As far as Hercules was concerned the rest of the day passed far too quickly. Iolaus on the other hand fidgeted restlessly, only too eager to settle things with Agride. After the archery contest, the javelin contest was drawn between Castor and Aseus while Lettus then won the discus throwing that followed. The first event of the afternoon was the long jump, which Talaus won as much to his own surprise as everyone else's. Euphemus won the swimming contest and, to show off as Hercules who had lost by several lengths muttered, then swam out to ring the bell on the rock for good measure.

"Never mind, Herc," Iolaus soothed, patting him consolingly on a broad bicep. "What you lack in style and speed you make up for with stamina."

Hercules looked down his nose at him, then surrendered to his friend's bright-eyed look and grinned grudgingly. "I guess…"

"So you flail a little when you swim," Iolaus paused thoughtfully. "Actually, thinking about it, you flail a lot."

"Iolaus…"

"I mean you really churn the water into a froth…"

"Don't go there," Hercules warned.

"So the bubbles alone would probably keep you afloat…"

Hercules hit him - gently. "I did warn you," he pointed dryly as Iolaus clutched theatrically at his arm and staggered in small circles. "And don't make such a fuss. It was barely a tap and you know it."

"Bully," Iolaus retorted, his eyes sparkling with good humour.

"Wimp," Hercules shot back.

"Do you two always argue?" Polyphemus asked curiously as he ambled by.

"Pretty much," Hercules answered cheerfully.

"We don't argue, Herc. We discuss."

"Bicker," Hercules shot back.

"Squabble," Iolaus countered.

"Remonstrate."

"Wrangle."

"Quarrel."

"Debate."

Hercules opened his mouth to reply and then hesitated, realising he had run out of comebacks. Iolaus grinned. "I win!" he chirped. "One to me."

Polyphemus raised an eyebrow. "How long can you keep it up for?" he wondered.

"Until one of us graciously concedes as I did to Iolaus. I have to let him win sometimes," Hercules replied loftily, then yelped and hopped out of reach as Iolaus kicked him in the ankle.

Polyphemus chuckled. He figured that having these two young men around would certainly keep things lively if they all made it onto the quest. Their genuine affection for each other stood out a mile. "I was going over to watch the ball toss. You two coming?"

"Ball toss?" Iolaus asked inquisitively, falling into step beside the bigger man. Hercules fell in on Polyphemus' other side.

"It's some new thing from Athens. They fasten a bronze ball on a chain, then they spin around with it and see how far they can throw it."

Hercules and Iolaus peered at each other around Polyphemus. "Why?" Hercules asked finally.

Polyphemus shrugged. "Why not? It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. You know, I was talking to Archivus earlier, he says that the Barbarians actually toss tree trunks of all things around."

"Like you can believe what Archivus says," Iolaus sniffed. "That guy knows more tall stories than, than…"

"You've had women?" Hercules suggested innocently.

Iolaus gave him a slow, dark look. "Than you have anyway," he retorted.

"Hey!"

"You started it!"

"Boys, boys," Polyphemus laughed, wrapping an arm around each of them. "Let's not start all that again! Besides, don't you have a fight with Agride to look forward to, Iolaus?"

"Oh yeah." For one flicker of a second Iolaus actually looked doubtful, caught out by the unexpected remark.

"Iolaus is going to trash him," Hercules said quickly, putting a smugly confident into his tone. He knew perfectly well Iolaus wasn't going to back down whatever he said and while It was all very well for him to have his doubts, he didn't want Iolaus to doubt himself.

Iolaus glanced at him and gave him a small of gratitude.

"Never doubted it," Polyphemus said cheerfully. "Agride needs knocking down a few times. It'll do that massive ego of his good."

* * *

Ialmenus won the ball-throwing contest. A tall man with silky black curly hair fastened back in a pony tail that hung practically to the small of his back, he was broad shouldered and slim hipped with eyes of midnight blue. His twin brother was identical except that his hair was straight and cut to shoulder length. They even dressed alike in deep blue leathers.

"That's deliberate," Talaus muttered to Iolaus as they perched on the steps of the bath house to watch the competition.

"You think?" Iolaus wondered, nibbling on a handful of almonds.

Talaus nodded. "Think how intimidating it'd be to have two people exactly the same ganging up on you."

"Is that the kind of thing they do?"

"Not that I know of."

"Then why say it?"

"Jealousy," Talaus sighed. "I saw them in Iolcus last night. They attract more women than flowers do bees. It isn't fair."

Iolaus nodded thoughtfully. He could see why. The twins were good looking, big and self confident. Women liked that. He lifted his head, peering over the crowd as he spotted Hercules. The young demi-god was in earnest conversation with Ialmenus. "Are they Ares' sons?" he asked.

"So they say," Talaus admitted, sounding a little distracted. Iolaus glanced at him, following his worried gaze towards the gates where Mendicas was talking to a grey haired older man with two stocky, scowling dark haired young men.

"They're a bit late if they want to compete," Iolaus observed. "Someone you know?"

"You could say that…" Talaus muttered, shooting a shifty look around him. "Oh look, I think Jason wants me. Excuse me."

Before Iolaus could say a word, Talaus darted down the steps and vanished into the crowd. Frowning thoughtfully, Iolaus scanned the crowd, spotting Jason with his entourage. The prince had his back to the hunter but Coronus spotted him looking and waved.

Iolaus snorted in disgust and trotted down the steps. He hadn't spent much of time growing up on the streets for nothing and he had no difficulty sliding skilfully through the crowd to find Hercules.

"Hi Iolaus," the demi-god greeted him warmly, his smile hesitating as he noticed the way Iolaus was absently rubbing his fingers together. "Problem?"

"Itchy fingers," Iolaus sighed, glancing wistfully back into the crowd. Heroes never seemed to watch their pockets.

Hercules swatted him. "Don't," he warned.

"I was only thinking someone should warn them to watch their purses."

"As long as anyone who finds someone's else's fingers in their pockets doesn't find that they’re yours, I’ll be happy."

"I promised, Herc," Iolaus protested, hurt.

"Only checking," Hercules said sombrely then grinned at him. "Come and meet Ialmenus and Ascalaphus."

"They’re Ares' sons, you know," Iolaus warned.

"I know. I decided to forgive them."

"How generous of you."

"They can't help it. Besides, I think Ialmenus might be slightly bigger than I am."

"Ah, no wonder you forgave them."

Hercules laughed and tugged him over to meet the brothers.

Ialmenus had a sweet smile that didn't match his darkly brooding features. "That was some fancy shooting you did at the archery," he congratulated Iolaus when Hercules made the introductions. "I never was much good with a bow and arrows. A spear now…"

"Herc's good with a spear too," Iolaus said brightly.

Ialmenus shot a calculating look at Hercules. "Are you?"

"I'm not bad," Hercules mumbled, shuffling his feet and wishing Iolaus wouldn't do this to him.

"He can split a walnut at fifty paces."

Ialmenus' blue eyes widened and he shot a quick look at Ascalaphus. "Go on, get out of here," Ascalaphus exclaimed.

"He can too," Iolaus said smugly, folding his arms. "Betcha."

"How much?" Ascalaphus said instantly.

"Ascalaphus, no," Ialmenus groaned.

"Iolaus, don't," Hercules moaned in equal protest.

"Ten dinars," Iolaus said promptly.

"You’re on."

Ialmenus grabbed his brother's arm. "You know how much trouble you got into last time you put a bet down, Ascalaphus."

"It's only ten dinars!" Ascalaphus yelped.

"Why do you keep doing this to me?!" Ialmenus groaned.

"Aw, come on. Who's it going to hurt? Don't be such a spoilsport."

"I'll get the walnuts." Iolaus chirped, knowing abject surrender when he saw it. It was obvious that Ascalaphus could wrap his twin around his little finger.

"Iolaus!" Hercules scrambled after his friend as he darted for the long table where the refreshments for the athletes were spread out.

"Don't whine, Herc."

"I wasn't! You can’t bet on me!"

Iolaus gave him a look of limpid innocence. "Why not?"

"Because you can't!"

"You bet on me."

"That's different!"

"Oh?" Iolaus drew himself up to his full height. "Why?"

"It is, that's all."

"You’re whining again."

"I am not!" Hercules bellowed then winced as everyone turned to look at him. "Iolaus…"

"It's only ten dinars. We can afford that."

"What if I miss?"

"You never miss. Come on, muscles. Gird your lion skin and let's go."

"Shut up abut the lion skin," Hercules grumbled, stomping after him. "I don't want to do this. It's like showing off."

"They're Ares' sons, remember."

"Yeah, but…"

"You going to back down from a bet with Ares' sons?" Iolaus gave him a faked shocked look.

Hercules scowled, hunching his shoulders. "All right, all right, you win," he grumbled. "But I don't have to like it."

"Of course not," Iolaus soothed, patting him on the back. "All you have to do is win. We’ve got ten dinars riding on this."

* * *

"I don't believe this," Hercules muttered half an hour later as he sat on the steps of the bathhouse watching Iolaus counting out their winnings. Having single-handedly decimated the walnut population of the palace he couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. It had seemed to be impossible for him to miss no matter what he did. "How much have you got there?"

"Fifty three dinars, one copper and something that I suspect is a fake." Iolaus held up the coin, eyeing it critically in the fading light of evening. "We could have won more."

"It was getting embarrassing," Hercules mumbled. "They were practically throwing money at us."

Iolaus gave him a level look. "The only embarrassing thing was you offering to tie your hand behind your back and stand on one leg," he said dryly.

"I thought it'd make it fairer."

"Herc, it put everyone off betting!"

"Good," Hercules retorted.

"We could have made a lot more."

"Maybe you should have split it with Ascalaphus. He was taking bets too," Hercules retorted.

