Chapter 19

As Jacqueline stared at the magnificent structure in awe, she suddenly remembered something that had been said when she was down in the sanctum. "It was here, wasn't it? This is where I was born."

Siroc turned to her, his expression one of mild surprise. "Yes, it was. How did you know? There's no way you could possibly have remembered something like that."

"I overheard Bernard and D'Artagnan's father talking about my being found in an abbey as an infant by someone named Rebecca. And if that Rebecca is the same one we're going to visit now...."

The elder immortal chuckled. "Well, normally I'd tell you not to listen to anything that man had to say. But in this case, he was telling the truth."

"And how would you know that, amigo?"

"You were there, weren't you," Jacqueline said quietly, before Siroc could answer.

He nodded. "Yes, I was. My comrades and I were visiting the abbey about a week after Rebecca found you. She gave you to me, and I brought you to this nice childless couple I knew back in Paris."

"The Rogets."

"Exactly. Claude had briefly served as a musketeer, resigning after he married in order to be able to devote time to the family he'd hoped to have. He and Matilde were good, decent people, and I knew that they'd raise you to be the same. Plus, I knew that Claude would at least teach you something of how to defend yourself, so you wouldn't be completely helpless should your immortality kick in and neither Rebecca nor I could get to you right away. It would seem that my hunch worked out better than I could've imagined," he said with a grin. "Who would've thought that tiny little baby I held in my arms twenty years ago would one day manage to talk her way into the musketeers?"

"Did they know?"

Siroc shook his head. "I told your father to send for me should anything ever happen to you, but didn't really explain why. Honestly, I thought it would be better if they didn't know...that way, you could have a normal life. I feared that if they knew the truth, they might treat you differently, or that they might not want you at all. I liked them, don't get me wrong, but I also know that even the best people tend to fear things that they don't understand."

"I see....Well," she said, cracking a smile. "I suppose I ought to thank you. It's kind of nice, actually...knowing that someone's been looking out for me all these years."

"Always." He returned the smile, and the pair locked eyes for a moment before inexplicably turning away. Siroc cleared his throat. "Anyway...shall we go in and see if the Lady Rebecca would mind a few musketeers invading her abbey for a month?" Before anyone could respond, he urged his horse forward in the direction of the stables. Jacqueline quickly followed suit, and Ramon watched for a moment before doing the same. After that last little exchange, it was pretty clear to him what was going on between his two comrades. 'Now all I have to do is get them to see it. Wonder if the Lady would be willing to help me play matchmaker....'

Once their mounts were taken care of, the trio made their way over to the abbey's main entrance. Nervously straightening his clothes and smoothing his hair, Siroc stepped forward and knocked on the massive oak door. He knew Rebecca was inside, and possibly Amanda as well, as he could feel at least one strong presence within the fortress' walls. A moment later, the door opened to reveal a young mortal servant. "May I help you, Monsieur?"

"My comrades and I are here to see the Lady Rebecca Horne."

"And you are...?"

"An old friend."

"Prove it." The smug little man glared at the immortal, daring him to try something. Siroc was just about to draw his rapier and teach the pup a lesson when a familiar form appeared behind the servant.

"It's alright, Pierre." Bowing, Pierre quickly opened the door the rest of the way, allowing the musketeers entrance. When they were all inside, he gave another bow before turning and stalking away, grumbling under his breath. Jacqueline and Ramon then watched in amazement as their usually reserved comrade suddenly rushed forward, throwing his arms around Rebecca in a heartfelt embrace, which was returned just as enthusiastically.

"Gods...I can't believe it's been twenty years."

Rebecca laughed. "And whose fault is that?" she teased. "You knew where to find me."

"I know. I've been a bad friend. Forgive me?" he asked, giving her his best 'sad puppy' expression.

She pretended to glare, but couldn't hold that expression for very long. Shaking her head, she chuckled. "You know I could never stay mad at you. Now...are you planning to introduce me to your new friends, or were you just going to let them stand there?"

Siroc blushed, but quickly recovered his composure. "Guys, I'd like you to meet Lady Rebecca Horne. Rebecca, allow me to introduce Sergeant Ramon-"

"Ramon Montalvo Francisco de la Cruz," the Spaniard interrupted, dropping down to one knee. He took hold of her hand and placed a chivalrous kiss upon it. "Señora encantadora, mi amor, ángel de mi corazón (Lovely lady, my love, angel of my heart). I am but your humble servant."

Rebecca smiled, glancing over at Siroc. "Your friend is almost as smooth as Porthos. Only he wasn't nearly this charming."

"You flatter me, dear Lady. I know I must pale in comparison to the legendary Porthos, but might I favor you with a poem?"

"Maybe later, Ramon," Siroc said, pulling his love-struck comrade back to his feet. "Anyway...where was I? Oh yes...now that you've met Ramon, may I also introduce my new student, Sergeant Jacques LePonte."

Jacqueline looked at him with raised eyebrows, having expected him to introduce her to his immortal friend by her true name. When he didn't react, she quickly composed herself and bowed. "My Lady," she said, making sure to use her 'Jacques' voice. Rebecca glanced over at Siroc, eyebrows slightly raised. He shrugged, and she turned back to 'Jacques' and smiled.

