Military reports from Musketeer Home Farm outpost for Musketeer Captain Athos @Musketeer_Athos

(Having been given responsibility for running the home farm as a military  outpost by Athos, really for his own safety, Raoul takes to heart his responsibilities. With his mother @Exquisite_Wren, Aunt Marie – @MmeDeChevreuse, brother Rene – @Rescued_Prince and another young new recruit @MusketeerMarc, all living at the farm Raoul becomes more and more frustrated  as he tries to assert some military discipline on the household.)

To Captain Athos,

Sir,

I have decided to make my reports in the form of a diary so you can see what is happening at this out post.

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Report Ending August of this year

Sir,

I assume your silence is of military importance and I respect that but, sir I cannot emphasise enough the need for at least one cannon at this outpost. I have written several times and have carried out training with the new recruits using a wooded replica which I carved from a fallen tree. However, @Rescued_Prince has refused to carry out cannon training and his scathing laughter is bad for morale. I know we are Musketeers but surely we must have working knowledge of all weaponry to understand the wider strategic deployment of all military equipment.

Do not worry about the cost of ammunition as Monsieur Flambard, the village blacksmith allows me to make our cannon balls with his scrap metal. I like Monsieur Flambard. I do not use my duty time to make these cannon balls but take @Rescued_Prince with me into the village in our free time where he spends his time seeking out Spanish spies. However, he has not found any yet even after intensive interrogation. I know it is hard work for him for he returns with his clothes dishevelled and very tired.

But I also have to report @Rescued_Prince for being drunk and getting into fights with the other recruits. Although he was off duty I told him he was bringing the reputation of the Musketeers into disrepute to which he hit me.

I have not put him on any charge for mother’s sake but do fear he is getting restless and unless he is looking for Spanish spies seems unable to settle to his work. Sir, why are Spanish spies only female?. Well that is what @Rescued_Prince informs me. He tells me the men would be fighting and therefore concentrates on only looking for Spanish spies amongst the girls and some older ladies in the village. When you are home perhaps you can explain or should I ask Aunt Marie, @MmeDeChevreuse?

On non military matters mother is doing well although she has developed a strange habit of stroking her front and looking out the window any time your name is mentioned. Whenever she tries to chastise Rene he uses your name and she  goes through this strange action and forgets what she is saying. Is she going mad with loneliness? Does she need to eat more?  I can spare some more eggs for her if it will stop her going mad.

Sir, I conclude my report with saying our numbers are now six and we have enough muskets and small arms to provide a good defence of this outpost if necessary. I will still shoot @Musketeer_Marc if he returns as he is a deserter and must be made an example of. But I must stress once again the need for a cannon.

Report Ending 21st June

I have to report myself again. this time for being a poor leader. Should I pass the responsibility to Rene as everything I do seems to go wrong? I will seek advice.

We have completed the new guard house, but it is useless.  How can you have a guardhouse without any windows? I don’t think Captain Athos looked carefully at the designs.  I am going to store gunpowder in there for when we get a cannon. But Minister for War, Treville, has said we can not have one. Well I think I will capture one and then I will have one. I may have to go beyond the village to find and capture one. I think captain Athos would be proud of me if I capture a Spanish cannon.

It will also show I am brave, if not a good leader.

The other problem is Musketeer Marc has deserted.  I will have to shoot him if he returns.

I don’t want to do that but if it shows Captain Athos I can take difficult decisions then I will shoot ex Musketeer Marc.

No signs of the Spanish yet. But I will defend this outpost if they come. I think Rene will help, if he is awake.

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Weekend Report 6th and 7th June

I have to report myself for misconduct this weekend and I have given myself extra duties as punishment.

As on Saturday and Sunday we helped the villagers collect the wild strawberries from the fields. Captain Athos said we must all help the villagers at times of crisis and any harvest is one such time.

