Authors note: Thanks for all the review. There is preposterous engineering in this chapter. You have been warned!

Chapter Two

After breaking camp early the following morning Athos watched as d'Artagnan gazed off into the distance, it was clear to the swordsman that his friend was trying to work out what to do. He steered his horse over to the younger man and fell into step beside him.

'Once we make camp tonight, I suggest that you and I have a look at the castle, get the lie of the land.'

D'Artagnan glanced across with a smile, 'thank you. It's a bit...difficult...to know what to do. We have so little to go on.'

'You will learn, don't forget to make use of the rest of us. Aramis will be able to work out where the best place to shoot from would be if that is how we start our attack, and Porthos will probably have all sorts of infiltration suggestions.'

D'Artagnan nodded, 'I know that Marc is good with gunpowder, Aramis told me the other day that he has a natural aptitude with it, his father drew up designs for several large houses, and taught him where weak spots are…'

'Good,' said Athos with a smile, 'that might come in handy.'

They rode in silence for a while. D'Artagnan was lost in thought. Athos decided to leave him to his thoughts but would keep an eye on him. He knew the young man would willingly let him take over but Athos did not want to step in too soon.

They looked ahead as Aramis stopped his horse and dismounted quickly looking to his left. He crossed into some woods as Porthos caught up with him and followed. A few seconds later Porthos emerged and beckoned the rest of them forward.

'You need to see this,' he said, looking toward d'Artagnan and Athos.

They reached the spot that Aramis had disappeared and found the marksman knelt beside a woman. A slight man stood nearby. Both looked scared. They were dirty, their clothing dishevelled. It was obvious they were not poor. The woman had a simple but fine dress on, which was torn in places and streaked with splashes of mud. She had a few grazes and bruises on her arms. The man had plain clothes on, he was also covered in dirt.

'It's Clements wife and his servant, they've escaped,' said Porthos as he crossed to Aramis' horse.

Athos and d'Artagnan quickly dismounted and joined Aramis.

'She's injured her ankle, I would say at least sprained, but possibly broken,' said Aramis as he took his medical bag from Porthos.

Aramis gently eased the woman's shoe off looking up at her apologetically when she hissed in pain. Her stockings were already ripped so he did not have any difficulty peeling them off her foot.

'Paul helped us to get away, but he was caught again...they might kill him,' said the woman, she grabbed Aramis' arm fearfully, 'you must save him, please.'

'We'll do everything we can,' replied the marksman as he gently pried her fingers from his arm.

'My master managed to get away from the men, he came to the room we were being held in, he got us to the main entrance, we ran, but he'd been hurt and tripped, he couldn't keep up with us...I didn't know what to do, so I helped Madam.'

The servant, who was about the same age as Pierre looked worried. He was a little jumpy. Athos took his arm and led him a little distance from the woman. Athos nodded to d'Artagnan to join them.

'We need you to tell us everything you can about the castle that you were being kept in,' started Athos.

D'Artagnan continued, 'we need to know how many people are there and what weapons they have. Everything you tell us will help us to rescue your master…' d'Artagnan glanced back at the woman who was watching them, 'Madam Clement will be taken to safety, the Musketeer looking after her, that's Aramis, he's our field medic. She's in good hands with him. Aramis and Porthos will take her to the nearest town. You don't need to worry about her.'

Athos subtly took a step back, it was clear d'Artagnan was dealing with the situation. He had already realised that the servant did not know how to handle himself. He was worried about his mistress and his master and could not decide who he should be with. D'Artagnan had spotted that he needed to have the servants undivided attention. Athos was impressed.

'What's your name?'

'Simon,' replied the servant.

'Simon, we are going to help Monsieur Clement. But we are going to need your help to do that.'

Simon nodded.

'Are you injured?' asked d'Artagnan.

Simon shook his head, 'nothing that needs seeing to, we were pushed about a bit when they took us, I've probably got some bruising but that's it. My mistress tripped as we ran away, I tried to stop her from falling but I was not close enough.'

'That's alright Simon, you've done a good job keeping her safe up to now.'

D'Artagnan glanced at Athos who nodded his approval. They walked back to the others. Aramis looked toward d'Artagnan. Athos was pleased the marksman had read the situation and realised the d'Artagnan was still in charge, the small action would boost d'Artagnan's confidence.

'We need to get Madam Clement to safety, I want you and Porthos to take her to the nearest town. Get her settled there and return to us as quickly as possible,' said d'Artagnan.

Aramis nodded.

