"Come on, Jase. What's taking you so long? There's a gorgeous view from up here¼ ."

Lifting his head, Jason shot a glare at the blond hunter ahead of him on the slope. Fond as he was of Iolaus, there were times when he drove his captain up the bulkhead with frustration at his boundless energy.

"The amount of noise you’re making, it's no wonder you never catch anything when you go hunting," Iolaus went on as he braced his hands on his hips and frowned at him disapprovingly.

"I'm a sailor, not a hunter," Jason reminded him grimly as he paused to wrap his cloak tighter around him against the chill bite of the wind. "That's why I let Hercules bring you along on this trip – to hunt."

Iolaus lifted one shoulder in a light shrug and gave him an unabashed grin. "So why did you send me out scouting?"

"I said, go look for game: not look at the scenery. It was your idea to come all the way up here," Jason retorted irritably as he clawed his way around a spike of sharp rock and clambered up beside the younger man onto the buttress of stone jutting out over the ocean below.

From one side of their vantage point they could see all the way down into the grape vine laden valley to the sparkling blue waters of the ocean where Argo floated peacefully at anchor in the bay. From the other a solid knot of a volcanic island loomed menacingly over the narrow channel Jason had planned to use to leave their anchorage. This late in the day the sun threw deep shadows across the rocky island, making the thick clouds of steam rising from its pitted sides seem ever eerier and more menacing.

"What did you want me to see anyway?"

"Over there," Iolaus pointed into the channel far below them. "I was looking for rabbits when I saw a boat start to come through the channel from the far side. The current nearly smashed her to bits on the rocks of that island before she pulled free."

Frowning Jason moved a little closer to the edge and cupped a hand over his eyes, shading them against the silvered reflection of sunshine on the water until they grew accustomed to the glare. Watching closely, he could see how the current churned and foamed around the rocks at the far end of the channel as the outgoing tide tore through the narrowed gap. "Did you see where the other boat went?"

"Around the far side. It looked like she was heading around the island."

Jason nodded and looked up at the sky, aware of the dark clouds that were growing thicker in the sky out to sea. They seemed to be swarming around the island, clustering about it in an angry huddle. As he watched a flicker of lightning sparked among the blue black clouds, licking thoughtfully at the blunt top. The wind was getting stronger and he could smell rain in the air. "Probably running for shelter," he murmured. "It's going to rain."

"Maybe we should be doing the same¼ ." Iolaus muttered, reaching for the spear he had plunged into the dirt.

"Afraid of getting wet, sunshine?" Jason teased, eyeing the lightning warily.

Iolaus shot a glare at him and self-consciously touched his golden hair. In a gesture of defiance to his father and his rules he had allowed it to grow longer recently, securing the riotously thick curls back with a couple of plaits. Jason had never figured out why Iolaus seemed to go out of his way to do the things his father would have disapproved of when the man had long since proved he didn't care by abandoning his son. He had considered asking once, but Hercules had persuaded him to leave well enough alone: his troubled expression telling Jason that the hunter would not appreciate his interest. In the end Jason had given up hoping to persuade Iolaus to cut the mop before he strangled himself in the rigging and resigned himself to being disobeyed in the little things by his crew.

"Afraid that Otis will eat everything again," the hunter retorted, then frowned doubtfully.

"What?" Jason queried, having learned to be wary when Iolaus twitched.

"Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?" Jason inhaled deeply, concentrating past the smell of ocean and rain to sniff the air. "Sheesh, what is that?"

"I think¼ " Iolaus glanced uneasily towards the island where the steam clouds had thickened, boiling up out of the ground in ugly black gushes.

Following his gaze, Jason scowled in alarm as he realised where the sulphurous stench was coming from. "That's not steam, it's smoke! Damn it, I think the volcano's going to blow!"

"Volcano?" Iolaus echoed, staring at him in horror. "You never said anything about parking near a volcano!"

"We're anchored, not parked," Jason snapped. "Come on. We need to get back to Argo."

Iolaus padded after him as Jason hurried towards the far side of the cliff and the way down. The wind was starting to howl furiously, racing up the headland to burst over the edge in wild eddies that gusted with dangerous power and speed and practically blew both men off their feet. The light was fading rapidly, turning afternoon rapidly into dusk and making it hard to see where they were going on the treacherous footing.

"Jase, slow down!" Iolaus called anxiously as he quickened his pace to catch his captain. He flinched at a boom of thunder overhead, ducking instinctively as lightning blazed across the sky and stabbed to earth ahead of them on the cliff top. The first rain lashed the ground in a rush, turning the rock to a slick black surface that cast back the glitter of the fading light.

"We have to warn the villagers. And I want to get back before those idiots move Argo back out to sea. She'll be swamped if they do. You'll have to keep up!"

Fortunately for Jason, he missed the filthy look Iolaus threw at his back. The hunter was used to keeping up with Hercules' long legs and was having little difficulty staying with the captain. He was more worried about something else. "It isn't that!" he answered, having to yell to make himself heard over the screaming wind. "One of us will break something if we go racing back down there in this lot!"

Jason shot a look back over his shoulder at him as the thunder crashed again, rumbling dangerously as the lightning licked down. "What happened to the reckless hunter?" he shouted back and quickened his pace, breaking into a sprint. He couldn't afford to put Argo at risk. With his throne depending on winning the Golden Fleece there was too much depending on this trip to allow a delay.

"Reckless doesn't mean stupid!" Iolaus shouted back at him, lengthening his own stride to catch up as the thunder half deafened them both. The savagery of the storm was scaring him with its power and ferocity. He didn't like feeling so exposed and vulnerable to the elements. And the lightning was coming awfully close. Too close. And considering who enjoyed throwing lightning around¼ .

Catching up with the captain, he caught at his arm and wrenched him to a halt. He could feel the earth moaning under his feet, shivering in anguish as the volcano boiled furiously. Another flash of lightning seared the air, dancing around the volcano top. "We need to get under cover before we get hit! There's a cave not far from here. We can wait it out there!"

"No! Come on¼ ." Jason yanked free and raced towards the steep path they had followed up.

"Not that way!" Iolaus warned, shooting after him to pull him back. "It's too dangerous. We should take the other way. It'll be safer."

"It'll take too long."

"And what about the volcano? Listen to me! We can't¼ ."

The sudden flash of lightning as it smashed to earth and shattered the path downwards blinded Jason, the impact hurling him off his feet and away from the edge and slamming him to the ground with bruising force.

Iolaus yelled his name in alarm and through the dazzle of the after-glare Jason saw the hunter start towards him. The cataclysmic boom of the eruption deafened them and brought Iolaus to a halt to look towards the island in horror as the volcano blew its top, sending a spume of fire fountaining into the air as if to set fire to the churning clouds above. A glowing orange torrent of lava spilled over the crest of the volcano, pouring down the sides with terrifying speed amid dense clouds of ash and smoke. The fierce wind was suddenly full of dangerously sharp debris from the explosion that rained down around them, mixed with smouldering red-hot embers and splashes of still molten lava that set fire to anything they touched. Far below in the channel, the water surged up in a rising wave, smashing into the cliff with tremendous force that made the sea eroded stone of the cliff shudder and split in pain.

Stumbling from the first earth tremors resulting from the eruption, Iolaus shook off his shock and turned back to his captain. As he took a step towards him the ground moved, jarring him off balance to his knees.

Under Jason's back, the earth gave a convulsive heave, groaning in agony as she shuddered and twisted. The rock split open, yawning wide splintered chasms of destruction as huge chunks of stone started to shear from the cliff face and tumble into the valley below. Jason scrambled up; struggling to stay on his feet as the whole cliff face started to give way. Another violent tremor sent him staggering as the first thick clouds of ash and smoke reached them, blinding him for a moment and reducing visibility to practically nothing. Somewhere close by he heard the horrible sound of stone splitting asunder and another, worse sound: an agonised cry of anguish from his companion.

"Iolaus!" Alarmed, Jason clawed his way in the direction of the sound, groping through the choking ash and smoke. "Where are you? Are you hurt?" There was no answer except the terrible sound of the groaning earth and the constant roar of the volcano. Flung to his knees for a third time, Jason stayed down, crawling forward through the darkness and finding the air easier to breath beneath the choking veils swirling above him. It was sheer chance that led him to bump into Iolaus in the unnatural darkness. The hunter was lying huddled under a lip of jagged stone that had risen up out of nowhere, the tangled sprawl of his limbs suggesting that he had been flung backwards when the plate of rock broke and rose almost vertically beneath him.

