven't learned their lesson," Athos said to Aramis, who nodded, before they drew their swords.

'Well, things are really getting heated,' Gavin thought as he stared at the scene.

"I smell trouble!" Dogtania said, with Gavin nodding in agreement, while the other Muskehounds drew their swords.

"Ready when you are Monsieur!" Aramis said to Widimer.

"Your resistance is a futile gesture Aramis," Widimer replied. "You must obey the law! Unless you want to sully the name of your captain, Monsieur Treville, as well."

Then, a stern and mature male voice spoke up from behind the Muskehounds.

"Put your swords away at once!"

This prompted everyone to look towards the large brown double doors that made the entrance to the large building. Standing in front of them, his arms at his sides, was a 5 foot 9 inch tall male Mastiff. He was somewhat plump in build, and had light brown fur on his head, with dark gray spots around his green eyes and black nose. A small black mustache and goatee sat on his snout. He was wearing a dark red sleeveless shirt, purple trousers, white gloves, a pink sash with a sword on his left hip, and tall black boots.

"It's Captain Treville. I think we better do as he says," Athos said to Aramis.

"Yes, let's obey him," She replied, before the two put away their swords, prompting the other Muskehounds to do the same.

"Good heavens monsieur!" Captain Treville said as he approached Widimer and came to a stop before him, putting his arms behind his back as he spoke. "How kind of you to call on us! To what do we owe this great honor?"

"You can thank your ruffian Muskehounds, Treville!" Widimer replied. "Once again, they have disturbed the public peace!"

'Only because your men provoked them!' Gavin thought with a frown.

"Mon dieu! Are you saying that my Muskehounds have violated the law?" Treville said with a frown and some surprise.

"Yes they have! They caused a public disturbance!"

"Good heavens, that is terrible!"

"Oh," Athos said.

"Uh oh," Aramis added, not liking the sound of it.

"I'm glad you agree, Treville! Now hand Athos and Aramis over to me at once!"

"I will not!"

"You must!"

"My very dear friends, have you been dancing with your swords in the public square?" Treville asked Athos and Aramis.

"Don't try to cover for them Treville! They were rioting in the streets and injured several of the Cardinal's guardsmen."

'Again, you guys provoked them,' Gavin thought, frowning deeper.

"You must be mistaken, Monsieur Widimer. My men would not draw their swords against anyone without just cause," Treville said.

'Thank you! He gets it!' Gavin thought as his frown disappeared.

"Your Muskehounds drew their swords against my men! That's against the law!"

"And I suppose that your men were too surprised to draw their swords," Treville said, making Widimer frown.

"Be careful of what you say, Monsieur Treville," Widimer growled. "Of course my men fought back! They are not cowards!"

"I see then. Then if your men also drew their swords, then what we're really talking about is a duel!" Treville stated firmly.

"Mmmmm," Widimer hummed with anger.

"That being the case, the Cardinal's men are also guilty of the same offense under His Majesty's Law. And they should also be subject to the same punishment."

"That shall be decided by Cardinal Richelieu. Turn those women over to me at once! That's an order!"

"Monsieur Widimer!" Treville barked, frowning deeply. "I will not turn over my Muskehounds to you unless I am certain that justice will be served!"

"I shall inform the cardinal of your refusal to obey!"

"I suggest that you leave at once, monsieur Widimer, and that you inform his eminence that if he insists on punishing only my men, I shall have no choice but to inform His Majesty about this injustice myself!" Treville said firmly. The other Muskehounds then gained firm looks as well and stared at Captain Widimer.

After a few seconds, Captain Widimer hummed in anger.

"There's nothing more to discuss," Treville continued, before turning to Aramis and Athos. "Aramis and Athos, I want to have an immediate explanation from both of you in my chamber!" He then turned back to Widimer. "You have my leave to go."

"You'll regret this!" Widimer called out before he turned his horse around and started to walk away, his men following him.

