Lina D�Inverse arrived in Paris by foot just as the sun set on a lovely April day. Much of the daily activity of the city had ended, with the exception of those pleasant appointments which keep gentlemen and gentlewomen out until dawn. D�Inverse, still in the same dusty, faded clothing in which we�ve seen her, made straight for that part of the city in which the better class of people resided. She knew the address of Monsieur de Treville, and wanted to ensure that her lodgings were in the vicinity.
D�Inverse had one more advantage on the day she entered Paris than she had when last we saw her � an obliging trio of highwaymen had generously donated much of their last month�s loot to her cause. The fact that their generousity had to be aroused with the liberal application of fireballs and blades made little difference in D�Inverse�s eyes.
Selecting a respectable appearing boarding house, D�Inverse made arrangements for lodgings, and obtained directions to an inn that provided meals for a reasonable price. After eating, she returned to the boardinghouse, and retired to her room, intending to rise early and present herself to Monsieur de Treville. She had little doubt that she would win a position among the King�s Slayerteers, despite the loss of her letter of introduction. With this confident notion in mind, Lina D�Inverse slept.
Much could be written of the noble capital of France in those days, and indeed many have been done so. But still, the reader must grant indulgence here so that we may better depict the situation our hero has so jauntily entered.
The king, Louis the Thirteenth, had sat on the throne for several years, with Anne of Austria nominally at his side. More truthful would be to say that Louis sat on the throne, Anne hid in her chambers, and much of the real power of France was wielded by His Excellency, the Cardinal Richeleau, often called the Black Cardinal, or more interestingly, the Mysterious Priest. While the king claimed to honor Law and Chivalry, he was in fact a rather capricious ruler, caught up in his own whims and distractions. This left the Cardinal free to handle much of the running of France without question, and he did so with cunning subtlety. In those days, the law ran King first, Cardinal second, and even then most of the reigns of power lay in the hands of the Mysterious Priest.
Tradition demanded the existence of a company of elite soldiers, loyal only to the King and Queen. These soldiers, drawn from the most proficient and educated of the nobility, were the King�s Slayerteers, under the direct command of Monsieur de Treville, who had the ear of the king himself, when it could be wrested away from the whisperings of the Cardinal. The Slayerteers were the King�s pride, and he took great delight in hearing of their exploits. Not to be outdone, the Cardinal had put together his own company, the Cardinal�s Guards, and these guards and the Slayerteers maintained a fierce rivalry. Rarely did a day pass when a Slayerteer, or two or four, met up with a Guard, or two or four, and some disagreement did not occur which led to blood on the streets of Paris. Yet, for all their dueling, fighting, and insults, the Slayerteers were beloved of the populace for their devotion to King and Country, no matter how little the King did to inspire that devotion.
It was to join this heroic band that Lina D�Inverse wished. Monsieur de Treville himself was a Gascon, and according to legend had made his way to Paris afoot in the time of the King�s father�s reign, joined the Slayerteers, and rose to prominence, winning the command of the Slayerteers and the King�s favor. This was just the career D�Inverse had in mind for herself.
In the days of D�Inverse�s arrival, the Slayerteers numbered over 150 men and women, all devoted to the King, their country, and the Queen, despite her apparent disfavor. They aspired to a high code of conduct, and treating each other as brethren. But to join this noble group, one had to pass an interview with Monsieur de Treville himself.
Rising at nine, Lina bathed away the dust of her journey, brushed her hair and her clothes as best she could, donned her sword and her yellow hat, and made her way to the home of Monsieur de Treville, which doubled as the headquarters for the Slayerteers.
When she reached the mansion, she paused in surprise at the gate. Nearly half the Slayerteers were there in the courtyard, practicing their swordfighting, boasting of duels and battles, debating tactics and spellcraft. As Lina made her way through the throng, she felt at first a bit humbled, but as she listened, she discovered that she knew more of spellcraft, and had a better grasp of the sword and fighting, than most of these glamourous gentlemen in their blue uniforms.
