The afternoon sun falling through the leaves made a dappled pattern of shade and light, warming the green depths of the forest. Close by the pleasant burble of a stream mingled with the squabble of bird song as two red finches had a knock down drag out fight in the undergrowth.

Iolaus stopped to watch them, amused by the sight of one finch attempting to throttle the other with its beak. He had been enjoying himself as he wandered lazily back through the woods from the village, taking the short cut he wasn't supposed to take rather than stick to the road. There had been rumours of slavers moving into the area during the summer break and Cheiron seemed to have developed a paranoid dread that they were after his students.

It made a change to get away from the Academy with all its rules and regulations and Cheiron's new crop of instructors. For once though he had a valid excuse to slip away, having volunteered to go into the village to collect Tydeus' latest herb order from the Theban trade caravan that had been due. Normally, he had to sneak away unobserved and that had been getting harder and harder to do lately what with Cheiron keeping an eagle eye on him and Acrides' efforts to catch him out. Then there were Hercules' disapproving looks, which were proving more effective that any lectures. The young demi-god simply didn't understand that Iolaus had grown up taking care of himself and now relished the times he managed to slip away for a while and polish up his neglected hunting skills in solitude. He certainly didn't understand that Iolaus felt a genuine need to escape Acrides' constant scrutiny. Iolaus was convinced the new instructor had it in for him. He seemed to take great delight in seizing every chance to make Iolaus look bad.

A sudden yell from up ahead and the crash of someone running through the trees made the birds take off with a rattling call of fright. Iolaus stiffened and took several steps back, fading into the dappled shadows out of sight where he stood poised and alert for trouble, fingers curled loosely around the hilt of his belt knife in readiness for a fast draw.

An outbreak of shouting followed then the crash and thud of a rough and tumble. Iolaus frowned, listening hard. If this was the local village louts on one of their drunken sprees, he wanted nothing to do with it.

"Let go of me!" a young male voice shouted.

"Oh no, not after the chase you've led us!" a rougher voice answered and there was the sound of a blow and a yelp of pain.

Iolaus flitted out of the shadows and loped across the bark-softened ground of the wood, closing in rapidly.

"Tie him up!" ordered a new voice, darker and more menacing with its cultured overtones than the first man's rough tones.

"I didn't do anything!" the young man protested. "Why are you doing this?"

"And gag him while you’re at it before he attracts attention."

"Out here? Get real!"

"We're too close to that damn Centaur's school for my liking."

"We should raid the place now if you ask me."

"No one did."

"The place is stuffed full of prime produce, Elides," the first man argued. "We could make a fortune. Women for breeding and boys for fun. That's what they say."

"And this one will make us a tidy few dinars if you tie him up! Now grab him before he gets away again!"

There was the sound of a scuffle and another frightened yelp. By now Iolaus was close enough to see what was going on as he dropped to the ground and wriggled forward on his stomach through the bushes, parting the leaves to peer into a small clearing by the stream.

There were two older men; one bearded with a scar dragged across one eye and dressed in scuffed and worn brown fighting leathers. The second man was taller and wore a fine embroidered tunic of rich red cloth over brown pants. Their captive was a youth of about Iolaus' own age, slender and long legged with a mane of silver blond hair falling over his eyes. He was dressed in a fine white tunic embroidered in silver over white leather pants and had silver bracers around each wrist.

"Quit biting me, you little bastard!" the bearded man roared, rapping the youth he held sharply around the ear and then wrenching his wrists behind him when the young man subsided miserably.

"Don't bruise him too much, Kaltron," Elides said sharply. "You'll ruin his value."

Iolaus nibbled his bottom lip, wondering what to do. Common sense suggested he make a run back to the Academy and fetch help; these two men were obviously slavers to his way of thinking and there might well be more of them close by. On the other hand, a wild thrill of excitement inside him pointed out that there were only two of them and he could surely handle them on his own.

The young man suddenly exploded in an uncoordinated but effective flurry of bites and kicks, stamping on the slaver's feet and sinking his teeth deep into his hand. The slaver let go with a howl of pain, shaking him off. The youth attempted to bolt and was tripped up by Elides, who glared down at him as he uncurled a whip from his belt.

"You need a lesson in manners, boy," he snarled.

Iolaus exploded out of the bushes, decision made. A few hours spent tied up was one thing, a real beating another. Before either slaver knew he was there, the young hunter was behind Elides and leaping, slamming a kick between the slaver's shoulder blades that sent him stumbling. The silver haired youth swiftly stuck out his own feet, grinning in delight when Elides tripped over him and crashed into the on rushing Kaltron.

Skimming forward, Iolaus crouched and sliced through the youth's bonds with his belt knife then sprang upright in time to meet Kaltron's rush. Grabbing his wrist, Iolaus folded backwards, pulling the startled slaver off his feet and sending him flying into a tree. The youthful hunter was halfway back to his feet when he realised there was a sword tip hovering at the side of his neck.

"Get up before I slice you in two," Elides hissed at him. Warily, Iolaus obeyed, kicking himself for underestimating the older man's speed. "Well now…" The slaver looked Iolaus up and down slowly, his hostility lessening a little as he inspected his doeskin clad capture. Iolaus could practically see the dinars adding up in his eyes and winced. He was halfway up and preparing for a desperate lunge when the slavers would be captive leaped at the slaver with a scream, punching him in the jaw then howling in pain. Elides staggered, brought his sword up and got it kicked out of his hand as Iolaus blocked, then side-kicked his feet from under him. Before the slaver could get up, Iolaus flicked out another kick that clipped Elides' jaw and knocked him out cold.

Breathing fast, Iolaus whipped around, falling into a defensive fighting stance as he checked on Kaltron. The bearded slaver was sprawled upside down against the tree he had hit, groaning softly. Iolaus held his breath, straining to hear any sounds of movement in the forest, any sound of slavers rushing towards their position.

All he could hear was the youth, doubled up over his hand as he walked in small circles and whimpered.

"Will you hush!" Iolaus hissed at him and was startled when the youth instantly obeyed, coming to a halt and giving him a wide-eyed look. He stood still, holding his breath while Iolaus listened until he was sure no one was coming and then nodded permission for him to speak.

"I hurt my fetlock," the teenager complained, winced at the bewildered look Iolaus gave him and then held out his hand towards him. "I m'mean this…See?"

Iolaus eyed his swelling thumb and flitted closer. "Thumb," he told him.

"Oh. I think it's broken…"

Catching the youth's wrist, Iolaus absently noted his silver bracer with a stylised wing design and then examined his hand gently. "Nah, it's only bruised. How'd you hit him?"

The young man demonstrated making a fist with his other hand, eyeing Iolaus warily as he did so.

"Ah well, there you go. You should never tuck your thumb inside your hand," Iolaus explained. "You should do it like this." He showed him how he had been taught to punch. "Better yet use your heel…"

The young man looked at his elegantly leather clad feet speculatively, then at Iolaus' worn boots.

"No," Iolaus giggled. "With the heel of your hand, like this…" He demonstrated a heel of the hand blow gently against the young man's chin. "But only with force when you mean it…"

Nodding seriously, the young man mimed a few blows into the air, nodding vigorously as he got the hang of it. "Yes, I see," he said happily, forgetting his bruised thumb. "And how did you do those kicks?"

"Uh, why don't we discuss that somewhere a little safer?" Iolaus suggested, shooting an uneasy glance at the slavers as Kaltron moved feebly. He padded off towards the trees, then glanced back at the youth. "You coming?" With an eager nod, the youth trotted after him and fell into step beside the hunter. "You were lucky I came along. I'm a warrior." Iolaus told him as he led the way. His companion looked at him thoughtfully, his amber eyes astute. "Okay, so I'm a student warrior at Cheiron's Academy, but I still rescued you!" Iolaus admitted reluctantly.

"That's where I'm supposed to go! I have a scroll here somewhere."

Watching him ferret inside his tunic, Iolaus found himself smiling. "My name's Iolaus. What's yours?"

"My what?"

"Name."

"Oh…You won't laugh?"

"Why should I laugh?"

"Some people laugh." The young man complained, pouting. "It's Pegasus."

Iolaus considered this, eyeing him curiously, taking in his fine bone structure, large eyes and generally leggy quality as they walked. "And are you?" he asked slowly.

"Am I what?"

"Pegasus."

"I told you that's my name."

"That isn't what I meant."

Pegasus frowned at him. "Then what is?" he demanded in frustration.

"Are you Pegasus?"

"I told you…"

"As in are you sometimes a flying horse?"

Pegasus paused in mid response and gave him a strange look. "Do you know, you’re the first person to ever actually ask me that? Usually people laugh."

"You’re not going to tell me, are you?" Iolaus sighed.

"I could say yes and be lying. And I could say no and still be lying," Pegasus grinned, his slightly upturned nose wrinkling with mischief. He held up the scroll with a flourish. "Told you I had one!" He shoved it into Iolaus' hands eagerly, trotting beside him as the young hunter read it.

Behind them in the woods there came a loud bellow of rage, followed by a lot of vicious swearing. "How good are you at running?" Iolaus asked quickly.

"Pretty good. Why? Don't you want to kick them again?"

"No, I had the advantage of surprise and stupidity then."

"Stupidity?" Pegasus frowned at him. "I didn't notice they were…"

"I meant me for taking on two armed men on my own. Now they sound mad which'll make them even more dangerous. Come on. I know a short cut…"

"They were slavers?" Pegasus said slowly as he trotted alongside Iolaus through the gates of the Academy. He had finally got around to asking why the men had wanted to kidnap him and was bemused by the answer. "But why would they want to enslave me?"

Iolaus glanced askance at him. "Didn't you hear what they said? Women for breeding, boys for fun?"

"They wanted to play with me?"

"Something like that," Iolaus said dryly.

"But I'm not…Oh…" Pegasus paused and gazed at him thoughtfully, his amber eyes solemn. After a moment, he looked down at his clothes and slim body then cocked his head to one side and turned to Iolaus with a serious expression. "Is it the way I'm dressed? Did they think I'm rich? I'm not. Or is it the way I look? I'm older than I look, you know."

Iolaus sighed. He couldn't quite decide whether Pegasus was dense or naïve or simply making fun of him. He had his suspicions about who and what Pegasus was, so he tended to come down on the side of naivety. "Yes," he said simply.

"Huh?"

"All of those. You’re dressed to show off the way you look and whether you’re rich or not those silver bracers are worth a lot of money."

"I only wanted to make a good impression," Pegasus said forlornly, drooping a little.

"There's nothing wrong with that. But it's who you want to make the impression on that guides how you dress," Iolaus explained. "That outfit will wow the girls, damn it…"

"Huh?"

"Never mind," Iolaus muttered, making a mental note to be careful where he took Pegasus and surprising himself by realising that he kind of liked the idea of showing him around. "And the boys…" he added cautiously. To his relief, Pegasus gave him a blank look. "But it's no good for fighting in. And if you want to make friends, then it's not a good idea to start by showing off. Cheiron won't care how you dress anyway as long as you wear something suitable for training. On the other hand, there's no harm in looking snazzy when you arrive."

"I see…" Pegasus said slowly, peeking at him from under his fringe. "Thank you."

"For what?" Iolaus gave him a puzzled look as he led the way across the training square to where Cheiron had his office. One or two of the students who were hanging around doing chores watched them, curious about the new arrival. On the whole though, most of the students were taking advantage of their last few hours of freedom before lessons started again the next day.

"For helping me and advising me and explaining things I don't understand. For saving me from the slavers. I was told, I mean taught to be polite and be grateful to anyone who helps me."

"Oh, no problem," Iolaus grinned at him. "It was a fun fight. Right, I'll hand you over to Cheiron." He knocked briskly on the outer office door and waited, frowning when there was no answer. Pegasus fidgeted nervously from foot to foot, not seeming to know what to do with his hands. Puzzled Iolaus looked around the square until he spotted a familiar flash of red hair. "Hey, Ithis! Any idea where Cheiron is?"

The student stopped, sagging under the armful of swords he was taking to Davron the blacksmith. "He's showing some visitor around and we're all supposed to be on our best behaviour," he answered, grinning at Pegasus. "Hi there. New guy?"

Iolaus nodded. "Yeah, Pegasus, this is Ithis. One of the students in my group."

"Hi," Pegasus murmured, suddenly shy.

"Pleased to meet you," Ithis said brightly, hitching at the swords again. "Gotta go. Acrides sent me to take these for sharpening."

"The man's a slave driver. Come on, we'll give you a hand," Iolaus said quickly, grabbing a blade as it slid precariously.

"You have slavers here too?" Pegasus asked, wide eyed.

"Figure of speech. Grab a few, Pegasus."

Pegasus obeyed, letting Iolaus distribute the swords evenly between the three of them for carrying to the forge. Davron wasn't around when they stepped into the warmth of the dark building, but they set the swords down on a shelf near the anvil. Noticing Pegasus hanging back at the door, Iolaus went back for him.

"It's okay to come in," he told him. "Davron won't mind as long as we don't touch anything."

"Blacksmiths make me nervous," Pegasus explained, gratefully letting Iolaus take the weight of the swords. "Too much iron and fire."

"Uh yeah." Glad that Ithis hadn't been listening as he stacked the swords, Iolaus put the rest of the weapons on the shelf and made his excuses to the other student for a quick escape.

"Did I do something wrong?" Pegasus fretted as he trotted along beside Iolaus back across the square a few minutes later.

"No, not really," Iolaus said easily, giving him a thoughtful glance. "How's your fetlock?"

"Sore," Pegasus said promptly, displaying his thumb.

"Figures. Come on, this way. I'll take you to Tydeus. He’ll fix it up for you."

Pegasus hesitated as Iolaus pushed through a door into the main building, scurrying after him when the hunter held it open for him. Fascinated, he gazed around him, taking in the smattering of wall hangings depicting various scenes of battle and heroic rescues. He sniffed hungrily when they passed the dining hall with its kitchens at the far end, scenting the fresh greenery of a salad being prepared.

"Yeah, dinner will be on soon," Iolaus noted with satisfaction as his own stomach rumbled. "Breakfast was hours ago and I missed lunch."

"I…" Pegasus chewed his lower lip for a second, then rushed on. "I don't eat meat, you know," he said warily.

"Oh? Delicate constitution or ethical?"

"Yes…" Pegasus said cautiously.

Iolaus slid another thoughtful look at him. "Well, you can have my broccoli. And you won't be the only vegetarian here anyway."

"Herbivore," Pegasus corrected, then blushed furiously as his eyes widened in dismay.

"No, Pegasus," Iolaus said gently. "You tell everyone you're a vegetarian."

"Sorry."

"Are you bullying this young man, Iolaus?" Tydeus asked dryly, startling them by appearing suddenly around the corner of the corridor. Pegasus leaped back several feet, gazing at the healer in alarm.

"I've been showing him around. He's going to be a new student here if we ever manage to find Cheiron. Have you seen him? Ithis said he had a visitor with him."

"Yes, it was Hyperius. They were headed for the stables the last I saw of them."

"Stables?" Pegasus perked up. "You have horses here?"

"Yeah. Down, boy," Iolaus said dryly. "You'll have to excuse him, Tydeus. He's a foreigner. We were looking for you though. He's hurt his hand. Show him your hand, Pegasus."

The healer considered the bewildered look Pegasus gave the blond student and smiled, wondering what Iolaus was up to this time. Pegasus held out his hand to him, displaying his swollen thumb.

"I hit someone," he explained. "But Iolaus said I did it wrong."

"I can see that. You’re lucky it isn't broken," Tydeus said sharply, examining the wounded digit and ignoring Pegasus' whimper of pained protest. "You weren't brawling, were you?"

"Were we brawling?" Pegasus asked, looking to Iolaus for help.

"No," Iolaus assured him earnestly, all wide-eyed innocence as he gazed at Tydeus. "Pegasus was attacked by slavers. I helped him get away."

"Slavers?!" Tydeus gasped in dismay.

"There were only two of them. That's another reason why I need to talk to Cheiron."

"Two of them? Iolaus, you…" Tydeus gave up with a helpless shrug. "Never mind. You never listen anyway. Did you remember my herbs?"

"Oh yeah," Iolaus dug out the slightly squashed cloth wrapped packet from his belt pouch. "The trader said, he'd only got part of your order and the rest will be on the next caravan. But he's managed to get an extra supply of Boneheal and if you’re interested, you should go and see him."

"With the way you students carry on around here, Boneheal is practically a necessity!" Tydeus exclaimed. "I'll have to go into the village. Come along, Pegasus. We’d better put something on your hand. A cold compress and some witchhazel for a start."

Pegasus hung back as Tydeus bustled off along the corridor, only moving when Iolaus gave him a push. "I'm not a foreigner," he complained plaintively.

"But if you tell people you are, they'll understand if you make mistakes. Like saying you’re a herbivore?"

"Oh," Pegasus thought this over as they followed Tydeus, hurrying to catch up when he bellowed their names. "Where should I say I'm from then?"

Iolaus looked him up and down, taking in his pale hair and leggy appearance. "Etruscan, definitely Etruscan," he told him. "But don't worry about it. You'll settle in fine once you get the hang of things. Yes, Tydeus! We heard you the first time! We're coming!"

"He's angry…" Pegasus said nervously.

"Nah, he only sounds that way. He won't hurt you. Tydeus is cool." Iolaus grinned at him, his blue eyes sparkling. "Relax and go with the flow. You’re going to be fine."

* * *

"Iolaus!"

Hercules' loud hail bellowed across the course, making the young hunter shift his attention away from the archery butts to look for the demi-god. Spotting him bounding towards him, he put up his bow and waited for him. "Hey, Herc! What's up?"

"I've been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been all afternoon?"

"I went to the village to collect Tydeus' herbs, remember? I did tell you."

"Oh…" Hercules hesitated, then grinned. "So what took you so long?"

Iolaus couldn't help it, he smirked. "Oh this and that. I found a new student lost in the woods and rescued him from slavers."

"Oh, yeah, right," Hercules scoffed.

"I'm hurt that you don't believe me," Iolaus exclaimed, giving him his best wide-eyed and wounded look. "It's true. Why don't you ever believe me?"

"It saves time." Hercules frowned warily, eyeing him with increasing suspicion. "Honest Theban?"

"Honest Theban," Iolaus told him solemnly. "There were two them; Elides and Kaltron. They were after Pegasus. He's the new student."

Hercules stared at him. "Are you serious?"

"About Pegasus? Yeah. I'm not sure if he's the real Pegasus or only named after him. But who'd name their son after a flying horse if….You've got that look again, Herc."

"You saw Elides? Here? Seriously?"

"I told you…"

"Iolaus!" Hercules cut him off impatiently and grabbed his arm. "We have to tell Cheiron about this. Now."

"There were only two of them…" Iolaus protested as his friend dragged him off the course, watched with interest by the other students and relief by one or two since Iolaus usually beat everyone with the bow.

"Elides is the leader of the worst band of slavers ever," Hercules interrupted him again. "He's a killer. If you saw him you were lucky to get away alive."

"How come no one ever told me?"

"How come you never listen?" Hercules shot back. "Cheiron warned us at breakfast."

"You know I'm never awake at breakfast," Iolaus complained. "What's the hurry to tell Cheiron anyway?"

"Because until now it was only a rumour that it was Elides." Hercules' blue eyes lit up with sudden enthusiasm. "Hey, this could be our chance!"

"Chance for what?" Iolaus asked warily, wriggling out of his grip but letting the bigger student herd him into the building.

"To prove ourselves. Cheiron is bound to let the villagers talk him into going after the slavers and he'll need our help!"

Iolaus winced. He wasn't afraid of a fight, but the idea of going up against an armed and vicious bunch of cut-throat slavers did not fill him with the same enthusiasm as it did Hercules. He suspected that it was his friend's bloodlines that urged him into battle. "I don't think Cheiron will agree to it," he cautioned. "We're still students."

"We'll talk him into it," Hercules assured him with born confidence. "Come on, let's find Four Legs…"

* * *

"Well…." Cheiron lifted his head, studying the slender new arrival as Pegasus stood patiently in front of his desk, watching him with large liquid amber eyes. He tapped his scroll on the well-polished wood, considering him. "So, you’re Pegasus. Are you sure you want to keep your identity secret?"

"I'm told it would be best that way."

"You’re likely to get some teasing over your name," Cheiron warned and brandished the scroll. "And this does not fill me with confidence at your fighting skills."

"That's why I'm here," Pegasus answered earnestly. "To learn how to fight and protect myself while I'm m' m….here."

Cheiron sighed, wondering why the youth had been inflicted on him now. Pegasus seemed likeable enough, but with Hyperius' new Academy now established and prospering, he could hardly afford to be seen to have any failures. Then there was the threat of the slavers and problems with the new teachers. He had lost three men to Hyperius and while they hadn't been his best, the replacements could be better. Who was he kidding? For all his reputation as a skilled warrior, Acrides was a pain in the butt with his Spartan training regime.

"You will teach me, won't you?" Pegasus urged anxiously, gazing at him in worry. "They said you would. They said you’re the best. Please, don't send me back. I really will do my very, very best to succeed."

Cheiron looked at him in surprise, realising that the youth was genuinely concerned. "I have no doubt you will," he said calmly. "You only need to learn. I'm only wondering whether the Academy is the best place for you. You have very little experience at being …er, with social skills. You don't really know how to interact with young men of your own age. Have you considered going to somewhere like Athens? Perhaps one of the temple schools. I'm not sure you need to now how to fight, only to interact with people."

Pegasus' bottom lip developed a distinct tremor. "You don't want me?" he asked miserably.

"I never said that!" Cheiron exclaimed, alarmed.

"I don't want to go to a temple school," Pegasus sniffed. "I want to come here. I think I can get on with the other students. Iolaus helped me with the slavers. He didn't make fun of me."

"Iolaus? Slavers?" Cheiron stared at him. Now there was a combination to strike fear into any Centaur. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

Pegasus blinked. "I'm hungry?" he offered.

"I meant…" Cheiron broke off as his office door rattled to a barrage of furious knocking. Sighing heavily, he lifted his voice. "Yes, Hercules. Come in…"

The door opened and the young demi-god stuck his head in, glanced at Pegasus and then to the Centaur behind the desk. "How'd you know it was me?" he asked warily.

"Your gentle tap," Cheiron answered dryly. "What is it?"

"It's about the slavers…" Hercules began and then was interrupted as Iolaus squirmed around his friend as he blocked the doorway and gave Pegasus a grin. Pegasus smiled back, both pleased and shy at seeing him again.

"How's your hand?" Iolaus asked.

Pegasus held up his bandaged thumb. "Tydeus fixed it for me," he said proudly. "And I hardly complained at all. You were right. He wasn't angry."

"Told you." Iolaus glanced at Hercules as the demi-god nudged him and gave him a meaningful look. "Oh yeah, Herc, this is Pegasus. Pegasus, my best friend, Hercules," the hunter said brightly. "Pegasus is going to be a student here."

Cheiron sighed and gave in. It was obvious that Iolaus already regarded Pegasus as a fixture. All he could do now was stand back and hope to reduce the chaos that would follow as much as possible. He watched Pegasus meet Hercules, gripping his arm in a firm if slightly awkward warrior's grip. Hercules studied the new student in return, obviously coming to his own rapid conclusions about his identity and smiling at him in welcome. Pegasus slid a hopeful look at the Centaur.

"All right, Pegasus, since Iolaus has obviously adopted you, you can stay. But you had better stay out of trouble. I'll draw up a class schedule for you to give you a basic grounding. Iolaus, he can have the empty room near you and Hercules. And I expect you two to look out for him."

"Sure, no problem," Iolaus said cheerfully, winking at Pegasus. Pegasus attempted to wink back and ended up closing both eyes and looking baffled instead.

"Now, what was this about slavers?" Cheiron turned to more important matters. "Pegasus was telling me that Iolaus rescued him?"

* * *

"You're making it up about the slavers," Aerides scoffed as he waited next in line to Iolaus for the evening meal. He was the son of a General and never let anyone forget it. It rankled him that Hercules preferred to spend his time with Iolaus rather than him.

"No, I'm not," Iolaus insisted. "Pegasus and I both saw them. And fought them. Right Pegasus?"

Aerides leaned forward, his dark hair sweeping around his face as he studied Pegasus. "You fought them?"

"I bit them," Pegasus answered, then turned worried eyes on Iolaus as the student ahead left the counter with his meal. "Iolaus?" he questioned anxiously, eyeing the food on display uneasily.

Iolaus nudged him forward and flashed a grin at Hercules who had the misfortune to be stuck behind the lunch counter. "Load him up, Herc," he urged. "Greenery only. He's a vegetarian."

"Oh, right," Hercules gave Pegasus a reassuring grin and waved his ladle at the salad stuff. "Lettuce, beans, onions, mushrooms, carrots…"

"Carrots aren't green," Pegasus said warily, eyeing the vegetables as Hercules pointed at them.

"For that you can help yourself."

Pegasus looked even more alarmed and turned an appealing look on Iolaus.

"What is he? Thick?" Aerides mocked.

"No, rich," Hercules retorted crisply before Iolaus who had stiffened had a chance to turn and punch him out. "Pegasus is Etruscan. He's used to having people wait on him and hand and hoof. I mean foot."

Pegasus flicked a glance at the demi-god, momentarily taking his eyes off Iolaus as he loaded his tray for him then he looked at Aerides in calculation. "You remind me of one of my slaves," he remarked innocently. "Perhaps the slavers are looking for runaways?"

"Why you-?!" Aerides spluttered in fury.

"Ah ah," Iolaus scolded, wriggling in between Aerides and Pegasus. "Cheiron's watching."

"That's right," Hercules agreed. "Pegasus is one of Cheiron's specials."

Aerides scowled, shot a look over his shoulder and subsided. "You and me later," he hissed at Pegasus.

"You and me later what?" Pegasus wondered in bewilderment, but Iolaus hustled him away from the counter before Aerides could answer. Finding an empty table, Iolaus set his own tray down and indicated that Pegasus should sit across from him. "Was he offering me an assignation?"

"No, a fight. "

"Oh, good. He's not my type. Not enough legs." Pegasus cautiously sampled a mushroom, oblivious to the way Iolaus was gaping at him. The velvety texture and flavour of the butter fried mushroom made his eyes widen. "What are these?"

"Mushrooms," Iolaus answered,

"And Hercules said these are carrots?" Pegasus popped a chunk of raw carrot into his mouth, his eyes going even bigger at the burst of taste. "Oohhh…."

"You don't get out much, do you?" Iolaus observed wryly.

Pegasus made a quick stab at the beans, loading a forkful eagerly into his mouth, then following it with mint flavoured peas and a moan of what sounded suspiciously like ecstasy.

Iolaus shrugged and started his own meal. To keep Pegasus company he had stayed with the salad section, but had added eggs and cheese. Now he hardly noticed what he put in his mouth as he watched Pegasus wriggling in delight at each new explosion of flavour. Freshly buttered bread made him sigh with pleasure, but it was a close run thing whether he preferred peas, carrots or mushrooms. The lettuce vanished practically instantly, the beetroot was mulled over, nibbled and then devoured. Pegasus seemed to like everything and ate like, well; he ate like a horse, but finally he was full and sat back with a happy sigh. "I was worried about your food," he admitted to Iolaus as the hunter polished off the last of his cheese wrapped in a chunk of crusty bread. "But I think I shall do well."

"You’re probably going to look like a Titan if you eat like that all the time," Iolaus said lightly.

"I was hungry," Pegasus pouted.

"I was teasing you. Drink your milk."

"Oh yes." Picking up the beaker, Pegasus sniffed cautiously, then took a mouthful, considered the taste carefully and then swallowed. "This is nice too," he said happily, snorting and giggling as he blew bubbles into the milk.

"Pegasus, don't do that," Iolaus urged, with a half giggle of his own.

"No? Why not?"

"It's not good manners. I don't mind, but people will think you're silly."

"Oh, okay." Pegasus gulped down the rest, draining it thirstily. "I think it's fun though."

"Never said it wasn't," Iolaus admitted, grinning at the white moustache Pegasus was now wearing on his upper lip and gesturing at it. "You’d better wipe that off."

