Arrival
Kal-El and Conner practiced some more thrusts and blocks. Connor was learning swiftly. Kal-El winked at him when he performed a perfect thrust and parry. It brought him such joy to see Connor smiling. "That will be all for today." Kal-El said.
"No, I can go on!" Connor protested.
"I know you can but we need not exhaust ourselves. All things come…" Kal-El started.
"To he who waits. I know. I know." Connor finished his sentence. Kal-El kissed Connor's forehead and Connor groaned. Kal-El retrieved both their shirts and tunics. Connor put back on his shirt. "Father?"
"Yes?" Kal-El said as he put on his shirt.
"Why are we going to war?" Connor asked and then put back on his tunic. Kal-El froze while putting back on his tunic. He was afraid of this but he thought he would hear this from little Kara first. He finished putting back on his tunic and then kneeled in front of Connor.
"I will not lie to you, Con… There are evil men out there and there is one who wants my throne. And he will harm many people, and not just your mother and I, to get it." Kal-El put his hand on Connor's shoulder. "People need not die just so that one man, whether he be a paragon or a tyrant, can sit on a throne or wear a crown."
"Then why do you fight? You are a king. You sit on a throne and you wear a crown." Connor asked and Kal-El nodded once.
"Yes but with it comes duties; responsibilities. A king's most important duty is to protect his people. And this man called Zod, he craves only power. He cares nothing for the people. I am fighting for them, for your mother, for you, for all of us." Kal-El said and ruffled Connor's hair. Connor pushed his hand away and Kal-El chuckled. "Now come. Supper shall be ready soon." Kal-El put on his belt and scabbard. Kal-El put his hand on Conner's shoulder and they left the training area.
J'onn J'onzz rode into the palace courtyard just before dawn and dismounted. A stable hand took his horse. He could smell dawn approaching and the sky was showing the signs of first light. Jon-Tel was waiting for him outside. He led J'onn into the palace.
Kal-El had put on a white lace shirt after he was awoken by a falcon from J'onn. Lois had put on her red robe over her underdress. Lois sat in the chair in front of the fireplace while Kal-El paced back and forth in front of her. "Calm yourself, my love." Lois said.
Kal-El ran his hand through his hair. "J'onn's return can mean only one thing." He said.
"Yes, but there is no need for you to wear a hole through the floor." Lois said and he stopped pacing. "Better." At that moment there was a knock on the chamber door.
"Come." Kal-El said. Jon-Tel entered with J'onn. J'onn lowered the hood of his cloak. Kal-El motioned for Jon-Tel to leave. Jon-Tel bowed and left the chamber. Lois stood. J'onn went to the table and unrolled a map of Krypton. There was another knock on the door. "Come." Bar-El entered the chamber. "Bar the door." Bar-El barred the door.
"Zod will land in Bolenth; it is the least guarded territory. Then his army will advance north to Urrika, where he will take the cities of Erkol and Strau. Once he has control of their ports, he will send troops to the isles Nioz, Valthlo, Chagur, Twenx, and Thon and march onto to Daxam." J'onn said. Kal-El ran his hand through his hair.
"I hope you did not get this information by torture." Kal-El said.
"No, Sire. I am against it as you are. The Council called for torture but your wife was confident I had other methods to get a man to talk even one so loyal to his master." J'onn said. Kal-El nodded for J'onn to continue.
"His spies have been commanded to seize the tunnel going through the Jewel Mountains so that he may send his vanguard onto Daxam before he arrives with the rest of his army. Then they shall march onto Kandor. Zod believes once Kandor falls, the rest of Krypton shall fall easily." J'onn said.
"Of course he does. My father wrote that he was full of hubris…but he too wrote that he was the best general he had ever laid eyes upon." Kal-El said stroking his chin. J'onn kept cutting his eyes from Kal-El to Lois. "I sense there is something else you wish to say. You may speak in front of Lois."
J'onn sighed. "Zod plans to slay you himself and then he will send assassins to kill Lois and all the heirs of the House of El, especially your nephew and your daughter. Then he shall take your wards alive." He said.
