The young fighter awoke to sunbeams filtering through the window. With a start, he remembered Constance’s arrest, and jumped to his feet. “I must find the Musketeers!” he said aloud. “They’ll know what to do!” He could hear muffled voices down the hall: a grim lady’s tone and Constance’s low murmur. Sneaking out the window, D’Artagnan rushed to the same corner he’d found the Musketeers on yesterday, but there was no one there. Then, quickly, he caught a glimpse of a familiar uniform emerging from a pie shop. It was Athos! “Athos! I need your help!” The older guard looked concerned. “What’s wrong, boy?” “The Cardinal! He’s captured my landlady, who’s actually the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, and he’s in cahoots with the spy Milady De Winter!” Athos gaped at him. “Milady’s still around? I’d do anything to stop her! Let’s go!” Five minutes later they skidded to a stop near the front of the inn. A familiar carriage, seemingly occupied, was waiting outside the door. Athos poked D’Artagnan. “That’s her in there! I’d know that voice anywhere.” He paused to listen. “And the other one’s the Cardinal, I’d wager.” “You know her?” asked D’Artagnan curiously. Athos sighed. “Yes, when we were … Read more →

            D’Artagnan’s inn turned out to be a clean, warm place with very few customers. After bidding goodbye to his new friends, he introduced himself to the landlady, a pretty young woman named Constance. “How’s business?” he asked her. “It comes and goes,” she said brightly. “Literally.” D’Artagnan laughed but stopped abruptly when he noticed Constance looking concernedly behind him. Curious, he turned to see a hooded woman behind him, her face in shadows. “Constance! I’m so glad to have found you here. I have a dilemma. Oh, who’s this?” “This is D’Artagnan, a new customer, your Hi—“ “Shh! Be careful, Constance! Come here, I need to speak with you.”               Suspicious, the young fighter watched the two women converse in whispers. At one point, Constance gestured at him and they both nodded.  A moment later, the lady addressed him. “How would you like the chance to serve your Queen, young man?” D’Artagnan sprang to his feet. “More than anything, ma’am!” The lady lowered her hood. She was a bit plain but still lovely—and more importantly, was wearing a glimmering gold crown! “Constance tells me you’re a bright, eager … Read more →

D’Artagnan couldn’t believe how noisy Old Kinzville was. Carriages clattering, vendors yelling, children running: it was so different from his quiet homeland of Gascony! But he kept on through the crowd, sometimes consulting his (wildly inaccurate) map, determined to reach Mr. Treville, Captain of the famous King’s Musketeers. The young man had travelled all this way for that very reason—to become a member of these elite guards—and nothing would stop him now! Just as he stepped onto the sidewalk, however, he noticed a tall figure in an ice-blue gown just ahead of him. She turned her head and D’Artagnan nearly gasped aloud at her cold beauty. Without thinking, he began striding toward her, intent on introducing himself to such a remarkable lady. But just as he did, she saw him, scowled, and jumped into a nearby carriage beginning to pull away. D’Artagnan stopped short. How dare she ignore him, an honorable young man, and insult him so? He must confront her!                 “How rude!” he said indignantly, and gave chase to the speeding vehicle. In his haste, he leapt over boxes, stalls and even people, prompting a few yells of surprise. As he … Read more →