Zod

A Week and a Half Later

Kal-El walked through the ruins of the ancient city of Xan. Commander Ak-Var and Captain Tam-Or walked beside him. "May I ask why we are here, Sire?" Tam-Or asked. Two armored regiments of the Red Shard formed a perimeter around the area with their hands on the grips of their swords ready for anything.

Kal-El wore a black leather doublet, trousers, and a red fur trimmed cloak. He could feel the cool air of early winter. He looked around the horizon. Not a soul in sight, not even a farm. "We are here because this place is perfect." He answered.

"Sire?" Tam-Or asked.

"Zod will land here unseen and march onto Erkol. And we will be waiting for him." Kal-El said.

"And what was the point in coming here, then?" Tam-Or asked.

"I need to know my enemy better than he knows himself, Tam-Or. I did learn some from my uncle. Let us be off." Kal-El said. Kal-El mounted Bothgr and patted his stallion's neck. The other knights mounted their horses and they rode off heading for Erkol, the oldest city of Krypton.

They reached the city just before nightfall the next day. Like Kandor and Kryptonopolis, Erkol was built on a cliff overlooking the sea in case of a siege. The gates were immediately opened when his banner was spotted.

Kal-El pulled back on the reins, held up his hand signaling them to halt, and they stopped at the guardhouse. A knight kneeled. "Have all the people been sent out of the city?" Kal-El asked.

"The last just left on that merchant vessel. The others left on foot for the city of Strau with only what they could carry, Sire. And we have sentries all around the wall of the city and scouts have been sent out. If the army comes, we shall see them." The knight said.

"Good. Well done, captain." Kal-El said and the knight bowed his head. Kal-El gave Bothgr a kick and the horse galloped off with his knights following the same pace.

They reached the old castle of the Bothgr (King) from ancient times. Its stone walls still stood strong. They rode into the courtyard and dismounted. Jon-Tel bowed and Kal-El handed him his fur trimmed cloak. He entered the Great Hall, where a large round table with the map of Urrika was laying.

His knights, Kara, and J'onn J'onzz bowed as he approached the table. "I can believe with very little doubt that Zod shall land here…" Kal-El pointed it out on the map. "at the ruins of the city of Xan and march east to attack the city."

"And if he does not land there, Sire?" Nox-Van asked.

"That is why half the Kandorian forces will wait here in the north and the Daxam forces will be waiting here in the south. But either way, Zod will have to march east to attack this city." Kal-El said.

"How do we know he has not acquired any cannons? All we know for certain is that they have catapults." Kara said.

"I am afraid we shall not know until the true army arrives. J'onn, keep a careful eye on the ruined city and find out." Kal-El said and J'onn nodded once. "We will have plenty of archers and cannons on the wall and catapults on the field. We just have to keep Zod focused on us and not the forces flanking him."

"I believe we are as ready as we shall ever be, Sire." Milton said.

Kal-El nodded. "Yes. Now, all of you get some rest. This army shall be here any day." They bowed and started leaving. "Kara, stay a moment." Milton halted and Kara motioned for him to go. He nodded and left with the others.

"What is it?" Kara asked crossing her arms.

"I wish you had gone with your son to Kandor. You would have been safe there with Lois and the children." Kal-El said and Kara sighed.

"I am not a young girl anymore, Kal-El. I am a woman now, a wife, a mother but I am a knight of Krypton. I am where Krypton needs me to be, where my loved ones need me to be, where my king needs me to be and that is here. Zod is the sworn enemy of the House of El, the house our forefathers. This is my fight as much as it is yours, cousin." Kara said firmly.

"It eludes me how I, the king of Krypton, always seem to be at the mercy of my wife and my cousin." Kal-El said with a small grin and Kara grinned.

"Because you are wise enough to heed the counsel of others when it is truly needed… Now, if I must go and rest, so must you." Kara said and gave him a pat on the shoulder. He put his arm around Kara and they left the Great Hall together.

"The princess is well but the labor was hard on the queen. She is likely to die, Sire. You must prepare yourself." Emil said to him. Lois had bed ridden for two days with child bed fever. Kal-El had been sleeping in the chambers of the Duke and Duchess of Daxam until she was well again.

"Leave… Get out all of you… Out!" Kal-El commanded. All the servants bowed and left the bedchamber. Lois was so sweaty and pale. The bed sheets had been changed. He took off his victory ring and set it down on a table. He kissed her lips and then sat down on the edge of the bed. "I cannot lose you, Lois. I cannot live without you…not even for our daughter."

