Athosthoughtfully twisted the end of his mustache. Aramis nodded then joined Athos at thetable. Is there something wrong? Please, my friends do not ask me of heragain for I cannot say why His Eminence called herLady de Winter. What if they come back? Xavier stepped to the door and opened itwith a flourish. Xavier lit a long, thin candle. The Wee Musketeersflooded the space with a dim, flickering light. Holding the candle out to light the way,Xavier walked slowly across the rough woodenfloor.
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The thin, flickering flame caused shadows todance along the inky darkness. Then, cautioning everyone to standback, the baker put his shoulder up against the sideof the cabinet and pushed. Xavier let out a grunt. The case moved slowly and noiselessly along thefloor. It revealed a rectangular opening. Bobby, Fritzy, and Keith stepped up to theedge and stared into the darkness. The Wee Musketeers Jeanne joined the boys near the edge. Shegasped loudly, peering down the mysterious hole inthe floor.
The pitch inher voice betrayed her false bravado. Fritzy smiled and Keith shrugged hisshoulders before turning to Bobby. The Gascon gave Bobby a smile andthe same reassuring nod as Grandpa Max. The oldstairs strained against their weight, squeakingloudly with every step. So close, that more than once,one or the other bumped up against his back. Surprisingly, the room below appeared cleanand well kept.
As Xavier lit two tall oil lamps, theirgrowing flames brought the entire room into view. The ceiling was low and the floor was hardeneddirt. Except for some dampness, the air seemedclean. Several small tables filled the center of theroom surrounded by five crude wooden bunks. He looked at Jeanne. His toneturned quite serious.
The Wee Musketeers (Bound Into The Classics) (Volume 1)
So, my littlemusketeers, Xavier will hide those who the The Wee MusketeersCardinal, most assuredly, would banish unjustly tothe Bastille. It leads to the toilet. A fewmoments passed before he stumbled back into theroom. He turned andwent back through the doorway. The small band gathered around the threetables in the center of the room. Xavier had supplieda light snack for everyone before bed. I cannotguarantee your safety. The Frenchman did not reply, his fingersimply pointed up. Five sets of curious eyesfollowed that digit.
The air hung still. No one daredto breathe. The sound of boots banging against thefloor above them echoed through their smallchamber. The footsteps grew louder as they drewcloser to the hidden stairway. The boys followed suit theirwooden swords drawn and ready. The voices sounded as if they came fromdirectly over the stairway. Bobby froze, barely able tobreathe. Fritzy stood motionless, still as a statue.
There is not so much as a The Wee Musketeerswindow or even a crack big enough for a mouse. Noone could possibly get in or out without myknowing. Everyone, includingGrandpa Max and Jeanne, smiled at each other. They were safe—for now. Bobby tossed in his bunk. Quietly, trying not to disturb anyone, he pulled hisblanket from the bundled straw mattress and soughtout a quieter area so he might get some sleep.
It was his grandfatherwhispering his name. A few months ago, I went toan old house for an estate sale. The agent said thatthere were many old books. The Wee Musketeersinto the room, I realized the woman was staring atme. Her eyes followed me everywhere and Iremember it made me feel very uncomfortable.
Quickly, I picked out a few books and paid her. Ijust wanted to get out of there.
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When I stopped to see what she wanted,the woman went behind the desk, picked up a smallbox, and handed it to me. Nevertheless, I do rememberthat when I went to pay for the books, the womanwould not take any money. She said that the booksbelonged to me. Bobby rubbedhis eyes, which were stinging from the brightness. Fritzy yawned loudly as he shuffled behind the flourcovered, Xavier.
Keith sat down, cleared a spot atthe table, and laid his head down. The pastries are nearly ready. Every type of pastry Bobby, Fritzy and Keith couldever imagine lay before their eager eyes. Donuts,pastries, and cakes of all sizes and shapes litteredthe table.
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The Wee Musketeers Breakfast passed quickly and quietly. Bobby slid down the bench, closer toJeanne. Her face was sullen and pale. Bobby did not give up easily. Jeanne pulled her stare up from the table. Because he did not know what to say, Bobby lookedaway. Suddenly, a smile spread across his youngface. Then a huge smile appearedbelow his neatly cut mustache. The Wee MusketeersFirst we go to Buckingham and then we save yourfather.
