CHAPTER ELEVEN (Hellacre13)
Author’s note: There is scene a guest writer is responsible for in this chapter, asterisks denotes where he has made his short but sterling contribution.
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Kal-el exhaled as he hurried along the long corridor in the darkness. But he did not go to his chamber. After seeing Diana in a silk robe that seemed to leave very little to his imagination he needed some air. What in Rao’s name was the matter with him? For years he has been able to school and discipline himself. He had learned to control the desires of the flesh. Even with Lady Lois it had been limited to kisses.
Granted he was no saint; he had more than a couple of sexual encounters during his life time. Most of them had been during the Crusades. Fighting a war and living every day as if it were ones last had not been easy. Sometimes sharing the warmth, and feeling the flesh of a woman, even if she were a stranger, was the only thing that kept a man sane and in touch with his humanity.
But he had never felt this kind of hunger for Lady Lois. He had not been plagued by lustful thoughts like wanting to tear the garments off her body and imagine getting lost in her fragrance and flesh. It had been over a year since he had seen her and he had thought his heart hardened and he would never care for another woman.
Yet he knew it wasn’t only just her beauty. The days they spent in each other’s company had allowed him to see that she was as intelligent as she was brave. Her skills as a warrior even rivaled his own; and she was compassionate. And stubborn! Her helping a man who could have been a Warlord himself attested to a generosity of spirit. She did not know Lord Wayne; she just saw an injured man in need of help.
At first it had bothered him that she might be fascinated with Bruce. He had this darkness and mystery to him, as well as being very wealthy and cultured; most females found him irresistible. But Kal-el soon realized that whilst Diana was interested in the Dark Knight’s wellbeing, health and even his history, it was not his eyes she involuntarily sought. It was not Lord Wayne she had opened up to during those nights out in the wild. It was not the aristocrat and feared warrior she had shown her softer side, but to him, an exiled and common Kandorian Knight.
Leave it to him to be attracted to females he could not have. First Lady Lois and now a royal princess who was an immortal Elf-maiden from a land steeped in magic.
“Clear your head,” he ordered himself.
He stalked out the opened doors of a terrace into a beautiful garden lit with lanterns and was glad to feel the cool air on his skin. He walked towards a fountain and stopped short. Sitting on a stone bench near it was the Queen herself.
She turned to look at him in mild surprise. He bowed and turned on his heels to withdraw. “Your Majesty. Pardon me. I had no idea anyone was here.”
She stopped him. “You need not run away, Kal-el of Metria. We can share a bench together.”
Kal-el stood awkwardly. She commanded, “Sit.”
He obeyed. They sat in silence for a minute and he felt as awkward as a farmboy, not knowing what to say to an Immortal Elf Queen. She looked at his face sympathetically and asked, “Can you not sleep?”
“No.”
“It must be difficult having been dragged here by my daughter to get involved in something you do not see as your concern.”
He replied without hesitation, “The Knights of Kandor are my concern.”
“Ah, yes, I see. Well, those men are vital to our cause too. “
“How so?” He looked at her oddly.
“The Elders are the only men alive who know the whereabouts of the Cup of Ages.”
“What is the Cup of Ages?”
“It is a source of great mystical power. It has the ability to undo objects, living things, and events. The Cup is magical and hidden from sight and can and will only appear to those who are worthy.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“I suppose it is. The bearer has one chance to undo that which that has to be undone and once the wish is granted the Cup vanishes and only reappears every thousand years.”
“So depending on what one wishes one can erase time or history itself? That is very dangerous magic,” he said distastefully.
“Yes and hence the reason why it can only be wielded once and it is hidden from most. It is an artifact that few know of. If it fell in evil hands…I dread to think what it would be used for.”
“But we are worthy enough to use it?” he sounded slightly skeptical.
