This story is set immediately after Through a Glass Darkly.

Hunter's Moon

Chapter One

"They threw you out of a window?" Athos asked. "Why aren't you dead?"

"Just my natural good fortune. I landed on the canopy over the entrance." Aramis was alive but not unscathed by his misadventure. His head throbbed and his leg had started to spasm at the most inconvenient moments.

"I knew you were going to be okay," Porthos said, pouring wine into their glasses.

"Your faith in me is touching, my dear Porthos." Aramis laid a hand over his heart and inclined his head in a brief bow.

"What about you and Rochefort?" d'Artagnan asked.

"What about us? Bastard dislocated my shoulder and enjoyed doing it." He rubbed his sore joint before draining his glass and pouring a refill.

"He's a strange one," d'Artagnan said. Ever since their rescue and Constance's public display of affection he had been grinning broadly much to the amusement of his companions.

"Said it was the thought of a woman that got him through his imprisonment in Spain. I never would have taken him for a romantic."

"He's in love with the Queen," Athos said. He met his companions' stunned stares. "It's obvious from the way he acts around her." His gaze lingered on Aramis who quickly looked away.

"Then we'd best keep an eye on him. Despite appearances he's no friend to the King," Porthos said.

"It appears, though, that he has thoroughly ingratiated himself," Aramis mused. "He's the only one to come out of this fiasco with any credit. It appears that nothing we do is good enough for the King."

"I never thought I'd say this but I feel sorry for Milady. She risked her life and the King cast her off." D'Artagnan looked at Athos to gauge his reaction.

"Whatever else she might be, she is courageous." Athos met the look with equanimity.

"You sound like you admire her," Porthos said.

"I loved her once. When I found out that she had become the Cardinal's creature I despised her but her actions today took bravery and, as a soldier, I can admire that." He didn't feel the need to share the fact that his admiration was tinged with something else…something he didn't even want to admit to himself.

"What about you and Constance?" Aramis asked d'Artagnan.

"I don't know. I'd come to terms with being no more than friends and now it's all changed."

"Bonacieux won't take it well," Aramis said.

"I don't care about him."

"He will never release her," Athos warned. "He loves her in his own way."

"Being together is enough."

"The Queen could dismiss her. It is a scandal," Athos said, signalling one of the tavern wenches to bring them more wine.

"The Queen is a good woman and she is fond of Constance. I believe she will stand by her."

Even over the noise in the tavern the sound of a pistol firing was distinctive. One minute Aramis was drinking wine with his friends. The next he was bleeding over the table. After a moment of stunned silence he pressed his left hand over the wound in the upper part of his right arm. All three of his friends were on their feet, pistols in hand, visually scouring their surroundings for the attacker. There was complete panic in their immediate vicinity with men and women cowering down or running toward the exit. A woman screamed; a harsh wailing sound which ended when someone slapped her face.

"Go," Athos said. "I will tend to Aramis."

Porthos and d'Artagnan immediately rushed into the crowd, eyes ranging from side to side as they pushed their way toward the door.

"How bad is it?" Athos asked. He tugged on the arm of Aramis' coat, eliciting a sharp hiss from his friend.

"A glancing hit, I believe." Aramis had paled with the shock of the sudden and unexpected attack but his voice was steady.

Once Athos had manoeuvered him out of his coat it was easier to see the damage. His white shirt was stained with blood and there was a ragged hole in the sleeve. Athos tore at the material and then sighed in relief.

"The ball did not enter your arm although it has ploughed quite a furrow. Innkeeper," he shouted over the continued noise of fascinated speculation. "Bring hot water and clean towels." His fierce scowl persuaded those closest to them to mind their own business.

"I'm really not having a good day," Aramis said wryly.

"It could be worse," Athos said. "You could be dead."

The innkeeper arrived with a bowl of water and a stack of towels. "Will he be alright? This isn't good for business, you know. Can't have my patrons being shot in my establishment."

"You're concern does you credit," Athos said with a thin edge of sarcasm. "Bring us a bottle of brandy as well."

The innkeeper looked at him speculatively. "Can you afford to pay for it?"

Athos straightened from where he'd been examining Aramis' arm. "We are King's Musketeers, monsieur. I suggest you do as I say before I start questioning what you know about his unprovoked attack."

Not many men could stare Athos down when he chose to employ the haughty manners of his former life as the Comte de la Fere. The innkeeper was no fool and immediately backed down, bowing before hurrying away.

Athos immediately dismissed him from his mind and dipped one of the towels in the water. "Hold still. This will hurt."

Aramis sucked in a pained breath but didn't move as Athos wiped away the dirt and blood. The innkeeper brought the bottle of brandy, slamming it down on the table to show his displeasure. Athos ignored him, pouring a generous measure into a cup and then soaking a towel in it.

"Drink," he advised.

Aramis needed to no urging to down the fiery liquid. It helped to relax him but did nothing for the burning pain in his arm. He whimpered when Athos pressed the towel against the wound then bit his lip in an effort to keep in the sounds of distress. He had his pride and was aware of the interested stares of the men sitting at the tables close by.

"Hold this in place for as long as you can," Athos advised.

Aramis nodded and pressed his palm over the towel. The wound was still bleeding sluggishly and his knew that was good because it would help to wash away the dirt. In many cases it was the oil and gunpowder that coated the ball that did the most damage.

It wasn't long before they were rejoined by Porthos and d'Artagnan, both exuding a mixture of anger and concern.

"Well?" Athos asked. "Did you find him?"

"Not a sign of anyone suspicious. We need to ask around. See if anyone saw who pulled the trigger." Porthos gave a reassuring squeeze to Aramis' shoulder. "You alright?"

"Nothing but a scratch," Aramis assured him. "No stitches required and I will be fit for duty tomorrow."

"I doubt that," Athos said. "We will have to report this to Treville and, coupled with your other injuries, I suspect he will have you on light duties for a few days."

"Any idea who might want to shoot you?" D'Artagnan asked. "Jealous husbands? Outraged fathers?"

"Not that I can think of." Aramis suddenly thought of Marguerite. He had been so relieved to find the Queen and his son unharmed that he had made a potentially fatal mistake with his reaction. He'd seen how she had looked at him with suspicion, particularly in that glorious moment when he had been able to cradle his son in his arms. However, he didn't see her resorting to violence even if she was feeling spurned by his lack of attentiveness. "Besides, whoever it was did not shoot to kill I think."

"That could be a fatal assumption," Athos said somberly. "The tavern is busy. It wouldn't be easy to get a clean shot. You must be on your guard."

"You should go back to the garrison." Porthos was looking around, alert for any further threat to his friend. "Athos can go with you. D'Artagnan and I will stay here to ask some questions."

Both Musketeers were fully conscious of their surroundings on the short walk back to the garrison. They heard and saw nothing out of the ordinary but there was still a sense of relief once they were safely inside.

"We can report this to the Captain tomorrow," Athos said.

"Report what?"

They looked up to see Treville on the balcony. Aramis noted that the Captain looked more serious than normal.

"Never mind. It will keep," Treville said with a hint of impatience in his voice. "Aramis, I need to speak to you."

Aramis exchanged a concerned look with Athos before climbing the stairs and entering Treville's office. "Sir?"

"Close the door. I have some news for you and you're not going to like it."

Tbc