Thank you to everybody who reviewed this story

Anatra DeSylvianno, CP, KC, and everybody else concerned about Treize's health and/or dignity ;-) -Treize is only nude during the night, he got his clothes back before they left camp in the morning

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Code of Honor

"Live if you can, die if you must, but always fight with honor!"

- Native American aphorism -

Part 7

Wufei was quite pleased. Since they had broken camp at the break of dawn, the train had moved a good distance. At this pace they should be able to reach Itoko in less than three days. The moral of his men was high as well. Everybody was excited about being home and with their families soon. Wufei himself was looking forward to a hot bath and a soft bed, and a few days of rest at the royal palace before returning to his own castle.

Their Ghentanian prisoner was still allowed to ride his own mount, but his hands were now tied together and chained to Wufei's saddle.

The commander regarded Treize from the side. The ginger-blond man was keeping his face blank, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

Wufei was still confused about the colonel. He just wasn't sure what to make of the man. Treize's arrogance and sarcasm infuriated him to no end. But at the same time he couldn't help but admire the man for his pride. What confused the young knight the most was the passion and rage in which Treize had spoken about the assault of Sank; as thought it has been a very personal matter him him.

Was he truly convinced that Sank had been attacked by Iteria; or was it all an act? After all, Ghentanians are known to be deceptive and sly. But then again, they are also known to be coldhearted and cruel. One wouldn't expect from a person like that to sacrifice his own freedom to safe a child.

"What is it?" Treize suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You have been staring for me for what seems like hours."

"That's ridiculous." Wufei felt himself blush and he quickly turned his head. "Why would I? You are imagining things."

"Am I really?"

Wufei didn't have to look at his prisoner to know that the man was smirking. The color in his cheeks only intensified, even as he huffed. Damn it, how does he always manage to catch me off guard? I hate it when he puts that grin on; so self-confident, so patronizing. He is a prisoner, what the hell is he smirking about anyway?

For the next hour or so the commander avoided looking directly at his prisoner and stared into the distance instead, as though there was something interesting to see at the horizon.

"Lord Wufei!" Quatre rode up from behind and tugged at his mount's reins until he fell into step next to Wufei. "I just finished my check up on the boy."

"How is he doing?" Wufei wanted to know.

"Rather well, actually. I think he is recovering quicker than I would have thought because of his youth. However…" Quatre sighed. "He refuses to give me his name or the name of the village he came from."

"Why is that?" Treize asked.

The blond shrugged. "He says that he doesn't want to go back home. He ran away to become a soldier and join the war."

After a moment of contemplation the colonel turned to Wufei. "Allow me to speak with him."

Wufei gave him a questioning look.

"Perhaps I can talk some sense into him," Treize told him seriously, and after a short moment of silence he added. "Children shouldn't be fighting. There is no need for anybody at this age to learn how to kill."

Wufei nodded. He couldn't agree more. "Quatre, go with him."

###

The boy was sitting in the back if one of the covered wagons. His shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages. He looked at the colonel, his eyes focusing on the chains around the man's wrists. "So, you must be the one who saved me. They told me that you are Ghentanian."

Treize nodded. "And they told me that you are on the way to the battlefield to join the troops."

"That's right," the boy replied proudly. "My father and older brother both were soldiers. They both died in battle. Now only my mother, my sister and I are left. I'll become a soldier too so that I can protect them. And I'm not afraid to die."

"Those who don't value their own lives are unfit to protect others." Treize replied calmly. "You are nothing but a selfish little boy."

"Treize," Quatre exclaimed.

The boy glared at the colonel. "I'm not selfish."

"But you are," Treize insisted. "You didn't think about anybody but yourself. Did you never consider how your mother and your sister might feel? They already lost your father and your brother. Do you really think they want to burry you too?" The colonel's voice was harsh. "If you really cared for them you wouldn't have ran away. - But do as you wish. I'm done wasting my time talking to you. Let's go Lieutenant."

"Don't you think you were a little too harsh with him?" Quatre asked as they left.

"We will see about that," Treize replied calmly.

#####

The next morning when Quatre came to bring Treize his breakfast he was wearing a soft smile.

"It seems as though your tactic has worked, Colonel. The boy, his name is Adam by the way, changed his mind. He wants to go back home now." He told Treize. "Lord Wufei sent a messenger to his family to let them know that he is alright."

"I'm glad to hear that," Treize replied. "I would have hated to think that I saved his life and got myself re-captured just so that he can rush off to get himself killed somewhere else."

#####

Lord Wufei and his men reached Glendrake Castle, a stronghold just outside the gates of Itoko, late in the afternoon. The large castle had been build for the purpose of housing troops before their departure for battle and after their return.