Pegasus frowned, doing his best to reach the last remnants of cream with his tongue, then reluctantly wiping it off with the back of his hand. Shooting a surreptitious look round, he licked it off, gave Iolaus a smug grin and then hiccuped. His eyes grew huge in alarm. "Iolaus?" he yipped.

"Hiccups, you ate too fast," Iolaus advised. "It's okay. They'll stop."

"But it….yikk…" Pressing his hand over his mouth, Pegasus giggled as he looked around him.

"Everyone gets hiccups. No one minds. Sit still and I’ll get you some water."

"Yikk!"

Iolaus laughed as headed for the counter and a water pitcher. Behind the counter, Hercules was looking harassed and gave Iolaus a pitiful look as he came up.

"Help, sa-ve me!" he begged, rolling his eyes at him.

"What? Little me save a rough tough warrior type like you?"

"My hero," Hercules retorted sarcastically, threatening him with the ladle.

"No, no, mercy, Hercules!" Iolaus wailed. "Not the ladle that can kill a god! Anything but that!"

"One of the few things that can kill a god, yes!" Hercules responded in his best booming warrior's voice, striking a heroic pose and then bursting into laughter at the reminder of a recent lesson with the Myths teacher. "As if. You want baklava?"

"Ooh, yeah. And water for Pegasus. You going to be long?"

Hercules shot a quick glance round the nearly empty dining hall as he sliced two chunks of baklava and stuck them on platters. "Nah. Ithis got stuck with clearing away. Wait for me?" he asked as he poured a beaker of water from the pitcher.

"Sure. You want me to take you a tray?"

"No, I ate already. Give me ten minutes?"

"Okay, be right over there with Pegasus."

Hercules nodded and watched his friend trot back to the new student, who had a far away expression on his face as he dealt with the new concept of hiccups. It looked like having Pegasus around was going to be fun.

* * *

Finally rid of his hiccups and alone in his room a couple of hours later, Pegasus sat down on his bed, resisting the urge to sniffle in misery. He had unpacked his bags - delivered by mysterious messenger while he was making his way to the Academy on foot - and for the first time he was now on his own with time to think. His initial visit to a village had been full of nerve-wracking strangers who he hadn't known how to deal with and he had been glad when Hermes had decided to drop him off in the woods the second time they came to earth.

His relief had very quickly turned to alarm as he started to realise that the mortal world was far more dangerous than he had suspected. Out in the woods, he had run into the slavers almost immediately and he had gone from admiring the wild beauty of his surroundings to a panic-stricken run for his life. After that there had been first Iolaus, then Tydeus and Cheiron and lots of new and exciting people and surroundings as he was shown around what was to be his home for a while. There simply hadn't been time to register where he was and how cut off he was from everything he had known.

Sighing sadly and mentally scolding himself with a reminder that his exile it was all his own fault, he turned his bag upside down in the hope there might be something else to keep him occupied. A perforated silver ball hidden at the bottom of the bag fell out, wafting a faint but unmistakable scent to his sensitive nose. He scooped it up, inhaling eagerly. Herb scented hay, sweet with the smell of sunshine and meadow flowers.

Stretching out awkwardly on his back on the bed - something else he wasn't used to - Pegasus hugged the pomander to him, rubbing it against his cheek in pleasure at the reminder of home. At least someone loved him. He could smell the faint scent of Hermes clinging to the silver…

A loud knock on the door made him start nervously, clutching the ball to his chest and preparing to take flight. Instead he hit the floor with a thud.

"Pegasus? You in there?" Hercules' by now familiar voice called.

"Oh, yes. Wait a moment." Flailing his way off the floor, Pegasus trotted over to lift the latch and open the door for him. "Hi…"

Hercules looked him up and down, taking in his ruffled appearance and eyeing the pomander before Pegasus sheepishly tucked it behind his back. "You okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine."

Hercules pursed his lips dubiously. "First time away from home?"

"Of course not. I'm…I…." Pegasus paused uncertainly.

"Uh huh. You want to come to our room for a while? Iolaus doesn't want to study as usual."

"I would like that, yes." Pegasus hesitated, then turned his back and went to tuck the pomander carefully under his pillow. "It will be safe?" he asked, sliding a look over his shoulder at Hercules.

"Yeah. Cheiron would use anyone who took anything around here as a seat cover." Hercules replied as he waited for him patiently. "You want to tell me anything?" he added casually.

"What do you want me to tell you?"

"Who you are?"

"My name…"

"I know that. I mean who you really are."

"I am Pegasus."

"Uh huh. You know who I am?"

"Oh yes." Pegasus nodded eagerly as he trotted out of his room and followed Hercules down the corridor to the room the demi-god shared with Iolaus.

Hercules' shooed him inside and then shut the door. Iolaus was sprawled on his bed, reading a scroll. "Hi Pegasus. Welcome to our hovel."

"Hovel?" Pegasus looked around him in bewilderment. True he was used to richer surroundings and decorations, but the room was clean and warm if not especially neat. But then it was shared by two young men who wouldn't have known neat if it bit them.

"He's teasing. Grab a seat." Hercules flopped onto his own bed, which creaked alarmingly under his weight.

Pegasus looked around and then obediently picked up a chair, then looked at Hercules for a clue as to what he should do with it.

"He meant sit on it, Pegasus," Iolaus said mildly, glancing over at the demi-god. "Told you."

"I know what you’re thinking but I'm not thick," Pegasus protested indignantly, putting the chair down and hastily sitting on it. "You're very unspecific with what you mean."

Iolaus grinned at him. "Never said you were. You’re pedantic. You call a sword a sword."

"What else would you call it?" Pegasus wondered in bewilderment.

Iolaus took a deep breath and looked over at Hercules. "See?"

"Makes sense," Hercules admitted.

"You're making fun of me," Pegasus complained, blushing in chagrin. "That's mean."

"No, we’re not." Iolaus sat up and swung his legs off the bed, gazing at him seriously. "Pegasus, you can trust us. We're not going to give away your secret."

"Secret?" Pegasus said warily.

"It's pretty obvious," Hercules said quietly. "You really are Pegasus."

"The one and only," Iolaus grinned.

"It is my name…"

"You’re not fooling us," Hercules interrupted mildly. "I can sense you’re not fully mortal. And Iolaus, well, I'm not sure how he does it, but he knows too."

"That's because I'm smarter than you."

"Modest as well," Hercules retorted sarcastically.

"That too." Iolaus chirped brightly. "The point is we know you’re Pegasus, normally a flying horse. The question is what are you doing here and what did you do with the wings?"

Hercules sighed. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to. But we'd like to help. If you've been cursed…"

"No, not cursed, well, yes, but not exactly," Pegasus exclaimed and then stopped nervously. "You won't tell anyone else? Cheiron knows but…"

"Hey! You told Cheiron but you won't tell the guy who saved your tail today?" Iolaus said indignantly.

"It was in the scroll."

"I read the scroll. It didn’t say anything about you being a horse. Only that your father was sending you here to study…" Iolaus paused, a distant light entering his eyes. "That's weird…"

Pegasus smirked. "You can't remember what it said, can you?"

"No, not exactly. It mentioned your father but I don't remember his name."

"Poseidon," Hercules supplied helpfully. "It was probably a magic scroll. Only Cheiron could read the details." He gave Pegasus a thoughtful look. "Aren't you allowed to tell anyone the truth?"

Pegasus shrugged carefully. "I was told to be careful," he answered. "If people know who I am they might want to use me. Like that's new!" he snorted in disgust. "But hiding it isn't going to be as easy as I thought. I guess since you already know…"

"Telling us the whole story will be easy," Iolaus urged.

Pegasus gazed at him thoughtfully and then gave him a shy smile. "All right," he agreed. "I am the real Pegasus. And I was sired by Poseidon. But I was born if you want to call it that in my equine form and I've always wanted to find my human shape. We've always known I had one, Artemis ascertained that when I was only a foal. But I've never been able to change into it. She said I’d have to wait until I was ready, that it would happen when the time was right. But I got fed up of getting caught and used by mortals. That damn golden bridle is a pain..." He shot a fierce look from Hercules to Iolaus and back again. "It was a punishment you know; them giving Bellerophon the bridle and telling him how to catch me. He was so convinced I was only a horse with wings he couldn't hear me so I couldn't even talk to the moron. It wasn't fair. I mean I only ate a couple of the golden apples and they were windfalls."

"Stood around and flapped till they fell off, did you?" Iolaus asked inquisitively.

Pegasus blushed and shot him an embarrassed grin. "Anyway, I got bored of waiting for the right time and I borrowed Artemis' Stone of Form. I’d barely got it figured out how to use it when Hermes came along looking for it. I was so startled I used the Stone without thinking in mid air and changed into this form. That's the problem when you've only got your mouth to carry things in. You neigh and that's it; gone."

"Hermes tends to startle me too, damn goat fondler," Iolaus observed dryly.

Hercules laughed, earning himself a glare from his diminutive partner. "I take it he caught you before you hit the ground?"

"And took me back," Pegasus sighed. "The trouble is, I can't remember how I did it so I'm sort of stuck like this. Apparently part of the problem is I don’t want to change back yet."

"What about the Stone?" Hercules asked. "Can't Artemis use that?"

"If she could find it. I dropped it."

"Bummer," Iolaus commented.

"That’s what Hermes said, or words to that effect only ruder. He's very inventive."

"Where'd you drop it then?" Hercules pressed.

"Somewhere over Greece," Pegasus answered with a small smile.

"Big area…" Hercules said after as moment of stunned silence.

"I think it was in a quarry. But I'm not sure which one. Most of Greece looks the same to me from the air."

"I'm surprised they didn't make you look for it."

Pegasus smirked again. "Hermes is looking for it. Artemis said it was his fault I dropped it."

"Cool," Iolaus purred.

"Huh?"

"It means he won't be chasing me for a while. I knew there was something I liked about you." Iolaus sprawled back on his bed with a grin, folding his arms behind his head as he relaxed.

"So they sent you here to learn…what exactly?"

"How to protect myself while I'm like this. How to get on with mortals. You know, human stuff." Pegasus paused reflectively. "I could be stuck with this shape for some time. Maybe even permanently. Or if I do change, I could be stuck as a horse. I'm not sure if that would be bad or not."

"Another thing to find out," Hercules suggested.

"Being mortal's okay," Iolaus offered. "I'm mortal and it's never bothered me."

"It bothers me," Hercules muttered under his breath. "Pegasus, remember that Iolaus is mortal, huh?"

Tilting his head to one side, Pegasus frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

"He's fragile compared to you and I. So are most people. What you can survive, he won't."

"Oh…" Pegasus gave Iolaus an alarmed look.

Iolaus was glaring at Hercules. "He's exaggerating," he said however. "And we don't know that you’re not mortal."

"Be careful with them, okay? That's all I ask." Hercules insisted, ignoring his partner.

Pegasus nodded solemnly. "I understand," he agreed. "I was warned and I will be careful. Do slavers count?"

"No," Iolaus said firmly.

"If they're mortal…" Hercules began.

"No!" Iolaus repeated, giving him a dark look.

Hercules hesitated, then inclined his head.

"Bad guys don't count," Iolaus clarified.

"Uh, by which he means anyone who's doing their best to kill you," Hercules said hastily, having visions of Aerides being trampled in the dining hall. He had already had to have words with him over challenging Pegasus.

Pegasus frowned, mulling this over furiously. "How do I tell?"

"Go with the flow," Iolaus advised. "If I scream kill them you can be pretty sure I mean it."

Hercules sighed. "In general, don't hurt either the students or the teachers," he elucidated. "Or the villagers and especially not the Watch. If you’re attacked, you can protect yourself but don't do more than you have to."

"Okay, I can do that," Pegasus nodded. "I’d like to see the village. Will you take me there?"

"When we have some free time, yes," Hercules promised. "I kind of got the impression you came in on the caravan though."

"No. Hermes brought me to the woods and then I walked here to make it look good." Pegasus pouted. "Hermes didn't know about the slavers."

Hercules grunted, still a little sore that Cheiron wasn't planning to hunt the slavers down. The Centaur was more interested in tightening security and making it clear no students were to be out after dark. Night time visits to the local taverna had been banned, although Hercules suspected that was one rule that would be ignored.

"First of all you need to learn to fight before you start worrying about getting into any brawls," Iolaus advised however.

"Will you teach me to kick like you?" Pegasus asked hopefully.

"Why don't we let the teachers do that?" Hercules said quickly.

"Hey! I can teach him!" Iolaus protested.

"Yeah. But the teachers will show him how to fight cleanly."

"You saying I fight dirty?"

"Yeah, titch."

Iolaus yelped and threw his pillow at him. Hercules lobbed it back. Iolaus caught it and swung, clouting the demi-god firmly in the face. Hercules grabbed his own pillow, whapping Iolaus over the head with it and then taking a sly swing at Pegasus as he gaped at them. Highly indignant, Pegasus snatched at it and joined in; joining Iolaus in a fit of giggles as they both pounded the demi-god into laughing surrender.

"What is going on in here?" a harsh voice said irritably, interrupting the impromptu pillow fight. The three young men scrambled apart, spitting feathers and shoving their hair out of their eyes. Iolaus winced when he realised it was dark eyed Acrides who had slammed the door open. He knew he was going to get the blame for this. "Are you men or children? Mere boys it would seem to indulge in such childish behaviour!"

"We weren't doing anything wrong," Pegasus protested, baffled by his new found friends' efforts to hush him.

Acrides stared at him in disgust. "You must be Cheiron's new sob story. What am I supposed to do with a skinny thing like you? I've seen fatter spears! Do you even know what a muscle is?"

"It's a type of shellfish," Pegasus answered brightly.

"Thick too," Acrides exclaimed, throwing up his hands.

"I'm not. And I'm not skinny either, I'm svelte," Pegasus muttered sullenly

Acrides snorted. "Don't talk back," he snapped. "Isn't it bad enough I have to put up with half pint sized smart mouthed warrior wannabe's without taking on poor little rich kids too?"

Hercules wasn't sure which of his companions to grab fist. He settled on Iolaus on the grounds that he knew what his partner's temper was like. To his relief however Iolaus simply glared in humiliation while Pegasus gazed at Acrides blankly as his insults went straight over his head; finally taking the hint to keep quiet from Hercules and Iolaus' silence.

For a moment Acrides looked annoyed at not getting rise out of any of them then he pulled himself together. "If you have so much excess energy that you don't know what to do with it, I’ll have to make sure you're tired out at practice tomorrow. For now, I don't want to hear another sound out of you! And tidy up the mess in here!" He stomped out, slamming the door shut behind him.

For a long moment they stayed silent, then Hercules let out a long slow breath and released Iolaus. Bouncing off the demi-god's bed, Iolaus returned to his own, muttering darkly under his breath. Pegasus stayed where he was, kneeling on the end of Hercules' bed. He let the demi-god pluck his pillow from his hand and frowned thoughtfully.

"Who was that?" he asked finally. "He smelled funny."

"Oh, he does that," Iolaus snorted.

"No, I mean he smelt…sharp somehow." Seeing the strange looks they gave him, Pegasus sighed and pressed on, "Oh, it doesn’t matter. Who was he?"

"Our drill instructor, Acrides," Hercules answered. "You don't want to cross him."

"Cross him with what?"

"Annoy him, contradict him, anything like that," Hercules explained.

"I didn't do anything to him and he still treats me like dirt!" Iolaus pointed out ruefully.

"You were born, Iolaus, you were born," Hercules sighed. "As far as we can figure out, he's got it in for Iolaus because of his father. He can't get back at his father, so he's taking it out on Iolaus."

"That doesn't seem very fair," Pegasus said slowly.

"It isn't," Iolaus said bitterly. "It's not like I get on any better with my father than Acrides did. And I never even met Acrides until he came here!"

"Then how do you know…?"

"I looked in Cheiron's scrolls," Iolaus said simply, ignoring the way Hercules rolled his eyes in exasperation. "And I asked around about him. He and my father were both fighting for the same King. Skouros outranked him. Because of Acrides' actions in battle while leading his men - he got a lot of warriors killed in some ambush - Skouros refused to give him a larger command. When the King found out how many men he lost in battle, he banished him."

"He's a good warrior," Hercules offered cautiously. "But he's a lousy leader."

Iolaus looked at him silently, then shook his head and flopped back on his bed, folding his arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling.

Pegasus looked from one to the other of them then gave Hercules a hopeful look. "Do you think I'm skinny?"

Iolaus lifted his head to look at him in astonishment. "What kind of a question is that?"

"I thought this was one of those times when I'm supposed to change the subject?" Pegasus explained. "And Acrides said I was skinny and that I don't have any muscles. Of course, I have muscles. I wouldn't be able to move otherwise, would I?"

"We're going to have to teach you to be less literal," Hercules chuckled, glad to see Iolaus smiling. "But it had better be in the morning. It's getting late and I wouldn't put it past Acrides to come back and check up on us."

"Yeah. He'll probably decide we’re having an orgy next."

"Iolaus!" Hercules yelped, shocked.

Iolaus turned innocent blue eyes on him. "Yes, Herc?"

"You, you…oh never mind! Come on, Pegasus."

Obediently, Pegasus unfolded his long legs and trotted out of the room after the demi-god. "Do you think I'm skinny?" he asked insistently however.

Hercules glanced at him and sighed wistfully. Compared to Iolaus and Pegasus he felt like an overgrown Titan at times. He envied the pair of them for their slight builds and neat proportions when his own limbs felt too long and full of unexpected joins. "No, Pegasus, you’re not skinny. You’re like Iolaus, put together right."

"Oh…" Pegasus considered this thoughtfully as he stepped into his room and then looked over his shoulder at the demi-god. "You and Iolaus are nice people, Hercules," he decided. "I think I'm going to enjoy being here."

Hercules grinned at him. "I'm glad. Good night, Pegasus."

"Good night, Hercules."

Closing the door quietly, Hercules made his way back to his own room. He liked Pegasus' straightforward ways and honest reactions. He only hoped it wouldn't get him hurt.

* * *

"You're not chopping firewood, boy!" Acrides voice rang across the drill hall, targeting Clemis as the student practised his sword parries on the swinging dummy. Armed with an assortment of blunt edged staves, the hay stuffed bag was set swinging by means of a student pulling a rope while the others took turns defending themselves against it. Normally there were two dummies but Hercules had managed to smash three of the staves on the other one in his earlier efforts and it had been taken down for repairs. "That's a sword in your hand! Use it like you mean it!"

Clemis renewed his efforts, swiped savagely at the dummy then got flattened as it oscillated wildly and knocked him swearing off his feet.

"Next time, watch your back!" Acrides bellowed. "Next! Conanius!"

"Guess we’re not children anymore," Iolaus whispered to Hercules. He and the demi-god were standing on the sidelines, watching while they awaited their next assignment. The hunter had already tackled the dummy and had his swordsmanship grudgingly passed.

"Don't be childish," Hercules grinned back at him.

"Yi yi yi yi….!" Conanius tackled the dummy, hurling himself on it with a berserk scream as he flailed at it wildly. It veered away from him, wobbling in little circles but obviously unharmed.

"What are doing?!" Acrides roared at him. "You want to make it laugh itself to death?! What kind of a noise was that?"

"My death scream," Conanius answered, shuffling his feet and dodging the dummy as it swung gently back towards him.

"Do that in a battle and it will be," Acrides barked. "You sound like a girl stuck with a needle! Next!"

Conanius skulked over the sidelines, pouting. He was a broad shouldered, strong young Macedonian with an even temper. Hercules slapped him on the shoulder. "I thought it sounded good," he said consolingly.

"What are you lot doing over there?" Acrides had spotted them and bore down on them rapidly. "You, Hercules, on the ropes. You too, Conanius. Let's see if all that muscle is good for something other than chopping wood. You, Iolaus, up on the balance poles. And…" Acrides shot a quick look round for an opponent. "You, Aerides, get up there with him. Let's see what you’re capable of."

Hercules exchanged a grimace with Iolaus as they both moved to obey. Aerides picked up the padded batons they used for fighting, twirling it absently as he smirked across at Iolaus. Iolaus stuck his tongue out at him then scrambled up the steps to the top.

The balance poles consisted of a square of twenty or more upright beams hammered into the floor of the gymnasium, their tops cut flat and smooth. Standing a man's height and a step apart, they were wide enough to get one foot on at a time and no more. Every now and then Cheiron would have them dug up and their pattern rearranged to make sure no student got to know the pattern too well. The new one had been in place for only a couple of days and no one had been up to use them yet. Sitting on the edge of the platform while he tugged off his boots - preferring to fight on the poles barefoot when it was a new pattern- he studied the pattern carefully and started to mentally rearrange his moves. He was good at balancing and tumbling and was learning to use his innate agility and speed to his advantage, rather than the sheer brute force of the military tactics Skouros had attempted to pound into him as the only real way to fight.

"Ooh, high, isn't it?"

Iolaus jumped, startled to find Pegasus right behind him on the platform. "I wouldn't have thought you’d mind heights."

"I don't," Pegasus said cheerfully. "But it looks higher from this height than it does when I'm up high flying."

Iolaus ferreted through the logic of this and smiled. "You want a go? Aerides takes a while to warm up."

"Can I?" Pegasus asked hopefully. "So far no one's let me do anything. I thought I was going to learn to fight, not count."

"Count?" Iolaus gave him a blank look.

"I had a lesson with Algebraius the maths teacher."

"Figures," Iolaus said dryly then laughed at his own unintentional pun. "Come on, I’ll show you. Step where I step." Skipping to his feet, he stepped out onto the pole tops, moving out a couple of feet before turning back to Pegasus. "C'mon…"

Pegasus rolled his lips together doubtfully, then stepped daintily after him, wobbling uncertainly.

"Here…" Iolaus held out his hands for him, letting Pegasus grasp his fingers so he could steady the student. "There, nothing to it really."

Pegasus tossed his head, flicking his hair out of his eyes. "It's too high," he complained. "I feel like I'm going to slip down the middle!"

"No, you’re not."

Pegasus glared at him and cast a longing look back over his shoulder. "What's this for anyway? It's dangerous."

"It teaches you balance and agility," Iolaus explained. "Here, watch this." Releasing Pegasus' hands despite his yip of protest, Iolaus took a gliding step back then jumped, turning a neatly controlled somersault and landing back on his feet.

"Oh, well done!" Pegasus applauded approvingly. "Will you teach me that?"

"What are you doing up there, skinny!" Acrides barked angrily. "Get down from there before you break something, you moron! Aerides, I told you and Iolaus to practise."

Aerides jumped and hastily started up to the platform with the batons.

"I'm not skinny," Pegasus muttered under his breath as he shot a glare at the instructor then looked nervously back at Iolaus. The young warrior promptly came to help him, guiding him back to the safety of the platform. Aerides jostled Pegasus out of the way and stepped brashly out onto the poles, tossing Iolaus a baton as Pegasus made his way gingerly down the steps to level ground. Steps were tricky things that he still couldn't get used to.

"This time I'm going to beat you," Aerides told the blond hunter arrogantly.

"Last time I tipped you on your butt." Iolaus shot back as he backed away across the poles, drawing the bigger youth out into the middle of the square.

"That was an accident!"

"That's what you think, airhead,"

"Don't call me airhead," Aerides complained, his broad face flushing.

"Airhead…"

"Shut up!"

"Make me, airhead," Iolaus taunted, goading the bigger youth's hot temper.

Aerides scowled and swung, aiming a fast but heavy blow that Iolaus dodged easily. Iolaus stayed out of reach, returning the blows with his own padded baton and feeling out Aerides' skills.

"You've been practising," he noted cheerfully.

"You haven’t," Aerides sneered, managing to get in a blow to Iolaus' ribs that lacked enough force to do any damage.

Iolaus frowned, resolving to be more careful. He was a little rusty and he was loath to ruin his reputation by losing to Aerides. Aerides might have more money than he did, but their backgrounds were equal.

"What are you two doing, you pair of wilting daisies!" Acrides demanded impatiently, tracking them from below. "Let's see some action, some speed! Stop running away from him, Iolaus, and fight, boy!"

Iolaus bit back an angry response, having learned not to give people ammunition against him by reacting to taunts.

Aerides smirked, raining down a barrage of heavy blows that forced Iolaus into dodging. Aware that he was coming close to the edge of the square, Iolaus feinted then ducked in the opposite direction. Aerides was ready for him, knowing the move. He overextended himself as Iolaus swiftly changed direction and scooted around him on his other side.

"Over here!" he called, batting Aerides across the butt.

Aerides yelped and straightened up, nearly falling as wobbled dangerously.

"What are you waiting for?!" Acrides bellowed, outraged when Iolaus didn't follow up the advantage.

Iolaus, however, backed up a step, allowing Aerides the time to turn and face him. Aerides was flushed with annoyance, but he gave Iolaus a curt nod of gratitude for the salve to his pride. They both knew Iolaus could have knocked him off the poles and won with the trick, but deep down they both enjoyed the challenge of the contest and didn't want to end it too soon.

"Again," Aerides ordered.

Iolaus nodded, squaring up to him and then going on the attack so fast that Aerides barely had time to defend himself. A blow in the ribs made him grunt as it landed with force, but he retaliated with a swift hard baton punch to Iolaus' thigh.

Iolaus skipped back out of reach, his leg a trifle numb. Feeling the pole under his foot wobble a fraction, he gasped, took a skipping step and came down with his weight squarely on the next pole over. An explosion of pain shot through his heel and up his leg, making him cry out and instinctively snatch his foot back only to lose his balance completely as Aerides' baton smacked into his side. He caught one glimpse of Aerides startled face receding from him then the ground hit him with bruising force, something cracked across the side of his head and blackness descended with a thud.

Hercules was halfway up a spinning rope when he heard Iolaus cry out. By the time he stopped revolving, Iolaus was down, huddled among the forest of the balance poles. He let go of the rope without thinking and dropped, landing with his knees bent and tumbling into a roll that brought him back to his feet at the run. Pegasus was already squirming his way to Iolaus' side as Aerides slithered down a pole to help. Acrides was bellowing at Clemis to fetch Tydeus as Hercules pushed his way through the crowd of anxious students to his friend.

"I didn't hit him that hard," Aerides was protesting. "I didn't mean to hurt him."

"Stop whining," Acrides said harshly. "When you fight, you expect people to get hurt. You took advantage of your enemy's distraction. Nothing wrong with that. Pegasus, don't move him!"

Hercules flashed the older man a look of loathing as he scrunched his broad shoulders between the poles and knelt awkwardly beside Iolaus. Slighter built, Pegasus was having less trouble but clearly had less idea of what to do as he looked up at Hercules with huge amber eyes. He looked as scared as Hercules felt.

"Tydeus will fix him, won't he?" Pegasus whispered hopefully, petting Iolaus' hair awkwardly.

"I hope so," Hercules muttered, squeezing in as close he could get. As he wrapped his fingers around Iolaus' wrist, he was rewarded with a faint moan and a flicker of dusky gold eyelashes as Iolaus stirred and started to groggily surface again. "He'll be fine," he assured Pegasus, hoping he was right. He ran his eyes anxiously over his friend, noting that there seemed to be no ominous unnatural bends in any of his limbs, although there did seem to be an awful lot of blood on and around his bare feet. More worried about the other end for the moment, Hercules gingerly combed one hand through Iolaus' bright hair, feeling the knot forming over his ear.

"Ow…" Iolaus complained, opening his eyes and blinking up at the demi-god as Hercules snatched his hand away hastily. Lifting one hand, Iolaus vaguely waved Pegasus' petting fingers away from his hair. "Stoppit…"

"You have pretty hair," Pegasus told him. "Like good straw…"

"Gee, thanks…" Iolaus mumbled, closing his eyes again.

"That was meant as a compliment I think, Iolaus," Hercules said gently. "Look at me please…" With a long-suffering sigh, Iolaus opened his eyes again and focused on him. "Are you all right?"

"What kind of a dumb question is that?" Iolaus demanded irritably.

"Okay, okay, let me rephrase it. Are you hurt anywhere other than your head?"