As they left, the Muskehounds started to laugh, while Gavin and Dogtania stepped out from behind the guardsmen to watch them go.

Then, Widimer turned around and spotted them. "Ah, wait a minute!" He muttered to himself upon seeing them. "Those two are the ones who helped the Muskehounds escape! Perhaps I could deliver them to the Cardinal," he continued, before he remembered something else the Cardinal had said to him.

Flashback

"I must admit, from what you've told me, the young lady's companion sounds quite horrific," Cardinal Richelieu said to Widimer after he had given his report. 'I wonder what caused this sort of horror?' he thought to himself, his curiosity peaked. 'Was it sickness? Or was it God?' "But that is no excuse for my men losing to the Muskehounds!" He growled angrily at Widimer, who flinched with fear.

Flashback end

"Mmmm, yes, that should pacify him," Widimer muttered, before he pointed at them. "Arrest them at once!"

"Yes sir!" His men replied before they started running towards Gavin and Dogtania.

"Oh, I think we better get out of here!" Dogtania said, with Gavin nodding before the two turned and started to run away.

"I wonder what poor devil they're chasing down now?" Athos said before she walked up to the gate.


Meanwhile, Gavin and Dogtania turned a corner and ran down it as fast as they could, trying to lose the guards. But they were quick too, and were staying close behind.

"Why do they want to arrest us?" Gavin said to Dogtania as they ran.

"I don't know!" Dogtania replied. "But we need to lose them. Let's split up!"

"Alright. Meet you back at the headquarters!" he said to her with a nod, before the two ran down opposite streets. When they did that, the guards split up as well, with three going after Dogtania and five after Gavin.

"Okay, so how do I lose them?" Gavin questioned, before he spotted a small alleyway nearby and ran down it, passing by some rain barrels as he did so. He then vaulted over the stone wall at the end of the alley with the help of a large barrel, before he continued running when he landed on the other side.

As he ran down the alley, he heard the clanging of metal, and turned to see that the guards were starting to come over the wall as well, weapons in hand and shouting at him to stop. "Oh, come on!" He growled with frustration, before he made a right at the end of the alley onto a street. "I gotta lose them!" he muttered, before he spotted another alleyway and ran down it. This alleyway was lined with empty barrels, which he turned over behind him as he ran to slow them down, before he reached the end of the alley and turned onto another street.

"Okay, that should slow them down a bit if they happen to go that way," he muttered, knowing that no guards had send him go down this particular alley. "Now then, I need to head back to the barracks." And with that, he started to jog.

After several minutes, he reached the gates of the Muskehound Headquarters, and slowed down to a stop. "So, you're back already?" the guard said to him, prompting him to nod, before he heard an old man cry out "Woah!" behind him, prompting him to turn around. His eyes then widened when he saw that a coach drawn by two horses was heading towards them, and he stepped to the left side of the gates, while the guard stood in the middle and held out his arms. Gavin's eyes widened even more when he saw that Dogtania was riding right on top of it.

"Woah!" The old coachman cried again before he managed to bring the horses to a halt right before the guard.

"Halt! I'm sorry, but my orders are not to allow anyone in without proper identification. Well?" He asked the coachman.

"The countess of Shan Coure and her son are here to see Monsieur Treville!" The old coachman replied.

Then, the guard spotted Dogtania. "So, you're back, are ya?" The guard said to her, confusing the coachman until he turned around and spotted Dogtania.

"What is it?" A middle-aged female bulldog with pale gray fur said as she stuck her head out the window, before she looked up and spotted Dogtania. "And who might you be?"

"Dogtania of Bern, at your service madame!" Dogtania replied quickly, before everyone's attention was caught by the sound of approaching boots and hooves.

Approaching them was Widimer and his men, and he had a frown on his face.

As they approached, Dogtania jumped off the roof of the coach and landed in front of the door, putting her hand to her hilt as she did so.