Shuffling closer, Jason crouched over him, shielding the unconscious younger man as best he could from the hot ash and lava globules that spattered his cloak. Although his face was a mask of blood from a gash in his hair, Iolaus was still breathing when Jason pressed his ear to his mouth. Gingerly, the captain straightened him out, cringing inside as he felt the sharp edges of broken bone in the hunter's right wrist before he turned his attention to his legs. This time his stomach did a somersault and he fought down a surge of nausea as he saw the blood oozing through the torn cloth of his pants. It took only the most tentative of examinations for Jason to feel the grate of broken bone and know the worse: Iolaus' knee and calf snapped, the two breaks perilously close together. Jason swallowed hard. A shin would mend if splinted, but a broken knee? The hunter would be crippled for life.

Rocking back on his heels, Jason closed his eyes for a second and forced himself to think calmly. He wasn't a healer. There might be ways and means of dealing with broken limbs that he knew nothing of. But if Iolaus was to stand any chance at all, then he had to do something above getting him to safety. They could worry about whether he was crippled or not later; saving his life had to be the immediate concern.

Shifting slightly, Jason's hand brushed something cool and he glanced down instinctively to find Iolaus hunting spear under his hand. Snatching it up, Jason measured it against Iolaus' leg then cut off the spearhead and chopped the shaft into four with his dagger. Leaning closer to Iolaus, he gritted his teeth and as quickly and carefully as he could straightened the hunter's broken leg out. The limb was already swelling in protest at the damage as Jason used part of his tunic to bind his leg wound before he splinted the break with the larger pieces of spear. The smaller sections he used to splint the hunter's arm and he was considering sacrificing the rest of his tunic to bind it to his chest when Iolaus moaned and stirred slightly.

Jason swore under his breath. He had been hoping Iolaus would stay unconscious long enough for him to get him under cover. Moving him when he was awake was going to be a torment for the warrior.

Iolaus' blue eyes flared open like huge pools of pain reflecting amethyst in the strange reddish light filtering through the clouds. "Ah¼ .this must be Tartarus¼ " he hissed between teeth gritted in agony.

"I'm afraid not, though you're probably going to wish you were in Tartarus in a minute," Jason told him, hiding his concern behind a brusque façade. "I have to move you. You mentioned a cave?"

"I did?" Iolaus whispered groggily.

"You did."

"Um¼ so why didn't you listen before?"

Jason scowled. "Don't get sarcastic with me," he snapped: a flash of temper hiding the bitter self-recriminations already running through his head. Iolaus was right. He should have listened. He should never have let either of them get so close to the cliff edge. But apologising would have to wait. "Where is it?"

"Uh¼ " Iolaus lifted his head to look and a muted whimper of anguish forced its way past his clenched lips as the pain hit him.

"I'm sorry, Iolaus!" Jason caught him quickly as he slumped back, slipping a hand under his head before he hit it on the stone.

Catching at his wrist with his good hand, Iolaus clung to him, his finger digging in deep. Jason knew they would leave bruises but said nothing, placing his own hand over the top instead and waiting for Iolaus to ride out the pain. With a final gasp, Iolaus slumped as the agony crested and gradually faded to a throbbing pain that he could endure.

"What'd I do¼ ?" he gasped feebly, peering at Jason through the half-light. The light of the volcano threw strange shadows across his face, making him look like some menacing monster from the depths.

"I think you fell."

"I know¼ that," Iolaus growled irritably and struggled to lift his head again. This time he moved slower and managed to look down his body at his leg, aware of the agony in his knee that overrode the comparatively mild throb of his arm. Seeing how Jason had splinted his leg, he fought down his panic and questioningly looked up at the captain. "Well?"

"You broke your leg and your arm," Jason told him curtly, flinching as the volcano rumbled sullenly. Its growls seemed to be lessening a little and Jason hoped it meant that the eruption was past the worst. At least the earth tremors seemed to be over – for now.

"My knee feels¼ .broken¼ ." Iolaus said plaintively.

"Well, it isn't." Jason lied without thinking, refusing to meet his eyes. Maybe if he didn't admit it, it wouldn't be true.

"But¼ ."

"Later." Jason snapped, wincing as a rain of hot ash splattered his back. Iolaus yelped, raising his good arm to shelter his face. Stripping off his cloak, Jason folded it over the younger man for protection.

"I don't need¼ ." Iolaus began in protest.

Jason interrupted him grimly. "Rule one, never argue with your captain. Remember it?"

"Yeah¼ ." Iolaus nodded gingerly.

"Right. Now, the cave?"

"That way," Iolaus pointed with his chin, watching Jason with a half angry, half-wary expression. "Past some trees¼ ."

"Good. Let's see if we can get you on your feet. Come on, I’ll help." Jason slid an arm around his shoulders, helping Iolaus struggle into a sitting position. Ducking under his good arm, he pulled it across his shoulders. "Now, let me take your weight. Keep your leg straight¼ "

"I don't have much choice, do I?" Iolaus hissed bitterly through gritted teeth as Jason lifted him to his feet.

Jason shot a quick look at him, seeing the lines of strain on his face before the clouds of ash dimmed his view again. "If we stay here, we'll be barbecued. Or flattened¼ "

"And if the cave gives way?"

"And I thought you were the optimistic one," Jason scolded as he steadied the hunter. He was glad it wasn't Hercules he had to deal with. Strong Hercules might be, but lightweight he wasn’t. "Can you make it to¼ .?" Jason broke off; tightening his grip on Iolaus as the ground heaved and shuddered again. Iolaus clung to him, blanching even whiter than he had before as he fought the urge to scream as the movement agonisingly jarred his leg. Jason hadn't known it was possible to be that pale and still breathing.

"If it means I can lie down¼ I can do anything¼ " the hunter gasped as the aftershock passed.

Jason bit his lip and then shook his head. "Sorry, Iolaus. This is not the time to be heroic. You have to stay off that leg." Shifting his grip, he turned under the hunter's arm and tucked his shoulder into his trim midriff, lifting him off his feet. Iolaus yelped and struggled feebly. Jason swatted him once on the rear end. "Behave yourself, trouble. I don't want to drop you. This will be quicker and not so painful for you. Now, let's see if we can find these trees."

* * *

It wasn't as far to the cave as Jason had feared, but it seemed like miles. At first Iolaus hung obediently over his shoulder, contenting himself with muttering under his breath and hissing the odd swear word when Jason inadvertently jostled him as he stumbled on the shattered rocks. One such stumble almost brought Jason to his knees and Iolaus let out a short, sharp yip of pain and then went ominously limp.

Jason called him anxiously as he forced his way upright again, but got no answer. Spitting out a couple of choice sailor's epithets the captain did his best to jog the rest of the way, ignoring the burning rain of lava and ash that was mixed by now with the proper rain from the clouds.

He found the cave more by chance than anything else. Rounding a stand of stunted pines, he glimpsed the mouth of the cave and gratefully stumbled up the slight slope into its shelter. Easing Iolaus to the floor, he knelt beside the hunter while he caught his breath. Iolaus lay where he had put him, his breathing shallow and his skin pale with shock.

"Ah, Iolaus, this is no place to bring a wounded man¼ " Jason sighed as he looked around him at the empty cave. He could hear water dripping somewhere in its depths and the cold air was making him shiver, let alone the hunter. Bundling the cloak around Iolaus as best he could, Jason steeled himself to go back out into the choking ash cloud and find wood for a fire.

* * *

When Iolaus regained consciousness some time later, he found Jason kneeling beside a small fire, patiently stoking it larger with fresh kindling. He studied the captain for a while in silence; aware that the older man didn't know he was awake. Jason looked worried out of his mind and Iolaus could guess why. He didn't need Jason to tell him the truth, he knew his knee was broken for he could feel the bone grating as the muscles spasmed in an effort to pull the limb back into place. His smothered gasp of pain brought Jason instantly to his side.

