Gotham City
9 Months After the Funeral Rites for King Kal-El
Prince Bruce "Al" Wayne and Princess Kara Kal-El ran through the castle gardens together laughing. King Bruce and Queen Selina were walking in the gardens arm-in-arm. It had snowed last night and the gardens were enveloped in white. Bruce wore a gray knee-length tunic and trousers, his sword belt, and a fur cloak. Queen Selina wore a purple dress with a fur cloak.
Conner Kent and Damian Wayne were practicing archery. Christopher was sparring with Timothy Drake, the king's ward, using wooden short swords. Tim was only a few years younger than Chris. Conner and Damian were just about the same age. "All the boys have grown close but all they do is train these days." Bruce said.
"They miss Kal-El and they want to avenge him. We shall just have to keep a careful eye on them." Selina said and Bruce nodded. Damian was aiming with a crossbow when a bolt came out of nowhere and hit the target dead center. The boys turned around to see Princess Helena Wayne wielding a crossbow. She curtsied. Damian dropped the crossbow and started chasing her. Chris and Tim stopped sparring and laughed. "You should stop this, Bruce, before one of them gets hurt." Selina said.
"It is only a little sport, my love. Damian is rough but he will not hurt her." Bruce said grinning for the first time in a long while. Selina loved seeing grins on everyone's faces again. They had all been melancholy these past months. Bruce took her hand and they continued walking.
Later that night, Bruce lay in bed looking over some reports. "Can those wait until the morrow?" Selina muttered half awake.
"Copplepot is borrowing large sums of money once again. Sir Richard says he wants to build an army to take back his family's throne." Bruce said.
"But no one wants him for a king. Even his own nobles supported your father's claim. Now put those away." Selina said.
"Very well." Bruce put the papers aside and blew out the candle. He lied on his left side and put his right arm around Selina. He kissed her cheek and she took his hand. They drifted off to sleep.
A guard was standing at his post when he heard a noise. He looked to his left and then his right and saw nothing. He readied his halberd and walked towards where he heard the noise. He cautiously walked around the corner and saw a deserted corridor and an open window. He relaxed and walked towards the window. He looked outside and saw nothing so he closed the window.
Then a man in black appeared behind him and broke his neck, catching him and his halberd before they hit the floor. He dragged the body to a nearby cupboard, stripped him, and stuffed him in the little closet. He put on the gray gambeson, gray enameled hauberk, gray surcoat with the large G on the front, and his sword belt. He took the halberd and walked off to fulfill his dark mission.
Sir Jason Blood walked the halls. He could not sleep. He was going to the court physician to see if he could get a sleep remedy. He passed an empty corridor and stopped. He looked around. This corridor is not supposed to be empty. "Calm yourself, Jason. For all you know he could be with a girl." He whispered to himself but he had his doubts.
If it was him, he would have hidden the body somewhere near so he would not be caught. He walked to the nearby cupboard and saw a foot sticking out of the door. He opened it and found the dead guard. All he wore were his trousers and white laced shirt. He quickly closed the cupboard door and ran down the hall.
Bruce and Selina were awoken by a loud banging on the door. "What in the name of…?" Bruce said and Selina groaned. He threw back the fur blanket and arose from bed. He opened the door. "What is it?"
"Forgive me, Sire, but there is an intruder in the castle. He killed a guard and took his mail. He could be anywhere." Sir Jason said quietly.
"You get Sir Richard and Sir Jonah at once. You ask all if they have seen a guard they do not know." Bruce said. Sir Jason nodded once and ran off. Bruce closed the door and turned around. Selina had swiftly thrown on some trousers and a shirt. "What are you doing?"
"That intruder is either a spy or is here for one of the children. I will not stand idly by and watch one of them get hurt." Selina said. She opened a locked wardrobe that held an array of weapons. She grabbed a whip and a dagger. She put the dagger into her boot.
"Fine, but I sending three knights with you. Gather the children and take them to the Great Hall. And makes sure Christopher takes his sword." Bruce said. He caressed her face. "I will come for you when the danger has past." Selina nodded. They kissed tenderly.
Selina shook Helena and Kara Kal-El awake. "Girls, wake up." Selina said softly.
"Mother? What is it?" Helena asked sleepily.
"Put on your slippers and robes, girls. We have to go to the Great Hall. Quickly, girls, quickly." Selina said. The girls got out of the large bed and did as they were told.
They exited Helena's bedchamber. "Chris, why do you have your sword?" Kara asked. Chris held the sword in its scabbard.
