Author's Note: A series of drabbles, written for the Gold Apple Group and inspired by the title words in caps. I do not own Herc and Iolaus and the gang and mean no copyright infringement to Universal/RenPic. Comments always welcome.
SWORD: 11-14-05
"Here, Herc!" Iolaus procured his enemy's fallen weapon and tried to toss it to his partner.
"Who needs a sword?" Hercules said scornfully, letting the steel drop and picking up a large rock, blocking his opponent's blade with it. He sensed someone approaching from behind, but he was locked in struggle with the foe before him. The sharp singing of metal as it sliced through the air rang in his ears, and he knocked his enemy out before turning to see Iolaus' sword buried in the chest of the assassin behind him.
"Thanks, buddy," the demigod called out with a sheepish grin.
COLD 11-30-05
“Are you cold?” Gabrielle asked, feeling a shiver run through the wounded man cradled in her lap.
“No,” Iolaus lied, since there was nothing she could do about it anyway. Although it was dark, he closed his eyes, remembering back through the years to the first time Prometheus’ gift of fire was denied them. It seemed like another lifetime, and he wondered if his young companion was even old enough to remember it. Hercules had saved Prometheus then, and now he was going to do it again. But this time, the price was high. Iolaus knew that the only way Xena was going to get that sword was to pry it out of the demigod’s dead hand. Herc just wasn’t going to let her strike the blow, and he was going to bravely sacrifice himself to save mankind. Iolaus shivered again, knowing that if he did manage to hold on until Prometheus was free, there wasn’t going to be a fire in the world that could help him. For without his best friend by his side, the hunter knew he’d never be warm again.
SOLSTICE 12-22-05
When Hercules had extended the invitation, he hadn't expected it to be accepted. After all, Jason had an entire castle of servants, waiting to cater to his every whim. But to the young prince, the trappings of wealth were often a trap. He eagerly jumped at the chance to be with his three best friends, Lilith, Hercules, and Iolaus.
Jason's contented gaze traveled around the laden table, falling on each on of them in turn, until his dark eyes lit upon the beautiful Alcmene with her sweet smile. Her warmth and love poured out of her, engulfing them all and making each one of them feel welcomed, like family. And for the world wise Jason, there could never be a better place to celebrate Solstice.
Author’s Note: The following drabbles follow each other to form a cohesive story.
DETOUR (issued 12-26-05, answered 9-6-06)
“What do you think?” Iolaus asked his partner.
“Well,” Hercules said thoughtfully as he studied the form of the large dragon that was lying in front of the bridge they were trying to cross. “I could distract it while you move in with your sword. Or maybe we could get some vines around it while it’s sleeping. I might be able to get the jump on it and toss it into the river. Or, we could just go with Plan B.”
The two warriors looked at each other and grinned as they spoke in unison.
“Detour!”
BUG (issued 1-21-06, answered 9-6-06)
“Whoa!” Iolaus called out, startled when the large creature surfaced from the water and scrambled up to perch on the log that stretched across the river. Its black eyes bored into his blue ones and its wicked looking pinchers clacked together in warning. “That is one big bug.” The hunter slowly backed off the log and turned to look at his friend. “You thinking what I’m thinking.”
“Oh yeah,” Hercules replied, squinting as the setting sun glared off the beast’s gleaming exoskeleton. He shielded his eyes with his hand and glanced at his partner with a grin.
“Detour!” they chimed together.
STONE ( issued 2-2-06, answered 9-6-06)
“Iolaus, be careful,” Hercules warned his friend as he leapt away from the shore. The divide was great and the hunter teetered precariously on the edge of the protruding flat rock for a moment before finding his balance.
“Careful dies, reckless kills,” he called back absently before launching himself off again.
“Let’s hope not,” the demigod muttered as he carefully leapt to the rock that his friend had just vacated. He made the jump easily enough, but as he positioned himself for the next leap the stone suddenly shifted under his weight, sending him splashing headlong into the icy river.
FIRE (issued 2-19-06, answered 9-6-06)
“You know, I’m starting to get the feeling that someone or something doesn’t want us to make it across this river,” Iolaus declared as he stretched out comfortably and contentedly on the ground.
“Well, what did you expect?” Hercules muttered irritably. “Athena didn’t say this was going to be easy.”
“My, aren’t we just a bundle of joy this evening?” the hunter commented sarcastically, rolling his eyes at his partner’s dramatics.
