Evening My Lovelies

I'm really liking how this chapter turned out, especially the ending so I can't wait to see what you all think of it :D

Notes On Reviews:

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha yeah things definitely aren't going well for our boys (but when do they ever when I'm involved lol) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - We'll be getting a quick glimpse of D'Artagnan tonight but more will come in the next few chapters. No Blaise tonight I'm afraid, I'm going to be keeping you waiting on that front for a little bit longer. Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - That they are :) I'm really looking forward to the plans I have for this story, in particular, our mystery author :) You'll have to wait for a little to find out the extent of what's happened but I'll clear it up soon, promise :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

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Chapter Thirteen: Troubling Discoveries

After discretely checking his pocket watch Athos couldn't help but feel a surge of unease as he realized it was past time for their youngest to return from his patrol. He had not wanted to send the boy out with the red guard but he couldn't see a way around it and the Gascon, to his credit, had not issued a complaint more than a slightly put-out expression.

"The whelp's late," muttered Porthos, pulling Athos out of his thoughts as he shifted slightly to better talk with his brother without the red guard in the room overhearing, the only member of that trio Athos was even remotely considering trusting was the youngest Marin, who was currently sleeping in a nearby room with some of the other men who had arrived with Glenn.

"He may have been delayed by Liam or one of the other brother's," offered the swordsman, desperately wanting the sickening feeling in his gut to be wrong. "We'll give it a bit longer before going after him."

Porthos didn't look overly happy with that but nodded his acceptance, albeit reluctantly. Thankfully before anything else happened Glenn knocked on the door as he entered the room, his eyes automatically narrowing at the sight of the red guard before his posture relaxed and warmth entered his expression as he turned towards the inseparables.

"Who did you say was the brother in charge of the rookery here?"

"Audric," answered Aramis curiously, "Why?"

Glenn hesitated for a moment before letting out a small sigh. "I had expected to hear back from Treville by now. I gave a letter to Brother Liam when we arrived and he ensured it would be sent so I wish to confirm it actually was. It wouldn't do well for our missives to be intercepted.

"I'll come with you," spoke the red guard, surprising the musketeers as the man had made it a habit to be as rude as possible whenever he saw the need to converse with any of the musketeers. "I should send an update to His Majesty. With luck, he'll soon see this was a hoax and a colossal waste of our time and grant my men leave to return to the city."

Despite looking quite uneasy at being paired up with the red guard Glenn was gracious enough to nod his acceptance before gesturing towards the door, allowing the red guard to leave first before saying a quick goodbye to the inseparables before following.

In the few minutes that followed it became increasingly difficult for the inseparables to ignore the fact that their youngest was missing and so, despite only having just declared that they would give him a little while longer before searching for him, Athos was the first to give in, rising to his feet and getting the attention of both his brothers and the other occupants of the room.

"I've got a bad feeling," admitted the swordsman, hoping and praying that this would be one occasion where his gut instincts would be wrong. "I'm going to look for the boy."

Needing no further encouragement Porthos quickly followed suit, having no intention of letting his brother go off alone, not if the worst had befallen their youngest.

Both men paused at the door though, glancing guiltily back at their remaining brother, who to his credit was doing his best to hide how awful it felt to not be able to search for their missing fourth.

"Go!" dismissed the marksman with a forced smile, repeating the order when both men hesitated once more, only allowing the forced grin to fade once the men had finally left the room.

"You three train the boy yourselves?" asked Fredrick, one of the men who had accompanied Glenn. At Aramis's nod, the man's expression turned soft and understanding for a moment as he reached out to gently squeeze his hand.

"Then have faith that you taught him well enough to get out of whatever trouble he may have found."

"Boy's a magnet for danger I swear," chuckled Aramis fondly as he squeezed the former musketeer's hand back, grateful for the attempt at comfort, even if his words, whilst a little reassuring, did little to ease the worry clawing at his heart.

The walk to the rookery should have been peaceful, especially considering how quiet his red guard companion was being, however, there was something about the atmosphere that had the former musketeer on edge, although he couldn't be sure if it was due to his companion or something else.

Regardless being so on edge meant that Glenn was becoming hyper-aware of his surroundings, so much so that he picked up on the sound of pained groaning just before he knocked on the door of the rookery.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered to his red guard companion who merely sent him an odd look and shrug, which caused the former musketeer to let out a small sigh of frustration before slowly reaching for the blade at his hip, pausing only for long enough to confirm what he thought he had heard before quietly opening the door, not wanting to startle the occupants of the room or lose the element of surprise should the occupant have malicious intentions.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting before he could spot the source of the pained groaning, Glenn's eyes widening in alarm as he laid eyes on the barely conscious form of D'Artagnan, laying in the corner of the room.

"D'ARTAGNAN!" he hissed in alarm, quickly rushing to the boy's side, cursing under his breath when he felt blood coat the palm of his hand after placing it on the back of the Gascon's head.

"Help me with him," instructed Glenn frantically, not bothering to turn around as he quickly ripped a scarf from his neck to tie around the barely conscious musketeer's head in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.

When no movement followed his order Glenn let out a growl, "Did you not hear me we need to - " he didn't' get to finish his sentence as he was met with a blade to the gut when as he turned to address the red guard.