"Here, have some of this." Scooping up the hunter's water-skin, Jason held it for him so he could rinse his mouth clean of ash and dust before swallowing. In his dehydrated state, it tasted wonderful to Iolaus and he was too intent on gulping as much as he could to really pay attention to what Jason was telling him at first. Gradually though, the words started to sink in. "I'm sorry. I don't want to leave you here, but I don’t see any other way out. I can't carry you back to the village without killing the pair of us and you need help as soon as possible. The longer it takes to get you to a healer, the worse it will be."

"Jase, don't bother to keep lying to me. I know how bad it is," Iolaus interrupted him as he sank back onto the cave floor. He noticed that Jason had folded his cloak under and around him, making the hunter as comfortable as he could.

"No, you don't. Neither of us do. Neither of us is a healer. We'll leave it to one of them to decide," Jason snapped back at him.

Iolaus sighed heavily. "Yes, Jason, whatever you say," he murmured sarcastically.

Jason gave him a dirty look. He had come to know that tone all too well. "I know its going to get cold in here, but I've got enough wood for you to keep the fire going for a while." He paused, resting his hand on the hunter's shoulder for a moment. "I am sorry, Iolaus. I should have listened."

"This wasn't your fault," Iolaus protested. "If I hadn't been so clumsy¼ ."

Jason stopped him with a light finger on the lips. "You’re not clumsy. This was an accident. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time and that was my fault."

"Yes, Jason," Iolaus with a hint of wide-eyed mischief that was ruined by the pained twist of his lips.

Jason forced a smile in return. Tucking the water-skin against the hunter's side where he could reach it, he checked the splint one last time and eased back to his feet. . "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"That would be good," Iolaus answered bravely. "Will you leave me your knife? I lost mine when I fell."

Drawing his dagger, Jason started to pass it over and then hesitated uneasily.

"Oh, don't be stupid!" Iolaus snapped in annoyance. "I'm not going to do anything dumb with it! I don't fancy being unprotected if some wild animal wanders in here looking for a light snack, that's all."

Jason winced and handed him the weapon. "I'll be back and I'll bring Hercules. Promise," he said quietly.

Iolaus nodded and hid his expression behind a pretence of examining the dagger.

Jason patted his shoulder. "It'll be okay," he told him as reassuringly as he could manage. "We'll get you down to the village and you'll be fine."

"Of course, I will." Iolaus gave him a brave smile, barely able to see the captain in the dim light of the fire. He hoped the shadows hid the tears in his eyes. "You'd better go. You've got to get Argo beached, remember?"

"She can wait," Jason retorted. "I have more important things to worry about. Stay still and rest if you can. I'll be back before you know I've gone."

Watching Jason lope out of the cave, Iolaus rested his head back with a sigh of misery. "I doubt that, Jase. The village is going to be a disaster area after this. No one's going to be worrying about me¼ ."

* * *

"Hercules, are going to help me with this or not?" Lyceus panted as he heaved at the wooden beam that had smashed in the front of the inn, blocking their way into the building in search of anyone trapped within.

"What? Oh yeah¼ ." Tearing his eyes away from the headland, Hercules quickly laid hold of the beam and heaved, hurling it to one side as if it weighed no more than a feather. Two of the Argonauts instantly darted inside in search of survivors, but Hercules turned and looked up at the headland again. It was almost invisible behind the clouds of smoke and ash that were masking the task of finding survivors amid the wreckage of the village even harder.

"Are you all right?" Lyceus asked, eyeing him anxiously. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

Hercules glanced down at himself, aware of scrapes and bruises that hadn't been there half an hour ago. But that had been before the roof fell in on him. "Nothing broken," he answered and wondered at the shiver of unease that ran through him. "I was wondering where Jason and Iolaus have got to."

The sharp-eyed lookout glanced up towards the headland. He had been ignoring his own fears, hiding behind the need to rescue the villagers. The entire face of the headland seemed to have sheared off; leaving a paler swathe of unweathered stone and a mountain sized heap of rubble at the base of the cliff. "They'll be okay," he said determinedly. "They're a pair of survivors."

Hercules nodded slowly, but his fears couldn't be dismissed so easily. Where Iolaus was concerned he had something of a sixth sense and it was telling him that his friend was in danger.

"Hey, we need help in here!" Talaus called from inside the inn. "Give us a hand."

"Hercules?" Lyceus prompted gently.

Hercules grimaced and once more forced his gaze from the headland. Staring at it would do no good, he reflected, as he followed the lookout into the shattered building. But oh he wished his morals would let him abandon the village and go and find Iolaus and Jason for himself.

* * *

Hermes loved to fly. It was one of the joys and passions in life. Delivering a message, even to a mortal, meant an escape from Olympus and the other gods. Apart from a few exceptions they all seemed so dull and boring these days, flattered by the awe with which most mortals regarded them. Why, Hermes would even go so far to say that some of them were becoming complacently arrogant with the situation. Resting on his dignity was something Hermes had never had much time for. What was the point of being a god if you didn't get any fun out of it?

A gust of wind battered the winged messenger, sending him into yet another dizzying spin that made him swear and struggle back to an even keel. The thermals were getting worse, testing even his skill in the air. Flying was fun, but a storm like this wasn't. Fighting his way across the ocean hadn't been easy and he was tiring rapidly now, worn from fighting winds that could flatten countries and disgusted with the cold and ash filled rain that smothered his body with dirt.

Maybe he should forget the whole thing and flit back to Olympus. No one would blame him if the message didn't get through¼ .

Who are you kidding? Hermes scolded himself. I’d blame me. Through rain and hail I get through¼ . On the other hand I doubt if Jason is going to sail in this lot. A five minute rest wouldn't hurt¼ .

Hermes sculled to a halt, orientating his slender body earthwards and starting to descend. The wind caught him suddenly, taking him completely by surprise then upending the startled Herald and dropping out from under him. The ground was a lot closer than he had anticipated and before he knew it Hermes was slamming into it, obliterating a quantity of bushes in the process and leaving a large Herald shaped dent in the rock in the process.

"Damn air pockets¼ turbulence gets me every time¼ "

He lay there for a few minutes wheezing to himself and wondering how many bones he would have broken if he had been a mere mortal. After a while, the icy rain made him stir and crawl painfully out of the depression onto the rocky cliff top. A wave of a hand cleared the air around him and gave him an invisible cloak to fend off the rain. There wasn't much to see. Earthquake shattered stone left a weird unnatural landscape and the blood red light of the erupting volcano threw strange shadows across the cliff. Forcing his way upright, Hermes pressed both hands to the small of his back and pushed, feeling something click back into place.

"Ooh, that smarts¼ ." he sighed ruefully. Even the winged messenger could feel sore and right now he ached all over. All he wanted to go was curl up and sleep for a while, but he still had a scroll to deliver. True it was a somewhat scruffy scroll after his little accident, but a message was a message¼ Herald Express, when it positively, absolutely has to be there¼

Throwing a dirty look up at the storm, Hermes gathered himself to launch back into it, lifted off and froze, hovering steadily as he detected a familiar tingle at the edges of his senses. "I know that aura¼ " he murmured as he settled, light as blossom, back to the ground again and peered around him. "That's my favourite little golden hunter. But what's he doing up here?" Puzzled, Hermes orientated towards the sensation caressing his skin and strode briskly towards it, hovering several inches above the tortured ground. He flitted through the trees and found the cave. To a mortal it would have been a mere darker patch of darkness. To Hermes it glowed with the hunter's presence. Grinning in anticipation of the welcome he would get, Hermes bounded forward and leaped into the cave.

"Hi, honey!" I'm home¼ !"

* * *

Gritting his teeth together, Iolaus sliced through the last shred of cloth and tossed it aside, then gingerly removed the splint from his leg and flopped back with a groan of pain. He wasn't sure which was worse, having the splint on or taking it off. The throbbing agony of his leg eased only slowly, leaving the hunter weak and shaking in reaction. Groping for the water-skin, he took a small mouthful and hugged the container to his chest. He was tempted to pour some on his leg to cool the heat he could feel in it, but didn't think it would help much. His knee had started to swell remorselessly after Jason left and Iolaus had been driven to remove the splint, convinced his leg would explode if he didn't remove the pressure. His arm still hurt badly, but compared to his leg it was nothing.

Pain seemed to swamp everything else, stabbing sharply through his back, throbbing in his temples and bruised face. Everything hurt and no amount of meditation could stop it. Closing his eyes, he did his best, struggling to wrap it up in black velvet and hide it away. When that failed, he let it in, opening himself to the pain and letting it crash through him in a great tidal wave of agony that washed him away into oblivion.

