Updated: 28/01/2024

AUTHOR'S NOTE PLEASE READ!

Sorry for the long wait but my computer crashed and is basically a ride off and I haven't got the money to get a new one at the moment. Today's update luckily was already on Doc's ready to put up and I have borrowed a computer to do this.

So everyone please hang in there and know I haven't abandoned ANY of my stories!

Chapter 12: The Card Game

Athos, Porthos and Aramis ended up having an amusing afternoon. After Aramis came back, he filled them in on what Chelsea and Marcus said. Just before Treville came storming in, looking just as furious as the other day when D'Artagnan had been arrest at the gates of the Garrison (not that the Inseparables knew that) and announced the Red Guard had been ordered to search the Garrison for the Fugitive and anything involves him and they would be there soon. And they had been given orders to go through everything and turn everything upside down to check for anything incriminating.

A few things were hidden. But they didn't have cause to worry.

But after two hours there was no Red Guard and another two passes before some Red Guard turn up and it wasn't very many.

"I thought the Cardinal was going to send you right away", Treville states to them.

They look disgruntled.

"There has been trouble in the streets. Stupid street brats are causing mayhem all over the city and we have had to try and catch them", one says.

Treville, Athos, Porthos and Aramis try and try being the word here, to not smile and snicker. As this sounded like something planned. Not that they could prove it of course.

"I swear when I get my hands on that brat who tripped me and the others up knocking over that apple cart, I'll…", one mutters much to their amusement.

Athos lips twitch at that.

"So, this is all the Cardinal can spare?" Treville asks managing barely to keep a straight face, "How much trouble can a few kids make?"
"That is none of your business about those young adu…kids. Anyway, yes this is all that can come", they growl looking like it cost them a great deal to admit it.

They try and not to smirk at the Guards slip of the tongue. Looks like some adults are causing mischief in Paris. This would have to be the busiest day ever for the poor Red Guards. That they were getting bested by a supposed group from the Court of Miracles. Not that they could/would prove it.

Now they wondered who on earth could that be behind this?

And how?

(Line Break)

Athos, Porthos and Aramis make their way casually to one of the Inns/Tavern in Paris where they had found out the next card game was being held.

"So, who did you think won out of the Red Guards and them today?" Aramis asks looking amused.

"We can't prove that it was them", Porthos reminds him looking smug, "It is not like they did anything to the Musketeers"

Athos lips twitch at that.

"I believe the Musketeers were detained at the Garrison for the search and couldn't help on the streets. A real pity that was", Aramis comments casually.

Athos lips twitch again at the thought of that supposed big search being scaled back and the Cardinal ordering no Musketeers could leave the Garrison till it was over. Meaning they couldn't 'help' the Red Guard.

Someone played that well.

Nearly too well.

Not that anyone but the Red Guard and Cardinal were complaining and the Red Guard and the Cardinal didn't seem to be at all suspicious about the sudden surge in activity on THIS day.

Maybe he would be willing to overlook some things his brother had done lately.

"Lets just get on with this shall we", Athos asks them.

They nod they really hoped this lead panned out.

"Porthos remember what we talked about", Athos whispers.

"I know. You don't need to go over it again"

They had dressed casually with nothing to identify them as Musketeers for tonight. The inn they walked into each on their own to they wouldn't be seen together, looked only mildly better then the Wren. But that wasn't saying much.

Athos orders a bottle of wine and he sees Aramis going to play his part flirting with the number of women in the bar. Hopefully he wouldn't get too distracted.

They didn't have to wait long for those 'shady' types to turn up all laughing and mocking the bartender/inn owner and demanding drinks be bought to their table.

Athos had to hide his disgusted at them. Especially when they slapped one of the waitresses' bottoms.

As they set up Porthos swaggers over to them.
"I would like to try my luck", Porthos tells them.

They eye him.

"What makes you think you can play with us?" one of the men asks.

Porthos puts done a pile of coins Athos had 'donated' to the cause. He said if it was to help their Little Brother it was worth it.

They look hungrily at the coins and nod.

"You're in", the one who seemed to be the leader here.

Porthos sits down and they start but after the second round when drinks were being delivered someone forced their way to sit down with them.
"What the HELL!?" one of the guys warn, "You can't be here!"

"Get out of here. Only serious players here"

The man smirks and pulls out a pouch and tips it on the table. It looked nearly the pile of coins looked the same size of what Porthos had put on the table. Actually, it might be a bit bigger. Making these greedy men eye him eagerly.

"My name is Richard and shall we play?"

(Line Break)

Athos had watched the new player enter the same late. He didn't hear the name but there was something off about the man. He wasn't these guys friend as the men had argued about him joining until the man put his pile of coins on the table and all protests had stopped. That told Athos that these men would do anything for money and probably working for the boss for the money he was giving them.

Athos noticed a few things one that the man was about as good as Porthos at cards. As Athos was pretty sure he was letting these guys win more hands then he did. Second was that Athos noticed a few people around the room that seemed to be out of place. Including a guy playing a mandola in front of the fire with a woman.

Third he saw one of the waitresses run her fingers flirtingly across the late comer's collarbone.

Athos looked to see if Aramis had noticed anything to find him flirting with another girl who was doing as much flirting as he was. But at least Aramis still seemed to be having one eye on Porthos.

