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By Angela Field.

            Hercules had been in a good mood when he left home but by the time he wended his way through the streets to Iolaus' house to meet his friend as promised so they could return to Cheiron's warrior school together, his buoyant good humour had started to turn to concern. The odd looks he was getting suggested that something was wrong and no one wanted to tell him about it.

As he approached the house, Iolaus' mother was the only one in sight in the pocket-sized garden where she was tending her herb patch and Hercules knew Iolaus always enjoyed helping her when he was home. That suggested that there had been yet another fight between Iolaus and his parents.

Taking a careful look round to check Skouros wasn't in sight; Hercules stepped gingerly over the low wall and approached her with polite caution. Skouros didn't approve of Hercules hanging around his son and been known to fling a few words in the young demi-god's direction: the most polite of which was bastard.

            Automedusa was his complete opposite: an attractive blonde woman with never a harsh word for anyone. She moved with quiet grace and sometimes seemed to live in a world of her own. Hercules was a little in awe of her, amazed that she could stand living with Skouros.

            Seeing the young demi-god, she smiled politely and shot a quick hopeful look past him as in search of someone. If Hercules was right, he could guess who she was looking for - Iolaus. "Hello, Hercules."

            "Uh hi, Automedusa." Hercules never knew quite what to say to her. "I uh, came to get Iolaus."

            "Oh," Automedusa's face fell in disappointment. "I'm afraid he isn't here."

            "Oh right." Hercules could feel himself flushing in embarrassment, knowing he was making a lousy impression on her. She probably thought he was as much of an idiot as Skouros did. "We were going back to school together. I uh, I guess he's gone off with Skouros somewhere?" It wasn't really very likely, but Hercules kept hoping there would be a reconciliation between Skouros and his son.

            Automedusa gave him a sad  look. "No, I'm afraid he ran away again. I was hoping he'd be with you."

            "I haven't seen him." Hercules was caught between alarm and disappointment and was saddened to realise his first guess had been right. Iolaus made a habit of disappearing when his father came back from one of his military campaigns. The older he got, the longer he was gone. Skouros didn't take it well and had been known to come looking for his son as Hercules' home. Alcmene had swiftly disabused him of the notion that Iolaus ever visited them: one of the few times Hercules ever knew her to lie. 

            "I hope he's gone back to school this time then. If Skouros catches him on the streets again, he'll get a thrashing he won't forget in a hurry."  Automedusa's voice was distant as she fingered a flower and sighed wistfully to herself.

            Hercules winced. The last time Iolaus ran away, his father had caught him living rough on the streets and had dragged him home forcibly, enraged by what he considered his son's deliberately wilful behaviour. The bruises he got for that had been bad enough, but Iolaus would certainly suffer for disobeying a second time. "I'm sure he has gone back to school. Would that, um, would that be okay with Skouros?"

            Automedusa looked at him slowly, her eyes a cooler shade of blue than Iolaus'. "I've told him I sent Iolaus back early so we could have some time together. Things are not….perfect between myself and Skouros. He's accepted that. We need to talk and we always end up arguing over Iolaus."

            Hercules didn't really want to know that, but people had a tendency to forget how young he was when they wanted to talk. "I'll get him to write to you," he promised.

            "That would be nice," Automedusa said in relief. "You’d better go. Skouros will be back soon.

            "Oh, er right. Thanks." Hercules had no idea what he was thanking her for as he hastily retreated back over the wall and headed off back into town. It probably was best if he left. Skouros resented having Hercules anywhere near Automedusa and Hercules was sure he had even insinuated that his only interest in Iolaus was in getting near to Automedusa. Unfortunately, the fact that Hercules had a serious crush on his best friend's mother didn't actually help. It wasn't exactly something he could admit to Iolaus. Sighing to himself, Hercules decided to head home and see Alcmene before he left. There was after all always the chance that Iolaus had gone to meet him and they had somehow missed each other on the road.

* * *

            When Hercules trotted through the gates of the training school the following day, he slowed down to look around him. The place hadn't changed much. The same strong wooden palisades guarded the long wooden buildings of the school and the practise ground had been newly raked, ready for the both new arrivals and returning students. There was no sign of Iolaus however.                     

            "Hercules! Back so soon?" Cheiron emerged from the blacksmith's forge, wiping his hands on a rag as he trotted over to meet him. Hercules grinned at the centaur in genuine pleasure and gripped his wrist. "Couldn't keep away, hmmh?"

            "I didn't think I would, but I missed the place," Hercules admitted.

            "Iolaus seems to feel the same way," Cheiron commented dryly.

            "Really? He's here then?" Hercules felt a knot of fear untie itself in his stomach. Part of him had been afraid that Iolaus had taken to the streets for good this time, vanishing into the seedier levels that would eagerly absorb a young good looking blond like his friend.

            "He turned up a couple of days ago, looking pretty miserable. Something went wrong while he was home but he won't tell me what it is." The centaur hesitated, chewing his lower lip for a moment as if debating with himself. "I had to patch up a few bruises. Did you two have a fight?"

            "Us? No!" Hercules sputtered indignantly at the very idea.

            "I thought not," Cheiron sighed. "But I hoped it'd be something that simple. You’d better go talk to him."

"Where is he?" Hercules shot a quick look round the training square, hoping for a glimpse of flaxen hair. Iolaus stood out in any crowd, no matter how tall everyone else was.

"He's down by the river again. That's where he's been most of the time since he got back: unless he was pounding the life out of the dummies. Something is seriously upsetting him, Hercules. He really needs a friend."

            Hercules nodded. "I'll talk to him. Maybe all he needs is cheering up."

                                                                        * * *

            It wasn't hard to find Iolaus in the end. He was in his favourite spot, ensconced in the ancient tree that leaned out over the pool where he could watch the fish glinting like quicksilver in the crystal clear waters below.

Watching him for a few moments from the concealing brush, Hercules could see from his wistful expression that Iolaus was far away and that his thoughts weren't happy ones.

Sneaking down the slope behind him and under the dangling fronds, Hercules caught hold of his ankles and tugged gently. Startled, Iolaus made a grab at the branch and then peered down to see who it was.

"Oh, it's you. Hi, Herc."  Iolaus' smile blossomed as he recognised him.   

            "Point to me. I took you by surprise."

            "Not fair. I wasn't playing. I didn't know you were back yet."

            "A good warrior if always ready for anything." Hercules let go with a playful slap at the tooled leather of his boot and emerged where he could see him. "Snazzy new boots."