Iolaus gave him a sparkling grin. "Ascalaphus is a fast learner," he chuckled.

"He was encouraging you," Hercules scolded.

"Ah, don't get all prim and proper on me. I know you too well. Besides, it distracted me from thinking about…" Iolaus broke off, his ever-alert curiosity caught by a hubbub across the square.

"You’re not scared about the fight, are you?" Hercules asked gently. "You can back out. Coronus said so."

"In front of everyone? I can't embarrass myself.…I think Talaus is in trouble." Scooping the money back into his pouch and hopping to his feet, Iolaus scooted down the steps and raced across the square to where Talaus had been cornered by the three men he had seen earlier. Hercules frowned, then loped after him. Technically he supposed it was nothing to do with him, but where Iolaus went, he followed; especially if it looked like being dangerous.

"No, really, you've mistaken me for someone else," Talaus protested nervously.

Grey haired, Eropnis slowly looked him up and down and then shook his head. "No," he said dryly. "No, you were the one all right."

Talaus shrank in on himself, very much aware of Eropnis' hulking bodyguards looming up over him like a couple of ballista about to pick him up and hurl him into the nearest wall. "But I've never met your wife," he squeaked.

Eropnis grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, his grey eyes zipping up and down his back. "You’re the one," he repeated. "That's the butt I saw in my bed on top of my wife, then disappearing out the window while I called my guards. Right, boys?"

"Right," the big red headed one grunted and his companion shrugged solemnly.

"Not that we actually saw it…" he commented.

"Course, it had nothing on it then," Eropnis added.

"Maybe we should strip him off and take another look," the dark haired bodyguard suggested with a grin. Talaus flinched in panic.

"What's going on?" Iolaus slipped between the bodyguards and draped himself against Talaus' side, landing a kiss on his cheek that shocked Talaus into silence. Turning wide blue eyes on Eropnis, Iolaus fluttered dusky gold eyelashes at the older man and gave him a dazzling smile. "Has your twin brother been getting you into trouble again, darling?"

Talaus gurgled, struggling to find his voice.

"Twin brother?" Eropnis echoed. "Don't you give me that! What's the likelihood of there being two second storey men around who look exactly the same?"

"Are you calling me a liar?" Iolaus asked, wounded.

"Not a good idea," Hercules put in, scowling even as he gave Talaus and Iolaus a dubious look.

"Twins indeed!" Eropnis snorted. "I've never seen…."

"You have something against twins?" Ialmenus asked darkly. He and Ascalaphus had followed Hercules, curious to see why he seemed to be chasing Iolaus in such a rush.

Eropnis turned on them and paused, looking from one to the other in surprise then slowly looking past them at the crowd. "What is this? A convention?" he asked weakly, realising that there were more than one pair of twins - identical and otherwise - amongst the athletes.

"It's something the Gods do," Iolaus offered helpfully.

"The Gods?" Eropnis echoed weakly.

Iolaus nodded. "They do everything in twos. I suppose it saves time. Isn't that right, precious?"

Talaus wound his jaw up from the ground with an effort and managed a sickly grin.

Eropnis recovered his poise. "This changes nothing," he snapped. "This young, young…philanderer was having it off with my wife when I came home unexpectedly."

Iolaus snuggled up to Talaus' side. "Say it ain't so," he said sadly. "You said I was the only one."

"Oh you are," Talaus managed weakly. "We've been right here in Iolcus for days."

Iolaus nodded and rested his head on his shoulder. "In bed actually," he murmured, turning wide eyes on Eropnis.

Eropnis went bright red. So did Talaus. "Now look here…"

"Uh, sire," the red head said weakly. "Maybe we do have the wrong man."

"What?" Eropnis turned on him in disbelief.

"Well, you did only see his butt," the dark haired guard pointed out. "And it's not exactly the first…" He stopped and suddenly took a deep interest in studying the sky. "I mean, we've stopped three men so far and they’ve all been the wrong one."

Eropnis looked from one to the other of them then turned a glare on Talaus.

"And think how much trouble it'd cause if you dragged the wrong man back," the red head observed.

"You'd look like an idiot when she denied it…"

"Especially since she's denying it anyway."

Eropnis slumped and ran his hands through his hair then he stabbed a finger at Talaus. "Don't think you've fooled me!" he screeched. "I know it was you! You stay away from here or I'll have your balls for a kebab!" Swinging on his heel, he stalked away in a huff. The red haired bodyguard hurried after him, murmuring soothingly.

The dark haired man winked at Talaus., "Better your balls than mine," he said with a grin then lifted his voice. "You heard the master! Don't you come near her again." His voice dropped again. "And if I was you, I would make myself scarce for a while. He won't forget." He hurried after the others as Eropnis screamed at him.

As soon as they had disappeared out of the square, Iolaus dodged away from Talaus and straightened his tunic. "Don't you even think about getting any ideas," he said primly. "That was only to save your, your…"

"Butt…." Ialmenus chuckled.

"Naked butt," Ascalaphus added with a huge grin and an explosive giggle that made them all grin.

"Was it true?" Iolaus asked curiously.

Talaus blushed furiously, aware of Hercules' eyes boring into him. "Of course not," he mumbled.

"Yeah, sure," Ialmenus laughed. "Come on, let's go get good seats. I want to watch Agride get creamed."

Hercules watched them go, then turned a thoughtful glare back at Talaus. "Care you explain?" he asked sharply.

"Not really," Talaus muttered, shooting a quick look at Iolaus. "Look, thanks for your help. I'll grab my gear and get out of here."

"You'll be safer on Argo," Coronus' quiet voice made them all jump.

"Do you have to sneak up on people like that!" Iolaus yelped. "It's bad enough, when, when…" He waved his hands helplessly. "Look, stop doing it!"

Coronus smiled at him and then turned his amber eyes on Talaus. "Jason wants an explanation," he said simply.

Trapped, Talaus shot a hunted look around him at the others, reading only speculation in their eyes. He drew himself up. "All right, so I'm a thief. And I do second storey, hence the climbing." He hunched, blushing. "I was doing Eropnis' house while I thought they were out at the theatre. Only his wife was still there. The only way I could stop her telling everyone I was a thief was to give her what she wanted. Which turned out to be me…"

Coronus snorted. "And he came back from the theatre and literally caught you with your pants down."

Talaus blushed even more furiously. "Yes," he admitted. "But I never took anything!"

"Except his wife," Coronus chuckled. He slapped Talaus on the shoulder. "Keep your fingers to yourself and your codpiece laced and maybe you'll make it on to Argo," he told him with a broad wink. "Iolaus, when you've finished flirting…"

"I was not flirting!" Iolaus screamed.

"Agride is waiting for you," Coronus finished and strode off, heading towards Jason and his companions.

Hercules glanced at Iolaus, met his eyes in understanding for a split second before he nodded and followed Coronus. Iolaus turned slowly to Talaus, aware of the misery in every line of his body as he slumped.

"It takes a thief to know a thief," he said quietly.

Talaus' head shot up and he stared at Iolaus in shock. "You’re…"

"Was," Iolaus corrected gently. "You do what you have to do to survive sometimes."

Talaus nodded slowly. "I only ever take from the rich."

"And give to the poor?" Iolaus teased.

"I am poor," Talaus pointed out, with the smallest of twinkles in his eye.

Iolaus grinned back. "I won't hold it against you. Did you come here to hide out or what?"

Talaus hesitated. "Both," he said slowly. "I thought I could hide at first, but then I started thinking maybe I could make it onto the quest. The trouble was I knew Eropnis was on my tail and I’d heard things about him that scared me. If I’d known who he was I’d never have gone near his house let alone his wife! I really don’t want to end up as someone's slave."

"He's a slaver?" Iolaus' eyes narrowed in disgust.

"More of a merchant with connections and no balls."

"No balls?"

"That's what his wife said."

"Oh, so you had time to talk as well before he came home."

Talaus gave him an impish smile. "He went to the theatre a lot."

Iolaus stared at him. "You didn't," he exclaimed.

"I did. Regularly. His wife is younger than him and she is like wow…" Talaus sketched a figure in the air that made Iolaus' mouth water. "What was I supposed to do? Turn down a woman in distress? Besides, she was doing the guards too."

"And he prefers going to the theatre? What kind of an idiot is he?"

Talaus grinned. "His wife was extremely grateful to be entertained. She was really bored."

"I don't think you should tell Hercules this," Iolaus said after a moment.

"No?"

"No. I'm doing my best to break him of it before it's too late but there's a bit of a prude in him I think." The blast of a horn made him hesitate, recalling what Coronus had said about Agride. "I’d better go square up to Agride."

Talaus sighed. "And I’d better go pack."

"What for? Coronus said you could stay."

"Yes, but I'm a…."

"So don't tell everyone." Iolaus gave him a serious look. "Maybe you can make it on to the quest, maybe not. But you won't know if you don't stay. Give yourself the chance and Eropnis the chance to forget about you. You take off now and he'll think twice."

Talaus chewed his lip. "I did manage to win the long jump," he said slowly. "If I could win something else…"

"Figure out a way to ring the bell," Iolaus urged.

"Iolaus!" Hercules' bellow made the hunter lift his head alertly.

"Look, I've really got to do. I refuse to let Agride win by default. Now, come on."

"Me? Why me?" Talaus said in surprise as Iolaus tugged at his arm.

"Herc's my second. You can be my cheering section. I think I'm going to need one…"

* * *

Jason had claimed a paved inner yard for the fight between Agride and Iolaus. He had planned to keep it as private as possible, but the would-be Argonauts had other ideas. Agride was not popular among his fellow athletes and Iolaus' cheering section had turned out to be a lot bigger than the young Theban had expected.