Kal-El looked at Lois. She appeared calm but he could see the fire in her eyes. He put his hand on her shoulder. "I will not let that happen." She nodded. "Zod must not reach Urrika. The road from Bolenth to Urrika is just narrow enough for his numbers to mean nothing. If we set up the Royal Army at the border, we may be able to hold him off."
"But first we must get the people out of Bolenth. It may have no cities but there are many villages and farms." Lois said.
"Lurvan is large enough to house them. We will spread rumors of famine and disease so none may grow suspicious… When will the army arrive?" Kal-El asked.
"In one month." J'onn answered.
"So soon?" Lois asked and J'onn simply nodded.
"In the morrow, I will send Captains Tam-Or and Cam-Zel to begin moving the people. I will have General Kroll-Mer assist them. We will meet with our war council in the morrow as well." J'onn and Bar-El both nodded once and left the bedchamber.
Kal-El walked to the fireplace and threw another log in. "You are not planning on leading the army, are you?" Lois asked.
Kal-El sighed. "Lois, I must." He said.
"You heard J'onn. Zod plans to kill you!" Lois protested.
"It does not matter." Kal-El said and Lois turned her back to him. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Lois." He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Since I was boy, I watched my uncle sit on that throne having men lead for him not caring about the consequences. I promised myself I would be better. As king I am expected to lead and I will…but if I should fall." Lois quickly turned around. "I wish to take steps so that our daughter shall inherit the throne." He said.
"Please do not speak like this." Lois said and caressed his cheek. "I cannot bear the thought of losing you." He took her hand and brought it up to his lips kissing her knuckles.
'A good king does not wish for war but he must always be prepared for it.' Jor-El wrote that in his journals. And my father use to say this to me as well… Lois, I am only preparing for if the worst should come to pass. Please, you know I cannot do this without you." He said. Lois nodded. "I fear there are no true victories in the quest for peace, only battles…but it is all worthwhile when there is someone standing with you." He kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his.
The Next Day
"General Nox-Van, how are we on troops?" Kal-El asked. The war council surrounded a round table with a large map of Krypton.
"Kansas has raised a little over three thousand men. Lurvan less than that. Kandor has almost six thousand soldiers at the ready. Daxam and Urrika both have perhaps four thousand each." Nox-Van said.
"Daxam has more than three thousand." Milton Fine corrected Nox-Van. Kara Fine stood at her husband's side. He, Kara, and their son had arrived some days before.
"Unfortunately, the final years of the war in Genesis left many soldiers crippled in some way. These numbers are the best we can hope for, especially since you repealed your uncle's law of conscripting boys into the Royal Army when they came of age." Nox-Van said.
"J'onn J'onzz has discovered Zod shall arrive here…" Kal-El put a tiny black soldier on Bolenth. "Then he will march north to the border and invade Urrika. Their numbers will count for nothing on the road to the border. I say we make our stand there." Lois was not at this war council. She was not feeling well.
Nox-Van stroked his beard. "It can be done. All we need do hold him off. If we can get Zod's army to retreat, the navy can finish them off." He said.
"How are we on ships?" Kal-El asked.
"No more than 20, Sire. Perhaps nine warships and eleven or so galleys but they can each carry four hundred men and our ship builders are building the new warships as quickly as they can without fault." Admiral Ser-Dar said.
Kal-El sighed and looked at the map. Tiny hand-carved red soldiers represented his forces. "Then may the gods be kind." Kal-El said.
Later that night, Lois and Clark sat in a tub of warm water in their bedchamber. Lois ran a wet cloth down the back of his neck. When the water started to cool, he used his heat vision to heat it back up. Lois sat behind him and he laid his head back onto her chest closing his eyes. She wrapped his arms around him and he stroked her arms. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes. I must have just been tired. There was no need to send Emil to tend to me." Lois said.
"I worry. You know that." He sighed. "If we stay in here any longer, we shall be as shriveled up as rotten fruit." Clark said softly and she chuckled.
"I know." Lois said. She stroked his wet hair and she kissed his head. "I missed this." She whispered in his ear and wrapped her arms around him. He grinned and kissed her hands. "What do you say about me trying to conceive again?"