Kal-El drew his dagger and cut his left palm. He then cut Lois's left palm. She groaned. He lay her hand down on the bed with the palm facing up. "Rao, I beseech you to let this work. My children need their mother. I need my queen, my life bond…my soul mate." He prayed.

He held his hand over Lois's, balled it into a fist, and squeezed. Droplets of blood fell onto Lois's open wound. He could make out the rising sun as he bandaged up her hand. He then bandaged up his own hand. Now all he could do was wait.

Kal-El's eyes shot open to sound of the continuous sound of the bell from the bell tower in the center of the city. It was the alarm. He quickly threw back the fur blankets and rose from the bed wearing only breeches. He looked out the window and saw the soldiers rushing to their posts.

Kara then burst into the king's bedchamber. "The beacons were lit not long ago. The army arrived at Xan as you said they would." She said.

"How strong are they?" Kal-El asked. He grabbed his shirt and trousers. Kara turned around to allow him to dress. He took off his breeches and quickly dressed.

"We will not know until J'onn returns. He sent word that he shall be here soon." Kara said.

Kal-El put on his boots and grabbed his gambeson. "Assemble the war council." He said. Kara nodded once and she left his bedchamber. "And where is… Oh, there you are." Jon-Tel entered the bedchamber and bowed.

"J'onn J'onzz just arrived, Sire." Jon-Tel said and Kal-El nodded.

Kal-El did not bother with the straps of his gambeson and wore it open. He grabbed his belt and scabbard. "You know you could have stayed in Kandor with your wife." He said as he put on his belt.

"Yes. But it is my duty to be by your side for small or great matters, my lord." Jon-Tel said. Kal-El smiled and put a hand on Jon-Tel's shoulder.

"I think of you as more than my manservant, Jon-Tel. I think of you as a friend so I must ask a great favor of you." Jon-Tel nodded. "If I should die…" Jon-Tel opened his mouth. "Please, allow me to finish… If I should die, I want you to comfort Lois in any way you can and to look after her for me." Kal-El said. "Swear that you will."

Jon-Tel hesitated but he nodded. "I swear on my honor that I shall do what you ask if the need should arise." He said.

"Thank you, my friend." Kal-El said and Jon-Tel nodded once.

The Throne Room

"They landed in the dead of night and began marching onto Erkol. Fortunately for us, they lack cannon but they do have catapults. They lack proper armor as well. They have only brigandines, leather armor, and helms. Their weapons and shields are crudely made but the army is vast. I could not even guess their true numbers." J'onn said. "They will be here by sunrise."

"Have the troops formed up outside the city walls before dawn. All cannons and archers will be on the wall. Have half our trebuchets set up outside the city walls and the rest within the city. General Fine will be here with his men." Kal-El marked their place on the map. "And General Nox-Van will be here with his." Kal-El marked their place as well. "The troops in front of the city shall keep Zod distracted as you two surprise him from behind."

Both generals nodded. "Zod will no doubt meet me on the field to discuss terms. The Duchess of Daxam shall be command of the troops in front of the city whilst we discuss terms." Kara nodded once. "I do not trust Zod. Keep your eyes open for any sign of treachery." They all nodded. "What news from General Kroll-Mer?"

"The keep is holding, Sire. The enemy now lack catapults. Ours have destroyed theirs. And Admiral Ser-Dar shall attack at dawn and drive the enemy away from the keep. The general shall then march to Erkol with all haste." Rugad said.

"Good. Who knows what the morrow shall bring. Our fate is now in the gods' hands." Kal-El said and rubbed his eyes. "Double the sentries on the wall and double the patrols in the city. And every soldier must be armored and formed up before the cock crows. Generals, march your troops out at once and march once the battle begins." Kal-El said and motioned for them to leave.

The generals and Commander Lar Gand bowed quickly and left the Great Hall. Kal-El sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "We can prepare all we like but we cannot be truly prepared when the day arrives." Kara said.

"Yes." Kal-El said. He put his hands on the table and leaned over the map.

"You wish Lois were here, do you not?" Kara asked.

"Yes. I feel that I am at my strongest when she is by my side." Kal-El said.

"It is not too late to send for her." Kara said.

"No… The children need their mother and the kingdom needs its queen." Kal-El said.

"But you need her as well." Kara said.

"I will see her again. I know I will." Kal-El said and Kara nodded. "It is not too late to send you to Kandor."

"I will not leave you or Milton's side. My place is here and you know that." Kara said.

Kal-El grinned. "Just thought I should try." He said. He patted her shoulder and kissed her forehead before leaving the Great Hall.

