Chapter Two

Once inside the house it became apparent to Porthos that he was very much a second-class citizen to the rest of the gang. Daviau and the other gang members completely ignored him. They led Aramis into a large room and shut the door before he could enter. He was left in the hallway alone.

The room was dimly lit with candles. He found a dusty chair across the room from the closed door and sat down. He wondered what was happening in the room. A movement to his right caught his attention.

'Hello.'

'Hello,' he replied.

'Are you with them?'

'I work for Aramis, who might be hired by 'em.'

'Oh. Are you his servant?'

Porthos could not make out the man who was speaking to him, he had remained hidden in the shadows.

'I'm not takin' your job, if that's what you're worried about.'

The man took a few steps forward, he was slight and pale, he looked nervous.

'I'm Victor. They hired me a week ago. They're not often here, I just tidy up after them and make sure they've got wine and food. There's not enough work for two.'

Porthos was about to reply when the doors to the room opened. One of the gang members came out he looked at Victor.

'Get back to the kitchen, get some wine…now.'

Victor scurried off. The man turned to Porthos.

'You, in here.'

Porthos followed the man into the room. Aramis was sat in a chair in the centre of the room. Daviau was sat in a cushioned chair opposite him. The only source of light in the room came from a blazing fire in the large hearth. The set up reminded him of a court inquisition. Porthos guessed Aramis had been quizzed by the gang leader. He hoped that he could match the answers Aramis had given. They had rehearsed their stories, but he could not predict what Aramis would have been asked by Daviau.

'Porthos,' began Daviau.

Porthos looked at him, he made sure he did not look at Aramis as that would give the impression that he was unsure what to say.

'Perhaps you could tell us where you first met your master?'

Having Aramis referred to as his master almost made Porthos smirk. He was careful to school his expression. He launched into their prepared back stories, answering all the questions they asked with practiced ease. As with all lies, they had stuck as close to the truth as possible. Daviau appeared to accept his answers, glancing across at Aramis occasionally.

'It's late, I suggest you both retire, as I said, I'll want a practical demonstration from you in the morning.'

Aramis rose from the chair and led the way out of the room. Porthos followed a couple of steps behind. Back out in the hallway they found that one of the gang had left the room with them.

'This way, your rooms on the second floor, I'll have Victor bring up some food and wine.'

The man took them up the stairs. The upper floors of the house were as dimly lit as the hallway. The man reached a door that stood slightly ajar, he pushed it open.

'There should be some candles, you'll have to sort that out yourself.'

The man walked away leaving them both alone.

MMMM

As the man walked away Porthos picked up one of the candles that lit the hallway and entered their allotted room. Aramis remained by the door holding it open as Porthos slowly made his way around lighting the available candles.

'What did they ask you?' he asked as he looked at the small hearth in the room and wondered if they could get it lit.

'Much the same as they asked you, where we were from, what battles we had fought in…they don't like you being here.'

'I got that impression,' replied Porthos as he lit some kindling and began to work on getting the fire fully ablaze.

When Aramis did not speak again Porthos looked around at him, his friend was looking pensive.

'I think you need to leave as soon as you get the opportunity.'

'I don't wanna leave you on your own with them that soon.'

'I know, but they were…quite disparaging about you when they were talking to me. I think…for both our sakes, it will be better if you go on an errand tomorrow and not return. We can make it look like you are annoyed at me for something, make it look like you've just left. I think it would work, and they would have no reason to suspect.'

Porthos thought about it for a moment. They had already gathered all the information they probably could from the gang. Aramis would have to stay until the point that the assassination attempt was to be made to catch the gang in the act, but he was superfluous to that part of the plan. And if his early exit was safer for both of them it made sense.

'I'll stay until we are sure they are going to make the attempt this Sunday,' he said, not giving Aramis a chance to argue.

They were interrupted by Victor hovering at the doorway. Porthos motioned for him to enter, he was holding a tray with bread, meat and a bottle with two glasses.

Aramis was looking at the new arrival with concern, Porthos realised he was worried Victor had heard their conversation.

'I don't think Victor will be a problem for us. He may be a useful ally,' Porthos turned to Victor who looked a little confused, 'will you be missed for a few minutes? I don't want you to get into any trouble with them.'

Victor shook his head. Porthos crossed the room and closed the door before gently guiding the servant to a chair.

'We,' he indicated himself and Aramis, 'are Musketeers. We're here to stop the assassination attempt.'

Victor looked back and forth between them.

'I thought you were different to the rest of them…they're bad men. They…they said if I don't stay here and do what they want they will hurt my parents.'

Aramis took a step forward and crouched down in front of the young man, 'we'll make sure that does not happen. But you must not let on to them that you know who we really are…and you mustn't put yourself in any danger to help us. We can look after ourselves.'

Victor nodded, 'I'd best get back. But I want to help if I can…I wish I'd never accepted Daviau's offer of work.'

Porthos nodded and saw him to the door closing it behind him, 'you take the first watch, but let me take the majority of it, you've got some target practice tomorrow and you had better be good.'

'When am I not?' replied Aramis.

MMMM

They approached the large house in silence. D'Artagnan led Athos towards a gate at the side. A wall encircled the large grounds but the young Musketeer had seen the side gate as he left the previous night. They had decided to slip in and scout the grounds. If they were going to take one of Daviau's gang it would be best to take a lone sentry. If they could find one.

