CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

7 Find the genuine first monarch of the land (5) 8 Unfortunately came across difficult tracks (4,5) 10 Intelligent class always at the back (6) 11 Cavalrymen swear in as mounted police down under (8) 12 Fears net could turn out to be a catch (8) 13 Everyone, by the end, was seen as a comrade in arms (4) 15 Offers by nurses to take care of others with little hesitations (7) 17 In the main, a senior officer was run-of-themill (7) 20 Might he return fruit to some of the military? (4) 22 Concoct ruse, etc, on line, in academic discourses (8) 25 Offer girl for sale as part of a blood-feud (8) 26 Class in position to make the grade (6) 27 Pores over nine characters with a retiring type (9) 28 Tries to create centre-pieces, but didn’t have time (5)

DOWN

1 Narrator might spill the beans, and not be as honest as he should be (4,5) 2 May be forced to delete a verse, no matter how impressive (8) 3 It’s important to have concerns over some substances (7) 4 Put in a good word for a lawyer, to have a friend at court (8) 5 Break up with a girl over short period (6) 6 At the centre, 28 across is cut short, on time (5) 9 Find some strong men working in the market-place (4) 14 Peter had his own escort to defend him (9) 16 Have connection with one who can 1 down, keeping it in the family (8) 18 Was dead cute, and turned out to be learned as well (8) 19 Is satisfied to be on cloud nine, and in good spirits (7) 21 In mean time, lyric poems are quite decent (6) 23 Players, at some stage, may circulate prediction (4) 24 Untouchable throughout the whole period (5)