'Oh, Dogtania, be careful!' Gavin thought with some worry.

"Get her!" We won't let her escape this time!" Widimer said, having not noticed Gavin just yet.

"Yes sir!" Two guards replied as they ran towards her, drawing their blades as they did so. They got closer and closer, and closer, until they were almost to her. Dogtania then went to draw her blade, only to find that it was stuck in its scabbard.

"We finally got ya!" A guard said as they got even closer, prompting her to widen her eyes before she leaped to the side, causing them to miss and stab their swords into the door of the coach.

"What on earth are you ruffians doing?!" The countess yelled at them as she stuck her head back out the window and looked at them with a frown.

"Pardon us madame!" The two guards said before they started to tug on their swords, while Gavin hurried over to Dogtania to help her pull out her blade.

Unfortunately, Dogtania's blade was stuck in the scabbard quite tight, all the damage it'd gotten having mangled and warped the blade so badly that it wouldn't pull out. The two guards though, were more successful, with them pulling out their swords and falling on their butts.

"You ought to be ashamed!" The countess said to them with a frown, before she turned to the coachman. "Pierre, drive on! I won't be exposed to barbarians!"

And with that, the carriage pulled forward, with the guards watching her go. "Men! Get them!" Widimer cried as he pointed at Gavin and Dogtania, who frowned.

"Shame on you!" Dogtania growled at her sword, mad it wouldn't come out.

"Dogtania, we have company," he said as several guards started to approach them, their swords drawn. He then reached for his sword to pull it out, only to find that it too was stuck. "Shoot!" he said as he tugged hard on it, only to pull the sword and scabbard off his hip. 'Well, it was a cheap sword,' he thought to himself, before he turned his attention to the guards. "So, you want to take us in, ey?" he said as he reached a hand up and pulled off his hood, revealing his head and face. "Well then, you'll have to beat us to do it!"

"With pleasure!" Widimer said, while some of his guards gasped at Gavin's face, having not seen it before.

"En guarde!" Dogtania and Gavin cried as they used their scabbard-covered swords to block the guard's swords.

As they started to fight with the guards, separating from each other as they did so, Athos and Aramis were finishing their conversation with Captain Treville.

"…so we thought we'd teach them a lesson," Athos finished as she and Aramis stood before the sitting captain, hats resting against their chests.

"But things got out of hand, and it ended up being a common street brawl, mm?"

"Mhm," Athos and Aramis hummed as they nodded.

"Are you aware that such behavior puts me in a most delicate position?" Treville asked them. "You mustn't ever start a quarrel. Please remember that."

"Pardon me for contradicting you captain, but we did not quarrel, they did," Athos replied.

"Well, that does change matters," Treville said upon hearing that, frowning a bit before he grabbed a nearby cup of tea and drank from it. "If they started it, then you were right in defending yourselves. We must always defend our honor."

"Mhmm," Athos and Aramis hummed in agreement.

"You behaved quite bravely," Treville said as he put the cup back on its saucer on the table, before he stood up. "You upheld our motto of-"

"'One for all,'" Athos continued with a smile.

"'And all for one!'" Aramis finished, before the door was unlocked and slightly opened, and a middle-aged beagle stuck his head in the open door.

"Pardon me, Captain," The beagle said to him, causing Treville to turn towards him and fall silent, before walking over to him with his hands behind his back.

"I believe I said that I didn't want this meeting to be interrupted," Treville said to the beagle with a frown.

"There's a lady here to see you, and she's most insistent!" The beagle replied.

"Very well," Treville said, before he pulled the door further open and stepped out. "Why, it's Madame Shan Coure. How can we be of assistance to you?"

"I realize you are a very busy man, Monsieur Treville, and I thank you for your time," The countess said to him, while her young son looked around the building with interest as he stood next to her. "Little Terrence and I have come here to request a most important favor from you," She continued before she curtsied. "Bow child!" She said to her young son, before she took her hand and bent him down.

