Reluctant Companion; The sequel to Sampson Effect

Chapter One

Betaed by Skippyscatt

Milliardo Peacecraft snarled at his guard. "This is ridiculous. I'm a prince of this kingdom. Release me."

The guard was a very large and phlegmatic individual so he just said, "No. I got my orders an' I'll have ta say. You're a disgrace. My Lady did love you and you do this to her? You're lucky I'm so good at following orders. Now ... there's two ways to do this. The hard way or the painful way. Which do you wanna try?"

Milliardo blinked, this wasn't going the way it should. Relena was angry at him he knew this, but usually she had him locked up in one of the upper dungeons or a tower for a while then she forgave him and let him go. But the guard was riveting the cuffs around his wrists and ankles, shredding his remaining clothing in the process.

This was very bad. This was worse than the time he'd really mucked it up at the temple and they'd sent him to the back side of nowhere for six miserable months. He'd never been treated like this before, no matter what he'd done. He realized that he'd really been cast off this time. He didn't see that what he'd done now was any worse than any other stunt he'd pulled. Relena would call him back. He was sure.

a few days later

Milliardo stood in a ditch and watched as Heero and Duo galloped by, laughing. The dust they kicked up settled on his already dirty face and got into his mouth.

"Look at them two. Make a couple, don't they? Her Majesty made her deal?"

The other mounted guard nodded, jerking on the chain attached to his saddle. "Yurs. Did. Lady Catalonia got back in time to have a good laugh. Don't understand royalty, I don't. Why that dumbass brother don't understand that we're a matriarchy I don't get. Them two figured it all out between them. We get a princess an' they gets a prince. An' everybody is happy. Except himself."

One of the foot soldiers laughed harshly. "Hear he's in a mess o' trouble. Cast off he is. Sent away somewhere no one will know who he is. Hope he gets his butt beat regular. Duo is a good man and kind. Not like what I heard that one was. All sorts of bad things I heard of him." He jabbed the prisoner none too gently with the butt of his pike. "Get on, you. Stop draggin' your feet. Want to get to the next stop before dark, we do. If I gots ta hoof it, you step along sharp too."

Milliardo refrained from reminding him it was hard to walk in leg irons. He didn't need the other side of his lip split, nor did he need to miss another meal. He hung his head and struggled to keep up. He was soft from lack of exercise, managing to avoid training didn't seem so smart now.

The small troop traveled for a week, each stop had its own special torture for Milliardo. The first stop, he was chained in a small shed that smelled strongly of chickens. The innkeeper didn't want a prisoner in his inn. His meal was stew, served in a wooden bowl.

The second day was another misery of walking until his ankles were raw. The guards noticed this and gave him some rags to wrap around the iron rings to keep them away from his flesh. He was surprised at how grateful he felt.

That night was better than the first in one way and worse in another. He was allowed into the room with the guards, but he had to sleep on the floor. His supper was cold cheese and dry bread. Never mind that he'd had no breakfast or lunch.

The rest of the journey was just as bad, his sleeping arrangements were terrible and he was constantly hungry and thirsty. By the time they reached their destination he was beyond filthy, hungry or thirsty.

Chang Wufei glared at his king and friend and snarled. "I will not. It is unjust in the extreme to expect me to ... I ... Duo, do not give me that look."

Duo turned up the pleading in his gaze and begged. "Please, Master Chang. I just know you can succeed. Please try."

Wufei threw up his hands in defeat, he never could turn Duo down when he gazed at him like that. "Very well. But when I fail ..." he trailed off. Turning, he stamped out the door, grumbling under his breath.

It didn't take him long to return to his new domain via horseback. He rode as well as Duo and Heero. He just didn't like horses much. He preferred his own two feet, but needs must.

Milliardo gazed in true fear at the man before him. He was just meeting his new master. He'd had no idea that Relena had agreed to this when she'd sent him away. He was to be the slave of this tiny boy, a boy who would have the right of life or death over him for the rest of his life. He wasn't putting up with this.

"I don't believe so. If you'll excuse me, I don't find this joke to be funny."

Chang Wufei eyed his new slave with a completely jaundiced eye. "I don't joke. You will do as I say, or else. And my or else is painful, I promise."

"Really? I'd like to know how."

