The story Code of Honor is included in A Liaden Universe Constellation, volume III. It begins on Liad just days before Clan Korval removes to planet Surebleak, and ends overlapping in time with Ghost Ship, before the new Road Boss offices were built (Dragon in Exile) and while the Road Boss office was just a booth at the Emerald Casino.
Plot: Tom Lei attempts to reason with his foolish grandfather (Delm Severt) and with a spoilt high house Lord ven'Astra. Although others have no melant'i, Tom Lei maintains his own honor.
Tom Lei / Tommy Lee[]
excerpt, Code of Honor
The main character in Code of Honor is Tom Lei pen'Chapen, clan Severt, who served with honor in The Mercs as a technical specialist, protocol sergeant. He is called home by his grandfather, Delm Severt, a mid-level house on Liad. As his story unwinds, matters of personal and clan melant'i come to light. Tom Lei's name eventually changes to Tommy Lee.
- see more at Tommy Lee
Excerpts[]
"Before the end of the first card party, it was perfectly plain to Tom Lei that his grandfather had managed to ingratiate himself with some members of Houses that could only be called High. During the breakfast fancy, it also became plain that there was a secret project with which those same High Houselings required assistance; a secret desperate enough that they could not afford to be choosy regarding such minor matters as social standing or melant’i. By the time he and his grandfather had returned home from the second card party, Tom Lei was quite frightened. His grandfather was ambitious, yes. His grandfather had always been ambitious...but this was dangerous even beyond his grandfather's understanding. Korval was involved."
Lord ven’Astra was a spoilt-looking man in middle years. He wore High House hauteur like a cloak about his elegant shoulders, and looked at grandfather with a slightly bored air. Tom Lei made his bow.