Iolaus thought about it slowly. "I don't think so, only my foot…"

"Come on, shoo, shoo, shoo, out of the way," Tydeus' raised voice parted the students before him as they good-naturedly let the healer through.

"All right, nothing to see now," Acrides ordered, briskly recovering control of the situation. "Back to your exercises."

Tydeus wriggled through the poles, displacing a reluctant Pegasus so he could kneel beside Iolaus. "I might have known it'd be you," the healer teased as he leaned over the young hunter, running an expert eye over him. "What did you do this time?"

"He fell," Hercules offered.

Iolaus glared at him. "I stepped on something sharp, then I fell," he argued.

"After Aerides pushed him," Pegasus added helpfully, giving a hovering Aerides a murderous look.

"None of that now," Acrides warned sharply. "He did nothing wrong. Back to practise, Aerides." The dark haired student slunk off, looking both angry and worried at the same time.

"He hit his head," Hercules continued.

"Did he now. Was he unconscious?"

"No…" Iolaus said firmly.

"Yes," Hercules corrected, then shrugged at the look Iolaus gave him. "I'm sorry, Iolaus, but you were unconscious. Only for a minute though."

"You’re imagining things," Iolaus retorted. "I might have been a bit stunned but I knew what was happening."

"Oh yeah, sure," Hercules snorted.

Tydeus ignored them, running his fingers through Iolaus' hair and finding the swelling bump over his ear. "Quite a crack too," he observed. "Lie still while I have a quick look at your foot."

Iolaus grunted and folded his arms, wincing a little as a new bruise protested at the movement and doing his best not to flinch too obviously as Tydeus examined his foot. "Nothing broken," the healer said consolingly after a few moments. "Looks like you stepped on a nail." He looked over his shoulder at a scowling Acrides. "The equipment should be checked," he told him sharply. "I'm not having students hurt for no reason."

Acrides glared back at him. "I'm training warriors, not wimps," he replied icily.

"Fine warriors they’ll be if they end up crippled after your training," Tydeus shot back sarcastically.

"Crippled?" Iolaus yipped, pushing up on his arms in alarm.

"Not you, you young idiot," Tydeus tsked. "Your foot will be sore for a while is all. Now, let's have a look at the rest of you. Anything feel broken?" He leaned over him again, peering into Iolaus' eyes while the student did his best not to squint at him.

"I feel okay," Iolaus answered.

"Hmmh. Well, you seem all right for the moment, but best to be safe. You’d better lie down for the rest of the afternoon…" Iolaus shot a smug look at Hercules. "In the infirmary," Tydeus finished.

"Aw, no, not the infirmary," Iolaus complained. "It's boring in there!"

"I'm sure I can find you some scrolls to study if you get too bored," Tydeus said mildly. "Do you think you can walk?"

"Yeah, sure," Iolaus muttered sulkily, sitting up somewhat stiffly.

"All right, let's get a dressing on your foot first. No point you getting it any dirtier than it already is."

"Hey, I had a bath last night!"

"I'm glad to hear it," Tydeus said primly, rummaging in his ever present herb bag.

"Hercules, you’d better get back to your exercises," Acrides ordered abruptly. "And don't you have anything to do, Pegasus?"

"He's in beginners classes," Tydeus commented without looking up. "He can stay and help me. Do you know anything about herbs?"

"I know which ones are good to eat," Pegasus offered shyly.

"Somehow that figures," Iolaus said dryly, wincing at the bandages Tydeus wrapped around his foot. He looked at Hercules as his friend shifted. "I'm fine, go," he whispered, not wanting the demi-god to get into trouble with the instructor. Hercules nodded reluctantly, squeezed his shoulder and went, heading back for the ropes.

For the next few minutes Hercules went through the motions of exercising, watched Tydeus tend Iolaus then help him hobble from the gymnasium with Pegasus trotting alongside. Acrides had gone over to the practise mats and was putting a pair of hapless students through their paces. Seeing that he was distracted, Hercules trotted over to the poles and quickly swung himself up onto the ones near where Iolaus had fallen. He was startled to find Ithis up on the end platform, flattened across the steps.

"What are you doing?" he hissed at him, hoping to remain unobserved by Acrides for a while.

"Same thing as you," Ithis answered in a low voice. "Mind where you put your hand, there's a nail to your right."

Hercules looked and nodded, grimacing as the long blood stained nail projecting from the soft wood. Stepping gingerly, he made his way across to Ithis' side, noting the positions of several other nails as he went.

"What do you two think you’re doing up there?" Acrides demanded harshly, angrily striding over to glare at them. "That equipment isn't safe for now."

"And we were looking out for the safety of our fellow students by checking for nails," Hercules answered coolly.

"And did you find any?" Acrides snapped. "Or was it merely Iolaus' over active imagination again?"

"We found several nails," Ithis said quickly, realising Hercules was too angry to speak.

Hercules shot a quick look at the red head, then nodded jerkily.

"Someone obviously made a mistake when they were erecting them. I’ll get Davron to look at them. For now, come down for there and get on with your weapons drill."

As the instructor stalked away, Hercules made a rude gesture at his back. "He must think I'm dumb if he thinks I don't know he's been on Iolaus' tail since he got here," he muttered bitterly.

Ithis looked at him doubtfully as he followed the demi-god down the steps. "You don't think he put those nails there, do you?" he protested.

"Someone did."

"It could be an accident."

"You don't think that any more than I do. Why else did you check? They're glued in place," Hercules explained grimly. "You want to wrestle?"

"Yeah. But you don't really think Acrides would do it to get at Iolaus, do you?" Ithis argued. "You might as well blame Pegasus. Nothing like this happened before he arrived."

"Pegasus wouldn't do something like this." Hercules was pretty sure Pegasus didn't know what being mean meant.

"Well, we don't know that Acrides would either. I mean he sent Aerides up there too."

"Yeah, I know," Hercules frowned at the far wall of the gymnasium as he ambled over to the wrestling mats. "That's what bothers me…"

* * *

It wasn't until weapons training was over for the day that Hercules managed to slip away before his carpentry lesson. He, Iolaus and Ithis were sharing a chariot building project which had suffered a set back in the design for the wheels. Iolaus and Ithis were holding out for the new scythes while Hercules wanted old-fashioned spikes. Their teacher, Maplius, was letting them fight it out between them.

After getting permission from the healer, Hercules made his way down the corridor to the side room where Iolaus was resting. He found his friend propped comfortably on a mound of pillows, with his bandaged foot on a plump cushion. He looked up as Hercules came in and gave him a slightly strained smile.

"Tydeus says you’re okay," Hercules said after they had greeted each other and he had settled into a chair.

"I guess so. You never realise how sore you are until a couple of hours after you fall."

"Stiff?"

"Uh huh," Iolaus nodded ruefully. "I can't believe I was clumsy enough to step on a nail."

"I'm surprised Aerides didn't step on one too," Hercules said darkly. "Ithis and I took a look after you’d gone. They’re glued all over the pole tops."

Iolaus wrinkled his nose. "Don't tell me. One of Acrides' little Spartan training tricks?"

"I don't think so," Hercules said slowly. "Whatever else he is, Acrides isn't stupid. Some of the students are pretty important. If any of them got hurt…."

"Hyperius would think it’s a gift of the gods," Iolaus snorted. "They'd all go over to his Academy…" He paused, surprised at himself. "But the gods favour Cheiron, don't they? Why else would they send Pegasus here? You don't think he's…Herc, he wouldn't!"

"No, I agree, he wouldn't," Hercules said firmly. "But someone would, maybe someone paid by Hyperius. If people start believing Cheiron's lost his touch, they might decide to send their sons to Hyperius instead. He's fashionable and Cheiron, well, Cheiron isn't."

"But he's still the best," Iolaus argued.

"But if people start to think Hyperius is the best? Well, I wouldn't change schools, but some might. I mean Skouros might think…" Hercules paused uncomfortably.

"If Skouros thinks changing schools would be best, he'd do it and never mind what I think," Iolaus admitted gloomily. "But I'm not planning to write and tell him."

"Have you thought of telling him about Acrides?"

"What'd be the point? He'd tell me to deal with it. Come on, Herc, he hasn't been to see me and check up on me since last season. He hasn't even been home to see my mother either. In fact, I'm not even sure she knows where he is! Let alone me!"

Hercules didn't answer. He knew Iolaus thought Skouros had abandoned his family for good and was at a loss how to help his friend deal with something that might well be true.

Iolaus slumped back into the pillows. "At least he doesn't keep interfering any more. And he did pay all my tuition fees up until I graduate."

"He did?" Hercules said in surprise. Alcmene paid his tuition fees a season at a time as an incentive to make sure he did well. But then he wasn't too sure precisely where Alcmene gone the money from, although he suspected.

"I asked when we came back," Iolaus muttered, blushing.

"Is that why you were jumpy?"

Iolaus nodded. "My mother said he had, but…" he broke off with a shrug.

Hercules sighed, knowing Iolaus wouldn't have put it past Skouros to expect him to make his own way at the academy too.

"But if he does hear, he might send me away," Iolaus said slowly. "We've got to help Cheiron somehow."

"I know. I'm thinking about it."

"I wondered what the grinding noise was."

"Ooh, cutting," Hercules teased. "Are you going to be able to come to supper?"

"Unless Tydeus changes his mind, yeah. You going now?"

"Carpentry class," Hercules said simply, rising to his feet. "Wheel spikes."

"Scythes," Iolaus said firmly.

"Spikes," Hercules said firmly. "It's one on one now."

"Hey, no fair! Don't you go bullying Ithis! It was two to one before!"

Hercules smiled smugly. "Would I bully Ithis?" he asked innocently. "Later, Iolaus."

"Scythes!" Iolaus yelled indignantly. "Don't you go wrecking my chariot with your weird ideas!"

Hercules laughed and ducked out, dodging the pillow Iolaus threw after him and glad his friend felt better. He had been worried about him for a while. Humming under his breath, he trotted off to his next class, toying with the idea of putting the spikes on to annoy Iolaus after all. They could always change them later. Surprised by the idea, Hercules suddenly grinned and lengthened his strides as the perfect solution occurred to him. Interchangeable attachments! He was sure Maplius would be able to show him how to make a wheel where they could change scythes for spikes any time they wanted to!

* * *

"Are you sure you don’t want anything else?" Hercules fretted as he took his seat beside his partner in the dining hall several hours later. Since Iolaus was limping badly, supporting his weight on the toes of his wounded foot rather than his damaged heel, Hercules had ordered him to sit down while he fetched their evening meal. Since Pegasus seemed to have gone missing, he had chosen the lamb soup followed by moussaka for both of them, a dish of olives and cheese mint bread to back it up and yoghurt cake for dessert.

"I spent the afternoon lying down, Herc. I'm not that hungry," Iolaus retorted as he sampled the soup. As usual Maeve the cook had spiced it to perfection.

Hercules snorted as he took a sip of milk. "If you’re really not hungry, then I’ll worry," he observed.

Iolaus grinned, reaching for the fresh bread to go with his soup. The combination of cheese and mint as usual boosted his appetite and he tucked in happily. "You seen Pegasus?"

"Not for a while. He was down at the stables wolf whistling the fillies," Hercules admitted, feeling a tiny pang of jealousy that Iolaus and Pegasus seemed to be getting on so well.

"There are girls here and you didn't tell me?" Iolaus exclaimed, shocked.

"Horses," Hercules said flatly.

"Oh…." Iolaus slid a look at him and smiled faintly, making Hercules wonder if he could read his mind. "So how'd carpentry go?" Iolaus asked curiously, changing the subject.

Hercules knew perfectly well what he was interested in and side-stepped the question. "You know those new guys? Fordius, Edsellius, Mercides and Skodius?"

"Are they the brothers from that merchant family?"

"That's them. You should see the plans for the chariot they've come up with. It's got these dinky little fin things on the back and they want to put red lamps on it to frighten anyone out of coming too close. And white lamps on the front so you can see where you’re going at night. There's to be a spare wheel lashed underneath. And they’re arguing over what colour it should be. Fordius insists they can have any colour they like as long as it's black."

"Got scythes on it, has it?" Iolaus asked dryly, reaching for his moussaka.

"No," Hercules admitted. "Apparently it's going to be a family chariot."

"A what?" Iolaus echoed, pausing in mid bite in astonishment.

"A family chariot, with room for at least four including the driver," Hercules told him. "There's going to be a gauntlet box at the front where you can put things. Edsellius wants to put a luggage trunk on the back. Skodius wants safety straps so you can fasten yourself in and they're designing some kind of locking lever to put on the wheels to make sure no one can take it."

"Why would anyone want to?" Iolaus exclaimed.

"Beats me," Hercules shrugged. "Must be something to do with being merchants. They think they'll be able to sell them."

"As what? Firewood? With all that lot on it weighing down they’re going to need someone walking in front with a flag to let them know they’re coming."

"According to Mercides it's luxury not speed that will be the selling point."

"It'd have to be," Iolaus chuckled, then sobered as he inadvertently banged his foot on the floor. Fighting the urge to swear, he bit his lip and hunched his slender shoulders.

Hercules watched him anxiously, not knowing what to say and annoyed that he couldn't help. After a moment, Iolaus took deep breath, looked up at him from under his shaggy fringe and smiled ruefully as he found Hercules watching him.

"Maybe you should have had supper in our room," Hercules worried.

"I'm okay. Gotta remember not to kick anyone is all."

"And not step any nails," Hercules observed grimly. He had volunteered to help remove the nails from the poles, watched over by a silently furious Cheiron. The idea of anyone playing such a cruel trick infuriated the Centaur and when he found out who was behind it, there was bound to be serious trouble. Hercules was equally angry; the nails had been a good finger length in size, practically caltrops, and he knew Iolaus had been very, very lucky not to smash one straight through his heel and cripple himself. He hoped Cheiron kicked the culprit from here to the Hellespont and back.

"You know who did it yet?"

"No," Hercules admitted curtly.

"Not even a clue?"

Hercules gave him a cool look and shook his head. Iolaus gazed back at him thoughtfully, then gave up, knowing Hercules wasn't going to share his suspicions with him. He picked up a piece of the yoghurt cake, popping the sweet sticky cake in his mouth and savouring it happily.

"You haven't finished your moussaka yet," Hercules pointed out.

"All ends up in the same place. Besides, I…" Iolaus broke off with a start as the doors of the dining hall crashed open, flung wide by Pegasus as he made his entrance.

"Tadah!" he cried, tottering forwards and starting to sing, carolling in a fine, sweet if slurred voice, "Oh, there once was a filly from Scilly, who sent me all into a dilly! La dah de de de dah dah di di… I forget the words…"

"Is he drunk?" Iolaus exclaimed in shock.

"With one look of her eyes she could turn a man chilly….er no…" Pegasus giggled. "No, starts with w…."

Hercules lunged to his feet and galloped towards Pegasus, slapping one hand over his mouth. Pegasus gazed at him wide eyed over the top, starting a muffled giggle. Hercules sniffed at him cautiously and to his alarm, Pegasus promptly snuggled up to him, snuffling at him and burrowing into his neck where he started to hiccup and sag at the knees. Wrapping an arm around his waist, Hercules heaved him up against him, cringing as Pegasus twined his arms around his waist started to sing muffledly,

"Hercules, Hercules, running through the glen, Hercules, Hercules, with the strength of ten, wanted by all men, loved by women, Hercules, Hercules, Hercules…."

"Hush, Pegasus," Hercules hissed frantically, dragging him over to the table where Iolaus had pushed up on one foot, obviously wanting to come and help but not quite being able to manage.

"She spied the gorgeous Hercules running naked through the woods and vowed to have him any way she could," Pegasus sang on, oblivious to Hercules' efforts to silence him. "She handled all his parts that were untouched by female hands and still found plenty of time to…"

"Shut up!" Hercules screamed at him and Pegasus closed his mouth, giving him a hurt look as a weighty silence descended over the room.

"Gee, Hercules, you could have let him finish," Aerides said sardonically. "Plenty of time to….what? We haven't heard that one before."

"Get stuffed!" Hercules shot at him, shoving Pegasus into a seat beside Iolaus. Gratefully, Iolaus sat down next to him and sniffed at him cautiously. Pegasus grinned and leaned over, snuffling back at him happily.

"He is drunk," Iolaus said worriedly as Hercules loomed over them. "But where'd he get wine from? I told him not to touch it."

"Nice student gave it to me," Pegasus giggled, then frowned and hiccuped again. "Ow…yick…ow….!"

"Take a deep breath and hold it," Hercules ordered grimly. Pegasus gave him a wary look but obeyed. Ignoring him Hercules turned back to Iolaus. "Can you imagine what Acrides will say if he sees him like this? And Cheiron will have his hide for a rug. You know what he's like about drinking; especially in school!"

"Hey, I didn't give him the wine. I told him not to."

"Well, he didn't listen, did he?"

"That's hardly my fault. I thought you were watching him anyway? I sure couldn't."

"Don't you blame me." Hercules broke off and gave Pegasus an irate look at the student tugged at his tunic. "What?"

"He's turning blue, Herc," Iolaus observed.

"What? Why? Oh for…breathe out, Pegasus, breathe…"

Pegasus gasped for breath gratefully. "Mean…" he managed.

"You’re not supposed to hold your breath until you keel over, idiot," Hercules scolded impatiently. "Only as long as you can."

"Oh…" Pegasus said forlornly. "I feel weird…Why's everything spinning?"

"That'd be the wine," Iolaus told him. "You want to go lie down?"

"Mmmh," Pegasus nodded gently and started to slide off the seat and under the table.

"Oh no, you don't," Hercules said hastily, grabbing his arm before he could vanish. "Come on, I suppose I’d better put you to bed. Iolaus?"

"I'll help…" Iolaus started to his feet then stopped with a pained wince.

Hercules sighed and pulled Pegasus upright, tugging him over one broad shoulder.

"Wooo…." Pegasus giggled, flapping his arms. "Hey, look! I'm flying!"

"Don't hurt him, Herc. It's not his fault," Iolaus begged as he caught a glimpse of his partner's exasperated expression.

Hercules grunted. "I'm not going to hurt him, tempted though I am. Naked through the woods, huh? Hah!"

Iolaus ducked his head to hide his grin until Hercules was out of range, then slowly limped after him, absently memorising what he could remember of Pegasus' song as he followed him.

"You found Pegasus!" Ithis nearly ran Hercules down as the demi-god ambled out into the corridor with his burden.

"I wasn't aware he was missing," Hercules observed darkly, glaring suspiciously at the red haired student. "Is that a wineskin?"

"Huh? Where?" Ithis hastily tucked the wineskin behind his back and looked round innocently.

"Wheee! Flap, flap!" Pegasus chirruped, waving his hands wildly. "Up, up and away!!"

"Shut up, Pegasus," Hercules ordered. "Ithis, did you give him wine?"

"Who? Me?" Ithis exclaimed, wide eyed. Spotting Iolaus as he limped into view, he turned to him eagerly, "Hey, Iolaus! How's the foot?"

"Okay," Iolaus answered, shooting a quick look up at the demi-god. "What's happening?"

"I think Ithis gave Pegasus the wine," Hercules said grimly.

"Would I do that?" Ithis exclaimed.

"As if you wouldn't," Iolaus snorted.

"Yeah, I saw the wineskin," Hercules added.

"Wine?" Pegasus squeaked, pushing up on Hercules' shoulder and peering around him. "Where? More wine! Bring it on!"

"Shut up!" Hercules snapped at him.

"Who put you up to it? Aerides?" Iolaus asked, ignoring Pegasus' pleas.

Ithis looked from one to the other of them and then slumped. "Yeah," he admitted reluctantly. "He gave me the wine. But it was only meant as a joke."

"Some joke. How much did you give him?" Hercules said sternly.

"No more than a cupful," Ithis said gloomily.

"Oh sure," Iolaus said sarcastically.

"No, really. Only a cupful and it was watered. I offered him a sip and the next thing I knew he'd drunk it all. It really hit him hard and he took off before I could grab him. He is really fast."

"Are we going to believe him?" Hercules asked dryly.

Iolaus studied the anxious red head for a long moment and then nodded. "Yeah, I think so. He did come after him."

"We should tell Cheiron."

"Aw, no, Hercules, please?" Ithis begged.

"Herc, you'll get Pegasus into trouble too," Iolaus warned quickly.

Hercules hesitated. Pegasus had gone limp apart from an occasional flap of his arms. He was singing again, his voice muffled by Hercules' shirt. "It's tempting," Hercules grumbled, remembering what Pegasus had been singing about him before.

"He won't tell Cheiron," Iolaus decided, confidently.

"Hey!" Hercules protested.

Iolaus ignored him. "But we’d better get Pegasus out of sight before someone sees him. Herc, you take him back to his room." Muttering under his breath, Hercules stomped off with Pegasus - still flapping - over his shoulder. "And you’d better get rid of that wineskin, Ithis."

"Hey, look at me! Reverse!" Pegasus carolled. "Next a somersault and barrel roll! Whee!"

"Oh yeah, right." Shooting a suspicious look around him, Ithis stuffed it under his tunic.

"Er, that wasn't quite what I had in mind," Iolaus grinned. "Hey, why don’t we hide it in Aerides' room? They do room inspection tomorrow."

* * *

"I always get suspicious when you smirk, Iolaus," Tydeus observed the following morning. Iolaus was perched on his examination table while the healer cleaned and dressed his foot. "Especially when Hercules is grinning too."

"Can't think why," Iolaus said innocently, cocking his head to listen to the bellows echoing in the distance. It sounded as if the wineskin had been found and Cheiron had been told from the way Aerides was protesting wildly. Hercules had argued against it, but he had lost and was doing his best not to grin now.

Pegasus whimpered from where he was propping up the doorway. "Why are you talking so loud?" he complained pathetically.

Tydeus glanced at him and frowned as he unwrapped Iolaus' foot. "What's wrong with you?"

Pegasus squinted back at him, one hand raised to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight pouring into the room. "My teeth itch," he responded. "My mouth feels like something nasty slept in it and I hurt."

"Do you now," Tydeus said dryly. "And why would that be? Was it something you drank perhaps?"

Pegasus frowned. "I don't remember," he admitted and shot a glare at Hercules as the demi-god absently drummed his fingers on the edge of his seat. "Don’t do that," he hissed.

"What you need is some fresh air and exercise," Tydeus told him briskly with a complete lack of sympathy. He did not consider students who drank too much to be his problem. "Now let's see what we have here." He stripped the last padded dressing off Iolaus' foot and clicked his tongue against his teeth in satisfaction. "Ah yes, that's coming along nicely." He tilted his head towards Pegasus as the youth made a gurgling sound. "Not in here if you please, there's a bowl in the next room. And you can clean up after yourself too." Pegasus lunged from the room with a wordless whimper. "You're looking a little green too, Hercules," Tydeus observed wryly.

"So does Iolaus' foot," Hercules answered, swallowing hard. "Why's it gone that colour?"

"That's only the ointment I put on it. It's still perfectly clean and smells sweet enough - in as far as a foot can anyway," Tydeus explained cheerfully. "Want to sniff?"

"I'll pass," Hercules said weakly.

"You are never going to pass your herbal lessons if you don't pay attention," Tydeus scolded. "Now, Iolaus, how does it feel?"

"It's sore when I put any weight on it."

"No throbbing?"

"Only when I catch it," Iolaus replied seriously. "And my ankle aches a lot…"

"You probably twisted it a little. I’ll strap it for you."

"Tydeus?"

The healer glanced up at him, catching the hint of worry in the student's blue eyes. "It's all perfectly normal," he told him. "You're lucky you managed to twist your foot so it gashed your heel rather than punched straight in. If you’d damaged the bone, well, you wouldn't be walking on it for a while. Stay off it as much as you can." Iolaus brightened up. "By which I mean sitting down in class and studying rather then lurking about the woods…"

"Perhaps you could take some extra lessons with Algebraius and keep Pegasus company," Hercules observed with an evil grin.

Iolaus gave him a filthy look. "And maybe you could take extra herb classes?"

Tydeus smiled, enjoying their bickering while he tended Iolaus' foot. He had to admit the gash had been nasty, but he had stitched it neatly and he was fairly sure Iolaus would take care of it properly. Some things the young hunter could be sensible about. He only wished he knew who had been behind the vicious trick.

* * *

Resting his arms on the desk as they waited in class for the instructor, Ithis leaned towards Hercules and spoke in a soft voice. "Aerides has to do twenty laps of the school and be kitchen slave for the rest of the week," he told him. "Cheiron was furious with him. Acrides laughed it off. Said warriors will be warriors."

"And drunks get themselves killed," Hercules snorted.

"He shouldn't have talked you into tricking Pegasus," Iolaus added. "Right, Pegasus?"

Pegasus whimpered. "You poisoned me."

"Who knew you couldn't take your drink?" Ithis sighed. "I am sorry. If I’d known I’d have told Aerides to get stuffed."

"Wine's not like nectar," Pegasus complained. "That doesn't make your teeth itch."

Hercules hid a grin, having a sudden quick image of a winged Pegasus buzzing around the flowers tops even though he knew it wasn't the kind of nectar he meant. "So don't drink any more," he advised.

"But it did taste nice," Pegasus went on thoughtfully. "And it smelled fruity."

"You're still not drinking any more," Hercules told him sternly. "Cheiron told us to look after you. And if you get drunk you'll get us into trouble."

"Oh," Pegasus subsided, contrite. "Okay, no more wine."

"Or beer," Iolaus added firmly.

"What's beer?"

"Something that smells good but it very, very bad for you," Hercules said.

"Why?"

"Because I'll hit you if you touch any."

"Oh…" Pegasus frowned and fell silent, mulling this over, only snapping back to attention when Iolaus nudged him in the ribs. He looked up to find that their instructor had arrived and was studying the students as intently as they were studying him. Of average height and build, he had longish brown hair and dark brown eyes and was dressed in a belted dark blue cloth tunic and black pants. He was also carrying a box. Once he was sure they had all noticed him, he walked over to the desk at the front of the room and placed the box on it carefully.

"Hello, students. As I'm sure you all know, I am your new instructor for natural history. My name is Attenburis." He had a soft, slightly hesitant voice that made him sound as if he knew what he was talking about. "Can anyone tell me what you were leaning about last season?"

Ithis' hand shot straight up. "Sex," he said brightly to a muffled explosion of giggles from the rest of the class.

"Wrong answer," Attenburis retorted, unperturbed. He glanced down at the seating chart on his desk. "I assume you were in class and were merely attempting to be amusing, Ithis?"

Ithis coloured and nodded. "Yes, sir."

"I thought so. Anyone else?"

Iolaus put his hand up. "Mythical creatures in general," he said then went on deliberately. "And I asked about Rocs. How do they fly?"

"They flap their wings," Clemis snorted from the back row.

Iolaus shot a glare over his shoulder at him. "That's what our last instructor said. But they’re got to be too heavy to stay in the air, so how do they do it?" He turned back to Attenburis, giving him a penetrating look.

Attenburis nodded, accepting the challenge and intrigued that it was an interesting one for once. "The simple answer is that Rocs are magical birds, rather like a Harpies. Or bees. It is actually impossible for a bee to fly, but they don't know that, so they do it anyway. The same applies to Rocs." There was a ripple of cautious laughter at his answer, but Attenburis noted that Iolaus looked frustrated. Perching one hip on the edge of desk, he went on, "The reason why birds are able to fly is the way they are made. They’re not as heavy as they look. They have extremely light bones for example. The trick to how they stay in the air is in the shape of the wings and the way their feathers capture the air. How many of you can swim?" Most of the class put up their hands, although Pegasus hunched and looked nervous. "Excellent," Attenburis said. "Now, you all know that you’re heavier than water and yet you can float in it. That's basically what a bird does: it swims through the air the way we swim through water."

"But you can feel water," Ithis protested, interested despite himself. Natural history was his worst subject.

"You can feel air," Pegasus argued before the instructor could reply. "That's all the wind is, air. It's like a wave in the sea. It has shape and texture and…." He fell silent, aware that he was being stared at.

"That's very good, Pegasus," Attenburis said mildly. "The air is like a very thin sea and it too has waves and current the same as the sea."

"Well, Pegasus should know," Constantius sneered. "He is named after a flying horse. Like anyone would believe that's possible!"

