The Hunt for The Red Cardinal

by Bradley Sinor

  “I’ll take third,” said D’Artagnan, “and wake the rest of you in the morning. We should get an early start. I’ll watch for the sun to rise, since I’ll be able to see it through the window.”

  The rest went to their beds, Brother Xavier and D’Artagnan with the patient and the others in the other room. Athos took a chair and put it inside the room by the door, opening the door a fraction so he could hear and see anyone who might be walking down the hallway.

  It remained quiet through the time Athos was on watch. When the church bell tolled midnight, he quietly woke Montaigne and went to his bed.

  Montaigne woke the monk, who drank the draught and went directly back to sleep. The night remained quiet, and at four o’clock Montaigne woke D’Artagnan.

  “When the sun is up, I’ll wake the rest of you so we can harness the cart horse and claim our horses. Then we can carry Brother Etienne down and leave.”

  “That will be fine. If you like, you can harness the horse and bring the cart around to the front, along with our horses,” D’Artagnan told him. “I’ll make sure all our belongings are packed and brought down. Get some sleep.”

  In the morning, D’Artagnan left the monks sleeping and went across the hall to wake the others.

  “Time to make our escape,” he told them. “Georges, you, Gerard, and Emile make sure everything is packed and ready to go. Montaigne will harness and saddle the horses and bring them around front. We should leave as soon as we can.”

  They went to their duties, accomplishing them quickly, and met back in the monk’s room. Brother Xavier was awake by then and had packed his and Brother Etienne’s things. He, of course, still slept.

  “How are we going to do this?” Porthos asked.

  “Since your horses are still stabled elsewhere, we will put your packs in the cart. Then we will place Brother Etienne there and Brother Xavier will drive,” D’Artagnan explained. “Then you three can walk to the other stable while the rest of us follow you. Tell the stable master that you will bring all our horses back later, since we have no place to stable them where we’re going. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to follow us on foot.”

  After some discussion, the rest of them decided to ride there this time and return the horses to the stable after fixing the location in their memories.

  “Georges, will you carry Brother Etienne down again?” D’Artagnan requested.

  When they went down, the cart and horses were waiting for them. It took just a short time for belongings to be stored in the cart and the monk laid there. D’Artagnan and Montaigne stored their things in the saddle bags, which left more room in the cart.

  D’Artagnan went back in to inform the innkeeper that they were leaving.

  “Is your friend able to continue your journey already?” he asked.

  “He is better, but we’re just moving to the home of a friend who offered to let us stay awhile.”

  “You have paid for another day.”

  “Yes. May we use that to pay for our breakfasts? If so, could you wrap the food so we may take it with us?”

  “That is unusual, but I think I can do it. Where is it you are going? I may know your friend.”

  “Conard,” D’Artagnan mumbled. “He is a friend of another in our party. Very generous, as well.”

  The innkeeper left for the kitchen with a musing look on his face. When he arrived, he asked his wife, “Do we know anyone by the name of Conard?”

  She thought for a moment and answered. “Isn’t he an acquaintance of your cousin Anatole? The name does seem familiar.”

  “Bah. Anatole is a reprobate. Our guests seem much more refined. He must be someone else.”

  The innkeeper soon delivered the food wrapped in a piece of heavy cloth.

  “We thank you for your hospitality. Farewell,” D’Artagnan said as he was leaving.

  Athos, Porthos, and Aramis had already left for the general stable to collect their horses when D’Artagnan left the inn.

  “Shall we go? We’ll go a different way to our destination and meet the others there, since Gerard knows the way,” D’Artagnan said to Montaigne and Brother Xavier. Brother Etienne was still asleep and seemed to be resting comfortably in the back of the cart. The cart slowly traveled the streets in a roundabout route to the warehouse, while the other riders went in a different direction.

  Before long they all met on the street behind the warehouse and went together between the buildings.

  “Here we are,” D’Artagnan announced, spreading his arms wide to encompass the building.

  “It doesn’t look like much,” said Aramis. “But we must take what we can get. Let’s look inside.”

  “We’ll leave the cart here, but there’s no way we can keep the horses with us,” D’Artagnan replied. “We can pull the cart inside through the double door. It should be wide enough for the cart to fit, and then we can bar it.”

  “I told the stable master that we would be back before the end of the day and would have seven horses to board,” Athos told D’Artagnan when they had all arrived at the warehouse.

  D’Artagnan and Montaigne opened the doors so they could enter and pull the cart inside. Porthos carried the cardinal to his bed and pulled a blanket over him.

  “Thank the Lord he is still asleep,” said Brother Xavier, “and has felt no pain on the way.”

  “Indeed,” said Montaigne. “Georges, would you help me unhitch the horse from the cart and take it outside? Then we can eat our breakfast before we return the horses to the stable.”

  “Since we have seven horses,” D’Artagnan said while they were eating, “only three need take them. Montaigne, would you, Georges and Emile take them? One of you can lead two of them. The rest of us can get settled here while you’re gone.”

  “Gladly,” replied Montaigne. Porthos and Aramis nodded their agreement. “But since we will keep the door barred at all times, we need a way to be let back inside.”