"Not now, little sister." Christopher said and picked her up. They quietly walked to the Great Hall on alert.
Bruce wore now wore trousers, a shirt, and boots. He held his falchion in its scabbard. "Well?" He quietly asked the three knights.
"People saw him walking up and down the castle but he never saw him enter, nor leave any rooms. He was not even trying to listen through doors. What is his true purpose?" Sir Jason Blood asked.
"He wanted us to put the children in the same place!" Bruce said in shock and took off running for the Great Hall with them close behind.
Selina sat atop a table with her whip wrapped around her arm. "Mother, may we go back to bed?" Helena asked.
"When your lord father comes for us, my sweet." Selina said. Helena frowned. She and the other children were sitting on the dias bored and tired. Christopher sat next to Selina on the table with his sword in his lap. "Something is wrong. It should not be taking this long." She whispered to him.
"It is a big castle." Christopher said.
"Then you do not know my husband. The day we met he said he would find me. Two days had not past when I found him waiting for me outside the inn I was staying… I do not like this. Be on your guard." Selina said. Chris then looked over his shoulder to the Hall doors. "What is it?" Selina asked.
"I heard something." Chris said.
Selina hopped down off the table and began walking to the Hall doors. Then one door burst open and entered a man dressed in gray mail and surcoat but Selina did not know him. He was average height, had dark hair and a scruffy thick beard. He held in his hand a bloodied sword. She could see the dead three knights outside the hall doors: One had a halberd in his chest and the other two had been stabbed. The stranger's gray surcoat was stained with blood and he was panting.
The children screamed. "GO!" Selina screamed and let the whip fall right off her arm. Christopher rushed the children out of a side door. The intruder growled and tried to run around her. Selina cracked the whip and it wrapped around his right ankle. She pulled and he tripped but he quickly held out his hands to break his fall. He groaned, grabbed the whip and pulled. He was stronger than her and she fell forward. She groaned and he was getting back up.
Selina whistled and he turned around. She threw the handle of the whip at him and the knot hit him right in the eye. He yelled and put his hand over his eye. Selina ran up to him kneed him in the stomach and punched him with all her might. He stumbled and she kicked him in the lower back. He fell down to his knees and she quickly kicked the sword out of his hand. She went for the sword and whirled around, and that is when she felt it: the blade of a dagger entering her abdomen. The intruder twisted the dagger and she quietly groaned. He pulled out the dagger and she fell back gasping breaths. He picked up the sword.
Christopher came out of nowhere and swung his sword at the intruder. The intruder blocked the blow but his eyes widened in fear when he saw Christopher. He immediately dropped down to one knee and croaked out, "My prince." Christopher hesitated, confused. Selina drew the dagger from her boot and stabbed the intruder in the back. He screamed out in pain and quickly struck her. He swung the sword at her but Christopher quickly deflected the blow and swung his sword, slitting the intruder's throat. The intruder fell over dead.
Bruce and the knights then burst into the Great Hall. Christopher dropped the sword, pale as a ghost; and then he retched not far from the body. Sir Richard went to his side and patted his back. Bruce rushed to Selina and held her in his arms. "Get the physician!" Sir Jonah rushed out. Selina was becoming pale and her breathing was shallow. He caressed her face. "Stay with me. Selina, stay with me." Bruce said.
"Bruce…so cold." Selina said softly. Bruce put pressure down on the wound.
"Where is the physician?! It is going to be alright. You are going to be alright. Just stay with me. I cannot lose you as well. I love you." Bruce said.
"I know… I love you." Selina said weakly and her eyes closed.
"Selina? Selina?" Bruce patted her cheek trying to wake her. "Selina!"
King Bruce Wayne stood over Queen Selina's tomb in his family's crypt. Her effigy looked as if she were only sleeping peacefully. Bruce wore all black. He put his hand on the effigy's marble hand. "One day I shall lie with you again and we shall sleep together for eternity." He said softly. He heard Lucius Fox's quiet footsteps. Fox wore all black as well, a fur robe, and with his chain of office: a gold chain with links in the shapes of G's. "Yes?" Bruce asked softly.
"Your war council is assembled, Sire." Lucius said. Bruce stroked the marble hand one last time and left the crypt.
In the council chamber. "Can we even expect Amazonian aid?" Asked Sir Clancy O'Hara, the general of the King's Army.
"As of now, all we can expect is their support. They will not send us aid unless Zod is a threat to them. And we do not need their help. We have gold, strong soldiers and knights, and a vast armory. And we have the Kryptonians. This war is good as won." Sir Harvey Bullock said.
