A Matter of Honor

Octavia walked the pebbled drive to the Devierre's door, thoughts roiling through his mind. A butler met him, and ushered him up to a sumptuous study. 1

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Devierre sat behind the desk, smirking as he swirled scotch around in a glass. Noticing Octavia, he remarked with a snide crispness, "I see you got my message... So nice of you to come."3

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Octavia sat down quietly. "Devierre"5

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Octavia let a few minutes of silence play out before tossing the rough-hewn hessian sack he had brought with him at Devierre. "I merely came to return something that belongs to you," he spoke smoothly.7

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"Something that belongs to me?" he said as he caught the bulky package.9

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"Yes. My wife sends her regards." 11

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Devierre jumped out of his seat and his face paled when he noticed the blood that seeped through the fabric and onto his hands. "How...How did she..." 13

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Octavia remained in his chair, unaffected by the scene in front of him. "You couldn't beat her, so you sent your best lieutenant to be slaughtered." He shook his head. "Not very good form, Devierre." He smirked at the other man's discomfit as blood oozed from the sack and dripped on both him and his desk. "Not to mention the other five he brought with him."15

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Devierre blanched even more as he held the sack gingerly, unsure of if he should continue holding it.17

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Octavia rose from his chair gracefully and sauntered to the desk. Picking up a gold letter opener, he snatched the sack from Devierre and shook the contents out onto the desk. The head dropped with a wet meaty thud and rolled sightlessly across the blotter. Octavia smirked as he impaled Gaius' head and held it up for Devierre's inspection. "What's wrong, Devierre - surprised?"19

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"You...You... She... GET OUT!" 21

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Grasping Gaius' tangled hair, Octavia pulled the head off the letter opener with a squelch and dropped it to Devierre's lap. Still holding the opener, he leaned over the desk, positioning his hands carefully to miss the splashes of blood and gore. "I will not leave, Antonius Devierre - this may be your house, but you have no authority over me," he replied calmly, the cool steel of his voice ringing through the room.23

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"I think you forget, Octavia, that I am in favor with our Lord the Duke!" he shouted.25

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Octavia considered this for a moment. "I think not, Antonius. You are a disgrace - your actions of late give no respect to our Lord the Duke," he replied evenly.27

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"You and your filthy commoner wife will fall out of favor with our Lord over this, mark my words!" he bellowed, now shaking with rage.29

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Octavia didn't even flinch, instead he shook his head sadly. "Antonius, Antonius - you stoop so low as to insult my wife also. Once our Lord the Duke hears of your actions towards the Lefae family, and your blatant disregard for the code of honor set down by the old families long ago, it will be you that will fall out of favour"31

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"You wouldn't dare."33

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Octavia smiled dangerously and pushed himself from the desk to sit back down again. "Actually, I prefer to handle this myself. Jove knows what our Lord the Duke would do if I disturbed him with such things. You know he prefers not to be involved," he wryly replied.35

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"And what do you think you're going to do to me Octavia?" Devierre asked, his hand edging toward his rapier.37

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Octavia saw the movement and drew his own. Pointing it at him, he sighed, "Throw your rapier down, Antonius - I have no wish to duel. You saw what my wife did - who do you think it was that taught her half of what she knows?"39

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"I don't believe it was you... I think it was that slimy brother of hers..."41

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Octavia smirked. "That's where she learnt the other half."43

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Devierre still had his rapier trained on Octavia - not backing down in the slightest.45

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Octavia shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "I see you will not listen to reason. We need to discuss your honor - or rather your lack of it - I think we should call a witness in - your son perhaps? I was in school with Laedus - he is a fine man - he understands the ways of old."47

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Devierre glared, "You wouldn't"49

"Call your boy," Octavia commanded, his voice now edged with determination.50

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"No..."52

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Octavia snarled, "Have you told him yet that you intended to put forward Gaius' name instead of his own, for induction as one of the Duke's confidantes?"54

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"If you even dare..."56

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"Call him, or I'll make sure he knows how much you dishonor him also," Octavia demanded.58

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"Laedus!" Antonius Devierre's voice rung out.60

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Octavia smiled. A few moments later, a man of Octavia' age entered the room. 62

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"Father?" he queried, giving Octavia a look of surprise.64

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"Well?" Devierre snarled.66

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Octavia stood and welcomed Laedus with a customary kiss to both cheeks. 68

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Laedus pointed at the remains on his father's desk, and whispered. "What is going on Octavia?" 70

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Octavia replied, in matching hushed tones, "Your father's assistant, Gaius, had the misfortune of crossing my wife." 72