The gardens were overgrown, clearly untended for several years. They had little difficulty finding cover to hide themselves from the windows of the house.

'We'll need to circle the house, I don't think he has many men, any sentry will probably be patrolling rather than staying in one place,' said Athos quietly.

D'Artagnan nodded. They moved off, keeping as close to the wall as they could. On the far side of the building they could hear intermittent gun shots.

MMMM

One of Daviau's men, Leon, knocked on their door early the following morning. He told them to be down stairs in five minutes before walking away.

Aramis had spent some time checking his guns were clean and he had all he needed for whatever demonstration of his skills he was going to have to give. They walked down to the hallway, Porthos remaining a couple of steps behind him. Daviau was waiting for them with Leon and two of the other gang members. Aramis remembered them from the previous night; Page and Phillipe.

'Good, let's get this done then, I want to see if I am going to get what I am paying for your services.'

Daviau led them out of the house and into the grounds. At the side of the house was a paved area, with the remains of an ornamental garden. What would have been an impressive fountain stood in the centre. Aramis noted that an assortment of pots had been placed on the dry fountain. No doubt this would be his target. He hid a smile, this would be easy.

'I want you to hit each of the targets. You will only have one chance for each one. You will hit them in the order that I tell you to…and to make things a bit more interesting…'

Daviau looked across to where Porthos stood. Aramis followed his gaze and saw Leon was aiming a gun at his friends back. Porthos looked behind and realised what was happening. The gun was prodded into his back and he was forced forwards. He was forced to step over the low wall around the fountain and pushed to its centre. He was turned around, Leon pushed him back slightly. Aramis watched as Page stepped forward now, aiming his gun at Porthos who had not resisted in the slightest.

'You will notice that some of the targets are now quite close to your man. This…I feel…will show me how good you are.'

Aramis had kept his expression impassive, he could not give away to the men that he was now a little worried. He still had every confidence that he could hit each target, even those closest to Porthos but it would require even more concentration. He hoped Daviau did not have anything else planned during the demonstration.

'Do you think that will distract me?' asked Aramis affecting as disinterested a tone as he could manage, Daviau did not respond.

Once Leon was satisfied that Porthos had been stood in exactly the right spot he stepped away, leaving Porthos alone in front of the broken fountain.

'Whenever you are ready,' said Daviau indicating the targets, 'start with the ones furthest from the centre…remember one shot at each target. The one on the left first.'

Aramis took a breath, he raised his already loaded gun and fired. The small glass jar smashing as the ball hit it. Daviau nodded his approval before indicating the cup on the right. Aramis aimed his second gun and fired, with a ping it spun off the fountain and landed a few yards away a hole through its side.

Porthos had not moved, his gaze fixed on Daviau, Aramis was worried the gang leader may not take too kindly to being stared at by someone he thought so little of. As he reloaded his guns Daviau watched the smooth well practiced movements. He nodded approvingly.

'On the left,' he said.

Aramis aimed, fired and watched as the next target a wooden bowl splintered and fell to the ground.

'The one above his head.'

Porthos moved his gaze from Daviau to Aramis and gave him a reassuring nod. Aramis raised his gun arm and fired. The metal cup tipped backwards and clattered to the floor. Porthos had not moved an inch when the shot was taken.

'He clearly has faith in your ability,' remarked Daviau, 'the one by his shoulder.'

The small wooden cross which had been propped up on the fountain was the closest of the targets to Porthos. It was mere inches from Porthos' right shoulder. Aramis knew he could not take too long readying himself for the shot. He reloaded the guns. Looking up he could see that Porthos was holding his breath, he did not want to be a distraction. Aramis raised his arm, took a couple of seconds to steady himself and fired. The cross flew backwards as it was hit. Porthos breathed out. Daviau nodded his approval.

'You are good,' he said simply.

'What did you expect?' asked Aramis.

MMMM

Athos stopped d'Artagnan from moving any further into the gardens.

'There's someone ahead,' he said quietly as he pointed in the direction he had just seen movement.

'I see him.'

Athos indicated that he would circle around to the right leaving d'Artagnan to approach the man from behind. As Athos moved off d'Artagnan waited.

Athos moved cautiously, he did not want to make any noises that would draw the man's attention to him. His plan was to creep up on the man and be ready when d'Artagnan approached him from behind. They could grab the man together and silence him before he had a chance to shout. They were hampered by the need to keep the man alive for questioning. Killing the man to maintain his silence would be much simpler.

As Athos moved forward he was aware of d'Artagnan coming up on his left several yards away. D'Artagnan was further away than Athos and being equally cautious in his approach. Athos paused and waited, watching their man.

A quick movement and a stifled cry brought his attention back towards d'Artagnan. Another man was standing where d'Artagnan had been a few moments before. The man was looking down at the ground a short club in his hand. The man must have hit d'Artagnan who had fallen to the floor. The man took a step forward and raised the hand holding the club above his head. Athos acted on instinct and rushed forward pulling his gun. He fired at the man hitting him in the chest. He collapsed to the floor.

The man they had been creeping up on had turned and watched as Athos shot d'Artagnan's attacker. The whole incident only lasted seconds. Athos turned to the man and after locking eyes for a second the man took flight back to the house.

Athos knew he only had a few seconds to get them out of danger.

MMMM