Reaching the grand staircase leading into the mansion, she observed a curious game. Lounging about the stairs were many who wished to see Monsieur de Treville that day, and several had passed the time with an unusual diversion. A Slayerteer stood on a step and fought three below him. Should one score a hit, the Slayerteer moved down a step, allowing the scorer to move up. If he scored, they had to move back. As she watched, Lina saw the Slayerteer touch all three opponents, thus advancing himself three steps in line.
Making her way past this game, she found herself in the foyer of the mansion. Here more Slayerteers lounged, gossiping, debating, and boasting. With amusement, she overheard one group discussing their romantic exploits. But when a ribald tale led to a comment about the Queen, the speaker was quickly hushed, and many furtive glances were sent towards the large doorway at the end of the hall, as if they feared reprisal. Then a harried looking page approached Lina, asking her business. She haughtily gave her name and told him that she wished to see Monsieur de Treville. Noting her Gascon looks and accent, the page nodded quickly and hurried off. Noone wished to have an irate Gascon loose in the hall.
Waiting, Lina meandered towards the large door, rightly assuming that it led to Monsieur de Treville�s office. Near there, she spotted a very handsome, very tall blond Slayerteer, apparently regaling an attentive six listeners with his latest fight.
�I didn�t think it was very fair, the seven of them, but when the one claimed that the Cardinal was higher than the King, I had to draw my sword. And Aramis was there, she can attest that I really didn�t want to fight, isn�t that right Aramis?� he said, directing his final comment to a short, darkhaired girl nearby.
This Aramis looked barely old enough to hold a sword in Lina�s opinion, but she wore the tabard of a Slayerteer over her white and pink outfit. Her pale skin and large blue eyes stood out against her black hair, and she pinched her cheek to make it blush before answering.
�It was very unjust indeed. Why, they had already been warned who you were, Porthos, but it was necessary to teach them a lesson.�
Porthos, the tall blond man, nodded eagerly. �Right! And I only wounded them a little. I was very nice.
Lina shook her head as she passed. That Porthos seemed very foolish, to leave an enemy alive behind him. Then the page called her name, and she passed through the large doors.
In the office waited Monsieur Rodimus de Treville himself. An aging man, though still powerful in stature, de Treville had earned his position in the campaigns against Spain under Louis the Twelfth. He cared greatly for the King, for France, and for honor. He was also at an age where memories of youth are all the more pleasing, and the sight of Lina D�Inverse�s cocky grin and flame Gascony hair brought a smile to his face. Waving her in, he nodded politely, but then went to the door, calling, �Athos! Porthos! Aramis!�
In seconds, the tall blond Porthos, and the diminuitive Aramis had entered. They both hung expressions of remorse on their faces. Monsieur de Treville stared hard at them a moment, then said �Well, it seems you�ve done more damage to the Cardinal�s Guards than even I can rescue you from this time.�
The guilty pair said nothing.
�Well? Have you no explanations? Last night I had the pleasure of hearing the Cardinal report to the King that my Slayerteers were brawling in a common alehouse yesterday evening! Well? The King observed that perhaps he should select his Slayerteers from the Cardinal�s Guards, if that is the way the Slayerteers are deporting themselves! Speak up! And where is Athos?�
�My lord,� began Aramis diffidently, �I�m afraid Athos is sick.� She gave Porthos a swift elbow to the side.
�Er, yes, very sick!� exclaimed Porthos, with the manner of a man trying to keep up.
