I do not get to update as much as I like with the school year starting but me and co-writer are going as fast as we can. Thank you for your patience.
Day of Truth
Lois rubbed the pillow beside her and felt it bare. She opened her eyes and saw that she was alone. He was gone and so were his clothes. Lois groaned and hit the pillow several times feeling like a fool. Lois threw back the sheet and fur blankets. She put on her robe and tied the belt tight.
Vala entered the bedchamber and curtsied as Lois angrily paced. "Is everything alright, my queen?"
"No! Who does he think he is to come into this chamber, make love to me, and to leave like a thief in the night?! I know he is the king and my husband and it is my duty as queen to give him heirs and to be his companion. And I know that he loves the children we do have. Did he just do this so that I may conceive and give him the son everyone longs for? I feel used. And I do not like being used!" Lois ranted.
Vala filled a goblet halfway with wine and handed it to Lois. She downed its contents in moments without spilling a single drop. "Better?" Vala asked.
"Yes. You know me so well." Lois said and Vala grinned.
"I will draw your bath." Vala said.
The barber entered Kal-El's current bedchamber like he did every morning after Kal-El bathed. He sat back in the chair shirtless. "Shave it all." The barber applied cool soap to his chin and Kal-El closed his eyes as he did his work.
"Finished, Sire." The barber cleaned off the remaining soap with a wet cloth and then dried his face with a dry cloth. Kal-El ran his hand down his smooth chin.
"Well done." Kal-El stood and gave the barber a gold coin. "Enjoy the festival." The barber grinned, bowed, and left the chamber. Jon-Tel entered as the barber left. He showed Kal-El two tunics. "The blue." Jon-Tel nodded. Kal-El put on a waist-length collarless shirt. Then he crouched so Jon-Tel could help him put the tunic over his head since Kal-El was a head taller than Jon-Tel.
Jon-Tel straightened his blue silk tunic. Kal-El then put on his sword belt. There was a knock on the door. Jon-Tel opened it and a knight whispered something to him. "I shall return in a moment, Sire." Kal-El nodded.
His sword was lying on the table. He put the sword in the red scabbard of his belt. He looked at his appearance in the looking glass. The barber had parted and combed his hair but the ends were still curly. Jon-Tel entered the chamber. "What is it?"
"Thor-Us, son of Kor-Us, seeks an audience with Your Majesty." Jon-Tel said.
"And you brought him here?!" Kal-El cried in soft tones.
"I told him that the queen was still dressing and that you were seeing people in here until then." Jon-Tel said. Kal-El grinned.
"Always thinking ahead, my friend." He and Kal-El left the bedchamber into the adjoining chamber. Kal-El looked out the window and crossed his arms. "Send him in." Jon-Tel opened the door and a young man in his early 20s entered the chamber.
He held in his hands a sheathed great sword although he had a longsword on his belt. He wore a black leather sleeveless doublet because he was muscular, a white collarless shirt, black trousers, and a black half cape. He had short curly dark brown hair and the thin makings of a beard.
Kal-El looked at him over his shoulder. Thor-Us put the point of the sheathed great sword down onto the floor and kneeled with his hands around the grip. Kal-El turned to face him. He then circled the young man as if inspecting him. The first thing he noticed was the fine craftsmanship of the black and silver hilt of his sword. "Hmm…you have been knighted." Kal-El said.
"Yes, Sire. Some years ago." Thor-Us said in a semi-deep voice.
"Hmm…" Kal-El stopped circling him and stood before the kneeling knight. "Why have you come?"
"My father, Sir Kor of the House of Us, is dead, my king. I have come to pledge my loyalty and to present you with my father's sword." He presented the sword to Kal-El.
Kal-El took the sword with both hands and slid it out of its scabbard slightly. Some words were written on the blade just below the crossguard. "Bothgr's Tahrao. King's Justice." He slid the sword back into the scabbard. "This sword killed not only enemies of this realm but Kryptonians as well."
"I know, Sire." Thor-Us said.
"Now speak the truth. Did Kor-Us come to regret his crimes in his final days?" Kal-El asked.
"Yes. For years he said that as a knight of the Red Shard, he did his duty in serving his king; though be it a false king. And when my mother died, his false truths of his crimes died with her and he came to regret them." Thor-Us said.
"Hm… Did he teach you how to wield this sword?" Kal-El asked.
