"So where do we start? We searched every road out of Paris." Porthos patted his horse's neck.
Athos and D'Artagnan drew up alongside Porthos at the gateway from the barracks. "Aramis has only a couple of hours' head start," said Athos. "If we find his road, we can overtake him by sundown. Perhaps a little later, but still - enough time to stop him doing anything too insane."
"If we pick the same road he did," said Porthos.
D'Artagnan tilted his head. "We searched every road out of Paris," he said slowly.
"The Queen certainly left by the expected gate," said Athos. He knew D'Artagnan's thoughtful expression, and waited.
"So she took the right road to the Duke of Racaut's land", said Porthos. "But we pored over that road with our noses to the ground. There was no sign of the carriage turning off."
D'Artagnan raised his eyebrows at his friends.
"Oh," said Porthos.
"Exactly," said Athos. "The Queen never turned from that road at all."
"The Duke raised the alarm to send us all in the wrong direction," said D'Artagnan.
"He has the Queen," said Athos with a thunderous face.
"He has an impenetrable castle, last I heard," said Porthos.
The three friends exchanged glances.
"Let's ride," said D'Artagnan.
They reached Racaut's castle early the following morning. The villagers had seen a horseman the previous day, riding hard across country as they had. He wore a blue cloak, and had made a favourable impression on all who spoke to him as he sought information about the Duke.
"Definitely Aramis," said Porthos as they received another simpering confirmation of their friend's presence in the area.
"Well," said Athos. "Shall we go and talk to the Duke?"
"If he's taken the Queen, we'll do more than talk to him," growled Porthos, tapping the hilt of his sword.
"An entire troop of Red Guard were overcome," D'Artagnan reminded then. "We can't just walk in there."
"Oh but we can," said Athos "And I fancy we'll find any number of grooms and scullions still sporting their elegant red cloaks."
"A false troop!" exclaimed D'Artagnan. "Of course. But who approved that?"
"Who do you think?" said Porthos.
Athos smiled coldly. "Well, we shall save our chat with the Cardinal for another day. Let's limit ourselves to one unpleasant encounter at a time."
They prodded their horses and approached the castle's gate.
"In the name of the King," said Athos. "Let us pass or we will strike you dead where you stand."
"There's plenty more than just me," said the guard.
"Well, that's the good thing about narrow bridges," said D'Artagnan, glancing around. "You send out more and more men and we just stand here and cut them down one at a time until nobody else wants the point of a sword."
"Convenient," agreed Porthos.
The guard wavered, then looked at them: Porthos angry, D'Artagnan mild and reasonable but readying his sword, and Athos, whose face was set like the stone angels climbing the arch of an abbey: calm and terrible.
They entered the castle. Soon they were in the great hall, awaiting the Duke, and the Queen.
The Duke appeared just as D'Artagnan was contemplating lighting a small fire to draw his attention. The Duke had a lady on his arm, dressed in a fine silk gown - but it was not the Queen.
"Her Majesty arrived unexpectedly last night," said the Duke. "I have not had time to send word."
He jerked on the arm of the lady he escorted.
Porthos frowned, and took a step forward. Athos held up his hand and Porthos hung back, glowering.
The lady said, as if reading from a book, "Her majesty is fatigued from her journey and wishes to rest."
"Then we will wait," said Athos, wandering about. "We have messages from the King which cannot be borne by any other."
The Duke appeared uncertain. "Her women will take any message." All three musketeers saw the Duke's fingers tighten around the lady's arm. "Won't you?"
The young woman bowed her head and nodded, then lifted her eyes and gazed directly at Porthos. He blinked, then touched Athos' arm and drew him and D'Artagnan aside.
"The Queen's not here," he said.
"You know this lady?" Athos glanced across.
"Know her. Yes."
"Are you blushing?" D'Artagnan shook his head in despair.
"Pretend to write a note for the Queen," Athos commanded D'Artagnan, who immediately obeyed. "Porthos and I will hand it to the Duke, along with a brief reminder on manners towards a lady."
"What about the Queen?" whispered D'Artagnan, whilst frowning with his pencil over a scrap of paper.
Athos sighed. "If she's gone, then Aramis has her. Which means we should start to hear chaos breaking out very shortly."
And as he spoke, they heard distant gunfire.