Clark opened his eyes and looked up at her. "Are you sure? We still have years for children and it has only been a few months since..." He said empathetically and began stroking her arms again.
Lois nodded. "I know. But our time for mourning is over and we need to move on… I am ready. I just want to know if you are." Lois said.
"Will this make you happy?" Clark asked and Lois smiled. He had his answer. "Well, then we should begin trying at once." He stood and scooped her up both of them laughing.
Christopher had now joined in on Kal-El and Connor's training sessions. Connor did not seem to mind. He was actually overjoyed. Even little Kara joined them. They were now practicing quick combinations. They were doing blocks, throwing in some punches and kicks when the opponent was vulnerable.
Lois would voice her opinions and suggestions every now and then as she watched them train. She seemed to tire out more easily these days. The children were such fast learners. "They grow so swiftly." Lois said. Training was done for the day. Kal-El put on his shirt and looked at the children over his shoulder.
"Yes…they do." Kal-El said softly. He leaned back against a column and crossed his arms. Lois laid her head down on his left shoulder. They watched the children playfully duel with the wooden training swords.
Later that night, Clark stroked Lois's hair as her head rested on his chest. She slept so peacefully despite what was going on. He loved that about her. He loved waking up before her and watching her sleep. He then put his left hand behind his head and looked up at the ceiling of their canopy bed. It felt like he had been staring at it for hours. He had slept some but not much.
He then looked at the candle on a table at his bedside. He was not wearing his victory ring, so he used his heat vision to light it. Then he used his arctic breath to blow it out. Then he relit it again with his heat vision and then blew it out once more with his arctic breath.
"Stop that." Lois said groggy. He immediately stopped and turned to look at her. Her eyes were still closed so he thought maybe he was hearing things. He relit the candle and was just about to blow it out once more when, "I told you to stop that." Lois said sternly.
Her eyes were open now. Her eyes were tired but he could see the annoyance in them. "Forgive me… I cannot sleep." Clark said.
She moaned. "What is bothering you?" Lois asked softly. He simply laid his head back and sighed. "You should not let this new threat bring you down so. You are no good to me or the people if you are like this." He looked down at her. She sat up, ran her hand through his hair. "Now tell me, what is the matter?"
He sighed. "Did I bring this upon my people?" Clark asked somberly.
"What…? No. No, my love. None of this is your fault. This is all the will of one man who craves only power and nothing else. You are doing your duty of protecting your people and all that you love." Lois said. He took her right hand and kissed it.
"What would I do without you?" Clark asked softly.
Lois lay on top of him. "Dead from throwing yourself on your sword because you married some Kryptonian noble's daughter." She said sarcastic and he chuckled.
"You remember." Clark said grinning.
"Of course I do." Lois said.
He pushed her hair back behind her left ear and caressed her face. "I love you." He said.
"As I love you." Lois replied. She lowered her lips down onto his. He ran his hands up her back and wrapped his arms around her.
He then flipped her so now he was on top. She laughed and he smiled. They kissed. He then quickly used his arctic breath to blow out the lit candle. He slowly hiked up her underdress and his hand slowly moved up her right thigh as she moaned.
Then there was an urgent knocking on their bedchamber door. "By Rao!" Clark swore and Lois groaned. He threw back the fur blanket and climbed out of bed. He grabbed his robe and put it on but did not tie it closed. All he wore was his blue breeches despite how cold it was. Lois sat up in bed.
"Sire!" Someone called from the other side of the barred door and continued knocking. Kal-El unbarred the door and opened it.
"What is this? It is late." Kal-El said. Sir Jeq-Vey was out of breath and he kneeled. He wore dirty travel clothes and muddied travel cloak.
"The army landed at Bolenth two days ago!" Sir Jeq-Vey said.
"Send for General Nox-Van and my war council at once!" Kal-El commanded. Jeq-Vey nodded once and ran out of their chambers. Kal-El closed the door. Lois was already out of bed and she had put on her red robe. She placed her hand on his shoulder and he sighed. "If we send the children away now, the people shall panic."
