Evening, all. Thank you for reading the last chapter.
Here, the Captain continues his conversation with the Cardinal and the King.
22 DAYS EARLIER
TREVILLE
"My men are stretched to the limit," I begin and quickly explain about how their working day is currently structured.
"The Red Guard can assume more of the palace duties," Richelieu says, waving a hand dismissively as if that will solve the problem.
"The Musketeers are already assigned to the protection of their Majesties so why don't the Red Guard do more of the necessary work in the city?" I press, angry that he has decided to take over what many would perceive to be the 'lighter' duty for his men.
"The Musketeers are already doing a good job amongst the people of the city, maintaining order and a high profile," he simpers. "The people are used to seeing them abroad. Isn't that so, Your Majesty? The presence on the streets of the King's élite regiment reminds the people of their King's concern for their well-being."
Louis visibly brightens at the suggestion. "That is a very good point, Cardinal. They will think that I am there with them through my Musketeers and that they are not forgotten in their hour of need."
"My men are being pulled in every direction at present –"
"And a fine job they are doing too," Richelieu interrupts, "but they are required to do more when Paris, the seat of this country and the very home of His Majesty calls for their help, courage and steadfastness," Richelieu interrupts. His words, deliberately chosen, ensure that Louis is in full agreement as evidenced by the King's enthusiastic nodding.
"Might I remind you that I have a man still missing? Now that it has stopped raining and the waters are starting to recede, I need to send men out to resume the search," I grind out, struggling to control my temper.
"Where are your priorities, Tréville?" Richelieu demands coldly, his eyes narrowing to mere slits of contempt. "You want to redirect soldiers to find just one man who is probably dead already when there are many French citizens desperate for assistance who, without it, could well become unnecessary fatalities? How will you explain that to the masses, hmmm?" His voice has risen dramatically, and I know it is all for effect as he is determined to sway the King with his way of thinking.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, Athos is my second-in-command. What kind of message is it sending to the rest of the regiment if a loyal and much-respected man is seemingly abandoned?"
Richelieu cuts in before the King is able to draw breath to respond. "The message is that your loyal and much-respected officer has paid the ultimate sacrifice. He has given his life in service to his King and country in bringing to book those who would overthrow the rightful sovereign of France. Granted it is not the noble end he would, as a soldier, have expected on a battlefield, but he will have known that on being commissioned, there is a fearful price that might be exacted with his responsibilities. When order has been restored, I am sure that a suitable memorial service can be arranged that would satisfy your men. Perhaps," and here he turns to address Louis directly, "Your Majesty could be prevailed upon to attend briefly as they are the King's regiment and he is an officer rather than one of the regular soldiers."
"But of course," Louis readily acquiesces. "Anything to help my brave men in their mourning process."
I slap my hat against my thigh, anything that will allow me the slightest venting of fury, preventing a total eruption of temper where I might say something that I will later regret.
"If you will excuse me, You Majesty, there is much to which I must attend, especially in the light of the regiment's increased workload." I scowl at Richelieu as I lay an emphasis on my last two words. I dearly want to ask what the Red Guard will be doing in this time of great need. Immediately, a thought comes to mind and I make a snap decision. "I will pull all palace protection details from midnight tonight; the responsibility is then yours, Cardinal." I give a curt bow and start for the door.
"All?" Richelieu splutters. "I said the Red Guard would do more of the palace duties, not all of it."
I halt mid-step, fix a humourless smile on my face and slowly turn to the First Minister. "But why do just half a job, Cardinal, when you can have the satisfaction of doing it completely? My men will head off in pursuit of Bircann's co-conspirators, continue clearing collapsed buildings, retrieving corpses and transferring them to the morgue, seeking medical attention for those requiring it, helping move more people affected by the flooding, maintaining law and order on the streets of this city and now guarding the food distribution spots and stores. I assume that you will have all the necessary arrangements sorted regarding the implementation of rationing and will inform me by the end of today. You can then focus on His Majesty's protection detail."
I can only hope that Louis sees the unfairness in the distribution of tasks. I need not have worried for he does and, when he speaks again, relief floods through me.
"I insist, dear Cardinal, that you appoint the minimum number of men here at the palace for my safety and that of the Queen. The rest of your men must be freed to assist my gallant Musketeers in their workload."
"Thank you, Sire," I acknowledge the offer with a little nod, inwardly pleased at the Cardinal's obvious displeasure, and make to leave again, but a dogged determination combined with a wicked desire to be as awkward as possible overwhelms me. "And thank you, Cardinal, for the additional men. That means I will be able to resume the search for Athos after all."
I am not about to let Richelieu know that I fully intend to send out search parties anyway. I will not abandon one of my own. It would be better if I could send several and I will try to work that into a revised schedule for the men, but even if it is only to be just Aramis and Porthos, I know that they will leave no stone unturned in the search for their brother. It will also keep them out of any more trouble that Delacroix might instigate and, I trust, satisfy them a little.
Delacroix was the instigator of the altercation and Porthos had delivered the first blow. That much I suspected even before I heard the eye-witness accounts and Porthos' ready admission of guilt. Also true to character was Delacroix' attempt to come up with some inventive excuses, but I was unable to spare either of them from the work details I had created to issue a specific punishment, so a severe reprimand to both had to suffice. Besides, the back-breaking work they were given in clearing up after the flood was punishment enough and made the usual cleaning out of the stables look favourable in comparison.
No-one needed to know that the said reprimand was heavier for Delacroix. Porthos is already punishing himself for not being able to get back out there to find Athos. Frustration rolls off him and Aramis in waves, their tempers short. In truth, I fear that if I do not permit them to resume the search soon, then they will take it upon themselves to find their own way and I cannot bear to think of dealing with the aftermath of their desertion.
To lose one of the Inseparables would be tragedy enough, but to then lose all three as a consequence … I understand why they would contemplate it, but I cannot condone it and therefore it is down to me to find a solution, to spare them that decision and facilitate their search, praying hard that it is not too late. For if they find Athos dead, I will have lost them anyway; they will never forgive me and, rest assured, if that is to be the outcome after these delays, then I will never be able to forgive myself.
But Richelieu, it seems, must have the last word.
"There is one more thing, Treville," he says, delaying my departure again. "After the bad weather we have been having, I feel it is necessary to visit where Marie de Medici is staying to ensure that the King's mother is in good health and that we might have some conversation."
For 'staying', substitute 'under house arrest' and for 'some conversation', he means interrogation.
"A good idea," I concur. "And you are telling me this because …?"
"If my Red Guard are doing increased duties at the palace and helping more in the city, I can only take a handful of men with me. I require you to accompany me with a couple of your most trusted Musketeers. Shall we say the two called Porthos and Aramis?"