"Mommy, you're hurting me!" Terrence replied as he waved his arms around, his neck hurting a bit.

"Serving you would be my privilege, countess" Treville said as he put and arm in front of him. "What is the favor?"

"Monsieur de Treville, I have made up my mind that my only son should become a Muskehound!"

"Oh, very well then madame," Treville replied, before he pointed past her. "Please look at those lads in the courtyard."

"What manners?! Who are those barbarians?!" Countess Shan Coure said upon seeing several lads fighting with swords, a few more watching them.

"'Barbarians?' Hardly Madame la Catesse!" Treville replied as he walked over to the nearby railing and looked down at them proudly. "They aspire for the honor of joining His Majesty's Muskehounds!"

"They're so vulgar!" She said with disgust as she watched them cross swords.

"It is not by their appearance that we select them," Treville replied, while Athos and Aramis walked out of his chamber, their hats on their heads. "Neither name nor rank or any importance when it comes to a Muskehound! We demand only a spirit of sacrifice, steadfastness, and absolute loyalty!" He then turned to her. "Those lacking these virtues are not worthy of joining our ranks. They are all brave men and women."

"And my son would have to live with those awful brutes?" She said with wide eyes.

"Yes madame," Treville said firmly.

"How atrocious!" The countess replied with a frown. "You seem to forget that my family is one of the noblest in France!"

"No, not at all madame!" Treville answered her. "You, on your part, seem to have misunderstood me entirely."

"What an affront! I understand you perfectly monsieur!" The countess replied, her frown growing bigger. "I am a countess! How dare you speak to me like this!"

"With all due respect, madame, I repeat that titles do not count here," Treville said firmly.

"This is intolerable!" She replied, before she clenched a handkerchief tightly in her hands. "My dignity forbids me to listen to this!"

"Mommy, I'm hungry!" Terrence said to his mom.

"Be quite child!" She scolded him, smacking him on the top of the head, which made him start to cry. "Well then, I assure you, Monsieur Treville, that you will regret this outrage!" She continued as he grabbed her crying son by the hand and dragged him away, a mad look on her face.

"She's like a hurricane," Athos said as she and Aramis walked up to Treville as they watched the countess and her son walk away, with the countess scolding her son for crying, telling him to "Hush!"

As they watched them leave, they started to hear cheering and whistling coming from the front, intriguing them. "What is all that ruckus?" Treville said as he turned towards the front.

"Could be some kind of a fight captain," Athos replied, not knowing how right she was.


Back outside the headquarters, Muskehounds were gathered around the gates, watching as Gavin and Dogtania fought with the Cardinal's guards. Gavin's sword was a bit dented in one place, having been damaged when he'd hit a guard in his morion helmet with it. Said helmet had rattle around the guard's head, making him dizzy, before Gavin had then smacked his sword out of his hand and tossed it to the side away from the battle.

Dogtania jumped past the two guards who were fighting her, dodging their stab attack and getting behind them, before she swung her sword and scabbard at them, which they managed to block as they turned around.

'You know, this is kinda fun,' Gavin thought as he swung his sword at a guard, before it was blocked by another one. 'Besides the fact that they want to arrest us, of course,' He continued as he jumped over a sideways slash two guards did at his legs.

As they fought, Aramis and Athos ran over to the crowd to see what was going on.

"Good heavens! It's that lad and his friend again!" Athos said with surprise upon seeing them. "We ought to do something about this, even if they're not one of us. Let's talk to the captain," She said to Aramis, who nodded before they headed back inside.

When they reached Captain Treville's chamber, they found that he was looking at the fight outside via the use of a spyglass. "What did you find out?" He asked them as he turned away from the spyglass. "Who is that young lady and her strange friend who are fighting so very valiantly?"

"They dream of becoming Muskehounds, and if I recall correctly, the strange lad is named Gavin and the young lady is named Dogtania," Athos replied, making Treville's eyes widen.

