Progeny
"Sir Joseph and Sir Conner have return, my queen." Cam-Zel said.
"Send them in." Lois said. The two of them entered her chamber, bowed, and stood erect. "King Orin has written that he cannot come to the summit whilst he still lays siege to the island city of Xebel or unless the other realms decide to come. We may have to send men to Gotham after all. Get me the numbers of our forces, war machines, ships, supplies, everything." Kara Fine nodded.
"Mother…" Conner said softly and she looked up. She could see the fury in Sir Joseph's eyes. She put the letter aside. He knows, Conner mouthed.
"Leave us. You as well, Conner." Lois said. Kara, Cam-Zel and Conner bowed and left the chamber. Conner looked back before he closed the door behind him.
There was silence for a few moments as Kal-El listened to make sure they were actually gone. He could hear Lois's heart racing. "Who is Jor-El? And do not lie to me." Kal-El said.
Lois sighed and stood. She folded her hands in front of her. "Our son. Jor-El is our son." She said softly.
"Our son?" He whispered in shock and Lois nodded, teary-eyed. Kal-El felt dizzy and went to lean against the wall for support. "How?" Lois approached him.
"Not long after your funeral rites, I missed my bleeding and the next. Emil said it was grief. And when I missed the next one, he examined me and told me I was with child. Some councilors then went on to accuse me of adultery." Lois said.
"Durkin…" Kal-El said coldly. He was no fool.
"Yes. I do not know how but he knew we had not shared a bed in months. The Red Shard came to my aid. Jon-Tel and Vala told the Council we have begun sharing a bed again not long after we learned of the invasion. All but Durkin believed me. When I began to show, he wanted me isolated in case I was carrying a bastard. I only agreed to it for the sake of peace and the safety of our unborn child." Lois said.
"We told people I was unwell but not all people are fools." Lois sighed. "Word got out and the court was divided on my guilt or my innocence. Soon, Zod found out and sent an assassin for me. Bar-El died protecting me. Kara thought it best to send me away. As far as the court knew, I was in Metropolis with my father. In truth, I was safe on Themyscira for a time."
"Nearly a month sailing there on a merchant ship and I had been there for less than 2 months before my labor pains began. Before I knew it, here was this baby boy with dark hair and your eyes and a baby girl with golden hair and your eyes as well."
"A girl?" Kal-El asked. Lois nodded.
"I gave birth to twins. And only days later, another assassin came for us. She wore Amazonian armor but the mark of Zod was upon her arm. Hippolyta had come to visit me. We were just making conversation. And she died protecting me and our children. I was still weak from my labor pains. I could do nothing to stop it. I could only watch." Lois said somberly.
"I returned to Krypton with two new heirs and with the armies of Gotham and Themyscira. Those who were against me at court were then afraid to challenge me on my rumored crime. Durkin still had Emil examine the children before he declared me innocent. Kara then took on half my duties as regent so I could be a mother to our children. It was so hard… I never imagined raising our children without you." Lois said.
Lois took a breath of relief as if she had been freed of a heavy burden. Kal-El rested the back of his head against the wall. "The Uncle Jo, little Kal keeps talking about?" Kal-El asked.
"Yes. I call him Jo and so does little Kal." Lois said.
"Where are they?" Kal-El asked in almost a whisper.
"Lara is on Themyscira. I sent her away when Jor-El was taken." Lois said.
"Taken?" He stood erect. "Taken by whom?" Kal-El demanded.
"Luthor. Zod attacked Smallville last fall and he captured Conner. J'onn tried to get them back but he died bringing us back information. They planned a trade: a son of the House of Luthor for a son of the House of El."
Kal-El closed his eyes and sighed. "And the trade?" He asked.
"We ambushed the trade and got Conner back but amidst the fray, Zod grabbed Jor-El and rode back with all haste to Kryptonopolis. We could not pursue them. Now he and Luthor are at each other's throats." Lois said.
"I do not care about Zod and Luthor! I care that Zod has my son and you are here doing nothing to get him back!" Kal-El snapped.
"You think I do not want him back! Night after night I long for him, for all my children. And I longed for you. For these past ten years, I have fought with my every being to keep them safe and to avenge you!" Lois cried.
"That does not matter! Send men after him! Send Conner and Christopher after him! I know what they can do!" Kal-El exclaimed. He was breathing heavily and his eyes were full of rage.