In the morning, Kal-El arose but did not bathe. He had no barber with him so he had no one to shave the dark stubble growing on his chin and jaw. He grabbed his silver locket with Lois's portrait. He opened it and grinned at her. There was a knock on the door. "Come." Jon-Tel entered the chamber and bowed. Kal-El nodded once, put the locket on, and then Jon-Tel helped Kal-El don his armor.

Jon-Tel helped him put on his hauberk over his red leather gambeson and then his chausses. Kal-El slipped into his high boots and then Jon-Tel put on his greaves. Jon-Tel helped him put on his gorget, breast and back plate, and spaulders. His family crest was engraved on the front of his breastplate in gold. Kal-El put on his hourglass gauntlets himself. Lastly, Jon-Tel put his red knight's cape. Jon-Tel handed him his sword belt and Kal-El fastened it around his waist.

Kal-El turned to face Jon-Tel, who made sure everything was strapped on tight. "Remember what you promised me?" Kal-El asked.

"Yes, Sire." Jon-Tel said.

Kal-El put a hand on his shoulder. "Stay in here in the castle. You will be safe." Jon-Tel opened his mouth to speak. "Please, my friend. Stay here. If I should fall today, I need you to return to Kandor and fulfill your promise to me." Jon-Tel sighed and nodded. "And if need be, give this to Lois." He handed Jon-Tel a sealed letter. Kal-El squeezed his shoulder gently and then he left the bedchamber.

Kal-El, Kara, and Commanders Ak-Var and Rugad, cavalry, and the knights in command and knights of the Red Shard were atop their war stallions just a few feet ahead of half of the Kandor forces. The Urrikan battalion was inside readying the catapults and cannons.

The orange sky from the rising sun had just disappeared and the blue sky became visible. That's when they heard it: the low rumble of troops marching.

Bright light covered the land when the army finally came into sight. They had with them catapults and siege towers. Crudely made, but they were not to be underestimated. The whole army walked on foot except for a few mounted. Ak-Var handed Kal-El a lens and tube and he looked through it. He could make out three men and one woman on horseback. He assumed two of the men were Zod's generals and the woman was Zod's wife, Ursa. The army halted, no doubt keeping out of their archers' range.

"If Zod does not lay down his arms, have our cannons and catapults aim for their catapults and siege towers and then the soldiers." Kal-El said and Kara nodded once. Like her cousin, Kara wore a visorless bascinet helm.

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. The Red Shard wore their bascinet helms but kept their visors up. Kara and Kal-El exchanged glances and then just nodded once to each other. Kal-El gave Bothgr a kick and rode up to meet Zod with 25 Red Shard knights and two ensigns bearing his banners.

Zod rode up with about 30 men following him on foot. The Zoners wore only black brigandines or leather cuirasses and trousers, and face helms. Their helms were fashioned to look like skulls. They were armed with a variety of weapons: maces, war hammers, swords, dirks, spears, and axes. Each weapon crudely made but sharp.

Zod himself wore battered black chainmail and a black steel cuirass. His skull face helm and armor was covered in numerous scratches and cuts. He had obviously seen many battles.

Both groups stopped perhaps 20 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 dismounted and motioned for their men to halt. They handed the reins over to someone and slowly began to approach each other.

When they were 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. Zod's dark unkempt hair stopped at the middle of his neck and he had a thick, rugged beard. He had a scar that ran down from his forehead to his chin on the left side of his face. He appeared to be only a few years older than Kal-El.

They held their helms under their left arms and kept their right hands atop their sword pommels. Zod had 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.

"Right to the matter at hand. You are more like your father than you know." Zod said tapping his fingers on his sword 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 must have made some surprised expression because Zod then said, "Yes. I killed my own forefather. He was a means to an end. His time to rule had come and gone. Now it is my turn to rule."

"Not whilst I live." Kal-El said coldly. "What did you expect, Zod? Did you expect me to be a coward; to look upon your army and tremble; to bend my knee and surrender? Well then you are a fool to believe if such a thing were possible. You are nothing more than a barbarian warlord from a wasteland come to claim what his forefathers lost in their greed and arrogance."

"You dare insult me, boy…! I am a direct descendent of God King Zod I! The throne is mine by right! I was born to rule this kingdom!" Zod snapped.

"You do not deserve the throne or any throne in that matter. You have done nothing to earn the burden of a crown." Kal-El said.

"Earn? Burden?" Zod laughed. "You are an idealistic fool like your father and just as weak. Only the strong survive in this world. A lesson you shall soon learn, boy."

"Speak of your own learned lessons for my idealistic father defeated you despite your claim... And I am no boy. I am the king of Krypton…! There is no need for any unnecessary bloodshed. If you and your men lay down your arms, you shall not be harmed by my men." Kal-El said. Zod laughed.

"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 fierily.