            "The old ones were falling apart and I had to look pretty for the General, didn't I?" Iolaus retorted sarcastically.

            "General?" Hercules queried as he plopped down cross-legged in the grass beneath him.

            "Don't ask."

            Hercules frowned, studying him and seeing lines of strain that hadn't been there when they left school. There was a dark bruise down one cheekbone that looked if it might have closed his eye at first.  I should have gone to see him. Maybe I could have helped…"Rough visit home?"

            "You could say that." Iolaus lifted his head, gazing into the depths of the pool as if considering throwing himself in.

            "Dinar for them."

            "You haven't got a dinar."

            Hercules lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Okay, so tell me anyway. You know I'm here to listen. Where'd you get the bruise?"

            "Bruise?" Iolaus echoed, self-consciously touching his face.

"That bruise," Hercules snorted. "Come on, tell me what happened?"

"What'd be the point? It wouldn't change anything."

"But it might help to talk about it. Let me help."

Iolaus looked down at him slowly then shook his head. "You wouldn't understand."

"How do you know if you won't tell me?"

"It's a long story."

"I've plenty of time."

Iolaus sighed heavily and picked at the bark of the branch he was perched on.

"The bruise?" Hercules prompted his friend. A stab of anger went through him as an idea caught him. "Did this General hit you?"

Iolaus flashed a quick worried look at him and shook his head, his blond hair bouncing on his shoulders.

"Who is he then?"

"I can't tell you."

            "I talked to Automedusa. She never mentioned him. She only said you'd run away. You’d better write to her. She's worried."

            "Really?" Iolaus snorted. "She usually barely notices that I'm around."

            "That isn't fair."

            "I don't feel fair."

            "Come on, tell me what happened this time."  Hercules knew his friend would write to her anyway.

            Iolaus kicked viciously at the air. "All right. But you’d better not make fun of me."

            "Do I ever?"

            After a moment, Iolaus shook his head. "I guess not," he muttered and fell silent.

            "Well?" Hercules prompted once more when his friend seemed disinclined to go on. "You don't have to tell me any names."

            Biting his lip for a moment, Iolaus took a deep breath and firmer grip on the branch. "My father brought this General home with him. He's a pretty powerful man: King Thessalon's right hand man they say. My father thinks he could do me a lot of good career wise: starting out with me being his personal assistant."

            "You don't agree?" Hercules had never yet known Iolaus to agree with anything Skouros said, but he was also aware that Iolaus was giving a way a lot more about the man's identity than he perhaps realised. He figured that if he set his mind to it he could find this General and tell him what he thought of him.

            "That depends what kind of career I had in mind," Iolaus snapped, then controlled himself.

Hercules hid a wince. One of the things he loved about his friend was his open nature, yet whenever he had been home for a while Iolaus seemed          to withdraw into himself behind a bronze shield to hide his feelings from everyone.

"The General's from Athens and he's got certain…ideas about what a personal assistant should do if you know what I mean." Iolaus wouldn't, couldn't look at Hercules and he was flushing in humiliation. "He started out offering me gifts and things and making hints about what he wanted. He was getting less and less subtle."

"Didn't you tell Skouros?" Hercules asked in shocked surprise.

"How could I? He'd probably say I was making it up. He still thinks I'm a cry baby."

"You’re not a cry baby!" Hercules interrupted indignantly. "You’re a great fighter and if Skouros had ever bothered to watch you fight he'd know it too. Cheiron says you’re one of his star pupils."

"Hah! Right! That's a likely story with you around."

"You know perfectly well Cheiron wouldn't say it if it wasn't true."

"I've never heard him say it at all. He always says I'm too reckless."

"You are," Hercules said soberly. "I don't know why. You've got nothing to prove."

"That's all you know," Iolaus sighed. "Sometimes I wish I looked like Atlas."

"Why would you want to look like Atlas? You’re smart, funny, popular, and dangerous. You've got lots of friends besides me and the girls all adore you. Why would you want to change?"

Iolaus studied Hercules' lanky build that promised height and width and then glanced at his own slender body. Muscles he could manage but there was nothing he could do about his height and his figure would be forever boyishly slim. He grimaced in annoyance. "You wouldn't understand," he sighed.

            "So you keep saying. This General really got to you. Did he hurt you?"

            Hearing a rumble in Hercules' voice, Iolaus chose his words with care. "Not really." Bruises from an over anxious grab or pinch here and there didn't really count, he figured.

            "Then who hit you?"

            Iolaus touched his bruised face again and decided on the truth. "My father did."

            "What?! Why?!" Hercules demanded, indignant on his friend's behalf. He had to admit he was glad his parents were nothing like Iolaus'. Even if Zeus was never around at all. But then he was Zeus.

            "They'd been drinking. I heard them coming back from the inn and they were laughing. The General was saying something about making a man of me, saying that I’d been flirting with him. I was sure they were laughing at me. I lost my temper and started yelling that he was lying. I think I even kicked the General. My father said I should make my mind up what I wanted. If I was going to flirt then I should act like a man about it and not be a tease. He said I was humiliating him in front of his friend. That's when he hit me." Iolaus went quiet for a long minute and Hercules gazed at him anxiously, not knowing what to say. "I told him everything and he didn't even listen, Herc. He didn't believe a word I said," Iolaus whispered at last.

            "Oh Iolaus, I'm sorry." Coming to his feet, Hercules tapped at his ankle and made his friend look at him. "You know I believe you."

            Iolaus smiled weakly. "I guess it was my fault. I know what he's like when he's been drinking. I shouldn't have said anything."

            "It's never your fault," Hercules interrupted.

            "Yes, it is. You know I defy him. I can't help it." Iolaus pulled his foot away from Hercules. "It's the only time he ever pays any attention to me."

            "He's the one in the wrong. It's not supposed to be like that."

            Iolaus only sighed wearily. "But it is."

            "Maybe he’ll change his mind when he thinks about it. He must know you wouldn't lie about something like this."

            "It won't make any difference. He’ll still send me off with the General if he thinks it'll be good for me. That's why I came here.  I needed time to think."

            "You could have come to my place."

            "He'd have known where to look. He won't be so mad over me coming back to school early." Iolaus shrugged ruefully. "And it's better than the street. At least I get fed."

            Hercules pursed his lips. "Did you tell Cheiron what happened?"

            "Of course not."

            "I think you should."

            "Why? It's a personal problem."

