Sometimes Salvation is Found in Agony

Chapter Nine

"So, you came back," the woman who had approached the musketeer the tavern stated when Aramis walked back inside the hovel with a sack slung over his good shoulder a little before noon. "My men were fools to let you go unescorted, but then, they never were very bright. I only keep them around because I need them to be my protectors. My line of work can be dangerous at times. Where did you go?"

"As I told your men, I needed to go and pack a few of my belongings if I am to join you in your endeavor," Aramis answered as he lay his bag down and opened it enough to show her the change of clothes, as well as few other supplies that were inside. "You wouldn't want me to continually wear the clothes I have on, do you? After last night, they are a little worse for wear. My shirt is not only smeared with my own blood, but also that of the man I killed for you."

She smiled as she responded, "No, I suppose not. I was impressed by your skill and your strength, despite the wounds you obviously carry and I am not just talking about your physical wounds in your shoulder and across your back and chest. Where did they come from?"

The soldier's eyes grew cold as he replied, "You'll forgive if I do not share that about me, seeing as I know nothing about you. I prefer to keep some things to myself, though I can tell you that the one responsible is a tyrant as is the one you claim you seek to destroy. I kept up my end of our bargain, so tell me, why am I really here?"

"First, tell me your name," the woman said firmly.

"I reveal my name only to my friends," Aramis answered. "Seeing as I do not know yours, we have yet to become friends."

She nodded as she motioned for him to follow her when she and her protectors stepped outside and began to walk through the streets until they came upon horses pulling a wagon, then together they all climbed in and began to ride forward, unbeknownst to them that a couple of musketeers were following behind, then she responded, "My name is Claudette. My men, well to be honest, I'm not sure what their names are and I don't really care. We're not exactly friends. I see that you are a religious man. I don't recall you wearing that gold cross around your neck last night."

Aramis touched the pendant as he looked at it, then replied, "I only wear it when I am about to embark on the unknown. I don't care if I die in order to bring down the unrighteous, but I prefer to die with God on my side. Who has hurt you or those you care about in such a way that he deserves death, Claudette?"

"Cardinal Richelieu," she answered coldly. "This man who claims to be a man of God is a murderer and a villain who is working to raise himself into power higher than that of the King. Louis isn't any better, but at least he employs men who pretend to care for the people for him."

"You mean the musketeers?" Aramis asked. "You think they only act as if they work for the people? You may be right, though I have yet to come across any musketeers in my travels, so I cannot say for certain. You must also believe that the Cardinal will continue to grow stronger and when he does, he will rid Paris of these so called men of righteousness, then continue his reign of tyranny that will kill us all, except those he can control? If this is so, you believe as I believe. If I may be so bold, who is it that he killed to bring you into this?"

She responded cruelly, "An entire village, including all that was left of my family. Now I am alone, except for those whom I have joined in this cause."

Aramis looked at her sadly as he replied, "If you wish for me to help you to destroy this man, I shall do so if I can. Call me Alastor."

"The Greek name that means avenger," Claudette stated curiously. "I like it. Although, you don't look or sound Greek."

"It is the only name I have," Aramis answered assuredly. "Are we meeting with someone?"

She nodded as she responded, "Yes, one of the leaders of our rebellion and a young woman, who was another survivor from the same village. Her brother recruited me to join with them. That is enough for now. I am still unsure whether or not I should trust you, though you do have a charm about you that is almost impossible to resist."

Aramis smiled as he replied, "So I have been told."

It wasn't long before they rode into a camp just outside of Paris, deep within the woods where travelers dared not to enter, as many claimed the area was haunted. There was an eeriness about it that made the musketeer feel uneasy, but Aramis knew why, as he knew that it was the sight of a massacre that happened long ago between one of the King's first regiment of musketeers and a small army. Both sides were slaughtered, for reasons unknown.

"We're here," Claudette spoke again as they came upon a tent and then waited for those they had come to see to step out.

"I am glad to see you have arrived with no trouble, Claudette," a man stated as he came out to greet them. "And I see you have brought with you a new recruit of your own."

The woman standing beside Aramis allowed the leader to pull her into a hug, then she answered, "Yes, I have found us someone whom I think you will be most pleased with. He has courage and a ferocity about him that you won't find in many others, including everyone around here. I saw it with my own eyes last night when he killed a man in the fighting ring at the tavern."

The man stared at Aramis, studying him as he asked, "Is this true?"

"I hate Cardinal Richelieu as much as any of you and have no problem with fighting whoever I must to see His Eminence dead," Aramis responded coolly as he raised his hand to shake the man's standing before him.

"And what is your name?" the man asked again.

The musketeer looked to the woman who brought him into this, then back at the leader as he replied, "Claudette calls me Alastor. It's up to you to call me whatever you wish to call me."

It was then that another woman walked over from behind them as she spoke up saying angrily, "This man is lying. His name isn't Alastor and he isn't whoever he says he is. He's nothing more than a musketeer."

Aramis turned to see a young woman he recognized to be the young woman whom he had spared only a month ago after she had tried to rob him and his companions, then had in turn saved his life when she left the village that had taken him captive to find them so that they would be able to rescue him. However, she no longer had the face of a sad, caring girl, but the face of a hardened and experienced killer and Aramis knew he was in trouble.