“Hey, you’re no barrel of laughs either when you’re stuck in wet leather pants,” the demigod reminded his friend as he inched closer to the flickering fire and tried to get his mind off the chafing.
CHAIN (issued 3-6-06, answered 9-6-06)
“We should be finding a way across the river, not backtracking,” Iolaus grumbled as they entered the small village. “What are you looking for here, anyway?”
“I’ll know when I see it. And that’ll do,” Hercules replied as a familiar, if not entirely welcomed, figure quickly approached.
“My friends!” Falafel sang out. “You are just in time for our grand opening. A brand new Falafel’s Walk-Thru for the northern provinces. My brother, Gyro, is going to run it. Come, I’ll introduce you.”
“One wasn’t bad enough,” Iolaus sighed, glancing at his friend helplessly. “Now he’s a chain.”
UNCOMFORTABLE (issued 3-19-06, answered 9-6-06)
“Does the phrase ‘let sleeping dragons lie’ mean anything to you?” Iolaus hissed as they crept closer to the mammoth creature.
“Not as much as ‘beware of Greeks bearing gifts’,” Hercules replied.
The two warriors laid out a bountiful repast of falafels, red hots, tacos and some breaded weasel nose just for good measure. Then they poked the dragon into wakefulness and ran like Tartarus. From their vantage point they watched as the animal zealously partook of their feast, then settled down to return to slumber. But very soon it became obvious that the dragon was growing uncomfortable. It began to twitch and snort and finally got up to pace restlessly in small circles in front of the river. Then a roaring belch of fire spewed from its mouth. Iolaus glared at his partner as the dragon curled up in a satisfied ball next to the bridge that was rapidly dissolving in an inferno of flame.
TREE (issued 4-18-06, answered 9-6-06)
“So it wasn’t my best plan,” Hercules argued defensively. “I just thought he’d get sick and take a walk. How was I supposed to know he was going to burn down the whole bridge?”
“Dragon... fire breather....wooden bridge...Falafel.... Do the math,” Iolaus ribbed him. It was rare that the demigod’s execution wasn’t flawless, and the hunter never failed to take full advantage when his partner did manage to screw something up.
“All right, then you think of something,” Hercules challenged. “Go on. Dazzle me with your superior planning skills.”
“Ok, how about this? We go back to the log and if that bug is still lurking, you get it to chase you. Let it tree you at the far end of the log....”
“No,” the demigod interrupted, arching an eyebrow at his smirking partner, not needing to hear the rest. “We’re not doing that.”
INNOCENCE (issued 4-30-06, answered 9-6-06)
“We could take our chances with the current,” Iolaus suggested wearily as he tossed a stone into the water.
“I already did that, remember?” Hercules said dryly, tossing his own stone. “And I almost didn’t make it out.”
“Maybe Falafel has a big soup kettle we could borrow. Then we could just paddle our way across.”
“Maybe if we asked nicely the dragon would give us a ride.”
“Probably not now that we tried to poison him,” Iolaus reasoned. “But hey, do we have any tacos left?”
“I know you’re hungry but you can’t be that desperate.”
“No,” the hunter assured him, rolling his eyes. “That’s a mistake you only make once. It’s for the bug. Maybe it will kill it. And if it doesn’t, then while it’s eating I can slice it open with my sword. Then we just scrape out the goo inside and use the halves of its shell to surf our way to the other side of the river.”
Hercules stared at his friend, sure that he couldn’t be serious. But Iolaus just stared back, the very picture of innocence.
DREAM (issued 5-13-06, answered 9-6-06)
Hercules edged out carefully onto the log, pausing to glance back at his partner.
“This is your Old Hunter’s Trick,” he grumbled. “So why am I out here sticking my neck out?”
“Quit complaining and pay attention,” Iolaus advised him as the giant bug surfaced from the flowing water. The demigod advanced cautiously, hefting the sturdy piece of driftwood in his hands as the bug reared up. It seized the wood in its pinchers and foolishly hung on as Hercules used his great strength to whirl the creature up in the air in circles above his head. He released the driftwood, sending the bug sailing across the river to crash on the shore far downstream. But the effort caused him to lose his footing and the demigod teetered precariously for a moment before plunging back into the river. He immediately scrambled back up onto the log and glared back at his partner.
“Not one word.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Herc,” Iolaus told him sunnily.
