Suspicious Minds
Chapter Three
It was midafternoon when d'Artagnan arrived back at the garrison. He found Etienne and Athos sparring in the yard watched by Porthos and Aramis. He wandered over to join his friends.
"How is he?" he asked.
"Competent," Aramis responded.
"Athos is better," Porthos added.
D'Artagnan looked at Etienne with a critical eye. The man had obviously been well taught but he lacked Athos' instinctive flair. "Athos is going easy on him."
Aramis grunted in agreement. "They know each other's moves."
"I wonder how he would fare against an opponent he has never faced before," d'Artagnan mused.
"If you are thinking of challenging him I wouldn't advise it," Aramis said. "Your skills surpass his and Athos won't thank you for beating his cousin in full view of the rest of the men."
"We have to stretch ourselves to improve. Athos taught me that."
"He taught you a great deal more than that." Aramis began to look worried.
"Let him go, Aramis. I want to see how Etienne does against a serious opponent."
It was several minutes before Athos and Etienne declared the match a draw and joined the others.
"Can I offer you another bout?" d'Artagnan asked. "Unless you're too tired." He carefully avoided looking at Athos.
Etienne rose to the challenge without any hesitation and d'Artagnan sensed the nobleman thought he would be an easy conquest. His resentment began to bubble to the surface but he pushed it away. One lesson he'd learnt well was the need to keep his emotions out of the fight.
He drew his sword and stepped out into the yard. At first the two men circled, each unwilling to make the opening move. It was Etienne who broke first, lunging forward to be easily parried. They engaged, d'Artagnan on the offensive, driving Etienne back. He had the satisfaction of seeing surprise on the older man's face before Etienne increased the speed of his blows. Now it was d'Artagnan who was on the defensive, retreating a few steps.
The only sounds were his laboured breathing and the clash of swords. He drew on all his resources, pressing forward again with unstoppable momentum. Etienne was hard-pressed to match the speed of the blows, stumbling as he was driven back along the length of the yard. Etienne fell to one knee and still d'Artagnan's blows fell in a rain of metal. He knocked Etienne's arm to one side forcing him to relinquish his grip on his sword. It clattered away to lie in the dust of the yard.
D'Artagnan drew in some gulping breaths as exhaustion washed over him. Etienne stared up at him, his face white with fury. When d'Artagnan offered his hand Etienne ignored it, struggling to his feet unaided. There was absolute silence as d'Artagnan turned to look at his friends. His momentary feeling of triumph disappeared when he saw Athos' expression.
His mentor strode towards him, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him to one side. "You could have won without humiliating him," Athos hissed.
D'Artagnan wrenched his arm free. "Forgive me. I thought you would be proud. I followed your training." Uncertainty mingled with his disappointment.
"I didn't teach you to be cruel. I know you don't like Etienne but he has to become accepted here and you just made that more difficult."
D'Artagnan was speechless, his heart hammering wildly. He glanced at Aramis and Porthos neither of whom showed any expression. He slammed his sword back into its scabbard and turned away. With a shake of his head he began to walk towards the archway.
"D'Artagnan!"
He ignored Athos' call and walked out into the bustling streets of Paris.
TMTMTM
Richelieu hated skulking around but sometimes subterfuge was necessary. He pulled his cloak around his body, shivering in the chill air of the crypt. Much to his irritation his newest creature was late. Suddenly the sound of boots on stone caught his attention.
"I don't like being kept waiting," he said.
"Apologies, Your Eminence." Etienne walked into the torchlight. "It isn't easy to slip away without anyone noticing."
"I didn't ask for your excuses. Tell me, was your cousin happy to see you?"
"He was."
"What about the others?"
"Aramis and Porthos were welcoming enough. D'Artagnan is a problem though. He has taken a dislike to me."
Richelieu scowled at the mention of the youngest Musketeer. "He regards Athos as his mentor, which just goes to show the level of his immaturity and lack of judgement. He will see you as a rival."
"I can handle him. Athos has more loyalty to me than to some upstart farm boy."
"I hope you're right. They are very close to each other. Driving a wedge between them will not be easy."
Etienne acknowledged the warning with a brief nod.
"Have you discovered anything?" Richelieu asked.
"Nothing for certain, but the way Aramis looks at the Queen…"
"Any fool can observe his reaction to her. I need proof that they were intimate. That's the only reason I paid your family's debts and gave you the means to join the Musketeers. If the Queen has betrayed her marriage it must have been at the convent. Athos was there with them. It is unlikely that he knows nothing about it."
"Athos is loyal. He won't easily betray a friend."
"He is party to treason. It is in his own best interests to confess and beg for leniency."
"My cousin has never begged for anything in his life," Etienne said.
"Stubbornness will avail him nothing. Find out the truth and bring me proof. Remember I can destroy your family just as easily as I saved it."
"Athos is family too."
"Having second thoughts about our bargain?" Richelieu moved closer, his expression hard and unyielding. "I'd advise against it. One word from me and your brother, his wife and his children will find themselves cast out of their home."
"You are the devil!" Etienne said, feeling for the first time the full weight of his decision.
Richelieu smiled coldly. "You should have thought of that before you accepted my offer. Do not fail me. Destroy the friendship between these men and find me the proof I need to convince the King that the Queen carries a bastard, not the true heir of France."
Etienne bowed his head submissively and left to do his master's bidding.
Tbc