Adventures with Friends





Time Travellers: The Eight Musketeers?

Four friends are sent back to correct history- they just might have to rewrite it.



Chapter 5


Erica gulped as the three friends came within five feet of the Cardinal. Richlieu put down his quill and sat back in his chair. They stared at each other, each measuring the other up.
"So what is it that you wish to speak to me about?"
Erica felt her mouth disconnect from her brain. Krista and Jacob were silent.
"We have a friend in jail. We would like to see what it would take to get him out," Krista said finally.
"A friend, you say? And just why is this friend of yours in jail?"
Krista looked at Erica. Jacob remained silent, determined to keep his mouth shut.
"Well, we had gotten separated and he met up with... umm..." She turned to Krista. "What was that guy's name?" Krista shrugged. Erica turned back to the Cardinal. "Well anyway, he's the captain of your people... er... guards."
"Captain Rochefort?"
"Yes! That's him."
"And...?"
"Well, I'm not exactly sure what happened, but somehow our friend ended up insulting... R- the captain and he arrested our friend."
"And you want to get your friend out."
Erica nodded. "Yeah. I thought we established that already."
"Just where are you from? I cannot place the accent," Richlieu said, standing up.
"America," Erica stated as she watched him round his desk.
"Ah yes. The British colonies," he said as he began to walk around the group of teens. "What brings you to France?"
"Traveling opportunities."
"And the Musketeers," Krista put in innocently.
"The Musketeers?" the Cardinal said, rounding to look at Krista.
Erica smiled apologetically. "Yeah. She has this fantasy about meeting a Musketeer," Erica covered.
The Cardinal chuckled. "Bad timing. The Musketeers have been disbanded."
"Yeah. So we've heard," Erica returned, a dark hint in her voice.
"Just where are you from in America?"
"Out West."
"West? I wasn't under the impression that there was a western colony."
"Well, the family traveled west until they weren't any people."
"I'm sure the British Empire doesn't appreciate your deception."
"I'm sure the British Empire doesn't appreciate a lot of things."
The Cardinal laughed. It started out quiet then escalated to a menacing laugh. It seemed to root the three to their spots.
"I won't tell. No one likes the British anyway. So tell me, what is it like where you are from?"
"Well, there are lots of wide open spaces, lots of grass, and lots of corn."
"What do you live in?"
"A sod house."
"What is that?"
"A house with a piece of grass and dirt for a roof."
"How is that done?"
"Very carefully."
"What do you usually do at your sod home?"
"Work. Help my dad. Things like that."
"You work?"
"Of course. Why is that such a big deal here?"
"Women do not work here."
"Well, most women here don't live in the middle of nowhere with the only way of getting food is to grow it."
"I see. So you are a farmer?"
"And proud of it."
"And these are your siblings?"
"Yes." Krista and Jacob looked at her. Erica didn't dare break eye contact with Richlieu.
"And you're friend?"
"A friend of the family. We met up with him in North Carolina."
"I see. Well, then, what do you think of Paris?"
"We are really liking it here. Save for the fact that our friend is in jail at the moment."
"Then, perhaps, you won't object if we call in Rochefort? He is in control of the prison as of right now."
Erica took a deep breath. She screamed "No!" in her head, but kept on a smile. "Sure."
Richlieu called a servant to him and sent for Rochefort. Krista and Jacob tensed as Richlieu returned to his desk. Silent ages passed. It seemed the devil was done with foreplay and wanted to test his enemies' strength right away. Erica immediately began trying to form a valid arguement in her mind. But the only thing that was playing in her head was her stupidity from the day before.
"God, we're screwed," she thought desperately. "Well, maybe I'll get lucky and he won't remember me!"
Suddenly, Erica sensed the door opening. Apparently, so did Krista and Jacob, as they turned around to look upon the newcomer. Erica reluctantly turned. Rochefort, clad in his shadowy outfit, stepped into the dim light of Richlieu's chamber. He resembled a bat out of hell as he closed the door behind him with one loud clap. Erica nearly fainted. His pale face darkened with recognition. It must of been her 'Oh God I'm about to die' look that gave her away. Cold chills ran through Erica. Who was worse? Rochefort? Or Richlieu? She dropped her gaze and stepped back to allow the captain to approach his employer.
