Evening My Lovelies
Okay, I REALLY need to realize what day it is... Not being back at work yet has made me completely lose all sense of time. Apologies for the slight delay.
Notes On Reviews:
pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - I think Treville would love to be in denial right now but he can't afford to be, his men need him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - It was ever so tempting to have it be the tavern they were staying at but I resisted... just :) I'm glad you liked the speech I ended up rewriting it a few times because it wasn't quite awesome enough for our lovely Captain :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked it, it took me a while to get it to a point where I thought it was good enough for him, I quite like what I ended up with :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked it, our muskys needed a good speech to get their act together so it took a while to get it right (so many rewrites *shudders*) Treville and the others will be learning a bit more today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Forty-Nine: Getting Answers, Making Plans
It took some time to get the fire under control, long enough that evening was just starting to fall when they were confident they had successfully doused the entire building and several of the villagers began to prepare to enter the burnt-out husk of the former church to search for bodies, intending to give those who may have perished the burial they deserved.
"Go with them," commanded Treville quietly to two of his men who, despite being visibly tired, straightened at the order. "Keep your eyes out for any sign of our men or some sign of where they have gone if they did indeed make it out before the fire."
"I doubt there'll be much evidence to find," commented Gaspard, surprising Treville with his sudden arrival. The pair watched the two musketeers join the small party of villagers, explaining the situation to them quickly before being granted entrance to the search party.
Treville watched as his men disappeared into the remains of the church and sighed, "I know," he admitted quietly before leaving, having noticed Issac standing beside one of the other villagers, waving at him to approach.
As Treville approached the pair he could see the smile on Issac's face and felt the earlier smidgen of hope bubble up once more. "Issac?"
"Allard here saw our boys," grinned Issac brightly, his own hope showing earnestly on his face, although Treville barely noticed as his attention was now completely on the villager's face.
"You did?" he breathed, unintended emotions filling his voice enough to make Allard's eyes fill with sympathy as he nodded.
"Afternoon before the fire started," he explained, not wasting time on pleasantries given the urgency he could see in the Captain's eyes. "They were in a rush to get out, well in as much of a rush as they could manage given their condition," he added, the last part coming out as more of an afterthought than anything else.
Treville felt his breath catch in his throat, "Their condition?"
Sympathy once again filled Allard's expression as he nodded grimly at the musketeers, having noticed his conversation with the Captain had drawn the attention of most of the men he had arrived with, the rest helping the other villagers.
"They looked in a bad way," he explained, cursing the fact he hadn't pressed the musketeers for more of an explanation for their condition before they left because now he had very few answers to give the obviously desperate group.
"One of them, grim-looking fellow, stopped to speak to me before they left, he had a younger brunette boy in the saddle with him - "
"D'Artagnan!" exclaimed Issac, having quickly understood who the man was describing, though he would keep the fact he found Allard's description of who could only be Athos amusing to himself. "Was he alive?" he pressed, his heart pounding in his chest as he thought of the young man who had become a baby brother to nearly everyone in the regiment, himself included.
His question wasn't overly strange as he had no doubt Athos would never have left D'Artagnan's corpse in the church if he had indeed been killed there. Knowing how deeply the stoic swordsman cared for the young boy it wouldn't be a surprise to any of the regiment for him to keep him close.
Hearing the pain and desperation in the man's voice tugged at Allard's heart and he hated he couldn't give them a solid answer. "I'm not sure… I'm sorry. The older gentleman didn't stray far from the wagon and the rest of his party, he only got close enough to speak without shouting before leaving with the rest of them."
Whilst it wasn't the answer the men truly wanted it still gave them hope and seeing as that was all they seemed to be running on these days they grabbed it with both hands.
"Did you see which way they were headed?" inquired Treville once he felt composed enough to speak without his emotions bleeding through his words. Relief filled him when Allard nodded and pointed to the direction he had seen Athos's group leave from.
"What did he tell you?" asked Issac, his words stopping Treville, who had been about to walk away and gather his men, in his tracks, his own curiosity brewing at Issac's question. If his brothers were in danger or hurt, as D'Artagnan's condition and Allard's words alluded to, then he was unlikely to delay unless there was a very good reason.
This time Allard grimaced, only increasing the musketeer's curiosity over the whole matter. "He told me to keep people away from the church until he returned with backup."
This caused all of the musketeers to freeze, a sinking feeling of dread settling in their stomachs.
"Captain," spoke Henri after the Captain had finished explaining what they had learned to all of their travelling party. "I would like permission to go after them."
Treville narrowed his eyes and was about to respond when Henri cut him off.
"If they're in as bad shape as Allard suspected then they're vulnerable. They need backup and I can get to them faster than we can."
Treville gritted his teeth, "I understand Henri, more than you know but I won't risk more lives, I can't."
Unfazed by his Captain's dismissal Henri crossed his arms across his chest. "With all due respect Captain the risk would be on me and it is one I am more than willing to take. They already have a big lead on us even with their speed being hampered by a wagon and the injured. The longer we leave them alone the further they get from us and the greater risks they place themselves in, the fire here is surely proof of that. My mare has the stamina to catch up to them, I can do this… They would do this for anyone of us, let me do this for them."
Treville was torn, he was honestly more than proud of Henri for his words and attitude but his men had already suffered so much and he was responsible for them.
"I'll go with him," spoke a voice, drawing both men's attention over to where Issac was standing with a determined look on his face.
"Issac," breathed Henri, smiling gratefully at his friend before adding, "I can't ask that of you."
"You're not," shrugged the musketeer dismissing the man's concern, "I'm offering. Favier would too if his ribs could handle the pace we'll need to set." Turning back to Treville he added, "I'll watch his back and we'll find a way to send word as soon as we find them."
Unease was bubbling in his stomach but Treville couldn't deny the logic in the plan and he could see in both their eyes that they would do this with or without his approval and he had no desire to send them out without his support.
"Very well," he sighed heavily, silently praying he wasn't making a huge mistake. "Henri, grab some supplies from the wagons, make sure you take some from Gaspard, if Allard is correct then they're out there injured and likely without medical supplies." Henri nodded sharply once, though gratitude was shining brightly in his eyes.
"Issac, come with me, you'll need to know our route to be able to send word back to us."