Gotham's Reckoning
Kal-El knocked on one of the windows beside the balcony doors twice. Lois opened one of the doors and stepped aside to let him inside her chambers. She put another log into the fire. "Bruce will not wait for the Kryptonian army. He marches in three days time."
"Do you think he retake the city with only 3,000 men?" Lois asked.
"He has the element of surprise and the Amazons shall join their army with his after nightfall so his numbers shall be greater." Kal-El said.
"Numbers do not win a battle, better yet, a war." Lois said. She stood in front of the fireplace with her arms crossed.
"I know that. But with his wits, he may take the city by dusk." Kal-El said.
"Good. And I want you to do all you can to make sure he is victorious and that he survives the battle." Lois said. Kal-El nodded.
"And what about here? The spy?" Kal-El asked. Lois looked toward the door. "We are alone."
"I have cause to believe that the spy is Councilor Durkin." Lois said softly.
"Durkin? I remember him to be cold and ambitious but a traitor?" Kal-El asked.
"Well I have just learned that his son, his legitimate son, is a prisoner in one of the work camps in Kandor. He had just left my chamber when I had that private audience with Conner. And only Zod calls me Your Grace and Durkin has been calling me that of late. I believe his service protects his son and my downfall frees him." Lois said.
"He will die by my hand." Kal-El hissed.
Lois moved in front of him. He could see the concern in her eyes. She placed her hands on his chest. "No. We need to know what he has told Zod. He must live…for now." Lois said and he reluctantly nodded.
"I wish only to protect you." Kal-El said. He rubbed her upper arms.
"I know. But I do not always need you to defend me. I have told you this time after time but you never listen." Lois said. Kal-El grinned slightly.
"I never do, do I?" He asked.
"No." She answered and they chuckled quietly. They embraced. "I have missed you so."
Kal-El kissed her forehead and rubbed her back. He sighed. "10 months."
"What?" Lois asked and looked up at him.
"10 months of fighting in an arena in the Zone. I fought men and women with sword, axe, club, my bare hands…" He pulled away from her and ran his hands through his hair. "I stopped keeping count after… I cannot remember when I stopped, only that I stopped caring. I cannot remember their names, their faces; only that they died by my hand."
"Will you show them to me?" Lois asked softly. "You do not have to. It is your choice." He looked down at the floor and she nodded. Kal-El then untied the laces of his doublet and took it off. He tossed it onto a nearby chair. He then removed his shirt. Lois took a deep breath when she saw his scarred flesh. She remembered the three scars on his body perfectly but he was covered in new healed battle wounds.
He looked down at the floor when she approached him and then she began examining his scars. He sighed when her fingers began caressing his skin. She gently caressed every wound making his skin grow hot and his heart quicken. Lois could see several cuts and stab wounds made by swords and daggers. Her fingers moved down to the circular jagged stab wound in his left side. "What did this?"
"Broken shaft of a spear. I then used the spearhead on him." Kal-El answered. Lois walked behind him never taking her fingers off of his skin. His skin grew hotter and he took a deep breath. Her fingers caressed the whiplashes on his right shoulder. "Her weapon was a whip and a dirk. She whipped me as I crawled for my sword. On instinct I threw the sword at her believing I would miss but it pierced her gut."
Her fingers caressed the healed shallow gash on his upper right arm below the pale green veins. "Axe." They said in unison. "I had some broken bones; a wound or two on my legs; a fever now and again." Kal-El said.
"How did you endure such cruelty?" Lois asked softly.
"When things seemed most dire, I thought of you." He took her left hand. "The thought of…the need to find my way back to you sustained me in every battle." He kissed her knuckles and then caressed her knuckles with his thumb. Lois looked down at the floor, conflicted. "What is it? Did I say something that upset you?"
"No. No. I just do not want to speak the wrong words and ruin this moment." She said.
"That is not possible, my love." Kal-El said.