Torches stood around the edges of the yard, lighting the white plastered walls with the glow of flames. Stripped to the waist, Iolaus and Agride faced each other across the black flagstones. Agride was grinning, flexing his muscular arms so that the garishly painted Hydras on his biceps writhed with life. Iolaus stood quietly, his arms folded to cover his nerves and the flamelight flickering on his oiled skin giving his body a golden sheen and turning his hair to burnished copper.

"Trouble with a capital T," someone murmured behind Hercules and the young demi-god turned to meet the cross eyed stare of a plump man of Iolaus' height.

"Who is?" the demi-god demanded belligerently.

"Your friend, but not in a bad way. He really should be careful of spiders though," the man replied, thrusting out his hand. "Mopsus."

Hercules introduced himself and gripped his arm, wincing in sympathy as the man's eyes crossed even further. "Sorry. I forget my own strength at times."

"You’re one of them," Mopsus complained.

"One of who?"

"Them." Mopsus waved his hands. "Half and half…I'm a Seer…" he added.

"Oh, yes, sorry…I know I give your kind trouble." Hercules couldn't quite keep the edge from his voice.

Mopsus' eyes uncrossed and he gave him a level look. "Fair's fair," he admitted and surprised Hercules with a grin. "Jason wants me to check the audience."

"Check them for what?"

"Well, I won't know until I check, will I?"

"He must have asked you for something specific…"

"Well, he hasn't asked me yet, but he will. When the others arrive…"

It was Hercules' eyes turn to cross. "Others?"

"The other Seers who are coming. Idrion and Amphiaraus. Idmon's already here of course. And no, I can't tell you who'll win."

"I wasn't going to ask." Mopsus gave him a cross eyed look. "All right, so I was. But why can't you tell me? Can't you See it?"

"If I could See everything, nothing would ever happen the way it's supposed to," Mopsus pointed out. "And some unscrupulous type might think to take advantage of placing a bet on the winner."

Hercules blushed. "My dinars are on Iolaus," he said firmly.

"Nice of you to believe in your friend," Mopsus said amiably. "Now if you'll excuse me…" Giving Hercules a brisk push, he stepped sideways, dodging the tray of drinks flying at him as the servant behind them tripped on a flagstone and dropped the lot. An amused cheer went up from the nearest spectators.

"Thanks," Hercules muttered, eyeing the mess that had nearly covered the pair of them.

"No problem," Mopsus said cheerfully and patted the hysterical servant on the shoulder. "Don't panic, kid. She's not pregnant."

"What?"

"Your girlfriend. She's not pregnant. She's lying to you. You'll be better off with the blonde anyway." Mopsus ambled off into the crowd, leaving Hercules fanning the servant and explaining before the shocked young man fainted. By the time he had shooed him off, Jason had finished his speech and cut to the chase.

"Agride of Sparta has issued a challenge to Iolaus of Thebes," he was saying.

"Thebans, Thebans, Go, Go, Go!" Talaus yelled excitedly from the balcony.

Jason gave him an exasperated look. "When you've quite finished?"

"Sorry," Talaus blushed.

Jason cleared his throat and turned back to the combatants. "Iolaus has accepted the challenge and they will settle it here and now." He gave them both a steady look. "After this, no matter who wins or loses, it will be over. There will be no more challenges. Understood?"

Agride nodded, glaring at Iolaus with marked hostility. Iolaus gazed back silently, inclining his head to Jason.

Jason looked to the crowd. "And that goes for everyone else too. No more challenges from anyone! After this, anyone found fighting will be disqualified from the quest and the rest of the games." There was the mute silence of agreement. Satisfied, Jason turned back to the contestants and beckoned to Lynceus and Coronus. "Since I don't want anyone getting killed here I have chosen the weapons carefully." Agride made a small furious sound and Jason gave him an icy look. "Is there a problem?" he said sharply.

"I'm a Spartan, I need no other weapon than my bare hands."

"I'm sure you don't," Jason replied coldly. "But we fight by the rules here. You'll fight with quarterstaffs."

"Shouldn't that be quarterstaves?" Archivus asked, looking up from his scroll where he was busily taking notes.

Jason gave him a quelling look. "You’re the bard, you tell me. How should I know?" he said pointedly, nodding to Lynceus and Coronus. "Choose your weapons. The fight will go to the one who wins three points first or achieves a knockout."

"After you," Iolaus bowed to Agride. "I wouldn't want you to choose a faulty weapon."

There was a low murmur of laughter at the sarcastic comment. Everyone had heard about Agride's complaints about the bows. Agride ignored them, examining both weapons before he selected one and stamped back to his place.

"They’re both the same," Coronus told Iolaus softly as he handed him the second quarterstaff. Iolaus nodded silently, hefting the weapon carefully to get the feel of it. He would have preferred something a little shorter but he doubted it would make much difference. If he was going to win this, it would be by skill alone.

Jason waited until Coronus and Lynceus were off the stones, then moved back to join them. "Whenever you’re ready," he said casually as he propped himself against a stone roof column and settled down to watch.

Agride started to circle left and Iolaus circled right, both of them carrying their weapons held level in front of them.

"Are you sure about this, Jase?" Coronus asked softly. "The Spartans cut their teeth on swords."

"Which is why I chose the quarterstaff," Jason said mildly.

"I meant…"

"I know what you meant," Jason said quietly, turning brown eyes on him. "Iolaus went to Cheiron's Academy. That means I know he's been trained to use the quarterstaff. It makes this an even match. Anything else and Agride will have the advantage of height and weight over him."

"Ah…" Coronus murmured.

"You like the kid," Lynceus murmured. "And he went to the Academy."

Jason snorted. "You know I don't play favourites."

"You still like him."

Jason snorted again. "Figuring out the bell challenge proves he's smart. He won the archery and he makes friends easily. We could do worse."

"Yeah, we could be stuck with Agride," Idas muttered.

The dull clunk of wood on wood as the quarterstaffs clashed silenced their conversation and they turned to study the duel intently. Jason however let his eyes wander over the crowd, noting expressions. Anticipation and excitement, he could accept. The blood lust he saw on some faces turned his stomach and he took note of them, nudging Archivus to get him to write them down or identify the ones he didn't recognise. Perides he spotted in a corner, somehow managing to have found himself an empty space all to himself where he leaned against the wall and watched expressionlessly. Up on the balcony, Talaus watched the fight anxiously, biting his thumb. Hercules stood like a rock in the midst of a turbulent sea, his expression concerned and watchful but not worried as he studied every move.

He trusts him, Jason mused, guessing that the demi-god was fighting the fight for his friend in his own mind. They had struck him as a strange combination at first with the way the tall demi-god towered over his diminutive blond companion. There hadn't seemed to be anything at all to connect them. But he had watched them cheer each other on, and tease each other and support each other over the last couple of days and knew that he was seeing a life long friendship based on love not selfishness.

Wood crunched and Iolaus swore, snapping Jason's attention back to the square. Iolaus was back-peddling rapidly, demonstrating a surprising ability to move backwards as fast as he could forwards. He was holding his quarterstaff awkwardly in one hand, supporting it on the back of his other wrist as he flexed his bloodied fingers.

"Stand still," Agride snarled, taking another vicious swing at him. He was using his quarterstaff like a bludgeon, aiming at smashing Iolaus' fingers from his weapon.

Jason's eyes narrowed. It wasn't exactly a foul blow, but it was frowned on in competition.

Agride swung again, a short chopping move aimed at Iolaus' other hand. Iolaus swung his own weapon, twirling it around in his good hand in a spinning arc that met Agride's quarterstaff with a splintering crack. Agride yelped in pain and sprang back, freeing one hand to shake it furiously from the sting of the unexpected impact. Iolaus now had a proper grip on his weapon again and closed in, swinging left and right in a blur of blows that drove the Spartan back across the square.

Swearing, Agride retreated, blocking desperately but unable to predict the pattern of Iolaus' attack. Finally he forged forwards, getting in a lucky parry that threw Iolaus off balance for a second. Whipping his quarterstaff around, he almost managed to disarm the blond warrior and bellowed in outrage when Iolaus whisked backwards, dropping his weapon out from under Agride. Agride staggered forward then howled as Iolaus' quarterstaff cracked against his knee and dropped him to the stones.

"Point to Iolaus!" Aethalides called out, keeping score.

Iolaus stepped back, allowing Agride to get to his feet and rub his knee back to life.

"Lucky blow," the Spartan sneered.

Iolaus said nothing, breathing hard. The firelight turned his perspiration to sparkling drops of gold running down his skin.

"Molten gold in the firelight, a lithe and limber vision of fire and honey to melt the…."

"Shut up, Archivus," Jason grumbled. "Now is not the time for composing poetry. Uh, you were only composing, weren't you?"

Archivus looked down his nose at him. "The Spartan grunts and heaves, but lithe limbed Iolaus…"

"Shut up," Lynceus complained, prodding the bard in the back.

"I was only…" A vicious crack and a yelp of pain made Archivus whip back around. "What'd I miss? What'd I miss?"

Iolaus was hobbling backwards, limping badly as Agride pursued him.

Aethalides looked over at Jason and the Prince shook his head.

"Agride hit him in the ankle, Jase, that was a low blow," Coronus answered.

"I know," Jason looked at Hercules, seeing the barely contained fury in his face. "We all know."

"Aren't you going to stop it?"

"Wait and see."

"Jason…"

"Wait," Jason repeated, turning his attention back to Iolaus. He was curious to see how far Agride would take it and how long Iolaus could hold on to his temper. That the young hunter was angry was obvious, but it was a tautly controlled anger unlike Agride's fuming, snarling rage. "Cheiron trained him well," Jason murmured thoughtfully under his breath.