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Laedus nodded and sat down to the left of Octavia, who returned to his normal tone. "Your father and I are just discussing honor."74

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He looked confused. "What of it?"76

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"My friend," he said, addressing Laedus, "you are well versed in the ways of the old families - the code of honor for which both your family and mine obey?"78

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"Of course. I was raised to believe this, just as you were."80

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Octavia nodded. "Would you not agree that if the patriarch of one family were to incite a duel with a member of another, they are bound by this code of honor?"82

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Laedus' confusion grew, and he apprehensively answered, "Yes."84

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Octavia continued, "And that these duels are given to be to the death, and that if the winner shows mercy and allows the defeated to live, the defeated now owes the winner a life debt?"86

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"Yes... Why are we speaking of this?"88

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Octavia held a hand up. "One last point to clarify," he stated. "This life debt means the vanquished is bound by honor to protect the victor's life either until the victor dies or the life debt is fulfilled. By this code of honor, if the loser deliberately takes action against the winner, in order to cause injury or death - the recourse for the winner is to call upon this life, to rescind their mercy?"90

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"That is true."92

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Octavia turned his head and addressed Antonius. "Your son recognizes the fault, but do you, Antonius admit the same?" Octavia watched for a reaction. "You challenged my wife to a duel, she was merciful, and yet you foolishly proceeded to take action against her life."94

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Laedus regarded his father seriously, his demeanor questioning his father's actions.96

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Antonius Devierre averted his face and stammered, "I... I... I...."98

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Octavia turned to Laedus again. "Do you recognise me as the patriarch of the family Lefae?"100

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"Yes... With your father dead you would have to be honored as such." 102

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Octavia stood and addressed both of them formally. "On behalf of my wife, the Lady Lefae, I hereby call upon the honor of what is rightfully due. I rescind the mercy she gave, and demand payment of the life she allowed."104

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Antonius snapped his head back to glare at Octavia. "No!" he whispered as his son sat stunned and unable to reply.106

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"Laedus," Octavia turned to his friend, "I ask that you allow me this right, and forgo your own right to the vengeance that normally would be accorded you."108

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"Vengeance? ... I don't think I... " 110

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Octavia added. "I have no intention of instigating a blood feud between our families."112

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"Then what am I supposed to do, Octavia?"114

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"I call on my right to kill your father out of honor." Octavia gave both of them a steely glare, as he stated what should have been plainly obvious.116

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"I don't think I can give you that right, Octavia. Please..." Laedus begged.118

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"You will succeed your father almost immediately - I will sponsor your induction into the Duke's confidantes to replace him. Additionally, I will give your mother a stipend until she herself dies. I am an honorable man, Laedus. Quite unlike your father," he replied stiffly. He pulled a fob watch from his breast pocket. "I will your allow father fifteen minutes to finalize his affairs and farewell you and his wife. I will not show mercy - do not ask this of me Laedus. My wife gave him mercy, and yet he attacked her the first chance he had."120

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Devierre sunk into his chair, beaten. "Very well... But not here."122

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"Where Antonius?" Octavia quizzed.124

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"Anywhere so my wife does not have to watch."126

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Octavia growled. "I never meant for your family to watch - I am not unsympathetic!" Octavia glanced over at the shell-shocked Laedus. "I will take him some place away from here. I will take care of his remains and pay for the burial. I am not unkind - there is no reason for you to see your father dead."128

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Laedus nodded.130

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"Laedus, if you will please relieve your father of his rapier, and say your goodbyes," Octavia commanded softly. Even though he had come to rightfully demand what was owed to him, he still felt sorry for the pain he would now put in friend through.132

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"Can we please do something with this mess first?" Devierre queried, pointing to the head of Gaius.134

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"Did you care enough about your assistant to give him a proper burial?"136

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"He should be buried according to our customs."138

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Octavia allowed the condemned man to remove the head from the desk and place it in a nearby wooden box and to clean the congealed blood from his desk and hands. 140

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After Antonius finished, Octavia asked, "Is your estate affairs in order?"142

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"Of course."144

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Octavia turned to Laedus. "Now would be the time to bring your mother here." Octavia waited as Laedus nodded blankly and scurried from the room before he addressed Devierre again. "Do you have anything else you wish to say, Antonius?"146

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"Your wife is an amazing woman... I regret the night I crossed her... I was a fool," he baldly stated after a moment of thought.148

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Octavia smirked. "Retrospect gives you such a clear view of things, does it not? It is a shame you could have not admitted that sooner, and not given your life in the pursuit of pride. She will be happy to know that you think of her in that way."150

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"She killed all of them then...?" he asked, curious.152

