Reckoning
The four of them landed in the cover of darkness. They used their super vision to scope out the fortress. "I count 49 Zoners, one boy, some 30 or so servants sleeping, and Zod is in the throne room." Kal-El said. "Chris, Conner. The guards are yours but be quiet about it. And then go for the boy." They drew their swords and disappeared in a blur.
The courtyard and the rampart were then deserted in the blink of an eye except for the guards' weapons and a few droplets of blood. Then the guards on every floor then disappeared in a blur. "Go for the crystal. I shall see you all in the Crow's Nest." Kal-El said to Lois. They quickly kissed and then they both disappeared in a blur.
Kal-El stopped in front of the throne room doors and drew his sword. He slowly entered the throne room. The door opened with a small creaking sound and he did a quick scan of the dark chamber. All the torches were out and the only light was moonlight shining through the large crystal windows. He began walking towards the dias. Halfway there, his voice spoke in the darkness.
"You know, after I banished you, I believed that the kingdom was easily mine for the taking but I underestimated your whore of a wife. Your army fought harder when word got out she was with child. But then my cannons arrived and I pushed your army back to Erkol. Now all that needed to be done was to kill your heirs. But those simpletons I sent ended up killing the wrong people and nearly brought ruin upon me with Gotham and the Amazons entering the war."
"I told Luthor that if he did not help me, then the only way he would see his son again was for me to send him his son's head. Thus the Legion of Doom was born. Ha!" He could hear him gulping and then the clatter of a goblet being tossed aside. "But they served their use for a time. Then word got to your friends of our alliance and then we were all at war! A world war of sorts. Months of bloody fighting before that battle at the ruins of Xan."
"By nightfall, our Legion was in full retreat. When I realized that their strength was in their numbers, I send my allies back to attack their undefended homelands." Kal-El could see his silhouette sitting on his throne. "And with the reports given to me by Non, I outflanked your army and drove them back to Erkol. Victory finally seemed to be in my grasp. But they sealed the tunnels through the Jewel Mountains and fell back to Daxam."
"My only consolation to your army's gallant but pointless fight against me was knowing the hell I banished you to. I took joy in knowing that for every victory your army won, I only had to think of you suffering in the Zone." Zod chuckled.
"I did suffer but not like you shall when I send you back." Kal-El said coldly.
"The dagger tip was clever but…" Kal-El heard something being slid across the floor. He stopped the object with his foot. It was the blue crystal tip he had broken off into Zod's body. Then every torch in the throne room lit and Zod stood. He descended the dias with his left hand atop his sword pommel. "I vowed to your father that the House of El would one day kneel before me. Would not wish to disappoint him," said Zod. Zod then swiftly drew his sword and super sped towards him. Kal-El held up his sword and blocked his blow.
Christopher and Conner stabbed the only guards in the dungeon. "I still cannot believe this place has a dungeon." Conner remarked.
"With all that has happened the past few months, very little surprises me." Chris said. They carefully walked into the dungeon. "Jo…! Jo!"
"Chris?" A young boy asked. Chris looked into a cell and saw the little boy. He then used his super strength to pull the cell door right off its hinges and set it aside. "Chris!" Jor-El was in the clothes he was wearing the day he was captured some months ago but now they were filthy and smaller on him. His hair was shaggy and uncut. His body was covered in dirt and he smelled terribly. The little boy ran into Chris's arms and wept.
"It is alright. We have come to take you home and not just us. Our mother and our father have come for you as well." Chris said.
"Father?" Jor-El asked and Chris nodded grinning. "But my father is dead. Mother said he fell in battle before I was born."
"He is alive and he cannot wait to meet you." Chris said. "Come and we must be quiet." Chris put a finger to his lips and Jor-El nodded. He took his hand and led him out of the cell.
"Conner!" The little boy ran into Conner's arms. Conner picked up the little boy.
"We have to go." Conner said.
Deep Below the Foundations of the Fortress
The basket and pulley Lois was in touched the bottom. She stepped out of the basket and lit a torch. Before her were these great stone doors with Kryptonese written all over them. Only a son of El shall pass. The same words over and over. "Well a daughter shall have to do." Lois said and approached the altar before the doors.
She grew her dagger and cut her right hand with a small groan. She then placed her cut hand on the El crest on the altar. The altar glowed and there was a large rumbling noise as the great doors began to open. She could make out a dim glow through the cracks of the stone doors. Inside was one altar housing a clear white crystal. She cautiously entered the chamber.