As the drinks flowed the men were having looser lips. But Athos noticed that the late comer was having just as many drinks as them but didn't seem affected by how much he was drinking.

What the Three Musketeers didn't know was that the late comers' glasses where being filled with coloured water provided by the flirtatious waitress when she bought their drinks over. So, the man wasn't getting drunk at all. Even if some of his actions proved he was.

"This is the only time our boss lets us have a little fun", one slurries his tongue nicely loosened.

"I hate it too. My boss is a real slave driver", Richard says smoothly, "Doesn't now that meaning of the word no"

"Same. But the work is fun", another slurries, "And we have the women just how we like them. Nice and compliment"

Porthos grits his teeth at that one.

"Only good thing a woman can do is be submissive to her husband and let him show her whose boss", Richard agrees smoothly, "I like to play my market through. Finding a good bitch, no back talking bitch is a hard find these days"

"Unless you like beating it into them", one of the ones laugh.

"My boss is a right bastard in the morning. Spends too much time on the booze he does", Porthos replies changing the subject, he had enough of them talking that way about women, "Has my whole family basically slaving over him"

"How did you afford a buy in then?" one asks.

"I took what he owed me", Porthos replies with a shrug.

"Good on you!" one slurries slapping his back.

Another round of drinks come and the waitress runs her fingers through Richard's head.

"That one likes you", one of the guy's slurries.

"I think I might just take her back to my place tonight and show her what a true man is!" Richard says to them.

"YEAH!" the group yell.

"That is a nasty burn you have there. Got a story behind that?" Richard asks casually noticing something Porthos hadn't.

Maybe because of the poor light.

Another round of drinks come and Porthos couldn't keep count of how many rounds they had, had and he didn't know who was paying for it.

Porthos doubted any of these men would remember this in the morning.

The man darkens slightly, "My last employer left me and several others to die in a fire"

"Good thing he will be getting his soon", another slurries.

"Our boss is getting his hooks into several markets", another slurries in Richard's ear, thinking he was being quiet when he was quite loud.

Richard looks disinterested as he wins a hand.

"What markets?" Porthos asks them.
"He is working on those filthy animals at the so-called Court of Miracles can you believe that Court is lead by a bitch?" one slurries.

Porthos wins a hand. As he tries not to punch the guy for calling Flea that.

"And her lap dog the Shadow", another adds.

Drinks were given as the waitress flirts with Richard again making the men hoot at them. They didn't know their attention had been diverted for a reason.

"Only should these bitches are is to give us heirs", Richard replies after the waitress had gone.

"Damn right!"

"Our boss will let them all know their place. Those that have treated us wrong for years will learn what we can really do", one slurries, "The ones that caused us pain will be on their knees before us"

"And we'll burn him like he did us", another laughs manically.

Porthos has to hold in his growl at that one.

Richard looked impassion but there was something in his eyes. Something calculating and cold. Porthos wondered if this guy was actually in with these guys or looking to join.

"Sounds like you have it ALL worked out", Richard replies moving his cards around.

"Damn right we do!"

"And our bosses are just getting started! The boss's missus is really a psychopath rumour is he is letting her off her leash soon. She is the only women boss let's get away with anything"

"Aren't you afraid of getting caught?" Porthos asks them casually.

"Nobody can match our boss!"

"Are there any vacancies in your group. As I want to get my family out from under my bastard of a Master", Porthos asks them.

"Would have to check. But our boss is pretty picky"

"How about we set up a meet?" Porthos asks ignoring a quick look from Richard.

The men laugh, "He doesn't meet with anyone personally unless they are vetted. Many of us only know the middle man and he reports everything to the boss. The last guy to try to get in ended up in the Seline"

"All in", Richard says quickly but firmly butting in before anything else could be said.

He looked at them sitting back looking calm and composed.
Porthos actually couldn't read him like he would normally be able to do with anyone. Hopefully he wouldn't be owing Athos any money. He had bragged about winning it all back tonight and giving Athos some profit.
"All in", Porthos confirms.

The men were so drunk they immediately agreed.

Cards were shown and to everyone's surprise the new guy Richard had the winning hand. He was smiling smugly.

"You cheated!" one of the drunk man yells.

"I did not", Richard replies with a wink at Porthos.

Porthos didn't know what to make of that.
"I believe our friend here did", Richard says gesturing to Porthos.

"He did", Porthos replies making sure to blame someone else, nodding towards one of the leering men.

They started getting more and more outraged as arguing went back and forth before one of the drunk men throw a punch at another.
"Time to go", Richard murmurs to Porthos quickly, "Our work is done here"

As all hell breaks loss around the inn as a glass was thrown at another's head and hit someone behind them. While a different waitress who had food in her hands trip which lands on other patrons. Which started an all-out brawl.

Athos and Aramis quickly moved into action to grab Porthos and leave. But Porthos looked for the guy who started this whole mess. Richard.

But the guy had vanished into thin air the second Porthos's attention was taken away from him.

It was like he hadn't been here at all.

Even the money that had been on the table when he and Richard had moved away was gone. And no, it wasn't on the ground getting caught up in this mess.

It vanished just like Richard and maybe coincidently the woman Aramis had been flirting with, the waitress and a few people that nobody looked twice at…

~~Author's Note: What Do You Think? Please Review:)!~~

Sorry there hasn't been much D'Artagnan time. But it IS coming!