"We must not be so hasty. Wars are unpredictable. They can sway either to victory or to defeat." Lucius Fox said.
"And what do you know of war, university man. You are a politician and nothing more." Bullock snapped.
"I went to war once…many years ago. And many believed the war was good as lost with the death of Thomas Wayne. And it would have been lost if not for Sir James Gordon. So have care of how you speak to me for I do know war! And all it brings is death." Fox said pointing a finger at Bullock. The council chamber was then silent except for one sound: The sound of Bruce's falchion tip slowly tapping the stone dias. They all turned to look at their wounded king.
Bruce had not had a barber attend him for days so his hair was unkempt and a dark stubble covered his chin. He sat on his throne in all black brooding and looking at the floor while tapping the tip of his blade on the floor. Sitting next to him, on Selina's throne was Prince Al dressed in black. The boy looked sad but he paid attention. "Sire, we can talk of war once your days of mourning are finished." Lucius said sympathetically. That is when the tapping stopped and Bruce looked up. His eyes were full of pain and so much anger.
"I want this army ready to sail for Krypton and no excuses. Fox, you will make all the arrangements and will serve as regent whilst I am away. I want Sir James Gordon to be in command of the garrison protecting the city and he shall still serve as High Sheriff of the realm. Sir Clancy will see to raising the troops. I want all the numbers by the month's end." Bruce said coldly.
A knight then entered the chamber with a letter in hand. He bowed and handed it to Lucius. "The seal is Amazonian." Lucius peeled off the seal and began to read. Lucius eyes then widened.
"Well?" Bruce asked tapping his index finger on his falchion's pommel.
"An assassin was sent to Themyscira as well as here, Sire. The assassin was a woman looking for Queen Lois. Queen Hippolyta was slain." The chamber was deadly quiet. "Diana has been crowned and the Amazons are raising their army at once. Like us, they plan to sail after the next moon." Lucius said.
"I want the army raised at once. While Sir James is in command here, I want more troops raised and trained if we should need reinforcements." King Bruce stood and they all bowed. He sheathed his falchion. "Bruce." He said and the boy followed his father out of the chamber.
Bruce sat in his bedchamber in the dark staring off into space with a goblet of wine in his hand. There was a knock on the door and Alfred Pennyworth entered with Lucius Fox. "I do not wish to be disturbed."
"Yes but Queen Lois has written." Lucius said and Bruce nodded once. "She writes that there is no need for Gotham or Themyscira to enter this war. And that you should be with your families at such a dire time."
Bruce sighed deeply. "You will write to the queen at once and tell her that I will lead my army to Krypton and to expect me by spring." Bruce said coldly. "Zod sent an assassin into my city, into my home. My queen is dead and he will SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!" He shot up as he yelled. "And tell Sir Michael Lane I wish to see him." He sat back down and motioned for Lucius to leave. He bowed and left the bedchamber.
"Sir Michael Lane." Alfred Pennyworth announced the knight. Sir Michael entered the bedchamber. Alfred bowed and closed the door.
Sir Michael wore a gray doublet with the large G on the breast, trousers, his sword belt, and black boots. "Your Grace." Sir Michael said and bowed.
Bruce downed the contents of his goblet and stood. "I want you to go Krypton. Find Zod and watch him. I want you to learn everything there is to know about him: His habits, his tactics, his fears, his wife, everything."
"Is that all you wish me to do about Zod?" Sir Michael asked, subtly asking if Bruce wanted him to kill Zod.
Bruce rubbed his upper lip thinking. "For now. Write to me when you can and come to me when my army lands." Sir Michael bowed and left the bedchamber. Alfred entered the bedchamber. "Yes, Alfred?"
"I am concerned for you, Master Bruce. The children once again asked for you and once again I had to tell them that you were not to be disturbed. They just lost their mother and now they are losing their father." Alfred said.
"My children are none of your concern!" Bruce said. "And I saw Bruce in council."
"No, you brought the prince to council to learn the art of war and politics. And you have barely spoken to him or to your daughter in weeks. You will not even grant an audience to Sir Richard or young Timothy. They all are concerned for you. I am concerned for you." Alfred said.
"There is no need for any of your concerns! Leave me!" But Alfred remained. "Get out!" Bruce yelled. Alfred bowed and reluctantly left.