Pegasus bristled and lunged to his feet. Hercules grabbed his arm and yanked him back into his seat.

"A flying horse is as possible as a Roc," Attenburis said mildly. "Now, do you wish to continue discussing birds? Or shall we move on to something else? I believe your last lesson was about Hydras? Who can tell me how many species there are?"

"One," Hercules said promptly. "But there are seven variants."

"I see you were paying attention," Attenburis congratulated him.

"Would be hero," Constantius muttered.

"That's enough," Attenburis retorted sharply. "Who can name the seven variants?" There was silence with a little nervous shuffling as the students carefully didn't meet his eyes. "Very well. Ithis?"

"Me?" Ithis looked round wildly then took a deep breath. "Fire Hydra?"

"Correct. Geographic location?"

"Huh?"

"Where do you find them?" Attenburis sighed.

"Oh, hot places. Volcanoes."

"Good. Their main form of attack?"

Ithis was getting the hang of this now. "They spit fire."

"Correct. Whose next? Iolaus?"

Iolaus had put his hand up. "Swamp Hydras and you find them in marshes and swamps."

Attenburis raised an amused eyebrow at him. "Very good. What differentiates them from the Fire Hydra?"

"They don't spit fire?" Iolaus guessed.

"And?"

"Er…they're poisonous? And they have acidic drool?"

"That's right. Do they spit their venom or does it have to be a bite?"

"I've never been close enough to find out," Iolaus admitted, drawing a laugh from the others. "But I think it's by bite. They have those long spiky teeth at the front?"

"Effects?"

"Paralysis." Iolaus remembered that bit and shuddered. "And after the paralysis they eat you…"

"That's very good if a little graphic. A bit like drawing nails, but you got there. Apart from the Sea Hydra they’re the only species that can swim. Pegasus?"

Pegasus winced, having been doing his best to turn invisible in the hopes of not being asked. "I wasn't here last season," he protested.

Attenburis took pity on his panic. "You must have heard of them though. What's the most common form of Hydra?"

"Oh, uh, the underground Hydra," Pegasus said in relief. "Found mostly in caves. I was always getting told to avoid caves."

"Their main form of attack?"

"They eat uh people?" Pegasus offered.

Attenburis smiled at him. "That's right. The underground Hydra is the most common variant and the largest. It’s the one most people think of when you mention Hydras. Now, whose next? Hercules?"

Hercules flinched nervously; convinced everyone was staring at him. "Uh, the rare sunloving Solar Hydra which isn't as common as the common Hydra because it's rare and people keep killing it because it's sunloving and it was seen more…but now it’s rarer and not seen so often…"

"You're babbling, Herc," Iolaus observed dryly. Hercules nodded wildly and shut up, blushing furiously.

Attenburis blinked at the young demi-god. "Er, yes, they’re normally found above ground, but they can burrow and attack suddenly from below. Their main form of attack?"

"A sting in the tail," Hercules mumbled. "And lots of teeth."

"Good. Clemis? How about you?"

"Er…" Clemis chewed his lip for a second. "Can I have a clue?"

"Cold…" Attenburis told him.

Clemis pulled a face and shrugged.

Iolaus stuck his hand up. "It's the Woolly or Snow Hydra. Found in mountain areas. They have a sting in the tail too and they're usually white to blend in with the snow. They’re very rare because they used to be hunted for their pelts. They're the only ones to have tusks."

"Trust you to know that," Hercules muttered.

"I saw a pair of Hydra tusks once," Iolaus told him. "Big curved things, sharp as a dagger."

"And the final type of Hydra? The one that's the opposite of the Woolly Hydra?" Attenburis urged.

"The Desert Hydra," Hercules said quickly, determined not to let Iolaus get one up on him. "They tend to burrow underground and hunt by vibration, like Sand Sharks."

"Excellent. I'm pleased to see you remember so much from your lessons," Attenburis said, delighted. "Now, what do all these Hydras have in common?"

"An immortal head," Hercules said promptly.

"How do you tell which head is immortal?" Iolaus asked curiously.

"Is this going to be one of your weird jokes?" Hercules demanded suspiciously.

"No, seriously, how do you tell?" Iolaus pressed. "They say that a Hydra can only be killed if you cut off its immortal head, but how do you know which one it is? I mean they all start out with one head, right? But if you cut that one off, then it grows a new one so that can't be the immortal one. Is it the first one it grows or what?"

"It's the first head that grows after its original head is cut off," Attenburis answered. "A Hydra isn't actually immortal until after that. If it manages to survive without meeting any heroes or hunters then it lives out a normal span like any other animal. They can be very long lived. They're solitary and extremely territorial creatures. And since Ithis asked about sex, yes, they do mate; assuming they survive the mating fight. Females are usually bigger than the males and lay a clutch of eggs that they then incubate. The young scatter when they hatch, assuming they don't eat each other first. Does anyone know what a young Hydra looks like?"

All eyes turned warily to the box on the table as Attenburis reached for it. Attenburis gave them a few moments to fret then took the lid off and lifted out what appeared to be the skeleton of a large and heavy ribbed snake with one skull and a stub of a neck and second head growing out beside it. A frill of bone behind its head showed where the typical hood of a Hydra would have been. Attenburis deposited it into Iolaus' hands who very nearly dropped it and hastily shoved it at Hercules. Hercules was fascinated, gingerly lifting the frill of bone that when covered with skin normally protected the creature's face.

"This is the skeleton of a young Underground or Cave Dwelling Hydra." Attenburis told them, holding up another skull before he handed it to Pegasus. "Pass that round, please. This one actually drowned. It was in the process of growing another head as you can see when the hunter who caught it threw it in a pond. As you can see young Hydras look like snakes and are often mistaken for such. Cutting one in half or crushing it will kill it at this stage, stab an adult single headed Hydra in the right place and you can kill it before it grows that immortal head. Fire will also kill them. They’re not invincible if you know what you're doing. Now, who can tell me what Hydra skin can be used for?"

"Other than sandpaper?" Ithis asked dryly.

"Sandpaper is one answer. Any others?"

"Making armour?" Iolaus suggested.

"Yes, particularly for shields. It’s also good for footwear. And what about the teeth of a Hydra, what can be done with them if you know the right spells?"

* * *

Hercules gazed at Pegasus in astonishment, listening to his ecstatic little whimpers of bliss as he munched his way through a cheese and apple salad. He had nearly lost his hand when he offered him the cheese board. Awed, Hercules turned to gaze to Iolaus.

"Does he always eat like this?"

"Pretty much," Iolaus said cheerfully between eating mouthfuls his own chicken in almond sauce.

"I'm surprised there's anything left in the kitchen between the appetites of you two."

"You’re not doing so bad yourself there, big guy," Iolaus observed, nodding towards the mound of salad and chicken on Hercules' own platter.

"Hey, I'm bigger than either of you two, I need more food to fuel me."

"Fool is right," Iolaus teased, ducking the amiable swipe Hercules took at him.

"Besides, I spent most of last night lying awake worrying about you."

"Me? Why?" Iolaus glanced at him curiously.

Hercules opened his mouth to remind him of the crack on the head he had taken and then changed his mind. Iolaus was showing no signs of any problems and he didn't want to upset him needlessly.

"Well?" Iolaus prompted, as impatient as ever.

Hercules was saved by having to answer by Acrides calling for silence from the top table where the instructors ate. Cheiron, who was looking faintly amused about something, had joined them.

"If I can have your attention?" he called as a curious silence descended. "Thank you. A couple of things. First of all, the curfew still stands. One or two of you attempted to sneak out to the taverna last night…"

Hercules instantly shot a look at Iolaus. "Did not," Iolaus yelped indignantly. "How was I going to get there? Hop?"

"Oh yeah…"

Cheiron had continued, repeating his warnings about the slavers. "Don't go thinking you can beat them," he said grimly. "I may train you to be the best you can be, but right now you’re only students. Leave this to the King's men and the Watch. It's their problem."

Hercules muttered sulkily under his breath and grimaced when Iolaus prodded him sharply in the ribs in warning. Hercules knew Iolaus knew how much he yearned for some real action and to an extent even envied him his encounter with the slavers.

"In short, if you feel you have so much free time, you need to go drinking to fill it, then I'm sure your instructors can find you some extra studying to do," Cheiron finished, smiling faintly as the low groan that ran round the dining hall. "Now then, I've arranged an extra special class for a few of you that will enhance your fighting abilities and improve your co-ordination."

Hercules sat up, immediately interested as did most of the other students. Even Pegasus gazed at Cheiron curiously, crunching his way through a handful of carrot sticks as he did so.

"Those who will be taking this class which will run opposite quarterstaff training will be Aerides," Cheiron started to read from a small scroll. Aerides leaned back in his chair, looking smug. "Clemis, Ithis…" They exchanged looks, startled and a little self-satisfied. "Pegasus and Hercules," Cheiron finished his list. "A small but select group as you can see."

Hercules forced down his smug grin as he glimpsed Iolaus' disappointed expression.

"Why's he smirking?" Iolaus whispered however. "He doesn't usually smirk. What's he up to?"

"But before the rest of you start feeling jealous and left out, you might want to know what this class is going to be," Cheiron went on. "There is a saying 'never a give a sword to a man who can't dance'."

Hercules jaw dropped and he was aware of Aerides jerking forward in his seat with a choked gurgle of horror. Iolaus' eyes rounded in surprise and a slow grin started to crawl across his face.

"After some discussion, it's been decided that these five young men, all skill and strength aside, have the most to gain from this extra class. So dance instruction will begin after lunch…."

"Cheiron! You can't!" Hercules, who didn't know his left foot from his right when it came to dancing, wailed in despair.

"Everyone will laugh!" Clemis added his own protest.

Cheiron raised a black eyebrow at them. "If you can demonstrate to me that you can dance then you won't need to do the class," he said simply. "Care to demonstrate?"

Clemis blushed furiously and hunched further down in his seat. The Centaur looked expectantly at the other lucky students and then nodded in amusement, as they all looked furtive. "Exactly. A little bit of refinement won't do any of you any harm. There's no more to be said. Be in class on time."

Iolaus nudged Hercules in the ribs. "I can teach you if you like," he teased. "Girls like guys who can dance."

"So you keep saying," Hercules grunted, suddenly realising he wasn't hungry and pushing his lunch away.

"Can I have your salad?" Pegasus promptly asked hopefully.

Hercules nodded gloomily and watched him fish out the chicken legs, then tuck in with an appetite. "Don't you care that you have to go to dance class?" he asked.

"Sounds like fun," Pegasus replied around a mouthful of mint dipped cucumber.

As Hercules watched, Iolaus snaffled the demi-god's chicken legs for himself and grinned at his friend. "You'll look lovely in pom-poms, Herc," he teased.

"Ah, shut up…" Hercules growled at him in misery. About the only consolation he could see was that Aerides was going to be sharing the class and suffering as much as he did. Thinking on that, Hercules started to smirk to himself. It might be almost worth it to see the arrogant young warrior cut down to size on the dance floor….

* * *

After lunch it was literature class. Cheiron was a firm believer in seeing to it that his students were educated in body and mind and insisted that everyone took literature. Their teacher was Platonius the Athenian, who had an encyclopaedic memory for anything ever written, making it impossible for the students to cheat by a quick bit of poem copying. When he asked for something original, he meant it.

Hercules could only be grateful that literature had replaced the dismal failure of music class after last season. His singing voice wasn't that bad, but he kept getting his fingers entangled in the stringed instruments. At one point, his hysterically laughing instructor had had to cut his kithara strings to free his fingers. And he had lost count of the number of pegs he had snapped when tuning the damn instruments. At least Iolaus wasn't much better with the kithara than he was, although he could handle the drum and the flute quite well.

"Yes, quite good," Platonius congratulated Ithis as the red head slumped back into his seat, looking quite pale after his poetry effort. "Anyone else?"

Iolaus slid a look at Hercules with a small smirk, his own romantic little couplet having won him an approving smile from the instructor. Hercules glared back at him. He suspected it was his partner's glib tongue that won over the girls that made him good at poetry, that and the early but thwarted desire to be a bard that Skouros had knocked out of him; literally Hercules suspected at times.

"Hercules? We’re waiting," Platonius said patiently.

"It's not my turn!" Hercules yipped. "Is it?"

"Yes. Do you have anything for us? Your subject was the Parthenon."

"Oh," Hercules looked round wildly, then floundered into voice, "In the Parthenon, the mighty Parthenon, the Hydra sleeps tonight…" he sang nervously, aware of the others all listening in fascination. "It ate poor Ares and now has hiccups, the Hydra wails tonight." Hercules could tell from the expression on Platonius' face that this was not the greatest composition he had ever heard.

"Yes, well," Platonius said slowly. "I'm not sure Ares would approve, but it…rhymed. Pegasus?"

"Me?" Pegasus sat bolt upright in panic.

"Your subject was love I believe?"

Pegasus nodded nervously, swallowed and started to sing. "Hercules, Hercules, running through the glen, Hercules, Hercules, with the strength of ten, wanted by all men, loved by women, Hercules, Hercules, Hercules…."

Hercules gurgled and jerked in his seat, glaring at Pegasus. Pegasus rolled his eyes at him and sang on, "Hercules, Hercules, spied the gorgeous blonde, Hercules, Hercules, with a welcoming smile. Should he go on? On to her arms? Course he should, course he should, course he should…."

"I think that may be more to do with sex than love," Platonius said dryly. "But…"

Hercules hid his face in his arms with a groan, shaking Iolaus off as his friend patted his shoulder consolingly. He could hear the muffled giggles of the other students and he knew it was going to take him forever to live it down. What had he ever done to Pegasus to deserve this?

* * *

"So," Hercules said slowly as he dangled from the rings. Under Acrides' instructions, blacksmith Davron had made the iron rings and seen them securely attached to the ceiling of the gymnasium by strong ropes. There they had hung for the last few days, being eyed uneasily by the students; most of who had convinced themselves they were some new kind of torture device Acrides had invented for them. The instructor however had finally explained that they were for gymnastic exercises and Hercules, never one to resist a challenge to his fitness, had decided to check them out before dance class. Pegasus had given him a leg up. "Now what?"

Sitting cross-legged on the floor watching him, with Pegasus kneeling beside him, Iolaus waved the apple he was munching on. "I don't think you're supposed to hang there like an olive waiting to ripen," he observed.

"What then?" Hercules asked, idly pumping his feet so that he swung on the ropes.

"I don't know, pull yourself up maybe?"

"Like this?" Hercules flexed a couple of muscles that weren't doing much and pushed up on the rings until his arms were straight and he was supporting his own weight.

"Push ups maybe?" Iolaus suggested, waving the apple again and missing Pegasus glazed expression as it wafted past his nose. His amber eyes tracked the fruit hungrily.

Hercules grunted and experimented, lifting himself up and down a few times without breaking a sweat. "This is too easy," he decided. "There has to be more to it than this. Acrides made out it was hard."

"Maybe for you," Iolaus snorted. "I mean, you’re not doing much more than you would on the ground."

Hercules glared at him and flexed his back, bringing his feet up straight in front of him. Leaning back, he let himself roll backwards, held steady for a moment and then reversed the roll until he was once more upright. "Nothing to it," he decided.

"Show off," Iolaus snorted, shaking the apple at him in mock threat. "Now, if you were to do it one handed…"

"Like this you mean?" Hercules grinned, balancing himself on one arm and letting go with his other hand.

"Oh, now you’re being arrogant!" Iolaus yelped, laughing and aiming to throw the apple at him only to have it almost whipped from his hand as Pegasus snapped at it, sinking his teeth into the juicy fruit. Astonished and ignoring Hercules' explosive laughter, Iolaus turned and gave Pegasus a slow stare. Still hanging on to the apple, Pegasus shrugged sheepishly and tugged tentatively at the apple, giving him a pleading look. "Okay, it's yours," Iolaus sighed and let go. "I suppose I shouldn't have waved it at you."

Pegasus snatched it, promptly ripped off a contented bite, licked the juices from his chin and grinned at him. "You want it back?" he offered bravely, but obviously hopeful Iolaus wouldn't insist he handed it over.

"No, strangely enough, I don't think I want it anymore," Iolaus told him dryly.

"Hey!" Hercules called from above them. "I'm getting bored hanging around up here."

"Are you ripe yet?"

"Funny. How do I get down?"

"Oh," Iolaus looked round vaguely; ignoring Pegasus' contented munching noises. "Drop I suppose. If you…" There was a loud thump as Hercules thudded back to the floor and sprawled on his back as he lost his balance. "Oh, graceful, Herc, graceful as a brick. That wasn't even a controlled fall."

Hercules grunted and sat up. "It got me down," he pointed out, brushing off his hands.

"And that is why he's taking dancing lessons," Iolaus confided in Pegasus. Pegasus grinned around his apple.

"You want a go?" Hercules suggested.

"What? Me with my poor damaged foot?"

"You use your hands and arms," Hercules pointed out, standing over him with his hands planted firmly on his hips.

"I'll pass," Iolaus told him brightly, pausing to glance at Pegasus as he started to crunch on the apple core. "You're not supposed to eat that bit, Pegasus."

"Why not? It's the best bit."

"Well," Iolaus hesitated. "For the same reason you don't eat the banana skin."

"Iolaus?" Hercules interrupted. "He does eat the banana skin."

"He does?" Iolaus looked from Hercules to Pegasus in awe.

"He had one while you were laid up."

Pegasus nodded. "Nice," he said happily, popping the last bit of core in his mouth and crunching it briskly. "Do we go to dancing lessons now?"

Hercules looked shifty for once. "No…" he began.

"Yes," Cheiron's voice boomed across the gymnasium as he ambled towards them, his hooves thumping softly on the sand covered floor. Iolaus scrambled to his feet and Pegasus followed his example. "Nothing wrong with learning to dance. Do you good."

"Centaurs don't dance," Hercules argued.

"You've never seen a Centaur mating dance so how would you know?" Cheiron snorted.

"Did anyone else go to a scary place then?" Iolaus asked uneasily.

Cheiron gave him an amused glance. "How's your foot?" he asked.

"Still kind of sore," Iolaus admitted warily.

"Cheiron, do I have to?" Hercules pleaded.

"Yes, you do," Cheiron replied firmly. "It's not a punishment, Hercules. If you let yourself, you'll enjoy it. It’s a social skill that it'll do you good to learn. Take Iolaus here. Would you consider him a good dancer?"

"Passable," Hercules admitted grudgingly. Iolaus gave him a surprised look and a shy grin of pleasure.

"He's also much more agile than you are."

"That's because he's…." Suddenly aware of Iolaus' blue eyes boring into him, Hercules floundered to a halt.

"I'm not saying you're clumsy, Hercules," Cheiron said kindly. "But you do tend to underestimate your strength at times. Dancing will help you to learn to control it. Clemis and Ithis need it for sword fighting. Aerides needs to learn some fighting control. He tends to overextend. Pegasus…" Pegasus looked up obediently. "Well, Pegasus needs to learn everything really, including how to dance."

"It'll be fun, Hercules," Pegasus agreed, nodding happily as he grabbed his arm. "Come on. I don't want to miss class." Throwing a helpless look over his shoulder at Iolaus, the demi-god was dragged from the gymnasium.

"He looks like he's going to his doom," Iolaus giggled.

"Don't you have some studying to do?" Cheiron asked sternly.

"Who? Me?" Iolaus gave him a look of wide-eyed innocence that didn't fool the Centaur for a second.

"Chemistry theory, wasn't it?"

Iolaus winced. He really wished he knew how Cheiron knew exactly what each of his many students was supposed to be doing at any given time. "I guess…"

"Off you go then," Cheiron urged briskly. Sighing heavily, Iolaus trudged off to his much loathed chemistry studies. The Centaur gazed after him mildly then looked up at the rings curiously. Humans had such strange ways at times….

* * *

"And here he comes, Hercules," Iolaus carolled from where he perched on the well wall waiting for his friend. "Looking ravishingly lovely in a chiton of sapphire blue silk…"

"Don't push it, Iolaus," Hercules rumbled as he stomped towards him.

"Delicately embroidered with dainty shimmering purple flowers…"

"I'm warning you…"

"So tell us, Hercules, for the sake of all your admiring fans, how does it make you feel to have won the Athenian danceathon?"

Hercules came to a halt and glared down at him, suppressing the weirdest sensation of déjà vu. "Like killing something," he said darkly.

"That good, huh?" Iolaus grinned. Hercules snorted and stomped on past him. "Hey, you're limping!" Suddenly springing upright, Iolaus bounced to his feet, hissed as his own sore foot protested and then scurried after him. "You okay? What happened?"

"Aerides preferred dancing on my feet to the floor," Hercules snarled, gingerly flexing his sore toes. "I never realised how heavy he was before. Iolaus, don't you dare laugh."

Iolaus gurgled into a giggle. "You were dancing with Aerides? Oh, I wish I'd seen it."

"Don't go there, Iolaus. I shall be forced to hurt you," Hercules growled but it was too late as Iolaus' laughter escaped him and he erupted into a fit of giggles. Hercules grabbed him by the front of his tunic and gave him a little warning shake. Iolaus sucked in a whoop of breath and laughed even harder. Sighing heavily, Hercules put him down, patted him on the head and trudged off gloomily. All it needed to make his day complete was for Ares to drop by unexpectedly and find out he had been taking dancing lessons. He'd bet Ares never had to take dancing classes.

"Aw, Herc, I'm sorry," Iolaus hopped after him, keeping his weight off his sore heel as much as possible. "It wasn't that bad, was it?"

"Let's say I know why Amazons have war dances before they go into battle. It puts them in a filthy mood."

"Why'd you pick Aerides for a dancing partner?" Iolaus spluttered, choking on another giggle.

"I didn't. That sadistic twisted dance teacher Blairius did. Smile, he kept saying," Hercules added, his face twisting into a scowl at the memory. "As if anyone could smile while Aerides was deliberately jumping on your feet. And why would they want to anyway? It was pure torture!"

"How'd Pegasus get on?"

"Pegasus loved it," Hercules snarled. "He's teacher's pet. Leaping about like a damn foal…"

"Uh, Herc, he more or less is…" Hercules gave Iolaus a dirty look for the reminder. "Ooh, excuse me. Sorry I spoke," Iolaus exclaimed. "Would you like to go off somewhere and sulk privately or would you like to take it out on me for a while?"

Hercules continued to scowl at him until Iolaus' ingenuously expectant gaze broke through his bad mood and he smiled grudgingly. "Okay, call me grouchy."

"Grouchy," Iolaus obliged cheerfully. "Want to go kill something in the gymnasium?"

"Yeah, why not," Hercules wrapped an arm his diminutive friend's shoulders. They strolled towards the gymnasium in companionable silence; Iolaus giggling as he realised they were limping in step. "Iolaus?" Hercules said thoughtfully after a moment.

"Yeah?"

"What exactly is a do-si-do?"

"Er, something a deer eats?" Iolaus guessed.

Hercules chuckled, but before he could reply Constantius hailed them from across the practise square.

"Hey, nice legs, darling!" he called, blowing a kiss at Hercules.

"But first I kill him," Hercules snarled as his bad mood once more boiled over. He lunged towards the other student, dragging Iolaus with him as the hunter grimly clung to his arm.

"Herc, wait! No! Ow!"

Iolaus' yelp of pain made Hercules hesitate in mid step at the same moment as the hunter's foot gave under him and toppled him against the demi-god. Overbalanced, the pair of them crashed to the ground in a flailing tangle of arms and legs as Constantius fled laughing.

"Iolaus! You muffin!" Hercules screamed in outrage as he sprawled on his back with Iolaus on top of him.

Iolaus drew back and gave him an incredulous look that slowly turned to an insulted stare, "Muffin?!"

"Oh, I don't know!" Hercules snarled, to angry to speak coherently. Sprawling back on the ground, he let a scream of sheer frustrated fury that rattled the buildings. "Aaaaghhhh!"

Blinking and rubbing his ears, Iolaus gazed at him inquisitively. "Feel better now?"

"No," Hercules grunted. Shoving the hunter off, he rose to his feet and glared around him for Constantius who had made the best of his chance and done a disappearing act. Muttering under his breath, Hercules then picked Iolaus up and brushed him off. "You hurt?"

"No, thanks to you if I'm not," Iolaus grumbled, leaning on the demi-god's arm and balancing precariously while he peered at his foot. He had already slipped his sandal off, now he studied the still clean bandage and sighed in relief. Slipping his sandal back on, he gingerly put his foot to the ground again, keeping as much of his weight off it as possible.

"That was Constantius' fault," Hercules muttered sullenly. "What'd you stop me for?"

"To save you from what Cheiron would say."

Hercules scowled, but had to concede the truth of that. They were all supposed to be on their best behaviour since Hyperius' school had opened and Hercules was among those that the Centaur expected to set a good example to the others. Sometimes it was a real pain being considered responsible, he reflected gloomily. "All right," he muttered. "First I change, then we go to the gymnasium. Then I kill Constantius when I've limbered up."

"I thought the idea of your new lessons was to limber you up?" Iolaus said sweetly.

"Don't push it, Iolaus," Hercules muttered at him darkly as he started off for the quarters they shared. Grinning to himself, Iolaus limped ostentatiously after him, happily setting himself the task of cheering his friend up.

* * *

Fighting back a broad grin, Hercules lowered the sword and shield he had been using for his exercises and wiped his damp hair back from his eyes. He had stripped down to his breeches and sweat gave his chest a soft sheen. "Iolaus, no more bad jokes," he begged.

"Hey, none of my jokes are bad!" Iolaus protested, lowering his own sword. Although he wasn't able to spar with Hercules because of his foot, he could still run through the exercises for strength and suppleness since he could do that while standing still.

"I thought they were good," Pegasus offered. He had been watching Hercules and Iolaus closely, copying their moves with a liquid flow of muscle. "Can I have a go with a sword?" he asked hopefully.

"Maybe that's not a good idea," Hercules said slowly.

"Come on they’re only practise swords, what harm can they do?" Iolaus asked lightly. "Get one from the rack and I'll teach you a few moves."

Pegasus brightened up and loped over to the weapons rack, carefully examining the swords.

"I'm not sure you should do this," Hercules warned.

"Pegasus doesn't know what he's doing."

"Exactly," Hercules pointed out.

"He learns fast. I'll show him a couple of moves. Don't worry so much."

Having selected a sword he liked, Pegasus trotted back to them, the flat blade balanced precariously on top of his head. "Hey! Look what I can do!" he called, nearly dropping the weapon as he halted. "We did this in class. Didn't we, Hercules."

Iolaus turned a fascinated look on the demi-god; his grin expanding as Hercules blushed.

"It was for carriage and grace," Hercules said briskly.

"Grace?" Iolaus echoed, a giggle starting somewhere deep down inside. "You? Oh, I can see it now, all you rough tough macho heroes…"

"Don't go there," Hercules warned desperately, knowing Iolaus would ignore him.

"Prancing around the room with swords balanced on your heads and a bunch of flowers in your hands."

"There weren't any flowers," Pegasus said, puzzled.

"I’d like to see you do it," Hercules fired back.

Iolaus gave him a huge grin and obliged, balancing his sword on his head and doing a careful pirouette. "Nothing to it."

"Show off," Hercules muttered sulkily and stomped off to practise on his own with the weapons dummy, ignoring Iolaus' laughter.

Once he started making a few swings and got into the rhythm of the exercise again, he started to relax, enjoying the stretch and play of his own muscles. Deep down, he grudgingly admitted that he had learned a little something new today. Because of his natural abilities, he had always used a sword with strength rather than skill, although he had recognised that bludgeoning his way through a fight might not always be the way do to things. He had noticed before that Iolaus tended to use skill and speed rather than brute strength when he fought but had never considered the technique for himself, Now though he started to wonder and found himself watching Iolaus and Pegasus from the corner of his eye.

Iolaus was restrained by his wounded foot so his balance was not as good as usual, but he was doing well at teaching Pegasus. He showed him the basic moves, demonstrating how each thrust and parry was done then talked him through an attack on an imaginary enemy.