"When he was not drunk, Sire." Thor-Us said. He was obviously uncomfortable talking about this but it was the Day of Truth. He had no choice or to suffer the consequences.
"Are you any good with a sword?" Kal-El asked.
"Good enough, I believe, Sire." Thor-Us said.
"We shall see about that." Kal-El said. "This sword has done more bad than good. Rise." Thor- Us rose. "I have received requests from your captain, General Kroll-Mer, and Sir Kil-Gor of the Red Shard that you be granted the honor of becoming a knight of the Red Shard." Thor-Us was obviously in the dark of their request. "If the other captains approve, you shall be informed at once. Until then, you shall find lodgings in the city and return in the morrow for training with the Red Shard."
"Thank you, Sire." Thor-Us bowed.
"Do not thank me. You have earned this." Kal-El said.
"You probably do not remember me but I remember you. I was a boy and you were not crowned yet. The Duke of Kansas sat on the throne and you stood beside him when you banished my father from court and from the Red Shard. You came to my mother in the dark of night. You gave her a purse of gold and told her that I could redeem the honor of my House." Thor-Us said.
"I remember." Kal-El said.
"She thought me to be asleep but I heard every word. And those words have guided me every day since I was a boy; then as a squire; and now as a knight of Krypton." Thor-Us said.
"Good. Now, one last question… Are you your father's son?" Kal-El asked.
"I am Sir Thor-Us, a knight of Krypton. I took an oath to protect my people and to follow the knight's code by doing no wrong." Thor-Us said.
"Then have the royal smith melt down this sword and fashion a new one for you." Kal-El said and tossed him back his father's sword. Thor-Us easily caught the sword. "And we shall see you in training in the morrow."
Later that day, the palace was abuzz with preparations for the grand feast to celebrate the Day of Truth. Kal-El loved walking through the halls on this day because all were too busy to stop and bow or kneel. It was refreshing. He discreetly made his way to Lois's chambers. He raised his hand to knock on her door but hesitated. Then he took a deep breath and just entered the chamber. Her maidservant, Vala, was in the inner chamber. "I wish to see the queen." He said.
"The queen is not yet dressed for the day, Sire. Do you wish to call on her later?" She asked. Kal-El grinned. Some things never change about Lois.
"At least let me surprise her." Kal-El whispered. His eyes pleaded with her and then she led him into bedchamber. He removed a pink Kryptonian rose from the back of his belt and Vala grinned at him. Lois heard the door open and close.
"Who was it?" Lois asked.
"The king, my lady." Vala answered. "I said what you told me to say to him."
"Thank you for sending him away. And do not worry, it was not a lie. I am not dressed yet… And I do not know if I can speak to him, let alone see him after last night. I feel like such a fool. I know it is my duty as his wife and queen but at least we have this bond whenever we made love." Lois said from behind her changing screen. "I am not saying it was terrible. It was wonderful but…I cannot explain it. It was…empty."
Kal-El watched her silhouette dress behind the dressing screen and he grinned. He saw his ring was still on the mantle so he super sped and retrieved it. "What was that breeze? Is the window open?" Lois asked.
"No, my lady." Vala answered.
Kal-El grinned at her and left the rose on the table. He put back on his ring and shook off the dizziness. He mouthed Thank you to Vala and left the bedchamber. Lois heard the door close and peeked from behind the screen. "Who was that?" Lois asked.
"A gift from His Majesty." Vala said and held up the rose. Lois's heart skipped a beat. She could tell that it had been handpicked. The last time he had picked flowers for her was the day after she had told him she was with child again. Lois walked from behind the screen in her blue velvet dress. She took the rose and smelled its sweet scent. She grinned and set the rose back down on the table.
"Bar-El and J'onn J'onzz, Sire." Jon-Tel said and Kal-El nodded. The two men entered the chamber. Jon-Tel bowed and closed the door as he left.
"Since when does the king sleep in separate chambers than his queen?" Bar-El asked.
"They do not." Kal-El said. "Why have you come?"
"I have already found three men in your court I believe to be the spies you are searching for." J'onn said softly.
"So quickly?" Bar-El asked.
"I have always admired your swiftness, J'onn. Who are they?" Kal-El said.
"Two are stable hands and the third is the personal guard to Councilor Durkin. I shall watch them over the next few days until I have proven their guilt or their innocence." J'onn said and Kal-El nodded.