Kal-El's face and eyes were full of fury and he tightly clutched the grip of his sword. Then he subtly took a deep breath through his nose. "Humph. Then you do not know my wife. She would sever your manhood first before she pierced your heart." Zod sucked his teeth.

"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 and motioned for him to kneel. Kal-El pretended to be conflicted, making Zod smirk.

"I must admit the offer is…" Kal-El said softly and Zod had a smug grin on his face. "more enticing to my horse, no. To the dogs; no, dogs are far cleverer than that. It is more fitting for…the rats, those diseased infested scavengers who move through filth for scraps. Yes, they are more worthy of your offer."

Zod sucked his teeth. "You will pay for your insolence, boy! And you then will beg for death when everything you love is ashes!"

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. They disappeared in a flash. Kal-El watched in horror and then he all he felt was rage.

"TREACHERY! TO ARMS!" Kara yelled and a battle cry erupted from the Kandor forces and the Urrika garrison on the city's walls.

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. As a reflex, he pulled back his hand. He spun around without thinking and Zod was right in front of him. He put his hand on Kal-El's chest. Kal-El yelled in pain and he 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. All the cannons and catapults fired at once. Zod's catapults and siege towers took direct hits. They easily crumbled after one hit. The debris felt onto the soldiers around them crushing them. Zoners fell wounded or to their death from the destroyed siege towers. Some of the enemy catapults were able to fire one shot before cannonballs and bombardments destroyed them.

All the enemy catapults and siege towers were destroyed in a matter of minutes and the city wall only took some minor damage from the enemy catapults. Some cannons were destroyed but they were already underway of replacing them. The troops held their ground.

Zod growled. "My lord, if we march forward, they will lose the advantage of their cannons and catapults." General Milton Fine IV said. He was Milton Fine V's father, who had been banished to the Phantom Zone for treason many years ago. And like his son, he was a brilliant tactician.

Zod nodded once. "Send my vanguard." Zod commanded. The vanguard was easily made up of five thousand men, possibly more.

"VANGUARD… FORWARD!" Fine commanded. The vanguard fearlessly began charging with General Fine IV leading them.

Kara and Ak-Var exchanged glances. "ARCHERS!" Kara commanded. The men at the catapults readied. They signaled they were ready. "CATAPULTS! CANNONS!"

The catapults and cannons fired their bombardments onto the advancing vanguard. "ARCHERS, NOCK YOUR ARROWS! TAKE AIM! LOOSE!" 100 or so archers on the wall fired upon the advancing vanguard. All in the first line fell with arrows in their chest, neck, or head. Yet, the army kept charging. "NOCK YOUR ARROWS! TAKE AIM! LOOSE!" Their arrows hit their targets.

"It is as if these men do not fear death." Ak-Var said.

"They did just escape a fare worse than death." Kara yelled over the bombardments.

The troops thrust their halberds in the air as the vanguard neared. Ak-Var and Kara exchanged glances. "For Kal-El." She said and he nodded once. The vanguard was closing in and the cannon and catapult fire was too close to the troops so Kara commanded them to stop firing. Kara nodded once to Ak-Var.

"FOR KRYPTON! FOR KING KAL-EL!" Kara drew her sword as the troops shouted their war cry. "CHARGE!" The Kandor Forces charged telling their war cry.

They soon collided. Atop their horses, Kryptonian knights and cavalrymen trampled enemy soldiers and cut them down with their spears, lances, or swords. Kryptonian soldiers were better armed than the Zoners when it came to pole weapons. Zoners attacked viciously with clubs, axes, maces, and crudely made swords and spears. The Zoners lacked shields so they could not fend off attacks as well as their Kryptonian adversaries.

Ak-Var was knocked off his war stallion with a club. His armor took most of the blow so he was not too severely harmed. He raised his shield in time to block the second blow. He grabbed a discarded spear and thrust it into his attacker's chest with a yell. His attacker coughed up blood and fell dead. He hit another with his shield and found his sword.

Kara kicked a Zoner's nose, breaking it, before she stabbed him in the throat. A nearby foot soldier flipped a Zoner over his shoulder and stabbed him in the heart. This foot soldier was then hit in the back with an axe and he fell dead.

It was chaos, blood, and death all around for what seemed like hours to the soldiers. The catapults and cannons had indeed stop firing for fear of hitting their own men. A Zoner kept hitting Ak-Var's shield with an axe and eventually cracked it. He quickly removed his arm from the straps and kicked the Zoner in the gut. The Zoner fell back and he stabbed him in the chest.