            "If you tell him what's happened, Cheiron will stand up for you if Skouros comes around. So will I. He's got no right to send you off with some weirdo if you don't want to go."

            "Herc, he's my father. My father can do what he wants with me. Including sell me off to the highest bidder if he wants to."

            "He wouldn't do that!"

            "If he thought it'd make a man of me he would. The rotten bastard."        

            "Iolaus!"

            "What? Call a fig a fig. He never has treated me as anything more than a soldier. In fact, his soldiers get better treated than I do. Sometimes I wonder if I'm his son at all!"

Bitter anger was starting to replace Iolaus' misery and Hercules wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. "So what are you going to do?"

"I haven't decided yet. He can't complain if I stay here. I can finish my courses while I think about it. I can always write home and pretend everything's fine to give myself more time." A note of sarcasm crept into Iolaus' voice. "That's what we usually do anyway. As long as we pretend we’re all getting along he's happy."

Hercules folded his arms and studied his friend. "I wish I could do something to help," he said wistfully.

"You are doing something to help," Iolaus assured the demi-god, surprising him with a tired smile. "You’re here. You’re talking to me. You’re listening to me complain."

"I think you've got a lot to complain about," Hercules admitted.

"You’re being a good friend. That's enough."

"Well, it's a start anyway. Come on. Come down. Let's go into the village and cheer ourselves up. I’ll even buy you a drink."

Iolaus considered this for a moment, then slid lithely out of the tree and dropped to the ground beside him. Hercules gave him a thoughtful look and then engulfed him in an affectionate bear hug, lifting the startled blond off his feet.

"What was that for?" Iolaus exclaimed as he wriggled out of the demi-god's enthusiastic grip.

"You looked like you badly needed a hug," Hercules informed him solemnly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"Oh…" Iolaus frowned for a moment, then gave him a shy look. "I missed you, you know."

"I missed you too. Things are never so much fun without you to share them with. Now, let's go get that drink and make some plans about what you’re going to do."

                                                            * * *

Slightly over a week later Hercules ambled amiably after his friend as Iolaus stalked along ahead of him, gesticulating angrily. They had been to the village again, this time for a few drinks at the inn and a little pleasant flirting with the local girls. The reason had been more or the less the same one as far as Hercules was concerned however. Iolaus had received a scroll from home warning him of Skouros' incipient arrival at the school. It had ruined his good mood that Hercules had been working so hard on helping him attain.

"Why does he have to come here? That's what I want to know. He couldn't be bothered to even speak to me when I'm at home, but now he has to come out here and check up on me!"

"I'm sure he doesn't mean any harm," Hercules soothed.

"That's all you know." Iolaus shot a glare over his shoulder at him. "Ah well, so I’ll tell him what I've decided to do. That should ruin his plans."

"What have you decided to do?" Hercules asked, feeling a wary prickle of unease run down his back. With Cheiron's back up he had been doing his persuasive best to keep Iolaus at the school. Both of them were afraid of what would happen if Iolaus took it into his head to start out on his own.  "I thought you were going to stay here."

Iolaus shot a glare at him. "Oh don't look so worried," he growled sarcastically. "I'm not going to run off and be debauched despite what you think. I've decided not to go home again, that's all."

"What?" Hercules was quite shocked by the idea. Abandoning his home was something he would never have considered doing, but then he had Alcmene to go back too. "Not even for holidays?"

"Especially not for holidays. Cheiron says I can stay here. Some of the other students do."

"Yeah, the ones who don't have anywhere…." Hercules paused, realising he was putting his foot in his mouth.

"Go on, say it. The ones who don't have anywhere else to go."

"What will Skouros say?"

"Who cares?"

"Iolaus…"

"Quit it, Hercules! Don't get all reproachful at me about it. I’ll tell him I'm taking extra courses. His opinion's low enough of me that he'll believe it."

"You mean you'll lie to him."

"I'm good at lying."

"It's not going to help a lot though. Can't you talk to him?"

Iolaus gave him a look of angry exasperation. "Don't you ever listen to me? I' have talked to him. He never listens." Coming to a halt, he flung his arms out wide. "It's big world. As soon as I finish school I'll be off and running. Sooner if I can."

"No…" Hercules protested.

"Yes. I can if I want to and not you or anyone else can stop me," Iolaus shot back defiantly.

"And how do you expect to survive?"

Iolaus looked shifty for a second. "I can always steal if I have to."

"You’d steal? Iolaus! You don't want to be a thief. I thought you weren't going to do that any more."

"If it's the difference between starving and surviving, I’ll do what I have to. You know I'm good at it."

"I know half the time it was only so you could get Skouros to notice you!"

"You think I enjoyed the bruises I got before I learned how not to get caught?"

Hercules gritted his teeth, feeling a stab of annoyance at his friend. "You’re worth more than that."

"Am I really?"

"Why do you keep putting yourself down?!" Hercules yelled at him in frustration.

"Because then it doesn't hurt so much when other people do it." Iolaus snarled back. "If you don't expect anything better, you never get disappointed."

"Then you’re an idiot!" Hercules snapped.

 Iolaus' belligerence crumpled and he shot a hurt look at Hercules before he turned away. "Even you do it, see?"

"Ah, Iolaus, I didn't mean it like that…"

"Oh, leave me alone!" Iolaus yelled and sprinted on up the path towards the school.

Appalled by the unexpected hurt he had caused, Hercules gazed after him helplessly. He didn't know what to do and had only taken a half step after him when someone erupted from the bushes and bowled him over in a tangle of limbs and laughter.

"Gotcha!" a chuckling male voice chirped, pinning the young demi-god to the ground with astonishing ease.

"Gerroff!" Hercules spluttered indignantly, unused to being so easily manhandled. To his disappointment, it wasn't Iolaus. He looked up into a pair of sparkling, emerald green eyes in a fine-featured face surrounded by a fall of glossy dark brown hair as the Herald perched astride him and pinned his hands to the ground.

"Ah ah, say please."

"Hermes! Get off. I've got to catch Iolaus."

Hermes snorted, resisting his best efforts to throw him off with embarrassing ease. "You’re slipping, tyke," he chuckled as Hercules fought furiously to escape him. Hermes was a slippery customer and used to the demi-god's tactics. In fact he had taught Hercules quite a few of them himself. Shifting his weight, Hermes probed for his ribs, startling Hercules into low giggle at the tickle then a yell of frustration as he realised he was being distracted.