"'Dogtania?!'" he said with surprise before he looked back through the spyglass. "They're fighting Widimer's henchmen single-handedly! What courage! But why haven't they drawn their swords from their sheathes?"

"That is very odd indeed," Athos replied. "Maybe it's their way of showing their respect for us, since they're outside our gates."

"Hmm," Treville hummed in thought, before he turned to Athos. "I'd like to talk to them."

"Shall I bring them up to you?" Athos asked, prompting Treville to nod in response.

Meanwhile, Dogtania grunted as she blocked another slash from a guard, before she jumped up and smacked him hard on the helmet, which then hit his head and knocked him out. She then dodged a sideways slash from the other guard by jumping over it before she smacked him on the head too, knocking him out, which caused the Muskehounds to cheer and clap for her. She then turned her attention to Gavin, who was still fighting three guards.

"Alright, I think we need to wrap this up," he said, before he flicked his sword around and under one of the guard's blades, flinging it out of his hands and away. He then swung his sword at their head like a bat, denting it even more as it hit the metal. The knocked-out guard flew into the other two and knocked them back, giving Gavin the opportunity to smack them hard on their heads as well and knock them out. "Night night," he said to them, before the Muskehounds cheered and clapped for him, making him smile.

"They're good swordsmen," Widimer admitted to himself as he sat on his horse nearby. "But I'll teach them!" He then whipped the reins, and started to run towards them, catching everyone's attention.

But before he could reach them, Athos stepped forward, blocking him. "Halt! You may not interfere here, Monsieur Widimer!" Athos said to him as she spread out her arms, blocking him.

"Don't meddle in this Athos!" Widimer growled as he clutched his sword. "It does not concern you!" He then pointed the sword at Dogtania and Gavin. "Those two milk-sops are not Muskehounds!"

"No, they're not, but they soon will be," Athos replied, making Gavin and Dogtania's eyes widen with shock. "They aspire to become Muskehounds, and we all think of them as one of us!"

"Think of them as you will! They are not part of your men!" Widimer replied. "And at any rate, you've seen it yourself! They have drawn their swords, and that is against the law!"

"They have what?!" Athos said as Aramis stepped up. "Pardon me sir," She continued, before she turned to Dogtania and Gavin and walked over to them. "May I have your swords, my good lad and lady?" She asked them, prompting them to give her their swords. Athos then turned around and walked back to Widimer with the swords in hand. "Please, examine them monsieur!" She said as she tossed the swords to him, nearly making him drop his own as he caught them.

Widimer looked at the swords, and frowned upon seeing that the mangled and bent swords were still in their sheathes.

"Well then, as you can see, the swords have not been drawn at all!" Athos replied with a smirk. "Against anyone! Let alone against the law, as you claim monsieur."

Widimer frowned even more as he looked at the swords, before his arm and hand started to shake with anger.

Then, the other Muskehounds started to laugh at him, before Widimer turned and rode away, his men picking up the unconscious ones and carrying them away.


Later, in the Cardinal's chambers…

"Grrrrrr!" Cardinal Richelieu growled with rage as he looked at the damaged swords on the floor before him, his hands tightly gripping the wooden arms of his comfortable chair. "How dare you appear before me after having been a public spectacle of yourself," He shouted at Captain Widimer, who looked very scared as he sat on his knees before the Cardinal. "You have brought disgrace to the name of Cardinal Richelieu's guardsmen. You, their commander!"

"Eminence, I beg your forgiveness!" Widimer said as he fell forward, putting a hand to his chest as he did so. "It won't happen again. I promise you!"

"Well, this fool of such unkept promises!" Richelieu muttered to himself. "I shall avenge this affront myself!" He told Widimer. "Now be gone, you inept idiot!" He growled, causing Widimer to stand up to attention, before he walked away.

"I will show these Muskehounds that confronting my power is a very dangerous game indeed!" he said.