Wufei spent the night at Glendrake, before moving on to the royal palace early the next morning to deliver his prisoner and pick up the salary for his troops. Only Trowa and Quatre accompanied the commander on this last leg of their trip.

The four men reached the palace a few hours later. As they stopped their horses in the inner courtyard, a tall, dark-haired man, slightly older than Wufei, and several soldiers dressed in the colors of Iteria's royal guard approached them.

"You are late. We expected your arrival a few days ago," the young man spoke.

"Lord Sung?! What are you doing here?" Wufei asked surprised.

The other man smirked slightly, as he looked down at the commander. "The king sent me to greet you. I suppose Uncle wanted to make sure that he favorite nephew gets the proper welcome." His voice was dripping with sarcasm as he added. "I've heard you brought a prisoner. Well, even a blind hen sometimes finds a corn. Isn't that so?"

Wufei clenched his fists but didn't say anything. His face was a mask of perfect calm.

Sung turned toward Treize who had just dismounted. "Is that him?" he raised the prisoner's chin with his fingertips. "Doesn't look that tough, does he?" he snorted condescendingly. "But then, I shouldn't be surprised. After all, they say that all Ghentanians are cowards and weaklings."

"They also say, it takes one to know one," the colonel countered smoothly.

Sung's eyes flashed with fury as he struck out at the prisoner. Treize, who had expected that reaction managed to turn his head just in time. The fist barely grazed his cheek. The Iterian raised his hand again, but before he was able to hit the colonel again Trowa stepped in and caught his wrist in mid-air.

"Sung," Wufei scowled at his cousin.

"Didn't you hear what he said? Somebody needs to put him in his place."

"He is still my prisoner."

"I'm sorry, dear Cousin, but that's where you are wrong. I'll be taking over from here. Did I forget to mention that?" Sung glared at Trowa, who was still standing between him and the prisoner. "Step out of my way."

The captain didn't move.

"Wufei call off your guard dog, before I report to the king that you are disobeying his orders."

Wufei said nothing, but gestured for Trowa to step aside. He watched silently, as two of Sung's men stepped in and seized Treize right and left by his arms.

"Take him down to the dungeon. I'll deal with him later," Sung ordered, before he turned toward his younger cousin. "It's been a pleasure seeing you again. Until later…" He nodded at Wufei mockingly and walked away.

As the guards left one of the servants hurried to the commander's side and bowed before him. "The quarters for you and your escort have been prepared, your Lordship. Would you like me to show you the way?"

"That won't be necessary," Wufei replied. "I know the way."

###

"Why does he hate you so much?" Quatre asked, as the three men walked down one of the long corridors toward their quarters.

"It's a long story," Wufei replied. "Sung's father and my father were both half brothers to the king. Although my father was the youngest one of them, the king made him general of his army and not Sung's father. Sung insist that the king always liked my father better, and that he is favoring me as well."

"But even if that was true, that's not your fault."

"Try to tell him that."

"He has been competing with you ever since you were small. He can't accept that even so you are younger than him, you the better warrior," Trowa remarked. "He is overly ambitious, and that can be dangerous. Be careful around him, Wufei."

Wufei nodded. He couldn't agree more. He had always been wary of his older cousin's intentions. "What have you planned for today?" he asked after a few moments of silence.

"Trowa and I are going to see if the bathhouse is free," Quatre explained. "I really need a good soak. Are you going to join us?"

The young knight shook his head. "I requested an audience with the king. I want to talk to him as soon as possible." He nodded at his friends, when they reached his chamber. "I'll see the two of you at dinner I?!"

Trowa and Quatre exchanged a quick look and grinned, before the brunet replied. "Not very likely. We have a few other plans as well."

Wufei rolled his eyes. "Spare me the details," he muttered as he turned to enter his room.

#####

"Thank you, your Highness for taking the time to see me on such a short notice." Wufei dropped down on one knee and bowed his head in respect.

"Don't be ridiculous, Wufei," the king replied. "I will always have time to see you, and if not I'll make time. Now rise to your feet; there is no need for you to kneel before me."

"Thank you, your Highness."

"You don't have to call me that either." The king sighed. "Wufei, I wish you would every once in awhile look past the fact that I'm the king, and keep in mind that I'm also your uncle. Perhaps a little less formal setting will help. The garden is beautiful at this time of the year. Heero," he turned toward the guard standing by the door. "I'm going to take a walk with my nephew. I don't want to be disturbed by anybody."

The young man nodded. "Yes, your Highness."

The king regarded his nephew silently, as they walked side by side to the garden. After a long moment he finally spoke. "By the gods, I can't believe how much you have grown, Wufei. Every time I see you look more and more like your father. I'd receive reports of intense fighting between our troops and Ghent, and I was worried about you. I'm glad that my prayers were answered and you have returned safely."