  D’Artagnan thought a moment, then said, “A special knock will let those inside know that those who are outside belong to our party. How about three knocks, a pause, and then two knocks? If no one comes to let you in, repeat the knocks.”

  “That should suffice,” Montaigne answered, then repeated, “three knocks, a pause, then two knocks.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  By the time the breakfast fare was laid out, the cardinal was awake. He had slept longer than anticipated, and Brother Xavier had been concerned.

  “What if he drank too much of the draught?” he had asked D’Artagnan. “What if he won’t wake up?” The monk was beside himself with worry. “Are you certain you got the right thing?”

  “Yes, I’m certain,” D’Artagnan assured him. “Don’t worry.”

  “We are here,” the cardinal said, looking around. “Not as nice a place as the room at the inn, but I suppose it will be sufficient until I’m well enough to continue on our journey.”

  At that, Brother Xavier breathed a large sigh of relief and all but embraced the cardinal.

  “We will do our best to keep you comfortable,” Brother Xavier assured him. “We must keep hidden to prevent capture by King Gaston’s men.”

  “Of course. As a humble man of God, I should not complain about our lodgings, since I can’t remember any previous ones.” He took the food that was handed to him and began to eat. “I must keep that in mind.”

  After the meal, Montaigne and the others left to stable the horses, which had been tied to a pole outside the warehouse. The rest of them began to look around their new accommodations.

  “It’s not very big, is it?” the cardinal observed. “We will all be in close quarters.”

  “No,” D’Artagnan said. “But that is not a bad thing. It will be more defensible if needed.”

  “So how should we arrange the tables and chairs?” Athos asked. “I think the smaller table

  should be next to Brother Etienne’s bed, with a chair for Brother Xavier to sit on.”

  “That sound goo
d. We can put the other one near the center of the room. It should be large enough to put the other five chairs around it,” D’Artagnan replied.

  Athos walked around the inside of the building. “It’s not very big, but I suppose it’s big enough. We don’t really need much room.”

  “And it is much better than camping,” added Brother Xavier. He went to the pole in the middle of the warehouse and said, “Will we leave the cart outside?”

  “I think we must bring it inside to not call any attention to someone being here,” said D’Artagnan.

  “But aren’t the shafts of the cart too long?” asked the monk.

  “I think that if we tilt the cart to the back it won’t take up much room. The roof is certainly high enough,” Athos pointed out.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  At the stable, Montaigne found the stable master. “As you can see, I brought our horses back with three additional ones. There may be a time when one of us will need his horse for a short time. In that case, if it is not myself that comes, my name will be used. We don’t know when we will be leaving again; one of our party is injured and not able to travel.”

  “I understand,” the stable master said. “Anyone who needs one of the horses is to use your name instead of his own.”

  Montaigne gave him more money to cover a few more days, and they returned to the warehouse.

  “Have you chosen your sleeping pallets, or did you wait for us?”

  “We waited,” Athos told him. “Now come pick your space while we choose ours. We don’t all have to sleep close by each other, but I think someone should sleep near each door. They will be bolted, but they should be guarded even though the guard is asleep.”

  “That’s a good idea,” D’Artagnan said. “Since we’re sleeping on pallets instead of bedsteads, we can move them around. I will take the first night, then one of you can take the second. The five of us can guard once every five days.”

  “Don’t you think my bed should be placed farther from the door?” Brother Etienne asked.

  “Actually, there is another door opposite this one, although it is hard to see. If we move the cart to block that door, we can move the bed farther in that direction,” said Aramis.

  “But doesn’t the door open out?” Athos asked. “What good would the cart do against that door?”

  D’Artagnan went to look at the door. “It does bolt on the inside. The cart would be another layer of protection. If an intruder broke through the door, he would still have to get past the cart and the man sleeping by it.”

  That made sense to Athos and the others, so the cart was pulled next to that door and pushed tightly against it.

  “Then might my bed be moved to the corner?” the cardinal repeated.

  “But you are awake now, and will feel the pain of your knee if you have to get out of the bed,” protested Brother Xavier.

  “That’s easy,” said Porthos. “Some of us can carry the bed with him in it. Which of us are the strongest?”

  “First let’s move the cart; then we can decide who is strongest,” said D’Artagnan.

  Porthos and Montaigne moved the cart against the opposite door even though the door was barred on the inside. Then they went to the bed. With one at the head and one at the foot, they tried to lift it. It came barely off the floor and wobbled when they moved it.

  “Gerard and Emile, come help us. Four should be enough to move it smoothly,” Montaigne said.

  With their help, the bed was moved to the back and set with its head in the corner so each side would be accessible. Then they moved the pallets to different places so they were spaced out around the room, with D’Artagnan putting his in front of the other door.

  “I think it’s time to go in search of some lunch,” Porthos said. “Two of us can go out and bring the food back here. Or maybe three of us. It may be hard to carry that much.”

  “Why don’t we buy a basket while we’re out, and maybe some plates and cups,” Athos suggested.

  “We have the plates and cups in our packs,” reminded D’Artagnan.