Meanwhile, Gavin and Dogtania stood at attention in Treville's chambers as he looked at Dogtania from a chair. Then, the man got up and walked over to Dogtania, before bending down to get a good look at her.

There was silence for several seconds, before he spoke. "Ah, you fight like your father," Treville said to her. "Yes, indeed, you are a Dogtanian!" He then kissed her twice on the cheek, surprising her and Gavin.

"I beg you monsieur, I am no longer a child!" Dogtania replied as she rubbed her wet cheek. "I am a lady!"

"Ahahahaha! And so you are, so you are, my good lady," Treville said to her. "I just can't help regarding you as my own daughter."

"Well, Monsieur Treville, I-I-I-I-" Dogtania stammered.

"What's the matter?"

"W-W-W-Well, my father gave us both letter to give to you, but, well, I'm afraid that th-th-they were stolen!" She replied.

"'Stolen?'" Treville repeated with surprise. "Who stole them?"

"Well, a man with a black mustache in Meune," Dogtania replied.

"'In Meurne,' hmm?" Treville said while cocking his head. "A man with a mustache? You suppose he took the letters because he knew that they were intended for me?"

"That I cannot say sir," Dogtania replied, before Gavin cleared his throat, catching their attention.

"What is it, young lad? Do you have something to add?" Treville asked him.

"Well, actually, the man with the black mustache only stole her letter," he replied as he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the envelope he had been given by Dogtania's father. "I never managed to tell Dogtania that I'd actually hidden it in my boot at that time or that I still had it," he continued as he handed the letter to the man.

"Well, that's some good news," Treville said before he set the letter on a nearby table. "Now then, we can discuss all that later. Now come, tell me about your father," he said to Dogtania, putting an arm on her shoulder as he led her over to a large red comfy sofa. "Come sit by me." He then sat down, while Dogtania bounced on the cushion a little, having never sat on something so comfortable before, and Gavin stood at attention.

He was a little disappointed that he wasn't asked to sit by the man, but from what he'd been told, he wasn't that surprised. After all, Dogtania's father was a good friend of Treville's.

"I suspect your father must have told you much about me," Treville replied.

"Well, he said you were friends," Dogtania said as she finished bouncing and looked at him.

"Ah yes, well, your father and I are more than just mere friends," Treville continued. "We've always been like brothers."

"My father and you, monsieur?" Dogtania said with surprise, with Gavin's eyes widening with surprise.

"Precisely," Treville replied. "We once took an oath that we would both give our lives, if necessary, defending the country of France! Later on, the winds of fate made our lives progress along different paths. Hasn't your father told you much about that part of his life?"

"No," Dogtania replied.

"Ah, that is so much like the man that I once knew," Treville replied with a sigh, a nostalgic look on his face. "He was always so modest, and never made much of his courageous feats and defense of our land. Before you were born, our beloved France was torn by cruel civil war. Brothers shed the blood of their brothers. It was then that Henry IV, king of Navarre, rose up in arms to achieve the unity of France. We fought on the side of King Henry throughout the entire country. Your father was in command of the troops and would fight the famous Battle of Saint Bartholomew! When faced with a decision to kill hundreds of innocents, women and children included, he took a heroic stand, and decided…not to fire. Unfortunately, another commander was not so heroic, and he ordered the troops to fire on the innocents, killing them." He then looked down with a frown. "That is the reason why he decided to resign from the royal army. When His Majesty found out the reason, he tried to convince your father to stay on, but to no avail. Before we parted, I made him promise me that if ever he had a child, he would send them to Paris under my protection as soon as they could handle a sword."

"I knew nothing of this!" Dogtania said after hearing all this about her father.

'Neither did I, Dogtania. Neither did I,' Gavin thought, his eyes wide with shock.

"Oh! That reminds me!" Treville replied as he got up and walked over to a nearby table, upon which laid two swords. He then grabbed one and carried it over to her. "This is for you!" He said as he handed the sword over to her.