"Clark, there is something I need to tell you." Lois said. Kal-El looked like he heard something and looked up to the ceiling. "What is it?"
"I hear someone above us." He said.
"It must be a sentry." She said.
"In the rookery?" He asked suspiciously and put back on his shirt. "I will only be a moment." He super-sped out the balcony doors and returned just as quickly. "Durkin was sending a letter."
"At this hour?" Lois asked. In his hand was the letter. "It could be nothing."
"Or it could be a letter telling of your plans to march your army to Gotham; what defenses are around the town; and of Chris's family." He said. He handed her the letter and she began to read. The letter was not signed but she recognized Durkin's handwriting.
"Durkin." She hissed and took a deep breath. "Falcons have been shot down by hunters of late… Zod will not become suspicious." She set the letter down onto the table. She stood before the fireplace stroking her upper lip.
"Do you wish for me to take care of this?" He asked.
"No. I shall have Cam-Zel arrest him in the morrow and his wife shall be confined to their chambers. I shall then question Durkin myself." She said. Though she hid it well, she was shaken up by Durkin's betrayal.
"Come here." Kal-El said softly. He pulled her close and held her in his arms. He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. She looked up at him and their eyes locked. They both leaned in and their lips met in a tender kiss. He cupped her face in his hands to deepen the kiss.
As they kissed, his hands moved down her neck to her shoulders and he slowly slid her robe off. Lois broke the kiss. "I am not as young as I once was." She said softly.
"And you should know that I do not care about that. I just want you. I will always want you." Kal-El said tenderly. He carefully removed the blue sapphire pendant from around her neck. He kissed her again but more passionately this time. He slid her underdress down her shoulders and it fell down onto the floor.
At daybreak, Red Shard knights burst into the chambers of Councilor Durkin and his wife. He and his wife were sleeping peacefully in each other's arms. They were startled awake to see knights surrounding their bed armed with swords and crossbows. Cam-Zel entered the bedchamber as they forced Durkin out of bed and down onto his knees before their commander. "The Queen shall hear of this!"
"Under the command of Her Majesty, Queen Lois, you are under arrest charged with high treason. It is her pleasure that you shall be taken to the dungeon for questioning." Cam-Zel stepped aside and Durkin was taken away.
"My husband is a faithful servant of the queen. He would never do such a thing!" Mara Kin cried.
"My lady, Her Majesty commands that you shall be confined to your chambers until your guilt or innocence can be proven." Cam-Zel said. He motioned with his head for the knights to leave. He followed them out and then the door was locked from the outside and guarded.
The Queen's Bedchamber
"I have missed this." Lois said softly. She and Kal-El lay peacefully in each other's arms. Her head rested on his right pec and he stroked her right arm.
"Making love?" Kal-El joked and she playfully smacked his abdomen making him chuckle.
"Awaking with you beside me, sleeping in your arms, and you were the best lover I ever had." Lois said and he kissed her forehead.
"Were?" He pretended to be insulted. She playfully smacked his abs again and he climbed on top of her. "Were?" He asked again and she chuckled. He kissed her shoulder and moved up her neck; her bruises healed. "Were?" He whispered in her ear and she moaned. "Say it."
"Are." She whispered and he kissed her lips. The sun shined through the cracks of the window shutters and curtains covering the balcony doors.
"I have to go." He said and she groaned. "I must return before I am truly missed." He pecked her lips and climbed out of bed naked.
"And I have most certainly missed that." Lois said. He picked up his trousers and turned around to her. She raised an eyebrow as she watched him put on his trousers. Then Lois rose from the bed naked.
"Greatly missed, indeed." Lois looked at him over her shoulder and flashed him a seductive look. She grabbed her robe and put it on slowly. He walked up behind her. "Oh, do not tempt me." He whispered in her ear and kissed her behind her ear. They looked up at their reflections in her looking glass. "I wish we had more time."
He pulled back her robe slightly and kissed her left shoulder. Lois reached back over her shoulder and caressed his left cheek. "We will." She said.