When he awoke it was darker than ever and he panicked, clawing his way up far enough to shove wood onto the failing fire. It choked and sputtered, frightening him as it threatened to go out. It was at that moment that a slim, mud splattered figure in a filthy once white tunic bounded gleefully into the cave and carolled a greeting.

"Hermes!" Iolaus spluttered in shock. The last person he wanted to see ever was the Herald with his ever lecherous intentions towards the hunter.

Giving him a huge grin, Hermes leaped gracefully to his side as if gravity didn't exist. "Ooh, look the welcome's all laid out and waiting¼ ." he purred as he sank down beside Iolaus and wrapped an arm around the hunter's waist. He froze, feeling the point of a dagger prick his ribs. "Is that anyway to greet a friend?" he pouted.

"You’re not a friend, you feathered pervert," Iolaus growled. "Get off me."

"And if I say no?"

"I'll point out that you smell like you've been rolling in something nasty."

"What?" Hermes shot a look down at himself and blushed as he realised how filthy he was. "Ah, good point. As you wish." He eased back and placed a finger on the knifepoint, gently pushing it aside. "Mind your manners, mortal," he warned as he sat back on his heels and with a snap of fingers washed, brushed and arrayed himself in a rich russet velvet and black leather pants with matching boots. "There is that better?"

"No, not really."

Hermes smiled, unfazed. "So, what are you doing here, honey lips? Apart from waiting to charm the pants off me?"

"You should be so lucky. I'm waiting for that volcano to calm down," Iolaus retorted, casually folding his good arm over the broken one. Fearing that Hermes would take advantage of him; he didn't dare let on to the Herald that he was hurt. True, Hermes was one of the nicer gods, but there was a limit to his patience and Iolaus had been refusing him for a long time. With Iolaus hurt and alone, he might see now as his chance.

"Volcano? Oh that, a mere hiccup. Now Thera, that's what I call a volcano¼ " Hermes smiled distantly, his thoughts in other places.

"Um, don't you have somewhere else to be?" Iolaus had spotted the message pouch on Hermes' belt and knew what it meant.

"Hmmh?" Hermes glanced at him and then followed his eyes down. "Why, Iolaus, you naughty boy¼ ." he chuckled.

"What? No¼ !" Iolaus hastily held up his good hand as the god leaned towards him. "You've got a message for someone¼ ."

"It can wait," Hermes grinned, leaning closer still.

"You mean you've read it? Shame on you¼ "

"You don't distract me that easily, sexy. Come on, one kiss¼ ."

"I'm warning you!"

"Warning me of what?" Hermes asked innocently, his emerald green eyes dancing in amusement and desire as they locked with Iolaus' azure eyes. "That one kiss leads to another perhaps? That you’re finally ready to succumb to my seductive charms?"

"I¼ " Iolaus stammered, wishing he could leap to his feet and run for it. Even rolling away from him would be a start.

"I don't notice you running away this time, my cherry," Hermes smiled in triumph pleasure.

"Please¼ " Iolaus squeaked nervously as the Herald moved closer yet.

"Oh yes, say please¼ ." Smiling in delight, Hermes leaned over him and lowered his face to the hunter, seeking his lips. In doing so, he touched Iolaus knee very lightly.

Iolaus jerked in pain. "Don't!" he blurted out as Hermes squeezed gently. It was too much. Iolaus screamed in the startled Herald's face, shoving him violently away from him as he convulsed in agony and went limp.

"Why you¼ .!" Flailing his way out of the hearth he had landed in, Hermes batted out the smouldering spots on his tunic. Sure that the fire was out, he lit a ball of crimson flame to dance in his hand with a sharp gesture and then turned a furious glare on the hunter. "Right you little¼ " he stopped, puzzled by the hunter's limpness when he had expected him to be armed, on his feet and ready for a fight. "Iolaus?" With a flicker of bewilderment, Hermes moved closer and leaned over him, half expecting a trick. The hunter was unconscious, but even so was shivering in cold and shock. Hermes could feel the pain pouring off him in waves, setting his teeth on edge ion sympathy. "Oh, my poor sweeting, why didn't you tell me, you young dolt?" Hermes sighed as he realised that his mortal was hurt. "Do I scare you so much you couldn't ask me for help?"

Flipping the ball of fire into the makeshift hearth with a practised twist of his wrist, Hermes caused the fire to flare up to new heights to fill the cave with warmth then examined Iolaus in the better light. He ran skilled hands over the hunter, tiny sparkles of light flicking from his fingertips as he traced the broken bones and damaged skin and muscle. "That's nasty, my sweet one," he said sadly as he felt the jagged ends of shattered bone in his leg. "Beyond your kind's help perhaps, but not mine." Holding up one hand, Hermes made a brisk gesture and caught his staff as it dropped out of the air. The two snakes wrapped around it hissed indignantly at the disturbance, annoyed to be pulled from their nice warm nest to a cold damp cave in the middle of nowhere without warning.

"Tough," Hermes informed them briskly as he ran his hands along the staff, using it to focus his powers for the task ahead. He could work without it, but his staff made things easier and he always felt more secure with it when it was a mortal suffering. The snakes subsided, sensing that their master was serious as he got to work.

Iolaus roused, aware of a strange lethargic numbness in the lower part of his body that he couldn't quite shake off as he struggled back to full consciousness. There seemed to be flames all around him and he had to fight to focus past them on the dim shadowy outline kneeling beside him. Recognising Hermes, he drew breath in panic.

"Don't yell," Hermes scolded without looking up. He had his hands wrapped firmly around Iolaus' knees, cradling the joint delicately. His two snakes were curled up in a knot by the fire, sound asleep as they basked in its warmth.

"I c-can't move¼ ." Iolaus stammered fearfully, realising that the numbness extended from waist down.

"That’s the idea," Hermes retorted. "I don't want you wriggling too much, right now. The numbness won't last."

"I¼ .Hermes, I¼ .please¼ not now¼ "

Something of the panic Iolaus' was feeling got through to Hermes and he lifted his concentration enough to look at the hunter and give him a reassuring smile. "Trust me, my precious. I'm not going to do anything other than help you. You can't move because I don't want you to while I'm fixing your leg. It might ruin things. Why didn't you tell me your knee was broken, you clod?"

"I¼ .didn't know¼ .what you'd do¼ " Iolaus was appalled to feel tears stinging his eyes.

Hermes sighed sadly and gave him a consoling smile. "I never meant to frighten you, Iolaus," he told him contritely. "You’re too sweet a morsel."

"Don't y-you mean mortal?" Iolaus stammered, fighting to regain his emotional equilibrium and failing miserably.

"I know what I mean. Can you feel anything?" Hermes tilted his head towards the hunter's leg expectantly.

Iolaus concentrated. Distantly he was aware of pain, but it was shut away where it could do him no harm. What he could feel were the bones actually moving in his leg and a strange knitting sensation as Hermes skilfully manipulated the joint back into place. He looked up at the Herald in awe. "It doesn't hurt, but it should."

"Oh, it would if I wasn't stopping it for you. Without the numbness you'd be going crazy while I did this."

Iolaus remembered his manners. "Thank you¼ " he whispered shyly and was rewarded with an affectionate smile.

"Why don't you got back to sleep? This may take a little while. And then you have one or two other wounds that need my attention."

Iolaus swallowed nervously. "I’d rather not."

Hermes gave him a cool look. "I promise not to molest you," he said dryly. "Limp lovers are no fun."

"Even so¼ "

"As you wish," Hermes said mildly. "Tell me, luscious, why do you always run away from me?"

"Why do you think?" Iolaus retorted.

"But I'm a god," Hermes reminded him plaintively.

"So?"

"So, I'm a god, " Hermes repeated. As far as he was concerned, it was reason enough. It should have explained everything to the hunter. "You should be flattered by my attentions."

"Why?"

"Why?" Hermes gave him a blank look.

"Yeah, why? If you had Ares on your tail would you feel flattered?"

"Ares? Definitely not¼ ." Hermes scowled. "Are you comparing me to him?"

Iolaus flinched, feeling a tiny jar of pain as Hermes' temper quickened. "S-sorry," he stammered hastily.