She reached the altar unmolested. "Just grab it, Lois." She said to herself even though she had a bad feeling. She cautiously picked up the crystal and let out a breath. Then the great doors began to close behind her. She gasped and super sped out of the chamber. Then walls began to cave in. She then launched herself in the air with her powers. She grabbed the pulley's rope and began climbing. "And I thought my forefathers were mistrustful."
Kal-El blocked another of Zod's blows and then kicked his nose. Zod was thrown back into wall and stumbled getting back up. His nose was bleeding profusely. Zod growled and super sped to Kal-El trying to stab him. Kal-El swiftly dodged him and slashed at his backside. Zod ducked and their swords locked. Kal-El was stronger and he could see fear in Zod's eyes as the blades move closer to his face. Zod then drew a dagger and tried to stab him but Kal-El grabbed his left wrist.
With a squeeze, he broke Zod's wrist. Zod screamed in pain and dropped the dagger. He jumped back and smacked Kal-El with his sword pommel, which did not harm him at all. Zod then used his super strength to throw his sword at Kal-El. It missed and flew passed Kal-El. "You missed." Kal-El hissed.
"No, I did not." Zod said smirking.
"Clark." Kal-El looked over his shoulder and saw Zod's sword in her gut.
"Lois!" Kal-El cried. Zod then charged him using super speed wielding another dagger. Kal-El quickly spun around and stabbed Zod in the gut with his sword. Zod groaned as Kal-El withdrew his sword and he fell down to his knees. His crown was hanging off the arm of his throne. Kal-El super-sped over and picked it up. He then super sped back to Zod and put the crown on his head. "A bargain is a bargain." Kal-El said.
Kal-El took out his Phantom Zone crystal and put it Zod's chest. "NO!" Zod cried and then he was gone in a flash of light.
Kal-El then super sped to Lois. "Lois." She had already taken the sword out of her gut.
"I got it." Lois said weakly and held up the crystal. Kal-El took the crystal and set it aside.
"You need the yellow sun to heal. I am getting you out of here." Kal-El said frantically.
"No!" Lois cried. "Leave me."
"No." Kal-El said. He took and kissed her hand. "Let me save you. I cannot leave you here to die."
"You can save me. You can save all of us. Take the crystal. Use it. You can stop all of this from happening." Lois said.
"Bruce spoke those same words to me before I watched him die before my eyes." Kal-El said. A tear rolled down his cheek.
"Bruce was right. Use it and find me." Lois caressed his cheek. Kal-El could feel her wet blood on his cheek from her bloodied fingers. "I am just happy that we found each other again."
"As am I. I love you." Kal-El said.
"And I love you." Lois replied. He leaned down and kissed her lips. "Now go. And do not look back."
Kal-El grabbed the crystal, stood, and began walking towards to the door behind the thrones on the dias. He listened to her heart slow down and he heard it stop beating when he reached the doors. Tears streamed down his face but he did not look back. If he did, he would never be able to do what needed to be done. He went through the door and up the stairs to the Crow's Nest: the tallest tower of the fortress.
Christopher and Conner both halted when they heard their mother's heart stop beating. They exchanged worried glances. Jor-El was wrapped up in a fur-trimmed cloak and they stopped just steps away from the altar for the portal. Conner put Jor-El down and gave him a dirk, which could have been mistaken for a short sword with his height. "Stay here." Conner said. He and Chris disappeared in a blur.
In the center of the tower was an altar with a slot in it. No one knew that the altar had been for and his uncle once thought about having it removed. The sky grew lighter as daybreak approached. At the first crack of light, Kal-El slid the crystal into the slot.
Christopher and Conner stopped before their mother's body. Conner dropped to his knees and held her in his arms, weeping. Chris glared at Zod's bloodied sword lying beside her. He looked around the throne room and saw the ajar door behind the thrones. "Con… Con, there is nothing we can do for her. We have to find father." Chris said.
"Mother…?" They both turned and saw Jor-El. The cloak was too big for him but he still wore it around his shoulders and he still wielded the dirk.
"I told you to stay!" Conner said upset. Jor-El walked up to Lois, tears rolling down his cheeks. Jor-El too then saw the ajar door and took off for it. "JO!" Conner shot up but Chris put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back. Jor-El was fast. He ran to the dias, through the door, and up the stairs.
The sun's rays touched the crystal and the altar began to glow white. Then the crystal alone glowed white. The wind picked up. Kal-El picked up the crystal and thought about where and when he wanted to go. "FATHER!" He heard a little boy yell behind him. He turned around and saw a boy with dark hair but then a bright light blinded him before he could see his face. And he thought of Lois.