"Someone is coming." He said. She turned around to quickly and tenderly kiss his lips, running her fingers through his hair. "I will not be long, I promise."
"Tell Conner to go to Happy Harbor. He will know what to do when he gets there." They quickly kissed again and he and his clothing were gone in a blur.
"My lady, are you awake?" Vala asked outside the door.
Kal-El landed in a small clearing in the woods of the old Arkham estates. He put back on his doublet but did not tie up the laces. "You were not in your tent." Someone said behind him. He quickly turned around to see Chris sitting on a log. "Kara was looking for you. I told her you had left early to hunt game and that I would join you later." Chris pointed to the two bows at his feet and a group of squirrels tied to a long stick. "I have been tracking an elk for the last mile. Care to join me?" He tossed Kal-El his sword belt. He caught it and put it on. Chris then tossed him the second bow and handed him a quiver of arrows. He put the quiver on his back. Chris carried the stick of squirrels on his left shoulder. "So how is mother?"
Sir Joseph and Sir Christopher walked back into the Gothamite camp. Chris still carried the stick of squirrels but Sir Joseph carried a great elk on his shoulders. Men stared at them as they walked by. They left the game with the camps cooks for tonight's stew. "Well done today." He patted Chris's shoulder.
"My father taught me well." Chris said and Sir Joseph happily chuckled.
Sir Joseph walked to Sir Conner's tent. The flaps were down so he must still be asleep. "Sir Conner? Sir Conner!" He called. He heard hurried movement and giggling from inside. "Conner?"
Conner stepped outside in nothing but trousers. "Yes?" He was panting. He had two visible battle wounds on his body: a stab wound on the lower right side of his abdomen and sealed wound on his left shoulder.
"Is something the matter?" Sir Joseph asked.
"No. I was j-just, just…" Conner stuttered and pointed to his tent over his shoulder. Sir Joseph then went into the tent. "Wait!" Sir Joseph saw a young naked Amazon putting on her white chiton and he quickly turned his back to her. "Sir Joseph, this is Cassandra Sandsmark. Cassandra, Sir Joseph Kent, newly made knight of the Red Shard." Conner said.
Sir Joseph turned around to face her. "An honor to meet a knight of the Red Shard." He and Cassandra gripped forearms. She put on a gold enameled cuirass. "Queen Diana expects me. I shall see you later." She pecked Conner's lips and left the tent. Conner grinned at her but it disappeared when he turned back to Kal-El.
"Is she the woman Chris was telling me about?" Kal-El asked with his arms crossed.
"Yes." Conner answered looking down at the ground with his hands behind his back.
"There is no need to be ashamed, Con. I was your age once." Kal-El said. "Just make sure that you are not distracted when the time comes." He put a hand on Conner's shoulder and Conner nodded. "Now...your mother wants you in Happy Harbor. She said you would know what to do." He said. Conner nodded and Kal-El walked out of the tent. He saw Diana leaving Bruce's tent but thought nothing of it.
Later
Bruce was sparring with four knights. They all wielded blunt blades and wore their gray hauberks and gray enameled leather cuirasses. Now only Sir Michael Lane and Sir Richard Grayson stood. They swung their blades at Bruce at the same time but he blocked them both with his shield. He then performed a quick sweeping kick knocking them both onto their backs. The soldiers and knights watching clapped.
Nearby, Sir Joseph was training with Chris. They wore their black hauberks. "What a sight! A Kryptonian knight sparring without his ornate armor!" Sir Michael Lane coaxed. Sir Joseph blocked Chris's blow and heeled kicked him to the abs, knocking him down. He sucked his teeth and turned around to face the Gotham knight.
"I do not need armor to defeat you." Sir Joseph said, pointing his blunt blade at him.