Hermes glanced down at the hunter's leg, frowned and flattered the tendril of pain back into oblivion. "You don't have to be. Ares and I are somewhat at odds, shall we say." He glanced plaintively at Iolaus. "I don't really remind you of him, do I?"

Oddly enough, Iolaus found himself smiling. "No, Hermes, you don't. You’re nothing like Ares. But do you understand?"

"I suppose." Hermes sighed, shifting his grip a fraction and adjusting the numbness to cover the spasm of pain Iolaus felt. "I'm sorry, but it will hurt a little."

"S'okay," Iolaus hissed through his teeth, wondering vaguely why he seemed to shivering and sweating at the same time.

"I won't be much longer," Hermes promised. "Then you can rest for a while."

Iolaus nodded and rested his head back, closing his eyes and doing his best to ignore the weird sensations in his leg.

"So, you run because of what I am?"

"No. Because I'm mortal."

"What?"

"I'm a mortal. You're not. You figure it out."

"Mortals are illogical?"

"No, we’re mortal."

Hermes sighed heavily in confusion and Iolaus smiled wearily, surprised to find that he was enjoying their conversation. At least it was keeping them both distracted from other things.

* * *

Jason ran steadily, keeping his pace as even as he could on the rough ground. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he left Iolaus. Only that it had been too long already. The broken bones had been bad enough, but for all he knew the hunter could be hurt inside as well. Then there was shock and the dangers of the dropping temperatures as night set in. Iolaus had been as cold and wet as Jason was¼

Dragging Iolaus back down to the village even on a travois would have been murder for both of them and needlessly cruel to Iolaus. Leaving him had been the only thing he could do. Jason kept telling himself that, but somehow he couldn't make himself believe it. Fear for his young friend made him push himself harder than ever. He had to get back to the village and find Hercules and the others. Iolaus wasn't going to be the first member of his crew that he lost if he could help it.

* * *

"Iolaus, my precious? Speak to me, dovelet."

Groggily Iolaus prised his eyes open, realising that he had dozed despite his best intentions otherwise. Hermes was leaning over him with a worried look on his fine-featured face. "Sorry, d'you say something?"

"I said I’d finished," Hermes told him, relaxing a little on seeing his patient awake. He picked up Iolaus' broken wrist, twining his fingers into his. "How does it feel? Can you move your leg?"

Iolaus blinked, flexing his hand unconsciously in Hermes' and reluctantly bending his knee. There was a flash of pain but compared to the burning agony of before it was barely a twinge. "It still hurts," he said cautiously, unsure how Hermes would take such a slur on his talents.

"It's supposed to. It reminds you to take it easy," Hermes replied however. "The bones are as new, but they’re still soft. You mustn't walk on it for at least a week."

"A week! But I¼ .!"

"No, Iolaus," Hermes pressed a firm finger to the warrior's lips and gave him a stern look. "The bones are soft. Walk on it too soon and your leg will be damaged. Sweet as you are a limp wouldn't suit you." He lifted Iolaus' hand and kissed the back of his fingers, chuckling as the hunter instinctively pulled away. "Are you hungry?"

"No!"

"I meant for food. What else did you think I meant?" Hermes said innocently, grinning as Iolaus blushed furiously.

"You know perfectly well." Tugging at his still wet tunic, Iolaus crossed his arms over his chest and winced slightly. He was cold and wet and miserable and desperately wanted to curl up and cry himself to sleep. If Hermes hadn't been there he would probably have done it too.

Eyeing the way he was shivering in shock and cold without realising it, Hermes frowned. Iolaus' need for his care wasn't over yet. "You need something hot inside you."

"I most certainly do not!" Iolaus yelped. "I'll be fine now. You can flutter off and do whatever you were planning on doing when I interrupted you."

"I meant hot food, clean clothes and something comfortable to lie on." Hermes smiled lazily and waved a hand. "None of which is any trouble at all for me."

Iolaus flinched and clutched instinctively as his clothes as they moved, melting off him to be replaced by a fluffy warmth that dried and warmed him. Supple soft cloth enfolded him, soothing his aching body with its softness. At the same time, the ground shifted slightly under him as a feather stuffed mattress materialised under him

"Better?" Hermes asked as he tossed aside Jason's ruined cloak and spread a silver grey fur over the hunter.

"Yeah¼ ." Iolaus admitted, surprised to realise how much of his misery had been caused by simple discomfort. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why not?"

"You’re a god."

"You remembered."

"But I thought you had to be asked¼ ."

Hermes arched a slim eyebrow. "That depends what we're being asked for. On this occasion, it's because I'm fond of you and you don't need to ask."

"Oh¼ ." Iolaus chewed on his lower lip, watching as the Herald cheerfully redecorated the cave, cladding the walls in rich burgundy tapestries and covering the floor with a huge soft rug with an incredibly complex design woven into it. A huge pile of pillows manifested beside the fire and Iolaus suddenly found himself lifted by invisible hands that tucked extra pillows gently behind him. Candles flicked to life in every convenient niche of rock.

"Romantic isn't it?" Hermes said brightly as with a microwave of his hand he plucked, stuffed and spitted a trio of plump quail. He offered them to Iolaus with a wicked smirk. "Quail, my little honeypie?"

Iolaus flushed, knowing damn well what an offering of quail from an older man to a younger man meant normally. And since the Herald was certainly far, far older than he was and his intentions were obvious, Iolaus knew that they meant as a love token. "No," he said through gritted teeth, ignoring the rumbling of his stomach.

"And you so hungry," Hermes said lightly as he propped the quails over the fire to roast. "Well, you shall have some anyway, with no strings attached." He draped himself elegantly across the pillows, arranging himself to his best advantage and even Iolaus could sense how his magnetism could attract mortals to him.

"Why didn't you cook the quail as well?" he blurted in a desperate effort to divert himself from the line his thoughts were taking.

Hermes shrugged. "They never taste so good as a quail properly roasted over an open fire all golden and juicy¼ ."

Iolaus flicked a glance up at his emerald eyes and swallowed, half mesmerised by the glowing lust of lust he saw there and helpless to move. The feel of Hermes' gaze as it roamed over him was almost tangible to the hunter and he tugged at the fur, pulling it further up over his chest.

"Why are you so afraid of me, Iolaus?" Hermes purred seductively.

"I'm not."

"Then you’re afraid of yourself? Afraid to acknowledge what you want perhaps?" Hermes shifted; folding slim hands around one knee as he drew up a long leg. A golden wing fluttered on his ankle, caressing the air.

"No¼ " Iolaus said slowly, sliding nervously further under the covers. "But I¼ "

"Afraid you might enjoy it too much?" Hermes' tone was light, teasingly speculative.

"Afraid of the bruises that go with it," Iolaus blurted, snapping out the words and instantly wishing he had kept them to himself.

Hermes' eyes went dark, smouldering like a tiger's eyes a glow in the night. "Who hurt you?" he demanded.

"No one," Iolaus said flatly.

Iolaus flinched, startled by the boom of the god's voice. Hermes seemed to have grown bigger somehow, filling the cave with his presence. "It was a long time ago," he stammered nervously, unable not to answer. "A misunderstanding more than anything¼ " And one he would rather not think about. The General who came calling had been rich, famous and powerful. He could have done a lot for Iolaus, if Iolaus had been inclined towards blood and bruises.

"You're not old enough for anything to be a long time ago," Hermes rumbled dangerously as he considered this, the air glittering around him. His eyes bored into Iolaus, searching out shadows the young hunter hadn't even realised were there. "Oh, so it was him¼ .You want me to kill him for you?" he demanded in the same spiky tone.

"No!" Iolaus yelped in shock.

"I can if you wish it¼ "

"No, Hermes, I don't wish it. Stop this. You’re scaring me. I know you're a god. You don't have to impress me."

For a long moment, Hermes stared at him with emerald fire glinting in his eyes then he took a deep breath and seemed to grow smaller again. "You shouldn't spring things like that on me," he said plaintively. "I get jealous. Someone could get hurt."

"I believe you," Iolaus whispered. He had grown almost used to Hermes, now he was once more aware that it was a god he was denying his pleasures. He licked dry lips, surprised that the idea of Hermes being jealous of him should seem so intriguing. "Why¼ .why don't you¼ you know¼ if you want m'me¼ .that ¼ much?"

