The Female Musketeer

Chapter 43 | Chat Effrayant

"You sure about this? This isn't some regular street criminal, this is a man you were on the brink of marriage with. A boy you grew up with." Athos asks as the gates of the Red Guard grow nearer.

I narrow my eyes.

"Athos, as I've said the other 12 times you have asked me. Yes, I can handle this. It's me he tried to...kill." Saying it still sounds wrong. This is the boy who lived so near to me, we grew beside eachother. Did I mean nothing to him, even a little bit?. I stopped myself from lingering on the questions. I kept my worries to myself, as I often did. But I could feel the stress of it all pounding in my skull.

We stop in the front of the yard.

Athos goes to speak but I put my hand up.

"If you ask me, one more time, if I'm ready. I will have to harm."

"Duly noted. Let's go."

We make our way inside. Luckily most of the yard is empty, save for a few men. They lounge about, in unusual comfort.

"The Cardinal is out in the country." Athos offers an explanation. I guess the Red Guard liked to loosen the rules when the man was too far to reprimand.

When I spotted him, I could see just how altered he had truely become. Frederick was thinner than before he left for Paris. He once walked through life with such an air of ease and contentess. Now, his eyes seemed more hallow. He lacked his once bright personality. He sat at a table, surrounded by his fellow Soliders. He made a joke I didn't catch, and the men erupted into laughter.

The laughter died quickly when a few of them laid their eyes on Athos and I.

Fredrick looked to them before following their turned heads.

"Please don't stop on our accounts. I love a good joke."

A new rage seemed to creep into my speech. I had assured myself I was fine. Hell I promised Athos multiple times I was. Yet, as I saw him sitting there, joking around with his new friends. I thought back to the letter. The man who promised to Love me, had little issue with potentially killing me.

"Daria, Musketeer." His voice was cold, cocky.

One of the other soldiers smacked his soldier.

"That's Athos, Cordon. He's the worst of them. I wouldn't mess with him."

Frederick laughs "I'm not afraid of some Musketeer."

"Maybe you should be, Freddie." The nickname sounds sour on my lips. Forced. Which is what I wanted. Frederick noticed too. His confidence slipped for a moment, but only a moment.

"What do you want?" He asks.

"A talk."

"A talk?"

"That is what I said, yes."

"No."

"Wasn't a request."

The men laugh quietly to themselves. Athos stood slightly behind me, a comforting back up. Frederick's jaw ticks.

"Go away."