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CHAPTER 109
I
Musketeers moved to either side of Menier and seized him by the arms. He resisted and dug in his heels just long enough to make his final pronouncement.
"Arresting me will not stop what is to come," Menier yelled at the King. "We knew you would dismiss the petition. If I have not returned by noon, it is agreed that the attack will begin anyway!"
"Get him out of here!" Richelieu ordered.
As the five men were marched away, Louis turned panicked eyes on the Cardinal and the two Captains.
"What are we to do?" he asked worriedly. "Arresting Menier has not stopped the revolt."
"Which is exactly what we envisaged, Sire," Richelieu assured him. Everything is in place to proceed. If you will allow me, I will escort you to your chambers and ensure that you are comfortable and safe as Captain Tréville gives the order to make everything ready."
Unlike the nobles, Athos and Tréville bowed low as Louis was ushered out of one door.
"This is it then," Athos said simply when the two men were left alone.
"Yes, it is. Let's go and put all our plans into action." Tréville extended a hand. "Good luck, Captain," he said solemnly.
Athos took the hand, shook it warmly and allowed himself the ghost of a smile. "You too, Captain."
II
As Menier emerged from the main hall in the grip of two Musketeers, he spied Gaston sitting to one side and began to struggle in his fury.
"Traitor!" he shouted. "You won't get away with this!"
His guards continued to drag him across the entrance hall to the corridor housing the rooms that had been set aside for the prisoners. All the time, he screamed his defiance.
"I told the King all about you bringing men, that you were the first to offer us support. He'll see you for what you are."
He was still shouting as he was taken from sight.
Gaston looked thoughtful whilst Allaire was definitely bothered.
"How are you going to convince your brother that you are not a traitor?" he asked.
"In exactly the manner that I outlined to you, but it will not happen if you do not get out of here and reach the camps before the attack is launched. I am going to see Louis," Gaston said irritably. As he walked off to visit the royal chambers, he wished that he could feel as confident as he tried to sound.
Allaire watched him go before he turned to head out of the nearest exit. It took him past the corridor down which the prisoners had been taken, the same corridor where he had been held overnight and L'Hernault was still incarcerated. He paused to watch what was happening.
The new prisoners were pushed into three rooms, only Menier deemed important enough to be imprisoned in solitude. Allaire watched as the doors were locked and all keys handed to the one Musketeer who had been on guard since daylight. Allaire flattened himself against the wall as the men came briskly out into the entrance hall and met Tréville and Athos, who had just exited the room where the King had received Menier.
Allaire thought back to the interrogation he had undergone the previous day and felt a surge of pure hatred towards the two men; enough that he was prepared to do anything to make life difficult for them and he suddenly had an idea. He would not incur the Duc's wrath by doing anything that might inhibit Gaston's plans to swear his allegiance to the King so the new prisoners would have to remain where they were. Allaire sympathised with the nobles and was not happy with Gaston's change of heart, nor was he convinced that the King would believe the demonstration of loyalty, but he knew exactly what he could do to introduce a little unexpected chaos into proceedings. It would, of course, depend on how resolute L'Hernault remained in his desire for revenge upon the one called Athos.
One lone Musketeer remained in the corridor; one man who held all the keys.
It should not prove too difficult as long as he acted quickly.
III
Tréville and Athos led the Musketeers outside where they were joined by Porthos, Aramis, d'Artagnan and the large group who had been waiting.
"Menier and the men with him have been arrested," Tréville informed them. "The attack will be at noon. The rebels had arranged that if Menier did not return by that time, they would carry out their plans regardless. Porthos, d'Artagnan, off you go."
They mounted, touching their hats in a farewell gesture to the two Captains.
"Men, you know those you have to arrest now. Go and get them," ordered Tréville and most of the men ran towards main entrance. He signalled to another two soldiers.
"Go back to the camp and make sure they have finished the distribution of weapons and ammunition. Any personal possessions must be removed to what was the weapons cart in case the rebels destroy the camp in their attack; they might ride through it or even torch it to create a distraction. Tell the men to get to their positions as soon as they can and wait; we have less than three hours. I will remain here at the lodge for the time being if you have need of me. Otherwise, I shall join the body of you behind the lodge in advance of the attack."
He turned to Aramis. "You have all you need?"
The marksman nodded. "The others are gathering weapons together at the camp. Now you have given the word, they will be here shortly, and we will get ourselves settled."
It had been arranged that he and two others would act as marksmen on the upper floor, each with a colleague to keep muskets and pistols primed for them so that they could maintain a constant barrage of fire upon those now considered the enemy.
"I must go to the Red Guard and give them the order to take up their places," Athos said.
"Take care, both of you," Aramis entreated them.
"You too," Tréville responded. "Until later, gentlemen."
And he was gone, leaving the two friends to have a last few moments together.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Aramis asked worriedly.
"Still a little tired but I am fine. You must not worry about me today; you have other things to think on."
"I will always have time to worry about you, my friend; such is my lot in life!"
Their eyes lit up with gentle amusement.
"You are being overdramatic," Athos chastised him softly. "As always!"
"Any pain?"
"Just a dull ache; it is bearable."
"You still have the pain draft I gave you yesterday though."
When Athos failed to answer, Aramis sighed. "You used it yesterday. I knew you must have been suffering when I saw the bruising. As you are heading back to the camps, I can walk with you and fetch you some more."
Athos shook his head. "No, I really am fine. You must stay here and make ready."
There was a pause as the two dear friends studied each other. Aramis was the first to move, extending a hand and pulling Athos into an embrace.
"You look after yourself," Athos, unresisting, whispered tohim.
They broke apart.
"Now what trouble can I get myself into in a room on the top floor?" Aramis joked.
Athos gave him a withering glare. "If there is trouble to be found, I guarantee that you will find it."
"Mmm," Aramis was not so sure as he stroked his beard. "I think that claim is more applicable to you with all that has happened to you in recent days."
"Things will be back to normal soon," Athos said to reassure him. "We will return to Paris with the King safe and sound; I will return to the Musketeers and we four can return to the Wren to celebrate."
"And the first drink will be on you."
"I will insist upon it," Athos agreed, clapping a hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezing it fondly in farewell.
Aramis, touched by the rare displays of affection, stood and watched him walk across the grass and round the side of the lodge towards the Red Guard camp.
Shouts were suddenly heard at the main entrance, attracting Aramis' attention. Several Musketeers were shouting and gesticulating and then one ran towards him.
Alarmed, he wondered if they had seen the rebels approaching much earlier than anticipated and scolded himself for harbouring such a fanciful notion. "What is it? What's wrong?" he demanded as the Musketeer reached him.
"Prisoner … escaped," the other man gasped.
"Prisoner? Which prisoner?" A chill ran down his spine.
"The one arrested yesterday." The Musketeer was regaining enough breath to string more words together.
Horrified, Aramis looked from the soldier to the side of the building where he had last seen his friend.
"Athos!" he murmured and broke into a desperate run.