Hermes gazed at him sadly, his expression rueful and wistful at the same time. "Because you’d get hurt and I don't want that." Scooping up the water-skin he handed it to his patient, taking the chance to move closer. Iolaus didn't flinch, but kept a wary eye on him as he drank. Hermes contented himself with brushing his golden curls back from his face "You should keep it this way. It's very sexy."

"I'll cut it as soon as I get back to Argo," Iolaus said firmly.

"Do you always do the exact opposite of what someone says to you?" Hermes asked sarcastically.

"No."

"So, if I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?"

Iolaus choked on the water and Hermes patted him helpfully on the back. "I don't know why you want me," Iolaus spluttered finally.

"It's the pursuit of the unobtainable, the glory of the chase," Hermes answered, watching Iolaus' lips with an absently dreamy smile. "Things can get very boring when you can do absolutely anything with hardly any effort at all."

Iolaus frowned thoughtfully, letting Hermes take the waterskin away from him. "So you fly instead of¼ .of¼ ."

"Teleport," Hermes said helpfully. "Seduce instead of ravish, romance instead of¼ "

"I get the idea," Iolaus snapped and then flinched, ducking back against the pillows as the cave shuddered, the ground rolling under them. With a tremendous crack of the sound the roof split, showing them with rubble.

Hermes flung himself across the mortal, shielding him with his own body. "We have to stop meeting like this," he whispered into one ear, puffing a golden curl aside and well aware that the trembling running through Iolaus' body was pure fear of the volcano and had very little to do with the Herald. Hermes shifted curiously, sliding his thigh between Iolaus' partly to see what sort of reaction he would get and partly to distract him from the dangers of the volcano. A dagger pricked instantly at his ribs. "Well, I don't know where you had that concealed, but you do like sharp pointy things don't you?" he observed dryly.

"I always have one with me," Iolaus said with a warning prod of the dagger.

"I'm a god, you can't kill me."

"No, but I think even a god would find being stabbed uncomfortable."

"True, but I can think of much better things to stab you with." Hermes chuckled and snapped his fingers, turning the dagger into a blue feather with golden edges. Slipping it out of Iolaus' numbed fingers he flicked it against the hunter's nose. "It matches your colouring perfectly and it so much more¼ .kinky."

Iolaus blushed and turned his head away, lying trapped between Hermes' arms.

"You know, you have but to say the word and you could have anything you want," Hermes said quietly. "Eternal youth and life, wealth, luxury¼ "

"Eternal love?"

"Ah¼ Love?" Hermes said uneasily, swearing silently at the hunter's uncanny instinct for always asking the tricky question. "Well, that's a little different¼ ."

"You keep saying want. But not love."

"I didn't think it was important. Not seeing as we’re both males¼ "

"Strangely enough I had noticed that," Iolaus commented sardonically. "That's the problem."

"It doesn't have to be."

"Yes, it does. For me anyway. And you still haven't mentioned love."

Hermes frowned at him. "For most males lust is enough reason for sex," he pointed out waspishly.

"Well, maybe, but I'm not most men," Iolaus shot back. "And if I did succumb what then?"

"Why, I’d whisk you away to a rose garden and make slow sweet love to you on a bed off moss. I’d wrap you in silks and satins and feed you honey¼ "

"Until I'm fat and to slow to run away from you?"

"You will never get fat, my lissom treasure."

"On a constant diet of honey I would. And how long until you get bored with me once I'm caught?"

"Ah, you’re flirting with me, you tease!" Hermes brightened up.

"No. I'm being serious. And once you've¼ .had me, then what happens? You leave me to pine away? Or to be laughed at by everyone for giving in to you?"

The Herald scowled. "It wouldn't be like that."

"Oh, wouldn't it? Giving me guarantees now, are you? I've heard how fickle you lot are."

"Hercules has been telling tales again," Hermes muttered sadly. "So, it's love you want? I could make you fall in love with me."

"If you could do that, or wanted to do that, you’d have already done it," Iolaus retorted warily.

Hermes frowned into his blue eyes and absently tapped the feather against' Iolaus' lips. The trouble was, this sweet young mortal was right. He had asked Eros once to make the hunter fall for him, but Eros had only shaken his head and refused him, saying it wasn't allowed and that Hermes wanted the real thing, not a magical facsimile. Hermes had come to understand what he wanted, but he still hadn't been able to figure out why it wasn't allowed though. Although Zeus had been known to make protective muttering noises where this particular mortal was concerned. "You know, my teasing one, there is something about you that I find very disconcerting," he told him darkly.

"Disconcerting?" Iolaus gazed back at him ingenuously.

"Yes, my sweet. I could have you right now, willing or not. But the task of cajoling you into my bed tempts me far more than force." Hermes leaned closer, until only the feather parted their lips. He could see deep into Iolaus' eyes and count the flecks of gold from the firelight. He lowered his voice instinctively, purring huskily. "You know, when I look at you I see a pretty golden flame flicking out of my reach. If I snatch at it, I'll put it out. But if I feed it higher, soon it will be big enough to warm me."

Iolaus swallowed nervously, only too aware of Hermes' charisma eroding his defences. "You'll have a long wait."

"You forget, I can wait forever. I can be very patient." Hermes smiled wickedly, brushing the feather down Iolaus' throat and chest. "I have to be¼ ."

Iolaus shoved his hand away, aware of stirrings that he wanted desperately to deny. "Aren't your quails done?" he demanded.

Hermes gave him a slowly calculating look and turned to glance at the fire. "They're not quite ready yet¼ " he murmured, giving Iolaus a sly look. "But soon¼ ."

Iolaus folded his arms, hunching away from him as Hermes leaned towards him again. As he did so the volcano boomed again, releasing a tremendous roar of sound as the earth shuddered convulsively. Iolaus yelped in pain and alarm as he was tumbled sideways. Hermes caught him, instinctively sheltering the defenceless mortal from the shower of rocks from the ceiling. "Hermes, can't you get us out of here?" Iolaus begged as he huddled agauinst the god.

"Hmmh?" Oblivious to the disaster happening around them, Hermes was absorbed in petting the hunter's golden curls as they clung affectionately to his fingers. He wished Iolaus was as affectionate as his hair was. "Surely you’re not in a hurry to leave our little love nest?"

"With the roof about to fall in on top of me at any moment? You bet your sweet¼ snakes I am!"

Hermes frowned as Iolaus squirmed out of his arms, belatedly noting the open panic on his face. "You’re not scared of a volcano, are you?"

"Of course I am! A bath in hot lava might be fun for you, but not for me."

"Ah¼ you could have a point. Very well. Watch the quail until I return, my precious." Hermes rose gracefully to his feet and clicked his fingers at his snakes. They woke reluctantly, peering up at their master sleepily. "You two watch my sweet mortal. If he decides to wander off, you have my permission to bite him."

* * *

Trotting out of the cave, Hermes made his way up slope a short way and gazed around him. It had turned into a wild night and the volcano made a vivid splash of orange and crimson against the dark, wind swept sky.

"Hephaestus?" he called into the wind. "Hephaestus, I know you can hear me. I need a favour."

The volcano rumbled grumpily.

"Well, I can't help that," Hermes retorted, folding his arms and leading into the wind in enjoyment. "I happen to have a wounded mortal down here that I am, strangely enough, rather fond of. And I would prefer to have him as his nice golden self rather than burnt to a blackened cinder by your volcano. So knock it off, will you?"

The volcano hiccuped and Hermes snorted.

"So there are plenty more mortals around. But this one is¼ special."

The volcano grumbled questioningly.

"How should I know why? It's a mortal thing. I don't know how he does it. Could be the walk, or rather the bounce. The blond curls. Or the giggle¼ .Love that giggle. Or¼ .Well, you get the idea."

The volcano managed an odd gurgle.

"Aphrodite? Why should be remind you of Aphrodite?" Hermes frowned, puzzled by the comment. Then he shrugged expansively. "Does it matter anyway? I'm only asking you to lay off one little volcano, spare my blond from a toasting and a village into the bargain. I'll let you win at poker next time."

The volcano snorted, hiccuped again and suddenly shut up as the cone crumbled in on itself, swallowing a million tons of molten lava back down into the depths.

