e and his wife Araz had initially jumped at the opportunity for him to be part of the Green Guard.
Araz?
I think that's the farthest you went with the names. But then, now it's not really that hard anymore to figure things out
He could throw a dagger with pinpoint accuracy
So, North is going to die from a dagger to the heart?
And--to make things worse--he had also been leering at Araz lately. It made Cheen nervous. Kryptonian law dictated that one man could not take another’s wife--but that was only so long as that other man was living. Did the king want Cheen to die so he could marry Araz? Would the king find an excuse to kill Cheen himself? His greed was such that Cheen would not put it past him.
Nah, he would just arrange an accident, then comfort the widow, then send her off once he's had his fun.
Even if Cheen hadn’t been part of their hushed conversations behind closed doors, he would have been able to guess at their wavering loyalty at a battle like this.
Wonder how much that's just because of the horses?
Cheen turned his gaze toward King North, who was staring at the boy with a stunned expression. “Kallel?” North breathed in disbelief. “Is it you? You’re alive?”
Oops?
But Cheen had no desire to hurt either of them. Instead, he dropped to his knees and bowed.
That's what you call Karma, right?
“I will kill you,” growled King North. His eyes were filled with fury as he glared at his opponent.
Now, now, killing the king, that's a big no-no.
“Your little queen is worried about you,” sneered North as he parried the stableboy’s sword. “Perhaps I ought to kill her so you won’t be distracted by her screams anymore.”
Why kill her instead of marry her?
“*No*!” Clarkent growled, lunging forward. He would protect the princess no matter what.
Is that a slip in Clarkent's mind?
North swallowed, his eyes fixed on the sword. “Green Guard!” he growled, a note of desperation in his voice. “Come protect your king!”
Uhm... is that wise? Ordering the royal guard to protect the man holding a sword to your throat?
King North appeared just as taken aback as she was. When he finally found his voice, he hissed, “Rise, you imbeciles! *I* am your king! Not this tattered *boy*!”
See. Told ya.
But instead of pain and darkness, there was a gargling noise and a sharp intake of breath.
Clarkent opened his eyes. North was slumping to the ground, a dagger embedded in his throat.
Dagger. Check.
One of the Kryptonians gasped, and another said, “Is that the Merlin? I thought he was dead.”
Okay, I did not see the name 'Merlin' coming. Interesting dig-up with the two falcon-names. Now, all we have to do is figure out how the entire LnC matches to the Arthur-legend
As he stared up at her, he thought about how beautiful she was, even in her Gawain clothes. She was his battlefield angel--his warrior queen.
“I thought the Kryptonian people needed a symbol that all was not lost,” Peri told them, drawing Clarkent’s attention back to him. “The sword’s magic was strong by itself. When I applied my magic to it, the spell created was powerful indeed. You were the only one who could have pulled that sword out, Clarkent. And now these Kryptonians know you’re their king beyond a doubt.” He gestured for Clarkent to rise; he was done with the poisoned arm.
Hmm, to answer your question from the previous FDK, or maybe ask one in return. Why did the sudden appearance of an enchanted sword suffice? Couldn't North have simply had the rock carried away? It would be different if it where an old legend. But the sword appeared just 18 years ago out of nowhere. I'm not sure that's enough to establish legitimacy
Michael
It's been really fun to write.