Chapter Text
Early eve
Outside of The Wren Taverne
Casually leaning against the taverne's wooden structure, knowing full well whom he waited for, Dashiell hadn't been the least surprised when two figures had been forcibly thrown out the door. One of them had been Porthos, another reason he hadn't been surprised, with the other being Aramis. Neither of whom had been living up to their reputations of the king's elite Musketeers.
Stepping forward to lend them each a hand, Dashiell first leaned down to heft Porthos' massive bulk off the ground. Then it had been the marksman's turn. The latter giving him a sheepish smile in thanks. Tsking under his breath, he gave both men a sad look. "You're setting a very poor example for your Charles." Letting his disappointment in them show, Dashiell sighed unhappily.
Exchanging uncomfortable looks with one another, Aramis and Porthos avoided making direct eye contact with the Red Guard whose company they had begun to enjoy.
"What had it been this time, eh?" Sending a knowing look toward the dark-skinned Musketeer, Dashiell smirked. Holding up a finger, stalling Porthos from responding, he gave his own thoughts upon the troublesome matter. With lips quirking upward, he asked, "Had it been that you cheated one too many times during your card games?" Silence followed his question. No surprise there either. Switching to Aramis then he followed up with another question, adding a sly wink. "Ah! Had you charmed the wrong Mademoiselle, or perhaps a Madame, tonight irritating their significant others?"
Grimacing, Porthos had always wondered at the lieutenant's uncanny knack to cut straight to the heart of the matter. A sideways glance at his brother-in-arms silently told him that Aramis felt the same.
The larger Musketeer's reaction told Dashiell all he'd needed to know. Observing both older men's features shift to expressions of great guilt, his one brow arched. Twould also appear that the marksman had been going to keep mum over what had taken place inside.
"Would you satisfy my curiosity as to what your own presence here means?" questioned Aramis, now wishing he'd had the good sense to have remained in his apartments this eve instead of tagging along with Porthos just because his theology lesson with the lovely, well-endowed, widow had been canceled.
"Cardinal Richelieu has need of the inseparable's expertise. Athos and Captain Treville had already been apprised of the situation and therefore I've been sent to inform you that you're needed post-haste back at the Garrison." Noting that neither man had interrupted him, Dashiell continued. "They'll be waiting for your appearance in the captain's office where they'll explain your coming mission." Still neither Musketeer questioned him. "I'd suggest not to dawdle."
Aramis and Porthos gave him slight nods while walking past him. Dashiell couldn't help but chuckle listening to the mighty giant's grumbles of displeasure as they left him. Porthos had hissed out his woes at losing good coin in that card game he'd just gotten his ass tossed out of. While Aramis moaned that he hadn't understood why the woman he'd flirted with hadn't mentioned she'd been there with her husband. Ah, the life of a king's soldier," Dashiell chuckled softly. "And Charles wondered why he wouldn't ever consider switching sides.
Next day - late morn
Palais-Cardinal
Cardinal Richelieu's office
"You summoned me, Your Eminence?" Biting into a juicy red apple, Charles had forgotten his manners. A bit late still, he held out the half that hadn't been bitten into out toward the cardinal. A minute shake of the older man's head and Charles polished the rest of it off.
Studying the youth currently perched upon the edge of his desk, munching loudly, Richelieu's fond memories of times past assailed him. Remembering Charles as a petit garcon single-handedly turning the Palais-Cardinal, the Garrison and the Royal Palace upon its head. Technically, the pup still hadn't lost his touch. Before explaining to the lad why he asked for him to be here, Richelieu called out, "Dashiell!"
Twisting his body around, Charles beamed upon noting the young Red Guard entering the office.
Already knowing the cardinal's plans Dashiell dipped his head, acknowledging the youngster. It certainly hadn't escaped his notice how comfortably Charles had made himself right at home. The upshot of it all had been that the Gascon knew he'd get away with it without a severe scolding from His Eminence for lack of propriety.
Dark eyes took in the looks shared between the pup and his lieutenant, that's when Richelieu began questioning his own judgement in pairing the two together. Having them both in the same room at the same time if chaos broke out, may not have been the wisest of choices. He used to worry about the child picking up bad habits from Treville's inseparables. Not saying Dashiell had those habits but twould appear wherever those two young people had been... trouble followed. Bah! If said trouble wanted to ensnare Charles it might as well ensnare Dashiell too.
"I'm going to be holding negotiations with several parties of import in two day's time." So focused upon Charles, Richelieu missed what the lad had been holding in his hands. Reaching out he snatched the paperweight from the lad before it became damaged, as it held sentimental value for him. The childish pout he'd been treated too in return, Richelieu ignored having become immune to the Gascon's antics for some time now. "What I want from you both is your attention to one particular individual at these meetings."
"Monsieur Joseph de La Vieuville," Dashiell supplied, mostly for his friend's benefit.
"Mmmmm," hummed Richelieu, "oui. My good friend Père Joseph believed de La Vieuville of being a double agent."
"But, My Lord, why include myself?" Cheekily asked, Charles hadn't been shy in teasing the cardinal by questioning him. Gazing quizzically at Alain, he expected help from that quarter. Receiving nothing, he huffed. "Sounds like spy business to me and certainly nothing I've had any experience with."
"Oh, my child," chuckling, Richelieu wished Treville had been here, "think of this as part of your on-going education."
"Education?" Thinking of asking the First Minister if he'd been nipping at a good vintage before seeing him, Charles thought better of that idea.
Wagging a finger at the pup, Richelieu grinned. "Something tells me that one day you're going to excel at such an occupation in the future." The lad's snort of disbelief at his musings only filled him with delight.
Notes:
Joseph de La Vieuville (c. 1590-1650) had been a real person. Known for being a statesman and politician. He served as Secretary of State for War under King Louis XIII. In fact, he operated as a spy for Cardinal Richelieu, often engaging in covert operations.
François Leclerc du Tremblay a/k/a Père Joseph (Father Joseph) (4 November 1577-17 December 1638) was also a real life friend of Cardinal Richelieu. He had been a Capuchin friar and became a close confidant, also an agent, for the cardinal. Because of his closeness to His Eminence, along with the grey color of his own robes, he had been nicknamed éminence grise (grey eminence).
As in a few other of my stories, keep in mind I've portrayed young d'Artagnan as a spy.
Simply because in real life d'Artagnan's close association with Cardinal Mazarin, who took over after Richelieu, had him often gathering intelligence on political rivals and threats to Mazarin's power. His espionage activities included infiltrating various factions and reporting back to Mazarin.
He played a key role during the Fronde, a series of civil wars in France, by acting as a double agent.