Of course they will be protected, Aramis thinks, glancing sideways at the little mound his gun makes in the towels. This one fires eight entire rounds before it needs to be reloaded - surely that will be enough.

"I will always take care of you," he says, bringing the sponge over Porthos' skin again. He kisses the water droplets left in its wake. If it takes Porthos again, Aramis means to be so close that it must take him too.