A split second later a blond whirlwind launched into the fray, tackling Hermes around the waist and throwing the Herald from his perch with the speed of the unexpected impact. Hermes rolled clear and came up with a furious snarl at the attack, then stopped in awe as he caught his first glimpse of Iolaus. His jaw dropped as he stared at the delicious young mortal morsel clad in skin-tight black leather pants and bright blue jerkin in front of him.

"No! It's not what you think!" Hercules floundered to his feet and grabbed his friend by the scruff of his tunic, stopping him before he could lunge at Hermes again and hastily swinging between them to prevent Hermes blasting his reckless friend.

Iolaus had his knife out, drawn from its hiding place in his boot. It was a long wickedly sharp, fine blade and Hercules was alarmed to see it. "He attacked you!"

"No. He's a friend. We were wrestling," Hercules assured him hastily. He knew what Iolaus' temper was like and that he had been spoiling for a fight all week. He pushed the knife down.  "Where'd you get that from anyway?"

"I brought it from back home. After the General I figured…" Frowning, Iolaus stopped and peered around his friend, looking from Hermes to Hercules in confusion. He was clearly unsure what to make of this finely dressed stranger: impeccably dressed in a dark gold velvet tunic over rich brown leather pants and shirt.

"You came back…" Hercules said quietly.

"I thought you were in trouble." Iolaus paused and gave him an embarrassed look.

"I could have been. Thanks. And I'm sorry I put my foot in it. I know you’re not an idiot." Iolaus slumped and gave him a wan smile that made Hercules want to hug him. But he wasn't about to do that in front of Hermes who would tease him forever. "Look, I think you two should meet…."

Letting go of Iolaus now that he seemed to have calmed down enough not to attack without warning, Hercules looked over his shoulder at the Herald and stepped aside then suddenly wished he hadn't as he saw Hermes' dreamy expression as he looked at Iolaus. The last time he had seen that look on the Herald's face it had been when he saw an exceptionally beautiful young woman that he promptly went off and….bedded. Hercules blinked in shock and shot a startled look from Hermes to Iolaus and back again, feeling a stab of awe as he recognised the lust on Hermes' face. For the first time in a long time Hercules really looked at his friend. Like most people, he never really looked at familiar things and what he saw now stunned him.

Iolaus had blossomed from the good looking kid Hercules had first met to a gorgeous young man. His hair shone like gold in the sunlight, his eyes were wide and enchantingly blue and his lithe boyish figure in his light leathers made Hercules feel clumsy simply looking at him. Even Hercules who never looked at men could see how those who pursued the Athenian athletic ideal would seek Iolaus out.

"I can see why you would want to catch him. Aren't you going to introduce me?" Hermes purred, easing gently closer as if he was stalking a fawn.

 "I'm not sure I should," Hercules stammered, thinking of how Iolaus had reacted to the General. It wouldn't be so easy to reject Hermes' advances, even though Hercules would do his best to help Iolaus if it came to it.

"Not thinking of keeping him all to yourself, are you?" Hermes asked in teasing reproach. "I didn't you were that way inclined, but I’ll fight you for him."

"No!" Hercules blurted.

"What are you talking about?!" Iolaus hissed.

Hercules glanced at him, belatedly realising that although Iolaus could see Hermes, he couldn't hear what the Herald was saying. "It's all right." He turned a wary look on Hermes. "Are you serious? You really want me to introduce you?"

"Most certainly."

"As you?"

"As a god," Hermes stated firmly.

"It won't impress him," Hercules said desperately.

"We'll see. Go on. Or I’ll do it myself."

"Okay, okay." Hercules took a deep breath and turned to his fuming friend. "Hermes, this is Iolaus. My best friend."

Hermes caught the note of warning in Hercules' tone and raised a slender eyebrow at him, but his full attention switched instantly back to Iolaus. Iolaus had instinctively looked up at Hercules in disbelief at the name and when he turned back, Hermes was right in front of him. Before he could do more than gulp in surprise, the Herald caught the hand he automatically offered him for a warrior's clasp, but instead of his wrist being gripped he found Hermes placing a sensuously slow kiss on the back of his fingers.

"Well, hello," Hermes purred at him seductively.  "I am absolutely enchanted to meet you. I had thought everyone around here was a clumsy great thing like Hercules. All muscle and no finesse."

"Uh, I….um…" Iolaus wrenched his hand free with a forcible tug.  "You’re Hermes? The one and only?"

"I'm a god. What more do I need to say?" Hermes said merrily, touching a golden curl in open admiration. Lifting his free hand, he grinned down at the youth and held up a brace of quail that had suddenly materialised in his hand. "Care for a quail perhaps?"

Shaking his hair free as he paled in dismay at the offer of a lover's token, Iolaus backed up behind Hercules' solid frame and peered out at Hermes warily. "Tell him to leave me alone, Herc," he urged.

"Leave him alone, Hermes," Hercules said obligingly.

"Ah, I'm wounded. You don't truly mean that, my precious." Hermes said mildly as the quails vanished again.

"Do you mean me or Iolaus?" Hercules asked wryly.

"My golden treasure, of course," Hermes sniffed. "Come away with me, Iolaus. I’ll show you sights unseen…"

"No!" Hercules barked. Both Hermes and Iolaus gave him a startled look for his strident refusal.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Iolaus complained.

"Do you really want one?" Hercules asked him dryly and Iolaus coloured in chagrin.

"Jealous?" Hermes laughed.

"No, protective," Hercules snarled. "I know what you're like. Even you say you’re fickle and I don't want Iolaus getting hurt."

"Who said anything about hurting him?" Hermes said with a friendly leer at the blond. Iolaus retreated even further behind Hercules and with a lazy grin; Hermes moved sideways to keep him in sight. He beckoned, half closing his eyes in seductive invitation. Iolaus twitched towards him then made an alarmed grab at Hercules' tunic.

"Herc?!" he stammered in fright.

"Hermes, please, leave him alone," Hercules said desperately.

Hermes blinked and focused on him, releasing Iolaus from the hypnotic allure of his green eyes. "Please?" he echoed in surprise, then thoughtfully looked more closely at first one and then the other youth seeing the glimmering bonds of friendship that tied them together. He smiled affectionately, seeing what they didn't see in themselves yet. These two would go far.

"He's too young," Hercules rattled out hastily.

"I am not!" Iolaus spluttered, then flinched as Hermes grinned at him. "Um, then again, maybe I am…."

