Chapter Four

They picked their way through the dense wood. There were indicators of the people they were following dotted about. At one point the hooves became erratic and moved off in different directions, circling before reforming. Three horses had moved off together following the same course as before.

Porthos led the way, warily looking around as he did so. D'Artagnan followed, glancing around frequently. They were both very alert to any possible ambush.

The trees thinned as they reached the edge of the wood. A famers field, long since allowed to grow wild opened up before them. Across the field was an old house equally abandoned, and a large barn, its big double doors standing open. They were too far away and at too acute an angle to see inside the barn. But the tracks led towards it, straight across the field. To the right of the barn they could see three horses tethered. One looked like Athos'.

'Let's circle around, keeping to the wood's edge and get closer. I think we need to take this quickly and quietly.'

Porthos nodded his agreement. They began to make their way towards the barn, where they hoped they would find their friends, although what state of health they would be in, they could not guess.

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'Please,' shouted Aramis as the sacks were replaced over the planks, 'let him out and I'll tell you where I hid the letter.'

'Tell us where you hid the letter and we will let him out…after we have retrieved it.'

Aramis had watched in horror as they had callously pushed Athos into the shallow pit, he did not want to call it a grave, but it might well become one. He knew that with the planks and the sacks on top the air in Athos' small tomb would become stale and unbreathable. He doubted any fresh air would be able to penetrate.

'He won't last that long, please let him out,' Aramis was not above begging now. He knew that what he had to offer was not what the spies wanted. But they did not know that yet. The pain in his shoulder was radiating out, but the shock of seeing the torture of his friend had sent a burst of energy through him. He knew it would not last and he would lose his focus again and most likely his consciousness.

A horse whinnying outside made them all look over to the entrance of the barn. The man in black made a gesture to the younger man who approached Aramis. Without warning, a gag was pushed into his mouth and tied around his head.

The young man retreated, drawing his gun as he did so, eyes glued to the barn door. The man in black was also prepared for a fight, he had drawn his sword and was levelling his gun at the open space of the door.

Aramis understood. Their rescuers were most likely here. He shouted though his gag, he knew he would not make any sense but he might be able to distract the spies.

A shot was fired into the barn, it hit the younger man in the arm, he staggered back a few paces dropping his gun. Almost automatically the man in black fired in the direction the shot had come from. His weapon spent he threw it aside and pulled out a parrying dagger from his weapon belt.

With an enraged cry Porthos rushed through the doors, he was immediately engaged in a fierce fight with the man in black.

Aramis knew he had to get him to understand that Athos was in danger. He shouted through the gag again. The younger man was moving towards Porthos and the man in black, but he did not have time to engage in battle, d'Artagnan moved into view, calmly reloading his weapon.

The man stepped back a few paces, bringing himself closer to Aramis. Aramis realised he had done this deliberately so that d'Artagnan would not want to chance shooting in case he was hit instead. The young spy clearly did not know how well Musketeers were trained. D'Artagnan confidently fired, hitting the man in the chest. He staggered back again bumping into Aramis. As d'Artagnan approached and Aramis renewed his effort to shout through the gag, the young spy managed to turn and with his fading strength grabbed Aramis' injured shoulder again.

The pain shot through Aramis. He tried not to, but the darkness took him again.

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Porthos was aware of the gun shot from d'Artagnan, finishing off the other man. He was also aware that Aramis had suddenly stopped shouting. It was clear the injured man was trying to tell them something. He suspected it had something to do with their missing swordsman. Athos was nowhere to be seen. They had expected to find both their friends in the barn, particularly as Athos' horse was outside.

The man in black was good with a sword, but not as good as Porthos. It did not take him long to get the better of the man and put a decisive strike across his gut, the man took a couple of steps, dropped his sword then crumpled to the floor.

Porthos yelled in triumph.

'You have not won…'gasped the dying man, 'you won't find the other one in time…not as long as he can't help you.'

The man nodded at the inert form of Aramis on the other side of the barn. Both d'Artagnan and Porthos looked at each other then back at the dying man. Porthos took a step forward but checked himself as a gun was pointed at him. The man held it shakily pointed at Porthos for a few second before turning it on himself and pulling the trigger.

A moment of silence fell on the barn. They both looked about them. A pile of ropes to the right of the still form of Aramis, and his weapons belt lying nearby were the only indications that Athos had been in the barn.

'Look around…I'll see to Aramis,' said Porthos as he crossed the room.

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He was trying to keep his breathing even, but the air was already getting stuffy. He did not know how long he had been there. It was dark and damp.

He tried to shift around. The walls of his tiny prison were loose. The damp earth crumbling where he knocked into it. He stilled. He realised there was a very real chance that the walls could collapse. He could bring the planks and sacks down on him.

He wondered which would be preferable, to suffocate or to be crushed to death.

The silence was broken by muffled noises above him.

Was that a gunshot?

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D'Artagnan left the barn, he circled its perimeter looking carefully as he went. He had no idea where Athos might be. He hoped Aramis would regain consciousness quickly. The spy had inferred that Athos would die if he was not found quickly.

But, where was he?

The abandoned farm house, was dusty and showed no signs of having been entered in years. The door creaked open as d'Artagnan walked through. The ground floor room was thick with cobwebs and he heard the scurrying sound of rats running away as he moved through the room. He looked at the wooden stairs. They were rotten, and would not hold his weight. There was no chance Athos could have been taken up them.

Retracing his steps, he circled the farm house. There was an uncovered well a few meters from the door. Trying to keep his increasing panic in check he walked over and peered down. He could not help the sigh of relief when he saw that over time stormy weather had left tree branches jammed into the brick shaft. It would be obvious if Athos was down there.

A shout from the barn had d'Artagnan running back.

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