Hippolyta smiled, hardly offended. In fact she was pleased that he was speaking his mind. She said, “Oh, that remains to be seen. The Cup will not be found unless it wants to be. It decides who is worthy. It can be used to help us save First Earth against the tyranny of the Emperor and his Warlords. Even as we speak news travels that the Emperor has marched his army of Parademons across half of First Earth and conquered all those lands in the north and those rulers that have not sworn allegiance to him have had their kingdoms laid to waste. There are rumors that once verdant lands are now pits of fire and rivers of ash and lava. Of races enslaved. This Emperor is almost as strong as a God and cannot just be destroyed by metal swords, Kal-el.”
“So you are hoping to vanquish him with the Cup of Ages? What if it is never found?”
She sighed. “We still go to war. As my daughter pointed out we cannot stand by and wait for the Emperor and his allies to reach our borders.”
He frowned at her. “Why did you choose me for this? Why not someone else?”
She sighed. “The Oracle was told your name in her vision. Why you, we do not know. That seems to be clouded to us for some reason. But it seems we are all inextricably linked…Themyscira…the Knights of Kandor…in some way to liberate First Earth from the darkness that is threatening all free lands. Tomorrow we meet to discuss how we go about organizing for war and rescuing your High Elders. That is something you want too, is it not?”
Kal-el looked at the darkness. War. He had hoped never to fight in one again. He suddenly felt his mind focus. There was nothing more he wanted than to rescue the men who had been his fathers and brothers. He hoped to Rao they were alive.
He replied decisively, “It is.”
Hippolyta’s voice suddenly invaded his thoughts. “I see how you look at my daughter.”
He stiffened. Hippolyta’s voice was not angry but matter-of-fact. “She is betrothed to another. You would do best to remember this.”
“She said to me that she did not want to be betrothed.”
“She has no choice. It was foretold that she would marry and that her child will bring a lasting peace and prosperity to First Earth. I searched for men that she would wed and Lord Tresstom is from one of the wealthiest and most powerful kingdoms and very willing to be allied to my daughter.”
“Doma is also one of the few not under the control of the Emperor and influence of the Warlords.”
“Yes.”
“So you are forcing her into a marriage of convenience?” he asked scathingly.
“Diana grew up in a society whereby men are not vital to our existence or happiness. Nor do we believe in that illusion some call love. She will do her duty.” Hippolyta added grimly, “I see how she looks at you. You have a handsome face and strong body. My daughter would have to be dead if she did not notice this. But you can offer little, Kal-el. You are a disgraced knight. You have no name. No home. Diana is of royal blood and a man who has been harvesting corn and wheat a few months ago is not one who will allow her to fulfill her destiny.”
Kal-el said firmly, “I have no illusions regarding that which I am, Queen Hippolyta. I would never exchange my upbringing and the people I love for all the wealth and status in the world. I have no shame in my past or my present. If Princess Diana believes her destiny is with the Lord of Doma then so it will be.”
She gave him a reluctant look of admiration. “We understand each other. And know I have no reason to take you in dislike. It is just the way of things.” She rose. “I will retire now. Goodnight, Knight of Kandor.”
He rose and bowed. “Goodnight, Queen Hippolyta."
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Princess Diana had come back from her ritual, early morning canter and was now walking her steed into the large courtyard towards the stables. She paused as her eyes fell on the broad shouldered frame of Kal-el who was also in the yard. He was showing James and Patrick how to use weapons.
Two days had passed since the newcomers had come to Themyscira and the Queen had used the opportunity to send word to other allies to assemble for a strategic meeting to be held at noon later that day.
The time had given the four men a chance to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings as well as the current happenings regarding the movements of the Warlords and the Emperor. The interval had allowed the Dark Knight to make a full recovery with the aid of Elvish medicine.
Kal-el knew that if the group were really going to go to war then every man needed to learn how to use a weapon. That included James and O’Brien. Diana had seen him try to teach the mage and thief rather unsuccessfully for the last two days. It seemed James was not remembering any of the foot work or exercises he had been taught with the sword and Patrick was all thumbs when it came to the bow and arrows. She found herself stopping to watch.
Kal-el sighed as Patrick managed to twang the string of the bow in his own eye for the sixth time and James tripped over his robes in a vain attempt to stab the straw filled target.