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"She is quite talented, and has learnt now to never show mercy - especially when it comes to family," Octavia replied.154

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"Family?" Devierre questioned.156

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"Gaius made the mistake of ordering them to snatch my son," Octavia answered, his voice venomous. "He was injured."158

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"Oh..."160

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"You will be made to pay for everything your servants did to my family before you die, Antonius," Octavia stated blandly. "You have done nothing deserving of a quick death."162

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"What did they do to her and your boy?" he asked.164

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"Franco had cuts on his face and hands, Sylvia had been beaten," he replied icily. 166

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Devierre sighed heavily.168

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Just as Octavia was about the say something else, the door to the study opened with a bang, and Phillipa Devierre swept into the room trailing Laedus in her wake. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded shrilly, coming to a halt in front of her husband. "Our son tells me you have dishonored our family name."170

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Devierre hung his head "I have indeed."172

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Phillipa reached over the table and slapped her husband hard across the face. "Don't you ever think?" she spat. "What are we going to do now, how am I to hold my head high when around the other families, knowing that my husband died for his foolishness?"174

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"My hands are tied... And I do wish I hadn't attacked Lady Lefae, but that is what happened and there is nothing more to be done."176

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Octavia cleared his throat and interjected, "You will taken care of financially and I will not mention this affair to anyone else outside of our two families - tell your friends whatever you please about why he died." 178

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Phillipa glared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "Fine." She turned to her husband. "Goodbye," she whispered as her eyes watered.180

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"Goodbye," he whispered as he reached up and touched her face.182

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She kissed him once, before pulling away and dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief pulled from her bosom. She then turned and stalked past Octavia, leaving Laedus in the room with Octavia and Antonius. 184

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Octavia glanced at Laedus.186

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He walked over and "I'm sorry, Father, but I must have your rapier."188

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Octavia watched as, defeated, Antonius dropped his rapier in his son's hand. 190

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"Bind his hands behind his back, Laedus." Octavia commanded.192

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Laedus bound his father "Goodbye Father," he said quietly, "I'm sorry."194

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Octavia stood and braced a hand on his friend's shoulder. "You are an honorable man, my friend. Let not your father's actions cloud your judgement, nor make the same mistake he did." Octavia stepped back and pointed his rapier at Antonius. "Let's go."196

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Octavia waited until the condemned man stood in front of him, before he reached forward and wiggled Antonius' family crest ring from his right ring finger. He handed the ring to Laedus. "It belongs to you now."198

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Octavia waited as Laedus pushed the ring onto his own finger, before leaving with Devierre. They silently marched through the house and out into the surrounding estate. After walking for nearly ten minutes into the forest that circled the estate, Octavia stopped and pushed Devierre roughly to the ground. 200

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"On your knees."202

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Devierre knelt slowly, his demeanor showing how beaten he felt.204

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Octavia pulled his rapier. "First," he said, "my wife was beaten." Holding the sword, he brought the base of the hilt down onto Devierre's face, smashing his nose and cheekbone.206

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Devierre let lose a strangled cry of pain.208

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"Second, my son received cuts to his face." Octavia used the tip of the sword to leave shallow cuts on Devierre's face. "And his hands." Two more slashes opened up on Devierre's arms with a flick of the rapier.210

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Devierre his, but held his tongue.212

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"Thirdly, you betrayed your honor, and disregarded my family." With a wide arch, Octavia slashed him across his belly, and slowly the exposed intestines quivered, before spilling out onto the ground. Octavia held the rapier pointed upwards towards Devierre's heart. "Do you beg for mercy?"214

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All Devierre could do was make a sickly gasping noise, as he struggled to remain upright.216

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Octavia dropped the point of the sword and stepped back. He leaned against a tree to observe.218

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Devierre's eyes bulged as he glanced down. "Please..."220

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Octavia pushed himself from the tree, and repeated the question. "Do you beg for mercy?"222

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"Yes."224

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"Why should I give it, Antonius? You never saw fit to accord my wife that honor."226

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Devierre groaned in agony. "Please - in the name of our Lord the Duke, have mercy on me."228

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Octavia circled the dying man for several minutes, stalking around him. He finally stopped in front of him and held the rapier in the same position as he had previously. "The only mercy I have is what you can afford yourself. Take your own life, you dishonorable bastard," he hissed.230

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Antonius Devierre, weakened by blood loss, could only fall against the sword. 232

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Octavia held the rapier steady as it slowly pierced Devierre's chest, allowing merely the weight of the man's body to impale itself. As Antonius Devierre convulsed, Octavia held the man and finally drove the sword through his heart and out through his back. He stared dispassionately as the dying man took his last breath and bowed his head. 234