Just Because You're Paranoid
The tree house lookout posts watched the delegation gallop under them. The tree houses were well hidden behind a camouflage of leaves and tress branches on a painted canvas; a gift from Jimmy Olsen. The ensigns proudly held up the banners of the House of Zod. The banners were spotted more than a mile from the town by a sentry with a lens and tube. "Zoners!" He called down to a rider, who then took off for Smallville.
The rider soon reached the town and then the castle. The rider halted and dismounted in the castle courtyard. "They are almost upon the town gates." The rider said. Sir Joseph nodded. The rider took his horse to the stable.
Councilors Wren-Za and Durkin were on the steps in black robes bearing their house crests. With them was General Kara Fine; Sirs Christopher, Conner, and Joseph Kent in their Red Shard tabards over their clothing; and ten other Red Shard knights. Councilor Qin was not feeling well and his physician was tending to him. They did not know how long they had been standing there but before they knew it, they spotted Zod's banners and riders galloping down the street led by a man in black plate armor. The group slowed to a trot and entered the castle courtyard. The knight held up his hand and the group halted. The knight then removed his skull helm.
Commander Lancepesade Gor had short blond hair and he was clean shaven. He was quite handsome but he looked angry and looked to be in his mid-30s. He put his helm under his right arm and walked up to them with his left hand rest atop his longsword pommel. Kara Fine descended a stair and Gor quickly bowed. "Welcome to Smallville, Commander Gor. I am…" She said.
"General Kara Fine, former Duchess of Argo but you renounced your title to become the Duchess of Daxam. We have met before…on the field of battle in Argo some years ago. You were a most formidable opponent." Gor said.
"Her Majesty awaits." Kara said. She stepped aside and held up her hand to the castle doors. Gor nodded once and his men dismounted. Sir Joseph noticed Gor and Durkin lock eyes for a moment but Durkin quickly avoided his gaze. The knights and councilors then turned and followed in behind the delegation.
Kara led them to the throne room. They entered the large throne room and walked down toward the dias. Lois sat on her throne in a blue velvet dress, she wore her gold circlet, and a fine leather belt with a scabbard for a dirk. Standing at her right was Princess Kara Kal-El in a red velvet dress, a fine leather belt with a scabbard for a dirk also, and she wore a gold circlet on her brow. They looked everything like a queen and princess should.
Standing at her left below the dias was Commander Cam-Zel in his black hauberk, red tabard, sword belt, and his black knight's cape. He glared at Gor with his one good eye. The group stood some ten steps or so from the dias and kneeled. No doubt Gor was commanded to kneel by Zod.
"My knights and councilors may rise." Lois said and they did. The knights stepped off to the right and the councilors to the left. "Say what you came here to say and have care how you speak for I will not be intimidated by insults or threats."
Of the Zoners, only Gor stood. "I bring no threats, Your Grace, but a peace offering from my king." Gor said.
"And what does your king offer?" Lois asked.
"His Supreme Highness asks for Your Grace's hand in marriage to end this conflict between your two houses as done by Zod II generations ago." Gor said. Everyone cut their eyes to Lois as she drummed the fingers of her left hand on the arm of the throne deep in thought.
"I shall consider your king's proposal carefully and shall give you my answer in the morrow. Chambers have been prepared for you and your men in the west tower. Commander Cam-Zel, show them to their chambers for the night." Lois said and motioned for them to leave. The Zoners stood and followed their commander out of the throne room. When the doors closed behind them, Lois slammed her fist down onto the arm of the chair furious. "Surly, he does not think I will wed the barbarian that killed my husband, the king!"
"Perhaps it would be wise to at least consider the matter, Your Grace." Durkin said.
"I did not give you of all people leave to speak, Durkin! You are a councilor in name here only." Lois said. Durkin closed his mouth and lowered his eyes to the floor. "And we all know if Zod planned to keep his promises of a peace treaty, his peace offering would be returning our prince to us and not a marriage proposal. Sir Joseph, bring Councilor Durkin to my chambers." Lois stood and the men kneeled and the women in dresses curtsied. Kara Kal-El followed her mother out of the throne room.