Kal-El shot up from a deep sleep in a sweat and breathing heavily. "What is it?" Lois shot up as well.
"Lois?" Kal-El asked.
"Yes. I am here. It is alright. Everything is alright." Lois said softly and dabbed away his sweat with the sleeve of her underdress.
"Lois?" Kal-El asked again.
"Yes, Clark. What is it?" Lois asked. "Why are you looking at me like that? It is as if you have seen some sort of spirit."
Lois was young once more. No scars or aging. She was exactly as he remembered her. "Forgive me. It was a horrible dream… A dream," said Kal-El.
"You have been plagued by many nightmares of late. Even worse with Zod coming," said Lois.
"Zod!" Kal-El cried.
"Yes. What is the matter with you? It must have been quite a dream… His army shall be here in a matter of months. We have plenty of time to prepare." Lois said and caressed his cheek. "What is in your hand?"
Kal-El looked down at his hand and saw the crystal. It no longer glowed. It was a plain looking crystal now. It was no dream. "Nothing," he lied. He could tell by the look she gave him that she knew he wasn't telling the truth. He dropped the crystal down onto the floor. "It is nothing for you to worry about." Kal-El said and pecked her lips tenderly.
"Clark, are you certain you are alright?" Lois asked.
"I am now." Kal-El said and caressed her face. "Go back to sleep." Then there was an urgent knocking on the door. No. He thought. He threw back the fur blanket. He unbarred the door and opened it.
"A letter from J'onn J'onzz, Sire," said a Red Shard knight. Kal-El nodded once to the knight and took the letter. The knight bowed and left their chambers.
If this is what he thought it was… He peeled off the seal and skimmed the letter. Yes. J'onn is returning with news of Zod's invasion plans. Zod will be here in a fortnight or so. "What is it?" Lois asked.
"J'onn is returning here with most urgent news." Kal-El said. Lois threw back the fur blanket and shivered. She grabbed her robe and put it on.
"Then we must prepare for his arrival. You should send for Jon-Tel and have him bring J'onn to us as soon as he arrives." Lois said.
"Yes." Kal-El said. He had to keep up pretenses if his and Bruce's plan were to work. Lois walked up to him and caressed his face.
"That dream must have really shaken you up, my love." Lois said.
"Then I shall take great care to make sure that it does not happen again." Kal-El said. It was an honest truth.
"Good." Lois said and grinned. Kal-El grinned as well, so happy to see her as she once was. This is the world where he belonged. Not that future of destruction, death, and betrayal. "What?"
"Nothing… Just know that I love you." Kal-El said.
"Yes, I do know this. And I love you." Lois pecked his lips. "Even when you are acting so strangely," she said and he chuckled. He placed a hand on her flat belly. "Why are you doing that?"
"No reason just…I cannot wait to meet our child." Kal-El said.
"Well I am not with child yet so that will just have to wait." Lois said and took his hand off her stomach. "You men do not understand what we women go through to bring children into this world. So believe me when I say that women are more accustomed to pain than men."
"Oh, I believe you." Kal-El said and chuckled.
Lois moved her lips closer to his left ear. "You know, we have some time before J'onn arrives." Lois said. Kal-El did not need to be told twice. He barred the door, scooped her up in his arms, and took her back to the bed. For all he knew, this could have been the night the twins were conceived.
Some Weeks Later
Kal-El, Kara Fine, and Commanders Ak-Var and Rugad, and the knights of the Red Shard were atop their war stallions, commanding in the center of half of the Kandor forces. An Urrikan garrison was inside readying the trebuchets and cannons. They heard the low rumble of troops marching.
The Zoner army finally came into sight. They had with them their crudely-made catapults and siege towers. The whole of the army walked on foot. Ak-Var handed Kal-El a lens and tube and he looked through it. He could make out Zod, Ursa, and their generals on horseback. The army halted, keeping out of their archers' range.
"Have the cannons and catapults aim for their catapults and siege towers and then fire upon the soldiers." Kal-El said and Kara nodded once.
"You do not think he will lay down his arms." Kara said.
"I know he will not." Kal-El said.
"Then why go and speak terms?" Kara asked.
"Trust me." A group of men began marching forward carrying handmade banners bearing the crest of the House of Zod. "Captain Tam-Or, with me," Kal-El said and Tam-Or nodded once. Kara and Kal-El exchanged glances. Kal-El gave Bothgr a kick and rode up to meet Zod with twenty-five Red Shard knights.