Hermes laughed joyfully and before either of them could move, he was behind them and catching Iolaus by the waist. Lifting him away from Hercules he set him down again and tapped him on the end of the nose with a long slender finger. "For you I shall wait, sweetness," he said lightly, then dropped his voice to a husky, caressing purr as he ran his fingers down Iolaus' throat. "But not forever…"

Hercules snarled and lunged at him, missing as Hermes vanished in a sparkle of amber drops. Iolaus looked like he was considering fainting as he shakily removed the necklace of pretty blue flowers that had materialised around his throat.

"Are they all like that?" he quavered.

"Thankfully no." Hercules admitted. "Though I've never seen him go quite as overboard as that before."

"Meaning what?" Iolaus demanded belligerently, trampling the flowers into the dirt. He could still feel Hermes' lips on his fingers: a seductive tickle that felt so totally different from the slobbering way the General had drooled over him that he didn't know what to think. Hermes had scared the wits out of him, but unlike with the General Iolaus had never felt physically threatened by him somehow. In some instinctive way he had a feeling he could trust Hermes.

"Meaning you've got a lot more charm than you think," Hercules retorted. "I'm going to have to watch you or you’re going to be beating them off with a club."

Iolaus sighed heavily. "More weirdoes. That's all I need."

Hercules hesitated, wanting to put an arm around him but undecided how Iolaus would take it. He decided to take the risk. The worst Iolaus could do was hit him. To his relief, Iolaus relaxed against him as usual. "You know, I think you’re going to have to get used to it," he said cautiously. "You can't change the way you look."

"Oh, I don't know. A scar would be nice. A nice big visible scar…."

Hercules eyed him in alarm, startled to recognise that Iolaus was half-serious. To his relief however, a thought hit him. "Hermes wouldn't allow it."

"So what?"

"So, I’d have to get him to fix it and then we'd owe him a favour…"

"We?" Iolaus interrupted.

"Yeah, we…."

                                                            * * *

Two days later Hercules had almost forgotten Iolaus' annoyance at Skouros' planned visit as they immersed themselves in the day to day warrior training. Cheiron had been striving to instil some medical knowledge into him, but Hercules could see no reason why anything medical would of any use to him with his ability to heal so fast. It had distracted him from Iolaus' however, although he had noticed over the traditionally huge breakfast that morning that he had been quieter than usual. He had gone off to the village on an errand for Cheiron willingly enough however and Hercules had thought nothing of it until he was strolling across the practise ground after getting a new bowstring and saw who the Centaur was talking to. Skouros had arrived and, as usual, was scowling in disapproval.

"That's typical of the boy, going off when he knew I was coming," he was saying irritably as Hercules eased into range. "He has no sense of discipline. I had hoped you’d be able to knock some into him. But if you can't…"

"Iolaus is one of my best students," Cheiron replied frostily. "I sent him into the village to buy some herbs for me. He should be back by now."

Skouros snorted. "He'll take all day about it if he can. The boy's too lazy for his own good."

Iolaus isn't lazy! But you never give him any time for himself. He needs time to have some fun too! He's your son not a soldier.  Hercules managed to bite his tongue before he spoke out loud, knowing that Skouros would only consider it yet another sign of wilful behaviour.

"I'm sure he'll be back soon," Cheiron said with deliberate calm.

"No responsibility that's his trouble," Skouros grumbled.

"He is still very young. I don't suppose he's much different than you were at his age."

Skouros gave the Centaur a cold look. "At his age, I had no one. I had to look out for myself, take care of myself. I didn't have it soft like he does. I didn't have any fancy training school to teach me how to fight. I had to learn the hard way! And it made me a better man for it."

Cheiron raised a shaggy black eyebrow. "Iolaus isn't you," he pointed out sardonically. "Have you considered that what you want may not be what he wants? Following in the family tradition because it's tradition is all very well, but…"

Skouros scowled bleakly. "I don't know anything about my family," he said coldly. "I was abandoned. Iolaus is my son and I expect no less of him than I do of myself."

"Maybe that's the trouble. You’re asking too much, too soon."

Skouros snorted. "Doing the sensitive flower act again, is he? Well, let me tell you something, I don't believe a word of it. Never have and never will. It's an excuse to get out of anything he doesn't want to do. Now, I want to see him and I want to see him now."

Cheiron sighed heavily and looked round, spotting Hercules as he hovered a short distance away mending his bow. He beckoned him over.

"Hercules, Iolaus went to the village. Do you know which way back he'd come?"

"Probably along by the river," Hercules admitted, giving Skouros a polite nod.

Skouros bent his head stiffly, studying him critically.  "No doubt that's the long way round?"

"Not really," Hercules replied coolly.

"Go and fetch him," Cheiron ordered as he took the bow from him. "And tell him to hurry up."

"Yes sir," Hercules answered obediently and bounded off, heading for the gates.

"I'd rather that one didn't hang around my son," he heard Skouros saying as he went. "He's a bad influence, always dragging my boy into some scrape or another…"

                                                            * * *

Absently swinging the bag of herbs he had collected for Cheiron, Iolaus slithered down the slope onto the river path, caught his balance and then set off towards the school. He was enjoying himself. The day was hot and sunny and he had been glad of an excuse to slip away from an hour or two on the errand. It was pleasantly shady under the trees and as usual there was always a breeze by the river. Trotting out on the spit of land jutting out into the river, he stopped to peer under the bank into the swift flowing current, checking for the glint of fish. They had a free day coming up and Hercules could always be persuaded into going fishing.

"There you are," the low growl made the hairs stand up on the back of his neck and Iolaus whipped around, staring in horror at the big man emerging from the trees behind him in the path. Deliberately or not, he had the youth cornered unless Iolaus wanted to jump into the river. 

"General Silon…" he stammered in alarm.

Folding his arms across his massively powerful chest, the General strolled closer. Iolaus took an uneasy step back, feeling the soft earth of the river bank crumble under his slight weight.

"A nice spot for a tryst," Silon mused, glancing up and down the river. "Quiet, secluded, private…."

"I've got to get back," Iolaus blurted, lifting the bag of herbs. "Cheiron is waiting for these."

"I'm sure he won't miss you for another hour or so." Silon stepped closer, wiping his wrist across his mouth as he eyed Iolaus in lust.

"I don't want…." Iolaus began nervously.

"Skouros sent me."

"What?" Iolaus hadn't exactly forgotten he was coming, but he hadn’t expected it to be today.

"We arrived at the school and you weren't there. I said I’d come find you personally. He knows I want to talk to you."