Lois nodded. "I know. We shall worry about the children later." He turned to face her and she cupped his face in her hands. "Now dress yourself and go meet your war council. I shall join you later." She said. He nodded once.
Kal-El grabbed black trousers, and a blue shirt. He put on his black boots and Lois handed him his belt and scabbard. He stood and took it. Lois caressed his right cheek. He kissed the palm of her hand. They looked at each other and then he left the bedchamber.
Kal-El was going over a map of Krypton. They were focusing on Urrika and Bolenth. "Zod's troops are here. If General Kroll-Mer holds the Banzt keep here on the border here, then…" Kal-El was saying. They all wore their red gambesons, black hauberks, sword belts and black trousers.
"Her Majesty, the queen!" The herald announced and the throne room doors opened. Lois entered the throne room gracefully but stopped when she saw Kal-El wearing his chainmail. Her eyes widened somewhat and she gave him a stern look.
"Leave us." Kal-El commanded. The knights bowed and headed for the doors. They all bowed their heads to Lois muttering, "Your Majesty." The doors closed behind the last knight and they were alone.
Kal-El then approached Lois when she held her ground. "Please tell me and do not lie… Please just tell me you are not going." She said.
Kal-El sighed. "Lois…" He said softly and held out his hands to her but she took a step back. "We spoke of this."
"Did you not hear J'onn? Zod plans to slay you himself. You cannot go!" Lois snapped. "Name Nox-Van as general of the army and send him to Bolenth and…"
"And what…? Stay here! Stay here behind the safety of the city's high walls while my people, my men, my brothers are out there dying! How can you ask that of me, Lois? Ask me to do anything but that." Kal-El said. Lois crossed her arms and turned her head away from him. "I would do anything for you, Lois, but this…this I cannot do. I am the king. It is my duty to protect and lead my people in peace and in war. I must defend my crown. I must risk my life as well with the men who love me."
A single tear rolled down Lois's cheek. "No, my love." He put his hand on her left cheek and wiped away the tear with his thumb. "Do not weep. You are far too strong for that. It is one of the many reasons why I love you." He said softly and she grinned slightly. "Better."
Lois placed her left hand on his chest. "If I were to lose you…" Lois said somberly.
"Shh. Do not speak like that?" He took her left hand and kissed her knuckles. "You know I will always find my way back to you… Lois, I need you. As I told you before, I cannot do this without you." They embraced and he kissed her forehead.
"Oh how I wish you were nothing but a simple farmer at this very moment." Lois said softly and he chuckled.
"Our lives perhaps would be far more simpler than this and perhaps your father would like me better if I were a simple farmer or a scribe." Kal-El said.
"A scribe?" Lois said chuckling.
"Not a scribe?" He asked and she shook her head grinning. Then one door opened and Jon-Tel appeared. He closed the behind him. "Yes?" They both turned to face him. Kal-El kept his right arm around Lois's waist.
"The Duke and Duchess of Daxam and Commander Lar Gand of Daxam has arrived, Sire. As well as Commander Rugad of Urrika. And he and the rest of the war council wish to know if you and the queen shall be much longer." Jon-Tel said plainly.
"They were too afraid to come in and ask themselves, were they?" Lois asked and Jon-Tel remained expressionless. She and Kal-El chuckled. "Well…send them in." Jon-Tel bowed and left the throne room. He and Lois walked back to the war map. The throne room doors opened. Red Shard knights returned to their posts around the hall. The war council and Milton and Kara Fine, and the commanders approached the medium sized table.
"Sire." Milton and the commanders kneeled. "My queen." He kissed Lois's knuckles.
"Sire." Lar Gand said. "My queen." He kicked her knuckles.
"Commander Rugad." Kal-El said.
"Sire." Rugad, the second of his name, said. "My queen." He kissed her knuckles.
Lar Gand and Rugad had ridden for days before boarding a merchant ship for Kandor. Their clothes and cloaks were covered in dust and dirt. Their hair was unkempt and they had dark stubbles on their chins. They smelled of horses and of salt from sea water. The only presentable thing about them was their swords.