HEART (issued 5-28-06, answered 9-6-06)
“Tell me again why we’re here,” Iolaus said as they trudged through the woods. “I mean, why can’t Athena handled this one on her own? It was just a mortal who took her pet, right? Why doesn’t she just toast him?”
“Who knows?” Hercules replied, running his hands over his thighs as he walked in a futile effort to work some of the moisture out of the sodden leather. “There’s no understanding the wills of the gods. Ares or Hera wouldn’t have hesitated to inflict their vengeance on anyone brazen enough to try and steal from them. But I got the feeling Athena didn’t really want this idiot hurt.”
“You don’t suppose she could have feelings for him, do you?” the hunter asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t exactly sit down for a big heart to heart with her regarding her love life. That’s what our sisters are for. But I figure if we can get her prize back, then maybe she’ll be satisfied and it’ll be less work for us cleaning up the mess if she does decide to take matters into her own hands. Now stay quiet. I think I see something up ahead.”
“It’s not my boots that are squishing when I walk,” Iolaus muttered, just loud enough for his partner to hear.
HORSE (issued 6-21-06, answered 9-6-06)
“I guess that’s him,” Iolaus said in awe as they came to a clearing and spied a magnificent horse shackled to a tree. It was an absolutely amazing specimen, strong and agile and gleaming brightly with a divine light. “Hard to believe something so beautiful came out of Medusa.”
“Easy, Pegasus,” Hercules reassured the mythical creature as he slowly inched around him. “We’re here to help you.”
The demigod easily snapped the chain binding the animal, and with a snort the horse spread its massive wings and took to the sky, rapidly vanishing from sight.
“Well,” Iolaus groused, a bit insulted. “How’s that for gratitude?”
STORM (issued 6-30-06, answered 9-6-06)
“That was too easy,” Iolaus declared skeptically as he climbed up on the log.
“Don’t jinx it,” Hercules warned as he followed. “We’re not home free yet.”
“Yeah,” the hunter giggled. “You’re almost dry and we still have to cross this big, bad river. Think you can make it, Herc? Third time’s the charm.”
In answer, the demigod reached out and grabbed a handful of purple vest, giving it a hard yank and sending his partner toppling backward into the icy water. Then he began to run for shore, knowing that when Iolaus came up for air there would be major storm clouds brewing behind his blue eyes. And Tartarus to pay when he caught up.
JEALOUS (issued 7-23-06, answered 9-6-06)
“What happened to you two?” Athena appeared before them, beautiful, refined and resplendent. A strong contrast to the two soggy warriors who had been rolling on the shore pummeling each other.
“Nothing,” they chorused, getting to their feet and facing the goddess like guilty children.
“I want to thank you both for freeing Pegasus,” Athena told them as the creature dropped from the sky to land beside her. The stern goddess softened as she stroked the silky mane and Pegasus snuffled and nuzzled her in return.
“I never thought I say this,” Iolaus whispered to his partner as he watched the stunning goddess who had once done her best to entice him swing herself up between the animal’s wings to straddle his back, “but I think I’m actually jealous of a horse.”
LAUGHTER (issued 8-6-06, answered 9-6-06)
“Just be careful who you loan him out to from now on,” Hercules lectured his sister, giving Pegasus a light pat on the flank. “See you around, Athena.”
“That’s it?” Iolaus asked, tugging on his partner’s arm to halt him. “I think we’re entitled to something for our time and trouble, don’t you?”
“Like what?” the demigod demanded suspiciously.
“A kiss?” The hunter looked at Athena hopefully. Well, it had worked with Aphrodite. “Just a little one. On the cheek.”
“I think that’s fair,” she agreed.
Iolaus closed his eyes in anticipation and leaned forward, and after a moment he was rewarded with a big, wet horse tongue slurping across his face. Athena waved as Pegasus took off for Olympus, her ringing laughter echoing in the air behind them.
HOPE (issued 8-19-06, answered 9-6-06)
“Goddesses,” Iolaus growled in exasperation, scrubbing his hand over his face as they started heading back toward the village.
“What’s wrong with you?” Hercules asked him in amusement. “You know better than to ask the gods for anything, even if they do owe you.”
“I’ve learned my lesson,” he vowed. The hunter was quiet for a minute then turned to his partner with a grin. “You do realize we’re about to undertake the most dangerous part of this mission. Think we can make it through the village without running into Falafel?”