Iolaus was back on the attack, barely able to stand on his ankle but still coming and Agride was once more on the retreat. Agride had the weight and strength, but Iolaus' speed and skill was starting to tell. The Spartan returned abruptly to the attack, beating Iolaus back before a flurry of heavy blows. A cracking roundhouse swing smashed Iolaus' quarterstaff back into his chest, thumping into his ribs and crunching down on his shoulder, doubling him over under the weight of the blow. Bruised and winded, Iolaus dropped to his knees.

"Hold!" Jason bolted forward, glaring at Agride as the Spartan lifted his quarterstaff to bring it down on Iolaus' bowed head. From the corner of his eye he could see Hercules half way over the rail with only Iolaus' flailing hand holding him back. Jason stalked forward and Agride retreated, lowering his quarterstaff.

"In Sparta I would have been allowed to finish him," he spat.

"You could have killed him!" Hercules roared from the rail.

Agride shrugged. "I’d have won by a knockout."

"You play by the rules or you lose," Jason told him, crouching beside Iolaus. "You okay?"

Iolaus nodded, clutching at his ribs. "Lost the point?" he gasped.

"Yes. You want to stop?"

"And let him…win...by default? No…"

"I didn't think so." Jason tucked his hand under the warrior's elbow and helped him up. "When you're ready," he said mildly and stood beside him with folded arms while Iolaus got his breath back. Agride stalked around them, muttering and swearing and ignoring the catcalls from the audience.

When Iolaus was ready, Jason stalked back to his column and called for them to continue.

"Equal points," Aethalides called the score, disapproval in his voice.

Agride came in fast, giving Iolaus no chance to attack. He kept coming at his weakened left side, hammering in blows along his quarterstaff that communicated to his damaged shoulder. Iolaus was forced to turn away from him, keeping his right side towards him and so losing weapon agility. The Spartan was quick to take advantage and jabbed down at Iolaus knee with a clubbing movement. Iolaus buckled under the blow, went down and rolled coming up and around with a fast sweeping blow that knocked Agride's feet from under him and slapped the Spartan to the ground on his back. The spectators cheered as Agride lay still panting for breath and stunned by the fall.

"Point each," Aethalides called out reluctantly.

Grounding his quarterstaff, Iolaus leaned on it, panting for breath and flexing his bruised knee. He yelped in alarm as Agride lunged at him without warning, driving him back with a whirlwind of fast blows then swinging under his guard and landing a slashing blow across the small of the hunter's back that numbed his legs with an explosion of pain.

"Foul!" the cry from the crowd went up with a roar or rage.

"No point!" Aethalides yelled, confirming it.

It was obvious that Agride didn't care. He had achieved his aim by hurting the younger man. His eyes burning with triumph, Agride slammed the other end of his quarterstaff up into Iolaus' face, meaning to finish him with a killing blow. Only the warrior wasn't there. Jerking his head out of the way, Iolaus let himself fall backwards and rolled clear, bringing his own quarterstaff around in a clipping blow to the back of Agride's legs. The Spartan bellowed and dropped, then lunged after him. Only Iolaus was already up and continuing his movement.

Slamming the butt of the quarterstaff against the stones, he used it as a fulcrum as he jumped and slammed both feet into Agride's broad chest. Agride staggered to a halt, doubling up as Iolaus landed and swung the quarterstaff, clipping him under the jaw. The Spartan's eyes crossed as his head went back then he went down for the count, crunching into the ground as a roar of triumph went up.

"The winner!" Hercules was the first to reach his partner and lift his arm in the winner's salute.

"Yeah, thanks…ouch!" Iolaus yelped instinctively.

"Oops sorry!" Hastily letting go of his arm, Hercules wrapped his arm around his shoulders instead and shot a wary look at Jason as he approached. Ranberus was kneeling beside Agride as he moaned on the ground and a silence had fallen over the crowd.

"Iolaus wins on a knockout!" Jason called, meeting the challenge in Iolaus' blue eyes with a broad smile. The cheers of response were deafening. "Go get a bath, Trouble," he chuckled. "You’re going to be covered in bruises."

"Yeah," Hercules agreed, eyeing him anxiously. "Anything broken?"

"I don't think so. But the bath sounds good." Iolaus let Coronus take the quarterstaff away from him, smiled at Talaus who came up punching the air in triumph and then looked doubtfully at Agride as he lurched to his feet. Absently he dodged Lettus' efforts to slap him on the back.

"Pretty," the Spartan mumbled, swatting at something apparently swirling around his head as he let Ranberus lead him away.

"Forget about him," Hercules urged as he led Iolaus away in the opposite direction. "You won and I'm proud of you."

"He cheated," Iolaus grumbled, nodding and smiling to his well-wishers even as he let Hercules run interference for him. "He meant to kill me."

"You’re exaggerating," Hercules argued. "He got a little carried away is all."

Iolaus looked up at him deliberately. "I was on the other end of that quarterstaff," he said grimly. "I know what he meant to do."

A slow frown spread over Hercules' frown as his partner's words sank in, then he looked over his shoulder. "Maybe he and I should have a little talk," he rumbled.

Iolaus however chuckled. Now that he knew Hercules believed him he was prepared to let it go. "It doesn't matter now," he assured the demi-god. "I won. He lost. Told you I’d cream him."

"I wish you’d taken it a little more seriously though," Hercules replied. "You could have gotten badly hurt."

Iolaus shrugged and winced. "But I didn't," he said cheerfully. "A hot bath and I’ll be ready for anything."

* * *

An hour later, Iolaus eased himself gingerly flat on one the massage tables alongside the baths. He had done his best to pretend he wasn't stiffening up, but Hercules knew him too well. Once he had persuaded Iolaus out of the hot water and wrapped him in a towel he had gone off to find Ranberus with strict instructions to his friend to stay on dry land until he got back.

"Worrywart," Iolaus snorted affectionately as he stretched out awkwardly. He could feel the muscles in his back pulling painfully as he did his best to find a comfortable position on the cool black and silver marble.

"Waiting for little me, are you?" Coronus' lazy voice drifted through the air.

Iolaus would have sat up with a start if it hadn't hurt too much to move. Instead he managed to jerk his head up and then froze with a yelp as his back spasmed.

"Lie down, you idiot," Coronus snorted as he ambled over and placed a surprisingly warm hand on his shoulder.

"Look, go away, I'm not I the mood!"

"Not in the mood for what?"

"Whatever it is you’re after," Iolaus retorted, attempting to slide off the other side of the table. Coronus' hand landed in the small of his back and gently but firmly held him still.

"Jason sent me," he said mildly. "He thought you might be stiffening up."

Shoving his hand away, Iolaus growled and struggled into a sitting position, clutching at his towel as it slipped and showed a well-tanned thigh. "Hercules has gone to find Ranberus," he warned. "He'll be back any second."

"Ranberus is busy with Agride."

Iolaus flinched. "He's okay, isn't he? I didn't hit him that hard."

Coronus studied him thoughtfully and then smiled, his amber eyes glowing. "He's all right. Ranberus is being over cautious as usual. Besides, you’re only bruised."

"That's bad enough," Iolaus muttered under his breath.

"Which is why I'm here. Lie down."

"Won't."

Coronus lifted an eyebrow at the sullen response. "Look, Suntop…"

"Don't call me that!"

"Why not? It suits you," Coronus said easily, continuing as Iolaus spluttered indignantly. "I happen to be good with my hands and…"

"I'll bet you say that to all the girls!"

Coronus chuckled. "I give a very good massage and Jason told me to give you one."

Iolaus' eyes widened. "One what?" he asked with nervous suspicion.

"Massage that is," Coronus said dryly. "What did you think I meant?"

Iolaus flushed and floundered, fiddling with his towel hem. "Er…."

"You know, I get the distinct impression you get a little more of the action than you like at times," Coronus observed wryly.

"Don't know what you’re talking about," Iolaus muttered, embarrassed.

"Look, as you said Hercules will be back in a second, you've got nothing to lose. So how about it?"

"About what?"

"A massage," Coronus said sombrely, the grin sparkling in his eyes.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"Wouldn't dream of it. Lie down…You’re got a race tomorrow, remember. You want to be able to run, don't you?"

Iolaus groaned and slumped in defeat, reluctantly easing himself back down on the table. "If you make so much as one wrong move," he threatened.

"Turn over," Coronus ordered easily, fishing out a vial from his belt pouch.

"Why?" Iolaus asked warily.

"I thought it was your back that was hurt, not your…."

"All right, all right." Blushing, Iolaus wriggled over onto his stomach.

"Comfy?" Coronus asked as he warmed the oil in his hands and dribbled some onto Iolaus' back.

"Not really."

"Let's see what we can do to help then," Coronus said calmly. Pressing his fingertips lightly into Iolaus back, he traced the outlines of his muscles, examining his darkening bruises. "That hurt?" he asked as Iolaus hissed in pain.

"What do you think?"

"I think you want to be honest with me and Ranberus if you notice any blood where it shouldn't be," Coronus said seriously as he started to rub Iolaus' shoulders. "You seem to be all right, but don't take chances. You could be hurt inside where it doesn't show. Okay?"

"Okay," Iolaus agreed. He had already had Hercules interrogating him and he remembered Tydeus' frighteningly detailed wound lectures from the Academy all too well. He wasn't planning on taking any chances. He hissed softly as Coronus' skilled fingers eased away the tension in his neck that he hadn't realised was there.

"I'm going to help you loosen up a little before I do anything to your back," Coronus explained as he added a little more oil to the hunter's glistening skin. "If you come and see me tomorrow before you race I'll give you a hot stone massage as well that'll help. But I warn you, if I don't think you’re up to it, I won't let you run."

Iolaus yawned, the slow easing of his aches and pains relaxing him.

"You’re damn lucky you didn't break anything," Coronus added, pausing to examine with a frown the deep bruises to Iolaus' shoulder and upper arm.