He said wryly, “This is not working. I would faster get Lightning to hold a sword than you, James.”
James sighed and dropped his wooden sword in resignation. “I am sorry, Kal-el. I did try. I am not good at this sort of thing. Incantations are more to my liking.”
“Tis not my fault this bow is behaving as if it is bewitched,” protested O’Brien. “And that target keeps moving off…”
Kal-el folded his arms and eyed the lanky shape-shifter in mild exasperation. “If you had not dived into the second pitcher of mead last night I think you might be able to see a target.”
Kal-el turned at the sound of a giggle and quirked his brow.
“Can I help, Your Highness?”
Diana coughed. “No. I was just going to stable my mount…” She ought to have gone her way but the looks on the three dour faces made her linger. She began helpfully, “Maybe you are focusing on the wrong things. Time is not exactly on our side. Perhaps you ought to be looking at their strengths and not their weakness. Have you considered other means of defense?”
Kal-el asked, “Such as?”
“Well, James, has his magic. He can always use that.”
He looked at her slightly cynically. “James cannot even get the colour of his robes right. What magic can he use?”
James flushed. Diana frowned. “That may be but he can hide…”
“Hide?”
“ Yes. James, can you use your magic to blend into your surroundings?”
James’ eyes lit up. “I think so.” And with a flourish of his hand his entire robe suddenly matched the cobbled stone yard.
Kal-el conceded. “I suppose that can work. And O’Brien?”
She looked at the thief. “He is a shape-shifter. He can do whatever he wants. He has survived as a thief for this long without being beheaded or hung, drawn and quartered.”
O’brien said proudly, “I often turn into a gnat and fly away.”
Kal-el sighed. “So one will hide and the other will run away. The Emperor and Warlords will tremble in fear.” He turned to the pair. “Well, it makes no sense my trying to teach you anything else at this stage. She is probably right. You can go and freshen up. We have the meeting with the Queen in an hour and will most likely be marching out of here by tomorrow.”
O’Brien dropped his bow with relief.
*Kal couldn't help but notice the ornate dagger that Patrick had sheathed at his belt.The silver hilt and long thin blade looked to be one piece. Very expensive workmanship.
"Fancy dagger you have there. Who did you steal it from?"
Patrick was taken aback. "How did you know that?"
Now Kal was confused. "How did I know what? That you probably stole it? It wasn't that hard to figure out."
Irritated, Patrick asked "No, no, no. How did you know the dagger was named Fanci? Are you a mage too?"
Now they both wore perplexed looks. "No, Patrick, I meant that you have a fancy dagger, that's all."
Patrick shrugged and looked away. "Oh, this old thing? It's nothing."*
James said, “Come on, O’Brien, let us go and get some food.”
The shape-shifter grinned. “Now you are speaking the language I understand.”
Once they had gone, Diana observed gravely, “One day, Kal-el, you will see that you are wrong about magic.”
He picked up the fallen arrows and swords. He did not reply with any of his usual disgust or sarcasm. He shrugged. “Well, until that day permit me to view what has been responsible for my exile with some reservation.”
He turned his back on her, signaling that their conversation was over and she frowned. No one turned their backs on a Princess but that was not why she felt offended. It was his deliberate avoidance of her eyes. She had noted it for the last two days. He had seemed to not even want to look at her. He had not sought her out for their evening talks. When she tried to approach him he seemed to find an excuse to rise and leave. She found it confusing and mortifying. What had she done? He seemed to admire her and he had even kissed her. Now he appeared to be repulsed by her.
She remembered him coming to her room and just taking one look at her and turning away. It was not when she had walked past her mirror and seen her reflection did she realize what he had seen. He must have thought her without propriety. Women of the outside world as she understood it were very modest and did not flaunt themselves openly for their men unless they were bonded to them. Diana had honestly not thought anything of it when she had answered his knock. Living amongst females most of her life she never had a reason to hide or feel ashamed. He was befuddling her with his attitude and she hated feeling uneasy or being ignored for no apparent reason.
