CHAPTER 42

As Aramis went on his hunt for Athos, he tried to think what he knew about his relatively new friend as an aid for where to search. As he walked along, he realized how little he really knew about Athos. Superficial facts in many cases, things one learns simply by living in close proximity to a person. For example, he had eaten enough meals with the man to know Athos didn't like nuts or peppers, though neither of those facts would help him find Athos now. But he also knew that Athos ate because it was a necessity of life and when intensely focused was apt to skip meals. Also, the swordsman did not enjoy eating with large groups, but in the garrison he had no choice and was growing accustom to it. So, that made looking in the mess hall a low priority.

Athos' room would be a logical place to look, unless Athos figured someone was going to come hunting for him and then it would be too obvious. A tavern was a solid choice, except for the time of day. There was no denying the man drank way more than was healthy and he did so to try to drown some sort of traumatic event in his past. But what that event was the tight-lipped man had never fully let on, other than once to indicate it may have involved a woman.

Athos' past was shrouded in mystery. Aramis didn't know where he was from, if he had any family, what he had done before he became a musketeer, even if Athos was his real name. It could be a pseudonym for all the swordsman had ever let on. He was good with a sword…but why? Where did he learn? His speech patterns and manners were those of someone who is, or has been around a lot of nobility. But if Athos was nobility, why didn't he say so? Why was he hiding the fact? Perhaps he was an illegitimate son?

The man knew his way around a horse and was an excellent rider, but again why and who taught him? His horse, Roger, was a superior piece of horseflesh, breeding that couldn't have been cheap. Where did Athos get such a fine steed? Yes, another mystery, though, Aramis thought, this path of thinking was helpful. While Athos seemed to tolerate people, barely, he did demonstrate a deep affinity for Roger. Aramis abruptly changed his path to head for the stables. Athos might not seek out solace from other humans, but he might from his horse.

Entering the barn, Aramis headed down the aisle toward Roger's stall, which was in a quiet back corner. Roger, like his master, preferred solitude and was a bit touchy about other horses and humans. It was safe to say he was not a favorite of the stable lads. Aramis' own horse, Fidget, and Porthos' horse, Flip, got along with the moody stallion in somewhat the same fashion he and Porthos got along with Athos, and in a way, he supposed it was quite amusing. Neither the horses or the men respected Athos' and Roger's boundaries and pushed their way past them.

Arriving at the door to Roger's stall, he looked through the iron bars, spotting Roger at the same time the black horse spotted him. Roger pricked his ears forward, then slicked them back with a stomped hoof as Aramis manipulated the latch to open the door.

"Don't you dare," he warned the animal. After giving him the evil eye for a few seconds more, Roger pricked his ears again then let them relax as he turned his attention back to a net of hay in the corner of his stall. Peering around the hazy stall the marksman spotted his quarry sitting in the corner, his back against the wall.

"Ah, there you are," Aramis said as he looked down at the man, whose head remained bowed. "Captain Treville wants to speak with you." As expected, Athos remained silent so Aramis dropped into the straw next to him. "You know, it's probably not a good idea to irritate the Captain by ignoring his summons," he chided mildly.

The silence continued, Athos not making any signs even to acknowledge Aramis' presence in the stall.

"You do plan to go see him, don't you?" Aramis finally asked out of desperation. "It wouldn't be good to ignore him."

Finally, Athos raised his head to look over at Aramis. "I'm leaving," he said succinctly.

It was only then that Aramis noted the saddlebags on the floor of the stall on the far side of the swordsman. "Athos," he said in a disappointed voice. "That's not the solution."

Intelligent green eyes stared at him. "You are mistaken. By my leaving, Captain Treville is not put in a position of having to remove me from the regiment and thereby weaken his authority."

Aramis shook his head slowly. "I don't understand."

"If I stay, Captain Treville will be forced to inflect a suitable punishment on me."

"He doesn't have to," Aramis interrupted.

Athos gave the marksman a disappointed look. "Aramis. I struck an officer. My leader. More than once. We both know that the punishment for my actions has to be severe. It was gross misconduct. At minimum, imprisonment, but removal from the regiment is probably most appropriate."

"But you had cause to strike him?" Aramis countered.

"No, I did not," Athos replied with a shake of his head. "Roudon was being disrespectful, making unflattering commentary and assigning Porthos all the menial tasks, treating him no better than if he were a slave."

"Exactly my point. You had cause."

"But he never physically harmed Porthos. Never, at any time, struck him in any manner."

"No," Aramis agreed reluctantly. "But he didn't treat him right."

Athos pushed off the ground, rising to his feet. Roger stopped eating, moved closer and nudged Athos with his nose. Obediently, the swordsman raised his hand and began scratching along the stallion's crest. "Does the King always treat his subjects right? Does a Comte his staff? A baker his apprentice? Life isn't fair and those in charge have been given certain power to wield. Hopefully, they use their authority in a beneficial manner. But if not, does a farmer have the right to assault his King? The staff their Comte? The apprentice his master? No, they do not."

