A sudden jolt accosted her attention as she fell to the floor. Looking up, she saw the wounded Slayerteer, the handsome Athos, gasping and holding his shoulder. Evidently, she�d run right into him.
�Watch where you�re going!� He hissed at her. The expression on his face clearly revealed that the point of contact had been his injured shoulder.
�I�m sorry, but I�m in a hurry!� Lina replied, getting up and heading for the door again.
Athos grabbed her arm. �That�s scant courtesy from a country mouse for a Slayerteer,� he sneered.
�I said I was sorry. For a Gascon, that�s courtesy enough,� Lina snarled back.
�Well, Country Mouse, that�s not enough for Paris. I think you need a few classes in manners.� Athos stated.
Lina D�Inverse was no fool, but she yearned to continue her chase. �When?� she snapped.
Nodding, Athos replied, �Noon. Behind the ruins of the Ste. Michele abbey.�
�Very well.� Lina yanked her arm out of his grasp. She feared she�d lost track of the man in the green hat while wasting time with this conversation. Breaking into a run, she headed out of the mansion.
Nearing the gate to the street, she noticed a few Slayerteers standing in the gateway, one of which was the tall Porthos. There was just enough room to dart between them, but as she tried, Porthos turned, causing Lina to trip and fall face first on the sidewalk.
�Moron!� she cried, leaping to her feet. She turned to confront Porthos.
�Oh, I�m sorry, little girl,� he said. �Are you hurt? Er, you ARE a girl, are you not?�
�JELLYFISH-BRAIN!� Lina shrieked. �Can�t you see I�m in a hurry?�
�Here now, that�s uncalled for,� Porthos responded, frowning. �I only asked if you were hurt. I guess you are a girl, from your scream, and I was only trying to be nice to a girl.�
�You are the most unbelievable idiot I�ve ever seen!� Lina fumed, looking about the street to see if she could spot the man from Meung.
�I say, Porthos, that�s not very polite,� observed a nearby Slayerteer. All of the Slayerteers in the area were beginning to grin a little, knowing they could provoke Porthos into challenging the girl, and they all looked forward to a duel. The skill of Porthos was renowned.
�Indeed, I think this might be an issue that needs�.settling.� commented another.
Porthos nodded. �Maybe your right. If she�s not happy with my apology, then something must be done. But not here.�
�When?� asked Lina through gritted teeth. She could not see the green-hatted man anywhere.
�How about one o�clock? Under the Pont-Neuf bridge?� suggested a helpful Slayerteer.
�Excellent!� Porthos snapped his fingers. �Do you know where that is, little girl?�
�Yes, fine, whatever, I�ll meet you then and there!� hissed Lina, rushing up the street. Perhaps the man from Meung had paused around the corner.
Skidding a little on the paving stones, Lina D�Inverse cornered at full speed. She ran up and down, peeking in doorways and alleyways, hoping to track down her elusive nemesis. Finally, however, she conceded defeat. Pausing, she ruminated on her loss. This was the second time she�d missed a duel with the man in the green hat. She felt certain she could easily best him in a fight. Not all of her confidence was born of vanity, for she�d trained many years in both sword and spell, and might in fact be one of the youngest advanced fighters in France. Her Gascon pride insisted she settle her score with this mysterious man. Remembering back to the incident in Meung, she recalled that the lady in the carriage had also cast an insulting eye over her. Well, if Lina ever had the chance, she�d take issue with that lady as well.
Satisfied with the restoration of her pride, Lina noticed a trio of gentlepersons talking animatedly across the street. One of the conversationalists was the young Aramis, gesticulating wildly and speaking in an impassioned manner. Considering the poor impression she likely left with Monsieur de Treville, Lina decided it might be wise to cultivate some support with the Slayerteers, starting with this young girl. Lina crossed the street and waited politely, if somewhat impatiently for an opportunity to jump into the conversation.
Young Aramis spoke rapidly and with great enthusiasm, though her listeners seemed a bit glassy-eyed. �The Law and the Church need not be divided if their leaders only acted in the interests of Justice and Faith! Is it not mete that the Spirit of the Law be informed with the pure Faith of the Church? Then all of France and her people could live in equality and happiness!�
�Surely you don�t think the King would bow to the Cardinal?� asked one of her listeners in disbelief.
�If the King were to allow his heart to be opened to True Justice and Faith, and the Cardinal understand that the people needs must be guided in Law by the King, then there would be no need to bow!�
At this amazingly na�ve statement, Lina D�Inverse couldn�t resist a bark of laughter. As the three conversationalists turned to her in surprise, Lina said, �You assume that the common people care, or that thieves would cease their easy living in favor of an idealistic dream!�
�You are very opinionated,� observed Aramis in a displeased voice. The other two gentlemen began to edge away quietly.
�I am,� replied Lina. �But I have seen a great deal of France in my journeys, and I think you must have seen little, if you think that those ideals of yours are any sort of sustenance for the common people.� Lina dug out all her haphazard education in oratory in an effort to impress this Slayerteer, however young. �Bread and meat, those are the sustenance of the people. The criminal element has no rights. The people know no more than their own day to day problems, and nor do they care about the King and Cardinal.�
�Now that�s an interesting thought!� piped up one of the sidling fellows.
The other nodded energetically. �Yes, Aramis, you must debate this with her a while. Farewell!� Both gentlemen beat a hasty retreat.
Aramis continued to stare at Lina with a haughty look of disapproval. �I think you are a bit cynical, my friend, and rather rude to intrude on a conversation, the subject of which you clearly understand little.�
After a moment�s pause to decipher that statement, philosophical debated not having been one of her best subjects, Lina began to turn a rather unbecoming shade of red. �Are you calling me stupid?!?�
Aramis smiled in a condescending, pitying way. �I simply observe that your background of brawling and provincial education in �. Gascony, isn�t it?� may not have prepared you well for the advanced debates of the Paris salons. While I�m sure you�re proficient with that rather antiquated blade of yours, your understanding of the greater world is a bit lacking.�
�MY understanding of the greater world?! You pampered, perfumed city brat! You insult me!�
�Now, now,� said Aramis kindly. �I�m sure you misunderstand me. I would never deliberately insult anyone. After all, I�m only a Slayerteer temporarily. I�m meant to be a Paladin.� She smiled sweetly.
The Paladins were the pure warriors of the Church. In England, they were known as the Templars, and often fought for the glory of God. Clearly this Aramis fancied herself as fine as those legendary Knights.
Grinning with a hint of viciousness, Lina replied, �A young girl like yourself can barely be past the age of schooling herself. Perhaps you need to take some time abroad, to put your lessons into perspective.�
Aramis�s eyebrow twitched. �And you think you are one to give me such a lesson? I think not.�
�Maybe we should arrange a class or two, and find out.� Lina offered with false sweetness.
Aramis scowled. �Perhaps. Maybe today?�
Lina�s grin widened.
�Very well then. I observe that you are new come to Paris. Meet me in front of Monsieur de Treville�s mansion at two o�clock. We can then find a place for your�. Lesson.�
Lina nodded. With a short bow, Aramis accepted the agreement and walked away.
Sighing, Lina shook her head. Three duels in one day, only her second day in Paris, and with three of the Slayerteers. Not the best way to begin her career. If only she hadn�t lost the letter! Glancing up, she realized the sun had nearly reached its zenith. She�d have to hurry to keep her first appointment.
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