Watching him, Hercules frowned thoughtfully, realising that while his own strength might fail him if he was wounded, Iolaus' skill would continue to protect him. It was a sobering thought.

"Okay, Pegasus, that's good." Iolaus said encouragingly. "Now, come at me…"

Hercules winced, mistiming the dummy's swing. The solidly straw stuffed dummy caught him a good smack for his inattention, staggering him with the impact and shoving his sword back hard against his shield. Swearing under his breath, Hercules fended it off and stepped back. Only then did he see the long slice that had been chopped through his leather shield. For a split second he couldn't believe it then he dropped the sword and flung himself across the gymnasium, hurtling at Iolaus as Pegasus made a beautiful lunge at him.

Hercules swung his shield in front of Iolaus at the last moment, the impact of sword on shield actually sending him back a step as the blade penetrated. Iolaus yelped, flinching at the sword went through the thin leather and barely missed his chest.

Pegasus let go of the sword and stepped back, his eyes huge with shock. It was only the expression of sheer horror on his face that stopped Hercules beating him bloody on the spot.

"I d'don't t'think I like this game," Pegasus said weakly, giving Iolaus a miserable look.

Iolaus nodded agreement, looking decidedly shaky. "Herc?"

The demi-god had ripped the sword from the shield and was examining both grimly. "This isn’t a practise sword," he said grimly, showing it to Iolaus.

"I kind of gathered that. Someone could have gotten hurt. Like me!"

"Yeah," Hercules agreed, giving him a worried look.

"Did I do that?" Pegasus snuffled, peering anxiously at the shield. "I d'didn't m'mean to hurt y'you, Iolaus! I'd never do that! I wouldn't want to!"

"I know that, Pegasus," Iolaus did his best to be reassuring even as he shivered from his close call. "But it was a good lunge anyway."

"You think so?" Pegasus said uncertainly.

"Yeah. With some practise I think you could be pretty good."

"Oh," Pegasus thought this over for a moment and then shook his head. "I don't think I want to do that."

"This shield isn't right either," Hercules muttered, peeling off a strip of the too thin leather and studying it critically. The leather was too thin and the frame beneath too weak, although it weighed about right. After a few heavy blows from a blunt practise sword, it would look the worse for wear and someone might even get hurt because of it. But against a sharpened sword it stood no chance. And the swords had been honed very sharp indeed.

"Someone set us up?" Iolaus guessed.

"Or maybe someone wanted to make Cheiron look bad. First the nails, now this. What next? Pegasus, go and fetch Cheiron. Tell him what happened. I think he needs to take a look at these weapons himself."

* * *

"It's a mistake obviously," Acrides said angrily, pacing up and down in Cheiron's small office. "I sent swords to Davron to be sharpened, yes. But obviously one of the students put them in the wrong place when he brought them back. Clearly they should have gone to the armoury. Its another example of the total lack of discipline around here."

"They’re boys, Acrides, not soldiers," Pattonius, the strategy teacher, pointed out. A big bluff man with greying hair he was a veteran of more wars than most of them cared to think about. Unlike Acrides however, whose purpose in like he considered to be to teach the students to kill everything in sight, he was interested in teaching his students to think for themselves and survive.

"And boys are known to play pranks," Acrides snapped back at the older man. "I presume one of them thought it would be funny. I wouldn't put it past Iolaus for example…"

"I would," Tydeus said sharply.

"That's enough," Cheiron interrupted. "There are unfortunately one or two students who I might expect to play a malicious trick or two such as the nails, but I don't believe Iolaus is one of them, despite what you may think." Acrides have him a sharp look, hearing the warning in the Centaur's words. "This was aimed at hurting, even killing someone. And Iolaus has almost been the victim of them twice."

"Almost, yes," Acrides sneered. "And these tricks didn't start until Pegasus arrived, with Iolaus."

"But what would Pegasus have to gain from either incident?" Pattonius countered. "The boy's a bright one, but there isn’t a malicious bone in him and he doesn't know a darn thing about anything military unless it’s the cavalry. Horses fascinate him. He spent more time in lessons asking about horse armour than he did studying the battle layout."

"So he's a touch eccentric," Tydeus said defensively. "He's a good kid."

Cheiron snorted, holding back a laugh. "It's more likely to be Hyperius' putting someone up to it," he said aloud however. "If we get a reputation for accidents, he'll get the good of it. So for now, be careful of the students. Make sure none of them get hurt. There are too many places where accidents can happen at the best of times without a saboteur taking advantage of them."

Davron grunted, breaking his taciturn silence. "I put those sharpened swords in the armoury myself. They were meant to use against the slavers should they attack us," he said grimly. "Someone swapped them and whoever it was endangered all of us."

"The student might not have realised that," Acrides said slowly. "Boys interested in playing a trick don't look that far ahead."

"It isn't necessarily a student," Tydeus argued.

"What are you suggesting?" Pattonius demanded sharply.

"Only that we have servants around the place all the time. People come and go. Who notices one more person carrying a weapon around here?"

"Tydeus has a point," Attenburis said quietly. "Perhaps we should check on the servants. Perhaps the slavers have an inside man."

"Perhaps a safety check?" Tydeus suggested.

"Both excellent ideas," Cheiron agreed, noting Acrides' scowl of irritation.

"You pamper the students too much," Acrides muttered darkly.

"They’re not sent here to be killed by their lessons," Cheiron retorted. "Davron, Pattonius, please do a safety check of all equipment. Attenburis, perhaps you could speak to Maeve about the servants. I'm sure she’ll know who should be here and who shouldn’t be. And Acrides, you and I will start in the gymnasium by making sure all the weapons are checked personally…"

* * *

"Iolaus, stop fidgeting," Hercules complained. "I'm concentrating here." After supper they had gone to their room to study since taverna visiting was out of the question - Iolaus had checked and there were guards on the gates and Hercules refused point blank to give him a leg up over the wall - their only other option was studying. Hercules had lit the cressets on the wall and their soft light threw a warm golden glow around their room.

"My foot itches," Iolaus retorted, looking up from him. He was lying on his back on the floor, his feet up on the bed. "I can't concentrate."

"I'm not surprised studying upside down. Maybe if you sat on the bed instead?" Hercules suggested sarcastically, well aware of the position Iolaus' wriggling had taken him into.

"The information drains into my head better this way up," Iolaus answered smugly.

"Really? I hadn't noticed any improvement."

Iolaus glared at him but sat up and pulled himself up into the bed where he promptly dropped down flat on his stomach on his red blankets and waved his bare feet in the air. "That's because chemistry is boring!"

Hercules lifted his head from his scroll and gazed across the room at him. "I would've thought you’d like to learn how to blow things up with Greek Fire."

"In practise, yeah. But not the theory."

"If you don't know how to mix it…"

"I can't make it," Iolaus finished mockingly. "Yeah, I know that. I know the recipe."

"It's not a recipe…"

"It's got ingredients, hasn't it? Of course it is," Iolaus retorted. "Two parts of this, one part of that, light touch paper and run like blazes for cover."

Hercules grinned despite himself. "It's a bit more complicated than that."

"Oh for crying out loud, I know it is!" Exasperated, Iolaus threw his scroll at him. "What wrong with a catapult and fireball anyway? Sure Greek Fire spreads further and burns longer because it’s a liquid, but so does oil! The stuff's plain evil!"

Hercules gazed at him in astonishment. "You think?"

"My father always said…" Iolaus paused, startled by his own words, then continued slowly, "My father always said that a battle won by evil means is no victory at all. He said he'd seen what was left after Greek Fire had hit a man and he wouldn't wish such an end on his worst enemy."

Hercules frowned thoughtfully, surprised that Iolaus would repeat Skouros' comments. He was only vaguely aware of Iolaus sitting up and scrubbing at his bandaged foot. "Stop that," he urged irritably. "You’re being impossible."

"Fine then! If I'm that irritating I’ll go and see Pegasus." Iolaus yelped at him as he shoved his feet into his sandals and slid to his feet.

"Why not see Tydeus too? You've probably got fungus."

"I have not got fungus!" Iolaus yelled indignantly slammed the door behind him.

Hercules laughed and settled back on his bed, propping one leg over the over as he lounged against his pillows and settled down to finish reading the assignment Pattonius had given him.

* * *

It was hard to stomp and limp at the same time and Iolaus soon gave up on the stomping. Frustrated and bored and annoyed by Hercules' lack of understanding, he made his way through the dimly lit corridors of the academy towards Tydeus' rooms. Pegasus had already been asleep after a busy day of new and exciting things. He had a horse's ability to switch off and be content doing nothing. Iolaus wasn't in the mood to do the same, even if Hercules hadn't been studying. Used to plenty of physical activity, the curtailment of his freedom rankled, making him unusually restless.

He could hear other students around the place; a distant explosion of laughter from the direction of the baths, the rattle of dice from the dining hall as he passed, voices raised in bawdy song. He was tempted to go and join the dice game, but it sounded as if Aerides was winning and if there was one difference between the two Generals' sons it was that Aerides had money to spare and Iolaus didn't.

Sighing wistfully, Iolaus stayed away and took the next turn. Normally he would have gone and taken out his pent up frustration on one of the gymnasium dummies, but Cheiron had locked the doors until all the equipment was examined.

Deep in thought, it took him several moments to realise that the usually well-lit corridor was in darkness and he came to a halt, wondering who had forgotten to light the cressets. One might have gone out but all of them? A frisson of alarm ran down his back. Considering what had been happening recently, he was inclined to be overcautious for once.

A stealthy footstep behind him was all the warning of someone approaching, but he whisked around fast anyway. "What do you think…?" he began, ready to scold whoever through they could sneak up on him and half expecting it to be Hercules. All he saw was a hooded figure in black then he flung himself desperately aside as he glimpsed a knife blade coming at his ribs. He was a fraction slow, his wounded foot tripping him. The dagger zipped through his tunic, slicing his ribs with the tip. Shocked by the explosion of pain, Iolaus yelled out in fury and hopped back on his good foot, using his bad foot to kick. His attacker dodged the blow with a sideways twist, grabbing at his ankle to pull him off balance.

Iolaus went with the pull and let himself fall, taking the impact on his shoulder and arching upwards to kick with his good foot this time. His heel connected with his assailant's jaw and he heard his teeth click together with the impact. Releasing Iolaus' foot, he staggered back. then jumped as Iolaus swung at his legs in a sweep kick.

The hunter rolled, bringing his knees under him and lunging to his feet. His attacker was on him instantly, striving to get in a dagger blow. Iolaus fended him off frantically, knocking his wrists aside and clawing at his face; cloth ripped as his assailant jerked his head away. He could hear the man's breath hissing as they fought in determined silence, but he was bigger than Iolaus and unhurt. His strength started to tell.

"What's going on down there?" Pattonius' booming voice rumbled down the corridor as the ex General appeared silhouetted against the torchlight. "Are you two fighting? Stop it immediately I say…"

"Pattonius!" Iolaus yelped. "Help!" He was cut off as the dagger hilt clubbed him across the mouth, knocking him headlong into the wall. He flung up one arm to protect his head instinctively, but still hit with a thump that made him see stars. He slid down the solid stone into a heap at its foot, his head ringing and spinning. Distantly he heard the thump of running footsteps speeding into the distance and Pattonius' heavier ones in pursuit. After a moment, the heavier ones came back and Pattonius crouched beside him.

"Easy now, lad," he soothed. "Only me…Are you hurt?"

Scrabbling his hair out of his eyes, Iolaus shook his head and then winced, biting down an instinctive whimper.

"I see," Pattonius said dryly. "Hit your head, did you? Okay, lad, up you come. Let's get you to Tydeus."

"Who…?" Iolaus faltered, clinging to the older man as he was lifted to his feet.

"You don't know who Tydeus is?" Pattonius exclaimed, alarmed.

"Yes. No. Who jumped me?"

"Who attacked you? Now that I don't know. I'm not as fast as I used to be and he got away," Pattonius admitted, guiding the youth's tottering footsteps carefully. "I take you don't know either?"

"No…"

"Hmmh, well, first things first. Let's see you taken care of then worry about who it was…"

* * *

"Hercules!"

"Huh?" Hercules jolted awake, chagrined to realise that he had dozed off over his scrolls. "Whazzit?"

"Where's Iolaus? Isn't he here?" Pegasus was in the room, whipping around like a miniature whirlwind.

"Unless he's hiding under the bed…" Hercules sighed in amused exasperation as Pegasus promptly lunged to look under each bed in turn. "You have got to learn not to take things so literally…"

"Where is he?" Pegasus yelped, grabbing Hercules' arm and dragging him to his feet as if he expected the demi-god to be concealing Iolaus somewhere under his pillows.

"I don't know. Why? He said he was going to see you and Tydeus."

"Tydeus! Yes, maybe he's there!"

"Pegasus!" Hercules yelled as the silver haired youth lunged back to the door. "What's going on?"

"A bad dream…"

"Is that all?" Hercules laughed and relaxed.

Pegasus glared at him, his amber eyes dark and brooding. "No, I smell trouble. I can feel it as if all the hairs on my body are standing on end. True I don't have so many in this body, which probably means I'm less sensitive which is why I didn't notice earlier, but something's definitely wrong and I can smell it and it has something to do with Iolaus." He lunged out, galloping off down the corridor with long legged strides. Suddenly uneasy, Hercules raced after him, hoping that Iolaus was all right.

"Come on, Hercules!" Pegasus called back to him. "Hurry up!"

Shaking his head, Hercules lengthened his strides and sprinted after him.

* * *

"If you ask me, the boy's a magnet for trouble," Acrides complained.

"No one did," Tydeus retorted as he continued with his examination of Iolaus. Pattonius had sent for Cheiron and Acrides had arrived with the Centaur since he had been with him discussing Academy security.

Cheiron sighed. Tydeus could be guaranteed to stand up for any student currently under his care and never mind whom he antagonised in the process. On top of that, his old friend had quite a soft spot for Iolaus anyway.

"It wasn't my fault," Iolaus muttered irritably. "I was the one who got jumped. It's not like I attacked him."

"That we know of," Acrides commented sarcastically.

Tydeus turned and gave him a slow glare. "Why don't you wait outside?" he suggested icily.

Acrides bristled. "You have to admit that he is causing…"

"That's enough," Cheiron interrupted, seeing the quick flash of hurt on Iolaus' face before the student ducked his head. He knew his students well and was well aware that Iolaus concealed a sensitive nature behind a cocky wall of self-confidence. It was a sign how shaken he was feeling that the youth didn't fight back now. Acrides' words were probably cutting deep for once, reinforcing his own self-doubts. "Iolaus may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he also may have been targeted for some reason." He paused, giving Acrides a meaningful look. "Do you know of any students with a grudge against him?"

Acrides hesitated and then shook his head. "He seems quite popular," he admitted reluctantly.

"That's my impression too," Cheiron observed dryly.

Pattonius, leaning against the doorjamb, chuckled quietly. "Things have been a little livelier around here since his group started. Personally I rather enjoy a touch of chaos. And speaking of which, here come Hercules and Pegasus." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder as Hercules and Pegasus came racing down the corridor, nearly getting jammed in the doorway in their hurry. The ex General stepped aside to let them in.

"Hold it you two," Cheiron said sharply, blocking their entry. "Iolaus isn't really hurt, only a bit shaken. No need to trample anyone in the rush."

"Uh sorry," Hercules mumbled, peering hopefully around the Centaur. Standing on tiptoe, Pegasus waved over Cheiron's back at Iolaus.

"I'm okay, guys," Iolaus called to them with a wan smile.

"What happened?" Hercules wanted to know, peering over Cheiron along with Pegasus. Cheiron sighed and moved aside, realising he wasn't making any impression on them. Acrides grunted in exasperation and stomped out, muttering about checking the guards before he turned in. Pattonius ambled casually after him.

"Someone jumped me," Iolaus explained wearily. "And as I told Cheiron I don't know who it was. He was taller than me, bigger than me, dressed all in black and wearing a hood. It could have been anyone."

"You didn't notice anything about the way he moved? Assuming it was a he?" Cheiron prompted as he folded his arms, watching the way Hercules sidled anxiously closer to his diminutive friend to look him over for himself.

"It was a he," Iolaus nodded, wincing slightly. "But he didn't make much of an impression on me except with his fist." Hercules promptly shot a worried a look at Tydeus.

"He's bruised his arm and shoulder and his mouth but that doesn't seem to be stopping him from talking so he's fine," Tydeus said briskly.

"What about this?" Hercules pointed worriedly at Iolaus' scraped and bloodied ribs as Tydeus finished cleaning him up. His ripped tunic had been tossed to one side out of the way.

"A nasty scratch but you could get worse from falling in a bramble bush. He’ll survive."

"Gee, thanks, Tydeus. I feel so much more heroic now," Iolaus muttered sarcastically, wincing away as Tydeus briskly plastered his ribs with a herbal salve.

"Can't have you feeling sorry for yourself," Tydeus said cheerfully. "You have a chemistry quiz in the morning, don't you?"

"I don't think I’ll be up to it," Iolaus began tentatively.

Cheiron snorted. "I'm not falling for that one," he said dryly. "As soon as Tydeus has finished with you, you go to bed and stay there until breakfast. And Hercules, I expect you to make sure he doesn't get into any more trouble tonight."

"Yes, Cheiron," Hercules drew himself up and answered with prompt obedience.

Cheiron nodded, gave Iolaus a stern look and then clipped briskly out of the room and off down the corridor. Pegasus peered after him to make sure he was gone and then sidled up to Iolaus. "How'd you know it wasn't female?" he asked. "Could you smell her?"

"No. He didn't move like a girl. Can I go now, Tydeus?"

Tydeus hesitated. "I suppose," he said slowly, letting Iolaus slip off the table to his feet.

Hercules put out one hand to steady him. "I'll watch him," he promised the healer.

"I don't need watching," Iolaus protested.

Hercules snort drew him an admiring glance from Pegasus. "Yeah, sure, okay. Come on, Pegasus. Let's get back to bed before we turn into pumpkins."

"Why would we turn into pumpkins?" Pegasus asked immediately as he trotted after them. "Is this some kind of magic spell? What causes it?"

"Shut up, Pegasus," Hercules sighed heavily. "It's only a saying."

"But I want to know…."

* * *

"But it wasn't my fault!" Iolaus wailed after the breakfast the following morning as he anxiously patted out the flickering embers on Hercules' suede jerkin. They were standing outside the smouldering walls of the stone armoury where Oblius tutored the students in preparing Greek Fire and other useful little weapons that required strong walls.

Hercules glowered at him in outrage and the young hunter turned desperately back to his soot blackened tutor. "Really! It was an accident! I didn't know it would do that!"

"It's Greek Fire, Iolaus," Oblius replied heavily, his voice full of weariness. "It always explodes like that! How much did you make?!"

"Only what it said in the scroll!" Iolaus protested.

Oblius stared at him and then looked at the building. Thick smoke was still roiling out of the windows and Davron was organising the students on fire patrol to put the last few flames. "Is that all?" he echoed in awe.

"Yes!" Iolaus yelped, digging into his tunic for the well-thumbed scroll. "Here, see? Like it says…"

"And you’re sure you didn't add anything?" Oblius asked suspiciously as he checked the scroll and gave his student a wary look.

Hercules swore under his breath, waving off a cloud of smoke and gingerly wiping his blackened face. He still couldn't understand how he was the one who had ended up filthy from head to foot while Iolaus looked like he was fresh from the baths, when it had been him who pulled Iolaus out of range of the explosion when he realised the experiment had gone wrong.

"No. Only what was in the bottles!"

"I've never seen it go that colour before. And those flame were…" Oblius muttered, shaking his head and staring at the scroll in bewilderment. "But this all seems to be right. You’re quite sure you didn't alter anything, Iolaus? Not by so much as a drop?"

"I swear I didn't! I know it's dangerous." Iolaus drooped as they both stared at him in disbelief. "Well, I do. I suppose I failed the quiz again?" he added gloomily.

Oblius took a deep breath and looked at his nigh on demolished laboratory.

"At least it did blow up this time," Iolaus offered tentatively. "Last time I couldn't even get it to go pop. And they were very impressive booms."

"Yes, booms, plural. There's only supposed to be one, Iolaus," Oblius exclaimed. "What did you do?"

Iolaus twitched miserably. "I don't know. I mixed it all like you said. And it went….bang…"

"I liked all the pretty purple and green sparkles," Pegasus offered, having sneaked close enough to listen. "And the way they all rushed upwards. I’ll bet you could see them for miles at night. Can you teach me to make that?"

Oblius paled at the thought.

Iolaus hunched his shoulders and hissed at him. "You’re not helping."

"It isn't supposed to do that, Pegasus," Oblius said patiently.

"Oblius, please give me another chance," Iolaus begged. "I don't know why it always goes wrong! I always do what it says!"

Oblius sighed, gazing down at the earnest young student from his lanky six foot of height. Like a pair of bookends Hercules and Pegasus both turned equally pleading looks on him. He ran one hand through his short cut hair and nodded. "All right, Iolaus, one more time. One way or another I’ll get you through chemistry even if it kills me. Which after today's demonstration, it might well do. Go on, go get cleaned up and stay out of my sight for a while!"

"Yes, sir!" Iolaus yipped and scampered off in relief with his friends.

Shaking his head, Oblius looked at the laboratory again, wondering what on earth Cheiron was going to say. This hadn't happened since Jason had been a student and he'd managed to blow the roof off the building.

"Maybe it's time I gave up teaching Greek Fire and went back to old fashioned boiling oil," he muttered.

"Gee, you think so?" Cheiron observed sardonically.

Oblius jumped nervously, considering it downright unnatural the way the Centaur could sneak up on people without being either seen or heard. "It might be safer."

"Yes, I heard your little accident," Cheiron said mildly, looking thoughtfully at the soot stained stones.

"I don't know what went wrong, Cheiron. Iolaus followed the instructions perfectly. He always does, but somehow…"

Cheiron folded his arms and shrugged, his feathered braids bobbing in the breeze. "With Iolaus it always goes wrong," he said mildly.

"You’re not mad?" Oblius asked cautiously.

"This kind of thing loses its shock value after a while. At least the roof stayed on this time." Cheiron looked down at him and smiled faintly. "And no one was hurt. Are you going to give him another chance?"

"I think we’ll go for a written quiz next time, but yes," Oblius answered wryly. "He is going to pass if it kills both of us."

Cheiron's smile widened. "You don't find him hard to teach?""

Oblius gave him a blank look. "Chemistry isn’t his strong point perhaps, but he's willing to learn if you can catch his attention. He does want to do well which is more than some of them want to do." He paused suspiciously. "Why? Has Acrides said something?"

"He and Iolaus do seem to rub each other the wrong way."

"If you ask me, Acrides rubs everyone the wrong way," Oblius snorted. "He had the nerve to tell me what he thinks I should be teaching! As for Iolaus, well, if he asks awkward questions, it's because he's curious about the answer. As long as he gets a clear answer and you don't fob him off if you don't know, he's fine. Otherwise he’ll get persistent and smart mouthed. Why are you grinning?"

Cheiron chuckled. "I can think of one or two other young men I've had the pleasure of teaching who were equally stubborn." He slapped Oblius on the shoulder. "Your opinion seems to match most of his original tutors. Attenburis surprised me by realising it too."

"You’re checking up on us!" Oblius realised indignantly.

"I'm only curious about the new tutors," Cheiron answered. "Apart from Acrides they all seem quite happy."

"Acrides wouldn't be happy anywhere," Oblius grunted. "He's not cut out to teach students."

"Oh, I don’t know," Cheiron mused. "He's a little rough round the edges, but can you think of a better bunch of students to round him off? I think Acrides may end up learning as much as he teaches by the end of this season."

* * *

Muttering under his breath, Hyperius struggled to rein in his horse that insisted on wanting to gallop when he preferred a walk. The animal was eager to get back to his stable and fidgety after standing around for an hour while Hyperius waited for his spy at Cheiron's Academy. The meeting had gone well, leaving Hyperius feeling distinctly smug about how well things were going. It surely wouldn't be long before students started to leave now.

"Well, now, if it isn't Hyperius, my old friend," a frightening familiar voice purred through the forest air, startling Hyperius into looking around him wildly. He saw black bearded Kaltron first as he emerged on horseback in front of him on the path. Reining the horse about Hyperius put his heels to the animal's side and nearly got bucked off as it balked.

Elides was sitting astride his horse on the path behind Hyperius, lazing in the saddle with casual grace. "I believe you still owe me money, Hyperius. A lot of money. Where is it?"

"I don't have it," Hyperius blurted nervously.

"I kind of figured that. So what's to stop me letting Kaltron here have a little fun? I see you've kept your looks, but I'm sure Kaltron can ruin that for you. "

Hyperius swallowed, looking nervously over his shoulder as the other slaver eased his horse a little closer. Laying back its ears, his own horse tucked in its hindquarters, nervous about having the bigger horse on its tail. "I own a school now," he said desperately. He had always prided himself on his dark good looks and they were still proving useful. Many a woman persuaded their husbands to send their offspring to his new school on the basis of his charm and good looks.

"So I heard. And what's an ex slave like you going to teach all those rich young thugs? How to bow and scrape? Or how to sleep their way into favour maybe?" Elides sneered.

Hyperius gave the slaver a furious look, rage burning off his initial ingrained fright. "I'll teach them all those things that bloody Centaur doesn't. I'll teach them to be nobles, I'll show them how to survive in a palace among real people not the damn peasants."

"I can remember when you were one of those peasants," Elides observed lazily. He lifted his head to look past Hyperius at Kaltron. "I made a lot of money selling this one to various buyers. We had a nice little game going for a while. I'd sell him. He'd run away and come back to me. I’d give the owner half his money back because no one else would buy a runaway and everyone was happy."

"I brought my freedom," Hyperius spat at him angrily.

"Yes, and now you've brought a school with my money."

"As agreed. Half of it is yours."

"I want it now!"

"You can't have it now!" Hyperius yelled at him. "You've come too early! We agreed…"

"I didn't expect you to be fool enough to set up right next door to Cheiron!" Elides roared back at him.

"It's the perfect place. The only place! Cheiron won't be able to keep his Academy open much longer anyway," Hyperius responded, the cunning that had kept him alive and prospering as a slave coming back into play after his shock at seeing his one time owner. "In fact, since you're here. You can help out. I presume you’re still in the human resource trade?"

"What do you think?" Elides sneered. "I call myself a human resource dealer these days. You get a better class of buyer if they think they’re buying something better than a slave."

Hyperius waved aside the comment arrogantly. "Whatever. I presume you've on the lookout for some prime stock? I know the perfect place for you to get it and ruin Cheiron's name into the bargain…"

* * *

Iolaus giggled, dodging out of reach of Hercules' irritated swipe at him. The demi-god had washed up and changed his clothes but he was still finding little flakes of soot and odd smelling chemicals from the laboratory that Iolaus was taking mischievous glee in pointing out to him.

"It's all your fault anyway," Hercules grumbled at him as they walked through the gymnasium. "When are you going to get the stuff right?"

Iolaus gave him a hurt look. "It wasn't my fault. I did exactly what it said in the scroll, exactly what Oblius said and it still went wrong!"

"There must have been something," Hercules argued.

"You watched me too. You tell me what I did wrong!" Iolaus snapped, stalking off in a huff towards the ropes.

Realising he had hurt his feelings, Hercules hurried after him. "Maybe there was something wrong with the chemicals," he suggested.

Iolaus shrugged, looking up at the training ropes and taking a thoughtful grip on one. "Maybe it's the curse…."

"What curse?" Hercules exclaimed, astounded.

"The one the rumours are talking about, the one that explains all the things that have been happening."

Hercules scowled. "That's nonsense. Who'd believe such a thing?"

Iolaus glanced over his shoulder at him. "Conanius for one. Pegasus and Ithis for two more. I know it's all talk but, you have to have admit weird things have been happening."

"With someone real behind them," Hercules said firmly. "And stop changing the subject. We were talking about chemistry."

"I don’t want to talk about it. You'll only make me angry, then we'll wind up arguing and you'll sulk…

"I never sulk!"

"Sure, Herc," Iolaus murmured, glancing up at the rope again. "Want to race?" he asked.