"If we go after him, all our men will die. That is why I called this summit! We need the League or Jor-El and the war are as good as lost. Zod only keeps him alive to keep us at bay now that we have the upper hand!" Lois said tears filling her eyes.
The only sound for the next few minutes was their heavy breathing from anger. "Lois, forgive me." Kal-El said sympathetically and took a step toward her. But she took a step back and held her hand up.
"Since you came back, I feel as if I do not know you anymore. I feared your hatred of me if you learned the truth. But as of late, I have only feared you. You do not see what the Zone has done to you. My husband was kind, gentle, and we never had secrets from one another. But you…you are angry all the time, you never let me in, and now you are without mercy." Lois said.
"What are you talking about?" Kal-El asked.
"Four." Lois said plainly.
Kal-El sighed. "Four what?" He said with a hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Four skirmishes we have fought in the past few weeks with more Zoner patrols. In the last one, a single Zoner threw down his sword and you ran him through without a single thought. I saw the cold look in your eye. As I see you have already forgotten this."
Kal-El sighed again and rubbed his eyes. "I had hoped that I would soon see the man I called my husband but when I look at you I see a broken man, who lives for only one purpose. And that is vengeance." Lois said.
"Lois…" Kal-El said softly.
"Please. Do not say anything. Just leave me." Lois said. He reached for her but she gently pushed his hand away. She turned away from him and then he slowly left the chamber. Once she heard the door close, the tears came and she could not control them.
Kal-El walked out of the castle, out of the courtyard, and into the town. He did not know how long he had been walking until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He quickly drew his dagger and held it up the person's chin. "Sir Joseph!" It was a boy, perhaps 15 years of age.
"Forgive me. What is it?" Sir Joseph asked and put away his dagger.
"There is a drunken man in the tavern claiming he had carnal knowledge of the queen. I was told to come and fetch you." The boy said panting.
He could care less but he needed a distraction. "Take me there." Sir Joseph said and ran after the boy. There was a crowd gathered around a small tavern, where a fight was taking place.
"That is the man." The boy pointed at him. The man had long brown hair and a thick beard. He was kicking a man on the ground. The crowd parted when they saw that he was a knight.
"Enough!" Sir Joseph cried and grabbed the drunkard's arm. The drunkard clumsily swung at him with his other hand. He easily caught it and then head bunted the drunkard. The drunkard fell back onto the ground groaning.
"Get him to a physician!" He pointed to the badly beaten man. Some men grabbed him by the arms and took him away. Sir Joseph grabbed the drunkard by his shirt collar and hoisted him up. "You will answer to the queen."
"She will not let me come to her anymore. She knows that I love her." The drunkard said somberly.
"Pathetic." Sir Joseph said and then punched the drunkard out cold. Two more knights appeared. "Take him to the dungeons to sober up." They nodded and dragged the unconscious drunkard away.
Later that night, Lois was writing a letter in her chamber. There was a knock on the door. "Yes?" Kal-El entered her chamber and leaned against the bedpost arms crossed. Lois looked up for a moment. "I was just writing Kara."
"Is that all you wish to talk about?" Kal-El asked.
"Is there something else you wish to speak of?" Lois asked.
Kal-El sighed. "No, not tonight… I shall sleep in my own chamber tonight." Lois paused for a moment as he left but she finished her letter and blew out all of the candles.
Lois hummed to herself as she walked through the gardens. Her hands were behind her back and she smiled beautifully. She skipped for a few moments and giggled. Clark watched her unseen. "And just what has you so cheerful?" He asked.
Lois gasped and smiled when she saw him. "Admiring the beautiful day." She said and he chuckled.
"You never mind the day unless we are going hunting or riding." Clark said and took her hands. "Now tell me or I shall start imagining the worst."
"There is nothing wrong, my love." Lois said and she caressed his face. "I have wonderful news."
Clark smiled. "What?" Lois smiled again. "What?" He asked chuckling.
"I am with child." Lois said softly.
His smile widened and he was speechless. They wrapped their arms around each other and he spun her around.
Emil exited the bedchamber. "Your Majesty…I am so sorry." A baby's hand stuck out from inside the bloodied bundle.
Kal-El's eyes shot open. He was breathing heavily and sweating. He was on the floor before the hearth in his chamber next door to Lois's. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and then ran his hands down his face. He lay back down and took in a few deep breaths. And he laid awake thinking on what Lois had said. Before he knew it, it was daybreak. He arose and put on a white laced shirt.