Alfred dressed King Bruce for war: His gray gambeson over his black shirt and then his gray hauberk. His gray leather cuirass was next and then his steel gorget and spaulders bearing engravings of crest of the House of Wayne. His sword belt was fastened around his waist; and lastly, his black fur-trimmed cape. It was near spring but the chill of winter remained.
He stood before the looking glass. He did not quite recognize himself with his new beard and his hair had grown some inches. He turned away from the looking glass and left his bedchamber with Alfred.
Sir Richard Grayson and Sir Jason Blood in their mail and gray leather cuirasses followed him when he walked out the door. They walked through the halls with their spectacle helms under their right arms and their left hands around their sword grips. "God be with you." Servants and nobles alike said as they walked past.
They walked out of the entrance hall and into the courtyard, where 20 some knights were awaiting him on horseback. They bowed as soon as he stepped into the sunlight of high noon. Sir James Gordon and his daughter Lady Barbara, Sir Jonah Hex, Prince Bruce "Al" Wayne, Princess Helena, Damian Wayne, the king's wards Timothy Drake and Jason Todd bowed at the bottom of the steps.
Bruce motioned for his children to come forward. They did. "You as well, Damian." Damian stepped forward. "Listen to Chancellor Fox and Sir Jonah and focus on your studies. And Damian, you are the eldest so watch after your brother and sister." He assumed Damian was expecting not to be acknowledged or given any responsibility since he was illegitimate but he nodded.
"When are you coming home, father?" Helena asked.
"I do not know." Bruce said. He kissed each of his children's foreheads. He ruffled Tim and Jason's hair. "I trust you three to take care of that which is most precious to me." He said to Sir James Gordon, Lucius Fox, and Sir Jonah. Bruce went and mounted his black war stallion. "And I left presents for the children in their bedchambers." But the children still looked somber. "FORWARD!" He commanded and galloped out of the courtyard. The soldiers of the Gotham army proudly wore their mail and gray leather cuirasses. They proudly held their heads up high ready for war. And they proudly marched behind their king.
The children somberly returned to their chambers to see boxes on their beds. The boys had all gotten new daggers but Damian was given a new longbow. Helena was given a crossbow, smaller than normal crossbows and it was made just for her. But they still missed their father.
3 Years Later
Bruce, Lois, and Diana were the throne room of the Bothgr's castle in Erkol over a map of Urrika. "League of Assassins are camped here. Zod still holds the Morstil keep in Bolenth. Oliver and Peter shall ambush Vertigo's forces here near the ruins of Xan before they can join Ghul. Orin still bombards Morstil but those walls were built to last and he still fights the Aqua navy. Carter and Shiera still lay seize to Thanagar. All these enemy and ally troops and this war seems to be going nowhere." Lois said and rubbed the back of her neck.
"We should concentrate all our might on Ghul. He had has the largest force outside Bolenth. We can finish off Ghul's and Vertigo's forces and then march onto Bolenth." Bruce said.
"Their cannons and catapults are still superior to ours and the forges in Kandor are working day and night as fast as they can to build the same war machines." Lois said.
Then they heard a commotion outside. "Let me pass!" They could hear Oliver yelling. He and Peter burst in the throne room. "Vertigo is gone!"
"What?" Bruce, Diana, and Lois said in unison.
"It is true, my lady." J'onn walked into the chamber and bowed. "Werner Vertigo sails for Star City. The Aqua fleets sails for Atlantis. And Ra's al Ghul sails for Gotham. They all set sail days ago. And Luthor plans to attack the city of Cairo in Egypt."
"Divide and conquer." Bruce hissed.
"Why are Genesis and Themyscira untouched?" Lois asked.
"I know not." J'onn said.
"Well, I do not like it. I am sorry, Lois, but I shall return to Metropolis at once." Peter said.
"And my army shall remain here to aid Krypton." Diana said.
"I hate to leave you like this, Lois." Orin said.
"We all do. But we must defend our own kingdoms. Zod knew this." Bruce said. "We hopes that divided, we shall fall."
"Then let us hope that shall be the fate of his allies." Lois said. "This is not the end. We shall come together once again to crush Zod once and for all. For Kal-El." She never called him Clark anymore and they noticed. She mourned him still; they all mourned him. They all exchanged glances before exiting the throne room.
Bruce hurriedly but carefully packed up his things: maps, some clothes, and his assortment of weapons. He wished to be gone by tomorrow night if possible. There was a knock on the door. "What?" Diana entered his bedchamber wearing her chiton and a fur robe since it was cold. "I do not wish to fight with you tonight, princess. I have much on my mind." Even with her coronation, Bruce still called her princess.