"Look, I don't want to be your assistant or anything else. Now, please, get out of my way. I have to get back." Iolaus eased forward, hoping to dart past the bigger man. Instead Silon made a grab for him and Iolaus dodged, scampering backwards again. 

"Nippy little thing, aren't you? But I like my boys limber."

"Let me go," Iolaus urged.

"Don't be foolish. I only want to teach you a few things."

"I'll bet you do, but I don't want to learn them!"

"Learning to follow orders is one of them," Silon growled. "Now, come here, boy."

Iolaus bit his lip and dropped the bag of herbs, determined to put up a fight.

Silon grinned, noting his defiance in malicious amusement. "It won't do you any good," he warned, extending his arms wide to display his huge muscles. "I'm three times your size. I'm older and more experienced in every way than you are."

Silon wasn't going to let him go this time. Last time he had been lucky that the General's lust had got the better of him and they had been in a public place where he had been afraid of discovery. All Iolaus had had to do was pretend to succumb for long enough to lull him into relaxing before he kicked him and ran for it. This time Silon wouldn't fall for it. "I don't care," Iolaus snapped and moved, wasting no more time on pointless talk.  The General was taken by surprise and Iolaus was past him and running before he knew it. Unfortunately for Iolaus, the bank was treacherous with mud and he slipped. The precious second it took for him to regain his balance was a second too long. Seizing his chance, Silon was on him in a flash, his sledgehammer like fist thumping Iolaus hard across the side of the head and stunning him badly. Catching him by one arm, Silon then hoisted him to his feet.

"Think you can run away from me, do you? Think again. We have some unfinished business…."

"Let go of me!" Twisting in his grip, Iolaus sank his teeth into his hand and ripped free again. Before he could get away, the General tripped him and kicked him hard in the ribs and stomach; the combined savage blows enough to leave Iolaus breathless and sick with pain. Silon wasn't finished yet though. Yanking the youth to his feet, he backhanded him roughly across the face a few times until Iolaus tasted blood from a split lip. Then he put one arm around his waist and pulled him against his body.

"You going to be sensible now?" Silon hissed, cupping Iolaus' bruised face in one massive paw and bending his head to kiss him. Iolaus' answer was to twist his head aside and make a frantic effort to knee him in the groin. Blocking him with one solid thigh, Silon hit across the face with a bunched fist and knocked him to the ground. "So you want it the hard way. It's your own fault," he snarled as he unfastened his leather belt and wound the end around his hand.

"No!" Iolaus snarled and scrambled to get clear then yelped as the leather belt landed on his back. Grabbing him by one ankle, Silon hauled him back and laid into him with the belt, ripping through the think shirt he was wearing. Gritting his teeth, Iolaus went into a huddle, protecting his head with his arms from the rain of blows. His senses were spinning around a vortex of crimson speckled darkness when he dimly registered that the beating had stopped. He uncurled gingerly, looking up at the panting General as he stood over him.

The older man's face was flushed with lust and excitement and his physical arousal was obvious as he reached for the youth. Iolaus made a feeble struggle to crawl away, but hurt too much to move fast. He was caught easily. Closing his fist in his victim's hair, he yanked Iolaus' head back and drew a knife, holding it deliberately in front of Iolaus' frightened eyes before laying it across his vulnerable throat.

"I could kill you right now and tell everyone it was robbers. Or you could co-operate and get to live."

Iolaus licked bloody lips. "I think you're going to kill me anyway. I'm going to tell…."

"Tell who? Skouros isn't going to believe you. He'll think you're making excuses for getting into a fight." Silon smirked; running the blade down Iolaus' exposed throat to prick at the hollow of his collarbone. Iolaus closed his eyes, struggling against the urge to cry. When Silon dragged him to his feet, he didn't resist him but he did open his eyes.  The General dragged him towards the bushes, wanting more cover than the exposed river path gave him.

Iolaus went limp, letting him drag him while he gathered his strength. The General dropped him ion the ground and started to unlace his breeches, convinced he had knocked all the fight out of Iolaus. To his astonishment, Iolaus made one last break for freedom. He lunged after the youth, flinging himself on him in a vicious tackle and bringing him to earth hard. The stunned squeak of pain that exploded out of Iolaus made him feel wonderful and he resolved to drag a few more whimpers out of the youth for denying him by the time he was finished with him.

Kicking and struggling furiously, Iolaus did his best to struggle out from under him as the General fumbled with his clothes. Finally annoyed with him, Silon hit across the face, clubbing him furiously. Iolaus subsided dazedly, only distantly aware of the General's frustrated curse as he slapped his face.

The wild raucous yell that split the air as he attempted to rouse his semi–conscious victim made Silon look up in astonishment as Hercules raced down the path towards them. Cursing silently, he readied his excuse about rescuing Iolaus from robbers and started up in time to realise that the new arrival wasn't even going to slow down.

Hercules came in screaming and swinging, the large branch he had seized for a weapon serving him well as he caught the General by surprise with a roundhouse blow that knocked him staggering. Oblivious in his fury to the fact that the older man topped him by a good head, Hercules went after him, smashing the knife from his hand before hammering his ribs with a series of blows that doubled Silon up before he shoved him backwards into the river.

"Do you know who I am?" Silon roared in rage as he surfaced, spitting mud and weed. "I'm General Silon."

Panting for breath, Hercules stared at the General as he floundered, belatedly realising who he had attacked.  "I thought…." He stammered, then looked down at Iolaus as his friend stirred with a moan of pain. Lifting his head, Iolaus looked round in fright for Silon, unsure of what had happened. "You were, you bastard," Hercules hissed in understanding and crouched, helping Iolaus gently to his feet.

"You leave him where he is!" Silon bellowed, slipping as he floundered towards the bank.

"No chance! Cheiron's going to hear about this."

"He encouraged me!" Silon snarled.

Hercules glanced at Iolaus' bloody, bruised face and the dazed terror in his eyes and knew better. "No one's going to believe you," he retorted. "Come on, Iolaus. Let's get out of here."

"Wait!" Silon staggered to the bank. "Let me explain."

Hercules threw a look of loathing at him. "So you can lie? Explain it to Cheiron and Skouros if you can!"

