Chapter Two

They reached the Chateau a day earlier than they were expected. Engel, was an amiable nobleman, who although surprised at their early arrival, was more than understanding when they explained their worry.

'It is true,' he said, 'that the spies are very thorough, if they were not, we would not have needed to put your comrades in danger.'

He had allowed them to spend a few hours in his home to rest before returning. Their horses were well cared for by his grooms and they were given a hearty meal. Which, under normal circumstances, they would have enjoyed.

After a few hours' sleep, they remounted their refreshed horses and thanked their host for his hospitality. Engel had ensured they had enough food for the four of them when they were reunited.

'He's a good man, perfect for the mediations,' remarked d'Artagnan as they trotted away from the elegant chateau.

'Yes, it's a shame more noble folk aren't like him,' replied Porthos.

They made good time and were soon well on their way to the road they hoped to find Athos and Aramis.

MMMM

The man fired the gun, as Athos suspected the shot went wide, his horse did not even react. The well-trained musketeer horses were used to gun fire. He had only known them to react if they were hit.

Risking another glance behind he saw that his pursuer was slowing, he probably only had one gun and realised there was no chance of engaging with Athos. His horse was faster and now that the shot had been taken the gun was useless to the spy until it could be reloaded.

Athos kept at a gallop for a few more minutes before slowing to a walk, he looked back, there was no sign of the spy. He cut through the woods in the hope of picking up Aramis' trail. Senses on full alert Athos wanted to be ready for a secondary attack. The spy could be anywhere.

The trees thinned as he reached the narrower road that Aramis had taken, he looked about him. The road looked empty. His best plan of action, he thought, was to follow the road back to where they split up in the hopes of seeing signs of the marksman.

As he travelled along the road he became aware of something ahead that looked out of place. To the side of the road was an unusual shape. The closer he got the more he hoped it was not what he thought it was.

Aramis' horse was lying, clearly dead, slumped on its side a gunshot wound in its head. He doubted the man who had followed him had done this. He looked around again, there was no sign of his missing friend.

There must have been more than one man. He realised they may have been duped into splitting up with the second man lying in wait along this road. Whoever had taken Aramis could not have gone far, it had been less than thirty minutes since they split up. Athos dismounted and searched the scuffed-up ground for any indication of the direction of travel.

He found what he was looking for. Two sets of hooves returning the way they had come. Athos remounted his horse after collecting a few of Aramis' belongings from the dead horse's saddlebags and followed, keeping an eye on the ground. The trail led back a few hundred meters and then turned into the thick wood. He carefully followed, keeping as quiet as his panting, fatigued horse would allow.

He was not quiet enough.

'Stop,' said a gruff voice to his left.

He looked over and saw a man wearing black astride a big horse, Aramis' limp body slung across the beast. Athos stopped his horse and waited. He knew there would be nothing he could do. He had to accept that they were caught.

A second mounted man came up on him from the other side. He recognised his pursuer from earlier. He allowed the man to disarm him, all the time looking at the man in black.

'A good choice. We have a short journey to make. Will you behave?'

Athos nodded his accent. The second man was holding his gun, loosely levelled at him. Using the gun as an indicator the man pointed in the direction Athos was to take. Athos pushed the horse into a walk and followed the man in black.

MMMM

The road was quieter than they had expected it to be. As they trotted along hoping to see their friends at any second they met a merchant approaching from the other direction.

'Good morning sirs,' he said as he approached, 'are you patrolling?'

'Why do you ask?' Porthos asked, it seemed an odd thing to say.

The man looked taken aback before replying, 'there's been several attacks along here in the last few days, most people won't come along here on their own now…I'm only using the road because I have an appointment to keep,' he paused and reached down to pull out a gun, 'and I'm well-armed against any trouble.'

Porthos looked at d'Artagnan, they both had a fair idea what had happened. They bid good day to the merchant who carried on passed them.

'Someone's been scaring the locals away so that it's quiet…make it easier to take someone if there ain't no one else around,' said Porthos.

They continued along the road, there was no sign of their friends.

MMMM

Waking in pain was never a good sign, thought Aramis. He groaned and tried to move. Not only was he in pain he also could not move, at least not very far. He opened his eyes and realised he was in an almost upright position. If the scattered straw was any indication, he was tied to a support post in a farm barn. His legs were firmly lashed at the ankle and knee, another rope circled his chest and his arms had been pulled behind him and were tied at the wrists. His shoulder felt like it was on fire. He vaguely remembered thinking it was dislocated before he passed out after falling from his horse.

Somehow, he managed to push up to stand, although he was fairly sure if he were not tied to the post he would have simply crumpled to the floor.

'Aramis?'

Aramis looked towards the source of the sound. Athos was tied up in a similar fashion, but with his hands in front of him, a few meters away to his right.

'We got caught then?'

'Yes,' replied Athos with some relief, 'I was beginning to think you would not wake up any time soon…listen, we just have to hold out long enough for Porthos and d'Artagnan to find us.'

'You think we can last that long? They won't have a clue where we are.'

'Have faith,' replied Athos. Aramis thought that his friend was trying to humour him. The chances of one or both of them being killed before a rescue were quite high. He knew the spy would play them off against each other as they attempted to extract the information.

He looked about. The barn they were being held in was quite dilapidated. It was clearly abandoned. There were the remnants of a few pieces of farm equipment and a pile of sacks opposite him. He could not work out what was in the sacks, but it would probably not be of any use to anyone, mould was evident on several of the bags.

The structure of the barn was sound however, an attempt at rocking the support post he was tied to had no effect. They were not going anywhere.

A sound outside drew his and Athos' attention towards the open doors. Their captors had returned.

MMMM

Authors note: It gets a bit more hurty in the next chapter.