Читать книгу Alias Aramis - Greg Pius - Страница 3

Chapter II

Once they are all safely inside D'Artagnan's room, the four friends ordered food and wine. The innkeeper's wife, Madame Bonacieux, took their order of four mugs of wine, some bread and a four whole roasted chickens. The comrades in arms were all keen to make up for a missed breakfast. Only D'Artagnan spoke with a distracted mind turning down his turn to eat some of the plentiful food. He has eyes only for the comely figure of the woman serving their late breakfast. She felt his stare and blushed. The burning eyes of her young lover spoke volumes of a passion to share once they were alone. Backing out of the room the woman stared lustfully back at D'Artagnan.

As soon as the door shut Aramis could stay silent no longer. He said in a jocular tone,

"Pity you cannot marry that wench. By the look of her she could give you many children."

As D'Artagnan's color rose dangerously, Athos spoke in his slow calm manner,

"Take no notice of Athos. He is just jealous, as we all are, of your good fortune. I know for a fact that Porthos here would give his best sword for a woman like that to feed him breakfast in bed. Is that not the case my lumbering giant?"

Trying to think of ways to get more of the chicken they had ordered and talk at the same time, Porthos said,

"Why should I not look for such a woman? Am I not a great catch? Any woman who can roast chicken this well is alright by me. Well done my young friend. If her chicken is this superb just imagine the rest of her cooking> It makes my mouth water. Speaking of which does anyone wants that half chicken I see lying idle on our platter. No? Well I cannot let such fine food go to waste. Pass it here Aramis. But before you think of marriage young D'Artagnan just you make sure first that her wine is of the best vintage."

Much laughter at this unintended witticism restored the even tempers of these firm friends. But just then they heard sounds of a scuffle and many boots in the room below their loft.

Looking down into the main room of the inn the four men saw a strange scene. The inn keeper's wife was beating off guards with her large ladle. They were trying to pin her arms but kept getting smacked in the head as they got close. Seeing this unfair assault D'Artagnan tried to jump to her aid. It was the strong arms of Porthos that stopped the young man from this rash act. Quickly but quietly Athos spelt out the futility of such a rash act to his new friend. He whispered,

"Think what would happen even if you could eliminate all three of them. They have been sent by the Cardinal! If we kill his first team then won't he just send another team. No better to wait then follow them outside. They will make a mistake as they walk through the narrow streets, then we will pounce. "

Reluctantly, D'Artagnan gave in to this quiet wisdom of his new friend. When a small procession of the now bound woman and her guards left the inn, the four friends became four shadows. Eventually the procession of the guard and prisoner was halted by heavy street traffic. They were still only half way to the Palace. So the guards turned off into a side street to avoid the crowd gathering around an overturned fruit barrow.

Not half way along this side street, they were attacked by four sword wielding fighters. D'Artagnan did not wait for his friends but waded in alone. Aramis arrived just in time to kill a swordsman who was trying to stab his young friend. When Porthos arrived the fight went out of the remaining guards. It was Athos that called them all back from the chase. He said,

"We must all get back to our posts quickly. We will have to take Madame with us all the way to the Palace. She just whispered to me that the Queen will give her sanctuary. Someone cut her bonds. No not you D'Artagnan. We have no time for kisses and hugs. There will be time for grateful reunions when you both are safe. So I suggest we leave here without delay."

All five of them ran off in the direction of the palace. When they got to the palace gates, the sentry at the gates blocked their passage. He called out,

"Stand. What is today's password?"

None of the men knew the password. Knowing that the innkeeper's wife would only be safe once she was in the Queen's chambers the four friends were perplexed. They loudly argued over alternate plans. Not noticed by the four friends, their supposedly helpless fifth member walked up to the sentry and whispered into his ear. Immediately he snapped to attention to permit them all to pass safely through the Palace gates.

Stunned, the four friends followed the rescued woman. She led them to a back entrance to the Queen's apartments. When they got to the top of a long stairway, Madame Bonacieux once more whispered something to the sentry at the top of those stairs. He opened a large door to allow them access to the main Palace building.

When they were no longer under the eye of any sentry, D'Artagnan finally broke his silence. He said,

"How did you get us inside? And how do you know the way to the Queen's chambers? These corridors all look the same to me."

Madame Bonacieux replied,

"I work as the Queen's seamstress! That means I must have access to her at odd hours. So she gave me a special password known only to royal favorites. It is changed every week. But I am now seeing the Queen on a daily if not nightly basis. So I am always given the new password. As for knowing this way along these corridors I have been coming this way in the dark of night for one year. See these corridors all have pink sashes on their lamp holders. No other corridors in this section of the palace have such decorations."