Zod rode up with some thirty men following him on foot. Both groups stopped perhaps twenty or so steps from one another. Men on both sides keep their hands on their weapons ready for even the slightest hint of betrayal. Zod and Kal-El both motioned for their men to halt and dismounted. They handed the reins over to someone and slowly began to approach each other.
When they were just two steps from one another, they slowly drew their swords and stuck them into the ground. They both removed their helms without taking their eyes off each other. They held their helms under their left arms and kept their right hands atop their sword pommels.
Zod wore a cocky grin on his face. "I am impressed, Kal-El. I had hoped to take this city by surprise but here you are." Kal-El held his head high and was expressionless. "You have your father's face but the hair is the wrong color. Well, you Els were always born golden haired or black of hair." Zod said.
"Are you here to speak of my forefathers or shall we discuss terms." Kal-El said coldly.
"And right to the matter at hand. You are more like your father than you know," said Zod while tapping his fingers on his sword's pommel. Kal-El quickly cut his eyes to the sword and then back to Zod. "Do you like it? I took it from my forefather, Zod VII. Oh, forgive me for I must correct myself. I took is out of him." Kal-El was expressionless.
"You come here uninvited, Zod. Command your army to lay down your arms and you shall not be harmed." Kal-El said.
"No, Kal-El. It shall be your men who will lay down their arms to me. My army's numbers are far greater than your own. Even with your cannons and fancy armor, your army shall be defeated today. And then I shall march across this land and take what is rightfully mine. And then I shall take your wife as my slave in every way. She will kneel before me as I slay your daughter and when I take her to my bed. I hear she is well skilled in that art." Zod said.
Kal-El smirked. "Humph. Then you do not know my wife. She would sever your manhood first before she pierced your heart. And believe me when I say that this a war you cannot win." Kal-El said. Zod sucked his teeth.
"So overconfident. I have a term for you, Kal-El, since we are kin… Swear allegiance to me and I shall allow you to choose who lives: your wife or your daughter. All you have to do is kneel. Kneel before Zod." Zod said.
"Never. The House of Zod shall never rule again. You are going back to the Zone, where you belong." Kal-El said.
"You will pay for your insolence, boy! And you will beg for death when everyone and everything you love is ashes!" Zod said spitefully.
Zod pulled something from off his person. "Treachery!" Tam-Or shouted. His knights quickly drew their swords and lowered their visors. Kal-El immediately dropped his helm and grabbed Zod's wrist. A beam of light shot from Zod's hand and hit Kal-El's knights.
"TREACHERY! TO ARMS!" Kara yelled and a battle cry erupted from the Kandor forces.
Kal-El elbowed Zod in the nose and then quickly backhanded Zod across the face. Zod fell down onto the ground bleeding. Kal-El turned around and went for his sword. He almost touched the hilt when an arrow hit its pommel. He spun around and Zod was before him. He put his hand on Kal-El's chest. Kal-El was gone in a flash of light, just like his knights.
The battle cry halted in an instant. "He killed the king! The king is dead!" Those words echoed throughout the army. They were in shock. They all were in shock, even the men on the wall. Kara and Ak-Var watched all this in horror. Then there were angry war cries among the men.
"FIRE!" Kara commanded.
Kal-El landed on and rolled down a dune. He stood and looked around. "TAM-OR! RAYA!" His knights appeared over the next dune and he ran up to them.
"Kal-El, where are we?" Raya asked.
"I think we may already know the answer." Tam-Or said.
"We have to go!" Kal-El said.
"Clark, you son of a…" Bruce said softly. Clark had sacrificed his queen leaving his rook free to check the king. On top of the chessboard was a piece of parchment that read, Checkmate. C. Bruce knocked over the black king. But then he heard a hollow sound. He picked up the king chess piece and tapped it against one of the board's squares. The square was loose.
Bruce removed the top and inside was a folded small note. He took it out. "You know he thought of you as a brother and he loved you as such." Lois said. Bruce quickly put the tile back in place, looked over his shoulder at her and hid the note in his hand. "Bruce…" She took a step towards him.
"Whatever you need, you shall have it: catapults, crossbows. I know you do not need gold or…" Bruce said. Lois put a hand on his shoulder and lifted his chin. Tears were filling in her eyes.
"Right now, all I need is a friend." Lois said and Bruce nodded. They embraced. "We need all our friends. Come."