  “Of course. We haven’t used them since we stayed with Pastor Alexandre, so I rather forgot.”

  “A basket is a good idea, though,” said D’Artagnan. “Why don’t the two of you go? Gerard has some knowledge of the area and should be able to find the way back here. Then, for dinner, Emile can go out with Montaigne so he can also learn his way around.”

  “We shall return,” Porthos said as he left with Athos following.

  They went up and down several streets, looking for a place to get food to take with them. Most places didn’t provide the means to carry food out to be eaten elsewhere. They bought a decent-sized basket and a cloth with which to cover the food they would put in it.

  It looks as if we are going on a picnic,” Athos commented.

  “A picnic sounds like fun, except when you have no other place to eat,” Porthos told him. “I do not like to camp out in the elements and eat cold food that’s been transported in a cart.”

  By the time of their return, the room had been further tidied and arranged. The pallets of the five of them, D’Artagnan, Montaigne, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, had been spaced out evenly around the room to each side of the bed. Brother Xavier’s pallet was near the bed, and the tables and chairs were toward the center.

  Porthos set the new basket on the table, where the plates and cups from their packs had been placed, and took out bread and cheese. Then came two bottles of wine and a piece of cooked meat wrapped in cloth.

  “We should be able to save some of the bread and cheese for tonight, but the meat might not keep as long,” Athos told them. “Later, someone else can go out for additional food.”

  Brother Xavier fixed two plates for Brother Etienne and himself and took them to the corner with the bed, where he had already set a chair.

  Aramis took two cups of wine to them. “I’ll be back in a little while to refill your cups. Enjoy your lunch.”

  Brother Xavier was able to urge the cardinal to eat and drink a little, but before he had finished his plate, he went back to sleep.

  “I’ll save the rest of his food for his supper,” Xavier told the others. “I don’t want to waste any of it.”

  The rest of the group had gathered around the two tables and filled their plates.

  “Did you see or hear anything of the king’s men while you were out?” D‘Artagnan asked Athos and Porthos.

  “No. But perhaps one or two of us should eat elsewhere this evening,” Porthos said. “Maybe there will be talk that could be overheard.”

  “I’ll suggest that to Montaigne and Emile. Where did you get this food?”

  “There is a small place a few blocks away. It’s not an inn, just a place to eat. The family seems nice; they didn’t ask any questions. It’s on the first floor of a house,” Porthos answered.

  “Is it very big? I think a large place might have more customers who might talk.”

  “It’s big enough. Of course, the place wasn’t full when we were there, but I think it might be for the evening meal.”

  “All right. Tell Montaigne where it is.”

  Porthos went to talk to Montaigne and D’Artagnan went to talk to Athos, who was reclining on his pallet.

  “Georges told me where you went for the food and that there weren’t many customers at the time. Do you think there might be more for the evening meal?”

  “Yes, I think so. It was a nice, clean place, but rather small, at least compared to an inn. The food seemed good. There probably will be more tonight.”

  “Good. I’ll suggest to Montaigne that he and Emile eat there and then bring food back for us. They can listen for gossip and information that we should know.”

  Later, after eating their dinner, Montaigne and Athos returned bearing additional food, enough to last through breakfast the next day.

  “Our dinner was very informative,” Athos reported. “We now know much more about this neighborhood and a bit about the surrounding area.
”

  “I spotted our benefactor there,” Montaigne added. “When he saw me, it looked as though he would come to our table, but I warned him off with a scowl. I don’t think we should be seen talking together.”

  “Montaigne is famous for his scowl,” D’Artagnan said, chuckling.

  “It would stop a charging bull,” put in Porthos. “I have seen it happen.”

  “Anyway, we learned much of little importance. But things of little importance now can turn into a possible catastrophe or a Godsend. We shouldn’t ignore information just because we think it’s of no use,” Montaigne said.

  “Indeed,” D’Artagnan said. “Did you hear anything we should know?”

  “Well, we heard nothing of Gaston’s men looking for anyone. However, not hearing something bears little weight,” Montaigne said. “A different pair should dine there or somewhere else tomorrow night, and a third pair the night after.”

  “Excellent idea!” said D’Artagnan. “In fact, two pairs can eat at two different places, leaving someone here with the monks each evening. If we spend frugally, we might have enough to continue this journey to its end.”

  “Fine. But now I’m going to bed,” Porthos said. “If the rest of you want to stay up talking, please go to the other side of the room.”

  “I’m ready to sleep, myself,” added Montaigne. “I’ll take the pallet near Georges.”

  The rest agreed that sleeping would be a good idea, with D’Artagnan reminding them that he would stay up to guard them.

  “Even if I drop off to sleep, the noise or movement of someone trying to break in will wake me. Then I’ll wake the rest of you. Be sure to keep your swords by you as you sleep.”

  They all bade good night to each other and retired.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Several days went by without anyone seeming to notice that they were there. Each evening four of them went out in pairs to eat at two different places, listening for information about Gaston’s men coming to town. Each night they learned things about the other customers and the town, but little else.

  In the afternoon of the fifth day, they all gathered around Brother Etienne to see if he was able to be moved.