"No need to be so formal...either of you. 'Rebecca' would be just fine."

Jacqueline nodded, and was about to say something else when Amanda walked in. The black shirt and trousers from the palace incident were nowhere in sight. Rather, the immortal thief was wearing a dark blue peasant dress, which stood out in sharp contrast to Rebecca's white silk gown. Her long black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, making her look more like an innocent farm girl than the master thief Jacqueline knew her to be.

Pointedly ignoring Siroc, Amanda stalked over to where Jacqueline stood; an almost predatory gleam in her eye. Instinctively, the female musketeer backed up, only to find herself in a corner as the immortal thief once again moved uncomfortably close. "Well, well, well...miss me already?" The thief traced a finger over 'Jacques'' goatee, which the musketeer quickly batted away.

"You knocked me out, tied me up, robbed me, and stripped me down to my under things. I've never been so humiliated in my life."

Amanda chuckled. "What's the matter, handsome? Haven't you ever heard of foreplay?" She came even closer, and Jacqueline glanced past her to Siroc, silently pleading for help. Unfortunately, neither he nor Rebecca seemed inclined to do anything about it.

"T-trust me, Mademoiselle," Jacqueline stammered. "I'm really not your type."

"Don't be so sure, darling," she drawled, running her hands down Jacqueline's back. "I'll try anything once." Amanda pinched her rear, causing the musketeer to gasp in shock. Then, with a wink, she turned and sauntered off, leaving Jacqueline gaping at the woman's audacity as she struggled to form a coherent sentence.

Ramon was staring after Amanda as well, albeit for a different reason. "Dios mio...what a woman!" He took off in the direction the thief had taken, leaving the immortals alone.

The Spanish musketeer caught up with Amanda in the abbey's kitchen, where she was already in the process of filching some fruit. She turned as soon as she heard him enter, the bright red apple in her hand making her the very picture of Temptation. And, much like Adam of old, Ramon found himself unable to resist.

He stepped forward, clearing his throat. "They say you are a thief, Señorita."

"Really?" She lifted the apple to her lips, taking a bite and chewing it slowly and deliberately, as if savoring the flavor. And even that simple act was sensuous when performed by a dark beauty such as her. With an enticing look, Amanda extended the fruit towards the musketeer. "Do you believe everything other people say, Señor?"

"No...not everything," he said, leaning in and taking a bite of the apple for himself. Once he'd finished chewing, Ramon plucked the fruit from her hand and tossed it aside. "But this must be true."

"Oh? And why is that?"

Smiling, he took her hand and kissed it. "Because, dear lady...you have stolen my heart."

She laughed, reaching forward and running her fingers through his hair. "You have quite the smooth tongue, Señor...."

"Ramon Montalvo Francisco de la Cruz," he supplied with a bow. "At your service."

"At my service, you say?"

"Absolutely."

"Tell me, Ramon...is that smooth tongue of yours good for anything besides talking?"

"Perhaps...once I've gotten to know you a bit better, of course."

"I think that could be arranged." Amanda pulled the entranced musketeer in for a sensuous kiss, which he eagerly returned. A moment later, she broke it off and headed for the stairs, beckoning to him just before disappearing up them. And, like a moth to the flame, he followed close behind.

Meanwhile, in the main hall, Jacqueline finally managed to recover her speech. She sank down against the wall, burying her face in her hands to hide her burning cheeks. Siroc's laughter rang in her ears, and she lifted her head to glare at him.

"It's not funny."

"Oh...yes, it is."

"Some help you are."

He grinned. "Face it, Jacques. You're an attractive fellow. Sooner or later, you'll have to get used to women throwing themselves at you." He winked, and Jacqueline groaned, once more hiding behind her hands.

"You're never going to let me live this down, are you?"

"Let's see...I have an excellent memory, and I plan to be here for a very long time. So...ask me again in a couple of centuries."

"Traitor," she growled, which only seemed to amuse him more. Luckily, Rebecca chose that moment to step in.

"Come now, Sirius. I think the child's had enough for one day."

Siroc sighed. "Fine...." Smiling, he reached out and helped Jacqueline back to her feet. The look on her face said that it wasn't over just yet, but before she could say anything the trio heard some rather unusual sounds emanating from one of the rooms upstairs. It took a moment for the female musketeer to realize exactly what she was hearing, and the recognition of its origins made her face grow even redder. Siroc, for his part, just arched an eyebrow in amusement. 'Well,' he thought, 'That's one way to keep Ramon busy.'

"Well," Rebecca said, clearing her throat. "Perhaps it's time the two of you got some training in. You remember where the courtyard is, don't you Sirius? The one on the opposite side of the fortress?"

"Of course," he replied, giving her a grateful nod for the save. "Come on, Jacques. Let's go spar for awhile." She nodded, also thankful for Rebecca's quick thinking, and followed Siroc out to the courtyard for their first real training session since discovering her immortality.