"Rise. What news from Urrika?" Kal-El asked.
"We have gotten as many people as we could over the border but I am sorry to tell you that some farmers refused to leave their lands. They were all slain without mercy." Rugad said. Kal-El and Lois both sighed. "They have taken the Morstil keep on the coast but General Kroll-Mer's troops are holding the line here at the border."
"What are their numbers? How many mounted? And what weapons do they posses?" Nox-Van asked.
"We do not know for certain. All of our scouts were…returned to us in pieces." Rugad said. Lois sighed and closed her eyes. She had seen many cruelties under the House of Luthor but hearing this made her sick to her stomach for some odd reason.
"Does Her Majesty need to see the court physician?" Lar Gand asked.
"Are you alright?" Kal-El whispered and rubbed her back.
Lois took a deep breath and nodded. "I am fine. Go on." She said. Kal-El nodded once for Rugad to continue.
"We have been able to halt their march here at the old Banzt keep. The enemy has crudely-made catapults but they now lay siege to the keep. The keep's walls are strong. It will hold." Rugad said.
"Good. Admiral Ser-Dar shall lead the navy…here." Kal-El moved two red enameled model ships to two spots on the map. "Laying siege to the keep shall leave them open to the cannons on our warships. Admiral, have the ships surround the coast. Milton, you and General Kroll-Mer shall hold the border." Milton and the Admiral nodded once.
"Strange." Lois said as she looked down at the map.
Everyone turned to look at her. "What is the matter?" Kal-El asked.
"Zod has had spies in our realms for months, perhaps longer. He would most certainly know of cannons and of our warships." Lois said.
"What are you saying?" Kal-El asked.
"Any seasoned warrior would know that such a tactic would leave them surrounded on all sides. If Zod is as great a warrior as you all claim, he would know this." Lois said. All of them looked down at the map.
"Fool!" Kal-El exclaimed and Lois looked at him strangely. "Not you, me. How could we have missed that?"
"This army is a diversion; most likely, it is his vanguard. To stall us or to lead us away from the true army when they arrive… I should have seen this. I have used such a tactic many times." Milton said. He ran his hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck.
Nephew, the first rule of all warfare is cut off your enemy's supplies. No supplies leave them vulnerable and us victorious. Zor-El's words echoed in his ears."First cut off the supplies." Kal-El whispered.
"What was that, Sire?" Nox-Van asked.
"What is it?" Lois asked softly.
"Where do the Urrika forces get all its supplies?" Kal-El asked pointed a finger to Rugad, who closed his eyes thinking of the answer. "Commander…!"
"Erkol!" Rugad exclaimed. "The ancient city of Erkol. All of our supplies are shipped there. It has the largest harbor past the Jewel Mountains." Rugad then smacked his forehead and closed his eyes. "And the general left only one garrison to protect the city. The rest are with him holding the keep."
"How soon can the ships be ready to set sail with the Kandorian and Daxam forces?" Kal-El asked.
"We are still loading the last of the munitions for the cannons on the warships, Sire. It will take days to fill all of them." Ser-Dar said.
"We must reach Erkol before Zod attacks. Send word to send the people out of the city. And I do not care if the ships lack cannons; I want every warship, war galley, and plain ships ready to set sail and the last of the troops raised by the week's end in both Kandor and in Daxam!" Kal-El sternly commanded and walked out of the throne room before they could even kneel or acknowledge his command.
"Your king has given you a command. Now go!" Lois said and the war council rushed out the throne room. Kara Fine lingered. "Leave him to me." She said softly. Kara nodded and ran after her husband.
Lois knew she would find Kal-El in the Hall of Kings. He was sitting on the floor across from his father's statue. His right hand covered his mouth and he sat with both his knees up. "I thought I would find you in here." She said.
"How could I have missed that…? How could I have…?" Kal-El said.
Lois sat down next to him. He lowered himself down so his head rested in her lap. She stroked his hair. "You must not do this yourself. We learn from our mistakes. It is the only way we grow." She said.
"Thousands live in that city and they would have all been slaughtered before we would have learned of the deception, Lois. Their blood would be on my hands." Kal-El said.