Chang Wufei turned to the near side guard. "Release him. Remove the chains completely."

The guard eyed Wufei for a moment then shrugged. "It's his funeral, I'd be guessin'. Fine. Royal pain in my arse he is." The guard unlocked the locks fastening the chains to the bands of metal around Milliardo's wrists and ankles. He stepped back and waited.

Milliardo pushed aside his discomforts, if he could take this boy, he could get a dominance over him that would make his life easy. He charged trying to take advantage of his longer limbs and greater weight. All he did was wind up on his face on the floor with a foot on his neck.

"You see?" Wufei took his foot off Milliardo's neck. "I think I will call you Milli for now." Milliardo stirred rebelliously. "If you don't like it, that's too bad. Earn your name back, or live with it. Get up and come with me."

Milliardo contemplated attacking again but decided against it when one of the guards pulled his sword. His master just shook his head at the man.

"That won't be necessary. Even if he did jump me, it wouldn't do any good. And I'd teach him the first lesson in honor. Please, put that up. Although I thank you for your good will."

The guard put up his sword, tugged his forelock and waited for further orders. The small slant-eyed boy just walked out the door. A moment later his voice called, "Take Milli to the old stables and chain him up, please. I'll see to him later."

Milliardo jerked on the chain that went from his ankle to the ring in the wall. He was still filthy, hungry and thirsty. He knew he hadn't been chained long but it felt like forever.

"Hello. Here's food and drink. Sit down on the stool and I'll feed you."

Milliardo glared, what did this boy think he was, a dog. Sit down and be fed? He refused haughtily.

"Very well. I'll put it here for one candle mark, after that I'm sending it out to the stable boys."

Milliardo paced, chain rattling. He could smell the stew and fresh bread, see the wine in the glass and the water in the jug. But he couldn't bring himself to sit, to beg, to be fed like a child. His pride wouldn't allow it. His rumbling belly demanded it.

He paced and fumed until the mark was nearly burned away. When the boy got up to take the tray away, he snarled, "Very well. I'm hungry, give it here."

Wufei brought the tray over to a nearby table and set it down. Milliardo reached for it then realized that it was just out of his reach.

"Sit on the stool."

Milliardo sat waiting impatiently for the boy to move the table over to him. "Well?" he raised a supercilious eyebrow.

"You will address me as Master, or Master Chang. You will not disrespect me. If you're not careful, I'll punish you. You won't like it. I promise ... now, open your mouth."

Milliardo did as he was told, only not to take a mouthful of food. He argued. "I'm not eating off your hand like a dog. Give me the food. Now!"

Wufei just shook his head. "No. You have no manners to speak of. And you are a slave. You will do what I ask of you or I'll punish you." Wufei put the jug of water within Milliardo's reach and walked away, back stiff with annoyance.

Milliardo grabbed up the jug and gulped it down. When he was done, he yelled after the retreating back, "This is unacceptable. I'm a prince. I'm no slave to bow and scrape before some child. Do you hear me?"

Wufei stood in the door, hands on his hips. "Yes, I hear you. And so does most of the compound. Cook is not pleased."

Milliardo apologized sarcastically for upsetting Cook. Wufei just shrugged.

"Go ahead, annoy her. I hope you enjoy breakfast. If you have sense enough to eat it."

Wufei walked away grumbling about stupidity, pride and stubbornness. Milliardo curled around his rumbling stomach and tried to sleep. The fact that it was the back end of summer and cold at night didn't help at all. He spent the night curled in a miserable, hungry, filthy ball on the bare floor.

Wufei settled in his bed with a soft snort. He was a rather powerful sorcerer and he could cast a spell to force his slave to obey but it wouldn't do any good in the long run. Milli wouldn't learn anything. Milli. He hoped to hell he knew what he was doing.

Wufei fell asleep watching the moon rise.

He woke in the morning to the smell of unwashed human. Milliardo's smell had permeated the entire lower room during the night and was rising like a miasma into his bedroom. He crawled out of the covers and swore.

He stomped down the stairs and booted his slave in the backside, none too gently.

"Up. You're going to have a bath. You stink and it's getting into everything. Come on."

Milliardo woke to the kick and scrambled to his feet swearing. "Dammit. It's barely dawn. What do you want? Bath?" Milliardo seized on that single word. He wanted a bath, he hated being dirty with a passion, one of the reasons he skipped training as much as he could.