Sir Joseph went out of the castle and into the training courtyard, where the other knights were preparing to do their morning exercises. They would run and walk through the town with two small boulders hanging off a pole. He picked up one of these poles and put it on his shoulders. Commander Cam-Zel nodded once, the castle gate was raised, and they were off.
Kal-El returned to his bedchamber. He went to his water basin and splashed some water into his face. He removed his shirt and used it to wipe the water off his face. He went back into Lois's bedchamber. She sat up when she heard the door open. He saw her hand under her pillow. "It is only me." He said softly.
Lois slid her hand out from under her pillow and sat up. "Did you sleep well?" She asked.
"Well enough." He answered plainly. He turned to the fireplace and used his heat vision to start a small fire. It was a cool spring morning.
Lois climbed out of bed and put on her robe. "Nothing much to do today but to sentence Sir Richard once again." She said.
"Sir Richard?" Kal-El asked.
"The drunkard you arrested was Sir Richard White. He has not been the same since Genesis fell. He lost his whole family. He mourns them still and he allows the drink to console him. He has been in brawls before but none such as this." Lois sighed. "Nevertheless, I will not allow this severe beating he gave to the tavern owner's man go unpunished. You will see to it." She said.
"As you wish." Kal-El said, his back to her.
"I was going to tell you." She saw his shoulders tense up and he sighed deeply. Then they heard knocking.
"Are awake, my lady?" Vala Tel said on the other side of the door. She motioned to the door of his adjoining bedchamber. He quickly gave her an awkward peck on the cheek and went back into his own bedchamber.
Kal-El went to his wardrobe, pulling out a pair of trousers, a red laced shirt, and a black wool doublet.
They had fixed the broken bar the day Conner and Sir Joseph had left. Lois unbarred her door and allowed Vala in. "I just awoke. How have you and your daughter been, Vala?" She asked.
"She misses her father; as do I." Vala said somberly.
Lois put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I shall do all in power to get him and his fellow knights home, you know that?" Lois asked and Vala nodded. "Good. Let us prepare for the day."
Sir Richard was brought before Lois in the Great Hall sober and he had a pounding headache. Sir Joseph forced him down onto his knees. Lois tapped the arm of her throne. Her right arm was no longer in a sling but she masked the discomfort well. "Sir Richard White…have you nothing better to do than drink and beat my subjects near death?" Lois asked.
Sir Richard opened his mouth to speak. "Silence! I will hear no more of your excuses for I have grown tired of hearing them. Sir Joseph, punish Sir Richard any way you see fit." Lois motioned for him to take him away.
Sir Joseph threw Sir Richard back into his cell in the dungeon. He removed his doublet and sword belt handing them to the guard. Sir Joseph entered the cell closing the door behind him. "What are you doing?" Sir Richard asked as he stood.
"Punishment." Sir Joseph answered. He tried to punch him but Sir Joseph easily caught his fist and squeezed. Sir Richard gasped in pain as he felt his bones break. Sir Joseph then heel kicked him in the abdomen and Sir Richard fell back groaning. Sir Joseph then kicked him in the ribs making him gasp for breath. "That is for the man you beat near death. And in case you were wondering, he lives." Sir Joseph kicked him in the ribs again and stomped his chest. "That is for telling lies about Lois."
"Lois? Only those close to her call her by her name." Sir Richard groaned as he sat up holding his broken hand. "How close are you two? Friends? Lovers? Has she replaced me so easily…the whore." Kal-El then grabbed him by his shirt collar and began punching him repeatedly.
He stopped when he saw the blood on his hand. Sir Richard dropped to all fours and spit out a mouthful of blood. Kal-El then kicked him in the ribs again, cracking at least two. "If you ever speak of the queen in such a way ever again, I will run you through and throw your body to the crows and worms." He said coldly. He punched him once more knocking him unconscious.
Kal-El left the cell and took back his belongings. "Have the physician tend to him and then throw him off onto the street in the morrow." The guard nodded once.
Kal-El washed Sir Richard's blood off his hands in a water basin in his chamber. He shook the water off his hands and dried them off on a cloth. He heard the door open and close behind him and smelled a familiar scent of lavender. "I trust you did not harm him too severely." Lois said behind him.
"He needed to learn his lesson. He shall be fine. Wounds heal in time." Kal-El tossed the cloth aside.
"And what of your own wounds? Are you ready to speak of those yet?" Lois asked taking a few steps toward him.