And she was there! Louise, @DelicatFleur. She came up to me with a strawberry in her mouth and looked up at me with those big beguiling eyes. I did not know what to do at first and then I tried to take it from her mouth with mine. She was using her teeth to hold on to it so I bit off the part that was jutting out and wow…what a taste. The juice dripped down my chin and then onto my chest, but it was the taste of strawberries on her sweetened lips and breath that made me close my eyes and kiss her.

But not only did I kiss her, but my tongue went in search of more strawberry nectar and her tongue fought mine to keeps its juice. Time stood still as I was transported away to heaven while our twisting tongues sought out dominance over each other and once the quest for juice was over I wanted to kiss her some more. There was that stirring in my breeches that I hoped she could not tell as I slid my hands on her waist and pressed into her many skirts.

I then remembered I was a musketeer and had a job to do. So gently pushed her away and apologised.

And God was wrong! For no apple has ever tasted as good as that strawberry in her mouth that day.

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May 24th

I have written to the War Minister informing him that we may have a spy amongst our midst. Unfortunately this spy may well be @Exquisite_Wren, my mother. My reasons for suspecting her are as follows:

• She constantly disobeys military orders
• She always asks @MmedeChrevreuse what is happening at court yet never attends herself. (I do not suspect Aunt Marie as she follows orders)
• I overheard once that Richelieu had tried to have mother executed, therefore he must have suspected her too.

I will keep a close eye on the suspect and update the minister with relevant information. I have also requested the requisition of a cannon to protect the outpost and the village nearby.

May 25th

I have to report that Rene, @Rescued_Prince,  is a bad influence on the new recruit @MusketeerMarc. He has taken the new recruit down to the river bank after hours in the hope of seeing naked girls swimming there. I have therefore written to the Minister of War asking him to beseech the Queen Regent, @LaReineRegent, to pass a law that girls should not be allowed to swim naked. In the meantime I will ask @MusketeerMarc not to look at naked girls. It is bad for morale.

May 26th

I have to report that Rene, @Rescued_Prince, is having a bad effect on the hens. It is the way he looks at them. They go broody. I have therefore taken him off hen house duty. He wasn’t very good at it anyway.

May 27th

I have to report that Rene, @Rescued_Prince, is very lazy. Everytime I tell him to get out of bed he raises his middle finger and asks for one more minute but when I come back he is still in bed. However, @MusketeerMarc is always ready for action. I think he will do well.

May 28th

I am delighted to report, mother @Exquisite_Wren, is not a spy. Father, @Musketeer_Athos, came home unexpectedly and interrogated her thoroughly. It took him some time but I heard her shouting out agreement with him several times. It must have been hard work as he looked exhausted afterwards and I think mother she was partly in the wrong as she came out of their room very flushed. I hope in time to be able to interrogate as well as father.

May 29th

I am sorry to report that I am a disappointment to Captain Athos. I will write more in my report tomorrow

May 30th

I should report that @MusketeerMarc was absent without leave, but following captain Athos’ debrief I feel I should not tell anyone. I do not want to shoot @MusketeerMarc for desertion.

May 31st

I am pleased to report @MusketeerMarc has returned to the outpost.  He said he was anticipating the liaison role with the villagers and so went and acquainted himself with the local Tavern. He said he learnt a lot of new things there and smiled a lot but he hasn’t told me what they are yet and I should know as I am in charge here.   I may have to visit the tavern to find out.

June 1st

Those chickens just wont leave Rene, @rescued_prince, alone. They try to follow him wherever he goes and make themselves all big and fluffy when they see him. They all have started laying double yolks.

June 2nd

Captain Athos is to leave soon. I will miss him.

June 3rd

I am happy to report wood is ready  for the building of the guardhouse by the entry to the farm,  Captain Athos says I can make it to my own design but not the multi story one I showed him the design for. He said ambition is a good thing then something about learning to walk first. But I can walk. He knows that.

June 4th

Disappointed Captain Athos has rejected my design  below

In favour of Rene’s , @Rescued_prince, design

I think my design was best.