Once this was pointed out, the four friends saw clearly the pink sashes high up on the walls. They followed in fascination as they led them to the door of the Queen's chambers. Here Madame Bonacieux stopped them before saying,

"This last password only allows one person to enter the Queen's rooms. I must say goodbye to you all at this spot. But take with you my eternal gratitude. You have also done a great service to the Queen. I shall be sure to inform Her Majesty of your loyalty and bravery. "

After kissing D'Artagnan lightly on the cheek, the young woman walked boldly up to the doorman. On hearing the password for that week he allowed her to enter past his door.

Left to find their own way out of the Palace, the four friends remained deep in thought. By consensus they made for their favorite drinking spot. Porthos broke their collective silence when he bellowed out these words,

"FOOD! Innkeeper bring food at once. Lets have chicken and bread and cheese and lots of wine."

Laughing, the other three friends threw off their melancholy thoughts. They joined in when Porthos proposed that they begin there rudely interrupted breakfast with a toast to the Queen. As their favorite drinking place was well known, it was now very crowded. So the friends had to wait for their late breakfast.

Whilst Porthos argued with D'Artagnan about the merits of bread from Gascony versus other parts of France, the remaining two friends conferred quietly.

As always Athos began by saying,

"That petite woman from the inn is no innocent. We may have inadvertently involved ourselves in one of the Cardinal's many plots to embarrass the Queen."

Aramis nodded before saying,

"Yes that story about being the Queen's seamstress was too cute to be true. She is definitely spying for the Queen. That means that she is her courier. Who would notice a lower class seamstress if she visited Paris ladies to repair their dresses. I am beginning to admire the intelligence of our Queen."

Athos now put in a more somber note by saying,

"Tell none of this to D'Artagnan. He is too rash by far where this woman is concerned. This cannot help in not making the Cardinal his enemy. Anyone who assists the enemies of Richelieu becomes his enemy. We have a protector in our Captain. But D'Artagnan has no protector in Paris."

Seeing the same danger ahead for his young friend Aramis said,

"Then we must keep him close at all times. Make him an honorary musketeer if we must to keep him out of trouble. He is obviously in love with this woman. But I am not so sure she is in love with him. Oh she desires his kisses that is obvious, but her heart is still being held back from our young and impetuous friend."

Nodding his agreement then quickly placing a finger to his lips as he saw D'Artagnan and Porthos drawing close, Athos called out in a loud voice,

"INNKEEPER WHERE IS OUR FOOD? BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHERE IS MY WINE? DON'T MAKE ME COME DOWN TO YOUR CELLAR TO GET IT FOR MYSELF."

This last remark made them all laugh. They were remembering a challenge set by rivals for the title of best drinker in Paris. A dragoon guard swore he could drink out a whole cellar and still mount his charger. All the four friends swore that given the chance they could match his boast. But only Athos was being serious. His friends had no idea of the demons that haunted Athos after the sun went down. Wine was his only refugee from going mad. After Athos drank that dragoon guard under the table his friends carried his prone form back to his billet.

If they could have seen into the Cardinal's room they would have lost their appetites. He was reading a report from one of his many city agents. The activities of a certain innkeeper's wife was suddenly of great interest to the King's First Minister. He called in his Captain of the Guards. Then he said

"On sight the Queen's supposed seamstress is to be arrested then placed in the Bastille. She is to be given food and water but not to be allowed any visitors. I will have her arrest warrant from the King's hand tonight at the latest. If he would only pray less we could act faster. i give him absolution every morning but still he goes to his knees for hours of prayer every day. "

Knowing that in this sort of mood his employer would brook no dissent, the Captain replied,

"It will be done as you have so ordered. But what of that pesky D'Artagnan. We could pick him up easily. Not having any family in Paris there is no one to speak to the King about his arrest."

Shaking his head Richelieu said,

“No leave him alone. I have another agent working on that one. that young man has information I need before he is killed. Believe me I am not being soft by letting him walk freely in Paris. The agent on his trail is ruthless and totally without mercy. She will trap him either with honey, or, cut him with steel.”

The Captain had the seventeenth century Frenchman's prejudice against women. So he said,

"A woman? Well she may get him into her bed but she will not get him into prison. Why don't you let me handle this young pretender?"

A new voice broke the silence between Cardinal and Captain. A husky voice said,

"Because you would make a mess of everything again. You have no idea of the minds you are up against. That "young pretender" has some clever friends. One in particular will see your men coming then embarrass them by leaving them all looking like fools."

Stunned, the Captain was about to shout down this woman when Richelieu put a restraining hand on his shoulder. He then said,

"Captain let me introduce you to the most lethal woman in Paris. Do not make her your enemy I warn you. Madame you are late but as always you are worth the wait. That outfit is stunning."

A booted figure entered the light of the room before saying

"As always your Eminence you see all."