                                                            * * *

It took Hercules half an hour to get Iolaus back to the school. By then his friend was properly conscious if still badly dazed and obviously hurting, although he refused to admit it aloud. Hercules had kept an arm around him to support the badly limping blond with his own body and could feel him shivering with the onset of shock. Silon followed them at a short distance; jeering and making viscous remarks that made Iolaus flinch. As they approached the gates, Hercules slowed down, feeling Iolaus' reluctance to go in increasing with every step.

"You don't want to go back?" he asked softly as they halted under the arch.

"He's going to lie about me," Iolaus whispered in miserable anguish. "And my father is going to believe him."

"No, he's not," Hercules growled. "Do you have idea how bad you look?"

Iolaus looked up at him ruefully, wincing as the movement caused a spasm of pain to run down his back. He glanced back at Silon who was glaring at them. "Why doesn't he go away?!" he complained.

"Because he wants you to think this was all your fault and it wasn't," Hercules said grimly. "Look, it you really can't face it, I’ll take you to the village and explain things to Cheiron."

"No," Iolaus protested, catching at the arm Hercules had around his midriff. "If you leave me alone, I think he’d kill me. I…. he scares me, Herc…Let's get this over with. I have to face my father some time. It might as well be now."

Hercules hugged him hard and steered him under the arch onto the training grounds. The students were out practising, hammering at each other with blunt training swords and the heavy cudgels they used for building up muscle strength. One or two of them glanced over to see who was arriving and frowned, lowering their weapons and drawing the attention of the others to the gates.

"That's far enough," Silon said abruptly, his rough edged voice booming out. Lengthening his stride he caught up with the two youths, towering intimidatingly over the pair of them. "I'll take over now."

"You'll what?" Hercules gaped at him in surprise, feeling Iolaus cringing back against him. Silon reached for the blond youth's arm, his fingers digging in to leave fresh bruises. 

"I'm not having you spreading any more lies," Silon snapped, giving Iolaus a shake that was hard enough to make his teeth rattle as he yanked him away from Hercules. "Skouros is going to know what kind of a son he has. A liar, a thief and a would be murderer who jumped me for what he could take!"

"Iolaus is none of those things!" a young voice said angrily from behind him.

"Yeah, you’re the liar if you're saying stuff like that," another student growled.

"This jerk making trouble for you guys?" a deep voice demanded irritably. Hercules reached out and caught Iolaus' hand tugging his friend away from the General and once more putting his arm around him.

A rough push from behind made Silon finally take his eyes off Iolaus and look around him, realising that the belligerent students had ringed him in. Glaring at the General, they closed ranks with Hercules and Iolaus, lifting their weapons suggestively. "You'll stay out of this if you know what's good for you," Silon growled in threat.

"We know what's good for us," the one who had called him a jerk commented. "And that's supporting our friends against dirtballs like you."

"Yeah, Tomas is right. Anyone can see Iolaus didn't jump you."

Silon's initial anger was fading as he studied the faces around him. None of them looked afraid of him and their determination to support their friends was obvious. "You dare to threaten me?"

"No one's threatening you," Tomas said coldly. The stocky dark visaged youth was one of the older students and would be leaving the school shortly. He was a good friend to both Iolaus and Hercules. "But we don't want your sort around here."

"And what sort would that be?" Silon sneered. "I am General Silon."

Tomas raised an eyebrow. "So? My father is King Kurete. And being a General doesn't make you any less of a pervert."

"How dare you?!" Silon snarled.

Tomas looked him up and down deliberately. "I dare pretty easily really," he retorted. "I've heard about you. My father says he'd kill you if you ever set foot on our lands."

Silon was silent for a long moment, reading the distrust in all their eyes. He turned a glower on Iolaus. "You needn't think having all your friends lying for you is going to help," he warned and scowled at Hercules. "And as for you, your father will hear about this!"

"My father is Zeus if you want to talk to him," Hercules shot back defiantly, for once willing to use his lineage. "All seeing, all knowing Zeus. Would you care to take a bet on who he's going to believe?"

Silon paled very slightly. "A lie!"

"Hercules doesn't lie any more than Iolaus does," Tomas said with marked hostility. "Come on guys; let's run this guy off the grounds…."

"Wait," Iolaus protested however.

"What for? He's a dirtball, Iolaus. We can all see that," Tomas argued.

"But he's a General," Iolaus said miserably. "It's only going to make it worse for me."

There was silence for a moment while the students thought it over, then they turned back to a smirking Silon with the air of a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. Tomas lifted his cudgel, glaring at the General. "Maybe we should teach him what happens when he picks on people then."

"What is going on here?!" Cheiron barked, shoving his way through the crowd of students. He pushed Tomas’ cudgel down with a warning scowl, nodded to Silon in recognition and glared at the students. "Is this any way to treat a visitor? Tomas, are you behind this?"

"He hurt Iolaus," Tomas replied gruffly.

"The boys have got the wrong idea," Silon interrupted. "Iolaus attacked me on the road. I was fending him off when Hercules turned up and mistakenly thought I'd jumped him. They haven't given me a chance to explain. Now, would I attack my friend's son?" He turned an appealing look on Skouros as he pushed through the crowd. "General to General, Skouros, do you think I’d do such a thing?"

Skouros eyed him woodenly, his gaze drifting past him to Iolaus as his son pressed tightly against Hercules as if wishing he could turn invisible. His eyes narrowed as he saw his bruised and bloodied face. "That depends on what Iolaus says," he said stiffly. "Well, boy?"

"Don't call me boy," Iolaus hissed belligerently.

"None of your lip now, answer me!" Skouros snapped.

Iolaus gave him a filthy look, stubbornly refusing to respond. He didn't want to admit what had happened in front of all the students.

Cheiron had been studying him quietly. Seeing his expression set, he moved closer and cupped Iolaus' chin, turning his face up to the light to examine him in the sunshine. The marks of knuckles were plainly visible in the darkening bruises.  

"You should see his back," Hercules urged.

Cheiron nodded and ordered calmly, "Turn around, Iolaus.”

"I don't…"

"Iolaus, no one is blaming you. Turn around," the Centaur urged kindly.

Swallowing, Iolaus took a deep breath and turned around, facing Hercules who rested his hands on his shoulders and comfortingly met his eyes. Cheiron tugged carefully at his ripped tunic and studied the weals and bruises marking his fair skin in silence. Hercules saw Skouros' forbidding expression change with a flash of anger and pain at what had been done to his son before his feelings were once more hidden behind his military mask.

There was a low growl from the students and another threatening surge towards Silon.

"That's enough. Go back to your practise," Cheiron ordered curtly, not bothering to look round. Reluctantly, the students backed away, only Tomas lingering to watch.