"Try to avoid being seen too much in public. We do not want anyone to become too suspicious of your visit." Kal-El said and J'onn nodded. He patted J'onn shoulder.
"I am pleased to see that you are rid of that ridiculous beard." J'onn said before leaving his chamber. Kal-El chuckled.
"I take it the beard was new." Bar-El said.
"Yes." Kal-El said and pointed to the family portrait over his fireplace. Bar-El took a few steps closer to get a better look at it. "It was done one month before we found out Lois was with child again." Kal-El then sighed somberly.
"A boy or a girl?" Bar-El asked.
"A boy…stillborn. We named him Van-El the night before he was burned. Lois wanted him to have a name for when he entered the next life." Kal-El said somberly and ran his hands through his hair. "Things have not been well between us since his birth…his death."
"I too have known such pain." Bar-El said. He leaned against the wall besides the fireplace and crossed his arms. "Remember Lilo bore me a stillborn son…many years ago. Things were not well between us as well. We blamed each other for his death. Yet, in the end we both realized that there was no need for blame. His death... No one was at fault. And the hard task is accepting that truth. Now…is the Lady Raya your mistress?"
"Hm, what? No. No, she is my friend and nothing more." Kal-El said.
"Yet you do not deny it so the whole court and your wife believe it to be true." Bar-El said and Kal-El sighed. "Do not be a fool. Stop playing this cruel game. Speak the truth and your wounds can finally begin to mend." Bar-El patted Kal-El's shoulder and left the bedchamber.
Lois was walking with Vala when she saw Kal-El walking with Princess Kara Kal-El. "I shall help you with your chess tomorrow, I promise… My lady." He said to Lois.
"Sire… You look well." Lois said referring to him now being clean and shaven.
He stroked his chin and grinned. "I grew tired of it. And I never liked it anyway. Ladies…" He said and walked away with Kara. And Lois could not help but grin.
As soon as it grew dark and the stars shined brightly, fireworks lit the sky and the people stepped outside to watch the show. Kal-El, Lois and the children watched from the large balcony of the Crystal Palace. The children laughed and Kal-El was happy to see Lois smiling. They reentered the palace for the feast in the Great Hall.
"I never had carnal relations with your wife."
"Apologies for accusing you of such."
"Yes, I gave him my maidenhead." "What?!"
"I never like this color on you. You look much better in blue."
"I was there to settle a wager and nothing more."
"The money was to buy a cradle. I am with child."
"I stole the horse."
On this day, nothing but the truth could be spoken even if the truth did indeed hurt. A large fine had to be paid as a penalty for deception on this sacred holiday.
Although, today is supposed to be one of truth and freedom, Kal-El was not in a joyful mood. He grinned and smiled some but that was all. He left in the middle of the feast but said to continue the celebrations. He went to where he always went to think or reflect, the Hall of Kings.
He stared at the statue of his father and then the portrait of his parents painted on their coronation day. Hanging next to the painting of his uncle and aunt was a painting of Lois and him on her coronation day in their white ceremonial attire and on their heads were their ceremonial crowns. "Father?"
Kal-El turned to see Christopher. "Chris! Why are you not at the feast?" He asked.
"I needed to speak to you of a private matter… Father, is it true? Do you have a mistress?" Christopher asked him somberly.
"What? No. There is no other but your mother." Kal-El answered and Christopher nodded. "You should not listen to such vile rumors. Why are you asking me this?"
"I may not be of age but I am not blind, father. Mother is so cold to you and she does not call you Clark in private anymore. You grew a beard when you know she despises it. I have seen the way she looks at you when you are with Lady Raya. And I know you no longer sleep in the same bedchamber. You have been sleeping in Uncle Milton and Aunt Kara's chambers. I have heard you fighting and I have made sure that Connor and Kara are kept in the dark. I am no fool, father." Christopher ranted.
Kal-El sighed and rubbed his eyes. He put a hand on Christopher's shoulder. "You were not supposed to find out, nor carry such a heavy burden."
"Mother has not been the same since Van-El." Christopher said and Kal-El nodded.
"She mourns him still. As do I." Kal-El said and Christopher nodded. "Now go back to the feast. We shall speak later." Christopher nodded again and left the Hall of Kings. Kal-El closed his eyes. "You have to protect the things you have worked hard to build." He said Jonathan Kent's words aloud. He sighed and opened his eyes.