Later that night, Bruce opened the note and read it: Under your feather bed. Yes, the very one in the chambers Lois has given you. And do not tell Selina. Selina was still changing behind the dressing screen. He quickly lifted up the feather bed on his side of the bed and saw a sealed letter not addressed. He grabbed it and put the feather bed down. He recognized Clark's seal.
"What is that? I did not hear anyone at the door." Selina said. She wore a gray underdress and her robe. She removed the pin in her hair and shook out her hair.
"It is nothing." Bruce said. Selina walked up to him and caressed his face. He kissed her palm. "I could not get through this without you." Selina nodded sympathetically. She pecked his lips. "I will quickly read this and then I shall come to bed."
"Can it not wait until the morrow?" Selina asked.
"It is an urgent matter. I shall not be long." Bruce said and kissed her cheek. He went into the adjoining privy chamber and lit two candles. He peeled off the seal and the letter turned out to be five or so pages long.
Good, you found my letter. Bruce, I am not dead. I know that is hard to believe but it is true. You already suspect that I have been banished to the Zone and have told this to no one but Chloe Sullivan. Well you were right. I need you to read this letter very carefully. I need your help or Selina and Lois will die. Our friends and their loved ones will die as well if we fail. First, an assassin will come for Lois so warn Bar-El. And then you must save Selina and Hippolyta.
Kal-El was brought before Davis in shackles. "We found him heading north." Kal-El eyed Davis's longsword. It was too fine a sword. It had to be Bar-El's, which meant it was no doubt made from Kryptium.
"No doubt making way for his father's portal. Kal-El, the first of his name, King of Krypton and Kansas," said Davis.
"Davis, the Bringer of Doom and the bastard of Zod… How is banishment?" Kal-El asked.
"It is not so bad. I was reunited with my father after all." Davis said.
"And yet, he is in Krypton with his wife while the bastard stays behind to rule the Zone and not the kingdom. Does that sound just about right?" Kal-El asked. A Zoner tried to strike him with the butt of his spear but Kal-El caught it by the shaft and flipped the spear to stab the Zoner in the foot despite being shackled. The Zoner fell back screaming in pain.
The other Zoners put their spears closer to his throat. "Wait!" Davis held up his hand. "Let us put his fighting skills to better use." Davis said with a smirk and the Zoners chuckled.
"Going to have one of your men fight me or are you too much of a coward to face me yourself? Your father was not afraid to." Kal-El taunted him. Davis's smirk disappeared and replaced with anger.
"We shall see who the coward is!" Davis hissed.
Kal-El was pushed into the arena. Davis entered on the other side and the Zoners bloodthirstily cheered. Davis wore his helm. He drew his longsword. A dirk was thrown down into the arena between Kal-El and Davis. "I should have known that this was not going to be easy." Kal-El said to himself. Davis took a battle stance and Kal-El sprinted for the dirk. He looked down to grab it and when he looked back up, he had to quickly duck to dodge Davis's sword but he had the dirk.
He took his battle stance and he and Davis began to circle each other. They could both hear the bloodthirsty Zoners cheering them on. Davis swung his sword and Kal-El ducked again. Kal-El dodged another swing. Davis was obviously not well trained with a sword and he was angry, much to Kal-El's advantage. Kal-El easily dodged all his swings.
Davis grew frustrated and charged Kal-El. Kal-El dodged him stabbed him in the back of his right shoulder. Davis spun around screaming in pain. Kal-El grabbed his sword by the blade, flipped it, and stabbed Davis in the chest. It grew deadly quiet as Davis fell gasping for breath. Bruce's words rang in Kal-El's ears: Davis Zod was a fierce warrior when he wielded a club, a war hammer, even an axe but a sword… A sword was not his weapon and he was easily defeated when he wielded one.
Kal-El quickly grabbed his right hand, removed his gauntlet, and saw the victory ring on his right ring finger. He could hear the angry cries of the Zoners above. He pulled the ring off his finger and then Davis grabbed his wrist. Kal-El reacted by pushing the longsword deeper into his chest. Davis gasped his final breath and his hand fell from his wrist. Kal-El put on the ring and it glow blue for a moment. He pulled the longsword out of Davis's body. Zoners were screaming for their weapons.
One Zoner threw a spear at Kal-El, who dodged. He focused and felt his eyes grow hot. Zoners screamed as the arena caught fire. Kal-El then launched himself and flew out of the arena leaving Davis's army to burn inside the arena.