"Shall we put that to the test?" Bruce said. He motioned for Sir Joseph to come forward. Sir Joseph picked up his heater shield and walked up to the Gothamite king. Bruce then swung his blunt sword and Sir Joseph blocked it with his shield. Bruce tried to bash him with his shield but Sir Joseph spun out of the way and swung at Bruce's backside. Bruce ducked and quickly turned about.
They swung their swords and blocked and dodged each other's blows. "I have never seen an opponent last this long against my father… Well, except King Kal-El." Prince Al remarked to Chris.
"Sir Joseph was a student of my king." Chris said and Al simply nodded. Al wore his mail and leather cuirass. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his gloved hand. He had been sparring with his father not long ago and had almost bested him but Bruce got the better of him.
Sir Joseph and Bruce's blades locked and they both tried to bash each other with their shields. The shields collided with such a force that they cracked making the spectators wince. Sir Joseph and Bruce were both thrown onto their backs making the sparring match a draw; much to the disappointment of the Gothamites. Bruce tossed his shield and sword aside. "Well fought." He said.
"Thank you." Sir Joseph said as they both stood. Bruce was drenched in sweat and panting but not Sir Joseph.
"I trust you will march with us on Gotham." Bruce said.
"It is an honor to be wanted by someone such as yourself, Your Grace." Sir Joseph said. Bruce walked closer to him.
"I can see in your eyes that you truly are not a flatterer. Now speak plainly to me." Bruce said in hushed tones.
"Krypton needs you to live, as well as my queen. And I will do all I can to make sure you still draw breath at the end of the battle even if I have to carry you on my back in full retreat." Sir Joseph said.
"Hmm. I can see why you are her new favorite. I know you have secrets, Sir Joseph. So be wary or I shall seek them out. Sir Joseph." He said and walked away. He wrapped an arm around Al. "Well done, my son." Al looked glad to be acknowledged by his father.
The Gotham army was on the march. Assassin patrols have trouble navigating through the woods so it was the perfect hiding place for the army, who knew the land. At sunset, less than a day's march from Gotham, they made camp in the low valley hidden from view of the city walls. Small fires were carefully lit in tents to cook supper and were put out once the stew was done.
Princess Kara Kal-El sat down next to Sir Joseph in the command tent. They ate a vegetable stew with venison meat from the elk he had shot some days ago and bread. "Did my mother send you to protect me?" She asked. She dipped her bread in the stew and took a bite.
"You and the king." Sir Joseph answered bluntly. He brought his iron bowl to his lips and slurped on the stew.
"Perhaps now I shall see you fight in a real battle and not sparring. I could tell you were holding back when you were sparring with King Bruce." She said.
"Is there nothing you do not see, princess?" He asked.
"Not much. King Bruce taught me to always mind my surroundings and it has aided me well." She said.
"Good. But just know that I shall keep you in my sights at all times, my lady." Sir Joseph said and Kara Kal-El nodded.
"Sir James Gordon and Olivia Queen are within the city walls. I do not know if Connor Queen has healed or died from his wounds. They keep on the move. Assassins hunt your knights like game in the woods. They will open the city gates for us. If we march down this road, there will be little chance of the people being harmed in the battle. They will lose the advantage of their catapults but not their cannons." Al said.
"Leave the cannons to me." Sir Joseph said plainly and they all turned to him. He was still sitting down and eating.
"Is there something you wish to tell us?" Bruce asked and Sir Joseph did nothing but down the last of his stew. "They will have the gates too heavily guarded. Even if they reached them, there is no way of knowing if they can open them."
"An attack by sea, perhaps?" Sir Michael suggested but Bruce shook his head.
Sir Joseph then stood. "When do you begin your attack?" He asked and it became quiet.
"Daybreak." Bruce said.
"Chris, with me. You all should rest." Sir Joseph said and walked out of the command tent. Kara grabbed Chris's arm.
"What is he doing?" She asked.
"What he was sent here to do. See you in Gotham City." Chris said and kissed her cheek. He walked out of the tent.
"Is he mad? There is a garrison of more than 50 men guarding the gates!" Al said.