"Not yet. But I am healing." Kal-El took her hands. "I know that I do not want to repeat the hurts we caused each other after we lost Van-El. But I just need more time. Only a little while longer." She nodded.
"When you speak to me like this, it is almost if you are your old self again." Lois said and he lowered his head as if ashamed. "What is it?"
"You will not like what I have to say." Kal-El said.
"Tell me anyway." Lois said but he hesitated. She put a hand on his cheek. "Tell me." He pulled away from her and ran both of his hands through his hair. "Clark…"
"Please, no… I do not even know if Clark, your Clark ever came back from the Zone. But I do believe that you will be disappointed with what did escape. I am not the man I once was." Kal-El said.
"None of us are the people we were ten years ago. We cannot stop the change, no matter how hard we try." Lois said.
"Lois…that place, that wasteland changed me in ways I never thought possible. I became numb and…and I have come to believe that Clark is dead." Kal-El said. He could hear Lois sighing behind him.
"No. My Clark is not dead…just wounded." Lois said. He turned to face her.
"How can you be so sure? I do not even know myself." Kal-El said. Lois walked up to him, reached up and pulled out the silver locket from under his doublet. Her thumb caressed the engraved LL.
"My Clark promised to keep this with him always. Just as I vowed to keep mine." Lois pulled out a silver locket from underneath her dress. They stared deeply into each other's eyes and were suddenly overcome with desire.
Kal-El crushed his lips down onto hers; yesterday's pains forgotten. They kissed passionately. Her left hand ran through his hair and his right hand caressed her cheek as the kiss deepened. They did not even know they were moving until Lois felt her back touch the wall. She moaned as he kissed down the left side of her neck. She ran her fingers through his hair.
She undid the laces of his doublet and pulled it down his arms. Kal-El finished removing it and blindly tossed it aside. He pulled up her dress past her left thigh as she undid the laces of his trousers. "Wait!" Lois whispered. They were panting. "I have to know… Were you with other women in the Zone?"
"Yes, women were brought to me in the arena but I did not lie with them, I swear." He said panting.
"Arena? What arena?" Lois asked.
Kal-El grimaced, realizing his mistake. He had told no one of the arena, not even Kara. He pulled away from her and ran his hands through his hair. He quickly tied up the laces of his trousers and picked up his doublet.
"Forgive me, I should not have told you that." Kal-El said. He put back on the doublet but did not tie up the laces. He grabbed his belt and scabbard.
"Clark…" Lois said.
"My lady." He bowed and turned to leave.
"Stay. We need to talk about this." Lois said.
"No, we do not." Kal-El said coldly and left the chamber. Lois sighed.
Sir Joseph furiously beat at a straw stuffed black brigandine with a blunt sword on a pell, striking all the weak points of the armor. And then with a furious strike, he decapitated the dummy. He turned around to the sounds of clapping.
A young man, perhaps 21 years of age or so, was watching him with a group of 12 boys, none older than 18. The young man was obviously a knight judging by the black and silver hilt of his sword. Sir Joseph rested his blunt blade on his shoulder and the young man did the same with his blunt blade.
"Well done, Sir Joseph… But how are you when the opponent strikes back?" He swung his sword at Sir Joseph, who quickly blocked the blow.
He pushed their swords downward and flipped his sword hitting the knight under the chin with the pommel. The knight fell back and Sir Joseph put the tip of the blade to his throat.
"So how did I do?" He asked and the young knight grinned. He removed the sword from his throat and lent him a hand. He helped him up.
"Sir Joseph, we have not been properly introduced. Sir Daniel Turpin." He said and held out his arm.
Sir Joseph and he gripped forearms. "I knew your father. He was a good man and an even better knight." He said.
"Thank you. I am training some of the new recruits. Care to join me? They have much to learn." Sir Daniel said.
"They are no soldiers…just boys." Sir Joseph said.
"Yes but we lost a lot of fine soldiers in the battle. The queen's new law conscripts all of age into the army. We train them to keep them alive even though we know perhaps only half shall grow old and die in their beds. That is the price of war… Now what say you?" Sir Daniel said softly.
"If it keeps them alive and the people safe… What will they be training with?" Sir Joseph asked.
"Halberds, spears, daggers, swords…whatever is in our armory." Sir Daniel said and removed his sword scabbard from his belt. He tossed it to the side.