Wufei wrinkled his nose. "Yes, bath. You stink. Come with me." Wufei unlocked the chain from the ring in the wall and headed for the door. "And don't try anything. I'm not in the mood to mess around with you this morning."

Wufei led Milliardo to the common pump, chained him to it and told him to strip. He returned to his quarters and fetched a pot of cold water soap that he made for the men who patrolled the borders. It worked quite well and he was pleased with it. He doubted that Milliardo would be.

When he returned to the pump, he was disgusted to find that half the keep was standing around staring at Milliardo. He glared at them all and snarled, "If you don't have duties, I'll be glad to find you some." The crowd disappeared quickly, except for the one stable boy Wufei called over to work the pump.

Milliardo glared at him. ''Where's my bath? Why am I here in the courtyard still? Dammit, I want some answers."

Wufei just handed him the pot of soft soap and said, "Scrub fast. I don't intend for that boy to exhaust himself while you dally." He turned to the stable boy and ordered, "Pump."

The boy began to work the pump and water poured from the upper spout of the pump head. Since this was just above Milliardo's head, he was instantly drenched in icy cold water. He yelped, cursed and tried to get out from under the water. The chain was too short for him to get away. Wufei just called over the lurid cursing, "You better wash, that's all an insolent slave deserves. And hurry."

Milliardo jammed his hand into the pot and began slathering the soap in his hair. He washed it quickly then washed his body with the resultant suds. He was shivering so hard by the time he was done that his teeth chattered.

"Done."

The boy stopped pumping immediately, eyes wide. The man before him was practically blue with the cold. This water well was at least sixty feet deep and cold enough that they suspended jugs of milk and juices in it to chill them. Then his sympathy was vanquished by a few ill-chosen words.

"Anchora damn you, you brat. That water is freezing and this soap is nasty. Do you realize who I am? I don't like this at all. I demand to be sent home. I'm sorry. I'll apologize to Relena. You can send me back now. I'm convinced."

The stable boy managed to retreat without running, just barely. He didn't want to be around when Lord Dragon exploded. The beginning of Wufei's rant singed his heels.

Wufei didn't hold back on Milliardo either. He told him exactly what everyone thought of him. Then he told him that he was never leaving this place, unless Relena sent for him or he, Chang Wufei, went somewhere and took him. He also told him in no uncertain terms that his arrogance and haughty attitude would get him a 'fresh one' if he wasn't careful.

Wufei ended with, "And remember. I am a sorcerer of some talent and power. You will obey me if I have to curse you into it. Do. You. Understand?"

Milliardo decided that discretion was the better part of valor, especially in this situation. He would do whatever he had to to hold off this little squirt until he could get a message to Relena. He nodded his head.

Wufei wasn't fooled for a moment but he refrained from comment.

After unlocking Milliardo's chain from the pump he led him back into the Apothecary and pointed to a sink. It was full of pots, still parts and glass ware. Beside it was a pair of drawstring pants and a low neck tunic

"Get dressed." Milliardo eyed the clothing then dragged it on distastefully. He was glad of it as better than nothing but it marked him a slave.

Then Wufei ordered, "Wash all that. Be careful of the glass. I blow it myself and you don't want to have to help me make new. You can reach the fireplace to get the cans of hot water. When you run out, call me and I'll free you to haul fresh from the pump."

Milliardo growled, that little bastard had made him wash in ice cold water when there were cans and cans of hot right there. Now he was making him waste it on pots? It was all he could do to keep from striking Wufei when he bent to attach the chain to a ring in the floor. Milliardo wondered how there could be rings in such convenient places.

"Wash. Now."

Milliardo gazed at the mess with a sinking heart. No matter his intentions, he had no idea how to go about this. He'd never washed a dish in his life.

"Um ... very well. I do hope, however, that you're not attached to most of the fragile things." Wufei made a sound that was half disgust half inquiry. "I've never done this before. I'm a prince, not a navvy. I've no idea how to go about accomplishing this task." Milliardo eyed Wufei from under his bangs. If he played his cards right, the boy would do most of the job trying to teach him how.