"And that is why I have come. You do not share this burden alone. I lost my mother and the man I loved to Zod. You can only hold in the anger for so long." Diana said.
"What anger?" Bruce asked as he packed.
"If you continue down this path, you will lose everything you hold dear. And a man that loses everything is capable of unspeakable things. I do not wish for that to happen to you." Diana said.
Bruce threw down some books in anger and got up in her face. "What makes you think I am not already capable of doing unspeakable things?" Bruce snapped. He and Diana stared deeply into each other's eyes and could feel each other's breath on one another. For no reasonable explanation, Bruce crushed his lips down on hers. Diana pushed him back and slapped him across the face.
Bruce rubbed his cheek but then Diana crushed her lips on his. They threw their arms around each other in a passionate kiss and Bruce removed her fur robe. Diana pushed him down onto the bed and bolted the door as Bruce removed his shirt. Diana pushed her chiton down her shoulders until it fell down on its own. She climbed on top of Bruce and they kissed passionately.
6 Years Later
Diana put back on her chiton and Bruce put back on his trousers. His back was to her. Diana wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his bare shoulders. "I thought we said we would stop this." Diana said.
"So did I." Bruce said. They had made love again last night in his bedchamber.
"Then how did this happen again?" Diana asked chuckling.
"We were discussing a night attack on Ghul's siege weapons." Bruce said as he put on his shirt.
"No, you were discussing it. I was not listening because that is a coward's tactic." Diana said softly. Bruce turned around and wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Perhaps to you Amazons but we Gothamites are best in the dark." Bruce said.
"And we argued and ended up back in your bed." Diana said. They both smirked and kissed tenderly. "But now I must see to my other lovers."
Bruce chuckled. Diana pulled away and picked up a pair of gray trousers. She put them on under her chiton. "We have to stop." Bruce said softly.
"We have been trying for months, for years, and here we are. Bruce… " Diana held up his gray gambeson helped him put it on. "…if we cannot stop, then at least we can be careful." Diana said.
Bruce tied up the laces and turned around to face her. "Yes, perhaps. But our children have their suspicions." Bruce said.
"And that is why we will be careful." Diana caressed his face. Bruce grinned at her. "What?" She asked smiling. But before he could say anything, there was the sound of a large explosion and then the alarm of the large bell in the center of the city.
"What in the name of…?" Bruce rushed to a nearby window to see the smoke coming from the city gates.
"Sire…!" Sir Jonah Hex burst into the chamber. "They have breached the gates."
"I want all knights, soldiers, and the city garrison to the gates at once!" Bruce commanded. Sir Jonah rushed out. Bruce went over to the stand bearing his armor. He grabbed his gray hauberk and put it on, and then his gray cuirass. He grabbed his sword belt and put it on, and grabbed a gray kite shield with a large G on it and a gray enameled steel spectacle helm.
"Please be careful." Diana said behind him.
Bruce walked up to her. "Always." He caressed her face. "Get out of the city. I will find you." Diana nodded. They kissed tenderly and then he left.
Later
Bruce blocked an enemy's blow and then quickly swung his falchion, slitting the enemy's throat. The fighting had lasted all day with very little breaks. He cut down another foe. "Sire." He heard someone say weakly. He turned around to see Jason Todd with a dagger in his gut.
Bruce grabbed Jason and pulled his left arm around his neck. "Fall back!" Bruce commanded. Their line was broken and the enemy was claiming street after street. They found their way to the old Wayne Manor, which was being defended with cannons and scorpios. Bruce kicked open the door and entered the old house with Sir Michael, Sir Richard, Prince Al, and Damian.
They set Jason down onto the table in the Great Hall. Sir Michael examined the wound. He looked at Bruce and subtly shook his head. Bruce closed his eyes and removed his helm. "I can still fight." Jason said.
"You are done." Bruce held him down.
"The city…is it lost?" Jason asked weakly.
"Do not think about that… Are with me, Jason?" Bruce said softly.
"To the death." Jason said and Bruce nodded.
"The enemy has fallen back but they shall be back in force." Sir Jason Blood said when he rushed into the manor. Bruce nodded once to him and turned back to Jason Todd, only to see his eyes closed. Bruce drew a dagger and put it just under Jason's nose.
He sighed somberly. "He has no breath." Bruce whispered. Everyone else lowered their heads. Bruce threw his helm and it broke a looking glass. He ran his gloved hands through his hair. "We barely have a garrison left. We cannot hold."