"I'm tougher than I look," Iolaus mumbled.

"You’d have to be, my little sunflower," Coronus chuckled.

Iolaus peeked at him over his shoulder, gave him a smug look and settled down again.

"Suddenly you trust me?" Coronus teased as he rippled his fingers teasingly down Iolaus' back.

"Nah," Iolaus answered. "I trust my bodyguard."

"What bodyguard?" Coronus asked suspiciously.

"That'd be me," Hercules rumbled darkly.

Coronus jumped a foot with a yelp of shock. "Don't do that!" he exclaimed, startled to find the demi-god standing right behind him.

"Sorry. Habit," Hercules responded, his air of contrition not reaching his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" Coronus retorted primly. "I'm giving Iolaus a massage."

"Iolaus? You okay with that?" Hercules asked.

"Yeah," Iolaus yawned again. "Where's Ranberus?"

"With Agride. He's still a bit dazed. Counting harpies, that kind of thing."

Iolaus opened his eyes and gazed at him anxiously. "Herc…"

Hercules waved one hand. "Ranberus doesn't seem worried. He says he's only being cautious for Jason's sake…" He paused, eyeing the blissful expression creeping over Iolaus' face as Coronus continued with his massage. "Are you sure that's only oil you’re using?" he asked suspiciously.

Coronus looked down his nose at him. "Yes," he said coolly. "I trained with a servant of Apollo's, I'll have you know."

"You're a priest of Apollo?" Hercules said in surprise.

"You don't look like a priest," Iolaus looked at him warily.

"No, I said I trained with a one of his servants. She was an expert with scents and oils and a few other things. She was from somewhere unpronounceable in the East. Iolaus, how does that feel?" Coronus had started on the hunter's back and noted his increasing resistance to his touch. "Does it hurt very much?"

"It's sore," Iolaus admitted, biting back a hiss of pain.

Coronus frowned, chewing his lip as he dipped into his belt pouch for a new vial. "This should help," he decided as he dripped a dollop of the thick golden oil into the small of Iolaus' back and started to massage it in with wide sweeping circles of the heels of his hands.

"Ow…" Iolaus yipped a complaint as his muscles protested.

"Sorry, but it will hurt a little at first. Relax for me…"

"Easy for you to say."

"Lie back and think of Thebes," Coronus suggested cheerfully, winking at Hercules. "Pretend I'm a lover."

"Oh right, like that's going to help! Now I'm really going to stiffen up!"

"Why, Iolaus, I didn't know you cared!"

"What? No! I didn't mean it like that. You pervert!"

Coronus laughed. "I know what you meant. I'm only teasing. Stop resisting me and relax. I'm hardly going to do anything to you with Hercules standing here slavering over your every move."

"I am not slavering!" Hercules protested.

"You’d damn well better not be!" Iolaus yelped, shooting his friend a murderous look.

"Now, see what you've done!" Hercules complained.

Coronus only smiled and continued his massage, feeling Iolaus' relaxing again as he started bickering with the demi-god. All Iolaus needed was an excuse to be distracted so that Coronus could finish his massage properly. He was obviously too used to being on his guard to do so in the company of strangers without the demi-god around to watch his back for him.

Coronus had always found there to be something wonderfully soothing about giving or receiving a massage and he had to admit that Iolaus' beautifully fit young body was a genuine pleasure to handle. Adding a little more oil to the hunter's back, Coronus massaged on, losing himself in the rhythm of his hands and the feel of Iolaus' body melting under his touch as he relaxed.

* * *

Supper had turned into an all out party by the time Hercules and Iolaus rejoined the other would be Argonauts. Iolaus had slipped into his best purple suede jerkin and pants, preferring their softness on his bruised body to his normal leathers. His skin glowed from Coronus' massage and Hercules caught a faint waft of spicy scent from the oils when he moved. His pupils were wide and dark when he looked up at Hercules.

"Party time," he purred languorously in pleasure.

"No fighting," Hercules warned.

"Would I?" Iolaus gave him a little pout and prowled away in search of a drink and food.

Hercules turned a disapproving look on Coronus. "Are you sure there was nothing except scent in those oils?" he demanded.

Coronus smiled lazily. "So he responds well to being pampered," he said cheerfully. "It's hardly my fault he's a hedonist. The oils are harmless. It wouldn't do you any harm to loosen up."

"With a murderer on the loose and demon lurking somewhere around? I think I'll stay sober and alert thank you very much."

Coronus gave him a level look. "It's not your responsibility, you know," he said quietly. "You didn't even know Charbyis."

"I don't know the demon either. But it's looking for me. And," Hercules shrugged. "Things sent to get me have a nasty tendency to attempt to snack on my friends too."

"Ah," Coronus said in quiet understanding. "Well, there are enough people here for everyone to be safe and Jason has guards all over the place. So, do your best to have a good time anyway. As Iolaus said, it's party time!"

Hercules forced a smile at Coronus' urging, holding it pinned in place until Coronus shook his head and gave up, heading over to join Jason and Lynceus at their table. Then he let it fall. The demon or whatever it as bothered him because he didn't know what it was or what it wanted. All he knew was that he had horrible feeling that it was going to attack again now that it was dark and everyone was distracted.

Really wishing that he could stop fretting and simply join in the party, Hercules accepted an ale offered by a passing servant and plunged into the noisy crowd to find Iolaus before he munched his way through the entire buffet.

* * *

An hour later, Hercules bellowed encouragement at his partner, clutching a large cheese sandwich in one hand and another ale in the other as he watched Iolaus joining in the tumbling. Jason had hired entertainers for the evening that ranged from fire-eaters to exotic dancers and a small troupe of tumblers. The tumblers had lured first Aethalides, then Talaus into accepting their challenge of joining them. Their teasing at the Herald's inability to turn a cartwheel had coaxed Iolaus into joining in to demonstrate his own gymnastic skills with a series of cartwheels, back flips and somersaults that won him a round of approving applause from the tumblers and a kiss from their athletic lead lady.

The tumblers had now produced some wicker hoops that they were merrily leaping through as they were held off the ground to the tune of lilting pipe music. Challenged, Talaus took a run up and dived through the top one, laughing as he landed in an untidy sprawl.

"Beat that!" he yelled at Iolaus.

"No problem!" Iolaus called back, taking a run up and jumping after him, diving through the ring and shoulder rolling back to his feet with a spring as he landed on the other side.

Aethalides sprang after him, gliding gracefully through the ring with a laugh of genuine pleasure. The blond tumbler holding the ring lowered it to ground level and cocked an eyebrow at them in challenge.

"Next?" he teased as the audience clapped them on.

Talaus went first, tangling his foot in the ring at the last second and giggling his way free. Polyphemus pulled him to his feet, brushing him off and handing back his tankard. Talaus downed it with a thirsty gulp and another explosion of giggles.

Aethalides went next, gliding through the lowered ring with the smoothness of snake. His grin was pure triumph as he straightened up and bowed to the cheering crowd. Turning to Iolaus, he bowed him towards the ring. Iolaus hung back, hesitating.

"Come on, you can do it!" Talaus urged.

Iolaus glanced over at Hercules who shrugged and took a bite from his sandwich. Shaking his head, Iolaus took up the challenge and raced forward, diving through the ring in neat shoulder roll and bouncing back to his feet with a loud, "Ta dah!"

Hercules frowned, stuffing the rest of his sandwich in his mouth as the tumblers brought on a stick. Iolaus definitely wasn't as agile as usual. As her companions held it between them at low hip height, the red haired tumbler sashayed bent backwards beneath it. Aethalides followed her, dancing with her as she moved up against him on the other side.

Talaus had given up and was sitting cross-legged by Polyphemus' feet, giggling drunkenly as he watched.

Prodded by one of the other lady tumblers, Iolaus went under the stick, twisting sideways and ducking under it at the last minute. The audience were clapping in time to the music as Lettus was dragged into the circle to take his turn.

Easing around the edge of the crowd, Hercules came up behind Iolaus as the hunter stood to one side, clapping along to the music as he watched the limbo line form. "You’re hurting," he whispered into his ear.

Iolaus hesitated and then inclined his head a little. "A little…" he admitted through a smile.

"Idiot. Come on…" Grabbing his arm, Hercules dragged him back into the crowd, escaping while the others watched Castor sliding under the pole. "You should be resting," he scolded.

"Aw, come on, it’s a fun party!" Iolaus laughed, his eyes sparkling.

Unable to hold his disapproving expression, Hercules grinned back. The party was fun. The laughter and music, wine and food had taken his mind off his fretting for a while at least. Maybe he was worrying too much. After all this was Jason's quest not his- yet. "I think there's some baklava left," he suggested.

"Bring it on!" Iolaus said happily. "And then let's go back and see if you can dance under that pole. And I want to talk to Doeia again. She wants me, Herc."

"Yeah, sure."

"No, she does. I'm sure she does. And you know what they say about how athletic tumblers are…"

* * *

Quite how it happened Hercules wasn't sure, but he had somehow managed to lose Iolaus again. One minute they had been eating fresh sticky baklava and discussing Iolaus' race plans for the next day, the next the hunter had talked him into limboing under the tumbler's pole and when he looked round in triumph at his success, Iolaus had vanished.

Fending off the amorous advances of the tumblers' lead lady, Hercules went looking for his partner. Spotting a blond head in the crowd, he lunged forward and grabbed him by the shoulder. "I thought I told you, Iolaus," he began and then broke off in chagrin as the blond tumbler glanced at him questioningly, his brown eyes amused.

"The name's Nemo," he told the demi-god cheerfully. "Told me what?"

"I thought you were someone else," Hercules mumbled.

"You'll have to come up with a better pick up line than that," the tumbler chuckled.

"I wasn't! I'm looking for my friend Iolaus."