Kal-El landed outside the entrance to his uncle's portal. He entered and ducked under a swinging sword. The sword collided with a beam. "It is the king!"
"Forgive me, Sire." Jeq-Vey said and kneeled.
"No time for that Sir Jeq-Vey… I destroyed my father's portal so that they can no longer use it." Kal-El then used his super strength to destroy the entrance's beams, caving in the entrance. "Now, let us go home." He drew his dagger, cut his hand and then he placed his hand on the altar. It glowed and they were all pulled in.
They landed in a field. "Where are we?" Raya asked. Kal-El removed the victory ring from his finger and destroyed it with one stomp under his heel.
"Home. Stay here. I shall not be long." Kal-El said and flew off.
Bruce was sitting on his feet in meditation when he felt a slight breeze on the back of his neck. His falchion lay in front of him; he had just finished sharpening it with a whetstone. Bruce then grabbed the hilt and swung the sword. The intruder caught the blade with his bare hands. "Bruce!" Kal-El stepped into the light. Then Bruce drew a dagger and held it under his chin.
"How did I meet my queen?" Bruce asked.
"Must we do this?" Kal-El asked annoyed. The tip of the blade now touched his skin. He sighed, annoyed. "You tell people that you were riding back from my coronation when you saw her being attacked by a bandit. You chased off the bandit and escorted her back to the inn she was staying in. That is a lie. You were attacked by the bandit, who stole your purse of gold. You gave chase and dueled with daggers. You pulled down the bandit's scarf and saw that it was a woman."
"This distracted you and she hit you with a rock. She took off with your gold and your horse. You tracked her to the inn two days later. Selina was the thief." Kal-El said. Bruce dropped his falchion and embraced Kal-El. Kal-El returned the embrace and they patted each other's backs. "How long have I been gone in this world?"
Bruce took a step back. "Near a month. Have you seen Lois?" Bruce asked and Kal-El shook his head. "Why not?"
"Do you have it?" Kal-El asked, avoiding Bruce's question.
Bruce walked to a table and wrote something on a small slip of parchment. "Go here and be swift. Tell her John sent you and you only need the object for a few days. And show her this." Bruce handed him the parchment and a small medallion. Kal-El recognized the symbol.
"The mark of Zatara, your father's mage from the days of the old religion," said Kal-El. "But he is dead. Wait…her? Zatanna Zatara?"
"Not a word." Bruce warned. "You must hurry. She keeps on the move now that I have given her the crystal." Kal-El nodded once and disappeared in a blur. "Lois is going to kill me." Bruce whispered to himself.
Zatanna was saddling her black mare when she felt a breeze behind her when there was no wind just moments ago. She drew a dirk and spun around. The man grabbed her wrist. "John sent me." And he held up the medallion. She stopped struggling and she released him. She put away her dirk.
"What do you want?" Zatanna asked.
"I need the crystal he gave you. Only for a day, perhaps two, then I shall return it to you." Kal-El said.
Zatanna sighed. "I will hold you to that. Just know that there is nowhere in this world, you can hide from me." Zatanna warned and Kal-El did believe her. He nodded. He gave her the locket around his neck. She gave him a strange look.
"So you know I speak the truth. I shall be back for that." Kal-El said.
Zatanna opened it and saw the portrait of a beautiful woman. "Who is she?" Zatanna asked.
"My wife," said Kal-El. "Take care of that for me."
Zatanna put the locket around her neck. "I will be at the Traveler's Inn near the Gotham Border in two days. Be there or I will come for you." Zatanna said and he nodded once. She turned when she heard something and when she turned back, the man was gone. She shrugged her shoulders and finished saddling her mare.
Kal-El reappeared and his knights were still waiting for him. "Where have you been? It is near nightfall." Tam-Or said.
"Finding out what has happened since our banishment. A month has past and the world believes us all to be dead." Kal-El said.
"Then we must get word to our families!" One of the knights shouted.
"No. I say we use this. Zod will stop at nothing to kill me once he finds out we escaped. At least this way, we can fight him and protect our families. I know we are few but with this…" Kal-El pulled out the crystal. "We shall be stronger than an army of 20,000. You are not just knights of the Red Shard but you are knights of Krypton. You swore an oath to protect this kingdom and its people from all enemies. I am not commanding you to join me but I ask… Will you join me on this crusade?"
Tam-Or stood signaling his answer. And then Raya stood. One by one, the other twenty-three knights stood with him. Kal-El grinned, unable to mask his relief and joy at their decision. "Now come. There is much to be done."