Rochefort bowed low on one knee. And in a deep voice, purred, "Your Emminence."
"Captain Rochefort, these children have come to get their friend out of prison. Do you know of whom they speak?"
Erica, who was determined to make no eye contact with the dark clad man, look to him for an answer. Rochefort's gaze did not flicker from the Cardinal. "I have no idea who they are talking about."
Silence.
"Chase. His name is Chase," Krista explained. "He's about this tall, with shaggy brown hair. He has got an American accent and probably has some of the strangest insults you've ever heard."
Erica gaped at Krista, awe-inspired by her courage. Erica was terrified to look at Rochefort, let alone speak to him. Jacob was also awe struck, but he kept his promise to remain silent. Erica stole a glance at the captain. She saw the light of recognition in his eyes. He knew who Chase was, and from the looks of it, wasn't about to forget that kid.
"Ah yes. That one." Krista and Jacob smiled in relief. "But I'm afraid he has committed treason against the crown."
The heavy silence was shattered before it had a chance to completely form by Jacob shouting, "What?"
"What did he do?" Krista reworded for Jacob. Erica just stared at the captain.
"Treason," Rochefort replied quickly. The captain did not even glance at his superior. "And the punishment for treason is death." Krista and Jacob nearly dropped dead from shock. A faint smile appeared on the arrogant man's lips. Even the Cardinal seemed to get some pleasure at the mention of death.
But Erica was not so ready to believe such things. "Dude, how can Chase commit treason if he is not a citizen of France?"
She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Rochefort turned his sinister gaze on Erica. Suddenly, Erica didn't feel so rebellious.
"Then he is a spy." It was more of a statement of a fact rather than a question.
Erica paused for a moment. "That is rediculous! Chase isn't smart enough to be a spy!"
Rochefort smirked. "However true that may be, but that doesn't answer the fact that you were in his company. Perhaps it is you who are the spy."
"I will not be guilty by association! I'm not going to put up with this crap! What ever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'?"
"Perhaps you would like to be tried as a spy? Your friend will be tried this evening. Until then, he is guilty, until proven innocent."
"Guilty until proven innocent or guilty no matter what? Just because he said something stupid to you and you aren't man enough to take it!"
Silence fell almost immediately. Every jaw in the room dropped save for Rochefort's and Erica. Rochefort clenched his jaw as if he wanted to kill Erica on the spot. Erica snapped her jaw shut almost immediately after the words left her lips. She wanted to smack herself in the forehead. She looked quickly to the Cardinal.
"Yeah. Sorry to have bothered you. Thanks for your time. I take my leave now."
The Cardinal nodded dumbly, still in a dumbstruck trance. Erica barely waited for the Cardinal's go-ahead before she was out the door and halfway out the castle. Jacob and Krista looked at each other, then followed Erica's example. They walked quickly out of the chamber to leave a simmering captain and a thunderstruck Cardinal. They ran out of the dark hallway before Rochefort had a chance to call his guards and arrest them... or draw his sword and kill them.
The two found Erica petrified against the outer wall of the castle. Her eyes were wide and looked to the heavens as if she were preparing to be smighted by God at any moment.
"Erica! What happened in there?"
The terrified girl barely cast her friends a glance. "N-n-nothing..." she muttered weakly.
"Maybe I'm not the only one who should keep their mouth shut," Jacob observed.
"I - I mis-spoke. That's all."
"Mis-spoke? Is that what you're calling it? I thought those were some pretty major burns in there," Jacob said.
"Oh God I really am going to die!"
"Here. Let's get out of here so Patchy can cool off... before he decides to arrest us," Krista suggested, pulling the two cousins along with her.
They made their way to Chase's cell, being very careful not to come into any type of contact with anyone that looked like they held any type of weapon. They reached Chase minutes later. Chase jumped up hopefully at the sight of his friends.
"So...?" he asked excitedly. Then he seen Erica with a "death wish" look plastered across her face. "What's with Erica?"
