Greetings, all, from Anchorage via the Inside Passage, Ketchekan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Seward. Wow, what an adventure and what sights! Thank you for the feedback on the last chapter.
So, Athos is going to go off on his own, is he? I don't think the Captain is a happy man ...! Apologies for any errors that may have crept in!
CHAPTER 5
"I think the Cardinal knows your true identity," Tréville said quietly as they reached the sanctuary of his office. Athos was closing the door even as the Captain was pouring them both a glass of his brandy. He signalled for Athos to pull up a chair to the desk and sit.
"I believe so too, although I cannot think how or why he has come by that information," Athos replied.
They both settled into their seats and had taken several sips of the strong alcohol before either of them spoke again.
"I am not in favour of this mission," Tréville began, "especially when it comes from the Cardinal's insistence."
"But we have both sworn to protect His Majesty," Athos added calmly, "and in unearthing the details and names of those plotting against him, I would be doing just that."
Tréville leaned forward to refill Athos' glass.
"This must be the last," the younger man insisted," if I am to travel with a clear head." His mouth twitched in amusement. "Besides, I have a major challenge ahead of me – to uncover the information that has so far escaped the Cardinal's agent."
The Captain gave a snort of pleasure. "Oh how I would love to be there when you present it to him."
Athos shook his head. "It is more politic if I furnish you with the relevant information and you are the one to hand it over. All I ask is that I be allowed to stand beside you when you do so."
"It goes without saying when the hard work has been yours. Anything to wipe that smirk off Richelieu's face and throw back at him his comment about the inadequacies of any Musketeer."
"My task is not without pressure then; the honour of the regiment is at stake." Athos took another sip of the brandy and appreciated the warmth of the strong liquid as it slipped down the back of his throat. The Captain had a fine taste in his preferred spirit.
"I'll drink to that … and your success," and they both raised their glasses in a salute to Athos' task.
Tréville grew serious. "I do not like the idea of you going completely alone though. You will be four days' ride away without any means of procuring help should you need it."
"I have been on longer journeys than that," Athos reminded him.
"But you have not been alone," Tréville repeated, "and on the rare occasions that you have, it has been a simple delivery of a message. This is far different from that. If they were to find out that you were a musketeer and what the real reason for your being there was …."
His voice trailed off for neither needed any more explanation. Discovery that Athos was, in fact, a spy for the King would mean certain death as the perpetrators of whatever the plot was would not want details of the same falling into their target's hands.
"Then I had better make sure that I am not caught."
"You make it sound so simple," Tréville said quietly.
"There is much that can go wrong," Athos admitted.
The Captain slapped the flat of his hand down on the desktop, his frustration evident. "The whole thing is fraught with danger. We need to thrash out as many details now as we can. Who will you be? I take it that you are not going to march in there as the Comte de la Fére?"
"Definitely not," Athos was adamant. "Who was the Comte is dead to all, missing at the very least. I need to ascertain what the specific grief is of this group. If they consider themselves maligned, overtaxed or misunderstood members of the ruling classes, they will not take kindly to one of their own trying to join forces with them if he has made the deliberate choice to walk away from everything they are desperate to defend. That, I fear, would increase my risk."
"Then what do you propose?"
Athos thought for a moment. "I could be a disgruntled younger son whose ailing father cannot see the faults of his dissolute eldest who will soon run the estate into the ground. He may well be destined for a mysterious and premature end so that I will present myself as the more reliable heir, seeing eye to eye with my father's wishes and who will stop at nothing to protect my inheritance against the unreasonable whims of a distant monarch."
Tréville smiled. "Anyone would think that you have had much time to concoct your story."
Athos shrugged. "It is not without its flaws, but I will have four days in the saddle to refine my history and motive."
"Where will your estate be?"
The younger man thought for a moment. "If I am heading south, it is likely that many – not all- of the nobles will be from that direction so I will select somewhere north-west of Paris, the further north the better. I cannot discount the possibility that someone who knew my father might be involved."
"What about the time when you became Comte? Would there be anyone who would recognise you from that time?"
Athos hesitated before answering and Tréville realised he was probing into an area they had never discussed before.
"I need to know all you can or are prepared to tell me, Athos. You understand that I would not ask otherwise but I want to ascertain all possible risks to you before you leave here. There is little I could do practically at this distance but …." He did not know how to finish.
Green eyes met his, weighing up how much to divulge and fighting that need to demonstrate unquestioning loyalty and trust. Tréville held his breath and waited, seeing every second of the inner turmoil in the other man.
Eventually Athos answered. "My father presented me at court some time before he died. I must have made a poor impression as a youth and was apparently very easy to forget for the King himself has not identified me. Then, when I became Comte, I did not return to court for there was so much to do to improve the estate and conditions for my tenants, not that my father had ever been neglectful; do not misunderstand me. After that, I travelled to assess his trade agreements and it was during that time that …"
He shook his head and Tréville knew that he was not going to hear much else of Athos' tale.
"I returned to the chateau until events meant that I could no longer remain there, so I came to Paris." He gazed intently at Tréville. "The rest you know."