Hermes smiled in satisfaction and gave it the thumbs up. "Yay, smoking, Heph! I owe you one." He tilted his head to one side and then nodded ruefully. "Okay, okay, so I owe you considerably more than one. But for this one I really am grateful. See you later. I have a mortal to seduce¼ "

* * *

"It's been too long." Flinging aside a chunk of broken masonry nearly as big as Lyceus, Hercules dusted off his hands and turned to look up at the headland. Torches had been lit throughout the village, giving the rescuers barely enough light to work by. "They should be back by now. We should go and find them."

"We can't leave these people," Lyceus argued. "They need our help."

Hercules bit his lip and looked around him at the wreckage. He and Otis had shifted the heaviest of the wreckage already over the last few hours. What was left could be moved by a bit of team effort. "Iolaus and Jason may need it more," he said at last.

"You're willing to abandon these people?" Lyceus glared at him in surprise.

"No. You and the others can stay here. You can manage without me. But someone has to go and find them. We can’t abandon them either. They’ve got as much right to our help as anyone else."

Lyceus considered for a moment and then nodded. "I'll come with you."

"No, you’re needed here to organise people. I’ll find Polyphemus¼ ."

"Hercules! Lyceus!" The weary shout from down the street made both men look round to see Jason staggering down the ruined street towards them. Lyceus let out a sigh of relief at seeing the captain, but Hercules' own initial spurt of relief faded quickly into alarm.

"Where's Iolaus?" Hercules demanded, leaping to meet him and catch Jason's arm.

Jason leaned on him as he caught his breath. "There was an accident. Iolaus¼ " He looked up at Hercules' young worried face and took a deep breath. "Iolaus broke his knee. I had to leave him in a cave."

"You left him?" Hercules blurted, his face creasing with rage.

"What was I supposed to do? There was no way I could bring him down without help." Jason snapped back, pushing away from him defiantly. "We have to get back up there to get him. We need a healer."

"Jason, you should rest first," Lyceus protested.

"No time. I promised Iolaus I’d be back as soon as I could."

"You should at least eat. You can do that while we gather the others."

Jason scowled impatiently until Hercules laid a hand on his shoulder. "Lyceus is right. We'll need you to guide us. Rest until we’re ready." Reluctantly Jason nodded and Lyceus hurried off to find out who else could be spared from the crew. "I'm sorry, Jason," Hercules added quietly.

"It's all right. I know Iolaus is your best friend." Jason clasped his hand, understanding how the younger man felt. "I didn't want to leave him either. I don't think he's safe up there¼ ""

* * *

If Jason had seen who Iolaus had for company and the hungry expression on Hermes' face, he would have known the hunter wasn't safe at all.

Pausing in the entrance to the cave, Hermes found himself watching Iolaus as he leaned over the fire, the flames gilding his hair with shades of copper and burnished gold. He was yawning, clearly struggling to stay awake. The snakes were curled in a tight knot between the hunter and the cave entrance and Hermes had to step over them to enter. "With your looks you could be the consort of a king," he purred as prowled towards him.

Iolaus looked up, his face open and vulnerable, scared for a moment before he realised it was Hermes. "I don't want to be the consort of a king or anyone else for that matter!" he snapped indignantly as what he had said sank in.

"Ooh, temper, temper," Hermes grinned, folding himself elegantly cross-legged beside the hunter. Iolaus shuffled awkwardly back into his pillows, tugging the fur around him with a shiver. Hermes' smile widened, wondering if the hunter would be so attached to the fur if he knew it came from the Herald's own bed. "You’re not old enough to know what you want."

"I'm old enough to know what I don't want," Iolaus retorted. "What do you have against women anyway?"

"Why, nothing, my little gem. I adore women. But when you're as old as I am, you learn that variety is the spice of life and there is no reason to deny oneself all the pleasure in life that you can get. You'll learn that too."

"Never!"

"Give it time. And the right teacher." Producing the feather again, Hermes tickled the hunter's ear with it.

"Do you have to sit so close?" Iolaus complained plaintively.

"I could sit closer," Hermes whispered, suiting deed to words. "What would you do if I was to kiss you?"

"Scream," Iolaus retorted succinctly.

"Really?" His eyes glowing with mischief Hermes leaned closer and hesitated as Iolaus ostentatiously drew a deep breath.

"You would too, wouldn't you?" Hermes said in surprise. "What good do you think it would do you?"

Hugging the furs around his chest, Iolaus eyed him warily. "I don't know," he admitted.

Hermes wrinkled his nose at him and slid back a foot or so. He knew the answer to that even if Iolaus didn't. If he did make Iolaus scream then he was pretty sure that Zeus would be having words with him. "Oh well, I suppose the quails are done after all and you do need to keep your strength up. Can't have you starving."

Iolaus said nothing, huddling into the protection of the fur and watching Hermes uneasily as the Herald carefully took the quails from their spit and made a set of gold serving salvers appear to hold them. He presented one of the quails to Iolaus with a flourish, garnished to perfection with tiny quail, crisp green salad and a freshly buttered bread roll. "I bet you don't eat as well as this with Hercules," he said mildly as Iolaus practically snatched the salver from him and dug in with a ravenous appetite. Apart from a flicker of a wary look the hunter didn't react when Hermes once more sat down beside him. Hermes let him eat in peace, sensing the exhaustion and hunger the young hunter was fighting. Gone hungry too often to turn down a meal, Hermes reflected sadly to himself.

"Hercules doesn't burn everything he cooks," Iolaus muttered finally, obviously feeling that he should at least attempt a conversation. "This is very good."

"I'm glad you’re enjoying it."

Iolaus hesitated, his eyes widening a little at Hermes' slow grin. "Um, you didn't¼ put anything in it, did you?"

"Such as?"

"An aphrodisiac?"

"Now there's a thought¼ ." Iolaus looked at his plate in such horror that Hermes chuckled. "Relax, my sweet, you needed a hot meal. I wouldn't ruin that for you. Now, slow down. No one's going to take it away from you."

"Oh¼ " Iolaus relaxed slowly, belatedly remembering his manners.

"And after this, you really must get some sleep." Hermes went on blandly, studying the faint flush to the hunter's fair skin that suggested a hint of fever. He waved a languid hand, producing a pitcher of pure amethyst and a silver rimmed crystal goblet. "A drop of wine first perhaps?"

Iolaus watched wide-eyed as Hermes poured the wine. Finishing a last bite of bread, he cautiously took the goblet he was offered, sipping gingerly. "It's good."

"Dionysus' own," Hermes informed him solemnly. "Nothing but the best for you. Now, curl up¼ ." He moved closer, urging Iolaus to lie back. The hunter obediently curled up on his side, keeping a firm hold on the goblet and never taking his eyes off Hermes. The Herald studied him a for a moment, absorbing his face. "King-cups and cornflowers," he said at last.

"What?" Iolaus frowned.

Hermes touched a golden curl. "The colour of King-cups," he purred and brushed a fingertip across Iolaus' eyelashes. "And cornflowers¼ ." He chuckled as Iolaus blushed, disconcerted. "And poppies, how I do love poppies. So sexy¼ ."

"Is there anything about me you don't find sexy?" Iolaus grumbled bitterly.

"Having a dagger shoved at me wasn't sexy."

"Oh good¼ ."

"It was however quite exciting¼ ."

"Ay yi yi¼ ."

Hermes laughed softly, but took pity on him. "Enough, sweet lips. A peace offering¼ " Holding the feather out across the flat of one hand, Hermes turned it back into a dagger and offered it to the hunter. "Take it, if it makes you feel safer." Iolaus hesitated, then took the dagger and set it down on the covers beside him. Noting that he didn't start threatening him with it, Hermes decided this was an improvement on his previous attitude. "Now, my cherished one, are you warm enough?"

Iolaus nodded. "Fine thanks."

"Comfortable?"

"Uh huh¼ "

"Sleepy?"

"With you here? No way."

Hermes raised an eyebrow at him and moved away, picking a spot beside the fire to watch him from. "You need sleep, my darling. I won't touch you while you’re hurt, I promise."

"What about the volcano?"

"What volcano?" Hermes replied calmly.

"The one¼ " Iolaus paused in bewilderment as he realised how quiet it was. Even the wind had quieted its ferocious howls.

"Hercules and Jason will come to get you soon," Hermes went on, flexing his fingers together and making a complex gesture in the air. His kitara dropped neatly into his hands and he smiled, admiring the glint of the silver pegs against the deep burnished wood. "And I will stay with you until they do."