Krista released Erica who basically collapsed into a nearby crate. "Yeah. She insulted Patchy for the second time. And this time... it was a major burn."
Chase stared at Krista blankly. "Oh shit," was all he could manage.
"Yeah. So there went any chance of you getting out of jail. And we are now one step closer to being arrested and killed. So yeah." She gave Chase two thumbs up. "How's your day going?"
"Can we do anything that doesn't end in us getting arrested or killed?" Jacob asked.
"Speaking of getting killed, we better start preparing you for your funer- duel."
Jacob groaned. "Don't remind me."
Chase sighed. "We're in deep shit here, aren't we?" He looked at Krista. "It seems you're the only one that hasn't done anything wrong, stupid, or illegal yet."
"Yet. Give it time."
"I vote that she's the first to die," Jacob interrupted.
"Sorry, Jacob, you've already got that covered."
"Well, good luck you guys. And after Jacob get his ass- I mean kicks the shit out of those guys, we'll find a way to get me out of here."
"Thanks for the confidence, Chase."
"No problem!" He put on a grin.
Krista nodded. "We'll be back in no time. You'll see." She pulled Erica to her feet and began walking away.
"Yeah! You better! The food here sucks!" Chase called after them.
Krista led the two to the one place she knew they could get help: Pierre's church. She drug Erica up the stairs and set her on the landing. She turned to the door and knocked. The door opened a few moments later to reveal Pierre. The priest's face lit up almost instantly after seeing the three teenagers.
"What does the occassion call for that graces me with your prescence?"
Krista and Jacob stared at the priest in confusion for several seconds. Finally, Krista shook herself out of the state. "I have no idea what you just said, but can we come in? We need some help."
The priest stepped back, smile fading just a fraction. "Help? What kind of help?"
"Well, Jacob here is going into four duels this evening, and he kinda needs a sword. And a clue. And Erica here has just gotten done with insulting the Captain of the Cardinal's people again. So she is like the number one person on his hit list now."
Pierre turned to Erica. "You stood up to Captain Rochefort?" Erica shrugged weakly. "My dear child! You must be terrified!" Pierre exclaimed, grabbing Erica's hand, as if to check for a pulse.
"Petrified," Erica replied weakly. She swallowed.
"I think it's best that you lay low for an hour or two." Pierre looked like he was about to say something else, but he stopped as soon as he seen Erica's ring. "Where did you get this?"
"We found them," Jacob said, stepping up. "We all did."
Pierre glanced at Jacob and Krista, then back to Erica's hand. "I think you should come with me."
"That's great, but can I have my hand back?"
"Oh absolutely!"
"She spoke!" Jacob exclaimed.
The priest led them through the church. He led them to a back room and pulled back a curtain on the back wall. The darkness seemed to pull the three teens into it's midst.
"What's this?"
"A room where secrets are kept." He motioned for the teens to enter. Jacob brought up his soulders and disappeared down into the dark. Erica followed next, stepping down on a staircase. Krista followed and Pierre brought up the rear. The curtain closed behind them, putting them in complete darkness. Jacob stopped suddenly. Everyone ran into him, almost sending him down the staircase.
"What are you doing? Quit screwin' around!" Erica burst, a glimpse of her attitude returning.
"It's dark and scary down here!"
"Oh my God, Jacob!" Krista exclaimed. "Move!"
"Shut up!"
"Jacob!"
"KNOCK IT OFF!" Erica roared. "All right, Jacob. Let's take this nice and slow." Erica put her hands on his shoulders. "Krista, put your hands on my shoulders. Pierre, you hang onto Krista. All right, Jacob, take us down nice and easy."
The train of bodies made its way down the flight of stairs. Soon, they were a the bottom. The train broke apart and the people stood in silence.
"Sooooo...." Krista said aloud. "Where are we?" No one answered. "Pierre?"
Suddenly, a giant fire roared to life. Jacob let out a girly scream, Krista jumped three feet into the air, and Erica jumped five feet backwards. Pierre stood, silouetted, against the flames. The fire cackled as if it couldn't believe the stupidity of the three teens standing before it. The three regained their composure to look at the wise-looking priest.