"We can still hold the castle and send for aid." Sir Jason Blood said.
"We cannot hold!" Bruce yelled and there was silence.
"We cannot just abandon the people, father." Prince Al said.
"We have no choice…! The only way we can save the city is for you to go and get aid." Bruce said.
"Me? What about you? I am not going to leave you here!" Prince Al protested.
Bruce put his hands on his son's shoulders. "Ra's wants me alive. That will give you the time you need to build another army. If you can, get Kryptonian and Egyptian aid." He said.
"I cannot do this without you." Prince Al said.
"Yes, you can. One day you will be a king… It now time to start acting like one." Bruce said and his son somberly nodded. "Get your sister and get out of the city. Go." Prince Al nodded and left the Great Hall. "And Damian…" Damian stopped. "Watch over them." Damian nodded once and left with his brother. Bruce looked around to see his fellow knights.
"Knights of Gotham, here is where we make our stand. Our enemy overwhelms us but we do not cower. We do not run. We stand tall. We stand together!" The knights banged their weapons against their shields. "But know that this is not the end. Our prince shall return. The city shall not burn whilst there is one Wayne that still breathes!" A knight handed Bruce his falchion and helm. He put on his helm and then he put his left hand through the straps of his kite shield. "To lead you has been my great honor. Now I plan to kill a great deal of assassins. Who is with me?!" They shouted their war cry and thrust their weapons in the air.
They could hear the cannons and scorpios above them being destroyed. They formed up in the great hall waiting for the enemy. They could hear the shouts and see the doors budging from the enemy rams. The beams blocking the doors would not last long. Bruce and his knights began banging their weapons on their shields.
Then with a great boom, the doors burst open but no enemy forces rushed in. Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Dusdan al Ghul, and Bane walked into the great hall with Ra's personal guard. The knights were not expecting this but they held their ground. "Hello Bruce." Ra's said. Bruce remained silent. "You and yours have fought bravely. That is why I am asking you to lay down your arms and surrender to me. There can be no victory here for you."
Bruce stepped out of formation and removed his spectacle helm. He and Talia exchanged glances. "What is it that you once told me…? Oh yes. When a man stands in the way of true justice, you simply walk up behind and stab him in the heart. So do you think I will trust you will the lives of my men at arms?" Bruce asked sternly.
"I believe I would not either." Ra's said and Bane whispered something into his ear. "On my daughter, your knights will be spared."
"Sire, do not do this." Sir Michael whispered.
"We need to give Al time and you would never forgive me for missing the final battle. Take the others out the back to the south gate." Bruce said softly. Sir Michael shook his head but Bruce gave him a stern look before turning back to Ra's and them. "If my men are harmed with so much as a cut, then we shall see who stabs who in the heart."
"Understood. I would do the same for any of my men. I always admired your nobility and I do not speak of your station." Ra's said.
"I do not need your compliments." Bruce slowly lowered his falchion and shield to the ground. His men lowered their shields and weapons to the floor as well. Bruce put his hands up and took a few steps forward to his captors. "NOW!" He shouted and threw down a glass vial that filled the room with smoke and the sounds of people coughing. Bruce quickly grabbed his falchion and swung it at Ra's but his blow was blocked by Bane's war hammer. With one swing his falchion was knocked from his hand. He delivered a combination of punches to Bane's body but he could only feel the hauberk underneath his leather cuirass. Bane grabbed Bruce by the shoulders and headbutted him.
Bruce fell back hard. "You fight like a young man. You hold nothing back." Bane said. Bruce uppercut Bane and that made him stumble. Bane swung his war hammer hitting Bruce above his left knee. Bruce fell down to one knee in great pain. "I did not know what would break first: your spirit…" Bane picked up Bruce and held him up high. "…or your body." Bane brought Bruce down hard onto his left knee. Bruce screamed as he felt a great pain in his back. He then dropped Bruce down onto the floor.
They opened windows to clear the room of the smoke. "Find his knights and kill them." Ra's commanded Bane. Bane nodded once and left with his men to hunt them down. Ra's kneeled over Bruce. "You did all that for nothing."
"So you claim." Bruce said weakly.
"Find his children as well but I want them alive." Ra's said.
Prince Al, Princess Helena, Damian, Sir Richard Grayson, and Timothy Drake rode with all haste from the city. Al stopped his horse and looked back to see the flames and hear the screams. Helena was on the horse with him. "I know, brother, but we must flee. But we will return." Al dug his knees into the horse and galloped off.