Her stallion was twitching his head and tail at having to stand still. He wanted to move on but something prompted her to stand her ground and demand, “Are you still angry with me, Kal?”
He was putting the weapons back in a chest in a corner of the yard when he seemed to pause at the question. He shut the chest. “Of course not.”
“Do I repulse you?”
His eyes met hers. “What?”
“Do I repulse you? Is that why you cannot even look me in the eye?”
He straightened up. His jaw seemed to tighten but he responded quietly, “No, you do not repulse me.”
Her brows drew together and voice was impatient but her hand went to the horse’s bridle and she touched the animal as if to soothe it. “Then why have you been treating me as if I harbor the plague these past two days? I thought we had come to some…some understanding. That we were ...”
He dropped his hands to his side and seemed to take a deep breath and to her astonishment walked up to her. His hand reached for the bridle just above her grasp. His voice was low. “What? What is it you want? Do you even know, Princess?”
She stared at his fingers. They were large and strong and callused having worked on a farm for months. They were not smooth like Tresstom’s, whose white hands rarely left his fine ermine gloves or even Lord Wayne who had the elegant, supple hands of a nobleman.
They were not touching but she could smell him, a mixture of cedar, leather, earth and forest. It was a very masculine scent and it confounded her that she should find it appealing and that she was finding something as normal as breathing something of a task. “I thought…hoped we were …friends.”
Kal-el looked down at her as she chewed her full lower lip in some confusion. She was so tempting and she did not even know it. “I cannot give you what you want. Because what I want I cannot have.”
Diana tried to make light of a situation that was making her very nervous. “You speak in riddles, Kal,…I know not what you mean…Even the Oracle would have difficulty understanding that.”
His breath moved the hair at her temples. “Princess, I am just a simple man. I was brought here for a purpose. It is not to notice you or want you. But you make that very difficult just by standing there looking at me with eyes that any man would gladly drown into…You nearly drove every rational thought out of my head that night at your door, it was all I could do to not stare at you like a dumbstruck fool. I am a guest in your kingdom and I am here by fate not choice. We are of different worlds, different philosophies, do you understand?”
He was still very close and she was half dreading half longing for him to bend and kiss her once more. It took a sharp voice to jerk her to consciousness.
“Diana!!!”
The sharp voice belonged to her mother. Diana jerked away from Kal-el and looked up the Queen looking down upon the courtyard from an upper balcony. Standing next to Hippolyta was none other than Lord Tresstom of Doma and he did not look very happy.
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Queen Hippolyta and the new arrivals now sat with several emissaries from neighboring kingdoms to meet and discuss a strategy for pending war. They sat in a circle under huge, oak trees listening to the grave news brought by a soldier from Almerac. It seemed the Emperor had conquered the kingdom of Rann and Tamaran was being marched upon.
As the soldier spoke, Lord Tresstom of Doma stared at the strange beings around him with some distaste. He had spent the last half an hour studying them and learning about them and he was not impressed. What in the world possessed Queen Hippolyta to even bring them here?
One was a thief who seemed more interested in food and baubles. The shameless wretch had even tried to steal a time-piece from his pocket. Diana, fortunately had caught him and whacked him on the head before he could turn into a snake and lift it out with his tail.
Next to him was a magician who seemed to have turned his own robes a garish orange and was really just a boy.
Then there was the once wealthy and notorious Dark Knight who seemed to have recovered remarkably from wounds that, according to Diana, could have left him dead. Elvish medicine had saved his life. Looking at him one would not believe he had been at death’s door. He wore clean black and grey robes and his beard had been cut. He was a strikingly handsome man. Tresstom kept eyeing him to see if he was looking at Diana and if Diana was looking at him. The Princess was a woman most men could not keep their eyes off and this Lord Wayne had the added advantage of height, polish and mystery. But although Wayne’s eyes did flicker with admiration when they rested on her, the Princess’ eyes were bewilderingly being cast elsewhere.
