Author's Note: This story answers the June 2002 challenge to add an additional scene or an epilogue to "The King of Thieves". I lay no claim to these characters, and this story is purely non-profit. Comments and criticisms are always welcome.
“You want to go after him and make sure?”
He most certainly didn’t. The demigod had definitely had his fill of playing the runaround game with the so called King of Thieves. Now that Iolaus was safe, he was more than willing to let Autolycus keep the trinkets he’d made off with, and let bygones be bygones. Although he had the unsettling feeling that he hadn’t seen the last of the dashing rogue.
“You know, with all the excitement, I almost forgot that King Trancas is expecting us,” Iolaus remarked as Hercules automatically took the left fork in the road. “I wonder what he wants, anyway.”
“He didn’t say,” the demigod shrugged. “His message just asked if we would come.”
“I hope it’s a monster,” the hunter continued. “It’s been awhile since we’ve had a good monster fight.”
“Only you would look forward to such a thing,” Hercules muttered, but there was a fondness in his voice.
As it turned out, the problem waiting for them was a monster. However, Iolaus’ enthusiasm dampened considerably when he found out it was a slimy one.
“Most of my army are out on the border of our land,” King Trancas explained to Hercules. “Not that they have much experience in dealing with the creatures of the gods. But I always said that you and Iolaus were better than an army, anyway.”
“We’ll go out at first light,” the demigod promised the monarch. “Iolaus should be able to track it down easily enough, and we’ll deal with it.”
“I knew I could count on you,” the king beamed. “You have my eternal gratitude. You, and Iolaus.” He looked across the room, where the hunter had engaged a lovely serving girl in animated conversation. “He doesn’t look any worse for wear for almost being beheaded yesterday. Was it really as close as he says it was, or is that just Iolaus enhancing the story?”
“No, I’m afraid it’s true,” Hercules replied softly, unable to suppress a small shudder. He didn’t like to think about how close his partner had actually come to losing his life. If he and Autolycus had been delayed one minute more...
“King Menelaus is quite a character, that’s for sure. But he must have mellowed since I’ve seen him last. I would have thought he’d have executed Iolaus on the spot.”
“He tried,” the demigod told him. “His daughter was able to get a bit of a delay with some Erebus Test or something.”
“The Erebus?” Trancas looked at the demigod inquisitively. “I didn’t know anyone still did that.”
“It was all she could think of to stall. Iolaus passed it, but they apparently faulted him on a technicality afterward and Menelaus still tried to have him executed.”
“Wait a minute, Hercules.” The king sat up very straight and regal. “Are you telling me that Iolaus passed the Erebus Test? All of it?”
“Yeah,” the demigod answered, a bit perplexed. “Why?”
“Don’t you know what the Erebus is?”
“No, not really. Iolaus just said he had to go through a few trials. He didn’t really give me the details.”
“The test was banned in most kingdoms because it was found to be outdated, barbaric, and having no basis whatsoever in anything of which the modern legal system is comprised.”
“Barbaric? What exactly is this Erebus test?”
King Trancas outlined it for the demigod, briefly explaining the trials of dunking, pressing, and the wild boar.
“It’s designed to prove the accused guilty. If the accused is innocent, the gods were supposed to use divine intervention and save the poor soul. Of course, you of all people can imagine how many times that happened.”
“The gods aren’t real concerned with the fates of mortals,” Hercules agreed absently, his mind trying to process what Trancas had told him.
“The test was made to be lost,” the king continued. “No one is supposed to be able to pass it on their own. But you’re telling me that Iolaus did?”
“I guess he did,” the demigod murmured. Part of him was horrified at what his friend had been put through, but another part was overwhelmed and amazed that he had apparently sailed through such impossible trials. Hercules realized he was guilty of the same mistake that so many of their enemies had made. He’d underestimated Iolaus.
The king immediately summoned Iolaus over to the fire where he and Hercules had been conversing, and he asked the hunter to tell him just how he’d managed to survive the brutal trials of the Erebus. Iolaus glanced at Hercules, and the demigod could tell from the look in his partner’s eyes that he didn’t really want to get into the story. But, he couldn’t refuse a royal request, so he gave a rather subdued explanation of the eastern practices he’d employed to master each test.
“Amazing,” Trancas murmured when the hunter had finished his tale. “Absolutely amazing.”
Iolaus shifted slightly in embarrassment, and stole another glance at his partner.
“It was nothing,” he muttered.
“Nonsense,” the king insisted. “The Erebus was designed for failure. Mortal men aren’t supposed to be able to get through it. The fact that you passed all three trials... You know, I’ve got a bottle of old wine that I was saving for a special occasion. I think now might be the time to open it. Excuse me for a moment, boys.”
King Trancas rose and scurried out of the room, leaving the two heroes alone.
“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” Hercules asked his friend, as the hunter glanced at him once more.
“I guess I’m just waiting for you to say something,” Iolaus replied hesitantly.
“I’m not sure what to say.”
“You don’t believe me, do you?” The hunter turned away, his shoulders slumping dejectedly.
“Of course I believe you.” Hercules got to his feet and approached his friend, putting a hand on his shoulder, gently turning him back around. “Why would you even think that I wouldn’t?”
“It is a pretty incredible story,” Iolaus said quietly, not meeting his partner’s eyes.
“It is that,” the demigod agreed. “But then so is the storyteller.”
The hunter finally raised his eyes, searching his friend’s warm gaze for confirmation.
“Iolaus, I know that sometimes I treat you like you can’t take care of yourself. But I don’t mean it that way. It’s just that... Well, you mean a lot to me, and I worry about something happening to you. If Hera could take my family away, then she certainly could take you, too. I guess that’s always in the back of my mind, and when I get patronizing, it’s just because I don’t want to see you get hurt. But I know that you are more than capable of handling yourself. You are the best warrior I’ve ever fought with, and there’s nobody else I’d ever want at my back. So, no matter how incredible the story, I will always believe you. Because I believe that nothing is impossible for you. And I believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. You are amazing, Iolaus, in everything that you do. And though I may forget to tell you that, just know that I’m always thinking it. I’ve never thought anything different.”
The hunter ducked his head again as he felt the moisture welling in his eyes, his heart full of gratitude that his partner had so willingly offered the reassurance he’d been seeking.
“Thanks, Herc,” he whispered. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
“I’m just glad you’re all right,” the demigod whispered back. “I don’t know what I’d ever do without you, my friend.” He squeezed the shoulder under his hand before stepping forward to meet King Trancas as he reentered the room, taking the goblets and the bottle of wine from the overburdened monarch. Iolaus took advantage of his partner’s bulk shielding him and took a moment to draw a long breath and discreetly wipe his eyes before stepping around Hercules to take the sweet wine that his friend had poured for him.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” the king declared regally. “To the triumphs of Greece’s greatest heroes, and to their continued successes.”
Hercules and Iolaus agreeably went along with the toast that their host had offered, clicking their goblets together and sipping the rich wine, but inwardly, the hunter scoffed at the idea of being labeled as Greece’s greatest hero. He was just an ordinary man, chasing after adventure and trying to help out where he could. Hercules was the real hero, and no more so than to Iolaus, himself. It was enough for the hunter to know that his friend considered him a skilled warrior, worthy to stand at his side.
Little did he know, Hercules felt the same way about him. And always would.
Finis
Disclaimer: No slimy monsters were harmed during the writing of this story. Hercules and Iolaus were able to persuade it to give up its murderous inclinations and move out of the area.
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