"Lucky him."

"He looks like you from behind!"

"A likely story." Nemo gave him a thoughtful look and raised an eyebrow that said he didn't believe a word. "But if you are looking for your friend, he's over that way."

Muttering his embarrassed thanks, Hercules slunk off, hoping no one had seen him grab the tumbler. Hearing Talaus' yelling, "Go Thebans! Go Thebans! Go Thebans!" over the noise and laughter of the party, he homed in on his friend. To his dismay, Iolaus was up on the high balance beam that had been set up for the next day. He was currently dancing along the narrow beam to a lilting tune Aethalides was playing on his syrinx. As Hercules pushed closer, he caught and held his breath, watching anxiously as Iolaus folded his hands behind his head, sashaying along the pole for a few more steps before he stretched out his arms for balance and did a back flip, landing with only a minor wobble.

"Iolaus! Come down from there!" Hercules bellowed, irritably pushing his way past the spectators.

"Ah, don't be such a worrywart!" Iolaus called back, his eyes sparkling.

"You’re drunk!"

"So what if I am?" Iolaus laughed and, to prove he could do it, did a cartwheel along the beam then ran for the end. "Catch, Herc!" he yelled and jumped, turning a somersault in mid air before he dropped. With a yip of alarm, Hercules lunged forward and dived under him, catching the young warrior before he hit the ground.

"You…!!!!" he sputtered in rage, ignoring the laughter and applause around him.

"Never you mind what people, say, Herc, I think you've still got it," Iolaus teased, patting him on the chest.

"How many times did Cheiron tell you not to do that!" Hercules shouted at him, oblivious to the fact that Iolaus couldn't possibly avoid hearing him while he held him.

"Without warning you first? Um, let me see…."

"What would you have done if I hadn't caught you?!"

"Hit the ground hard," Iolaus grinned cheerfully. "You can put me down now…Yike!" he yelped as Hercules deliberately dropped him.

"Like that you mean?" Hercules demanded sarcastically.

"You did that on purpose! That hurt!" Iolaus complained, rubbing his rump ruefully.

"Like I care!" Hercules rapped out and swung on his heel, stomping furiously off into the crowd. People moved cautiously out of his way, amused but wary of his scowl. Scrambling to his feet, Iolaus darted after him. "Stupid idiotic dumb blond," Hercules growled, bludgeoning the ground with his pounding feet. "One of these days I'm not going to catch him and then where's he going to be?"

"Aw, come on, Herc! Don't be mad!" Iolaus begged, attempting to keep up with his friend's long legged strides and face him at the same time with a sort of sidelong hop.

"Showing off like that is going to get him killed! Cheiron warned him, I've warned him. What the point? He never listens to a word I say!"

"Yes, I do! I always listen!"

"Never pays any attention."

Iolaus hesitated. "But I always listen," he offered.

Hercules looked down at him and came to such an abrupt halt that Iolaus overshot. He felt like throttling him in sheer frustration. "Why do you do these things!" he yelled at him in exasperation as the hunter trotted back to him.

Hanging his head and looking dejected as he shuffled a booted toe in the dirt, Iolaus sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean any harm," he said sadly, folding his hands contritely behind his back.

Hercules groaned, as always he could never keep a tantrum going for long around Iolaus. "You want to say that like you actually mean it?" he said dryly, knowing him better than to think for a moment he was genuinely contrite.

Iolaus shot a look up at him and grinned. "I'm sorry?"

"You’re not a bit sorry," Hercules snorted.

"I don't know what you were so worried about. I know you always catch me. And you know how good I am at tumbling."

"Off things, you mean, yeah." Hercules pointed out wryly.

Iolaus frowned for a second. "No, that isn't what I mean," he said firmly. "I like the balance beam. I'm good at it."

Hercules gave in, wrapping an arm around his neck and pulling him along with him as he started to walk again. "Yeah, you’re good at it," he admitted. "Silly me. And I only worried because you're not at your best. So you got beaten up by Agride, that's hardly going to slow you down is it? I mean anyone could walk the balance beam after that."

Iolaus slid a wary look up at him at his sarcastic tone. "You are mad at me," he said cautiously.

Hercules tightened his grip a fraction. "Didn't Cheiron always tell us not to be reckless but to be careful?"

"Careful is dull," Iolaus complained, prying at Hercules' muscular forearm before he strangled.

"You get to live longer."

"And it seems like even longer because it's so dull! Look, Herc, even you have to admit that joining this quest isn't being careful. It's dangerous!"

Reluctantly, Hercules had to admit the truth of that, but he still argued. "We were talking about you taking unnecessary risks," he said primly.

"I don't."

"What do you call that back flip then?"

"It wasn't a risk. I knew I could do it."

"You are impossible," Hercules grumbled ruefully.

Iolaus shrugged, slipping away from his arm and skipping ahead a few feet. "I don't know the meaning of the word fear," he giggled.

Hercules gave him a solemn look. "It means being scared, terrified, frightened…"

"Okay, okay! Sheesh, you’re so pedantic at times."

"And you’re irresponsible."

Iolaus sobered unexpectedly. "Herc, there's plenty of time to be responsible later. You need to lighten up and have some fun first. Otherwise, you'll end up dull as dirt and wondering what you missed. Let's go join the dancing."

"You know I don't dance," Hercules said hastily. "I never know where to put my feet."

"You could watch me."

Hercules made a swift grab before Iolaus could dart off in escape. "No, you’re going to go to bed and get some rest like Coronus told you to, even if I have to lock you in to make you stay put."

"I don't…"

"Don't you want to win your race tomorrow?" Hercules asked casually, thinking fast and cunning. "I mean you have something of a reputation where foot races are concerned. Everyone will think you've lost your touch if you lose badly…"

"I'm not going to lose," Iolaus protested, frowning after him as the demi-god strolled off.

"I'm sure everyone will understand."

"You don't really think I'm going to lose, do you?" Iolaus asked plaintively, scurrying to catch up with him.

"Well, the competition will be pretty stiff and if you’re not rested-."

Iolaus frowned thoughtfully, studying the ground as he followed his friend. "I am kind of sore."

"It might help to rest," Hercules said casually, dropping his arm around Iolaus' slender shoulders as the hunter tucked himself against his side. The bounce had suddenly gone out of Iolaus as he admitted to his bruised weariness.

"Maybe I should get some sleep."

Hercules nodded wisely. "Sounds like a plan to me."

"You’re getting far too good at manipulating me," Iolaus complained after a few moments of silent thought that brought them within sight of the lodge house.

"Ah, but think how far I have to go before I catch up with your talent for manipulating me," Hercules pointed out dryly.

"As if I would!"

"As if you wouldn't!" Hercules shot back, meeting Iolaus' grin with one of his own. "Are you tired or not?"

"You know I am."

"Then I'm not manipulating you, only making you see reason. Let's turn in. Then we’ll be fresh while the rest of them are still pickled in wine…"

* * *

"Perides." The voice was low with menace and despite himself Perides jumped in surprise. Dropping one hand to the concealed knife in the small of his back, he turned warily to face the hooded priest. For a moment all he saw were dark shadows, then they seemed to stir and shift to an unfelt breeze and the priest emerged from the dark opening of a doorway.

"I've warned you not to do that," Perides snarled,

"If you draw that knife, you will die," the priest told him with implacable calm.

"What knife would that be?" Perides sneered, then gritted his teeth on a cry of pain as invisible icy fingers clenched on his wrist. He released the knife instinctively, snatching his numbed hand free to cradle against him.

"The feeling will return to your hand shortly," the priest told him. "But I warn you, do not even attempt to threaten me again."

"What do you want?"

"I want you to do what you were supposed to do. To kill and kill again. You were to bring me Hercules."

"I haven't had a chance. And you said I would know when."

"The time approaches," the priest answered. "But where are the lives I told you to give in sacrifice?"

Perides rubbed his wrist as it started to burn with returning sensation. "What you want takes skill and patience. These aren't your every day victims that I'm dealing with here. They’re warriors. They’re alert and skilled."

"You killed Charbyis."

"He was easy," Perides said coolly.

"You are running out of time. Do you wish to die in their place?"

Perides took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "I'm getting very tired of being threatened," he said grimly. "A straight killing is one thing, but the elaborate arrangements you expect me to make for make the victim a suitable sacrifice takes time. This place is swarming with would be heroes and I don't fancy getting myself killed to please you."

The priest's robes rippled. "I guarantee that you will not be harmed."

"How?" Perides sneered.

"Jason would have to hand you over to King Pelias if you were caught. Shall we say, I have a certain influence with the King."

Perides gave the priest a narrow eyed look, wishing he could see past the shadows of his hood and get a look at his face. "You mean part of this is to ruin Jason's reputation and his plans for this quest?"

"Perhaps."

"But the King doesn't know of your plans to raise this Master of yours."

"Be careful what you say, Perides. You come perilously close to threatening me."

"Odd how that seems to worry you. Could it be that you’re not invulnerable despite your powers?"

The priest remained silent for a long moment. "I require you to sacrifice someone tonight at Hermes' shrine."

"Oh, do you now. And which lucky sod do you have in mind for the privilege? Or shall I pick someone at random?"

"Sarcasm does not become you."

"I'm an assassin. Nothing becomes me except wearing black," Perides shot back. "Tell me who."

Again the priest hesitated. "I care not," he said finally. "But tomorrow, I require a sacrifice that will affect Hercules. I want panic and fear to spread among them. I want gory sacrifices and blood…"

Perides interrupted with a curl of his lip, vaguely surprised that the priest should get carried away with his venom and betray himself with his own emotions. For a few seconds the priest had forgotten to disguise his voice and Perides had recognised him. "You mean his little blond sidekick."