"It's beautiful! I wanted to buy it the other day, but I just couldn't afford it!" She replied.

"A young lady named Juliette brought it to me," Treville said, making their eyes widen even more. "She said she knew that you would be coming to see me."

'Wait, she bought those for us?!' Gavin thought with wide eyes, while Dogtania slid the sword out a bit to look at the blade.

"Who is this young lady?" Treville asked Dogtania.

"Oh, she's just a good friend of ours," She replied as she put the scabbard on her left hip, before she spotted the spyglass near the window. "Oh, one of those gadgets to see from afar!" She said with excitement. "May I use it?"

"Certainly," Treville said, before Dogtania hurried over and picked the spyglass up.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much, Monsieur Treville!" She replied, before she looked out the window with it. "You are most kind!" 'Oh boy, this is terrific!' She thought as she looked outside for several seconds, before she gasped. "It's the man with the black mustache!" She exclaimed as she spotted the man, who was riding his horse down the street. 'Thank you Monsieur Treville! She replied as she turned around and handed the man back his spyglass. "I must go now!" She said as she ran off, soon exiting the room and shutting the door behind her.

"How puzzling," Treville said as he stared after her, with Gavin doing the same thing. "Now then, tell me, how do you know Dogtania's father, Monsieur Gavin?" he continued as he turned to Gavin, who suddenly felt a bit nervous.

"Well, he and his wife basically raised me, along with another couple that lived in Bern," he replied. "He taught me how to fight with a sword."

"I see," Treville said as he set the spyglass down on a table, before he put his hands behind his back as he looked at Gavin closely. "Now tell me, what are you?" he asked.

"I am a human, monsieur," Gavin replied, making him arch an eyebrow at the weird word. "I am not a deformed canine."

"I see," Treville said. 'What an odd word,' He thought to himself. '"Human."' He continued to stare at Gavin for several more seconds, before he spoke again. "Well, this sword is for you," he said as he grabbed the other blade and handed it to him.

"Thank you sir," Gavin replied as he took the sword and put it on his left hip. "I will be sure to thank Madame Juliette for this gift," he continued.

"Good," Treville said. "You are dismissed for now."

"Alright monsieur," Gavin replied with a bow. "As you wish." He then turned and walked out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind him as he did so.

Once he was gone, Treville stared at the door for several seconds, before he turned his attention back to the letter on the table. "What an odd-looking lad," he said as he walked over to the table and sat down, before he picked up the letter. "I wonder what you'll have to say about him, old friend?" He continued as he started to open it.


"Well, I think that went well," Gavin said as he started to head down the stairs. "Now then, where did Dogtania go?" he continued, before he spotted Porthas with a sling around her left arm. "Excuse me, Madame Porthas?"

"Yes monsieur?" Porthas said as she turned to him, a bit surprised to find him here.

"Have you seen my friend Dogtania?" He asked her, causing her to nod and frown a bit.

"I have. The lady bumped me as she slid down the banister," Porthas replied. "Quite uncourteous. She then challenged me to a duel."

"A duel?!" he repeated with wide eyes.

"Yes," Porthas replied with a nod.

"What time and where?" he asked her. "And did she say where she was going next?"

"We are dueling behind the cathedral at midday," Porthas answered him, as he was Dogtania's friend. "And she didn't say, only that she was in a very big hurry."

"Thank you, Madame Porthas," Gavin replied, before he started to hurry down the stairs, making sure to step around her. "You've been quite helpful." He then hurried off, a worried look on his face as he went to look for his friend, not sure what had caused her to run off.


Well, this was an interesting chapter!

Can't wait to write more!

The reason Treville didn't ask Gavin so many questions is because he has a lot on his mind and he was excited about Dogtania. But hopefully the letter Gavin gave him will answer some of his questions.

Please leave a review!

This is PuzzleMaster1998 here, signing off!