"Let us begin with spears." Sir Joseph said. The recruits groaned. "Moan and groan all you like but I am not giving any of you novices a sword until I know you are capable of wielding it. Warriors do not wield swords alone. Their bodies carry the weapons but the greatest weapon of all is here…" He pointed to his temple, symbolizing his wits. "and here." He pointed to his heart. "You fight with those and you can take on ten enemies at a time and live."
The boys nodded. "Now each of grab a spear and do not worry, the spearheads are dull. We do not want you all killing each other." Sir Daniel said. The boys each grabbed a spear. "Now you all may believe that spears are relics of the past but I have seen even a broken spear save the life of the most seasoned warrior."
The helm was stuffed with straw again and placed back on the pell. "Now the weakest part of any armor is here." Sir Joseph pointed to the sides of the armor right in between the ribs with his blade. "and here." He pointed to the throat. "Those spots will be even weaker if the enemy does not even wear plate armor or mail. Going for the legs, especially the thighs, is good too since it is not as well armored. And most of all, remember to thrust hard. Remember to breathe so to save your strength."
One by one, they took their turn practicing their thrust on the 'straw knight,' as they like to call it. Sir Joseph kicked up and caught two wooden staffs. The recruits were lined up and he paced before them. He stopped in front of a red-haired boy, who was nearly 18 years of age. Sir Joseph tossed him the staff and the boy caught it easily. He motioned for him to step forward.
Sir Joseph twirled the staff a couple times and the boy did as well. They took battle stances. The boy attacked first, sending hard but coordinated blows. Sir Joseph and the boy blocked each other's blows. The boy fought like someone his age, he held nothing back. And much to the surprise of the boy, he struck the boy's right cheek and quickly spun to knock his feet from under him. Sir Joseph rested the end of the staff on the boy's chest.
"You fought well but you did not use you head." The boy smacked away the staff but Sir Joseph quickly smacked both his wrists hard with the staff; but not hard enough to break anything. "In just a few moments, you showed all the skill you possess. That was your mistake. A seasoned warrior would have killed you in battle." Sir Joseph said.
Sir Joseph took a step back and rested the staff on his shoulder. The boy stood. "But we learn from our mistakes. Now pair off and spar." He said. The boys paired off and began sparring with the staffs.
"Your words are wise, Sir Joseph." Sir Daniel said.
"I have seen many battles won and lost by someone making a mistake. If we are to win the war; better yet, if we are to protect ourselves and the people, then we cannot make mistakes." Sir Joseph said.
"Yes." Sir Daniel glanced up. "It appears you are being summoned, Sir Joseph." He said.
"Hm?" Sir Joseph glanced up and saw Lois watching them from her bedchamber window. Both knights bowed. Lois pointed to him and motioned for him to come. "You will tell me of their progress, I hope?" Sir Daniel nodded. "Good. Sir Daniel." He said and handed the staff to him before walking off.
Lois was in her chamber signing some documents and stamping the royal seal by her signature. There was a knock on the door. "Come." Sir Joseph entered her chamber and bowed. "That will be all, Durkin." Lois said and handed him the last parchment. He bowed and left her chamber. Sir Joseph tilted his head slightly. "Is he gone?"
"Yes… Do you believe him to be Zod's spy?" Kal-El asked.
"Only a few people were in this very corridor when I said those very words to Conner some nights ago and he was one of them. So now I shall speak carefully to all I see privately…even you." Lois stood. She went over to the fireplace and threw another log in. "You have something you wish to say to me."
Kal-El sighed. "Why did you not just tell me? I have the right to know that I have more children."
Lois crossed her arms. "I told you. I feared what you would do. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I could see that you were changed. And I did not believe that change was for the better." He scoffed. "They are my children as well and I have a duty as their mother to protect them. I just did not know if I should protect them from you."
"From me? You think I would harm my own children!" Kal-El said.
"Conner told me what happened in Kryptonopolis. You attacked our son and do not deny it." Kal-El could not look her in the eye. "As I told you before that Clark…my Clark is just wounded and wounds need time to heal. How long that takes is utterly up to you."
Kal-El sighed. "I do not want to disappoint you." He said softly. Lois stood.
Lois walked up to him and caressed his face. "You will not."
"Tell me about them." Kal-El said and Lois grinned. They sat down at the table.
"Jor-El is a sweet, strong boy. He cares for others and he is already becoming a skilled warrior. Lara is sweet and clever. Like our eldest daughter, she takes after her mother." Kal-El grinned. "Lara is already a better swordsman than most of the boys her age and yet they still accept her. Probably because she is a princess or they know she can give them a good thrashing but Jor-El, being older, still looks after her." Lois said.