"Yes. The blond one and the Herald called Aethalides." The priest stirred, recovering his poise and tossing a small black leather bag to him. "This should…facilitate your interest."

Perides heard the clink of the gold disks inside it as he caught it and shivered inadvertently. "The Herald is easy enough. But the sidekick? Does it have to be him?"

"Does the assassin have scruples then?" the priest mocked.

"No, he has common sense. He's too close to Hercules and he's too damn good at staying alive."

"I was not aware that you had made an attempt on him."

"I didn't say I had." Perides could feel the priest's eyes boring into him and shrugged. "You want him, you've got him. As for tonight, well, most of them are drunk so it should be easy enough to pick one. I'll have to see who's available…"

The priest stirred. "See that you do," he said quietly and faded back into the shadows before the assassin could say a word.

Perides waited a few moments to be safe, then sidled around the corner into the corridor. There was no sign of the priest. Frowning, he returned the way he had come, annoyed at being rushed and even more annoyed at being threatened. Somehow, someway he would make the damn bastard pay…

Assuming he was a priest and not a sorcerer.

For one split second Perides felt a shiver of unease run down his back, then he shrugged it off. Either way, he was only a man and a man could be killed. Especially one he had identified… Smiling mirthlessly, Perides set out to find the priest a sacrifice The sooner that little task was carried out, the sooner he could get to bed and make some plans for killing the sidekick. Now that held enough of a challenge that it might actually be exciting for once.

The pure crisp light of morning crept through the half-closed shutters making Hercules groan and turn over, burrowing down into bed to escape the icy chill of the air. He felt like he had barely gone to sleep before Talaus had stumbled in with Polyphemus, both of them as drunk as each other. Leaving Talaus curled up sound asleep and snoring on the floor, Polyphemus had lurched off to find his own room. Hercules had managed to resist for all of ten minutes before he gave up and got up to put Talaus to bed in his clothes. Thankfully, Talaus had stopped snoring as soon as his head touched the pillow and Hercules had managed to fall asleep again soon afterwards.

As memory filtered in, Hercules frowned in his sleep then his eyes snapped open and he stared at the wall.

How could it be cold? It was mid summer!

Rolling over, Hercules sat bolt upright and looked around him wildly. Talaus was still asleep and shivering under the layer of frost on his blankets. Hoarfrost limned the shutters, shimmering like a sprinkling of crushed stars.

Swearing aloud, Hercules flung off his blankets with a crackle of ice and snatched up his clothes. Dragging on his pants, he grabbed Talaus by one shoulder and shook him violently. "Get up!" he bellowed at him.

"Huh? Whazzit? Breakfast already?"

"Get up!" Hercules screamed again and hauled him from the bed, dumping him on the floor.

"Why?" Talaus asked plaintively, shoving his hair out of his face with both hands. "I'm sleepy…Why's it so cold?"

Shoving his boots into his arms, Hercules seized him by the back of his tunic and hauled him over to the door. Ice crackled and slithered when he hauled it open and thrust Talaus out into the slightly warmer air corridor. Frost shimmered on the walls, thickening even as he watched. "You go that way and wake everyone up," he ordered.

"They’re going to be mad," Talaus complained.

"But alive. GO!" Talaus gave him a startled look and went, leaving Hercules to belt along the corridor and slam open the door to Iolaus' room. The floorboards were a sheet of crimson ice, but Hercules had learned from the last time and skated across to the bed without falling to where Iolaus was sound asleep under a mound of furs.

"Iolaus! Wake up!" he roared as he reached him, grabbing for his shoulder.

"Huh? Whazzit? Who…Herc?" Iolaus flailed awake as he touched him,.

"Get up." Hauling off the furs, Hercules grabbed the hunter's clothes with his free hand and flung them at him. "Get dressed and don't stand on the floor in your bare feet."

"Why…oh…" Clutching his clothes to his chest, Iolaus peered over the edge of the bed at his icy floor. "It's back. Hey, where are you going? Wait for me!"

"I will. Hurry up and get dressed." Hercules headed for the door as Iolaus squirmed into his clothes and boots under the covers and then slithered across the floor after him. He slipped halfway there in his haste, slithering scooting across and ending up in an ungainly heap in Hercules' arms. Hercules raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you afraid of ghosts by any chance?" he asked dryly.

"Of course not!"

"Then why are you wrapped around me like a cloak?" Hercules wryly.

"I thought you might be afraid of ghosts," Iolaus retorted, squirming free. Hercules caught his arm as he slipped again. .

"Is that why your teeth are chattering?"

"It's cold!"

Hercules grinned and patted his shoulder, drawing him out into the corridor. They slithered along the icy floor together, somehow managing not to fall. Talaus had managed to wake Castor and Polydeceus and with their help was rousing the others. Underfoot the ice continued to thicken, growing more treacherous all the time.

"Hercules! I can't get this door open!" Talaus called urgently on seeing him.

"That's Aethalides' room," Iolaus observed then shot a dismayed look at Hercules. "You don't think…"

Hercules didn't answer, but skated his way at dangerous speed down to the corridor to Talaus. Blood red ice had coated the door, sealing it behind several inches of permafrost. Hercules stood back and kicked it, pounding at the latch with his boot heel. The ice crunched and dented under the impact but rapidly started to reform.

"We need a fire," Iolaus urged. "We need to melt a way in…"

"You see any torches?" Hercules panted, waving one hand at the ice bound sconces.

"A blanket will burn. I'll get flint and….oh…."

"What's going….oooh…." Aethalides' voice came from behind Hercules and the demi-god nearly fell over his own feet turning round too fast on the ice. The bard had seen the blood red ice and was gazing around him in alarm.

"What are you doing out here?" Hercules demanded irritably. "We thought you were trapped in there!"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but as you can see I'm not," Aethalides said tartly.

"Where were you?!" Hercules snapped.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because it's a darn sight easier than not," Iolaus sighed, ignoring the glare Hercules gave him. "Trust me, he's worse than a Hydra with a bone when he wants an answer."

The bard gave Iolaus a thoughtful look and then shrugged. "I was at the shrine."

"Shrine?" Hercules queried.

"To Hermes. I had a dream that Hermes wanted me to go and see him, so I went." Aethalides glanced at the door. "It seems like it was a good idea."

"Herc?" Iolaus tugged at his friend's tunic. "Look…"

"At what?" Hercules demanded irritably even as he followed Iolaus' gesture. Where Aethalides had walked down the corridor, he had left melted footsteps in the ice and the rest of the permafrost was slowly starting to thaw. Thoughtfully, Hercules turned cool blue eyes on the bard. "You want to tell me what's going on?" he asked deliberately.

Aethalides stared back at him and then looked pointedly at the ice underfoot. Around Hercules' boots, melt water was trickling away as the ice turned to mush. "Do you?"

"I asked first," Hercules shot back.

The young Herald opened his mouth to argue, then paused and looked at Iolaus instead.

"What?" Iolaus asked warily. "For once I'm not to blame. I didn't have anything to do with this."

"Someone's got to know," Polydeceus commented, coming up to peer at the slowly melting ice.

"Is this magic or a ghost?" Castor puzzled, joining them.

"What we saw at the pool wasn't magic," Polydeceus said thoughtfully. "Although what Aethalides did might have been."

They all looked at the Herald again and he flushed. "All right, all right, so I have a little power," he mumbled in chagrin. "My father sent me here to help and protect…" He flicked a glance at Iolaus. "His Chosen One."

Iolaus said a rude word, shot a look skywards and then leaned against the wall, folding his arms and scowling.

"Hercules doesn't need protecting from what I've seen," Talaus commented, drawing nods all round. "But I guess help would be good."

Aethalides gave him an odd look. "Hercules? He…."

"Is very grateful for the help," Hercules interrupted quickly. "What else did he say?"

Aethalides frowned in bewilderment but followed Hercules' lead. "My father says that this is being caused by the spirit of an ice demon called Areophagus. It was killed a long time ago but because it was the offspring of a Titan and an elemental it refused to abandon the mortal realm completely and lives in the space between worlds."

"Then what's it doing here?" Polyphemus asked. "Isn't a bit warm for an ice demon?"

"When it was alive, this entire area was covered by glaciers. It was killed here and because it was a premature and violent end it's tied to this spot," Aethalides explained. "Hermes reinforced that bond so that it can't escape. He says that what it really wants is to break free and turn the world back to ice."

"Can it do that?" Polydeceus asked warily.

Aethalides nodded. "If it can feed…it can get free. The more it eats, the greater its power. And guess who's on the menu?"

"Am in I right in thinking that the massacre Talaus told us about was because of this ice demon?" Hercules wanted to know.

Aethalides nodded. "That's what Hermes said."

"And now our presence here has stirred it up again?"

"It can sense us," the bard agreed gloomily. "The closest it came to breaking through was at the pool, but between us we weakened it. You took Iolaus away from it before it could, um…"

"Eat me?" Iolaus suggested darkly.

Aethalides flicked a quick look at him. "Well, yeah."

"What about the guy who was killed? Does he have anything to do with this?" Talaus asked. Hercules stared at him then looked at Iolaus.

"It kind of slipped out," Iolaus mumbled.

"Only because I asked," Talaus argued. "There were rumours…."

"Someone was killed?" Castor queried.

"No one told us," Polydeceus growled.

"Jason asked us to keep it quiet," Hercules said grimly, glaring at Iolaus.

"You told me," Iolaus pointed out.

"I shouldn't have said anything, should I?" Talaus sighed.

Iolaus looped an arm around his shoulders. "Why don't we let Aethalides answer the question?" he suggested, meeting Hercules' glare.

"Assuming he knows about the murder," Hercules said darkly.

The Herald shifted uncomfortably as they all stared at him. "Archivus told me," he admitted. "He knows I know a little about magic and he showed me the disk. He was right, it was a symbol given to mark a sacrifice and to lure the attention of a specific elemental spirit."

