Chapter Five

The shot rang out and Athos felt the pain in the same instant. His shoulder pushed back slightly by the impact. He took a few involuntary steps back. Even though he had been expecting it, it was still a shock.

D'Artagnan was playing his part to the letter, he took a couple of steps forward, then drew his own gun and turned to face the gunman, who they knew would not be there. Barbotin, in his capacity of field medic rushed from the garrison. He knew about the plan and was prepared, but he too had to pretend that the attack was real. Treville followed and between them they grabbed Athos who had started to sag and dragged him back to the garrison. D'Artagnan covering them and yelling for the gates to be closed as they retreated from the invisible foe.

Athos had originally thought he would be able to remain conscious, knowing what was happening to him, but that was not to be. The greyness that was affecting his vision soon turned to black.

MMMM

As soon as the gates were closed d'Artagnan rushed over to the infirmary pushing the door open and holding it for Treville and Barbotin who were dragging the now unconscious Athos. They deposited him on the bed that had already been prepared.

'This is worse than I was expecting,' said Barbotin as he made a cursory inspection of the wound.

'Do we need a physician?' asked Treville as he and d'Artagnan were busy divesting Athos of his weapons and doublet.

'No, but he will not recover as quickly…I thought he was just going to get a flesh wound.'

'Perhaps Aramis could not chance the gang members seeing that Athos was not seriously injured?' suggested d'Artagnan.

Once he was stripped to the waist the three of them could see the extent of the damage to the swordsman's shoulder.

'The ball has gone through,' said Barbotin, 'it's a clean shot…actually it's not as bad as I thought…sorry, I was doing Aramis a disservice.'

D'Artagnan smiled, 'he really is that good.'

D'Artagnan helped Barbotin clean the wounds whilst Treville held the unconscious man on his side. Barbotin threaded a needle ready to stitch. Athos chose that moment to moan as he regained consciousness.

'Unfortunate,' said Treville as he manoeuvred Athos onto his back.

'You've been shot…do you remember?' asked Treville trying to gauge how aware of his surroundings Athos was.

Athos focused on Treville and managed a pained smile, 'I do not know if I should punch Aramis or thank him.'

Treville nodded, 'I think you should thank him.'

'Although you might change your mind after we've stitched the wounds.'

Athos groaned again, 'you haven't already done that?'

'No, you woke up too soon,' said Barbotin as he wielded the needle.

MMMM

After Aramis had been shoved back into their little prison Porthos had spent the best part of two hours trying to assure the man he had done the right thing. Aramis had managed to convince himself that he had badly injured or killed Athos even though Porthos was sure Athos would be fine. Eventually Aramis had sat down next to the chained-up man and leant his head back against the stone wall and closed his eyes. Porthos knew he was not asleep.

'Replaying it over and over again ain't gonna help.'

'I know…'

'Then stop doing it…the others were there, they knew the plan, he'll be fine.'

Obviously Porthos did not know for sure, but Aramis was the best marksman he knew, his friend would not have missed what he was aiming at. At least Aramis had stopped pacing up and down.

'We just have to hope that when they decide to make the attempt on the King we can get word out again using Victor. Neither of us is really in a position to do anything now,' said Porthos after a while, 'this plan really has not gone well.'

They heard footsteps on the stone steps that led down to the cellar. Surely the assassination was not going to happen this quickly?

Leon, Page and Phillipe appeared at the door, they did not look happy. Phillipe trained a gun on Aramis.

'Come with us, Daviau would like a word.'

Aramis pulled himself up and walked out of the room shrugging off Page who grabbed his arm as he went passed. Porthos could only watch and wonder what was going to happen.

MMMM

They took him back to the big room where the gang spent most of their time. Daviau was stood in the centre of the room, his arms folded across his chest. Page had grabbed Aramis a second time and would not be shrugged off as easily, he forced Aramis across the room and pushed him into a chair in front of Daviau. Page stood behind him, a hand on each of his shoulders keeping him in the chair firmly.

Daviau stepped forward placing his hands over Aramis' wrists which were resting on the arms of the chair, he leaned in close to Aramis.

'The Musketeer is not dead…oh you shot him, but you did not kill him.'

Aramis was about to speak but Daviau grabbed him around the face and pushed his head back before continuing, 'Leon was watching, he saw the shot hit the Musketeers' shoulder…you were supposed to hit him in the chest, take out his heart or a lung…I know you are good, yesterday's demonstration showed me that…you missed on purpose. Why?'