“Iolaus, my friend,” Hercules grinned back, looping a companionable arm around his shoulders. “We can always hope.”
LONELINESS (9-6-06)
“Pathetic mortals,” Apollo spat as he turned his back on the cadets. “Who needs them? Not even worth my time.”
The sun god returned to his temple and his followers cheered as he graced them with his golden presence. He perched on his throne, consoling himself as his gaze swept over the crowd. The room was filled to capacity with mortals who loved him, worshiped him, and would do anything for him. And he tried to ignore the nagging little voice in his head that disagreed. The one that said not one of them was a true friend. Someone who enjoyed his company because of who he was, not what he was. Someone who would listen to his deepest thoughts, celebrate his triumphs, calm his fears, soothe his hurts, and share his pain. Someone who would stand beside him through the good and the bad. Someone who would put himself between him and certain death, risking his life to protect him.
And though his followers surrounded him, singing his praises, Apollo could only feel the sharp pangs of abject loneliness.
APPLE (10-4-06)
Skorous was one of his best generals. Hard, tough as steel, calculating and clever. Relentless and wise, with a strength that belied his advancing years. And as Ares gazed at the boy standing before him, he realized, unlike the general seemingly had, that the apple did not fall far from the tree. True, Skorous’ son had a deep compassionate streak and his loyalty to Zeus’ pest of a son knew no bounds, but his father’s same fire and spirit blazed out of those blue eyes.
Ares raised a hand, wondering if Skorous would grieve for his son. If he did, it would be internally and his loss would not affect his performance. He was a general in the truest sense of the word, and the only tragedy he acknowledged was defeat in battle. But the blast of power that shot from the god of war’s hand was only strong enough to stun. He was careful to keep the bolt from being fatal. The young son of Skorous was shaping up to be a thorn in his side, but Ares could not kill him. Because a warrior heart that strong, whether aligned with the god of war or not, was too rare and beautiful a thing to destroy.
SILENCE (10-12-06)
Erethia pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she turned away from the gathering dusk and went inside the empty house. She stoked the dying fire and set a small cauldron of water to boil, going through the motions of making dinner even though she had no one to feed. Her husband was dead, and it was now painfully clear her son wasn’t coming back. Iolaus, her beautiful baby, who had so tested her patience as a toddler with his relentless energy and mischief and questions. Many days found the weary woman praying for just a few moments of peace and quiet. But now that she had it, Erethia realized that she would give anything to have her son back, illuminating the dark house with his golden energy and his incessant chatter. Because the silence was breaking her heart.
FORGE (10-25-06)
“I’d gladly die so that you and your boy could live.”
He’d said that, and had meant every word with every fiber of his being. But now he was alive, and Alcmene and her unborn child were dead. He had failed. The agony of that was crippling, to the point where Iolaus wanted to curl up and die from the pain and the loss and the all encompassing grief. The world would never know Hercules, never feel his compassion and his nobility and his righteous strength. And the people for generations would suffer for it. But not like the hunter was suffering, his heart breaking and his soul shattered with the knowledge that the best friend he’d ever had was gone. All because he couldn’t stop a demented goddess.
Iolaus took a few deep breaths and tried to center himself. He couldn’t fall apart now. Couldn’t give up. He had failed his heart’s brother, but he had to pick himself up and forge ahead. It was too late for Hercules and Alcmene, but he had to go after Callisto. Maybe it wasn’t too late to stop her from destroying more lives. At the very least, he had to try and get justice for the people he had loved.
“I will find you, Callisto!” he vowed with enraged vengeance. And this time, failure was not an option.
EMBARRASSING (11-15-07)
Iolaus could only stammer in shock as he realized what he’d just blurted out. If he hadn’t heard the words coming out of his mouth with his own ears, he wouldn’t have believed he’d said such things out loud. But he had, and there it was, hanging awkwardly in the air as he flushed with hot humiliation.
“Well, at least we know it works,” Leah offered with a hesitant smile as Hercules took the magical sword of veracity from her and tucked it away.
Iolaus sheepishly followed his partner and the Hestial virgin he had just professed to love out of the cave, thinking that it didn’t get much more embarrassing than this.
ROMANTIC INTENT 11-25-06
“Hey, Herc. Wake up!”
“What is it, Iolaus?” the demigod murmured sleepily.
“We’re surrounded.”