A Zoner then stabbed him in the leg with a dirk. Ak-Var screamed in pain but quickly punched the Zoner. He pulled the dirk out of his left leg and used it to stab its owner in the throat. He then grabbed a discarded shield and fended off two Zoners. He used his sword and shield to quickly block their blows. He bashed one with his heater shield and slit the other's throat in a single spin motion. He then stabbed the other Zoner.

Zod sat atop his horse beside his wife. "Even if they defeat my vanguard, they must know they cannot win. We still outnumber them greatly… They must really want to die." He said.

"The Royal Army must still be past the Jewel Mountains. All they need do is hold the city until they arrive." Ursa said. Zod wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his gloved hand. "He must be blessed by the crystal to have drawn blood from you, my love."

"Do not tell me what I already know, woman!" Zod snapped.

"Temper, my love." Ursa said and Zod growled.

"My lord, troops approach from the north and south!" One of his captains cried.

"What!? Zod exclaimed and turned his horse around. From the north and south hills stood two forces bearing the Kryptonian and El banners. "Oh, very impressive, boy." Zod muttered. He turned to see his vanguard being overrun by the Kryptonian troops and his rear flank had been hit with cannonballs and bombardments.

"What is your command, my lord?" Ursa asked. Zod looked at the destroyed catapults and siege towers. "There can be no victory here, husband. We must fall back." Zod yelled out of frustration.

"Send an emissary to Luthor. We need better catapults and siege towers. And get me some of those curse-d cannons!" He said furious and gave his horse a kick.

"FALL BACK TO XAN!" The army turned about and retreated with all haste.

But there were no victory cries from the troops as the last of Zoners of the vanguard were struck down. Two knights grabbed hold of General Milton Fine IV. He struggled and a Red Shard knight punched him hard with his gaunleted fist.

Kara and Captain Cam-Zel then rode up to where they last saw Kal-El. Milton Fine V and General Nox-Van rode up to meet them. They dismounted and walked up to the prisoner. "Hello father." Milton said scornfully to Fine IV.

"Get the men back into lines!" Nox-Van shouted to the commanders and captains.

"You are no son of mine. A true son of the House of Fine would kneel before Zod." Fine said scornfully.

"I shall never kneel to that tyrant." Milton hissed and turned his back to his father.

"Where is the king? This day is a great victory." Nox-Van asked. Kara immediately dismounted, discarded her helm, and began searching through the carnage. "Is the king under all this?" Nox-Van asked urgently.

"I am afraid his fate is far worse, my friend. And this day is far from a victory… The king is dead." Cam-Zel said somberly.

"What?" Milton asked shocked. "Kara?" He turned around to see her frantically searching the area and then she stopped. His sword was still plunged into the earth and there on the ground was his helm. She picked up the helm and rested it against her forehead. She broke down right there in tears. Milton kneeled beside her, wrapped his arms around her and she cried on his shoulder.

Behind them Fine IV began chuckling. His chuckling transformed into laughter. Milton's skin grew hot. He stood and drew his sword, ready to kill his own father. Ak-Var and Nox-Van took hold of him by his arms. "No…he must live." Nox-Van whispered in his ear. "You know he must live."

Milton took a deep breath and nodded. They released him. Milton then backhanded his father across the face with the pommel of his sword. "He lives." Milton hissed and walked back to Kara as Fine IV spit out blood and a few teeth.

Milton kneeled down and held his bereaved wife. "My lord, we have them on the run. What shall we do?" A captain asked Nox-Van.

"Tonight, we burn the dead. We cannot have an outbreak of plague. In the morrow, we shall march after them. Xan is a city of ruins; they cannot hold the line there. Commander Ak-Var…?" Nox-Van said.

"He was wounded, my lord. The physician is tending his wounds." A knight said.

"Kara, we cannot mourn Kal-El here. I feel your pain but we must think of the morale of the army." Milton whispered. Kara shut her eyes tight knowing he was right. Milton raised them both up and used the hem of his cape to dab away the tears in her eyes and on her cheeks. "I shall retrieve his sword."

"No. I will." Kara said and he nodded. She handed him his helm. She walked up to his sword. She closed her eyes as her hand took hold of the grip. She pulled it out of the ground and looked at it. It was perfectly forged and did not possess a single nick or scratch.

They mounted their horses and trotted to the city gates. Kara held up his sword just under its crossguard with her left hand. The Royal Army kneeled somberly when they saw the king's sword. The knights and nobles held their heads high as they escorted the sword back inside the city walls.

There would be no song and dance that night. No cheerful celebrations of any kind. Food and drink did not bring the soldiers into cheerful spirits. All was quiet throughout the city. Drinks were raised to remember the fallen. Drinks were raised to remember Kal-El.