Kal-El chuckled. "And little Kara?" He asked.
Lois sighed. "She is not so little anymore. Kara has my strong will and my stubbornness. Your little precious star is a skilled warrior on the battlefield and in the council chamber. I knighted her myself some time before she left for Gotham. If Jor-El had not been born, she would have made a great queen." Kal-El grinned.
"And like I once did, she only lived for duty. It brought me some comfort to know that she has Al. Like when we found each other." Lois said. Their fingers caressed and soon intertwined. "Though it saddens me to say this but I need you in Gotham."
They now spoke in hushed tones. "No. I will not leave you here alone with a spy here." Kal-El said.
"We need Bruce and only you can get him. Take Chris and Conner with you." Lois said.
"Then who will protect you?" Kal-El asked.
"I have told only Cam-Zel what you learned in Kryptonopolis. He will not leave my side and I have not told him where you are going." Lois said.
"I do not like this." Kal-El said.
"I know but it must be so. When you find Bruce, come back and we will search out the spy. Once he is found, then the army shall sail for Gotham." Lois said.
"I thought our fleet was destroyed." Kal-El said.
"Leave that to me. Now you will leave in two days time. I shall tell people you have gone on patrol. And there are benefits to this task. You get to see our daughter again." Lois said.
Kal-El sighed. "It has been so long." He said.
"You do not need to tell her who you truly are. Not yet. But I promise you will be proud of her, as I am. Just promise me, you will protect her." Lois said.
"I promise." Kal-El said. "About what happened earlier…"
"There is no need for apologies. We were always good at passion." Lois said and they both grinned.
Kal-El sighed. "I know that it has not been easy for you since I returned but it has not been easy for me as well. I did not know what to expect when I escaped. I knew time was different in the Zone but I had hoped nothing had changed. And you are right. The Zone did change me. I had to change so I could survive and make my way back to you. I do want to be your husband once more but I just do not know how." He said somberly.
Lois stood, walked over to him and cupped his face in her hands. "I will show you how." She said and he nodded. "Let me finish this letter and we shall go to bed. We shall speak more in the morrow…if you are ready to."
"I am." He said and she grinned.
"Good. From now on, no more secrets." Lois said and he nodded. "I cannot wait until the barber shaves off this horrid beard." She said and he grinned. Lois kissed his forehead and sat back down. "Would you like a pillow or a blanket on the floor tonight?"
"No. I would like to try and sleep in the bed tonight...with your permission." Kal-El said and she nodded.
"I would like that." Lois said. "But first you should return to your own bedchamber or people shall talk."
Sir Joseph stood grinning and bowed. "My lady." He said and left her chamber. He went into his chamber next door and barred the door. He removed his sword belt and doublet. He knocked twice on the door hidden behind a tapestry to Lois's bedchamber. His chamber used to be where the lord of the castle's mistress slept.
She unlocked the door from the other side and he entered. Her chamber door was already barred and she held the only lit candle. Lois was already wearing her white underdress. He closed the door behind him.
Later that night, Lois slept on her right side and she could feel him tossing and turning. "You still cannot sleep?" Lois asked.
"No." Kal-El said. She could hear the frustration in his voice.
Lois lay on her back. "Come here." She said. He moved close to her and she lowered his head onto her breasts. He could hear the calm beating of her heart. "Listen and forget." She whispered. She stroked his hair and before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.
Two Days Later
Kal-El put on his riding gloves and patted the painted horse's neck. This horse was not Bothgr or Urvlsh but he was still a fine horse.
It was just before daybreak. He, Christopher, and Conner wore black doublets, trousers, and hooded cloaks. Their mail and armor were packed away in sacks on their saddles. They would ride for the lookout post near the Morley River and then they would fly to Gotham. Christopher could fly so he would carry Conner.
Lois watched them prepare for their journey. "Prince Bruce's army is camped out in the woods of the old Arkham estates. You must move swiftly. They have news of Bruce and his knights." She said and they all nodded. She took a step toward Kal-El. "And we shall speak soon."
"You know you do not need to come to Gotham yourself. I or Kara could lead the army." Kal-El said.
"I need to go. We need Bruce or all is lost. And I have already made the mistake of staying behind and not going off to war with you once. Never again." Lois said.
Kal-El caressed her face. He pulled away and mounted his horse. He reached for her and held her hand for a moment. They grinned at other before they quietly rode out of the castle grounds and then out Smallville.