Athos let out a sigh, stopped scratching Roger and turned to face Aramis. "Roudon's behavior was wrong. However," he said raising his had to forestall Aramis' words, "there was a proper way to handle it. I should have brought the issue to Captain Treville's attention when we returned. I should not have taken matters into my own hands, when it was not a life-threatening emergency. That is not the way a soldier behaves. I have shamed our Captain, the regiment and myself with my actions."

"That's bullshit, Athos."

"That's life, Aramis. And now, the best for all would be for me to leave on my own. This way I don't strengthen Roudon's position any further."

Aramis' frown deepened and he tilted his head sideways in puzzlement. "I'm not following."

"If Captain Treville removes me from the regiment as Roudon has demanded, it will appear that Roudon has won." Aramis still seemed perplexed so Athos said, "Roudon demanded that Treville kick me out of the regiment, correct?"

Aramis nodded in concurrence. "Yes. And he wanted you placed in the Chatelet."

"Not the Chatelet," Athos swore fervently, thinking back to the time he was imprisoned after Dieppe. After a second, Athos picked up his thread. "So, if Treville kicks me out of the regiment, it appears as if he has acquiesced to Roudon's demands, thereby making Roudon even more powerful. If I leave on my own, Captain Treville doesn't have to make any decision because the problem is solved."

"I can make my own decision," a voice drifted into the stall from the hallway.

"Captain!" Aramis turned to look at his commander. "We were just on our way to your office."

Treville gave him a skeptical frown. "Really? Doesn't seem that way. It looks more like someone was planning a road trip," he said, giving a nod towards the full saddlebags on the straw.

Athos straightened his back like a soldier at attention. Reaching up, he unbuckled his pauldron and held it out to his Captain. In a deep and formal-sounding voice he declared, "Captain Treville, I formally resign my commission."

"Athos!" Aramis exclaimed. "No."

Athos stood firm, his pauldron in his hand stretched out towards his Captain.

"I don't accept your resignation," Treville answered as he folded his arms across his chest to indicate he wasn't going to take the leather shoulder guard.

"You have to," Athos contradicted in an even tone. "It is the best solution."

"Who are you, soldier, to tell me, your Captain, what to do? Are you going to strike me next?" Treville asked, his voice tough as nails.

"Would it help?" Athos dead-panned in the dry manner he had perfected.

"No, it would not. Violence is not the answer to most disagreements. Though," Treville added with a hint of sadness, "sometimes it seems that way."

"Captain, you have to…" Athos began to insist, but his respect for Treville made him go silent when the Captain held up his hand.

"Athos, I don't deny your actions have put me between the devil and the deep sea. But this isn't the first time I have been put in an awkward position, especially by you three," he said referring to the two in front of him and the missing third party. "I will decide what your fate will be, Athos. And, so help me God if you try to leave, without my say so, I will hunt you down and drag you back here."

Athos appeared both concerned and affronted by the Captain's speech. "I am only trying to do what is best. For the regiment. For you."

"By sacrificing yourself?" Treville pointed out.

Athos shrugged as if to say his life wasn't important, which in his mind was often true.

"To my office. Now," Captain Treville commanded of Athos. "And don't get lost on the way." Looking over at Aramis, he instructed, "You take his saddlebags to his room." With that, he turned and walked away.

After he was gone, Aramis said, "Would you like me to help affix your pauldron back on your jacket?"

Athos, who had let his hand with the stylized leather guard drop to his side, lifted it once more and examined it. Then, brusquely, he shoved it at Aramis' chest, before turning and walking out of the stall leaving Aramis and Roger alone.

Aramis turned the black leather piece over in his hands, examining the sword marks already scratched into the surface in just the short time Athos had been a musketeer. He sighed so deeply that Roger must have felt bad for him and for once, in a show of friendship, touched him with his velvety black nose.

Shifting the pauldron to his right hand, he used his free hand to rub Roger's neck. "Your rider has a very low opinion of his worth. Someday I'm afraid it will get him into a situation where…" Aramis let his voice trail off not wanting to finish his thought aloud. "I'll tell you a secret, Roger. Like it or not, Athos has grown on me, and Porthos, and we have come to see him as our brother. And whether he likes it or not, we will constantly strive to make him see that he is worthy."

Aramis was sure it was simply a fly that caused Roger to shake his head, though it seemed as if the horse was questioning Aramis' last statement. With a small laugh, he gave Roger a firm pat. "Go ahead, doubt me. But I like a challenge. And Athos, he's one if I ever saw it! And I am very persistent. Just you watch and see."

Roger gave a small snort then went back to eating his hay. Aramis picked up the saddlebags, flung them over his shoulder. He left the stable and dropped the saddlebags and pauldron in Athos' room. "I like a challenge," he repeated to the air.