Tresstom’s eyes fell on the man sitting next to the Dark Knight. A Knight of Kandor, exiled and with nothing to his name. He had a white dog sitting at his feet and his hand was absently stroking the animal’s head as he listened to the soldier from Almerac. Tresstom frowned. What did this man have that she would even be so fascinated by him? Tresstom still fumed inwardly recalling seeing them standing so close to each other an hour ago. The effrontery of the man too. How dare he even presume to think he was in any way her equal? It was a good thing the Queen has shouted at them or else he might have been tempted to throw down the glove at the man.
Kal-el did not have the brooding intensity of Lord Wayne but he sat with an air of calm and even Tresstom had to admit he was far from ugly. He had eyes that were remarkable and they dominated his face. They flickered with emotion and light and hue and at times rested on Diana’s profile or involuntarily jarred with her own eyes. Was it only he that saw the faint colour on his betrothed face? She looked self conscious, trying to not look at Kal-el and he found himself growing irate.
Tresstom drummed his fingers on his thigh and fumed inwardly. In Doma he had many women who loved him and parents who would willingly give their daughters to him. Life would have been so much easier if he had wed a woman of his own race. But when he had heard that the Queen of the Elves was looking for suitors for her daughter he had come out of the knowledge that an alliance would make Doma stronger and wealthier. When he saw Diana the first time he had to admit she was beautiful even if she was an Elf and he would be more than willing to stomach a marriage with her. He knew she was not happy being betrothed but she recognized her duty and had accepted he was going to be her husband.
At least that was how things were when he last saw her. It was one thing if she broke their engagement for a man like Lord Wayne but Tresstom was not going to be amused if she embarrassed him by wanting a common man like Kal-el.
The soldier from Almerac ended his speech by assuring the assembled company that his King was willing to join forces with Doma and Themyscira and that there were other knights and lords who had been in hiding and would be willing to assemble and take on the might of the Emperor and Warlords.
Hippolyta sighed. “It is still few compared to their forces…But we will persevere and gather on the borders of Doma and wait…”
Lord Wayne interrupted, “If they have taken Rann and Tamaran it is likely Gothamworth is next on the path of war. King Gordon has not made submission and I know he will not. There will be a confrontation and Gordon will ride out with his ally Richard of York and face them. If we can get them to ally with us we can take on the might of the Emperor at Bludhaven before he reaches Gothamworth. Strategically Bludhaven is perfect terrain to take on the army.”
Kal-el said gravely, “Yes, it is a narrow pass with ridges and valleys and the sea flanking its east coast and if we can make our stand there we can hold them from crossing into Gothamworth and the rest of the free lands.”
Diana declared, “Can you get them to trust you again, Lord Wayne?”
Lord Wayne said, “Easier said than done, Huntress.” He had taken to calling her that and she knew it was done out of admiration rather than irony. She had allowed it. Tresstom called her his moon, his heaven, his star, his flower. O’Brien called her She-elf or fairy…odd how these men liked to give her names. Except Kal-el, who vacillated between her real name and her royal title.
Diana said earnestly, “You said they were once you greatest friends.”
“Gordon was like a father and Richard a little brother to me,” he confessed.
Hippolyta said, “Then if that is so they must have loved you. Grief often obscures judgment and we often need to blame others when we feel helpless. I am sure they will remember it if you get the chance to remind them.”
He looked grim. “I will journey to Gothamworth and seek Gordon’s and Richard’s aid and try to clear my name. If I am successful I will send word to march the gathering forces from Doma to Bludhaven and we will have our war.”
“You must not risk it alone…”said Hippolyta. “James can go with you.”
James squeaked. “What?”
Lord Wayne looked unimpressed. “I work better alone.”
Hippolyta insisted. “His magic will be of invaluable use to you.”
Kal-el spoke up. “I assumed James would be accompanying me to Metria.”
“We cannot risk sending James anywhere Luthor and Modred would be. Modred’s men will kill him and Luthor wants the magic books of the Guildhall. As keeper of them he would be safer with Lord Wayne.”