She rushed around the table and gave him a big hug. What was that for? The boysrolled across the kitchen, arms and legs flappingwildly in the air. Blades flashed back and forthin the dimly lit stable, sending the horses into a fitof whinnies and kicks. Aramis had dropped to oneknee just in front of a stall, but still fought on. Thetwo guards sensed that they had the best of Aramisand moved in for the kill. Porthos came around theside of an empty stall and waved at the guardsbefore darting inside.
Having to battleonly one guard, Aramis renewed the fight with greatenergy, quickly besting the man with a wound to theleg. Except for a thick rope that hungfrom above, there was nothing in the stall. The guard looked up just in time to see thebottle of Spanish wine before it smashed against hishead, knocking him out cold. The guard hit thestraw covered floor with a thud. The three companions joked and laughed asthey bound and gagged the guards.
Iwill take the road from Paris to the west. Aramis,you take the road to the north. Porthos, you head forthe town of Arras and look for them there. If bytomorrow Aramis and I do not find him, we willlook for you on the road from Arras to Calais. Bobby felt the wind whistle throughhis hair as he urged his mount forward. The Wee Musketeers Jeanne turned back to Bobby. Brightorange glowed low across the graying western sky;the day had taken its last gasp. Soon the road wouldbe dark and dangerous.
Bobby glanced at Jeanne;she did not seem to be the least bit concerned aboutthe darkness slowly closing in around them. In another moment, Bobby knew why. Therewere lights directly ahead. He glanced at Jeanneonce again and saw that she was already looking athim. Bobby was grateful for thewaning light because his face had flushed at thevery sight of her smile. The group pulled up the horses in front ofthe small inn. The compound consisted of threebuildings: Theman must have been the innkeeper because hebegan to bark orders loudly.
The tall man The Wee Musketeershelped Jeanne from her saddle as Bobby and theothers jumped to the ground. Themain room, though dimly lit, was well appointedand clean. A large stone fireplace on the far wallhoused a crackling fire that took the chill out of theevening air.
Pleasant scents of cooking game birdsand pastries tickled his nostrils. It musthave been this morning, but so much had happenedthat day that it was difficult to say. Long, rollinggrowls rumbled in his stomach so loudly that hewas sure the others could hear them. The small round figure of the innkeeperwaddled by Bobby so quickly, that he seemed ablur.
Keith was still trying to recover fromhours of bouncing in the saddle. Fritzy was sohungry, he could not shove the food into his mouthfast enough. Grandpa Max asked him more thanonce where he could possibly be putting it. Bobby felt a tug on his arm—it was Keith. He pointed his thumb over his shoulder in thedirection of the front door. Bobby snuck a quick look over his shoulder—just enough to see three dark looking charactersstanding in the front hallway. Each was dressed inblack leather and well equipped with sword andpistol. Then, when one of the menturned toward the fire to greet the innkeeper, hisfeatures glowed against the flames.
The innkeeper showed the three strangers toa table at the opposite side of the room. Bobbycould not help but notice their repeated glances inhis direction. Itwas the tall guard with the large nose! He was the Fritzy dropped his fork. You mustact as if you are enjoying yourselves. Bobby began to protest. The boy understood immediately—theGascon wanted the villains to hear. The Wee Musketeers The innkeeper waddled ahead while leadingthe way from the dining area to the sleeping rooms.
After such an exhausting day,even the specter of the tall, bulbous nosed, guardand his companions staying at the same inn couldnot keep them from their much-needed sleep—allexcept for three. His snores finished witha less than delicate whistle that pierced his ears andstiffened his back. Sleep seemed all but impossible. Then, Bobby heard the faint whisper of hisname called. He popped up, his chest pounding likea drum. He could actually hear his heart thump overthe horrible snoring.
He popped up, his chestpounding like a drum. He could actually hear hisheart thump over the horrible snoring. A sharpshiver ran up his spine when his warm, bare feetmet the icy cold floor. The Wee Musketeerswas already perched atop the crude, woodenfootboard.