“What!? Where? Who?” Hercules popped up, instantly awake and ready to fight.
“Out there. The Iolausians are all around us. A hundred or more, by my count.”
“So?” The demigod grumpily grumbled, failing to see what was so urgent about his partner’s adoring legions. Certainly nothing that justified such a rude awakening. “They’re harmless.”
“Normally, yes,” Iolaus told him. “But right now there seem to be a number of them eying me with romantic intent.”
“Oh. Well, I understand how that can get a little scary,” Hercules said, thinking back to his misadventures in trying to evade the 50 randy, and very persistent, daughters of King Thespius.
“I’m not scared,” Iolaus indignantly retorted. “On the contrary, this rocks!”
“Then why did you wake me up to tell me about it?” the demigod demanded in exasperation.
“Are you kidding? I’m telling everybody,” the golden hunter beamed. “I’ll see you later, Herc. I’ve got to go find Jason.”
As Iolaus bounced off to brag to the rest of his friends, Hercules could only shake his head, muttering under his breath as he tried to go back to sleep.
GODS (1-11-07)
The hour was late, but the two old friends were unwilling to call it a night for neither of them wanted it to end. It had been a physically and emotionally exhausting day, but it had also been a day of rebirth for both of them. For Iolaus, it was a rebirth to his mortal life. And for Hercules, it was a rebirth to a life once again worth living with his best friend and partner at his side. Definitely an event worthy of continued celebration long after the rest of Greece slumbered, even if it was just the two of them around a cosy campfire sharing a skin of wine. And though neither man wanted to admit it, they were both too afraid to sleep. Scared that they would wake up to find it had all been a dream and that they were separated by the veil of death once more. So they each waved off Morpheus’ embrace and passed the hours enjoying each other’s renewed company with a comfortable familiarity that a long, painful separation could not tarnish. Iolaus gave a brief account of his time in the realm of the Light, growing confused as he found that his memories since his ascension were already fading. But he enjoyed hearing the stories of what his friend had been up to and the descriptions of the lands he had visited, even if the hunter did suspect Hercules was glossing over some of the darker parts. The demigod grew more animated as he regaled his friend with stories of his latest adversaries, like the creepy Dumuzi, the evil Kernunnos, and the mighty Thor, with his magical hammer and his anger management issues.
“Wow,” Iolaus sighed as he stretched out next to the fire, resting a hand across a side that was sore from laughter. “I guess the gods everywhere must be as crazy as ours, huh?”
“Not quite,” Hercules said quietly, thinking back to the reason he had ventured to Norseland. “There was one exception to the rule.” The demigod took a pull from the wineskin, finding comfort in the knowledge that there was at least one god out there who wasn’t corrupted by his own power. One that was ruled by compassion instead of ego. A god that used his gifts to help mankind instead of enslaving them. Hercules took another drink, then he passed the wineskin to Iolaus as he began to tell him about Baldur.
BREATHLESS (2-8--07)
“Salmoneus, I’m not interested.”
“You could at least wait until you’ve heard my idea before you say that,” the salesman admonished him woundedly.
“Fine,” Hercules sighed wearily. “Lay it on us.”
“Yeah,” Iolaus chimed in with a grin. “We’re breathless with anticipation.”
“Gentlemen, I give you the latest craze that’s about to sweep the nation!”
“It’s a rock,” Hercules pointed out in confusion.
“No, it’s brilliance, that’s what it is,” Salmoneus insisted, cupping the stone in his hand lovingly. “This, my friends, is a PET rock.”
“What kind of a pet is that?” the demigod demanded, clearly not getting it.
“The perfect kind!” the salesman enthused. “You don’t have to feed it or walk it or clean up after it. It’s a constant companion without all the bothersome maintenance. And once this catches on, everyone in Greece will want one. Especially after they see their two most famous heroes with theirs.” Salmoneus handed them each a stone and beamed expectantly, waiting for them to toast his genius.
“This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of,” Hercules told him. “Nobody in their right mind is going to want to buy one of these things. And if anyone is crazy enough to want a rock for a pet, they can just pick one up off the ground. Iolaus, would you...”
The demigod trailed off as he looked over at his partner, who had added a bit of moss for hair to his stone and was carefully drawing a face with the charcoal tip of a stick from last night’s campfire.
“I don’t know, Herc,” the hunter admitted a bit sheepishly as he glanced up and caught the look his friend was giving him. “I kind of like it.”
