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Code of Honor

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

- Native American aphorism -

Part 8

Quatre spent most of the morning in the chamber that he and Trowa shared, reading. Wufei had left early that morning for Glendrake Castle, to bring his troops their pay, and dismiss them. Trowa was accompanying the Commander, but Quatre had chosen to stay behind.

It was early in the afternoon when the young man decided to pay the Ghentanian prisoner a visit. As he headed down to the dungeon he told himself that he was only concerned about the colonel's health. One of the guards in the warden room showed him to Treize's cell. The colonel was sitting on a thin, straw filled mattress, with his back against the wall.

"Ah, Lieutenant, what a pleasant surprise," the colonel greeted him "What brings you down here?"

"I just came you see how you are doing."

"I have been better," Treize replied sarcastically. "The accommodations here are awful. I will have to make sure to reserve a room with a view the next time I come to this place. But then again, I'm not paying, so I should be complaining, should I?"

Quatre grinned softly. He could only admire the other man for not having lost his sense of humor yet. "How is your injury? Is it bothering you in any way?"

"No, it is fine. However I would appreciate it if you could do something about these." The colonel gestured at his shackled wrists. "These are quite uncomfortable, and absolutely unnecessary if I might add."

Quatre frowned and turned toward the guard. "Why is he chained while he is locked inside his cell?"

"Orders from Lord Sung," the man replied with a shrug.

Quatre's frown deepened. He was just about to ask if the king knew about this, when several of lord Sung's men entered the dungeon.

"You," the leader of the group barked at Treize. "Get up, you are coming with us."

"Where are you taking him?" Quatre wanted to know.

"Interrogation," the man replied with a dark grin. "Lord Sung is feeling a little bored this afternoon and looking for a little entertainment."

I don't like the sound of this. I can't believe that the king would approve of this. I wonder if he even knows. I'd better find Wufei quickly. He might be able to do something. Let's hope he has already returned.

###

When Quatre didn't find the commander in his quarters he decided to check the royal gardens. Wufei was known to retreat there when he wanted to be alone.

Just outside the gardens he ran into a young lady with long blond hair. "Lady Relena." He bowed respectfully. Relena was the daughter of Lady and Lord Darlian, one of the king's advisors. Quatre once heard that she was not really their blood child, but that might have been just a rumor.

"Lord Quatre, what a pleasure to see you again," the lady said. "I was delighted when I heard that Lord Wufei and his men had returned safely."

"Thank you, Lady Relena; the pleasure is mine," Quatre replied. "But you really need to stop calling me by that title. I'm not a lord and you know it."

"You better get used to it. I've heard that the king is planning on knighting you and Captain Trowa the day you turn twenty-one."

"That's a long way to go, and his highness might still change his mind. I'd rather not think about something that might or might not happen." Quatre smiled modestly.

"Don't be so humble, Lieutenant," se told him. "You and Trowa deserve that title more than many of those born of noble blood."

"Thank you, you are too kind, my Lady. May I ask if you by any chance have seen Lord Chang in the gardens? I was looking for him."

Relena shook her head. "I saw him and the captain leave on horseback earlier this morning. I don't think that they have returned yet. If you don't have anything better to do, would you care to join me for a walk?"

The young man was about to politely decline her invitation when he noticed a young man, no older than Quatre, in guard uniform, approaching them. He gave Quatre a curt nod and bowed at Relena. "My Lady, I'm afraid I'll have to cut your conversation short. His Highness is asking to see the Lieutenant."

Relena smiled softly. "That's quite alright, Heero. I'm sure we will find time to talk some more later."

"My Lady." Quatre gave her a respectful nod before following the guard.

The king wants to see me? I wonder why? He thought. He turned his head to face Heero. "Did his Highness mention what he wants to see me about?" he asked.

The other man shook his head. "He didn't tell me, and I didn't ask."

Heero Yuy was the king's personal guard. Despite his young age he had proven his skills and capability more than once. Rumor had it that his highness himself saved Heero's life when he was only a small child, which of course would explain his total devotion and loyalty to the ruler of Iteria. Heero was a quiet person, very much like Trowa, who didn't socialize much. Everybody in the palace knew that Lady Relena fancied the brave and handsome young man, but so far all her efforts to get his attention seemed in vain.

###

"Your Highness wanted to see me?" Quatre dropped down on one knee and lowered his head respectfully, as he approached the king.

"Yes, Quatre, I need your assistance." The king gestured for the young man to get up. "Rise and take a seat."

"What can I do for you, your Highness?" Quatre wanted to know.

"I'm planning on talking to the prisoner you brought. I would like for you to be present when I do so. I need to be sure if he is being truthful or not."

"I see," the blond replied quietly. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable, but it wasn't like he could tell his highness that he would rather not be present when Treize was being interrogated.