The Wee Musketeers Fritzy smiled in the darkness—more of asmirk filled with mischief and trouble. Bobby hadseen that look before and it left an empty feeling inhis gut. Fritzy raised an eyebrow at Keith. Grandpa Max knew immediately that the boys wereacting strangely. Max leaned in toward the center ofthe table. Grandpa Max narrowed his eyes.
The large guardwith the bulbous nose was up and movingmenacingly toward their table. We are but asmall family of farmers on our way to Calais to starta new life. We could never expect to have the The Wee Musketeersprivilege of meeting someone as worldly as you,until now of course. What is your name? He couldsmell trouble in the air and he did not like it. Theman knew exactly who they were. The guard wastoying with them, as cat does to a mouse before hegobbles him up.
Bobby had to do something, andquickly. The guard took a step back and grinned. Dark, ugly ridges formed at the corners of hismouth. I would love to discuss a littlematter that happened in an alleyway in Parisyesterday. Bobby shot a quick glance at Fritzy andKeith before bolting for the door. Fritzy and Keithwere close on his heels. The guard turned to his The Wee Musketeerscompanions and pointed toward the boys who hadalready disappeared through the doorway. A crimson circle spread slowlyaround the point. Meanwhile, the two guards followed theirorders without question, dashing through the roomand knocking over tables, chairs and anything elsethat may have gotten in their way.
Grandpa Max screamed, desperately hopingto stop his grandson and his friends from doinganything that could bring them harm. There was a loud crash. The tall guardswung his head around to see what had happened,only to spy his comrades sprawled out on the smallporch at the front of the inn, pummeled, and kickedby the three boys who had tripped them. When they hadarrived at the porch, the boys were running towardthe barn as the two guards struggled to their feet.
The Wee Musketeers
Max pushed Jeanne up against the wall justbeside the door. Grandpa Max glanced over his shoulder. Then, turning back to the girl, his thin lips turnedinto smile. Max could see her bodyshaking with fear. He smiled again before explodingthrough the doorway stopping suddenly as hereached the porch. The boys were in trouble. Swords drawn, the two guards had them backed upagainst the barn door. Grandpa Max jumped backinto the inn. The guard fell bleeding to the floor. The Wee Musketeershe growled. Bobby shook his head and shrugged ashe looked beyond the guards.
An extremely large,angry man drew closer. The boys turned to each other and smiled,but neither Bobby nor Keith smiled as broadly asFritzy. As directed, the groom had fed, watered, andsaddled their mounts while they ate breakfast. Grandpa Max helped Jeanne onto her horse thenmounted his own. The boywill be safe with me! Bobby looked sadly at his friend. He glanced over his shoulder to catchone last glimpse of Fritzy.
What do you knowof this person? Jeanne turned to Bobby. Bobby narrowed his eyes at his friends. Grandpa Max grabbed the two boys andhustled them into the back room. After a quick flurry of goodbyes, hugs andsalutations, Grandpa Max and the boys were alonein the dim candlelight of the back room. The three boys nodded their heads. The dimly lit room spun wildly aroundthem. Bobby had lost track of how many times thecandle went spinning in and out of view.
Faster andfaster they went before the dark room appeared tomelt away. Darkness enveloped the travelers and the coldbecame even colder. It was stilldark but the cold was gone. It was actually prettywarm and stuffy. Thetiny bulb filled the closet with a blinding light. Keithleaned over exposing a thick leather bound book. Suddenly, the door flew open.
All four sets of eyes stared upguiltily. Bobby and his friends smiled andnodded. Anyway, Keith, your mother called; you were duehome fifteen minutes ago!
The Wee Musketeers (Bound Into The Classics) (Volume 1)
The boys were still veryexcited over their adventure. Playing the ThreeMusketeers with renewed enthusiasm and real The Wee Musketeersuniforms, they relived their adventure over, overand again. Keith just smiled and waved. Darkness closed in on Sky Harbor; the sunseemed to set much earlier this evening than the daybefore. Grandpa Max was busy rummaging forsomething in the closet.