"For now, let us do as he suggest. To bed all of you." Bruce said.
Just before daybreak, Sir James Gordon and Connor Queen walked down a dark alley of Gotham City in mail and leather cuirasses with a group of Gotham soldiers and knights. "There should be assassins and mercenaries up and down this road." Connor whispered. The roads were deserted and all was quiet. Every citizen had been warned to stay as far away from the main road today. In an alleyway opposite them was Commander Peter Foley with Olivia Queen. Mia Dearden appeared and startled the group. Sir Roy lowered his sword when he saw her. An iron fist was strapped to the stub that was once his right hand "Mia, where is everyone?" Connor whispered.
"I cannot be certain. They were here not long ago and then they were all gone. Only their weapons remain." She said quietly. "Should we turn back?"
"No. The army is waiting outside the city walls. We have to open those gates now. Get up on one of the roofs of these houses and act as a sentry." Gordon said. Mia threw off her green cloak and free climbed the house with a strong wood roof and a good vantage point.
The two groups met up at the outside the gate tower. Helms and weapons were on the ground but no soldiers. Some of them entered the tower. "Took you long enough." Someone said and they all turned around with weapons drawn. Sir Joseph and Sir Christopher were sitting down playing chess.
"Chris?!" Connor Queen asked and removed his visorless bascinet helm.
"Connor?" Chris stood. "You are alive!" Chris and Connor warmly embraced. "We feared you dead."
"And miss all the fun." Connor joked. Connor looked so much like his father. His head had been shaved but his hair was growing back. There was a large healed gash on the right side of his head and he had a thin, dirty blond beard. "So you and your friend took care of the guards."
"Oh yes. Sir Joseph Kent, Prince Connor Queen of Star City." Chris said.
"Before Zod took it for himself with the death of Werner Vertigo." Connor said. He and Sir Joseph gripped forearms. "Now let us get this gate open."
"We can open the gate. You all should stand watch." Chris said.
"Just the two of you?" Gordon asked.
"Come." Connor Queen said and led the others out of the tower.
"A mace." Chris said once they all had left.
"What?" Kal-El asked.
"The scar is from a mace but his helm is the reason he still draws breath." Chris said. There was a large wheel in the middle of the tower. "Shall we?" They each grabbed a different handle of the wheel and pushed. With their super strength, opening the iron gates did not take much effort. The Gotham army marched into the city with padding on their boots to be as quietly as possible.
"I am once again impressed by your work, Sir Joseph." Bruce said softly. He dismounted his black war stallion and tied him up to a nearby post. "He will do no good in battle in a city." He patted his horse's neck. "And what of the cannons?"
"Leave them to me. Mercenaries are in the taverns and in the brothels; and there are patrols. But all of the League of Assassins are in the castle." Sir Joseph said and ran off down an alley.
Al rode up and dismounted alongside his father. "Be on your guard, my son." Bruce said.
"Yes, father." Al said. Bruce put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"And please try to stay close to me and watch after your sister. I could not bear to lose you both." Bruce said and Al nodded. "Sir James, send men to take care of the patrols and the mercenaries in the brothels and taverns. Then we shall march on the castle."
"TO ARMS! TO ARMS," Could be heard within the walls around the castle. The sun had risen and the Gotham Army could be seen marching on the castle. Bane went out onto the balcony shirtless and wearing his iron mask. He slammed his fists down onto the ledge and raced back inside.
"It is the Gotham army!" Bane cried as he rushed into the throne room where Talia al Ghul was. "They will be upon us before noon."
"Still no word from my father?" Talia asked.
"No. Every bird and rider we send out is being shot down with arrows. We have no choice but to attack and then burn the city to the ground as planned." Bane said. Talia al Ghul approached him.
"And this is where we bid farewell, my friend." Talia and Bane gripped forearms.