Sir Joseph brought Durkin into the queen chambers. He pushed Durkin forward, barred the door, and stood with his back to the door. Lois removed her circlet and set it down on the table. "High treason is a severe crime punishable by death in the other kingdoms but not here in Krypton. Krypton has the Phantom Zone, a fate worse than death for the most vile and merciless of traitors, murderers, and scum of our kingdom."
"A fate my husband would have condemned you to without a second thought." Lois said and Durkin whimpered. "Oh, be a man for once in your petty life! I still have use of you and that is why you still draw breath. You will tell Gor what you planned to tell him in this letter you wrote some days ago." Lois held up the letter, which was the strongest evidence against him. "If Gor were to become even a little suspicious that you are lying… Well, I will only say that I shall give you to Sir Joseph and he will not be so kind as I have." Durkin looked over his shoulder to Sir Joseph. He his arms were crossed while he holding a dagger and his face was expressionless. Durkin went pale and he nodded. "Good." Lois motioned for Sir Joseph to take him away.
Commander Gor walked through the castle halls and hid whenever he heard someone coming. Councilor Durkin was in the library reading over some documents. Gor snuck up behind him and slammed a book down onto the table startling Durkin. Gor chuckled and sat down on the edge of the table. "Hello Durkin."
Durkin looked around to see if the library was empty. "We cannot be seen together. Do you know what the queen will do to me?!"
"Lois-El is a woman and a woman cannot do a man's job. Now, just think of your son, Durkin, and what I will do to him if you betray the king." Gor warned sternly. Durkin nodded frightened. "Good. What are the queen's plans? We know she is rebuilding her army."
"The queen plans to march to Gotham and aid the exiled prince in retaking the city. She is looking for ships because journeying by land is not safe, even with an army." Durkin said.
"And how many ships does she possess?" Gor asked.
"Three, at the most. She wrote to King Orin for ships but as long as he lays siege on Xebel, he cannot aid her." Durkin said.
"Good." Gor patted Durkin's shoulder making him flinch. "If you continue to serve like you have, Zod promises you may keep your place on the Ruling Council. You may be a coward, Durkin, but you are a most skilled politician. Good night." Gor whistled as he walked out of the library. Durkin let out a whimper and his hands began to shake.
"You did well." Sir Joseph stepped out of the darkness with his hands behind his back. Durkin nodded, still scared out of his wits.
The Morning
Commander Gor now wore a black leather doublet, trousers, black boots, his sword belt, and his black knight's cape. On his breast was the crest of the House of Zod. He kneeled before Lois, smirking. "And just what do you have to be so amorous about?" She asked.
"I have just enjoyed my night here, that is all, Your Grace." Gor said.
"Then I am afraid I shall ruin your joyous mood. I have chosen not to accept Zod's proposal. I believe that he has no intention of honoring his promises. And even if he did, what stops him from killing my son once we are finished in the conjugal bed?" Lois asked.
Gor shot up, his joyous mood most certainly turned sour. "This is an outrage! I serve a just and honorable king!" He snapped.
"No! You serve a tyrant and a barbarian! My husband, King Kal-El was a just and honorable king until your master took him from me and his people by treacherous means!" Lois snapped back.
"Yes, his people, not yours. You are not Kryptonian. Just the Genesisan whore he married since the woman he truly loved was dead!" Gor snapped back. The room was quiet except for the Red Shard knights drawing their swords or readying their spears and halberds. Gor's men took battle stances. Lois held up her hand and her knights lowered their weapons.
"Whore, hmm?" Lois stood and descended the dias. "Let me guess… Sir Cam-Zel is my lover. No, perhaps Councilor Durkin. No. Sir Christopher and Sir Conner are both my lovers and we frequently share a bed together. No. Sir Joseph is my lover and I am carrying his child. Whispers I have not heard already before!"
Lois approached Gor. "My lady, I do not think that wise." Cam-Zel warned.
"You can harm me on the field of battle. You can harm my people believing it shall break me. You can pray to the gods to strike me down where I stand! And yet I shall not stop until Zod is dead or banished back in the Zone for his crimes!" Lois said.
