Dear all.
Greetings this time from a somewhat chilly Denali but the sights are worth it.
Thanks to all who read the last chapter. Things are definitely building as Athos prepares to leave but will it really be alone? Still not managing to get chapters down to 1000 words yet. What are your thoughts on this shorter format? It is just an experiment in this story.
CHAPTER 6
"But is anyone likely to recognise you?" Tréville pressed.
Athos recovered himself, drew himself up on his chair and resumed an air of practicality.
"There will always be that possibility, but I face that risk any time nobles come to court for a function or to petition the King."
"There is not the same element of danger though," the Captain reminded him.
"Then my story needs to be a good one if I am thought to resemble the missing Comte de la Fère," he reiterated, "for that is all it can be - a passing resemblance. Who was the Comte no longer exists."
Underlying his vehement declaration, there was a note of sadness that Tréville detected and, not for the first time, he wondered at the past tragedy in this young man's life that had so profoundly affected – yes, and damaged – him.
"You will need clothing suitable for a man of your station." The Captain deftly changed the subject.
"That is easily remedied," Athos continued. "I still have some old clothes in the bottom of the chest in my room; old in that they are from my past life, but they will be suitable for this. I do not know why I kept them; I have not even looked at them in these recent years. They are wrapped so they should have survived the moth and other insects. They will no longer be the height of fashion, but they will suffice. Perhaps, as the younger, downtrodden son, adequate funds have been denied me and I find myself unable to match the profligate activities of my older sibling."
His expression became distant again and Tréville suspected that his words had sparked some sort of memory once more.
The Captain's voice softened. "Athos, if this is going to be too difficult, too painful for you, then we must halt it now."
Instantly alert, Athos focused upon the officer. "No. The King's safety is paramount. If I have the means to guarantee that, then there is no question about my going. You told the King that there was no-one more suited to this task than me and you are right. I stand a better chance than most at succeeding in this task."
"And you have the better skills with a sword to defend yourself," Tréville added.
All of his Musketeers were more than proficient with their weapons, but Athos was, undoubtedly, the best swordsman in the regiment and probably the best Tréville had set eyes upon in many a long year. If he were to be disarmed or outnumbered though ….
It did not bear thinking about and Tréville made a rapid decision.
"I will not have you go without the support of the others. Let me send for them, wake them up and explain what you are about. Richelieu need not learn that they have accompanied you if we do not tell him."
"No," Athos insisted. "I am more likely to succeed if alone. How could I explain their presence? Richelieu stated, and I agree, that someone in my position would not travel with a retinue; it would not be appropriate to the story I am creating. They could hardly secrete themselves amongst any villagers on the estate so the closest they could be would be within Troyes itself. The likelihood of my being able to send word to them for aid would be slim to non-existent."
"But you could pre-arrange a contact and, heaven forbid, should you miss that meeting, they would know you were in trouble and needed help," Tréville argued.
Athos' mouth set in a grim line. "No. Besides, I doubt that any of them are here right now. Porthos had settled into a card game, Aramis had set off for the arms of a lover - and don't ask me who she is as I could not tell you even if I wanted to – and d'Artagnan returned to his lodgings. I will be gone at dawn, before they arrive for the day's muster so do not think to delay me. That meeting is in ten days. I have to get there, make contacts and from there devise some reason as to how I discovered they were holding the gathering in the first place if I am to be accepted. I do not want to arouse suspicion before I have achieved anything."
Tréville sighed and realised yet again why he had made this young man his second in command; the strategic planning and ability to rapidly think through all the issues surrounding something were natural to him and invaluable.
"Return to your quarters and get your clothes. I will stir Serge to put together supplies for the first part of your journey at least and prepare something for you to eat before you depart. Then I'll go to the stable and have the boy ready your horse for dawn. I will meet you here when we have done."
"There is one more thing I would ask of you," Athos began, "and it will not be easy. You must swear Serge and Jaques to secrecy for as long as possible regarding my leaving, and that applies to you too, Captain. As soon as they realise that I am not around, Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan will inevitably start to worry, thinking that I did not get back safely from The Wren so they will ask questions, and keep on asking until they get some satisfactory reassurance. You will have to prepare to tell them something to distract them for as long as possible for I do not want them setting off to follow me."
"You're right; that is not going to be simple and you will not be the one who has to face their wrath when they learn that you will not be back for at least two weeks."
Athos gave a wry smile, "It seems that I might have the less dangerous mission after all. I wish you well, Captain."
Tréville harrumphed his displeasure at the notion. "Right, we will do what we need to do and meet back here. There are still some issues I want to discuss with you, such as agreed codes. If, for any reason, you have to send word back here by some unknown messenger, I want to be able to immediately validate the message as coming from you. I know your script well enough but you might only have time to send something verbally."
"And I will not have this to prove it is me," Athos said, unbuckling his pauldron and laying it on the desk between them. "I will not have need of it where I am going and ask that you would keep it safe for me."