Finishing his examination of a shivering Iolaus, Cheiron looked over at Skouros. The General had paled and nodded slowly, glaring at Silon. "There's no excuse for that," he said flatly.

"This is ridiculous!" Silon snapped indignantly. "I told you! He attacked me on the road."

"With a belt by the look of things," Cheiron said sarcastically.

"Yeah. By him!" Hercules said hotly, pointing at Silon. Iolaus said nothing, his head lowered in chagrin as he straightened his tunic.

"That will do, Hercules," Cheiron warned.

"No, it won't! He was holding a knife on Iolaus!"

"It was his knife. I was merely subduing him," Silon said firmly.

"It was your knife not his!"

"Be quiet, Hercules," the Centaur said sharply as he tugged Iolaus back to face him. "Iolaus, tell me the truth. Did you attack General Silon?"

Iolaus bit his lip and looked nervously from Silon to Skouros and then back to Cheiron. One way or another he was going to be in trouble. He swallowed, sagging in pain and misery.

"The truth now…" Cheiron urged.

"No, sir, I didn't attack him," Iolaus whispered.

"Did Silon attack you?"

Mutely Iolaus nodded.

"Why would I do that?!" Silon laughed sardonically.

Iolaus shot a quick, humiliated look at him and then hung his head again. He wouldn't, couldn't look at his father and missed the expression of shock and fury that crossed Skouros' craggy face.

Tomas shifted a step and touched Cheiron's arm, beckoning the Centaur to lean down to him. Keeping his voice, low, he whispered in his ear so Iolaus wouldn't have to hear what he had to say. "I see," the Centaur said icily, glaring at Silon. "Seduction is one thing, General, assault another."

"Assault? Look at him! He's asking for it."

"All I see is a young man who was attacked for no good reason other than lust," Cheiron snapped. "Hercules, take Iolaus inside and stay with him."

Hercules nodded obediently and looped his arm carefully around Iolaus' shoulders, leading him away towards the dormitory. Skouros gazed after his son in silence.

"You could go after him, you know," Cheiron said quietly.

"No," Skouros turned back to Silon, glaring at him in loathing. "I don't want you going anywhere near him again. I should kill you for this."

"You didn't seem to care so much before," Silon sneered. "He asked for it. He likes the rough stuff."

Skouros jerked and for a split second he looked as if he was going to hit him, then he controlled himself with a slow breath. "You," he gestured to Tomas. "Come with me, I want to know what you know about this man."

 Tomas scowled, but at Cheiron's nod he followed the General across the practice grounds. Silon snorted and started towards the stables, only to be halted by Cheiron’s catching his shoulder.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

"I'm leaving."

"I don't think so," Cheiron said coldly. "Much as I want you off my grounds, you’re not going to walk away from this."

Silon scowled. "I'm King Thessalon's General. He can ruin you if you even delay my return to him. I don't think you’re going to destroy your precious school for the sake of one boy whose own father doesn't even care about him."

"Iolaus' problems with his father are none of your concern," Cheiron snapped. "As for whether or not you can ruin me, I suggest you think again. I have taught kings and heroes at this school. Not to mention Generals far worthier of the rank than you." He beckoned to some of his students hovering watchfully near by. "For now, you'll be staying here until I decide what to do with you."

"That boy isn't going to tell anyone anything. And whose words do you think will be believed if he does?" Silon jeered as the boys hustled him away.

Cheiron scowled and turned away in disgust, bitterly aware that the General might well have a point. If Iolaus was as traumatised as Tomas said Silon's other victims had been, then he might well decide to say nothing at all.

                                                            * * *

Reaching the dormitory where they shared a room, Iolaus pulled away from Hercules and tottered over to his own bed. He dropped on it face down, burrowing into the pillow to hide his face and treacherous tears from his friend. Hercules hovered anxiously for minute, then pulled himself together and leaned over him, tugging Iolaus' boots off.

"You want to strip off?" he suggested. "You might feel more comfortable."

"G'way," Iolaus mumbled into his pillow.

"How about a bath then?"

"Leave me alone, Hercules!"

Hercules sighed and sank into the chair between their beds, watching Iolaus silently and knowing instinctively that his friend didn't really want him to leave. He wasn't particularly surprised when he heard a choked sob escape the blond.  He shuffled his chair a bit closer and patted his shoulder, uncertain what to do. Feeling the tremors shuddering through Iolaus' slight body as his friend wept silently, he awkwardly touched his hair, petting the golden curls gingerly because it was what Alcmene always did for him to make him feel better.

"I'm sorry, Iolaus. But we all know everything Silon said was a lie."

"My father didn't even believe me!" Iolaus choked out. "He didn't even care!"

Hercules frowned, remembering the torn expression that had crossed Skouros' face when he looked at his son. That wasn't the face of a man who didn't care. It was the face of a man who cared deeply but had no way to express the emotion. "I think he does…" he said slowly.  "But he isn't good at saying it."

"Hercules is right, Iolaus. Your father does believe you. But it's hard for him to admit he was wrong," Cheiron said quietly as he stood in the doorway, listening. He entered the room slowly, careful not to knock anything over with his large body.

"So, I have to suffer because of his pride?!" Iolaus spat, lifting his bruised tear stained face to glare at the Centaur. "Why can he never put me first?"

"I don't know. He certainly should do," Cheiron sighed, ruffling Iolaus' mop of blond hair. "Stand up now. Let me take a look at you."

Iolaus gave him a rebellious glare, but he rolled awkwardly off his bed, needing Hercules' help to get his battered body back on his feet.

"Anything broken?" Cheiron asked as he helped him out of his tunic and started to examine him properly.

"No," Iolaus lifted his head proudly. "I've had beatings before."

"But not as bad as this one," Cheiron guessed as he turned Iolaus around to view his back. Hercules caught his breath as he saw the weals properly for the first time and the sound was enough to make Iolaus crane a peek over his own shoulder. Cheiron chuckled, seeing a hint of Iolaus' normal spirit and curiosity shining through.

"No…" Iolaus said slowly. "And I usually deserved it anyway…" He broke off with a wince and a yelp as Cheiron's skilled fingers woke his bruises to life.

"I think you need a hot bath to clean you up first, then we'll coat you in salve."

"Aw no," Iolaus groaned.

"No arguments, Iolaus. The salve will help it stop hurting," Cheiron assured him.

"But I left your herbs by the river. I'm sorry…"