“What does he know,” the demigod muttered. “The guy who used to have a basilisk.”
“Come on, Hercules, just use your imagination,” Salmoneus urged him. “It’s compact. It’s cute. It’s practical. It’s a marketing gimmick that’s going to make me rich...”
“You want practical? I’ll show you practical.”
Hercules hefted the rock in his hand slightly, testing it’s weight. Then he drew his arm back and fired it into the small pond next to them, where a large fish immediately floated up to the surface to bob among the ripples.
“Show off,” the hunter said absently.
“Oh, I’m just getting started. Give me yours.”
“No way,” Iolaus declared indignantly, clutching his pet protectively to his chest.
“It’s a big responsibility owning a rock,” Hercules told him drily. “I’m not sure you’re up for the challenge. So do you want to tote your new friend there all the way to Mycenae, or do you want to eat?”
“Well, when you put it that way....” The hunter patted his rock and tossed it to his partner. “Good luck, Sparky.”
The demigod whipped it into the pond and secured another fish. He waded into the water and retrieved both his catches, setting them on the grass as he gave Salmoneus a hard stare.
“Oh, fine,” the salesman grumbled, reaching into his carrysack and pulling out two more rocks, handing over his inventory to Hercules. After all, they were starting to get heavy and he was hungry. And maybe this wasn’t his best idea...
As the demigod waded off to do a little more fishing in his own unique style, Iolaus quickly cleaned the first two fish and wrapped them in leaves, glancing at the cold ashes of the fire before shooting a hopeful look at Salmoneus and his carrysack.
“You don’t happen to have any pet sticks in there, do you?”
WARRIOR (2-14-07)
“Jason, be careful you don’t substitute size for substance,” Cheiron lectured as he returned the lengthy volume to the young prince. “And Hercules, while a wise man draws on the teachings of his elders, he also is not afraid to extrapolate his own ideas.” The centaur paused, looking down at the boy waiting before him, finding it an effort to keep his stern expression as he handed the assignment back to the cadet. “Iolaus, well done.”
The whole class was surprised, but nobody more so than Iolaus as he stared disbelievingly at the best grade he’d ever gotten with a mixture of pride and embarrassment. Cheiron dismissed his students and Iolaus left with his friends, loudly bragging about his achievement while at the same time trying to keep the parchment out of the hands of Hercules and Jason. Well, the centaur thought with stilted amusement, his diamond in the rough cadet had earned the right to be proud. Iolaus was neither dumb nor lazy, although he often gave the appearance of both. His biggest problem was just learning to believe in himself, and Cheiron hoped that this success would be the catalyst to encourage him to keep trying.
He’d asked the students to examine the difference between a soldier and a warrior. There was no right or wrong answer, but the assignment was a useful tool in helping him to understand the way the cadets thought, which in turn often helped to pinpoint their emerging strengths and weaknesses. Jason had answered the riddle, true to form, as a king. A very long, extremely diplomatic essay that had a lot of words but said very little. He would rule Corinth one day and that diplomacy would serve him well, but he also needed to learn that sometimes he needed to do what was best for his kingdom and his people, at the risk of unpopularity. Hercules had also written a lengthy piece, citing many philosophers and quoting great generals of old. The son of Zeus was naturally Cheiron’s best student, with unmatched ability that he surprisingly didn’t over-rely on. Hercules also had a keen mind and he was eager to learn, and the centaur gladly accommodated him, knowing that this particular boy was destined for a greatness that his young mind probably could not even comprehend. But first he needed to learn that experience did not always equal wisdom. Hercules was honorable, but sometimes his righteous devotion to the rules and the letter of the law blinded him to the unjust reality. He needed to learn to use the teachings and mandates of others as a basis, and then to decide for himself whether to submit or to strive for something better.
And then there was Iolaus, the unlikely third member of Cheiron’s top three cadets. The one with the most to learn academically, but the one who was years ahead of his friends in terms of life’s lessons. A fact that was plainly apparent by the ragged piece of parchment he had submitted to his headmaster. One sentence to answer a complex question, but Cheiron had to admit it was the best response he’d gotten in all his years of running the Academy. A response that had the ring of a true warrior. And the centaur knew that if Iolaus could find the focus and motivation to develop his abilities, the boy with the humble beginnings had the potential to be as great as the future king of Corinth or the mighty son of Zeus. The trick would be getting Iolaus to realize it, too.