Triple barrel cannons and scorpios were on castle walls and atop the gatehouse of the castle along with archers. Bruce held up his hand and the army halted on the wide road to the castle. They slowly began to march forward. The Gothamites worryingly looked up at the cannons but they continued their march.
"A pity. I was hoping for a battle." Bane said. He raised his hand ready to signal the cannons to fire. Then every single cannon exploded taking the archers and scorpios with them. Bane, Talia, and their army turned to see what had happened, and that is when the Gotham army charged yelling war cries.
Sir Joseph appeared amidst the fray. He bashed a mercenary with his heater shield and then stabbed him. He caught sight of Bruce and cut down every enemy in his way. Bruce slashed his blade across a man's gut and turned around to face an old foe. "So you came back to die with your city." Bane said wearing his black leather cuirass over his bare chest and wielding his great war hammer.
"No. I came back to take back my city and to kill you." Bruce raised his falchion to him. Bane swung his hammer and Bruce raised his shield to block the massive blow. Bane continuously bashed the shield until it was so dented that Bruce threw it at Bane. Bane growled when the dented shield struck him. He swung his hammer, striking a Gotham knight in the head. Bruce stumbled back with every blow he deflected.
Bruce ducked under a swing and heel kicked Bane in the gut. Bane fell back and Bruce swung his sword down at him but he rolled out of the way. Bane quickly got back up and punched Bruce in the lower back. Bruce responded by elbowing Bane in the face. Bane stumbled back into some of his mercenaries. Some tried to help him up but he pushed them out of the way.
Bane swung his hammer again and their weapons locked. Bane was much stronger. Bruce fell down to one knee as he held up his blade trying to hold back the hammer. Then Sir Joseph came out of nowhere and punched Bane's jaw. Bane flew back onto the ground hard. Sir Joseph had lost his shield. He helped Bruce up. Bane stood dazed and picked up an axe when he did not see his war hammer. He raised the axe and then a crossbow bolt penetrated his neck.
Bane pulled the bolt out of his neck and blood seeped out. He tried to walk but he fell after one step. He coughed up blood until he took his very last breath. Sir Joseph and Bruce turned to see Helena reloading her crossbow. She walked up to Bane and shot another bolt right between his eyes just to make sure he was dead. Sir Joseph deflected an arrow meant for Bruce. The two began fighting back to back fending off and cutting down assassins and mercenaries.
Noon came and passed but the fighting continued. And then it seemed to have come to a halt in the blink of an eye in the late afternoon. The mercenaries threw down their weapons and the last of the assassins fell.
Bruce and Sir Joseph walked amongst the bodies of the dead. "Jim." Bruce knelt besides a wounded Sir James Gordon.
"Only a scratch, Your Grace." Gordon said about the stab wound through his left thigh. The wound was bleeding profusely and his skin was becoming pale. Sir Joseph tied off the wound and Gordon yelled out of pain.
"I have done all I can. He needs to see the physician." Sir Joseph said. Bruce waved down two knights and they took Sir James within the castle walls.
"Your Grace, we have prisoners." Sir Michael said.
"Bring them to the throne room. Sir Joseph, with me." Bruce said. "Bruce! Helena! Damian!" Bruce called for children. He searched among the living, among the dead.
"Father!" Helena waved him down and Bruce rushed to her. She removed her spectacle helm and he embraced her. Her face was covered in sweat and some blood. "They are right here." She led them to Al and Damian. Al put a firm grip on the dirk in Damian's right shoulder and then pulled it out. Damian yelled and put his hand over the wound.
"Help me get him inside." Bruce said to Sir Joseph.
"It is but a scratch, father." Damian said. Sir Joseph put Damian's left arm around his neck and followed Bruce and his children inside the castle. They took him into Damian's old bedchamber and lay him down onto the bed, staining the sheets with blood. Damian groaned when he landed on his right shoulder and Sir Joseph rolled him onto his back.