"Uh, that isn't necessary."

Strumming his fingers across the strings in a light arpeggio, Hermes beamed at him indulgently. "Ah, but it is my pleasure to keep you safe."

"But who's going to keep me safe from you?" Iolaus demanded petulantly.

Hermes let his smile turn mysterious, "Don't worry about it, my little honeycake. Now lie back and go to sleep. You’re safe with me here¼ ."

Iolaus wrinkled his nose, but snuggled further down into the warmth of the furs while he finished the wine. He was determined to stay awake until his rescuers arrived. Hermes said nothing, strumming gently on the kitara and using the music to lull his young companion. After a few minutes of peace and quiet, Iolaus started to yawn, his eyelashes fluttering with exhaustion. His body betrayed him; stretched to its limits by pain and damage it demanded that he rest despite his best efforts to stay awake.

Picking a lullaby with care Hermes started to sing softly, crooning the words almost subliminally. Iolaus drooped, his eyes slowly starting to close: once, twice¼

Hermes sang on, strengthening his voice a fraction and adding a little extra charm to his playing. Iolaus murmured something and let go of the goblet, curling up in ball as he slid into deep sleep. With a gesture of his head, Hermes eased the goblet from his fingers before it could spill and replaced it on the tray with his own untouched wine.

"Rest, my precious one," he said as he lifted his goblet and toasted the sleeping hunter. "The road is long and you have far to travel¼ " Taking a final sip of wine, Hermes flicked his fingers to remove the cave decorations before Iolaus' rescuers arrived and then settled himself comfortably, once more lifting the kitara into his lap. He would stay as he had promised and soothe Iolaus' sleep with his music¼ .

* * *

"There it is!" Jason groaned in relief as he saw the battered stand of pines through the early morning mist. He didn't think he had ever been gladder to see a bunch of trees. He glanced back at the others, frowning slightly at Iphis the village healer as the older man struggled to keep up.

"That volcano sure made a mess of things up here," Polyphemus commented, frowning as he looked around the devastated headland. "The villagers were lucky it stopped when it did. Kind of strange though, don't you think, Hercules?"

"I guess." Hercules was too busy worrying about his friend to think about it much, but now that Polyphemus had mentioned it, the abrupt way the eruption had stopped had seemed a little odd. A faint wisp of music brushed his ears, making him pause. "Uh, do you hear something?"

Jason glanced at him and paused, perched atop a shelf of shattered rock.

"Such as?" Talaus asked as he helped the wheezing healer up beside him.

"Music," Jason answered.

"Up here?" Talaus laughed.

"No, I hear it too," Jason said quietly. "It's beautiful¼ Hercules?"

The young demi-god was striding on ahead, breaking into a sprint as he covered the ground and vanished between the trees. Jason swore and raced after him, leaving Talaus and Polyphemus to follow him with the healer.

Jason scrambled over the ragged rocks at the entrance of the cave and slithered inside, startled to find Hercules face to face with a tall, slender stranger dressed in a rough homespun tunic and sandals. The green eyed young man was cradling a roughly made kitara in his arms as he gazed mildly at Hercules. He inclined his head towards the fireside as he saw Jason and the captain let out a sigh as he realised Iolaus was curled up in a bed of furs beside it.

"Please, don't wake him," he said calmly as Iphis and Jason's men arrived. "He has a mild fever. Nothing to worry about but he needs to rest." He gave Iphis a meaningful look, his tone authoritative. Iphis nodded cautiously and sidled round him to reach Iolaus, following by the demi-god.

"Who are you?" Talaus asked belligerently.

"Oh, a passing shepherd looking for lost lambs¼ " The young man said mildly, clicking his fingers. A small confused looking lamb promptly trotted out of the shadows and was swept up into the arms of the shepherd with a bewildered bleat. "See?"

"And you found Iolaus?" Polyphemus said warily.

"One lost lamb is much like another. Your friend was hurt."

"I thought you said his leg was broken¼ " Iphis interrupted.

"It was!" Forgetting the shepherd, Jason hurried over. Hercules looked slowly at the shepherd who gave him an innocent smile.

"You must have been mistaken," Iphis said firmly. "It obviously looked worse than it is."

"But I¼ ."

"Be glad you’re wrong," Hercules interrupted.

"Oh I am, but¼ ." Jason was pretty sure something was weird here but he wasn't quite sure what it was.

Iolaus stirred, unfolding under the healer's gentle hands. Looking up at him, he gazed at the red haired man in sleepy confusion for a second then flinched back. "Who, who are you? Where's¼ ?"

"Right here, my young friend." The shepherd moved into view. Iolaus looked from him to the lamb and then back again in astonishment.

"It's okay, Iolaus," Hercules said quickly, knowing what he was thinking. The hunter focused on him in relief. "We're going to get you back to Argo now."

"Oh good," Iolaus relaxed with a small sigh.

"An excellent idea," Iphis agreed. "Your young friend does have a mild fever as the shepherd says. Not surprising after being left up here. Now, you two, don't stand there like a pair of boulders. We're going to have to carry him down¼ "'

Iolaus opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again as the shepherd caught his eye. Jason frowned, noting the exchange and wondering at it. The hunter definitely seemed in awe of this slender stranger and there was something very odd about the way Hercules was acting as well. Then there was the lovely ethereal music they had heard. Surely this simple shepherd couldn't have made such beautiful music on his homemade instrument? And where had the furs come from?

"Good acoustics," the shepherd said as if reading his mind. "I, er, often come up here."

"Looking for lambs," Hercules said dryly.

"Oh, er yes, looking for lambs." The shepherd dazzled them with his grin as he put his lamb down and gave it a gentle pat. "Stay," he ordered crisply. "I have to help these nice men now¼ "

Fifteen minutes later, Polyphemus and Talaus carried Iolaus carefully out of the cave on a litter made from lengths of pine that the shepherd had conveniently found for them. Iphis walked close behind them; busily chatting to Iolaus who looked as if he would really much rather go back to sleep.

"Hercules? Are you coming?" Jason called from the entrance as he started to follow them.

"Be right there. I want to say thank you personally to our friend here. Tell Iolaus I’ll catch up. He'll understand."

"Okay." With a final doubtful look at the shepherd, Jason hurried after the others.

"Iolaus will understand all right," Hermes chuckled, dropping his disguise for Hercules and making the lamb vanish again.

"Why didn't you let on who you were?"

"This trip is going to be complicated enough for you, without adding me to the mix," Hermes said easily. "Now, about Iolaus¼ ."

"Yeah, if you touched him¼ "

"I promise you he left me as virginal as he came."

"Virginal? Iolaus?!" Hercules snorted in laughter then controlled himself as Hermes gave him a miffed look. "Well, maybe where you’re concerned¼ ."

"He needs to rest," Hermes said solemnly. "His leg was broken in several places, so was his arm. If you want him to walk without a limp, you'll see to it that he stays off it for at least a week."

"He’ll go crazy!"

"It only needs to be two or three days, but if you tell him a week, he'll stay in bed for long enough. If you say two or three days¼ ."

"He’ll be up in one," Hercules nodded in understanding. "I don't know how I'm going to keep him in bed, but I’ll think of something."

"I know how I’d do it," Hermes purred lecherously and then laughed aloud in enjoyment as Hercules went scarlet. "Ah not so pure after all," he giggled. "Now, I have to go."

"Uh okay. Look, thank you. If Jason was right about his leg¼ ."

"Oh he was. Your captain knows what he's talking about." Hermes gave Hercules a quick, affectionate pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Neither you nor Iolaus owe me anything. I enjoy helping mortals. Now, I must be off. Tell Iolaus I'll visit."

"Oh, I'm sure he’ll look forward to it," Hercules said sarcastically.

Hermes gave him a sidelong look and then chuckled. "Make it a threat. If he gets up early, then he can consider it a promise that I'll be there to take advantage."

Hercules laughed, then caught his breath as Hermes winked out in an explosion of impressive stars. The Herald's exits were getting to be as spectacular as his entrances. Turning, he bounded out of the cave and raced after his companions. Once he was sure his friend was going to be all right, he was going to enjoy tormenting Iolaus over being rescued by Hermes. Why, this little secret could be worth a few free meals and drinks if Iolaus wanted Hercules to keep it to himself!

* * *