"No. Look, chemistry isn't that important…"

Iolaus looked up at him and took a firm grip on the rope, tucking it under his foot to give himself a start. "So why does everyone keep telling me to study it then?" he asked irritably. "You don't need chemistry to be a soldier."

"You’re not a soldier, you’re a warrior," Hercules corrected hastily, not daring to stop his friend as he Iolaus started to shin up the rope.

"Big difference."

Hercules grabbed the rope, holding it steady for him. "Yes, there is! You’re a leader not a follower!"

"So how come I follow you around?" Iolaus retorted sarcastically, as he climbed lithely if a little more slowly than usual upwards.

Hercules floundered for a second. "You don't follow me, you come with me. That's different," he said slowly. Deep down he suspected that Iolaus didn't lead because he didn't want the responsibility that went with it. Iolaus had grown up wanting to be like his father, until he realised that he could never be what Skouros expected of him and set out to be himself instead. In the process, he had deliberately done his best to be as different from his father as he could be; which meant staying away from armies and leadership as much as he could.

Curling one leg around the rope, Iolaus glared down at him. "Either way, why do I need to know how to do chemistry?" he demanded, shooting a quick suspicious look up at the rope as it shivered in his hands.

"Why'd you ask Oblius for another chance if you don't want to do it?" Hercules countered, tugging impatiently at the rope. "Come down before we’re late for Natural History."

"You go," Iolaus urged.

"Not without you."

"I thought I’d go for a walk…"

"You come down or I'm coming up after you."

"Like I care."

"Right then." Hercules spat on his hands, took a firm grip and started to shin up after him. Iolaus laughed, retreating upwards out of his reach as Hercules made a grab for his bare ankle.

"Can't catch me!" Iolaus laughed.

"Wanna bet?"

"Five dinars!"

"You got five dinars?"

"All right, two says I’ll get to the roof before you can stop me," Iolaus offered.

"You’re on," Hercules grinned and climbed faster.

Iolaus scooted out of reach, flashing a bright eyed look down at him. "Slow poke!"

"You little pest!" Hercules snarled, snatching at his ankle again.

Iolaus whipped his foot out of reach and wriggled his toes at him, then he froze and shot a look upwards at a faint twanging noise from above. His smile vanished in alarm.

"Iolaus? What's the matter?"

"Get down, Herc! Quick!" Iolaus yelped.

"Oh no, you don't win that easy!"

"No, down! Fast!" Iolaus yipped and started to slide downwards rapidly. "Someone's cut the rope!"

Startled, Hercules peered past him to see the rope above them fast unravelling. He slid downwards hastily, moving his hands and letting the leather of his pants protect him from rope burns. They were both too high to fall safely.

The rope shuddered, held by barely two strands.

Hercules swore, kicked his legs free and dropped, taking his weight off the rope as fast as possible. He hit the ground on both feet, feeling the shock jar through his legs even as Iolaus yelped above him and the rope snapped. Without thinking, Hercules dived under his partner and braced himself, thrusting out both arms to catch him.

Iolaus slammed into him and suddenly all the lights went out…

The next thing Hercules knew was the sound of muffled voices in the distance slowly coming closer and his body was calling in with a situation and damage report. He was lying on his back on the sand, the back of his head throbbing painfully and feeling rather as if a Centaur had sat on him.

"Hercules? Please, Herc, say something…" Iolaus' voice was the first one he recognised and he smiled faintly to himself, pleased with the recognition. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Don't worry, Iolaus," Tydeus said soothingly. "He'll be fine."

"But I landed on him," Iolaus protested miserably.

"Which is probably why you didn't break every bone in your body falling from that height," Tydeus scolded tartly. "Did I say you could start exercising again?"

"It's all my fault."

"I dare say Hercules could have got out of the way if he wanted to," Tydeus pointed out.

"He's hurt because of me…"

"For goodness sake, Iolaus! Stop blaming yourself!"

"But it is my fault…"

Hercules couldn't take it any more and forced his eyes open, squinting in the light of the torches. Tydeus was kneeling on one side of him with Iolaus on the other. Pegasus was leaning over Iolaus' shoulder, watching all three of them anxiously.

"Herc?" Iolaus leaned over him instantly, his blue eyes wide with worry. "I landed on you."

"I know," Hercules observed dryly, putting one hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezing gently. The movement made every bone and muscle in his body hurt but the shaky smile of relief it won him made it all worthwhile. "I think you're putting on weight, buddy."

"You shouldn't have been standing underneath," Iolaus scolded, struggling with his tearful grin.

"I didn't think you’d wait for me to fetch you a cushion. You okay?"

"You’re asking me?" Iolaus sniffed.

"Yeah. Are you?"

"Yeah, a bit bruised but okay thanks to you."

"Terrific. Makes me feel much better. Can I get up now?"

"Tydeus?" Iolaus looked round hopefully at the older man.

"How nice, you've remembered me," Tydeus observed sarcastically. "No, Hercules, you cannot. You’re going to lie there for a few more minutes while I finish checking you over. And you, Iolaus, are going to class."

"But…."

"Go…" Tydeus ordered sternly. "And take Pegasus with you."

Iolaus turned anguished eyes on Hercules. Hercules smiled ruefully. "Go on. And remember to take notes for me." Iolaus rolled his eyes in exasperation but he went. Pegasus trotted after him, watching Iolaus anxiously between glances back at Hercules. After they had gone, Hercules turned a wary look on Tydeus. "Is he really okay?"

"Terrified over you, bruised but unhurt. Powerful yell the kid's got when he needs help too. Pegasus heard him and came to get me. Has it occurred to you to ask how you are?"

"I'm okay. Nothing broken." Hercules shifted gingerly, flexing his arms and legs and to his relief feeling no sharp twinges. Everything responded properly and apart from his sore head, he seemed to be fine.

Tydeus sighed heavily in exasperation. "Humour me," he said dryly. "I'd like you to lie down for a while to be on the safe side. An average angry father fretting over his son is bad enough, Cheiron really doesn't need your father mad at him right now."

Hercules started to protest, caught the look on Tydeus face and gave in. Besides, he wasn't so mature that he wasn't glad of a chance to skip class for once.

* * *

"Now, can anyone remember what the seven kinds of Hydra are?" Attenburis was saying as Iolaus and Pegasus slipped belatedly into class and took their seats. He fixed them both with an eagle eye, noting Iolaus' ruffled hair and clothes and unhappy expression. Deciding the youth didn't need hassling at the moment, he turned his attention to Pegasus as he attempted to turn invisible. "Pegasus?"

"Yes?"

"The seven kinds of Hydra are…?" Attenburis prompted.

Folding his hands neatly in front of him, Pegasus gazed back at him expectantly. "Are what?" he asked brightly.

"You’re supposed to tell me what they are."

"Don't you know?" Pegasus asked, puzzled.

"Yes. Do you?"

"Oh yes," Pegasus nodded enthusiastically. "You told us before. I remember."

Iolaus jabbed him in the ribs with one elbow. "Then tell him, you idiot! He wants you to prove you remember."

"Oh?" Pegasus turned wide amber eyes on him then turned obediently back to the instructor. "Solar, Underground or Common, Fire, Swamp, Sea, Desert and er….er…" Iolaus hissed at him. "…Woolly."

"Well done," Attenburis said dryly, giving Iolaus a quelling look. "Would you care to tell me why you and Iolaus were late?"

"Hercules fell off a rope," Pegasus answered.

"Clumsy of him," Constantius sneered from the back. "Obviously he wasn't paying attention in dance class."

Iolaus twisted around in his seat and glared at him. "I’d like to see you do better when someone cuts a rope on you," he snapped. "Oh, I was forgetting, you’d pay someone to climb the rope for you. You couldn't do it yourself."

Constantius' big hands slammed into his desk as he shoved to his feet. "At least my family has money," he growled back. "My family could buy yours ten times over. Trouble is, you’d make a lousy slave and I don't know what else you’d be good for."

Iolaus bristled in outrage, speechless for once.

"That will do!" Attenburis roared, his voice exploding into a leonine roar. "Constantius, I will not have these endless interruptions of yours. You will wait outside until the class is over."

Constantius gaped at him. "You’re taking Iolaus' side?" he exclaimed in shock.

"I am not taking sides with anyone."

"But he insulted me."

"I consider making fun of Hercules without knowing whether he is hurt or not to be unforgivably cruel," Attenburis snapped coldly.

"You can't…" Constantius spluttered.

"I can and I have. Wait outside."

"Cheiron will hear about this," Constantius snarled as he retreated.

"I have no doubt he will. But I can assure you that money means as little to him as it does to me. I prize intelligence above dinars. Now, out. And while you’re waiting, consider the class marks you've dropped over this. You won't buy a pass in this class."

Constantius stared at him, going slowly red in embarrassment before he scuttled out of the room.

"Not a word," Attenburis said sharply as a low murmur of laughter ran around the class. Constantius was a far from popular student; too many youths had been bullied and sneered at by him. "Iolaus?"

"Yes, sir?" Iolaus flinched, eyeing him warily.

"Is Hercules all right?" Attenburis asked gently.

"I think so," Iolaus admitted.

"Good. I will allow your behaviour on this occasion as you were obviously upset and Constantius was rude, but I don't want you to make a habit of it. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," Iolaus said quickly. He enjoyed Natural History because of his hunting instincts and would have missed it if he'd been banned.

Attenburis' mouth twitched in what might have been a faint smile before he turned to the scroll he had pinned to the wall. The scroll was a beautifully done drawing of four footed, frill hooded creature in bright colours. "Now, can anyone tell me what this is?" he asked, looking at his class expectantly. Silence. "All right, would anyone care to make a guess? What does it look like? You can confer."

There was a swift mutter of voices then Clemis prodded Iolaus into sticking his hand up. "Go on, tell him," he hissed at the blond student.

"Yes?" Attenburis prompted patiently.

"It looks kind of like a Hydra," Iolaus said cautiously. "But it's got feet."

Attenburis beamed at him. "To all intents and purposes it is a Hydra. It has the same hood and the same ability to grow a new head and it can be found in almost any kind of territory. In addition to teeth and a tail sting, it also has claws and a particularly vicious temper that causes it to attack anything that moves. They also have the ability to climb. Fortunately for us, they’re fairly rare."

"How come it's got feet?" Ithis wanted to know.

"The theory is that the original ones came from the mating of a Hydra with a Chaos Spawn and that they bred true. We'll study Chaos Spawn later when we get to evolution. But basically they’re large lizard like predators."

"Like dragons?" Clemis asked.

"Dragons eat horses," Pegasus observed in dark tones.

"They eat anything, Pegasus. But dragons tend to be solitary for the most part and are an intelligent species. Chaos Spawn hunt in packs. If you stay out a dragon's way, it’ll stay out of yours. Chaos Spawn will come looking for you if they catch your scent. For now all you really need to know about Chaos Spawn is that you should avoid them. Yes, Aerides?"

"When are we going to go looking for some of these things?" he asked.

Attenburis blinked at him. "You mean a nature walk? With slavers in the vicinity I really don't think that would be a good idea."

"I was thinking more of a hunt," Aerides said however with a hungry grin.

"I see," Attenburis said slowly. "Well, I shall suggest it to Cheiron as an idea for later in the season. But personally I can think of a lot safer things to observe in the wild than any kind of Hydra. They don't make good eating by the way either. Now, do any of you bunch of blood thirsty young men remember how to kill a Hydra?"

* * *

Hercules shifted gingerly against his mound of pillows and resettled himself comfortably. His bruises were making his back ache and his whole body felt sore, but since it was getting him pampered for once he didn't really mind that much. Maeve had sent him a bowl of honey-glazed figs and Tydeus had allowed him some ale to drink and he didn't have to go to classes for the rest of the day, which meant he had missed maths. At that thought, he allowed a smug smile to creep across his face while no one was looking.

"Ooh, you big fake," Iolaus complained indignantly, catching him out as he peeped cautiously around the doorjamb at him. "To think I've been worrying about you while you’re lying here in luxury living it up."

Hercules stuck his tongue out at him, mentally noting that it was about the only part of him that didn't hurt. "I'm obeying Tydeus' orders to rest," he pointed out smugly.

"You? Rest?" Iolaus exclaimed, slipping into the room and padding over to his bedside. He looked Hercules up and down, his bright air fading a little.

"Don't look so worried," Hercules said hastily, realising he had genuinely worried his friend. Iolaus wasn't used to Hercules being slowed down by anything. "You know how Tydeus overreacts. I'll be back at lessons in the morning. Did you make notes for me?"

"I left them in our room," he answered. "I kind of thought you’d be there."

"I'm sorry, Iolaus, but I really am okay. You want a fig?"

"Might as well," Iolaus accepted a sticky chunk of fruit and munched, sitting perched on the edge of Hercules' bed.

Hercules eyed him thoughtfully. "Did you ask for the figs for me?"

"No," Iolaus retorted.

"Did you?"

"All right, so maybe I asked Maeve if she had any," Iolaus admitted, grinning at him.

"Thanks," Hercules said warmly. "They cheered me up."

"Thought they might. Hey, Constantius got sent out of class for being insulting," Iolaus confided.

"And I missed it?" Hercules exclaimed, disgruntled. Aerides could be obnoxious, but Constantius was twice as bad as he was. Besides, he had been the one to wolfwhistle him. "What happened in maths?"

"Oh, rub it in why don't you?" Iolaus complained, snaffling another bite of fig before Hercules could grab the bowl. "Nothing much as usual so don't look so smug." He gave his friend a sly look. "We've started getting the chariot scythes ready in carpentry."

"Spikes," Hercules rumbled.

"Scythes," Iolaus replied sweetly. "Big sweeping stylish ones…"

"Iolaus…" Hercules began indignantly and broke off at the sudden echo of his friend's name.

Iolaus gave him a startled look, then sprang to his feet as the hail was repeated. "That's Cheiron," he exclaimed in alarm. "What's he want me for? I haven't done anything."

"Stop being so paranoid. Maybe he wants you for dance class."

"Oh, funny. At least I don't have two left feet."

"Neither do I!" Hercules yelped.

"Iolaus!!" Cheiron bellowed again.

"You’d better go," Hercules urged.

Iolaus grimaced. "See you later?"

"Yeah, go on."

Iolaus nodded and trotted out, still limping a little and obviously stiff after his fall. Hercules sighed and settled back, no longer so comfortable. Lying in bed was all very well, but he was probably missing all kinds of fun.

* * *

"Do you recognise it?" Acrides demanded, holding a bundle of black cloth out to Iolaus. They were in the dining hall where the Centaur had been hailing the student from, his voice quite capable of carrying from one end of the building to the other when he wanted it to; acoustic tricks or not. Pegasus was sitting at one of the tables, his hands folded tightly together on the wooden top. He hadn't said anything since Iolaus arrived, but kept glancing from Acrides to Cheiron and back again, clearly upset and a little frightened about something.

Taking the cloth, Iolaus unfolded it and frowned, puzzled. "It's hood of some kind," he said slowly.

"We know that, have you seen it before?" Cheiron asked quietly.

Iolaus turned it over again and held it up, examining a tear in the fabric. "This looks like the same one as my attacker wore," he said slowly. "I ripped it a little…"

"What did I tell you?" Acrides interrupted, folding his arms and giving Cheiron a meaningful look. "I told you he'd be trouble!"

"What's going on?" Iolaus asked warily, glancing at Pegasus as he lowered his head to his folded arms.

"The hood was found in Pegasus' rooms by Aerides about an hour ago," Cheiron said grimly, glancing at the pale haired student. His eyes held more compassion than anger.

"It wasn't Pegasus who attacked me," Iolaus said promptly however.

"You don't know who attacked you," Acrides reminded him acidly. "You couldn't describe him, remember?"

"I remember," Iolaus agreed. "But I was there and you weren't…sir. It wasn't Pegasus. The person who attacked me was bigger than he is."

"I'm not skinny," Pegasus muttered from the refuge of his arms, his voice muffled.

Iolaus shot a worried look at him, then turned to Cheiron. "I'm sure it wasn't Pegasus," he protested urgently.

"The hood was found in his room," the Centaur pointed out gently.

"Anyone could have put it there!" Iolaus argued.

"Why?" Acrides said flatly.

"To distract you from looking for the real culprit," Iolaus answered quickly. "To make Pegasus look bad. To stop everyone keeping a suspicious lookout and spotting whoever's really behind all the things that keep happening."

"The curse…" Pegasus whispered, lifting his head. "It's the curse. Now it's after me…"

"Don’t be dumb," Iolaus snapped at him. "There's no such thing!"

"Iolaus is correct," Cheiron agreed. "This is caused by malice. Pegasus, will you give me your word you didn't attack Iolaus?"

"Oh, I swear it by Styx herself!" Pegasus yelped. "I would never ever attack, Iolaus. He's my friend!"

"And you’re going to believe that?!" Acrides exclaimed.

"You heard him. He swore it by Styx herself and Iolaus believes he didn't do it. What more do you want?" Cheiron asked irritably.

Acrides floundered. "Something a little more substantial than 'oh, he's far too nice to hurt anyone'!"

"How about taking Pattonius' word for it then?" Iolaus demanded. "He was there. He'll know if it was Pegasus or not."

Cheiron looked down at the student in surprise. "Why, yes, he was, wasn't he? Go and fetch him Acrides. Iolaus, you can go back to whatever you were doing."

"Oh, but can't I…?" Iolaus looked at Pegasus.

"No," Cheiron said flatly. "You needn't worry about Pegasus, I'm not going to let anything happen to him."

Iolaus sighed and patted Pegasus on the shoulder. "I believe you," he said earnestly, Pegasus gave him a tremulous smile and whispered his gratitude. As the hunter limped out, Pegasus turned his amber eyes pleadingly back to Cheiron, silently begging him to be kind.

* * *

On leaving Cheiron Iolaus had every intention of going back to Hercules and enlisting his support. He couldn't believe anyone would think for a moment that Pegasus would attack him. For one thing he had shown no signs of having a clue how to fight properly and whoever had attacked him had known exactly what he was doing. Iolaus stopped in mid step, startled by his own thought. Not only had his attacker shown skills probably acquired at the Academy, but he had known Iolaus' own moves. Head down in thought, Iolaus moved on, thinking hard. Apart from making a mental note to very his own moves in a fight - being predictable could get him killed - he started to run through all the students by size and ability, hoping to narrow down a few suspects.

Not looking where he was going, he wandered straight into Aerides and sent them both staggering back.

"Don't you ever look where you’re going?" Aerides snapped at him impatiently, brushing off his new tunic.

"Don't you?" Iolaus shot back, his tongue running away with him. "Or are you too busy poking about in other people's belongings to do that?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Aerides demanded belligerently.

"I think you know perfectly well," Iolaus retorted. "Why'd you set him up?"

"I haven't set anyone up. What are you hallucinating about now?"

Iolaus squared up to him. "Pegasus, who else?"

"I did no such thing.".

"Are you saying you didn't find the hood in Pegasus' room? And you didn't go running to Acrides?

"It isn't my fault if Pegasus attacked you," Aerides snapped.

"He didn't! You set him up!" Iolaus yelled.

"I did not!" Aerides yelled back. "He left his door open and I saw what looked like a hood on his bed! What was I supposed to do? Ignore it? Of course I went to Acrides. I had to! We were told to!"

"Why didn't you tell me? Or Hercules? Or even ask Pegasus about it?! He'd have told you it wasn't his!"

"And you think I'm as much a fool as you and I’d believe him? Oh, get out of my way," Aerides shoved him angrily, but Iolaus resolutely stood his ground.

"Answer me!" Iolaus demanded furiously.

"You’d have covered it up!"

"I would not!" Losing his temper, Iolaus shoved him back. "You only wanted to get him into trouble!"

Aerides snarled and swung at him, stung by the slur to his pride. Iolaus ducked and tackled him, driving the taller student over backwards as they tangled in a whirl of flying fists and feet and outraged yells. Determined to break free, Iolaus twisted and brought his knee up, flinging Aerides over his head. Aerides landed with a thud and twisted around to face him, lunging back to his feet.

"Don't…" Iolaus yelped, a little slower to rise than the other student and seeing what was behind him.

"You little…!" Aerides hissed in fury. "You’re going to be sorry…."

There was a shrill scream from behind him, a war like blood curdling shirked that made his hackles rise, then a weight landed on his back, long legs wrapped around his hips, hands seized his throat and sharp teeth latched onto his ear. With a howl of pain, Aerides scrabbled frantically at the snarling monster, doing his best to pry it off as it savaged his ear hungrily. It took him a moment to realise that Iolaus was hopping around the struggling pair and apparently doing his best to help Aerides.

"Stop it! Let him go! You’re going to tear his ear off!"

"What is going on in here?!" Cheiron's voice boomed as he stamped through the doorway. "Pegasus! Let him go this instant! Did you hear me? Pegasus!!"

To Aerides' enormous relief, he was abruptly released and the weight dropped away from him. Clutching his bloody ear with a sob of pain, Aerides stared at Pegasus in disbelief as the pale haired student stood in front of him, head up and stiff legged with fury, his eyes unnaturally wide and his nostrils flaring.

"Pegasus, Pegasus, calm down," Iolaus crooned, sneaking closer to smooth one hand over Pegasus' shoulder. "It's okay…"

"It's him," Pegasus hissed, his nostrils flaring again as he took in Aerides' scent. "He attacked you. He attacked you before…"

"Is that true?" Cheiron demanded sharply.

"No! I didn't!" Aerides blurted and was astounded when Iolaus backed him up.

"It wasn't Aerides who attacked me. It's someone I've never fought before…" Iolaus paused, flushing in chagrin. "I m'mean…"

"Someone you've never got into a brawl with before?" Cheiron asked dryly, folding his arms and raised a wry eyebrow at him.

"Er, exactly," Iolaus mumbled. Everyone knew that he and Aerides were frequently at odds.

"Hmmh. Do I need to ask what you and Aerides were fighting about?" Cheiron queried.

"I see," Cheiron said darkly. "About the hood by any chance?" Neither Iolaus or Aerides answered. "I thought so. Well, don't let it happen again. Aerides did the right thing by going to Acrides about it. And that's the end of it. Shake hands now." Neither student moved, both staring sullenly at the ground. "Now!" Cheiron barked. They both flinched and obeyed reluctantly, exchanging glares in the process. "Pegasus?" Pegasus took his eyes off Aerides long enough to look at the Centaur. "Apologise to Aerides for jumping him."

"Why?" Pegasus demanded hotly.

"Because it isn't honourable to attack from behind."

"I thought Iolaus was in danger," Pegasus argued.

"That makes it understandable, but still not honourable. Apologise."

Pegasus met Cheiron's dark eyes for a moment longer, then nodded grudgingly and turned to Aerides. "Sorry," he practically spat at the dark haired student. Aerides nodded, fingering his ear gloomily.

"Go and get your ear tended to," Cheiron ordered, then pursed his lips and he looked at Pegasus. Pegasus glared at Aerides as the student loped off, clearly relieved to escape. "You've been spending too much time with Iolaus if you've taken to biting people," he said sternly.

"Hey! I never taught him that!" Iolaus protested.

"Biting isn't allowed in polite society," Cheiron continued, ignoring Iolaus.

Pegasus gave him a sulky look. "I don't want to be polite. I want to win," he retorted. "You should always go for the vulnerable spots, not to kill but to drive another off your territory…" He paused, frowning hard. "Mortals don’t do it that way though, do they? Should I have killed him? Is that what I did wrong?"

"No!" Cheiron yelped as Iolaus stared at him in horror. "They were play fighting, Pegasus. Like young colts do? They didn't intend to hurt each other, only to see who was best. That's why you shouldn't have interfered."

"Ohhh," Pegasus' eyes widened with understanding and his tense stance suddenly eased. "Oh, now I understand." He turned his gaze on Iolaus. "I'm sorry. Sometimes your mortal ways are very hard to understand. You fight over words, but not for food. You get upset when a woman chooses to mate with another as well as you…"

"Pegasus," Cheiron interrupted gently. "You'll learn about mortals in time. Don't worry about it. For now, don't get into any more fights. Pattonius may have agreed with Iolaus that you weren't the one who attacked him, but not everyone will believe that immediately."

"Some mortals are mean," Pegasus complained.

"Yes," Cheiron agreed simply. "So the best thing you can do is be all sweetness and light for a few days until this is all forgotten about. What are you muttering about Iolaus?"

Iolaus winced; wishing Cheiron didn't have such good hearing. "Aerides will tell everyone it was Pegasus."

"No, he won't because I ordered him not to talk about it. Now, off you go the pair of you. Iolaus, you’d better go and tell Hercules that Pegasus is all right before he starts fretting. And Pegasus, you’d better stay out of Aerides' way. If I find out that any of you have got into another fight you'll be lapping the Academy for days. Go on, what are you waiting for? Shoo…"

Iolaus shot off, well trained at knowing when to get out of Cheiron's line of sight. Baffled but obedient, Pegasus trotted after him, no doubt planning a whole series of questions to clarify latest events.

* * *

Doing his best to walk without moving his back, Hercules made his way slowly down the corridor to the Academy baths. Tydeus had decided it was safe to release him on the assumption that Iolaus would watch him like a hawk for the faintest sign of trouble. Supper had been over a good hour or so ago and he had received a message from Ithis that he should join the rest of the students for a meeting at the baths.

Now, he slipped through the doors into the outer room and looked around him. Wearing nothing but a towel around his middle, Pegasus was sitting on one of the stone seats, swinging his feet and looking nervous. He brightened up on seeing Hercules.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked hopefully.

"Sort of. Where is everyone?"

"In the baths. Iolaus said I could wait for you," Pegasus glanced towards the doors leading into the main baths. There were actually several baths in the bathing annex; ranging in temperature from freezing to almost boiling, from big enough for two to large enough for everyone to swim in. The Academy had originally been designed as a fortress before Cheiron took it over and the luxurious private baths attached to the main room had originally been meant for the officers. One suite at the far end of the building was now reserved for the instructors, but the students had free range of the others. Cheiron encouraged bathing and swimming, believing both to be good for them.

Hercules carefully peeled out of his wrap over shirt and shed his pants, glad he had come barefoot so he didn't have to bend to struggle with footwear. "You coming?" he asked as he wrapped a towel around his middle.

"Do you think I should? I can't swim."

"You can sit on the edge then," Hercules encouraged him.

"That's what Iolaus said. I'm not really one of you."

"And you won't be unless you join in. Come on, no one's going to bite you." Grasping his wrist, Hercules pulled him to his feet and chivvied him gently to the doors, pushing him inside ahead of him.

Warm air swirled around them, smelling of a mixture of scented bath oils and sweet smelling steam from the hot water. The room was lit by torches around the walls, casting golden light across the surface of the water between the stone columns that supported the arched roof overhead. Most of the students were there, sporting like fish in the water as they swam their lengths, others lazing around on the underwater steps or perched on the scalloped edge of the pool as they talked. Smaller round pools around the edges of the main pools had private groups of youths where friends gathered to talk and laugh.

Spotting Iolaus in one of the side pools, his blond hair gleaming like gold in the torchlight, Hercules headed towards him with Pegasus on his heels.

"Hey, guys!" Iolaus lifted his head as he glimpsed them, turning in the warm water to lean on the edge of the pool and look up at them both. "You coming in?"

"Budge up." Shedding his towel, Hercules sat on the edge and eased into the warm water between Iolaus and Ithis with a sigh of bliss as it enfolded his sore body. He settled himself comfortably on the underwater stone seat, leaning back against the wall. "Come on, Pegasus, the water's warm," he urged as Pegasus dithered.

Pegasus looked around the pool, blushing faintly.

"You got something to hide?" Iolaus teased, tugging at his ankle. "No one's going to molest you. Come on in. We won't let you sink."

Pegasus quivered and stepped nervously into the water, groping with his toes for the step. Hercules snorted, reached up and grabbed his towel, tossing it onto the side. Pegasus promptly sank into the water up to his chin with a squeal that drew a raucous burst of laughter from the others.

"Hey, Pegasus, why so shy?" Clemis cackled from across the pool. "You’re hung like a horse! Bet the girls love you."