He removed his circlet with his left hand and ran his right hand through his hair and down the back of his neck. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at his father's statue. "I have to make this right." He whispered. Kal-El returned to the feast. He kissed Lois's left temple as he took his seat again.
Lois entered her chambers. "I have no need of you, Vala. Go to your chambers and be with your husband. I can undress myself." Lois said. Vala nodded and walked away. Lois barred her bedchamber door and removed her circlet. She set it down on the table along with her red sash. She undid her braid and shook out her hair.
"Beautiful." A male voice said softly making Lois gasped. Kal-El took his feet off of the table, leaned forward in the dim light and grinned at her. "You always look beautiful." Kal-El said. Lois put her hand on her chest and gave him an annoyed look.
"Why are you just sitting here in the dark?" Lois asked.
"Thinking." He answered and she lit a candle. "Allow me." All the candles and dying torches were lit and the room was filled with light. Kal-El had changed out of his earlier attire for he only wore a white shirt, black trousers, and black boots. His eyes were red and his hair unkempt.
"By the gods, are you alright? And where is your ring?" Lois asked concerned. She walked up beside him and cupped his face in her hands examining him. He removed her hands from his face and kissed her palms. He then rested his forehead against her knuckles.
"Chris knows." Kal-El said softly.
"What?" Lois kneeled down so that she could see his face. She lowered her hands onto the arm of the chair. "How?" She asked.
"He may be young but he is neither blind, nor a fool." He sighed. "He has known for quite some time." Kal-El said rubbing his temple. "He took it upon himself to shield little Kara and Connor from our troubles."
"No." Lois whispered and put her left hand over her eyes. "This cannot be happening." She said. She stood and leaned against the edge of the table. She ran her hand through her hair and down the back of her neck. "What are we going to do?"
Kal-El stood. "We need to talk, Lois." He said crossing his arms.
"Yes, that is what we are doing now. What are we going to do about this? If Christopher knows, it is only a matter of time before others do, which is the last thing we want." Lois said.
"That is not it and you know it." Kal-El said. Lois shook her head and walked away to her dressing screen. "Do not walk away from me! You can no longer ignore me on this matter!"
"There is nothing to talk about as long as Raya is your mistress!" Lois snapped.
"She is not my mistress! I have no mistress!" Kal-El pounded his right hand into the palm of his left hand. "She is my friend and a knight of the Red Shard. Nothing more!"
Lois's blue dress was flung over the screen. She appeared from behind the dressing screen in her white underdress. "You dare lie to me…on this day!" Lois hissed.
"You know that I am only king as long as I abide by the laws and customs of my people! I would never dare lie on this day. And I would never lie to you." Lois scoffed. "Nine years ago, I exchanged vows with you in that chapel in Central City and then again here in Kandor. As I have told you many times before…I am yours. There is and never shall be no other but you." Kal-El said. Lois crossed her arms and turned away from him. "We both know that your anger is not at me. This is about Van-El. This has always been about Van-El."
"Careful." Lois warned.
"You were not the only one who lost a child." He took a few steps toward her. "He was a stillborn, Lois… There is no need for blame. No one was at fault." Kal-El said sympathetically, using Bar-El's words.
"No one was at fault…? No one was at fault!" Lois cried. She turned to face him; her eyes were filling with tears. "I felt him kicking in my womb hours before my labor began and I bring him into this world and he does not even cry! And every day I ask myself and all the gods in the heavens what did I do? Why did they have to take our son…? Then I had to lose my husband!" Lois cried.
"I never left, Lois. I have been here this whole time waiting for you… The time to mourn is now over. Come back to me." Kal-El said and took a few steps to her but she took a few steps back. "Lois, please stop this. I just want my wife back."
Tears began rolling down her face. "I needed you! I needed my husband. But instead of being with me, you were with Raya. Hunting, training, doing all the things we did together… I was alone and empty!" Lois said upset, on the verge of tears. Kal-El now looked somber.
"Raya helped me with my grief because I am the king of this realm. I could not even mourn my own son with all my duties and the expectations of my people! Do you know how that feels?! You say you lost your husband. Well, I lost my wife as well! I tried but you would not let me back in. I needed you as well!" Kal-El said.
"Yet I needed you more!" Lois cried. "All those nights I laid in bed alone crying until there were no more tears left and you were never there. I needed you and you were nowhere to be found when I called for you; when I reached for you at night to hold me in your arms!"