'Madam,' said d'Artagnan turning to the pale woman, 'my friends will see you to safety whilst we free your husband.'

The woman looked at d'Artagnan, a little sceptical, it was clear she was not expecting the young Musketeer to be in charge and giving orders to men older than him.

'We'll head towards the castle, we'll make camp then start to plan our attack,' said d'Artagnan looking around at the other men who nodded.

'Please Monsieur, get my husband back safely, he doesn't know it yet, but I'm expecting his first child,' said the woman resting her hand on her stomach as she spoke.

Aramis looked back to d'Artagnan, 'we'll get her somewhere safe. The town was big enough, it should have a few doctors we can try. If not we'll find a room at a tavern.'

Athos stepped forward and handed Porthos some money, 'see that she is looked after well.'

'We will,' replied Porthos as he pocketed the money.

Aramis was helping the young woman to stand, she could not put any pressure on her injured leg. Porthos stepped forward and scooped the woman up in his arms. They walked back to the horses. Luc held Porthos' horse still as Aramis helped to settle the woman on the saddle. Porthos climbed up behind her.

After Aramis had quickly gathered his belongings he mounted up and turned his horse to follow Porthos who was already trotting back in the direction of the nearest town.

'Try not to be too long,' said Athos quietly.

'He seems to be doing fine, I doubt you really need us anyway,' replied Aramis quietly taking a glance at d'Artagnan who was directing the other men back to their horses and issuing a few orders.

Athos smiled, 'I know...but I would still be happier to have more help when we infiltrate or attack, or whatever he decides we should do.'

Aramis smiled, 'we'll be as quick as we can, but I want to be sure she is safe, particularly as she is pregnant.'

Athos watched for a few seconds as Aramis urged his horse on and caught up with Porthos and Madam Clement.

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'Is that young man in charge of you, he seems too young?' asked Madam Clement as they rode away from the rest of the Musketeers.

'Don't worry madam,' said Porthos as he looked over to Aramis who had caught them up, 'he may be young but he is sensible.'

'And Athos will keep an eye on him,' said Aramis by way of further reassurance.

Madam Clement nodded, 'my husband has important information...they mustn't find it out.'

'We know,' said Porthos, 'we'll get him back for you, and your baby.'

The woman smiled slightly, 'I hadn't wanted to tell him, until I was sure, and then this happened. I didn't want him to worry any more than he already will be.'

'That's understandable madam,' said Aramis.

'You will go back to them, won't you? I'll be fine on my own.'

'Once we are sure you are safe, we will go back,' said Aramis.

'But they'll be perfectly capable without us,' remarked Porthos, 'we're all trained to the same high standard.'

'But still, a little experience goes a long way,' said Madam Clement, 'although if Monsieur Athos believes the young man…'

'D'Artagnan,' said Porthos.

'...d'Artagnan is capable then I am sure you will succeed in liberating my husband.'

They rode on for another hour. Porthos and Aramis kept the conversation going, trying to keep the young woman distracted from her obvious worry about her husband. As they neared the town Aramis went ahead to speak to the local tavern keeper to establish where the doctor lived.

Porthos stopped the horse in front of the tavern as Aramis and another man emerged.

'Monsieur Andre has sent his barmaid off to call on the doctor, his wife is sorting us out a room for Madam Clement.'

Porthos helped the injured woman to climb off his horse. Aramis supported most of her weight as they made their way into the tavern.

After Porthos had dismounted and handed the reins of the horse to a young lad who had appeared from the stable he followed Aramis and Madam Clement into the tavern. Between them, they helped the injured woman to a cushioned chair next to a large hearth which contained a roaring fire. Aramis sat the woman down gently.

Andre closed the door and crossed to the three new arrivals.

'The doctor will not be long, Susan said he was with a patient when she found him, only a couple of doors further along the road.'

'Monsieur,' said Madam Clement, 'these soldiers need to get back to their comrades, please could you assure them that I will come to no harm so that they can go?'

The landlord turned to Aramis and Porthos, 'she is in good hands. We will look after her. I can only assume what you are dealing with is for the good of France?'

Both Porthos and Aramis nodded.

'It is,' said Porthos.

'Then go and do what you need to do. We will look after her until you get back.'

'Please save my husband,' said the woman as the two soldiers walked to the door.

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Simon rode behind Lapointe who had moved up beside d'Artagnan and Athos. The servant had calmed down a little with the knowledge that his mistress was in safe hands and that Clement's rescue was imminent. He had managed to direct them to a clearing, out of sight of the castle but close enough to act as a base for the Musketeers. It would also be easy for Porthos and Aramis to find when they returned after taking Madam Clement to the nearest town.