Tresstom spoke up. “Why not have his fellow knight from the Crusades accompany him? They fought in great battles, if the stories one hears are real that is.”
Lord Wayne gave him a look that would have frozen anyone mid-sentence but the Lord of Doma never was good at reading body language and gave both men dismissive looks.
James began hotly, “They are real!!!”
“Oh and were you even born, boy?” Tresstom asked amused.
Diana began annoyed, “My lord, these men risked their lives for our freedom in the Crusades…”
Tresstom said soothingly, “I know, dearest, that is what I mean. They would make a fine team.” He covered her fingers with his own but she moved her hand and put it in her lap.
Hippolyta intervened swiftly seeing Tresstom’s face looked annoyed. She wisely said, “No. Kal-el is going to Metria to rescue the Knights of Kandor. The High Elders are imprisoned at the pleasure of the new Duke of Daileth, Lord Luthor. According to our Oracle, he has been torturing them for information on the magic of the Guildhall… amongst other things.”
Tresstom seemed to relax at that. “Oh I see, well good luck to you, Kal-el. Daileth Castle is a maze and very difficult bastion to breach. More so now that Luthor has taken a brand new bride, who is quite a prize from all accounts.”
Kal-el’s brows rose at that news. Luthor never struck him as a man to devote himself exclusively to any one woman. He wondered what unfortunate female was bargained for and given over to him.
Hippolyta, meanwhile, was announcing coolly, “Kal-el is not going alone. Diana is to accompany him.”
Tresstom jerked upright. His brows knitted together. He did not look pleased. “She is to accompany him?”
Kal-el’s hand stopped stroking Krypto. “What?” He looked at Hippolyta gravely. “Why must she accompany me?”
Hippolyta said somberly, “She was in the Oracle’s vision accompanying you.”
“Wonderful…” But his tone was not enthusiastic.
Diana was looking slightly peeved now. She said crossly, “You do not have to take me anywhere as if you are doing me a favour, Sir Knight. You are accompanying me.”
Tresstom asked, “Queen Hippolyta, should my future wife be going off with an exiled knight into Metria where death might await her?”
Diana rose to her feet, glaring at Tresstom, “I am no man’s possession!! Stop speaking of me as if I am not here!!!”
“Diana, sit down,” ordered the Queen. “You are going, Daughter. There is no need to lose your temper. Now, Kal-el, you would do well to accept that my daughter is as fine a warrior as ever produced by Themyscira. She will be an asset to your quest. Lord Tresstom, Diana is not some jewel that needs being placed in a box…She has proven her worth to me and will go to Metira. Patrick O’Brien, you of course will accompany them.”
O’Brien, who had been whistling quietly and studying the Almerac soldier to see if there was anything he could pilfer, jerked his head up and looked flustered. “Me? But…why me?”
“The abilities of a shape-shifter will be better served for what Kal-el and Diana has to do.”
Diana subsided and sank to her seat and looked at Kal-el triumphantly. She was the only person who looked remotely happy with what Hippolyta had suggested. James looked at Lord Wayne who was glaring at him, because he did not relish the idea of having to worry about a boy who was still a fledgling mage. He had heard tales of the Dark Knight eating his victims alive. James swallowed and his robes began to turn yellow.
Kal-el looked at Diana and O’Brien in some exasperation. He was going to be traveling with the most beautiful woman on First Earth once more and if anyone had inquired he would have preferred being put on a rack and stretched. Accompanying them was not going to be his gentle and devoted squire but a thief who talked non stop and could not keep his slippery fingers out of people’s pockets. Could it get any worse?
Hippolyta said, “So that leaves us with Themyscira and Almerac to gather forces, march to Doma and wait…Will you lead your ships into battle from the sea, Lord Tresstom?”
Tresstom seemed to ponder the situation; he said abruptly, “Doma will send ships but not led by me because I will be going to Metria with Diana.”
O’Brien groaned. Kal-el held the space between his eyes. Diana’s smile slowly died.
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(Guest writer was none other than Ronnie K)