"So there's a good chance the murder was to wake this ice demon," Hercules said gloomily. "Charbyis was killed and the ice demon manifests at the pool. Someone wants to give it a way in." He looked at Aethalides sharply. "Can you stop it?"

"I don't know," the bard admitted. "I can slow it down, maybe stop it from breaking through if I'm in the right place at the right time. But if it gets through and feeds, I don't know," He stopped and shrugged. "It's targeted you, you must be able to hurt it somehow."

"Typical Hermes, only giving you half the story," Iolaus grumbled.

Aethalides glared at him. "Has it occurred to you that maybe he doesn't know how to stop it himself?" he snapped.

"No," Iolaus retorted. "Hermes always knows the answers."

Aethalides continued to glare at him, then a thoughtful look slowly crossed his face and he started to grin.

Iolaus drew himself up to his full height. "Don't go there, Aethalides," he warned. "Son or no son, I'll be forced to hurt you."

Hercules clamped one hand on his friend's shoulder, his sensitive hearing picking up the approach of booted feet. "About time they got here," he muttered then said aloud, "Guys, maybe the reason Hermes didn't tell us is that it isn't time for us to know. If it's aware then it’ll know it needs to stop us. The more we know, the more danger we'll be in. right now it's playing with us…" He broke off as Prencious and his guards pounded around the corner.

"What's going on here?" Prencious' shrill voice sliced into all their nerves. "This wilful destruction really is intolerable! I won't have it! I won't!" he yelled.

And in one voice the would be Argonauts yelled back, "Ah, shut up!"

* * *

Over breakfast, Mendicas decided to harangue the competitors with a repetition of the rules. It seemed that things had got a little out of hand at the party and he was extremely indignant over the number of young men he had found sleeping it off around the grounds. The discovering in the middle of breakfast that two of the statues had been dragged out on to the patio and set up in an extremely amorous clinch had not improved his mood. Archivus led him off to calm him down while Jason glared at the competitors.

"Give me a break, guys," he complained. "I have to pay for damages. And if I have to pay, you'll have to pay. Now whoever put those statues out there, go take them back."

There was an embarrassed silence, then Idas, Otus and Ancaeus got up and sheepishly scuttled out to a chorus of jeers. Jason flung up his hands in exasperation and sat down again, but it was obvious that he was grinning as he leaned over to speak to Lynceus.

Grinning to himself, Hercules glanced over at Iolaus. The warrior was sitting very still beside him, eating with quiet concentration. "Nervous or stiff?" he asked quietly.

"Both," Iolaus admitted ruefully, looking up from his bowl of sliced fruit.

"You’re going to win the race."

"What if I don't?"

"What if? It's not the end of the world. But do you know anyone else except you who can keep up with me? You're going to win. Trust me."

Iolaus smiled faintly and reached for the water. He inclined his head towards Jason at the high table. "You think he's picked his crew yet?"

Hercules glanced over at the prince. "Yes," he said thoughtfully. "I think he's got a pretty good idea of who he wants."

Pushing aside the last few slices of apple, Iolaus sat back in his seat and stretched gingerly. "I think I'll go for a swim and loosen up," he decided.

"Not after eating you won't," Coronus said from behind them, making Iolaus jump and glare at him. "You ready for that massage I promised you?"

Iolaus frowned at him. "This smacks of favouritism," he said warily.

Coronus raised an eyebrow, his eyes glowing like honey. "Hardly. You think you’re the only one I practise my skills on?" he said mildly. "So far I've fixed several pulled muscles, one dislocated knuckle and given three massages today." He cocked his head to one side and rubbed his hands together with a mocking leer. "For you I have something special in mind."

Iolaus slid a slow look sideways at Hercules who was munching his way through his herb omelette with relish. "Well?"

"Well what?" Hercules puzzled.

"Are you coming with me?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"You don't need me to hold your hand. Coronus isn't going to hurt you. And I'm hungry, Iolaus."

Iolaus stared at him then grimaced and pushed awkwardly to his feet. He trudged off after Coronus as if he was going to his execution. Hercules snorted and reached for his watered wine. He knew perfectly well that if Iolaus had been really worried, he wouldn't have gone. Besides which he was quite capable of kicking Coronus where it hurt if he felt like it. In the meantime, Hercules had other things to think about. He had agreed with Aethalides that they would talk to Jason together after breakfast about the ice demon.

* * *

Hercules suspected that Jason wasn't as good at a stone face as he thought he was. The prince had started looking uneasy as soon as Aethalides started telling him what he had found out about the ice demon spirit inhabiting the palace. Hercules had been pleased that Jason didn't laugh it off, but insisted that they walk down to the beach with him to discuss it in private.

"I think I’d almost prefer it to be a sacrificial cult," Jason commented gloomily as they strolled along the sands. He looked up, hearing the bell ring out on the rock followed by the sound of raucous cheering. "Is that Talaus?" he asked, squinting at the dark haired figure scrambling down from the rocks towards a rowboat bobbing in the water below.

"Looks like it to me," Hercules agreed.

"You lot are getting more devious," Jason mused, fishing out a scroll from his belt pouch and studying it thoughtfully for a moment.

"You never said we couldn't row out there," Aethalides pointed out.

Jason smiled faintly and tucked the scroll away again. "I told you it'd be a challenge."

"I should think people are running out of new ways to get out there," Hercules mused..

"You could fly," Aethalides teased.

"As if that's likely," Hercules snorted. "But right now the problem is figuring out how to deal with the ice demon."

"Do you always go straight to the point?" Jason asked curiously.

"When it involves saving someone's life, yeah," Hercules nodded solemnly. "This thing is dangerous. We can’t afford to ignore it."

"Or to pretend Pelias didn't know about it," Aethalides put in. "He must have known that having all of us here would disturb it even without killing Charbyis."

Jason shot a frown at him and then looked reprovingly at Hercules. "It wasn't me, it was Archivus!"

"Oh, loose lips himself, huh? I should have known."

"He knows I know about magic," Aethalides said quickly, standing up for his friend. "And since everyone seems to know about it anyway…"

"The only person I told was Iolaus," Hercules protested. "But there were rumours. Maybe the killer started them to stir things up."

"I know, I heard them. And you’re probably right, Aethalides," Jason sighed. "Pelias must know. I wouldn't put it past the devious bastard to pay Perides to kill a sacrifice."

"Maybe. But I think there's something else involved too," the bard said slowly. "Someone wants to ice demon to rise and I don't think even Pelias would want to destroy the world to get you."

"You could have a point," Jason admitted. "This thing has that kind of power?"

"To turn all the world to ice, maybe not. To squash Greece under a glacier forever, yes."

"Cheerful type, isn't he?" Jason observed darkly to Hercules.

"You may want to be an icicle, but I don't," Aethalides retorted primly. "I'm a bard, you’re the warriors. You do something."

"Such as?"

"Jason!"

Jason winced as Archivus bellowed at him across the sands. The bard ran towards him, waving frantically. "Is it me, or does anyone else feel a distinct chill?" he murmured as he strode forward to meet the bard. "What is it, Archivus?"

Bending over and leaning on his knees, Archivus spoke between gasps for breath. "Body…" he gasped. "Like…Charbyis…disk…"

"Where?"

Archivus flailed one arm. "Hermes' shrine …"

Jason swore and took off up the beach at the sprint with Hercules and Aethalides following on his heels. With a loud groan, Archivus forced himself to straighten up and run, wheezing, after them.

* * *

"When you said hot stone massage, I didn't think you meant with real stones," Iolaus murmured, lying blissfully limp on the table as Coronus rubbed his aching back with a round stone warmed by hot water to blood temperature. Quite how it was doing it, Iolaus wasn't sure, but the stone seemed to ironing all the pain out of his clenched muscles.

"It's an ancient technique," Coronus answered, pausing to add a little more oil to Iolaus; badly bruised back. "Although no one seems to really know where it came from. Feeling better?"

"Much," Iolaus admitted.

"Excellent. I wouldn't want to lose money on you."

"Money?" Iolaus looked over his shoulder at him.

"I put a few dinars on you for the race," Coronus answered cheerfully.

"I'm flattered."

Coronus chuckled and slapped him briskly on the rump. "Put it this way, I'm good at spotting the right horse for the race. It's all in the haunches. Why do think I'm doing all the massage? It's a wonderful way to check out the runners. You can get up now, you’re all done."

Clutching at his towel, Iolaus gave him a dirty look and slipped to his feet. "Don't let me delay you. I'm sure you're very busy," he growled.

"Ooh, he's mad," Coronus teased, passing him his white kilt.

Iolaus' lapis blue eyes narrowed. "No, you haven't seen me when I'm mad."

Coronus' smile faded. "No, I probably haven't. But I do think you’re going to win," he said quietly. "I'm serious about putting a bet on you."

"Really?"

"Really."

Iolaus' smile blossomed. "Thanks. I'll do my best."

"That's all that's expected of you," Coronus told him. He turned his back while Iolaus dropped his towel and wrapped his kilt around his hips, concentrating on putting his oils and stones away in his pack.

"Sheesh, is it getting cold in here or what?" Iolaus murmured as he dressed.

"Not really. It's probably from losing the heat of the stones. You should go and lie down for a while really."

"Maybe later. You and Jason are pretty close, are you?" Iolaus commented as he fastened the kilt and then slipped his talisman and the little silver bell back around his neck.

Coronus gave him a sharp look as he swung his pack over his shoulder, then realised it was an innocent question. "We're friends," he admitted. "He has his faults, but he's a good man to have at your back and I trust him."

Iolaus nodded, shivering a little. "That's good to hear. If Hercules is going to go off on this quest, he'll need people he ca