"Leave him alone, guys," Iolaus scolded as Pegasus blushed furiously. "Etruscans don't go in for communal bathing."

"That's ain't what I've heard," Constantius snorted, nudging Clemis in the ribs and winking salaciously at Pegasus.

Pegasus glared at him, letting Hercules tug him onto the seat beside him where the water swirled safely up around his chest.

"Ignore him Pegasus, he likes to fantasise is all," Iolaus observed sarcastically, glaring at Constantius. Constantius glared right back.

"I thought we were here to talk about the accidents," Clemis interrupted their staring match, sliding a little further along the seat away from Constantius with a ripple of water to distance himself from him.

"We are," Ithis agreed. "The point is, we could all be in danger. It's all very well for the instructors to say they’re going to protect us, but they haven't so far."

"Be fair," Hercules protested. "It all looked accidental until Iolaus was attacked. They couldn't know."

"Which suggests the attack on him was to scare everyone into realising it was deliberate and a saboteur is out to get us all," Ithis agreed.

"Unless whoever it is really is after Iolaus so the rest of us can relax," Constantius suggested.

Ithis frowned at him. "How about that, Iolaus?" Aerides asked however. "You know anyone who wants to throttle you?"

"Other than you, you mean?" Iolaus shot back. "No…."

"Yeah," Constantius agreed. "We know that Pattonius is saying it wasn't Pegasus, if you can believe that. But can you prove it wasn't you, Aerides?"

Aerides flushed in embarrassment. "No, but can you? If I was going to do something like that I’d be damn sure to make sure someone could cover for me."

"Like Ithis you mean?" Constantius sneered.

"Hey!" Ithis yelped indignantly.

"The chances are, only the attacker would bother setting up a cover. And he's likely to have made sure there's any number of other students who could take the blame," Conanius observed quietly. "Can any of us prove where we were when Iolaus was jumped? I can't."

"Yeah, but Aerides is always picking on Iolaus," Clemis commented.

Aerides scowled at him. "You want to make something of it?"

"They’re always fighting about something," Hercules agreed. "It doesn't mean anything. If anything it means exactly the opposite. Aerides' is too obvious."

"Iolaus is the one whose got clobbered by these 'accidents'," Constantius shot back. "Maybe he is the target."

"Or maybe he's been in the wrong place at the wrong time…"

"Yeah, he's good at that," Aerides sneered.

"Can I say something?" Pegasus asked in a small voice, surprising them all into looking at him.

"Of course you can," Ithis urged. "What's up? You thought of something?"

"Well, it seems to me, that you’re all doing exactly what this saboteur wants. He wants to distract you from what he's really up to and make sure you don't trust each other. While you're all being suspicious of each other, he can do what he likes," Pegasus paused, a little unnerved by being the centre of attention, but valiantly pressing on. "Like attacking Iolaus? Maybe the saboteur is taking advantage of Iolaus triggering the traps to lull you into relaxing by thinking he's the target, then he'll do something to someone else and you'll all think it was a mistake."

"He has a point," Conanius said thoughtfully.

Pegasus nodded eagerly. "And like this thing with Aerides finding the hood in my room? Iolaus knows it wasn't me. Pattonius knows it wasn't me." He hesitated and slid a wary look at Hercules.

"I don't believe it was you," the demi-god said obligingly.

Pegasus nodded in relief and went on. "But you don't know me. You maybe don't think you can trust me. I understand that. Trust is something you have to earn. So you think maybe I did have something to do with it somehow. Or you think Aerides seeded the hood on me…"

"You mean planted, not seeded," Iolaus corrected as the others grinned. "But we know what you mean."

"Oh, planted, thank you. So then you think maybe Aerides did it."

"I did not!" Aerides snarled angrily as all eyes turned to the dark haired student.

"Guys," Iolaus said quickly. "Aerides is a jerk, but he's not a backstabbing jerk. He's got a sense of honour, twisted maybe but then he is the grandson of Ares. I don't think it was him who jumped me."

"I don't know whether to thank you or hit you," Aerides grumbled, scowling.

"But you see what I mean?" Pegasus pressed. "You're letting this saboteur twist everything that happens. You’re being your own enemy."

"Maybe it is them," Conanius said slowly, sliding a wary glance at the ceiling. "I mean, we all know some of them have got it for Hercules, maybe they want to get at him through Iolaus."

Iolaus shot a quick look at Hercules, catching the spasm of alarm that crossed his face. "That's a dumb idea," he argued. "They'd kill me straight out, not fool around like this."

"Not if they want to twist Hercules' tail," Constantius prevaricated.

"I don’t think the gods have got anything to do with this," Aerides commented. "They’ve got rules. They can't directly attack Hercules because of who he is…"

"Which is maybe why they’re after Iolaus," Constantius argued.

"They wouldn't do it," Pegasus said firmly.

"And how would you know?" Constantius snapped, irritated at being argued with.

"Because…" Pegasus looked at Iolaus uncertainly, then perked up and nodded towards Aerides. "Ares wouldn't care if his grandson got hurt or killed by mortals, but he'd be furious if the gods were behind it and he'd be in the right."

"Zeus gave orders that they can't come at Hercules directly and that applies to the rest of us as well," Aerides added.

"Hercules?" Ithis looked to him for help.

"Like Aerides said, they have rules," Hercules answered.

"You’re agreeing with him?" Iolaus gave him a startled look.

"I have to, he's right. I've never thought that they have anything to do with this."

"But how do you know it isn’t a mortal plot on their behalf then?" Constantius demanded sarcastically.

"Easy. Cheiron," Hercules replied coolly. "He's one of their favourites. Zeus wouldn't allow anything to happen to him. He wouldn't have let…" He paused, managing not to look at Pegasus and give him away, "me or Aerides start here if he expected this. It's got to be something to do with Hyperius. Has anyone talked to any of his students?" An uncomfortable silence spread around the pool. "Aw, come on, they’re hardly the enemy."

"They avoid us and we avoid them," Iolaus said as the hush spread out. "They consider we’re beneath them."

"We've got princes here, Iolaus," Aerides pointed out sardonically.

"I'm only telling you what they say," Iolaus shot back. "As far as Hyperius is concerned, Cheiron gets the riffraff and he gets the quality. That's why he's getting the kids with money rather than bloodlines."

Constantius snorted. "And what does that make me?" he demanded, proud of his wealth.

Iolaus gave him a dirty look. "You really want me to answer that?"

"We all need to watch our backs," Hercules said hastily, seeing a fight brewing in front of his eyes. "We've got to stop fighting amongst ourselves otherwise we're playing into Hyperius' hands. Do any of us want to go to Hyperius' school? I’d rather be taught by the best. Cheiron only accepts those who have got skills. Hyperius accepts anyone who can pay for it. I know what I think that makes him and them."

A snicker ran round the pool at the subtle comment and Iolaus gazed at his friend in awe. Hercules blushed and ducked his head.

"Getting squished must agree with you," Iolaus whispered to him with a grin.

"Did I miss something?" Pegasus worried.

Hercules swallowed. "What we need to do now is start making our own safety checks," he decided. "Cheiron teaches us to look out for own safety. It's time we started doing that."

"I wash your back, you wash mine." Pegasus put in brightly.

"That's watch," Iolaus corrected.

"Oh? It's wash in Etruscan," Pegasus gave him a mischievous look that made Iolaus grin back at him in approval.

"That figures," Constantius sneered. "No communal bathing, huh?"

"It's a figure of speech," Pegasus retorted coolly. "Perhaps you don't know what that is? Being fixated and all it might be too much for you to comprehend…"

"Fixated? Why you!!" Constantius surged forward and came to a startled halt as Conanius grabbed his arm in powerful fingers.

"You hit him, I’ll hit you - again. " the Macedonian observed darkly. He looked over at Pegasus. "He used to make cracks about the Macedonians all the time until I persuaded him otherwise. Right, Constantius? Remember?"

Constantius jerked free and pushed to his feet, nearly swamping the others with the resulting surge of water from his abrupt movement. He climbed out of the pool, stomping off along the black marble tiles to plunge into the main pool and swim off towards the other side.

"Jerk," Hercules observed mildly.

"Thank you," Pegasus murmured shyly to the Macedonian.

"No problem," Conanius replied amiably, stretching out lazily in the warm water. "Go on, Hercules. I think we’re all listening now…"

* * *

"Then after strategy class we got stuck with that new guy," Iolaus explained as he and Hercules walked back to their room. They had left Pegasus in the care of Ithis and Conanius who had offered to show him how to play dice. Hercules had been a little uncertain about allowing Pegasus to be corrupted by the evils of gambling, but, as Iolaus pointed out, dice was something of a social skill and since Pegasus didn't seem to have any money anyway, he could hardly lose anything. In the end, Hercules had reluctantly settled for insisting that they played for pebbles and let it go at that.

"New guy?"

"Budires?" Iolaus told him, pushing open the door and letting Hercules go in first. Hercules gave him a questioning look for the polite gesture. "Hey, someone might be waiting to jump me. You said to be cautious, remember?" Iolaus chirped, giving Hercules a gentle shove in the back.

Hercules sighed and ambled inside, feeling for the oil lamp and then waiting for Iolaus to come in when it wasn't where he expected it to be. "Okay, what'd you do with the flint this time?" he asked in exasperation.

"It's right where it usually is," Iolaus retorted, padding through the darkness to find flint and steel beside his bed.

"It's supposed to be by the door," Hercules reminded him.

"You weren't here," Iolaus retorted as he lit the oil lamp by first his bed and then Hercules.

The demi-god brightened up, picking up the dish of honeyed figs that had been left on the table by the door. "Hey, cool…"

"That's favouritism that is," Iolaus protested indignantly, spotting the treat. "I never got any of those."

"Want one?" Hercules asked cheerfully as he munched.

Iolaus however shook his head. "Nah, you eat them, big guy. I know they’re your favourites."

Hercules sat down on his bed, leaning back against the wall. "Keep this up and I’ll start to think you’re spoiling me," he teased.

"And what makes you think I had anything to do with it?"

Hercules grinned at him, knowing him too well to be fooled by his innocent look. "Budires?" he prompted however.

"Oh yeah." Flopping down on his bed, Iolaus toed his sandals loose and kicked them onto the floor. "So, we have strategy with Pattonius first. Siege stuff; the advantages of boiling oil over boiling water, catapults, ballistas, and like that, you know. And then we get Budires who is all love and peace man."

"You’re kidding!" Hercules exclaimed.

"Uh uh," Iolaus shook his head, his curls still damp from the baths frothing on his pillow. "Apparently he's spent a lot of time in the East somewhere? I think Cheiron's getting kind of heavily into the culture kick."

"Tydeus told me that some of the parents have asked about what kind of teaching we get in the social skills," Hercules said, licking an extra sticky fig in delight. "You sure you don't want one of these?"

"No thanks. I'm glad we haven't got parents that ask dumb questions." Iolaus stretched on his bed, arching his back and wriggling his bare toes in pleasure at the feel of his own body. Lifting one leg, he studied his still bandaged foot for a moment and then settled back again. "Actually, Budires isn’t as boring as I thought he'd be. He knows a lot of interesting stuff with exercises and mantras and things. And he's not much taller than me for once. Aerides and Constantius can't stand him." Iolaus smiled to himself in satisfaction. "He told Aerides to attack him if he thought he could then tossed him across the room."

"Wow," Hercules said in surprise, knowing that Aerides was a skilled bare hand fighter.

"It's all to do with leverage," Iolaus said seriously, having to stop and yawn. "Man, I'm tired. You want to read or anything?"

"No, go ahead and turn in," Hercules said amiably, sampling one more juicy fig while Iolaus peeled out of his clothes, blew out his lamp and slid into bed. While Iolaus wriggled about and got comfortable, he shed his own clothes and stiffly clambered into his own bed. He supposed he should study for a while - Iolaus had left a scroll of class notes for him - but he really didn't feel like making that much of an effort.

"Night, Herc," Iolaus mumbled sleepily.

"Night, Iolaus," Hercules stretched gingerly, blew out his own lamp and settled down to sleep in a room lit only by starlight from the open window.

* * *

When Iolaus woke some time later, disturbed on some instinctive level, the room was in darkness and he lay still, holding his breath as he strained to listen for danger in the night. All he heard was Hercules restless tossing and turning in his bed. Rubbing his eyes, Iolaus sat up and peered through the shadows towards his friend, wondering what kind of nightmare could be bad enough to disturb the demi-god's sleep. Hercules could usually sleep through anything except being called.

Hercules moaned softly, flailing at the sheet before rolling over onto his stomach with a faint whimper of discomfort.

"Herc?" Iolaus called softly. A soft hail was usually enough to wake him, but this time the only response was another groan as Hercules doubled up into a ball. Growing anxious, Iolaus felt for the flint and steel and lit the oil lamp then slipped out of bed and over to his side. "Herc? Hey, Herc, come on wake up." He caught at his shoulder, giving him a gentle shake and prepared to duck out of reach of a sudden flail. To his alarm, Hercules' smooth skin felt hot to the touch. Alarm rising into real concern, Iolaus shook him again and pressed one hand to his forehead. "Hercules? Hey, Herc? Please, be faking this…"

Hercules groaned, shuddering awake and focusing on him with an effort before he clamped his arms around his middle and doubled up with a torn whimper.

"That does it." Not bothering to stop and dress, Iolaus darted out of the room and shot down the corridor to slam into Pegasus room. "Pegasus! Wake up!" he yelled, diving to the bed and yanking the covers off Pegasus as he lay sprawled on his stomach, sound asleep. "Pegasus!"

"Huh? Whazzit? I didn't touch the apples…"

"Pegasus!" Iolaus shook him violently. "Wake up! This is an emergency! Battle stations!"

"Battle stations?" Pegasus surfaced groggily, blinking at him from drowsy amber eyes and sleepily shoving a silver pomander back under his pillow.

"Hercules is sick. Go and get Tydeus from the infirmary! Hurry!"

"Hercules is sick? Is that allowed?"

Grabbing one arm, Iolaus heaved dragging him off the bed and amazed to realise he seemed to weigh nearly much as Hercules. "Pegasus, please! I've got to get back to him. Go and fetch Tydeus! Please?!"

"Huh? Yeah, okay, sure. Where is he?"

"In his room near the infirmary."

"I meant Hercules," Pegasus said dryly as he grabbed a loose tunic and pulled it over his head.

"Our room. Pegasus…." Iolaus begged.

"I'm going, don't worry. Go back to Hercules."

Reassured that Pegasus was awake and co-operating, Iolaus shot back to his own room. Hercules was sitting up but clearly no better off, beads of sweat were standing out on his face as he drew his knees up tight to his stomach, squeezed out groans of pain escaping him.

"Hang on, Herc," Iolaus begged. "Pegasus has gone to get Tydeus."

"Hurts…" Hercules whimpered, giving him an anguished look of panic. "Iolaus?"

"You must have eaten too many figs," Iolaus said desperately, seeking to reassure him. "You'll be okay." Not knowing what else to do, he grabbed a wash cloth and dipped it into their water basin, then moved closer to awkwardly dab Hercules' face with it. Hercules closed his eyes with a faint moan of relief at the feel of the cool cloth on his skin. Iolaus put his free arm around his broad shoulders, supporting him against him. "You'll be fine, Herc," he soothed, pushing the sweat soaked hair out of his friend's eyes. "You’re tougher than anyone."

Hercules only moaned and tensed, hugging his knees even tighter to his stomach. "What's taking Tydeus so long?" he groaned.

"He'll be here soon. Pegasus is fast." Iolaus comforted, hoping he was right. "You hold on now."

It was several minutes before Tydeus arrived with Pegasus urging him along. The healer loped into the room, dumping his herb bag on the nearest table and shooing Iolaus to one side so he could examine Hercules. "Put some clothes on, Iolaus, there's a good boy," he urged, as he tested Hercules' temperature with a light touch and then probed at his stomach. Hercules yelped and swatted at him feebly, a light blow that Pegasus intercepted swiftly.

"Do you feel sick?" Tydeus asked.

Hercules shook his head. "Hot, achy, hurts…my stomach hurts…"

"But not sick?"

"I said…."

"Sshh, Herc," Iolaus slipped closer and caught his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Iolaus…." Tydeus began, saw the look Iolaus gave him and changed his mind, "Pegasus, go and fetch some fresh water and see that you draw it yourself," he ordered briskly. Pegasus trotted out with a word, long legs graceful beneath his light blue tunic. Tydeus gave Iolaus a narrow eyed look. "How do you feel?" he asked sharply.

"Me? I'm fine. Why? What's wrong with him?" Iolaus pressed worriedly.

"Poison, I think."

"You think?" Iolaus snapped sarcastically. "Aren't you sure?"

Tydeus ignored his venom, knowing the youth was worried. Hercules had curled up again and shut his eyes, shuddering in misery and oblivious to them in his pain. "Did he drink anything that you didn't? Eat anything?"

"Only the figs as far as I know." Iolaus glanced automatically at the bowl Hercules had left beside his bed for a morning snack.

Tydeus scooped one up, sniffed it cautiously and then touched his tongue tip to it. "Hard to tell," he admitted. "But the honey could cover the taste of poison even to Hercules. I’ll have to test them later." Abandoning the fruit, he rummaged in his bag, fishing out a pestle and mortar and several paper twists of herbs then removing a clay bottle from a pocket inside the bag. Popping the wax seal, he came back to the bed and scooped one hand under Hercules' head. "Come along now, drink this. It'll help."

"Hurts…" Hercules whimpered pathetically.

"I know it does," Tydeus said gently. "And you're not used to hurting, are you? Drink up now." With a little persuasion, Hercules drank the contents of the bottle, grimacing at the taste. Iolaus helped Tydeus settle him back into the pillows and tug the sheet over him, shooting worried little looks from one to the other of them.

"Is he going to be okay?" he whispered.

"The boy has the constitution of a dragon, he’ll be fine. Keep bathing him while I get these herbs crushed."

"But the potion…"

"That's to tide him over until the fresh one is ready. It's mostly a sedative," Tydeus said briskly. "Ah, Pegasus, there you are. Sniff that fruit over there for me and tell me how it smells. Mind you don't eat any though. It could be poisoned."

Puzzled but obedient, Pegasus trotted over and obeyed, taking a deep sniff and touching his tongue to it. "Yeuch!" With a disgusted grimace he dropped the fruit and backed off, snuffling and snorting and rubbing his nose. "Rotten…"

"That's what I thought," Tydeus muttered as he finished filling the mortar and started to grind the herbs to a fine paste. "What does it smell of?"

"Smells burnt and tastes like metal…" Pegasus complained, sticking out his tongue and rubbing it on one finger. "Bad…."

"Ah…" Tydeus nodded.

"Does that mean something?" Iolaus asked anxiously. "Is that bad?"

"For you and I, Iolaus, downright lethal," Tydeus said grimly. "It comes from a toadstool that's as black as night with a blood red underside. It's lethal if even one is eaten. When crushed the juices are used as a poison that you and I couldn't taste."

"But Herc should have…"

"I doubt it. The honey would cover the taste. Pegasus though is extra sensitive to taste. We ran a little experiment while he was helping me with the herbs. He can tell which is freshest simply by tasting them. This is about ready. Get me a beaker from that bag would you, Pegasus? We need to get Hercules to drink this while he's still awake…"

* * *

Tydeus stirred in his chair, stretching quietly so as not to disturb his patient. Hercules was curled up on his side, sound asleep and looking pale and drawn with discomfort, but at least he was sleeping. Pegasus had gone back to his own room, deciding that that there was nothing he could do by staying but was Iolaus was still where he had fallen asleep, propped against the side of his bed, one hand still curled around Hercules' and his head resting on the mattress. His bandaged bare foot stuck out from under the blanket Tydeus had put over him after he fell asleep.

Tydeus leaned forward, examining the bandaged foot and glad to note that there was no sign of reddish inflammation. Easing to his feet, Tydeus stepped carefully over Iolaus and leaned over Hercules, touching his fingers to his forehead. The demi-god was definitely cooler now. He moaned in his sleep, turning away from Tydeus and rolling over. As his hand slipped out of Iolaus', the young hunter sat up with a start.

"Herc…"

"Sshh, he's asleep," Tydeus said swiftly, ruffling his hair reassuringly. "Don't wake him."

Rubbing his eyes and shoving aside his blanket, Iolaus knelt up and peered at his friend in concern. "How's he doing?"

"Much better now. His fever's gone and he's not so uncomfortable. Why don't you get cleaned up and go and have some breakfast?"

"I don't want to leave him. You’re not going to make me go to lessons, are you?"

"I thought you had a free day," Tydeus pointed out dryly.

"I do?" Iolaus did a quick calculation and then nodded. "Yeah. So I can stay with Herc? I won't get in the way. Promise."

Eyeing his earnest enthusiasm, Tydeus smiled affectionately. "You can if you want, but it really isn't necessary. He needs to sleep more than anything and he isn't going to be hungry for a while. He'd probably like some milk when he wakes up."

"Milk?" Iolaus exclaimed, his lip curling.

"It's good for him and it’ll settle his stomach. Off you go…"

Iolaus found himself being deftly manoeuvred to the door. "But…"

"You can bring me something to eat too. Don't forget the milk."

Somehow Iolaus found himself in the corridor facing a closed door, at a loss to know quite how it had happened. Deciding that the sooner he obeyed instructions and fetched milk and sandwiches the sooner he could get back inside, he trotted briskly off down the corridor to wake Pegasus before he headed for the kitchens.

* * *

"Now, are you quite sure you've got all that?" Tydeus asked two hours later as Cheiron stood in the doorway, watching them. Iolaus looked at the scroll he had been given and the bottles on the side table and nodded. Sitting up in bed and looking pale and interesting, Hercules yawned and gave Iolaus the sort of petulant look that said he was going to be an awkward patient.

"I think so," Iolaus said slowly. "I give him the small blue cup full of the tisane every two hours. He's to stay in bed and rest. He's only allowed to drink either water or milk. If he's hungry, Maeve will make him some soup. And I'm to get Pegasus to check everything. You don't really think someone wants to poison him, do you?"

Tydeus blinked. "I don’t see how poison could have got in the figs otherwise," he pointed out.

Cheiron stirred. "You said you asked Maeve for them, Iolaus?" he asked.

Iolaus nodded gloomily. "I guess it's my fault," he said miserably.

"No," Hercules protested weakly. "You were only being nice. Everyone knows I like figs."

Cheiron folded his arms across his leather harnessed chest. "Maeve said she left the figs to sweeten a little more before she sent them along. When they were gone when she went to get them, she assumed Iolaus had collected them while she was busy. Whoever took them poisoned them and left them for Hercules to find, probably expecting both of you to eat them."

"Since I didn't though, that makes me look like I did it," Iolaus said sadly.

"Iolaus, there is no way I'm going to believe you poisoned me!" Hercules said indignantly.

"Everyone's going to think I did."

Cheiron laughed, surprising them with the deep boom of his voice. "Oh, as if that's likely!" he chuckled in amusement.

"It might have been meant to look that way if Iolaus didn't eat any of them. But it's more likely this was meant to hurt both of you. Hercules is obviously going to survive, but the poison would have killed you, Iolaus," Tydeus said sharply. "In fact, I'm starting to think it's a very bad idea to leave you here at all. Cheiron, is it really necessary for me to come to the village with you?"

Cheiron sobered and glared at him. "Yes, I need you to talk to the Elders and you want your herbs from the merchant, don’t you? He's not going to wait forever."

"Yes, but I could go some other time."

"Not with slavers around, you won't."

"Cheiron, I am hardly going to be prime slave material," Tydeus exclaimed in exasperation.

"You’re a healer. You’d fetch a decent price," Cheiron retorted flatly. "As for Iolaus and Hercules, I doubt if whoever did this will use poison again. It's too obvious. They should be safe enough for a few hours. Acrides and Pattonius are both on the alert." Iolaus snorted and folded his arms, giving the Centaur a defiant glare when he gave the student a disapproving look. "Despite what certain students may think," Cheiron added in amusement.

"You could take Acrides instead of me," Tydeus coaxed persuasively.

"I could also throw oil on a fire but I'm not going to. The Elders know us, Tydeus. They don't know Acrides or most of the other teachers. What I need at this meeting is the voice of reason. We need to persuade them that getting enough men together to go after the slavers and stop them now is a good idea."

Hercules stirred, pushing up in his bed. "Can I…?" he began.

"Hush," Tydeus said without even looking at him. "Surely, since they’ve called the meeting and invited you and Hyperius, the Elders mean to take action."

"It depends what they mean by action. A stern scroll to Elides isn't going to help much. And if they send for the King's Men it'll probably be too late."

"If I…" Hercules pressed.

"Hercules," Cheiron said sternly, turning dark eyes on the young demi-god. "You can't even get out of that bed on your own, right now. Do you really think you can help?"

"But…"

"No." Cheiron said firmly.

"The students…"

"Are students, not warriors. You are not to leave the Academy and that's an order. And if you continue to argue, I’ll assume you feel strong enough to study."

Iolaus moved over to the bed and glared at Hercules. "Shut up, Herc."

Folding his arms, Hercules slumped back and gave his friend a mutinous look. "I only wanted to help," he muttered sullenly.

"No, you wanted to get into a fight," Iolaus scolded. "Sheesh, I know you’re not used to being sick, but wanting to maim something is not a normal reaction to being sick."

Hercules flushed. "Can't help it," he muttered.

"Actually…" Tydeus began and was startled enough by the look Iolaus gave him not to argue.

"We should go," Cheiron observed mildly. "We don't want to let Hyperius get to this meeting first and stick his oar in."

"You don't think you’re getting a touch paranoid about Hyperius, do you?" Tydeus asked wryly as came over to the door.

"No," Cheiron snorted. "Hurry up." He moved off along the corridor, leaving Tydeus to follow at his own speed. The healer glanced at Hercules and Iolaus.

"Follow instructions and you'll be fine," he told them both. "And Hercules, for once do as Iolaus tells you."

Hercules gave him a wide-eyed look. "Would I argue with him?"

"Yes," Iolaus sniffed, folding his arms and looking down his nose at him.

Tydeus chuckled. "We'll be back before dark. Don't make Iolaus kill you before then, Hercules. Good luck, Iolaus."

"Hey!" Hercules yelped as Iolaus grinned broadly at Tydeus' back. "I'm not that bad."

"Ooh, no, of course not," Iolaus said cheerfully. "Everyone knows you're sweetness and light."

"Yeah…"

"So you have amnesia too?"

"Amnesia? What? Since when?!"

"I remember what you were like when you sprained your ankle that time. Worse than Cerebus in a bad mood you were."

"I am nothing like Cerebus!" Hercules snarled. "And don't you go getting any ideas about pushing me around on Tydeus' say so…"

* * *

"I mean, you can see how it looks. You've got to admit that," Constantius' voice carried clearly to Pegasus' ears as he came to a halt. He was on his way to see if Iolaus needed him for anything and to offer to bring him some lunch. "You found the hood in his room yourself. Then there were the nails and that rope. Where was Pegasus during all that?"

Easing forward, Pegasus peeked around the door edge to see Constantius and Aerides in the gym. They were alone, using the weights as they exercised.

"Pegasus doesn't seem like the kind to hurt anyone," Aerides said doubtfully.

"But where was he when the fruit was being poisoned? He sure wasn't in the baths with us."

"Iolaus did tell him to wait for Hercules. He was nervous…"

"Hah! Good excuse to slip off and do the deed."

"Even so…"

"He attacked you."

"That was a misunderstanding." Aerides fingered his ear self-consciously. It was still sore.

"So he said."

Aerides shook his head. "Look, maybe I don't have a lot of time for Pegasus; he's an Etruscan after all and he obviously doesn't know one end of a sword for another. He shouldn’t be here. He should be off studying poetry or something somewhere."

"Exactly. Why is he here?"

"Because he's rich?" Aerides suggested dryly. "Come on, it doesn't mean that he's a saboteur or a would be murderer."

"The poison couldn't kill Hercules," Constantius said after a moment's silence.

"But it could have killed Iolaus. I know he's a little blond pest, but sheesh, killing the guy for that's a bit much. I don’t think it's Pegasus."