Sir Joseph helped him remove the cuirass and then the mail. "The physician should see the men more gravely wounded than me, father." Damian protested. Sir Joseph examined the wound. There was a dying fire in the hearth so he threw another log in and poked the fire with his sword. Sir Joseph then put the blade of a steel dagger into the fire and waited until the metal was steaming red hot.
"What are you doing?" Bruce asked.
"I have seen many wounds such as this. There is no need to call the physician. I can seal it myself." Sir Joseph said. He pulled the dagger out of the fire and stood. "Hold him down." Al held down his arms and Chris held down his legs. He walked over to the left side of the bed and sat down on the edge. He grabbed Damian's shoulder and cauterized the wound. Damian screamed and bit down on the leather belt Helena had put in his mouth.
Bruce entered the throne room still wearing his bloodied mail and gray leather cuirass. Bruce's squire, Terrence McGinnis, removed his cuirass and his hauberk as the prisoners were brought into the throne room in irons. He set down his armor before the dias. Bruce put back on his sword belt, and sat down upon his throne in black trousers, a soiled gray shirt and gray gambeson. Al stood at the king's left hand.
Talia al Ghul was brought forward and forced down onto her knees. "Hello, Talia." Bruce said emotionless. She wore a black leather cuirass. Her hair was unkempt from her helm and she was covered in sweat and blood.
"This is but a short victory, Bruce. My father shall return to finish his work." Talia said coldly.
"I doubt that." Bruce drew his falchion. He put the tip down onto the stone floor and kept his hand atop the pommel. Talia immediately recognized the gold hilt and the emerald in the pommel. "It seems it was not his destiny to 'finish his work.' And I see no purging fire."
"You killed him. You murdered my father!" Talia said.
"No. This time I chose not to save him. I will not make that mistake again." Bruce said. "I do not want to hurt you, Talia, for our son's sake. But as long as Zod still draws breath, you are a threat to me. Put her in the dungeon with the others but in her own cell." Bruce motioned for her to be taken away.
"I will never forgive you for this. I will avenge my father and your city will burn!" Talia cried as they dragged her out of the throne room.
Sir Joseph entered the throne room and bowed. "He is resting. He will not use his arm for some time but all wounds heal in time." He said.
"Thank you, Sir Joseph. I give you and Sir Christopher permission to leave my kingdom to tell your queen all that you have witnessed here. But first I shall write to the sovereigns of the League of Nations. I ask that you will deliver them for me. I It is time that we end this war once and for all." Bruce said. Sir Joseph bowed and left the throne room. Bruce stroked his beard as he watched him leave.
"Still do not trust him, father? He did perhaps save your life." Al said.
"Perhaps. But I feel that we should know more about him. He is hiding something and I want to know what." Bruce said.
Some Days Later
Sir Joseph and Sir Christopher rode into Smallville and eventually slowed to a canter when they approached the castle. They trotted under the portcullis and dismounted in the courtyard. Lois stood on the steps dressed a blue dress with her gold circlet and sword belt. Standing on the steps with her were Councilor Qin, Commander Cam-Zel, and General Kara Fine.
They approached them and knelt at the base of the steps. "Well?" Lois asked.
"King Bruce has taken back Gotham and he has written to all the sovereigns of the League of Nations to have a summit by the month's end." Sir Joseph said. Lois sighed out of relief.
"Thank the gods." Lois said under her breath. Then Sir Conner rode into the courtyard and dismounted. He knelt besides them. "Well?"
"They are victorious, my queen. Chloe Sullivan is in command of the city of Metropolis and Davis Zod has been slain by Sir Henry Olsen. But it saddens my heart to say that Sir Henry Olsen was slain by Doom's own hand as well." Conner said.
"I see… Well done, the three of you. Now you must be tired from your journey. Rest now. I will call on you when I have need of you." Lois said. She motioned for them to rise and they did. They bowed their heads to her as they entered the castle.
Later that night in Lois's bedchamber, Kal-El held Lois in his arms in the bed. "Oh, Jimmy. I wrote to Chloe this afternoon saying I mourn Jimmy's death as well and asked of her health and that of their son."