Lois fell down to the floor weeping. She covered her eyes with her left hand and wept. Kal-El slowly walked to her and kneeled down onto the floor besides her. He wrapped his arms around her and she cried in his arms. "Oh, my love. Shhh. It is alright. Everything is going to be alright. I am here." Kal-El whispered and rocked her.
"This is all my doing. I should have comforted you. I should have mourned Van-El with you. In truth…I stayed away to protect myself from the pain. I told myself I was devoting myself to my kingdom, to my people. But you needed me and I was not there. I hid behind my crown. I hid behind my deceptions of making you believe Raya was my mistress and I almost lost you… I am here now and I am never leaving you again." Kal-El said softly and kissed her temple. Lois's weeping soon calmed down and they just held each other.
They lay on the bed above the blankets holding each other. "What would you say about sending the children away?" He asked softly.
"For us or for their safety?" Lois asked. Her head rested on his right pec.
"Their safety. When Zod comes, he will kill every member of the House of El just to make sure there is no one left to challenge his claim to the throne… I do not want our children to be here when he does." Kal-El said.
"I do not know if I can bear it without them here…but I am their mother and it is my job to protect them… Where shall we send them? Genesis is far too close." She said.
"Many years ago I would have said Thanagar but that cannot be now." Kal-El said.
"Not Star City. I fear Oliver shall spoil them rotten. And Themyscira will not take the boys." Lois said.
"There is always Gotham." Kal-El said.
"It is not the friendliest of cities." Lois said.
"Bruce shall protect them. No one shall know they are there." Kal-El said.
"I must think on it…but if the army does indeed come, I shall put them on the ship myself." Lois said. Kal-El stroked her upper right arm. "I have missed you."
"As have I… I swear to you that I shall never leave you again." Kal-El said and kissed her forehead.
"I believe you… You still have not told me where your ring is." Lois said.
He grinned. "It is over the fireplace. I shall put it back on in the morrow." He said.
"Good." Lois said and he stroked her hair.
"I love you, Lois." He whispered.
"And I love you…Clark." She said and they wrapped their arms around each other falling into a deep sleep without nightmares.
The next morning, Jon-Tel walked up to his wife before she entered Lois's chambers. "Have you seen the king?" He asked her.
"He was not in his bedchamber? He was not in the queen's when I left." Vala said.
"Oh please Rao let him not be in another woman's bed." Jon-Tel prayed.
"The king would never do such a thing to the queen…would he?" Vala asked and they exchanged nervous glances. They heard footsteps coming from down the hall. Vala opened the door and pulled Jon-Tel into Lois's chambers. "You are supposed to be with the king so you must not be seen if he is indeed with another..."
"Woman?" They turned to see Kal-El sitting down with his feet up on the table. Lois was leaning against the same table with her arms crossed looking at them over her left shoulder. Kal-El still wore his white shirt, trousers, and boots from the night before. Lois was in her underdress and her red robe. Jon-Tel bowed and Vala curtsied.
Kal-El put his feet down and stood. He rubbed Lois's upper arms. "We shall finish our talk later?" He asked and she nodded. He kissed her forehead. "I love you." He whispered. They grinned at each other. "Come, Jon-Tel."
He and Jon-Tel left the royal chambers. Vala crossed her arms and smirked at Lois. "We fell asleep talking and nothing more." Lois said.
"Are things well between you once more?" Vala asked.
"I do not know…" Lois sighed. "I think I shall wear the purple dress today. The one with the silver hems." Lois said.
"Yes, my lady." Vala said and went to Lois wardrobe. Lois stared off into space thinking. And before she knew it, she was dressed and Vala had just finished brushing her hair. Lois stood and walked to the window.
Kal-El was leaving the palace wearing a red leather doublet, black trousers and boots, and a fur trimmed cloak. He mounted Urvlsh with six other Red Shard knights. Kal-El looked up to her and grinned. He kissed his fingers and held up his hand to her. Lois grinned. He dug his knees into his horse and they rode off. "Where is he always going off to?" Lois whispered to herself.
Kal-El dismounted in front of an old manor in the city. He opened the door and entered. "KAL-EL!" Over a dozen children, all under the age of 12, jumped on him. He laughed and roared making the kids run. He made his hands into claws and chased them.