"If Zod wills it, he will destroy you." Gor hissed. He approached Lois with his hand on his sword grip. "Why should I not just kill you right now?" He smirked. Gor then felt a blade under his chin. He never even saw her draw a weapon. Lois held her small sgian dubh under his chin.
"Like it? A gift from my husband. I love the blue sapphire on the pommel and the Kryptium blade." Gor felt the tip prick his skin so he knew she spoke the truth. "You command Zod's personal guard so Kryptonian steel will only mark your flesh with bruises but all I need do is thrust and it may or may not be swift." Lois said. "Zod believes that with numbers, he will crush us. He has tried and here we still stand. Zod thinks I am weak because I appear to no longer have aid from the League. Well, I am not weak. We are smaller in number and have defeated Zod in every battle since Smallville. You may think me prideful but let us just say that I am hopeful that this war shall finally be coming to an end."
"Now leave my domain. Or shall I allow my knights to butcher you all and hang your bodies from the town walls as a warning?" Lois took several steps back. "I pray the gods grant you a safe journey back to Kandor, commander. Commander Cam-Zel, see them out of my castle." Lois said.
"This way, commander." Cam-Zel said.
"You will pay for your insolence, Your Grace, just as your husband did." Gor said. Lois glared at him and then motioned for them to leave. Lois put away her sgian dubh.
Sir Joseph approached her. "Are you alright, my queen?" He asked.
"I am fine, Sir Joseph. Come with me." Lois said and walked out of the throne room with him following her. They went into her bedchamber. She let out a deep breath and leaned against the bed post shaken up. Kal-El was immediately at her side and he held her in his arms. "I just want all this to be over." She said softly.
"And it will be. You just have to be strong for a little while longer." He pulled away, took her hands, and kissed her knuckles. "Now, what do you need?"
"I need you to go to Metropolis to speak to Chloe and then I need you to go to Aqua. King Orin lays siege to the capital Xebel. And then to Thanagar." Lois said.
"Thanagar?" He asked.
"Luthor has written to the head of the House of El. He wishes to speak of a most urgent matter in secret. I trust him as far as I can throw him." Lois said.
"Well you can throw quite far." Kal-El said.
"That is not the point. Find out what he wants because we cannot have any problems arise now that the summit is set. We must not let this opportunity pass us. Will you do this for me?" Lois asked. He caressed her face.
"Yes. Worry not. I will take care of everything." Kal-El said softly.
The door suddenly opened and Kara Kal-El entered the chamber. "Mother, may I speak w…" Sir Joseph quickly dropped his hand from Lois's face and took two steps back. "Oh, I thought your audience was done."
"It is. Sir Joseph." Lois said. Sir Joseph bowed his head and left the chamber.
Sir Joseph practiced some combinations alone eyes closed in the training courtyard. Always mind your surroundings. He heard Bruce's voice say in his head. He spun and took a stance to block an imaginary foe's blow. But he felt his blunt sword strike metal. He opened his eyes and saw Kara Kal-El. Their swords were locked.
He stood erect and bowed. "Your Highness." He wore a plain red leather cuirass to train in. She wore one as well.
"Sir Joseph. Would you care for a sparring partner, even if she is a woman?" Kara asked.
"I would not mind the company. Just know I shall not go easy on you just because you are a woman and my princess." Sir Joseph said.
"I would prefer it. Shall we?" Kara Kal-El said.
Sir Joseph twirled his sword twice in front of him and Kara just stared at him. "Is something the matter?" He asked.
"No, just…my father used to do that. It is one of my favorite memories of him." Kara Kal-El said.
"Really?" I have to be more careful. Kal-El thought. "Perhaps we shared the same swords master." The two began to circle each other about four steps away from each other.
He is lying. Al said that Chris told him he was a student of my father. "I doubt it." She tried to strike him with a downward slash but he held up the longsword to block her blow. Their swords were locked. "His mentor was Sir Kil-Gor of the Red Shard."
"I know the name. A good knight." Sir Joseph said. He thrust his knee up and she stepped back to dodge it. She parried his thrust and spun around him but he blocked her thrust over his shoulder.