Cheiron quickly straightened the chairs in the classroom and then took his leave, still mulling over Iolaus’ words. It would ruin the exercise for future classes, but the centaur thought they would be a splendid addition in the form of a plaque adorning the Academy gates. Because, in essence, they embodied everything he tried to teach the aspiring generals and would be heroes that came to his school, and they would all do well to remember the simple truth:
“Soldiers follow orders, warriors follow their hearts.”
MUD (2-26-07)
“Today we are going to be studying the battle of Cadmeia,” Cheiron announced as he began class. “An outnumbered army faced off against a heavily armed battalion, fighting to depose the cruel king, Eteocles. They were outmatched in numbers, weapons, and skill, but found victory nonetheless, thanks to brilliant military strategy. This battle led to the invention of the M.U.D. technique. Who can explain it for the class?”
“Easy. You throw a handful of mud in your opponent’s face and beat him while he’s blinded.”
“Not quite, Jason,” the centaur told the prince as the rest of the students snickered at his joke. “Iolaus? Perhaps you would care to enlighten your fellow cadets?”
“Mobile Underground Defense,” Iolaus said quietly, and for once, seriously. “A series of hidden tunnels that allow you to surround and surprise the enemy.”
“Very good.”
Cheiron continued with the lecture, and when his stern gaze drifted away from them, Hercules poked the boy next to him.
“How did you know that?” he whispered, a bit amazed that his academically challenged friend actually displayed learned knowledge.
“Because,” Iolaus whispered back, feeling a strange, unfamiliar rush of familial pride, “my father was the general who invented it.”
PROMISE (3-11-07)
Brother against sister. Bloody battles to feed the dog of war. Fallen soldiers stolen from where they lay... souls unable to rest.
“If I die someday on a battlefield, you better make sure you bury me properly,” Iolaus had said in response. It was a simple request and Hercules had absently promised, but in the end he hadn’t kept his word. Maybe if he had he wouldn’t be living this nightmare now. Staring at his slain friend’s face and seeing it profaned by a demon’s black, soulless eyes. If he had given his partner the hero’s honor he deserved and cremated his remains in a funeral pyre, then maybe Iolaus wouldn’t be tormented now, his body an unwilling vessel for evil incarnate.
The weight of his failure pressed down on the demigod but he shrugged it off. There was no time to wallow in guilt for his past mistakes. Dahak needed to be stopped and Hercules silently made the promise to his friend that he would see it done, no matter what it took. Iolaus would rest in peace. That was one promise Hercules would not fail to keep.
SPRING (3-21-07)
The waterskin fell from his hands with a splash and Iolaus’ eyes widened as a form began to rise out of the spring before him. It took the shape of a beautiful woman, her nude body swaying slightly in a gentle rhythm as her dark eyes bore hypnotically into his. She reached out her hands in invitation and the mesmerized hunter took a step forward. But his progress was quickly halted by a strong, restraining hand on his shoulder.
“Not this one,” Hercules told the nymph firmly. “He belongs to me.”
Instantly the enchanting creature dissolved back into the pool, rightly intimidated by the son of Zeus. Her spell was broken, and Iolaus turned to his friend in confusion.
“What just happened?”
“Water nymph,” the demigod explained absently as he turned to go. “Trying to drown you.”
“Wait a minute,” the hunter yelped, grabbing up his waterskin and deciding to find somewhere safer to fill it as he trotted after his partner. “What do you mean I *belong* to you?”
“Just a figure of speech, Iolaus.”
“I *belong* to you?” Iolaus repeated in outrage. “You know, Herc, in some provinces that would mean we were legally married!”
“Oh yeah?” the demigod challenged, knowing full well his friend was making that up. “Which ones?”
“Well.... I’m sure they’re out there.”
“Look, I didn’t mean it the way it came out, all right? Nymphs have the power to enchant mortals and they consider them possessions. I was just talking her language.”
“So by that rationale, you would have no problem with me saying that you belong to me?”
“Fine. You belong to me, I belong to you, we belong to each other. Now can we please try and make it to Corinth before nightfall?”
Iolaus was silent for a moment, mulling over his friend’s words as he fell into step beside him.
“Herc, what does that even mean?”
“It means I should have let her drown you,” the exasperated demigod muttered under his breath as his partner grinned broadly.