He released Aramis and took a step back. Aramis was thinking fast, he had to remain in character.

'I don't react well to being threatened. Pressure I can handle, but being threatened…it must have impeded my ability…it's your own fault.'

Daviau nodded to Page who wrapped his arm around Aramis' neck and squeezed, Aramis tried to pull the man off him. Tried pulling at his arm before resorting to scrabbling at his face. He managed to push his finger into the man's nose and pull. Page released him and stepped back clutching his face.

Daviau smirked, 'you are a capable man…I don't doubt that…but I am starting to think you're not right for this job…But you are what we have and I want the King dead. And the best chance to do that is in two days' time…' Daviau paused he contemplated something for a few moments, 'I think, however, you should be punished…'

Page stepped forward, his nose still bloody, it was clear he would be happy to punish Aramis.

'Oh no, Page, you can't be hurting our marksman, we need him fully functional.'

Aramis knew where this was going. They were going to hurt Porthos, he had to act fast. Before Daviau could give the order, he was out of the chair. He grabbed it by the arm rests and swung it around taking out Daviau and Page. He threw the chair at Leon who was stood near the door.

Aramis rushed towards the door, the men behind him were all in various stages of getting back to their feet. He saw the key on the inside of the door lock, he wrenched it from the hole and dragged the door closed behind him. The key slipped back in on the other side, he turned it. That left Jenvier and Phillipe unaccounted for. He knew Phillipe was around, as he had been with Page and Leon in the cellar.

He rushed to the door that led down to the cellar, as he descended the steps he could hear the men banging on the door trying to attract someone's attention. He was glad he had removed the key from the door. It would slow them down a little.

The door to the small room in the cellar where Porthos was being kept was only held shut with a bolt. But he still needed to deal with the manacles, he glanced around and saw a few keys hanging from a ring hooked up on the wall, he grabbed them as he unbolted the door.

Porthos was stood up, staring at him as he rushed in, he was about to speak when Aramis threw the bunch of keys at him.

'No time, we have to go, find the one that fits.'

Porthos got to work trying keys in the lock on his manacles. Aramis crossed to the window, he reached up and pushed at it, when it did not move he looked around the room, he needed to smash the glass.

'Try outside,' suggested Porthos who had worked out the marksman's quandary.

Aramis went back to the storage area. He found a piece of wood that would do the job, he returned to find Porthos undoing his manacles. Aramis crossed to the window and lined up the piece of wood he turned his face away and thrust the wood forward breaking the glass which showered back on to him. Using the piece of wood, he knocked away the remaining shards. Porthos was by his side. Noises upstairs had them both looking around.

'You first,' said Aramis, 'they still want me alive…you, not so much.'

Aramis braced himself against the wall and cupped his hands to give Porthos a leg up. Porthos hauled himself up and pushed himself through the window which was only just big enough for him to crawl through. Once through, he turned and leaned in to help Aramis up. Aramis saw the look of shock on Porthos' face as he looked behind him. He knew their time was up.

'Go,' said Aramis as he was grabbed from behind by two of the gang and dragged backwards. Aramis was glad when Porthos did as he was told.

MMMM

When Aramis had rushed into the room and frantically gone about trying to get them out of the house, Porthos had wondered what had happened.

When Aramis had insisted he leave first saying that he was in more danger, Porthos had a fair idea what had happened.

When Aramis had been dragged away by the gang and told him to go, Porthos knew what had happened.

The gang must have found out that Athos was not dead, that Aramis had played them, and he knew that he was in more danger than the marksman was. At least for now. He quickly made his way across the gardens, making use of the overgrown bushes to hide himself. He reached the wall, it was old and crumbling, neglected as much as the rest of the grounds. There were enough imperfections that he could climb up and over with little difficulty. As he swung himself over the top he glanced back at the house, there was no sign that he was being followed yet, but he did not want to give them the opportunity. He would have to lay low and make his way back to the garrison via the back streets. He had a long journey ahead of him.

The sooner he could get back the better, the gang needed Aramis alive for now. But with Daviau's temper no doubt pushed to the limit, Aramis might not be as safe as they hoped.

MMMM

Janvier and Phillipe had seen Porthos climbing out of the cellar window. They watched as the man slipped off into the gardens and scaled the wall. Janvier knew this was not right. He followed the fleeing man at a discreet distance after indicating for Phillipe to find Daviau.

MMMM