"They have a son?" Kal-El asked. He stroked her right arm and she snuggled up closer to him.
"Yes. A boy of seven. James." Lois said.
"Why did you not tell me Chloe was still alive?" He asked.
"I did not know she was until Genesis came to our aid against Zod last fall. It was dangerous for her to get word to us. I lost my father in that battle. And now Chloe has lost Jimmy." Lois sighed somberly. "I do not know if I could bear to lose you a second time."
"I wish I could promise you that I would never leave you. But I have broken that promise twice already. Let us just take pleasure in the time we have together." He said. Lois looked up at him.
"And as always, you know just what to say." Lois said. Kal-El grinned and she pecked his lips. Kal-El then sat up and looked at the door. "What is it?"
"Someone is coming." He swiftly got out of the bed and quickly went back into the adjoining bedchamber. Lois pulled up the sheet and fur blanket so it appeared she was sleeping alone.
There was an urgent knocking on the door. "Your Majesty…" Commander Cam-Zel called. Lois arose from the bed and put on her robe.
Lois unbarred and opened the door. "Yes?"
"This letter just arrived to Councilor Durkin from Zod. The letter is meant for you." Cam-Zel said.
"Send for General Fine, my councilors, and my wards at once. We shall meet in the throne room. I shall awaken Sir Joseph myself." Lois said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Cam-Zel said and walked off.
To the queen's most high majesty, His Supreme Highness King Zod VIII, asks that we forget the unhappy past between our two houses and form a treaty of peace and universal friendship. To come speak for the king is his most trusted commander and advisor, Lancepesade Gor. His Highness asks that you warmly welcome his delegation and show him the respect and courtesy of his station. Gor shall arrive in Kansas some days after receiving this letter. And may Rao grant us a swift path to peace.
King Zod VIII
Every knight in the room scoffed when Lois finished reading the letter aloud. "Perhaps we should listen to what terms he proposes." Qin said and coughed.
Sir Joseph scoffed. "This is a trick and nothing more. Just give the command, my lady, and I shall kill Gor myself." He said.
"He is coming here under a flag of truce. Whether this be a trick or not, he shall not be harmed. We will once again double the guard around the castle and town. And I want you, Sir Joseph, to watch him with both eyes as Commander Cam-Zel shall watch me." Lois said and Sir Joseph nodded once. "And we shall prepare for the commander's visit. Make all the necessary arrangements, Qin. And we shall need Durkin in case this be some ploy to see why their spy has not sent any new information. Bring him to me."
Cam-Zel and Qin left the throne room. "Leave us. Sir Joseph, Sir Christopher, Sir Conner, General Fine, stay." They were soon alone. "Christopher, bring Princess Kara Kal-El back here at once." Chris nodded once and disappeared in a blur.
"Who is this Commander Gor?" Kal-El asked.
"Lancepesade Gor is Zod's best and most ruthless commander. If he had any discipline, he would have been made a general long ago. He is now well into Zod's favor since it was he who captured Jor-El when they breached the town walls last fall." Lois rubbed the back of her neck. "And since then, he is now charged with guarding the prince and commanding Zod's personal guard. He is the worst man to send to negotiate a peace treaty."
"I doubt he is truly coming to talk peace. Zod is confident of Davis's army marching on our flank when called. He is sending him to spy and nothing more." Kal-El said.
"And that is why we need Durkin. We need him to do and say whatever we command." Lois said.
"Yes. We need to make Zod overconfident. When he thinks he already won, that is the time to strike." Kal-El said. Kara and Conner were sitting on the dias grinning at the two of them. "What?" They asked in unison.
"We have missed this." Conner answered.
"Missed what?" They asked in unison again.
"The way you two work together so beautifully." Kara said.
Christopher and Kara Kal-El then appeared. "So…what is the plan?" Kara Kal-El asked.