Wufei just shrugged. "I'll offer you this bit of ... encouragement. Or advice. Learn quickly. You'll earn one lash of the hickory for everything you break. Now get busy."

"But aren't you going to demonstrate at least once?"

Wufei just snorted. "Put hot water in the tub. It's called a sink. There's some soap on the window sill. Add about this much." Wufei made a circle with his thumb and forefinger. "Swish it around then start washing the glass ware. Dip it in the water and then rub off the dirt with a rag. DoI really need to go through the whole process for you?"

Milliardo just gave Wufei a disgusted look and turned to his task.

It didn't take him long to break a beaker, then a test tube. Wufei didn't go to see what he was doing. He just made a mark on a scrap of parchment, one mark for every broken piece of glass ware. The pots and pans and other metal ware fared much better, but they weren't very clean either.

Wufei just ordered him to do it all again. He grumbled sourly but returned to his work. He was going to fake the little bratt out if it took him all month. He scrubbed everything again, making sure it was clean this time. Wufei wondered if his patience was up to his task.

When he was done, he called Wufei to inspect his work.

Wufei nodded, "Well done. Now scrub the floor with the waste water. Brush, rags and bucket are there." He pointed to where the supplies were stored under the rank of shelves on the back wall. "And don't make that face. The last person to scrub this floor was Duo. Get to work. If you complete on time, you'll be allowed to have warm food. If not, your lunch will be cold."

Milliardo couldn't contain himself. He threw a royal fit. He threw the pots and other metal ware all over the floor. He was, however, wise enough to leave the glass where it was. Not because he didn't want to break it but because he was barefoot and didn't want to tread on slivers.

Wufei just gazed at the mess for a moment then remarked, "Well, that was nice. Now clean up the mess, scrub the floor, and put the dishes away. Be glad you decided not to smash any more glass ware. You've already got eight lashes coming." Wufei watched as Milliardo gauged his chances of winning a fight. "I wouldn't if I were you. My training included unarmed combat, sword play and ... my instructors were all larger than you are. Remember this. You're the useless male from a line of strong women. I'm the youngest son of the Dragon Clan. The only reason I'm not in Chin, ruling a rather large domain of my own is that my clan won't tolerate magic users or lovers of men. And I'm both. As well as temperamental, sarcastic, arrogant, and stubborn. Don't press your luck with me. Nor try my temper too far. You'll find I don't anger easily, but once angered I do tend to ... breath fire, as Duo would say." He pinned Milliardo with a very sharp look. "Now I believe you have work to do. Get to it!" Wufei walked away leaving Milliardo panting and glaring. "And don't forget ... dragons are fire proof."

Milliardo kicked the bucket then yelped as his bare toes complained.

Milliardo cleaned up his mess, whining all the while.

Wufei just returned to his task of making a healing salve, and more mess for Milliardo to clean up. Milliardo watched in disgust as Wufei dirtied all sorts of things, leaving them in piles on the long bench he was working at.

The ground floor of the converted stables was a large apothecary laboratory. It was set up in work stations; which included a clean up area, chopping and grinding apparatus at one table, stoves for cooking and a distillery in its own side room. As well as several storage areas.

The upper level was smaller, covering about half the area of the ground floor. It was divided into a bathing chamber, a master bed chamber, a smaller bed chamber and a large common room which contained Wufei's office, library and sitting area. All of which Milliardo was expected to keep clean.

When Milliardo found this out the next day, he threw what Wufei scornfully referred to as a tizzy.

He was in a bad mood because all he'd had to eat was bread. Wufei insisted that Milliardo eat from his hand and Milliardo refused. And he'd been made to sleep on the floor with nothing between him and the clod slate but a thin blanket. Wufei said he hadn't earned a bed yet. So now he stamped his feet and screamed like a two-year-old.

Wufei didn't do or say anything until Milliardo wound down and went silent, then he went to the door and called in four guards.

"Take him away and put him in the oubliette. Give him a blanket and two forks of straw. Bread and water. I'll check on him in a few hours."

Milliardo struggled but what with being chained to the ring in the floor and worn out from his journey on foot, short rations and his little fit, he didn't last long. The guards dragged him away and lowered him into the pit like dungeon.

Wufei gazed after him, rubbed his face with both hands and returned to his task. He sighed and grumbled, "Damned stubborn jackass."