Читать книгу Alias Aramis - Greg Pius - Страница 5

Getting out of Paris was not going to be easy for these would be royal couriers. The Cardinal's guards had all the major roads covered. But years going from tavern to tavern had taught the Musketeers many side streets and back alleys. So they worked out a way to beat the city blockade.

Aramis came up with a plan to deceive their aspiring jailer. He said,

"Let us send out servants ahead with our spare horses. They will say that they were visiting Paris from Marseilles. Given their appearance and lack of dueling swords, the guards will not doubt their story."

Athos quickly saw the possibilities in this ruse, so he nodded his head then said,

"Excellent idea on a number of levels. First it will distract the guards. Then it will establish a memory about talk of us going to Marseilles. It will also show the guards who may pursue us later the wrong horses. Finally the faces they see will not be our own faces."

Now all four were nodding. So the servants were sent on ahead. Porthos lead the group of four royalists up the dark side streets. His lead role arose largely because he could dissuade any of the city's criminals from attacking this small group. The pace had to be quickened every time they got too near a main boulevard. If one had to be crossed it was done at a run.

Only once did they come close to being captured. It was Aramis who got them out of a very sticky situation. As Porthos led his friends towards the left bank of the Seine, they came across guards who had snuck off for a quick drink. They almost collided with the four friends going in the opposite direction. Before any guard could work it out, Aramis assumed his father's censorious visage before saying

"I am the Abbe d'Herblay what do you men think you are doing drinking on duty? I must inform the Cardinal of your sin of inebriation."

The guards appeared to be horrified by the thought of having to go before the Cardinal, so they said,

"Please holy father, do not hand us over to the Cardinal. If we have sinned then surely you can hear our confession and give us our penance."

Aramis pretended to wrestle with his conscience. Then he replied,

"Very well I shall hear your confessions but don't expect mercy. My minimum sentence for inebriation at the best of times is considered severe. Be at the cathedral at first light tomorrow. And I better not smell any wine on your breath."

The Cardinal held such fears for these misbehaving guards that Aramis had no trouble in convincing them. As the guards raced back to their post the four friends snuck out of Paris.

No more dramas held back this band of determined couriers. They joined up with their servants well clear of the last city barricade. Then they all rode hard for the border.

Travelling through the Loire Valley they unfortunately arrived into a town just as the Cardinal's guards were leaving. If it had not been for the sharp eyes of Aramis's servant, they would have gone too close to their enemy. As it was they had just enough time to turn their horses around and bolt for the tree line outside that town. It was a very close pursuit but the eight riders just made it into the thick woodland. There they were able to hide from their searchers.

Once they had been able to extricate themselves from this search, they rode due south. But at their next water stop, Aramis called his friends together. He said,

"Well gentlemen we were lucky back there with that band of guards. I have rewarded my servant for saving our mission. But I think we will need a plan to eliminate future risks. So I propose a lookout be sent ahead before entering any future towns."

Athos quickly replied, "Agreed. More can be won with honey than is ever won with fire. We will question tavern keepers and reward them for any information that will keep us out of the Bastille. However do not let your guard down. The Cardinal's Captain of the Palace Guard will send out agents so we must stay alert at all times."

As if to emphasize that, the sound of horses hooves came clearly from just outside the barn they were using for cover. With no time to bolt away the eight horsemen led their charges deep into the barn. The voices of their pursuers floated into the barn. They all recognized one voice in particular. Just then it was saying,

"You riders at the back go check out that large farmhouse. It looks empty but be careful, there may be assassins hiding there as we speak. You lot over by that barn get yourselves out onto that dirt road we crossed. I want every vagrant stopped and questioned. They are here somewhere I can just smell them. Now the rest of us will move out as soon as our horses are watered."

The four friends all knew the voice of the Comte de Rochefort. He was their old enemy in Paris. Obviously the Cardinal was not taking any chances. His Captain of the Guards was considered to be the best blade in France. Yet here he was leading a chase party all over southern France.

Only when the friends heard the sound of horses galloping away into the distance did they venture out of the barn. A look of confusion spread across D'Artagnan's face as he saw now in clear sunlight the layout of their location. He said out loud,

"It was still dark when we arrived at this barn. That farmhouse on the hill must have been covered in mist. We did not know it was there. But what is most striking about all we just overheard was that they failed to search the barn. Why would they make such a big mistake. I have no time for that vile Comte, but I never took him for a fool."

Aramis put his young friends mind at rest by saying,

"You are right. The Comte de Rochefort is no fool. But he is human with all the fears that state entails. My guess is that he saw that sign on the barn door."

Now Porthos could remain silent longer. He exploded,

"WHAT SIGN? I SEE NO SIGN ON THAT DOOR."

Aramis rode up to the half opened barn door then slammed it shut. Clearly there was a sign on that half of the barn door. Then he says in a teasing voice

"That's because you were looking at the wrong side. For clearly there is a sign here for all to see."

A look of abject horror now touched the face of D'Artaganan as he saw the mark on the closed door. In a shaky voice he said,

"The mark of the plague. We have entered a barn that sheltered plague corpses. No wonder there were no horses or groomsmen."

A look of sly perception now came to the face of Athos. He said,

"I entered that barn first and saw no such sign. But then you must have entered last Aramis. It is a good job for the short time you would have had to place it there. I can now see the can of paint and brush you used. Very clever work."

Aramis now laughed out aloud before saying,

"Praise from you Athos makes it all worthwhile. Though I am not certain I would not have done it just to see that look on D'Artaganan face."

The relief of finding that the sign was indeed still wet from the newly applied paint. This find made all four friends laugh together. Finally Aramis said,

"It was all I could think of at the spur of the moment to keep them out of the barn. But we better go quickly before someone mentions that only one side of the double doors was painted."

Seeing the wisdom of this warning the eight riders galloped off towards the south.

When the Comte de Rochefort rode into the next large town he saw a coach that was very familiar to him. It stood before the best tavern. The coach was guarded by a giant of a man. Riding up to that tavern Rochefort nodded to the guard then entered the tavern. He was greeted by a laugh he knew too well. It was mirthless and cruel. Obviously someone had just been stung by the wasp sting that was Milady's tongue.

Entering the main room, the Comte saw a stunningly beautiful woman standing near the big fireplace. She seemed to have everyone running around doing her bidding. A young serving wench was on her knees moping up split wine with her apron. The malice in Milady's eyes when she looked down on this poor unfortunate girl was pronounced. This petty scene reminded Rochefort of how vicious this woman could be even with simple folk.

She looked up into his face. Her sharp gaze pinned him to the spot with that look from her cold but still beautiful eyes. The utter contempt streaming from those black orbs belied the honey coated words that flowed from her full lips,

"Ah the gallant Comte de Rochefort is among us at last. We can all rest easy. The enemies of the Cardinal now have no chance. Where have you placed the prisoners, Comte? In the stables surrounded by blades of steel I hope. We defenseless women would not be safe in our beds with such dangerous men loose in the area."

Wincing at having to admit his failure, the Comte lowered his head without a word. The laugh from this woman's lips cut into his soul deeply. She said sarcastically,

"What no prisoners? The Cardinal will not be pleased. It seems that I am needed after all? How has the great Captain of the Guards failed such a simple task?"

Milady Clarick de Winter now took control of the situation.