�You see, my lord,� continued Aramis, �yesterday evening we had gone to an inn known for its nourishing food, hoping to restore some measure of health for Athos. But as we ate, we were vily accosted by several wretches in the uniforms of the Cardinal. I could only assume that they were stolen,� and here Aramis�s voice became impassioned, �since I must hope that such men were not true members of the Cardinal�s Guard. I said so at once, and they impunged my honor. Then Athos attempted to reason with them but..�
At this moment, the door to the office was flung open, and on the threshold stood a young man, even more handsome than Porthos. His pale face seemed even whiter against the high collar of his cream colored doublet, and his blue-green eyes peered from beneath several locks of brown hair falling over his forehead. He took a step into the room and addressed Monsieur de Treville, saying in a weak but steady voice, �You sent for me, my lord?� At which point he nearly fainted.
�Athos!� cried de Treville, rushing forward to catch him. Pushing aside the Slayerteer tabard, even Lina could see the blood seeping from under the cream doublet, and the blue-grey shirt beneath. �Fetch the healer! Hurry!� yelled de Treville. �Athos has been wounded!�
Fortunately, the healer was in the vicinity, for a crowd had gathered in the hall. Many of the Slayerteers knew of the fight that Athos, Porthos, and Aramis had been involved in, and were surprised to see Athos even move, let alone report for duty. As the healer applied a Recovery spell, Aramis quickly explained that they�d been set upon by several of the Cardinal�s guards, and while they had wounded the Guards, and killed several, one had treacherously held Athos�s sword arm aside while another stabbed him in the shoulder.
From her viewpoint off to one side, Lina thought that this Athos was brave to venture out with his wound unhealed, and yet the healer seemed rather undertrained, in Lina�s professional opinion.
Several Slayerteers were deputized to carry Athos to a room where he could rest, while Monsieur de Treville loudly declared that he�d bring this issue of unprovoked attacks up with the Cardinal, and ordered that none of his Slayerteers should ever risk themselves again in such a way. Lina spotted a guilty expression on the face of Aramis as she hurried out, and suspected that perhaps de Treville preferred to assume his Slayerteers were the victims, rather than face the truth.
Finally, the commotion died, and Lina was left alone with Monseieur de Treville. He noticed her standing there, and said, �Pardon me, young friend, but as you see, I am a busy man. What can I do for you?�
Proudly, Lina announced, �I�m here to join the Slayerteers.�
�You�re rather certain that you deserve such an honor, yet you seem a bit young to be a soldier. Your name again?�
�Lina D�Inverse.�
�D�Inverse? Any relation to Lady Luna D�Inverse of Bearn?�
With a shudder, Lina admitted, �She is my sister.�
Smiling slightly, de Treville said, �Well, if you were trained by Lady Luna, you�re certainly ready for the Slayerteers. However, the King has commanded that no one be admitted until they�ve passed an apprenticeship period. So, here�s what we�ll do. I�ll have my brother in law, Monsieur des Essarts, take you into his company of guards. If you manage to distinguish yourself in some way, perhaps we can find a place for you in the Slayerteers.�
Suppressing indignation that she was not immediately accepted, Lina bowed. �Thank you, my lord. I had hoped to join the Slayerteers immediately. Still I supposed had I arrived with a proper letter of introduction, it would have been easier for you to see fit to take me on. Sadly, that letter, penned by my sister, and addressed to you, was stolen from me during my journey.�
�Stolen? How so?�
Lina described her meeting with the gentleman in the green hat in the village of Meung, and was gratified to see the Monsieur de Treville gave some weight to the matter. He asked her to describe the gentleman carefully, and peered at her intently, as if to divine some obscure truth from her face. Finally, he nodded to himself, and merely said, �Give me a moment to write a note to my brother-in-law for you to carry to him.�
As he seated himself at a desk to write, Lina wandered over to the window. From this vantage, she could see into the street. In shock, she spotted a gentleman walking there, wearing a sword and a large green hat.
�Good lord!� she exclaimed. �There he is!�
Startled, Monsieur de Treville asked, �There who is?�
�The man from Meung! The one who stole the letter!� Lina cried in reply, and rushed out of the room, intent on catching up to the green-hatted man and teaching him a lesson.
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