"Thank you."

"Now tell me; what is it you came to see me about?"

"It's about the prisoner we brought," Wufei explained. "What's going to happen to him?"

"Truth to be told, I'm not sure yet," his uncle admitted. "I was surprised when I learned who you had captured. His name is well known in Ghent. His grandfather was one of the men who signed the truce between Ghent and Iteria 40 years ago. His father is an advisor for the king, and Treize Khushrenada is one of the highest decorated officers in Ghent. He has a subordinate, a young man by the Name of Zechs Merquise. Together the two of them have dealt our troops more losses than anybody else."

"If he is such a high ranking soldier, that would mean that he could probably provide us with a lot of important information, wouldn't it?" Wufei asked.

"The king of Ghent is not fool, Wufei. He only tells his officers what they need to know, so that in case they are captured they can't give away too many secrets. Besides that, I don't think that he would tell us anything, willingly."

He is probably right, Wufei thought. Treize is proud. He would rather die than betray his own people.

"The Khushrenada family is also extremely rich. I'm sure they would pay any ransom we ask for, but I don't think I can allow him to return to the battlefield. He is too skilled as a warrior and too able as a leader."

Wufei nodded. He saw the reason in that. "You are not planning to execute him, are you, your Highness? Because if that's the case; I would like to plead with you to spare his life."

He king gave his nephew a surprised look. "Explain," he demanded.

Wufei nodded. He told his uncle how Treize had escaped and saved the life of a boy. "I believe that an act of compassion deserves another."

"I concur," the king agreed. "I'll consider what you told me when I made my decision. Now, is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"In fact there is," Wufei replied. "I was wondering if you would mind telling me about Sank, about the treaty between Ghent and Iteria and the assault on the kingdom."

"Hmmm." The king gave his nephew a surprised look, but didn't ask why Wufei wanted to know about this. He settled down on a stone bench and patted the seat next to him. "Let's sit down for a while, shall we?"

As Wufei sat down he started to talk. "As you already know, Sank was a pacifistic kingdom that opposed all forms of violence. Nearly forty years ago the ruling king of Sank worked out a truce between Ghent and Iteria. Twenty-five years later his son suggested that we should take it a step further, declare peace and form an alliance. After plenty of consideration I agreed. Delegations of both kingdoms were supposed to meet in Sank to finalize the alliance. Seeing the importance in this act, I decided to travel to Sank myself. When our group reached the Sanyoto River we found the main bridge partially collapsed and our way cut off. Because we had to travel north to the next bridge we arrived at Sank about two days later than expected. Soon after we entered the kingdom we started to hear about the attack on the royal palace…"

"So by the time you arrived it was already too late?"

The king nodded. "Yes. The palace was burned to the ground and the bodies had been buried when we finally reached the capital."

"Then you never saw any of the attackers. And as far as I know there were no survivors. How did you know they were Ghentanian?"

"People in the nearby villages and towns told us that they had seen Ghentanian troops in the area at about the time of the attack."

Wufei frowned. "So he was lying to me after all."

"He?" the king asked.

"Colonel Khushrenada!" The young knight almost spat the name. "He insisted that Ghent wasn't behind the attack on Sank. But of course it was all a lie. I should have known." Why am I so angry about this? Did I actually hope that Treize had spoken the truth? Why do I want to trust the man so desperately? What is it about him that made me even come here and plead for his life?

"Perhaps it is not a lie."

Wufei looked at his uncle puzzled. "What do you mean, your Highness?"

"Perhaps it is what he truly believes, because it is all he has ever been told."

#####

"What's wrong, Quatre?"

"Nothing."

"Please, don't try telling me nothing is wrong. It's almost morning and you are still awake." Trowa moved closer and snakes his arm around his lover's waist. "Obviously something is bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

Trowa sighed. "I take it then that this is about Treize."

"I'm sorry; I know you don't like him…"

"I told you already it's not that I don't like him. I fact I have a great deal of respect for him, but he is still an enemy."

"He is not that different from you and me." Quatre said. "Did you know that he likes poetry and music? And I'm sure he has a family that doesn't know what happened to him and is worried about him right now."

"I was afraid this would happen. This is exactly why I warned you not to get too close, Quatre. If you ever were to face him in battle, these kinds of thoughts will get you killed, because they will make you hesitate." Trowa looked at him sorrowfully. "Quatre I love you very much, I don't want to lose you."

Quatre gave him a soft smile. "Don't worry. I have never faltered on the battlefield, have I?" He nestled against his lover's warm body. "Let's get some sleep, shall we."

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T.B.C.

Author's Note:

Feedback is greatly appreciated, constructive criticism is welcome :-)