'Athos and I will need to see the castle. Is there somewhere we will be able to get a good look without being seen?' asked d'Artagnan as they picked their way towards the clearing.

'I think so, when we were running, we hid for a few minutes in a ditch. I could see the outline of the castle from there, I think we should be able to make our way there without being seen, and during the day you should have a good view.'

They dismounted and left Pierre, Marc and Luc to make camp as they ventured towards the castle. As they walked Simon described the castle. He was able to talk with authority as during their short captivity one of the men guarding them had been quite verbose about the defence mechanism. The man had been boastful, and clearly had not believed the captives would escape. Simon had smiled slightly when he described Clement running the guard through when he liberated his wife and servant.

The castle was situated on a fast flowing river, which passed the northern wall. The original owners had created an effective defence mechanism to deal with any invading foe. A moat had been dug which swung around the front of the castle. This could be used to divert water from the river to surround the building. The water would flow with enough force to sweep away anyone trying to cross the moat. The moat was split into two section, with the stone built entrance to the castle between them. The entranceway had a strong wooden wall underneath. On the side closest to the river was a dam, holding back the torrent. The stone entranceway acted as a second dam, the wooden wall holding the water back, before the second section of the moat, which led back to the river. The landscape meant that the second section of the moat did not become backfilled with the river water due to the undulation of the ground. It could only be filled at the demand of the people defending the castle.

Simon continued with his explanation. A switch within the castle walls could allow water to enter the first section of moat, this would then be kept back from the second section. As the unsuspecting enemy attacked, entering the dry moat, the waters could be released, drowning or washing them away. As the first section emptied of water a tunnel would be revealed where the men from within the castle could exit and attack the enemy. The tunnel could be secured again by refilling the first section of the moat.

So that the man operating the mechanism knew when to switch it off, a narrow passage had been built from the second moat into the castle yard, when the passage filled with water, the operator would know that the moat was full and could close the dam. A backup switch was situated within the narrow passage, where the passage turned from horizontal to vertical. The architect had been convinced that no one would be able to reach it due to the narrowness of the to be on the safe side, a locked grate was situated over the top of the passage to prevent anyone from getting through from the outside and entering the castle.

'If I understand you correctly,' said d'Artagnan after a few seconds thought, 'when the second section of the moat is full, the first section, with the tunnel, is empty?'

'Yes,' replied the servant, with a hint of a smile, 'if you could trigger the mechanism to fill the second section you could just walk into the castle through the tunnel. The first section of the moat is kept full to hide the tunnel, there is nothing blocking the tunnel on either end, other than a rotting door which I saw whilst I was in there. You would be able to break it down easily.'

'If we can trigger the mechanism from inside the other passage, we might be able to get in before they have a chance to refill the first section,' mused d'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan glanced across to Athos as they walked, his friend nodded his agreement. Having a way to get into the castle would be good start to rescuing Clement.

All three men turned when they heard the sound of breaking twigs and branches being pushed aside.

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The men appeared a few yards away. They looked shocked to be confronted with two musketeers. Athos saw d'Artagnan push Simon to the side as the three men charged towards them. One, a stout middle-aged man rushed towards d'Artagnan who already had his sword drawn.

The other two moved towards Athos. They were too close to the castle to want to risk firing their guns. They wanted to remain hidden for as long as possible. Athos took a few steps back as the men approached him. The shorter of the two swung his sword wildly, Athos grabbed the man's arm with his left hand and pushed him away. The second man who was skinny and frail looking managed to shove into Athos pushing him back further. Athos steadied himself and brought his sword up to parry the thrust of the first man, pushing his sword into the second man's. With lightning speed Athos twisted his parrying dagger across both men, catching the shorter one on the forearm. The man yelped and grabbed his arm, stumbling back a few paces.

The second man lunged forward with a low strike, Athos avoided the thrust by leaping up and to the side. He pushed the man back and tried to hook his foot around the man's ankle. Sensing the move the second man kicked out instead catching Athos on the shin. It was Athos' turn to stumble back.

The shorter man had regained his composure and used Athos' moment of distraction to catch him across the hip with his sword. The skinny man used the flat of his sword to smack into Athos' knee causing the man to fall to the floor.

Athos knew he had been hurt, he dropped his parrying dagger and clutched at his side. The skinny man stepped forward and brought his foot back.

As the man landed his kick to Athos' head the swordsman could only throw up a silent apology to his brothers and hoped they would be able to finish the mission without his help.

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