"Stand aside, please, madam," said Athos, unsheathing his sword. "The Duke will be occupied for the next few moments."
Odette wrenched herself free of the Duke and darted to Porthos' side, rubbing her arm. "He is a monster," she said. "He pressed his foul attentions on the Queen!"
Porthos stepped forward, hand on sword, eyes blazing.
Athos stopped him with a raised hand. "Is this true, sir? Did you dare to attempt this dishonour?"
"The Queen was my guest!" blustered the duke. "This woman is jealous that her flirtation with me amounted to nothing."
"Lies!" cried Odette.
"Let us await the judgement of better men on such a delicate matter as a Queen's reputation," said Athos.
"I thank you monsieur."
"Do not thank me yet. Before witnesses you have proved yourself a man who mistreated a lady, and for that I deem punishment required."
He advanced with the sword. "Where is the Queen?"
"I don't know!"
Athos made a pass with his sword. A button dropped from the Duke's fine coat.
"He locked her Majesty in the tower room," said Odette. "And us next door."
"The Queen is no longer there?"
"No. I fear - " Odette swallowed back tears - "that she may have harmed herself, monsieur. The window has a long drop."
Athos' face showed horror.
D'Artagnan lay a hand on his atm. "Be easy, friend. We saw no sign of a jump from the tower."
"Then where is she?" demanded Odette.
Athos flicked once more with the point of his sword, and a lock of the Duke's hair floated to the stone floor. The Duke paled. "I don't know! I don't know!"
"In which case," said Athos, and lifted his blade. The Duke cowered, but Athos only sheathed his sword and turned to the others with raised eyebrows.
"Rescued, I imagine," said D'Artagnan.
"By Aramis," said Porthos. "Still, it could be worse." He and D'Artagnan exchanged glances and chuckled.
"We will find the Queen," declared Athos. "Porthos, bring the Duke. We will see how he answers his King."
"As a gentleman you cannot arrest me without proper process," cried Racaut. "The King and I are cousins!"
Athos tilted his head.
"Distant cousins."
"The King and I are distant cousins," said Porthos. "Through Adam and Eve."
"We will have to bring the Duke with us to Paris," said Athos.
"I protest!" said the Duke.
"He protests," said Porthos.
"Oh dear," said D'Artagnan with a wry smile.
"I cannot force him," said Athos. "A gentleman is accused, but none of us witnessed his supposed crimes. And we have no proof of what has happened to the Queen."
"So," said Porthos. "We can't take him as long as he protests?"
"That is protocol," Athos said.
"If only there were some way round it," D'Artagnan said with a sigh.
"My hands are tied," said Athos, shrugging. But his eyes were bright.
"Nothing easier," said Porthos, and struck the Duke down with a single blow. "There. No more protest."
Athos bowed. "And now," he said, "let us find Aramis, and the Queen."
"What about us?" asked Odette.
"You are safe now," said Porthos. He turned to Athos. "I'll escort the ladies out of here."
"Bring the Duke," said D'Artagnan. "Preferably still unconscious."
"My pleasure," said Porthos.
Xxx,
A horse's gallop covers a meadow in a very short time. A musketeer's eye is sharp for signs of trouble, and when he sees it, his aim is true.
D'Artagnan made the shot that felled the robber. He sprang from his horse, Athos close behind, and found the Queen in a clearing, crouched over Aramis and pressing on his wounds with hands stained equally in blood and tears.
"Aramis!" D'Artagnan cast pleading eyes at Athos.
"Help the Queen," Athos commanded. "Take her to safety."
"I won't leave him," Anne said, her voice shaking but her tone certain. She remained kneeling beside Aramis.
D'Artagnan and Athos exchanged glances. Athos dismounted and examined Aramis.
"A scratch," Aramis said. His eyes were shut, his voice weak.
"Yes." Athos straightened up. "He's lost a lot of blood but the wound itself is not serious."
Aramis opened his eyes. "Your Majesty -"
"I am here, monsieur." She took his hands.
"Ah..." His eyes closed once more.
Athos winced, then felt his friend's neck. "Unconscious. Let's get him on his horse."
"Your Majesty," said D'Artagnan. "Ride with me. If you please."
They formed a strange little troop, passing through the forest: Aramis slung over his horse's saddle and secured, D'Artagnan's horse bearing the Queen of France as well as his usual master, who did not know quite where to place his hands to cause the least offence, and Athos, pistols ready, watching front and rear.
"No more robbers, at least," Athos said when at last they reached the road. He dismounted, and gave his arm to the Queen to help her down.
D'Artagnan tended the horses and checked Aramis. Athos spoke to the Queen. "We must return you to Paris, your Majesty."
"Aramis is in no condition for that journey," said Anne. She glanced at his limp form, bound to his horse.
"We can leave him at that inn," said D'Artagnan to Athos. "You know it - the Cockerel. We asked after him there."
"And every girl remembered him," said Athos drily. "All right. They'll look after him."
"We will all stay until he is fit to travel with us," said Anne.
There was a silence.
"The King expects you, your Majesty," said Athos.
Anne lifted her eyebrows. "And I expect the King. In particular, I expect the King to reward the man who took it upon himself to rescue me, which he cannot do if that man is abandoned in some country hostelry twenty leagues from Paris!"
Athos hesitated. Then he bowed.
"And while I tend to your fallen comrade," said Anne, "you can return to Racaut and retrieve my ladies, who have been at his mercy since dawn."
Again Athos bowed.
As the Queen walked on, straight and proud, D'Artagnan murmured to Athos, "I can see why he admires her."
"Any man must admire our Queen," said Athos. "She combines those qualities of courage and feminine wit which are so necessary in a princess."
"Feisty," agreed D'Artagnan. "And Aramis does love that."
Athos shot him a sideways glance. "Aramis is unconscious, for which, under the circumstance, we must all be thankful."
D'Artagnan chuckled and moved to join the Queen.