Musketeer's Daughter:Unanswered Riddle

Chapter 27: Moral

Sitting astride, they eased their horses from the stable, and wove through the crowds of admiring courtiers as they gamboled about the courtyard.

"Follow my lead," Philippe said over his shoulder. Ysabeau acknowledged. Once they drew closer toward the most outer part of the courtyard, he thrust his heels into his destrier's ribs and it launched into a full gallop with a shriek.

Ysabeau glanced behind her, only a few bothered to watch.

They ran their horses hard for several hours, the sun at its summit when Philippe reined his in to a slow trot. It tossed its head with a blaring snort, grunting and as it pawed restlessly.

"We shall rest here."

Ysabeau alighted her destrier, grateful to stretch her limbs. With Dupré, all she had to do was release his reins and allow him freedom. Was this one as bright? When Philippe's mount past her straight to the rushing stream, she shrugged and released hers.

"There is an inn, we shall stay there for the night."

She joined him atop a massive bolder with a sigh. "Does it bother you that I am in men's garb? It always bothered my brother."

He opened his eyes after having removed his hat. "Why would it? I can see your legs quite nicely."

"I can move them quite nicely, too. Do you wish to spar?"

"Ysabeau, I do not wish to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. It is time to move on."

All business. How disappointing that she no longer influenced him as she did while in court. Perhaps he lied and found her repulsive.

They traveled again, but at a slower pace. The sun painted the heavens with pinks and purples and gold by the time they arrived at the inn. It was huge in its stone build, stark and ugly in the darkness with golden windows aglow. It was the very inn in which she fought the drunkards.

"We are not far from home, Philippe, let us travel the rest of the way."

"No. We must stay here this night. We are being watched."

How tempting it was to search for spies. "How do you know?" She slid from her mount and adjusted Andrién's satchel.

"You may be a great fighter, however, it takes more than that to be part of the King's elite." He dismounted and allowed the stable boy to take his horse. "Here." Philippe handed her a pouch.

It was heavy, bulky. She gazed at him in askance.

"Musketeers never pay for the same room at once, but always separately and for separate rooms."

"Why?" She hefted the pouch in her palm.

"Andrién's. He instructed me to give it to you once we arrived. Let us check in."