"On Zod's hands, not yours… Yes, we shall mourn the lost but you should not punish yourself for their deaths. You are not the one to blame and the people shall not blame you either. That monster will be responsible and you will defeat him. The people need a leader, not a tyrant. And you are that leader, my love." Lois said as she continued to stroke his hair.
"Now you know just what to say." Kal-El said and she grinned.
"Now rise…this floor is freezing." Lois said and he grinned. He stood, helped her up, and pulled her closed wrapping his arms around her. He grinned at her. She smiled. "What?"
"I love you, Lois." He said.
She caressed his face. "And I love you." She said.
The Week's End
The night before, the taverns and inns were full of toasts for victory. The Temple of Rao were full of people saying prayers for their loved ones. Soldiers and knights spent the night with their wives and their children if they had any, and with their loved ones and friends.
Early that morning, Kal-El arose naked from his and Lois's bed after a night of lovemaking. He splashed some water in his face and dabbed it away with a cloth. He put on his robe and a pair of trousers. Then he heard her stirring behind him. He looked at her over his shoulder and grinned.
Lois arose from the bed naked. "You best put some clothes on before Jon-Tel comes to help me don my armor." He said.
"Or what? You will ravish me again." She said as she approached him. He grinned and caressed her face.
"You are cold to the touch. Here…" Clark removed his robe and put it around her shoulders. They grinned at each other. He pushed her hair behind her left ear and caressed her face. They then held each other. Clark took in her scent. She still smelled of the lavender from her bath the night before.
Less than an hour later, Lois watched Jon-Tel help Kal-El don his armor. All the straps were fastened tightly on his form-fitting heavy padded red leather gambeson. Then his hauberk and his chausses went over his gambeson and trousers. Greaves then covered his legs and knee-length boots. Then his gorget was put on his neck, then his breast and back plate, and then spaulders on his shoulders.
His arming cap and coif were packed away with his visorless bascinet helm. Jon-Tel straightened his tabard before put his red knight's cape on Kal-El's shoulders.
Throughout the city, soldiers and knights kissed and hugged their sad loved ones farewell before they went to go and meet their garrisons at the harbor. By midday, only the Lois Lane was still docked in the harbor awaiting the king. The people somberly bowed when the king's banner was spotted at the palace's iron gates.
Kal-El bid his farewells to his family on the dock with the people watching. He kissed both of his Aunt Allura's cheeks. He ruffled Connor's hair. He kneeled down to one knee before little Kara. He cupped her face in his hands and grinned at her. She threw her arms around him. "Do not go, papa." She pleaded.
Kal-El sighed and stroked her hair as they embraced. "I must, my little star, but fret not. Papa shall be back soon. Until then, listen to your mother and focus on your studies." They broke apart and he wiped the tears from her eyes. He kissed her forehead and stood. He and Christopher gripped forearms and embraced. "Remember what I said about your mother." He whispered and they broke apart.
Last was Lois. He took her hands and she held back tears. The people had to know that she was strong enough to lead. "Do not take any unnecessary risks and watch for Zod for his treachery knows no bounds." Lois rambled and Kal-El grinned at her. He put his hand on her cheek and she placed her hand on top of his. "I should be going with you."
"Yes…but I need you here to rule in my stead and I know how much you hate being separated from the children." He caressed her cheek with his thumb and she nodded somberly. "When this is all over, we should return to that little island off the shores of Themyscira. We could use the time away and the privacy if we are to conceive again." Kal-El said softly and she grinned.
"Nothing would make me happier." Lois said and kissed his palm. "Come back to me."
"Not even Rao himself could stop me from finding my way back to you." He said. They leaned in and kissed tenderly not caring who saw. The people cried harder seeing now that the royal family shared their pain. Their lips parted and Kal-El walked away holding her hand until her fingers slipped out of his grasp.
He boarded the ship and the anchor was raised. Men took the oars and began rowing the ship out of the harbor. Kal-El appeared on the stern of the ship and raised his right hand to his family. He remained there until the city became only a speck on the horizon.