"No, a great knight. He was my mentor as well…and a friend." She said. She smacked the tip of his sword and tried to strike his left shoulder. He quickly turned to her and held up his left wrist. His steel vambrace blocked the blow.
"Your body may serve as a weapon as well." He said.
"You speak the same words as Kil-Gor." Kara said. She smacked his wrist with the sword and he took a step back.
"What happened to him?" He asked as they circled each other once again.
"Died…protecting me." Kara said. He dodged her thrust and then deflected her next strike. Their blades locked.
"I am sorry." Sir Joseph said.
"He did his duty. The more I speak with you, the more I wonder who you truly are." Kara Kal-El said. He blocked another of her blows and she began making quick, furious slashes at him.
"What is the cause of your curiosity?" He asked as he dodged and blocked her slashes. Their swords then locked again.
"You are not who you seem, Sir Joseph. I knew every Kent in Kansas and you were not among them… I do not know what you are planning but I will not have you harming my mother in any way." She broke the lock and he blocked her 3 quick blows; their swords locking again.
"I admire your mother and I am sworn to protect her." They grunted as they tried to overpower one another and he was winning.
"And I have seen even the strongest and most loyal knights kneel to Zod's will. How are you any different?" She asked and he pushed her back.
"Let us just say that Zod and I have history and nothing more." He twirled the sword. "Now are we talking or sparring, princess?"
Kara smirked and then began attacking him ferociously. He blocked and parried all her blows as they moved swiftly in a circle. He dodged her high kick and ducked under her arm when she tried to backhand him with the sword pommel. He then grabbed her wrist and flung the sword out of her hand. Kara retaliated by trying to kick him in the abdomen but he dodged. She then went for the sword. She dropped to one knee to retrieve and spun around on her knee to see his sword at her throat. "Yield. If this had been a real duel, I would have cut your throat, princess."
"Yes, but remember, Sir Joseph, the artery in the thigh bleeds as swiftly as the one in the throat." Kara said. Sir Joseph then felt two soft taps on his right thigh. He cut his eyes down to see her sword tip lying on his thigh.
He smirked. "You are most certainly your mother's daughter."
"I try." She then swiftly did a sweeping kick and he landed on his back with a small groan. Kara's foot was then on his abdomen and her blunt sword at his throat. "And I had the Black Canary and King Bruce as mentors as well… Now, whatever is between you and my mother, end it. She will only bring you pain."
"She will bring me pain?" Sir Joseph asked.
"People are calling you the wounded knight because your scars go deeper than flesh. The same could be said of my mother. You are the second lover she has taken since my father's death. The first loved her and she destroyed him when she abandoned him. You saved my life, Sir Joseph, and I like you well enough so this shall be your only warning. End it." Kara said.
She threw the sword down onto the ground beside him and turned to walk away. "Who was he?" He asked as he stood and Kara stopped walking. "Who was the first?"
Kara turned around contemplating whether or not to tell him. Then she shrugged it off. "Sir Richard White. I saw them together so I left for Gotham and she ended it. I believe he is a drunkard now. Heed my counsel, Sir Joseph." She turned and walked away. When he could no longer hear her footsteps, Kal-El balled his fists in rage and punched a hole into a nearby wall. He was panting and he shook the dust of his hand.
Kal-El entered Lois's bedchamber. Lois was sitting down at her table in her underdress and red robe reading reports. She smiled up at him but her smile quickly disappeared when she saw the conflicted expression on his face. "Is it true?" He asked. "You and Sir Richard… Is it true?" He was repressing the urge to yell but her silence was not helping. She stood lowered her head.
"I thought you were dead." Lois said softly. Kal-El grimaced at her answer. "He was there for me when I mourned you… But nothing happened until we came to Kansas. I swear." She approached him and he took a step back. "I ended it long before you returned."
"How long were you together?" Kal-El asked. He then knocked over some nearby trinkets making her flinch. "How long?!" He demanded.
"One winter. I swear on the lives of our children, only one winter." Lois said.
"The choker…it was a gift from him, was it not." Lois nodded somberly. "You know what I went through in the Zone to get back to you!" Kal-El yelled.