"So... Where are we?"
"That doesn't matter." Pierre motioned behind him, towards a wall. "What matters is that someone knew you were coming."
The marble wall glistened with dancing shadows cast from the fire. Column like structures were cut into the wall and four statues stood within the half-columns. And something was vaguely familiar about those statues. Erica walked up to one of the statues.
"Jacob!"
"What?"
"No, no. It's Jacob!" Erica corrected, pointing at a statue.
"What?" the other two chimed together.
"Yeah!" Erica looked to the next statue. "And that's Chase!" She continued down the line. "And you, Krista! And-" She stopped suddenly. "Am I really that fat?"
"What? No Erica, you're not fat," Krista assured her friend. "It's just the clothes the statues are dressed in."
"Oh...ok. Wow! Look at us! You'd think we were saints."
"This doesn't make sense," Krista thought aloud.
"On the contrary," Erica said, rounding to her friend. "It makes perfect sense. That dude that wrote the letter and said he knew us. He said his buddies and him looked into our future. So he probably seen us going here, so they went here and made statues of us."
"But why?" Jacob asked, admiring his own statue.
"Perhaps this can answer your questions," Pierre said, holding an ancient book to them. Jacob took it from Pierre and laid it on a pedestal. The three gathered around it.
Hello again. I hope by now you understand just how real this is.
"You have no idea..." Erica mused.
And by now you must know that this is no game. This is real life. And if you die here, then you die for good. There is no restart button or a second chance.
"There, you see, Jacob, I know what I'm talking about!"
And also, there is an evil among you right now.
"Yeah. Let me tell you. His name is Jacob."
We tried to find the evil, but it avoided us. So you're on your own. Just be cautioius and watch out for one that does not ask you a lot of questions. Watch for someone that everyone else thinks suspicious. This evil already knows about your mission. He may or may not know you yet, but in time, he will. So to give you a chance, we have put together some items that will help you survive and hide from the evil a while longer.
"Wow. That's encouraging," Erica sighed.
"I wish he wouldn't make it sound so serious," Jacob said.
"I wish we could just get Chase and go home," Krista added.
"By the sound of it, this is the only way to get home."
They turned back to the book.
Take the items at the foot of your respective statues. They are simple and few, but they are none-the-less useful to you. Remember, proceed with caution, trust each other, and may God protect you.
"God protect us? Wtf? He makes it sound like we don't even survive," Krista said.
"Please, don't say that," Jacob returned.
"I agree. We have to survive. I mean, we're the good guys, aren't we?"
"I don't know. I really don't know."
Jacob closed the book and went back to his statue. He rumaged around and found a bundle placed behind his statue. He unraveled it to reveal a brown cloak and a silver sword. He picked up the sword.
"Hey! This has the same symbol as my ring!"
Erica and Krista ran to their statues to find their own bundles. Krista found a deep burgandy cloak and a sword with her symbol upon the hand guard. Erica's cloak was deep blue with the symbol on the hand guard of the hilt. The three immediately tried on their cloaks. Oddly enough, they fit nicely. Next, they strapped on their swords. Pierre watched the make-shift warriors prepare for a battle that he hoped would never come.
"Erica, I'm afraid that goes on the other side," Pierre said helpfully.
Erica glared at the priest, then sighed and shook her head. "I get all kinds of crap for being left-handed at home. Why did I think here would be any different?" She calmed down. "No. I'm left-handed."
"Left-handed? You mean you were not taught to write with your right hand?"
"No. I already wrote perfectly with this hand? Why relearn?" She sighed. "Why is this such a big deal with you right-handers?"
"Because, the left hand is the sign of the devil."
Erica stared at the priest, dumbfounded by the stupidity of the superstition. She shook herself out of it. "Is everyone this superstitious?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Well, then. I have often been told that heaven didn't want me and that hell was afraid that I'd take over. So I'll feel sorry for whoever wants to sword fight with me. Even though I don't really know how. But anyway, what a good way to scare my opponents!" "What opponents?" Krista asked.
"Ones that I hope I never have," Erica said softly, staring down at her sword.


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