Apparently the king noticed his discomfort, because he asked. "What is it, Quatre, you look troubled."

"I… Are you…I mean, if he isn't willing to talk, are you going to have him tortured for information?"

"Tortured? Why, Quatre, you should know me better than that. How did you come up with an idea like that?" the king asked. He sounded appalled by the mere suggestion.

"Forgive me, your Highness," Quatre apologized. "It's just that when Lord Sung's men came to take him away for interrogation they made some remarks that troubled me."

"Lord Sung's men you say? I never gave him orders to question the prisoner. Heero!" The kind turned toward his guard. "Find Lord Sung and let him know that I want to see him at once."

"Yes, your Highness."

#####

Treize was tied up with his arms spread above his head, in the middle of an otherwise empty chamber. Two chains that were anchored high in the walls left and right of him, led to his wrists. The guards who had taken him to this room had stripped him of his tunic before tying him up.

While he was waiting, Treize wondered for the first time if he had made a mistake. He had never expected that he would be alive long enough to reach the royal palace. Remembering the guard's remarks sent a cold shiver down his spine.

The colonel raised his head as the door opened and Lord Sung entered the chamber, with a curled-up leather whip in his hand. He managed to keep his expression blank, as the dark-haired man stopped in front of him and raised his chin with the crop.

"I hope you are ready for some fun."

The Iterian walked around him regarding Treize from all sides, before he stopped behind the prisoner. "Such soft and flawless skin," he muttered. "It's a shame that it won't stay like that much longer."

Treize gasped and bit his lower lip when the whip suddenly came down on his back.

Sung stepped closer and ran his fingertips over the angry red welt left by the leather strap. A few drops of blood trickled from a spot where the skin had broken.

"My, my Ghentanian blood is red too, who would have thought."

"You didn't know," Treize pressed through his teeth. "Perhaps if you'd join the men on the battlefield instead of hiding cowardly at this palace…"

"Insolent bastard!" Sung spat.

The whip came down again, crossing the mark that it had left earlier, and the colonel could barely stifle a cry.

God, this hurts.

"Did you know that this whip, if used skillfully, can expose a man's spinal cord with less than fifty lashes?" Sung remarked nonchalantly.

"You are sick; did anybody ever tell you that?" Treize growled.

The knight snorted. "Let's see if you are still this cocky when I'm done with you."

The Ghentanian clenched his teeth, waiting for the next hit, but it never came. Instead the door was pushed open and a young soldier with unruly brown hair entered the chamber.

"My uncle's lapdog, I'll be damned," Sung remarked mockingly. "What are you doing here? Have you come to enjoy the show?"

"His Highness sent me. He wants to see you at once, Lord Sung."

"Now? Can't you see that I'm in the middle of something?" the knight asked.

"The king said, he wants to see you at once," the guard repeated.

"All right, all right, I'd heard you the first time." Sung dropped the whip and turned toward his prisoner. He seized Treize's chin and forced him to look up. "It seems as though you have caught yourself a little break. But don't worry, my friend, I'll be back soon. Don't get lonely while I'm gone."

###

Lord Sung turned his head and regarded the man walking next to him with a condescending look. "It seems that my uncle has trained you well, Heero Yuy. Do you also fetch and bark when he tells you to?"

"Consider yourself lucky that I'm not easily insulted by the likes of you, Lord Sung." Heero replied, without even sparing the older man a single look.

"You…," Sung spat angrily. "Have you forgotten your place? You'd better watch you mouth and speak to me with more respect."

"Respect and loyalty have to be earned, my Lord, otherwise they mean nothing," the brunet remarked calmly. "You haven't done anything yet to deserve my respect."

The knight huffed, but didn't say anything because they had reached the king's study. Heero knocked at the door and waited for the command to come in before opening it.

Lord Sung's demeanor changed as he entered the room. He approached the king and bowed. "You called for me, Uncle?"

"I was told that you took it upon yourself to question the prisoner, Sung. Is that true?" the king asked.

"Well, yes I did."

"And when exactly did I give you orders to do so?" his uncle inquired firmly.

"I assumed that it was what you wanted me to do, your Highness."

"Do not assume so much, just follow your orders. The last time I checked I was still the king. I'm starting to wonder if I made a mistake by giving you too many liberties," the king gave him a firm gaze. "This isn't the first time you have gone over my head. Do not try my patience, Sung. Family or not, I'll not allow you to abuse your authority. Did I make myself clear?"

"Absolutely clear, your Highness," Sung bowed his head, even as he clenched his teeth in anger. How dare he to dress me down like a disobedient child; especially in front of other people? I'm a member of the royal family; I'm not some low-class servant.

"Good, then go now and have the prisoner brought to me. I want to talk to him myself."

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T.B.C.

Author's Note:

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