"I was lonely and he was there for me. That is all! When he confessed his undying love for me and Kara found out, I ended it. I told him I cared for him but my heart would always belong to you." She said. She stepped forward and began to caress his cheeks.
"Ever since I returned, it has been one lie after another from you." He sighed. "I was a fool to believe that things could finally be as they once were." He removed her hands from his face and hurried out of the bedchamber. Lois ran her hand down her face as tears formed in her eyes.
Kal-El walked through the streets of Smallville in the light rain. He entered a nearly deserted tavern and saw Richard White having a tankard of mead. Sir Richard looked up to see an angry Sir Joseph drawing his sword. "I see she told you." Sir Richard said. His face was still bruised and his hand was bandaged up from the beating he gave him. Kal-El tightened his hold around his sword grip. He subtly put on his victory ring. His eyes turned blue and he shook off the dizziness but he raised his sword to Sir Richard White.
"Very well, then." Sir Richard said. He downed the remaining contents of the tankard. He threw the tankard down onto the floor and drew his own sword.
"I will have none of this in my tavern. Take it outside." The barkeep said wielding a bow with a notched arrow. Kal-El slowly backed out of the tavern and Sir Richard followed. As soon as Sir Richard stepped outside, he lunged at Kal-El. Kal-El blocked the block and reciprocated with a heel kick to the stomach. Sir Richard doubled over in pain and Kal-El smacked him across the face with the pommel of his sword.
Sir Richard spat blood onto the street and took a battle stance. He lunged at Kal-El again. Their blades locked. Kal-El was pushing the blades closer to Sir Richard's face. Sir Richard then kneed Kal-El in the stomach. He tried to backhand Kal-El with the pommel but he dodged the blow and then cut Sir Richard's right cheek. Sir Richard touched his cheek where he had cut him.
Kal-El was waiting for him to lunge again and he did. For over a minute they lunged and blocked each other's attacks. Kal-El then twirled his sword and hit Sir Richard under the chin with the pommel. Sir Richard fell back into the mud. He tried to crawl for his sword but Kal-El stomped his broken hand and then kicked the sword farther away as Sir Richard screamed in pain. The tip of his blade was at Sir Richard's throat. "Do it. For that it what it shall take for me to ever leave her." Sir Richard said.
Kal-El kept the tip at his throat contemplating what to do. "No. You will leave this place or…" Kal-El stabbed him in the gut twice but they were shallow wounds. Sir Richard yelled out in pain. "I will not be so kind if you return." He wiped the blood off his sword onto Sir Richard's gray wool doublet. "You should see a physician." He said and then walked away, sheathing his sword.
Kal-El entered his bedchamber soaked from the rain. He removed his sword belt and set it down onto the table. He removed his wet black doublet and wet boots. "Is he dead?" Lois asked. She entered his bedchamber through the adjoining door with a lit candle.
"He lives." Kal-El said plainly. He removed his shirt and victory ring. Lois looked at all the scars on his back and sides from his time in the Phantom Zone.
"You never speak of the Zone." Lois said and he froze. "Why mention it now?" Kal-El sighed and he kept his back to her. "Something more than the arena happened to you there." He remained silent so she turned to leave.
"We were rushing to my father's portal." She turned to face him. "But they were waiting for us. We were ambushed not far off. Sir Jeq-Vey was wounded and I went back for him. We were both captured." He sat down onto the floor in front of the fireplace. Lois sat down in the chair beside him. "We were brought before Zod's eldest son, Davis. He had left him in command of the Zone. They had no intention of killing me swiftly. Zod had built an arena of sorts to entertain his men. He threw me in there with Jeq-Vey. Jeq-Vey, he…he took his own life so he would not have to fight me and then I was forced to fight to the death every week for ten months."
"The last of my knights came for me. We rushed to my uncle's portal and I watched them die." He swallowed somberly and Lois took his hand. "I could not save them. Then I felt this strong pull and I was surrounded by their bodies in that field." He wiped away he tears.
Lois sat down on the floor beside him and held him as he cried. She wrapped her robe around both of them and she held him. "I am here. I am here… You are not alone." Lois said softly.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!