"Look, nothing happened before he turned up. It's like, like he's a curse; a curse on all of us. How long are we going to put up with it? How long before someone does get killed? We’ve got to get rid of him. We've got to tell Cheiron."

Aerides laughed, setting his weights down with a thud. "You've got to be kidding. If you want to tell Cheiron what to do you're on your own!"

Constantius grunted. "All right, maybe not. But I think we should all say away from the lot of then; Pegasus, Iolaus and Hercules. Its obvious that they’re the ones attracting all this trouble."

"You’re being paranoid." Aerides sighed and started for the doorway.

Pegasus promptly darted off down the corridor, soft footed as a feather and determined not to be caught listening. Maybe Constantius was right and he was the cause of all this. Maybe the Stone of Form had done something more to him than merely change his shape. Maybe his transformation was making things happen to hurt people. And the last thing he wanted was for any of his new friends to be hurt because of him.

Maybe it was time for him to admit he could never fit into this mortal world of theirs.

Maybe it was time for him to go….

* * *

Sprawled on his stomach on his bed, Iolaus absently re-rolled the strategy scroll he was supposed to be studying for the fifteenth time - Hercules had been counting - and tapped it against his chin.

"Did Pegasus seem odd to you?" he asked. Pegasus had been in to visit a couple of hours before, bringing lunch for both of them. He had been quiet and withdrawn, reluctant to talk and generally sad about something.

"He probably misses being a horse," Hercules muttered from where he lay with his back to Iolaus and his arms folded around himself. He couldn't seem to get warm, despite Iolaus fussing and adding his own blankets to one on top of his friend.

"Hmmh, maybe," Iolaus agreed slowly. "It's strange that he wouldn't talk to me about it though. He's usually pretty open. Maybe he didn't want to upset you."

"Go look for him then," Hercules urged gloomily.

"Ah, ah, don't think you'll fool me that way. I know it's time for your potion."

"What again?!" Hercules exclaimed, giving him an aghast look over his shoulder.

"You said it doesn't taste that bad," Iolaus pointed out as he retrieved the bottle and filed the blue cup as he had been told.

"That was the first million times. After that it gets boring. I don't need it, Iolaus!"

"Don't be such a big baby."

"I am not being a baby!"

"Ah wah…" Iolaus taunted as he gave him a reproving look as he held out the cup to him. "You want me to hold your nose for you?" he teased.

"You and whose army?"

"I could get Aerides and Conanius to hold you down…"

Hercules growled and sat up, grabbing the cup and tipping it down his throat with an exaggerated shudder. He knew perfectly well that Iolaus was quite capable of carrying out his threat. "You can take that smug look off your face too," Hercules snarled at him.

"Ooh, aren't we getting tetchy."

"So would you be if you felt like I do and had someone keeping you awake all the time with their incessant chattering! Why don't you go away, Iolaus! Can't you get yourself lost or something!"

Iolaus blinked, his hurt showing before he turned away and deliberately put the cup back beside the bottle. "I'll go and find Pegasus if you don't need me then," he said stiffly.

"Ah sod it," Hercules grumbled. "You know I don't mean it like that. I'm grouchy and your constant fussing is making me worse. You’re being so damn irritating."

Iolaus refused to look at him as he sat on his bed and pulled his boots on with only a slight wince over his sore foot. "Go ahead and sulk then!"

"I am not sulking!"

"I'll be back to make you take your potion," Iolaus said flatly as he got up. "Maybe by then you won't be so be acting like a spoiled sulky brat."

"Oh go take a running jump!" Hercules snarled and flung himself flat, burrowing under the pillows and pulling the blankets up around his ears. He lay in the darkness, tense with outrage while he convinced himself he was suffocating in the sound muffling folds. Finally his conscience got the better of him and he surfaced. "Look, Iolaus, I'm sorry. I am behaving….Iolaus?" Hercules peered around the room in surprise. "Hey, Iolaus!" he repeated indignantly, startled to find Iolaus had been as good as his word and actually left him to sulk. Annoyed by being abandoned he flopped back and scowled at the ceiling. "Typical," he muttered even as his conscience nagged him that he should be ashamed of himself. "Ah well, he won't go far. He’ll be back…"

* * *

"Are you sure?" Iolaus asked suspiciously. Having left Hercules in a thorough temper Iolaus hadn't known quite what he had been going to do. Then he had started thinking about how upset Pegasus had been and gone looking for him, hoping helping one friend would ease the pain he felt over Hercules' rejection. Even though he knew it wouldn't last long and was driven by Hercules frustration, it still stung. A search of the Academy had shown no sign of the new student however and Iolaus had been starting to get really worried when he found Ithis.

Ithis nodded. "Yeah, I saw him a couple of hours ago. He said you’d run out of herbs for Hercules and he knew where to find them. I saw him leave the Academy with Constantius."

"Constantius?!" Iolaus echoed in disbelief. "What does he know about herbs?"

Ithis shrugged. "He had his sword with him. I figured he was going along to protect Pegasus. They'll probably be back soon. They were going down to the river."

"Anywhere near where the big tree is by the road?" Iolaus asked sharply, knowing the spot. It was a favourite hang out of his where he could watch the travellers' comings and goings on the road above.

"Yeah, I think so."

"I'm going after them."

"What for?" Ithis exclaimed.

"Because they’ve been gone a couple of hours and they should be back by now."

"They'll probably be back soon," Ithis argued doubtfully.

"Then I’ll meet them on the way. An extra sword won't hurt."

"Constantius won't like it if he thinks you’re doubting him."

"Screw him. It's Pegasus I'm worried about."

Ithis sighed, following Iolaus as the blond student headed for the armoury. "You want me to come along to watch your back?" he suggested.

"Nah. You stay here and cover for us. Acrides will be furious if he finds out we sneaked out."

"And you think Cheiron will be happy about it?" Ithis said sarcastically.

"We'll be back before him. Don't worry, Ithis, I know what I'm doing. I’ll take a shortcut and catch up with them. No problem. We'll be back before anyone notices we've gone. Tell you what, you can check on Hercules for me in a couple of hours too." Iolaus smiled darkly to himself. "Tell him I've gone walkabout. That should put him in a snit."

* * *

Pacing slowly after Constantius as he led the way through the trees, Pegasus suppressed an uneasy shudder, feeling his skin starting to crawl again. Pegasus was frightened and he wasn't quite sure why. He had been frightened before, but not as a mortal and this was a different kind of frightened to what he was used to. A mortal kind of fear that made him think he had done something very silly and that this time there was no one around to help him. When Constantius had caught him sneaking out, he had expected him to give him away. Instead he had accepted his excuse of herb hunting and offered to go along as protection.

Pegasus had been stuck with him; his pride wouldn't let him admit that he had actually been running away, not after what he had heard Constantius saying. Besides which, by the time they got deep into the woods, he had had time to think and have second thoughts. Deep down he knew he had been acting like the horse side of his self; the fight or fight reflex kicking in. He didn't know how to handle people who didn't trust him and he had felt threatened, so he fled. What he needed to do was go back to the Academy and prove to everyone - including himself - that the accidents had nothing to do with his presence.

On the other hand, he could hardly abandon Constantius when he was being helpful - even if he was being obnoxious at the same time - it wasn't safe to leave him alone in the woods with the slavers around.

"Constantius?" he called quietly lengthening his stride to match the student's. He wasn't quite sure but he had the feeling that Constantius had been pushing him for speed deliberately; not that it bothered Pegasus. In speed and strength he could out last any mortal without even losing his breath. He assumed Constantius was nervous about the slavers and too macho to admit it. "Are you sure this is the right way to the river? I thought it was more to the West."

Constantius flinched, startled by his fast and silent approach, but he recovered fast. "If you have a sense of direction, what did you need me for?" he mocked sardonically, curling his lip at him. "Look, if you want this herb then this is the best path. There's a whole big crop of it only a bit further on. All lush and green…"

"Well, okay," Pegasus said doubtfully. Maybe Constantius was playing with him, hoping to get him lost and scared in the woods. The herbs sounded tasty though and he was unwilling to call Constantius' bluff yet. They could find the herbs and go back before anyone noticed they were missing.

* * *

Iolaus crouched, studying the ground carefully for tracks. Both Pegasus and Constantius left such plain tracks that anyone could have followed them. So plain that they made Iolaus suspicious. Constantius he understood. The student was a city soldier; used to cobbles that left little trace of his passing. It wouldn't occur to him to conceal his presence; in his arrogance he assumed he had nothing to fear and forgot that the woods were inhabited by other things than birds.. Iolaus had grown up knowing better. There were lots of things in the woods slavering at the thought of eating a small tasty mortal. One or two of them might even be described at human with other things on their minds beside lunch. Iolaus hadn't grown up being taught and protected by a bunch of large brawny solders with a soft spot for a small blond temperamental tyke for nothing.

On the other hand, Iolaus would have expected better of Pegasus. He was after all part wild horse, part god and Iolaus had a lot of respect for horses in general. Horses were considered prey by lots of predators and learning to hide their passing was something they did well. The only thing Iolaus could think of was that Pegasus did too much flying to worry about leaving tracks. Besides, as a god it probably hadn't occurred to him that he left tracks.

Slipping to his feet, Iolaus flitted on through the forest, following them with ease. And the further he went, the more suspicious he grew. Arrogant though Constantius was, he was being taught by Cheiron. He should know better than to blaze such an open path when the enemy was around. Iolaus kept finding snapped twigs, scuffed and kicked earth, even the odd wisp of torn fabric; all left by Constantius and not Pegasus, he was pretty sure of that. Pegasus left footprints, yes, but no more than that. And Iolaus remembered that when he first led him to the Academy, he had had no more trouble moving fast and silent through the undergrowth than Iolaus himself had. No, Constantius was the one leaving the signs for some reason.

It might be that he was worried about finding his way back, but Iolaus didn't think so. In fact it seemed almost as if Constantius wanted to be followed….

* * *

"What kind of a coward, are you?" Constantius demanded coming to a sharp halt and turning to glare at Pegasus for his suggestion that they turn back.

"I'm not a coward," Pegasus protested indignantly. "I merely suggested that we seem to be spending a lot of time looking for these herbs - although you said you knew where they were - and that it was time we turned back to the Academy or we won’t be back before dark. What's cowardly about that? It only common sense."

"Are you implying that I'm lost?" Constantius snapped.

Pegasus sniffed. "Interpret it how you wish to. We have spent the last five minutes going round in circles though."

"And like you’d know that would you?"

"We have passed that tree over there three times," Pegasus replied with acidic politeness. "In fact, I do believe I recognise it from when I was out here with Iolaus."

"Like you had time to notice anything when you were fooling around in the grass with him," Constantius sneered.

While he didn't understand the insult, Pegasus still suspected it was one and decided to ignore it. "Despite what you think," he began carefully. "I happen to have an excellent sense of direction. It's downright impossible for me to get lost as far as I know. Either tell me exactly where these herbs are supposed to be or I am going back to the Academy, with or without you."

Constantius snorted and folded his broad arms, giving Pegasus a distinctly haughty look. "Come off it," he mocked. "You think I don't know you were running away? You’re a jinx. Everyone knows you're a jinx and sooner or later you’re going to get someone killed. In fact, you’re probably the reason I can't find the herbs. And only cowards run away."

Pegasus winced. "You’re the one spreading evil rumours about me," he shot back.

Constantius took a threatening step towards him and Pegasus self-consciously took a step back. "What exactly do you mean by that?" he demanded in a low cruel voice that made Pegasus' hair stand up on end.

"You’re the one who keeps making all the students nervous," he stammered.

"How? By telling a few truths? Cheiron hasn't protected anyone, has he? Instead he's gone skittering off to the village to tell his sob story to that bunch of whimpering Elders Goodness knows what he thinks they’re going to do. Like they'll even care. Cheiron's a Centaur for crying out loud. He's not even human! He's an animal!"

"You take that back. Cheiron's more human than you are!" Pegasus yelled in outrage.

"And what about that wimp Tydeus? Where's he when Hercules needs him? Running off to the village in fright. He has no idea how to help Hercules. I'll bet he doesn’t even know what poison was used."

"And you do?" Pegasus blurted.

For once split second Constantius froze, his expression going blank, then his face twisted in rage and he drew his sword. "You take that back…" he began then jerked in surprise and whipped around, taking a swipe at whatever had touched his shoulder. There was no one there, but a sudden splutter of laughter from Pegasus made him spin back around fast and gape at the new arrival.

To his astonishment and utter fury, Iolaus was standing between him and Pegasus, his hands folded over the buckle of his sword belt and ready for a fast draw. Seeing him, Constantius scowled, knowing exactly how he had been tricked him. A light tap on the shoulder to make him turn round and then Iolaus had nipped smartly around him, using that speed of his to good effect. It was an old trick that he had seen him use before and it infuriated him that he had fallen for it. The trouble was, he also knew that stance as well. Iolaus was poised and ready, the slightest wrong move from Constantius and he would be on the attack. And Constantius had too much respect for his sword skills to provoke him with an open challenge.

"I might have known you’d turn up," he rumbled instead. "Why don't you let Pegasus fight his own battles?"

"I didn't know there was going to be a fight," Iolaus said dryly. "I figured you'd gotten lost in the woods and came looking for you."

"I don't get lost," Pegasus complained.

"I wasn't talking about you," Iolaus replied mildly over his shoulder to him.

"You talking about me?" Constantius said angrily.

"You see anyone else except trees?" Iolaus mocked.

"You’re asking for a pounding," Constantius spat. "And this time that big oaf Hercules isn't around to get in the way. No Hercules, no Cheiron, no teachers. Only you and me, Iolaus…."

"Am I supposed to be terrified by that, do you think?" Iolaus asked Pegasus.

"I think so," Pegasus agreed.

"Uh huh….Ooh, Constantius, I'm so scared, please don’t hurt me…" Iolaus taunted mockingly.

"Don't make fun of me," Constantius snarled, his rising fury swamping his common sense.

"Why not? It's so easy."

"Iolaus?" Pegasus touched the blond hunter's shoulder. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Iolaus smiled dangerously. "Don't worry, Pegasus. Underneath all that money, Constantius is a bully, a braggart and a thug. He forgets that money doesn't mean manners."

"I'm warning you, Iolaus, I'm going to make you eat your words."

"No, really, I mean it…" Pegasus said nervously. "We should get far, far away from here…"

"NOW!!!" The roar came from the trees and the undergrowth seemed to explode as a pack of armed men rushed into the clearing, hurtling down on the three startled students.

Instinctively Iolaus drew his sword, parrying the first thrust at his stomach, smashing the blade aside as he dodged the knife in the slaver's free hand. Behind him Pegasus' war scream chilled the blood as it ripped the air. He had a fleeting second to realise his win was too easy, then a heavy net descended over him from behind and he was dragged to the ground entangled in its folds. From the corner of his eye he saw a snapping, kicking biting wild eyed Pegasus likewise ensnared and between the legs of the slavers surrounding them, Constantius, his sword at his feet looking stunned as Elides himself stood in front of him.

"Run!" Iolaus screamed at the student. "Don't stand there, you lemon! Get help! Run!"

Then a large and brawny slaver landed on top of him, crushing him face down into the earth. "Got him…" a deep male voice bellowed deafeningly in his ear.

"Easy for you to say," someone retorted peevishly. "This one's got a kick like a mule…Watch his teeth, idiot!"

Pegasus screamed in fury again and Iolaus bucked, struggling to get free of both net and captor. A huge hand covered his face, pressing a damp cloth over mouth and nose. At the same time, a massively muscled arm wrapped tight around his midriff, squashing his ribs so hard he sucked in an involuntary gasp for air with a muffled squeak. With the air, came a sweetly musty smell that made his senses swim as he plunged helplessly into darkness.

* * *

Hercules had been sleeping for some time when the sound of raised voices woke him. Shoving aside the blankets with the groggy realisation that the cold chewing on his bones seemed to have gone at last, he sat up, shoved his hair out of his eyes and looked around him. It was almost dark now with the soft dusky warmth in the air that spoke of long days and relaxing evenings.

Rolling over, Hercules lit the lamp beside the bed and yawned, scanning the room in the better light.

There was still no sign of Iolaus.

"I do not believe this!" Cheiron's angry voice echoed along the corridor. "How could you let them leave the Academy, Acrides?! I warned you. I specifically warned you to watch them!"

"I can't watch each and every one of your students. If they’re dumb enough to disobey an order and go off flower picking, what am I supposed to do about it? The chances are they’re fine…"

"Oh, they'd better be, because if so much as a hair gets harmed I'm going to kick you from here to Athens!"

Hercules frowned. Acrides was probably being facetious about the flower picking, but obviously some of the students had left the Academy. Cheiron wouldn't have been so angry if he didn't think he had good cause to worry.

"Cheiron, take it easy," Tydeus soothed. "Screaming at Acrides won't do any good."

"I am not screaming!" Cheiron bellowed.

"Sounds like it to me," Tydeus snorted.

There was a long pause and Hercules could well imagine the Centaur breathing hard and glaring at an unperturbed Tydeus.

Finally, Cheiron made a harrumphing noise and continued in a surprisingly calm tone of voice. "According to the village Elders, Hyperius' School was raided two nights ago by the slavers. They managed to snatch a handful of his students and vanished into the woods before they could be stopped."

"And now Hyperius has come whining to us for help," Tydeus said smugly.

Hercules perked up and slid out of bed, grabbing for his pants. This sounded like it had possibilities of a decent fight in the makings at last.

"Technically, he came whining to the village Elders for help," Cheiron corrected dryly. "I have agreed to let volunteers from among our older students help out in the search. I'm also going to ask any instructors or servants here if they are willing to join in. We'll be joining Hyperius' students and the men from the local area. If you two will go and ask everyone to come to the dining room, I’ll explain what's happened."

"You can't leave the Academy unprotected," Acrides said sharply. "If these slavers raided Hyperius, you can bet they’ve got their eyes on us too. If we go off and leave the place, they’ll be on the students like a pack of wolves."

Hercules held his breath, tunic in hand as he listened.

"Do you think I don't know that?" Cheiron snapped angrily.

"Cheiron…" Tydeus murmured softly.

"Damn it, Tydeus, shut up!" Cheiron grumbled. "The Academy will not be left unprotected, Acrides, nor will the students. But we cannot allow slavers a free run of the area. They have to be stopped. Do you expect us to cower behind our gates while they run riot?"

"No…" Acrides admitted reluctantly. "I'm merely pointing out that our priority should be the safety of the students."

There was another long pause. Hercules shrugged into his tunic and crept to the door.

"Acrides, that sounded almost as if you cared - finally," Tydeus said quietly at last.

"Damn it, a man is entitled to one mistake and to regret it for the rest of his life," Acrides snarled. "I'll get Pattonius. We need to make plans."

Hercules heard him march past his door then Tydeus' lighter footsteps following. Once they had gone, he eased it open a crack and peeked out. Cheiron was standing in the corridor below one of the lighted wall cressets, his strong arms folded as he studied the floor in brooding silence.

"Cheiron?" Hercules slid out into the corridor and approached cautiously.

The Centaur lifted his head with a flick of his dark ponytail and gave him a dark look. "You heard," he said ruefully. "I suppose you couldn't help it really."

"I know I'm not one of the older students, but I’d like to volunteer," Hercules said eagerly.

"Why?"

The bald question made Hercules hesitate and give it serious thought. "Slavers make my skin crawl," he said at last. "They threaten everyone."

Cheiron gazed at him silently then inclined his head. "I suppose you have as much right as anyone. Are you sure you’re up to it?"

"I feel fine," Hercules assured him, ignoring the fact that his knees were quivering. "Can we take Iolaus? He's a great tracker and he knows these woods better than anyone. We'll need him to find the slavers and…." Hercules fell silent, a prickling sensation running down his back at the expression on Cheiron's face. "He isn't here, is he? That's why you were yelling at Acrides," he guessed. "Iolaus is missing. Who else?"

"Constantius and Pegasus. They went off looking for herbs for you according to Ithis who saw them leave. Iolaus followed them and promised Ithis they'd be back before dark. As you can see, they’re late."

Hercules slumped. "I knew I shouldn't have yelled at him," he whispered miserably. "I should have gone after him."

"Knowing Iolaus and his loyalty to his friends, I doubt if you could have stopped him," Cheiron observed grimly then softened a little. "You’re right about Iolaus' tracking skills and knowledge of the woods. I hoped to put them to our advantage in this little hunt, perhaps he can put them to his own advantage to stay out of the slavers hands."

* * *

Iolaus surfaced muzzily to the sound of someone singing softly and sadly. His wrists felt sore and his head was aching painfully with effort of regaining consciousness. As memory of what had been happening before he blacked out flooded back in, he tensed and lay still, listening to his surroundings, straining to guess where he was and what was going on. Finally, he cracked his eyes open cautiously, then widened as he realised he lay in semi darkness that was lit only two torches burning in the entrance to what seemed to be a cave. Now and then the flames flickered, glinting off a metal grill across the opening. A shadow moved outside, walking slowly past the grill - clearly they had a guard.

A shadowy figure was sitting beside him, leaning forward and resting his head on drawn up knees. His hair shone like moonlight in the light of the torches and there was something about him that Iolaus recognised even in the darkness. "Pegasus?" he queried softly.

Pegasus lifted his head, his silvery hair slithering like water away from his face. "Iolaus, I am glad you are awake. How do you feel?"

"Don't ask." Iolaus sighed heavily, reluctantly lifting his head.

"You were drugged it would seem," Pegasus told him, watching as Iolaus struggled to sit up and then offering him a hand to help him prop himself against the wall. Across the cave, there was a group of youths of about his own age; some of them asleep, others talking. One of them was singing the slow sad melody Iolaus had woken to. Iolaus didn't recognise any of them. "It had no effect on me, so they blindfolded me and tied me up. I think we were put in a cart after that and brought here."

Iolaus glanced at his wrists, noting the weals around them and grimacing. He had been tied up enough times to recognise the signs. "Has anyone hurt you?" he asked.

"No. But I bit several of them," Pegasus said brightly. "I think they’re slavers."

Across the cave one of the larger youths snorted. "Gee, what makes you think that?" he sneered sarcastically.

Pegasus took the question at face value. "The signs are obvious. They have captured us for no apparent reason. They have whips, chains, drugs and transport for captives. I also recognised Elides and Kaltron from our earlier meeting."

"He was being sarcastic," Iolaus hushed him.

"Oh," Pegasus said thoughtfully. "He's not very good at it, is he?"

"Why you…" The brawny young man surged to his feet and stalked across the cave towards them. "I'll teach you to…" He stopped, staring at Pegasus. Pegasus had apparently done no more than lift his head to look at him, but something had changed; a brooding sense of danger emanated from the slender youth, an indefinable air of lethal hostility.

"Ah, leave them alone, Altopius," the singer said abruptly.

"But you heard him, Edrius."

"I heard you start it."

"But they know the slavers! He said so…"

"He said they'd met before."

"They nearly caught us but we managed to get away," Iolaus explained while Pegasus looked insulted at Altopius' insinuation.

Edrius rose to his feet and ambled over. He was as tall as Hercules, broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip with short cut black hair. Like Altopius, he wore a black tunic and pants with an embroidered emblem on the left side of his chest. He crouched in front of Pegasus and Iolaus, looking from one to the other of them thoughtfully. "I'm Edrius, this is Altopius. You’re from Cheiron's place?"

"Yeah," Iolaus saw no point in denying it. He focused on the emblem Edrius wore. "I'm Iolaus and this is Pegasus. You’re from Hyperius?"

Edrius inclined his head. "We got raided by the slavers two nights ago. As you can see, we got snatched."

"Hyperius didn't have guards?"

Altopius snorted irritably. "Does he ever?"

Edrius glanced over his shoulder at him and smiled ruefully. "The answer's no," he said simply. "You got picked up in the woods?"

Iolaus glared at him. "Depends what you mean by 'picked up'," he said warily. "We got caught if that's what you mean. Me, Pegasus and….Pegasus, where's Constantius?"

"Not here," Pegasus answered.

"He got away?"

"No, not exactly…"

"Then he went for help?"

"I don't think so," Pegasus admitted doubtfully. "I saw him talking to Elides then he…left."

"Left?" Iolaus gave him a blank look.

"He walked away. One of the slavers went with him. That's when they realised I wasn't drugged and blindfolded me."

"Sounds familiar," Edrius said quietly. "Elides is probably planning to raid the Academy too. That seems to be his pattern, using one of the students for inside information. Your friend need money?"

"He isn't a friend," Iolaus said flatly. "And no, he doesn't need money."

"But he does love the stuff," Pegasus nodded wisely. "May I ask a question?"

Edrius gave him a puzzled look. "I guess…"

Pegasus turned to Iolaus. "Why would Elides tell Constantius that he knew he'd been helping Hyperius?"

Iolaus stared at him. "I have no idea," he said in bewilderment, "Unless…."

"Where did you hear that?" Edrius said sharply.

"When Elides was talking to them. I have very good hearing and they weren't very far away. They obviously knew each other."

"Why would one of your students know Hyperius?" Altopius demanded sharply. "Have you been spying on us?"

"It's more likely to be the other way around," Edrius observed dryly, meeting Iolaus' gaze thoughtfully. "There are rumours all over our school that Cheiron's Academy has a curse. Perhaps the curse has a name?"

"Could be," Iolaus admitted, reluctant to tell him what had been happening. After all Edrius was from a rival school and he wasn't sure he could trust him.

"I wouldn't put it past Hyperius to use a saboteur to get his own way," Edrius mused.

"Hey!" Altopius growled. "What ever happened to loyalty?"

"Went out the window the moment the slavers hit us and Hyperius ran and hid. I’ll bet Cheiron wouldn't do that."

"Cheiron's a centaur!" Altopius snarled.

Iolaus gave him a dirty look. "But he's no chicken."

"How can a Centaur be a chicken?" Pegasus asked curiously.

"It means a coward," Iolaus told him.

"What is he? Some kind of an idiot?" Altopius sneered.

"You mean Cheiron?"

"No, him," Altopius pointed rudely at Pegasus.

"No, he's not. He thinks differently is all," Iolaus told him.

"You mean he's some kind of philosopher?" Altopius asked warily.

"No, I'm Etruscan," Pegasus said cheerfully.

"Oh man, an Etruscan philosopher! That's even worse!"

"Say something philosophical," Edrius urged however.

Pegasus blinked and Iolaus winced, dreading what he might say. "Your phraseology is not what I am used to. Would it not be more practical to consider our survival? A meal for example would not go amiss." Pegasus said carefully however.

"How can you think of food?" Altopius exclaimed.

"I'm hungry," Pegasus said simply.

"You’d eat if they fed you?" Altopius was startled.

"Since there is nothing else I can do at the moment, yes."

"We're talking honour here."

"You are talking stupidity," Pegasus corrected. "There is nothing to be gained by starving myself."

"You’re an Epicurean," Edrius guessed thoughtfully as Altopius gaped at him.

"No, Etruscan," Pegasus said patiently.

"An Epicurean is a philosopher," Iolaus explained. "Someone who lives for the pleasure of the moment."

"I do not find this captivity pleasurable, Iolaus." Pegasus sighed. "Should we not be discussing plans for escape?"

"We haven't come up with any so far," Edrius said gloomily. "There's too many of them."

"And we're unarmed," Altopius crouched beside his fellow student. "They took our weapons."

"What about the others?" Iolaus peered around him at Hyperius' other students. There were five of them: a thoroughly depressed looking bunch too.

"They'll fight if they get a chance, but…" Edrius shrugged. "Altopius and I come from a military background, they don't. They’re used to paying people to fight for them."

"Tell me the layout of the camp and how many slavers there are. Maybe we can come up with a plan between us," Iolaus suggested.

"Sounds good." Sitting down cross-legged, Edrius started to sketch in the dry sand. "We're here. The main camp is here and the river here…"

"What we need to do is get someone outside as a distraction," Altopius said thoughtfully, looking Iolaus and Pegasus slowly up and down.

"You mean something by that?" Iolaus asked sharply.

"Altopius, I told you-," Edrius warned.

Altopius held up a hand and sank to his knees. "I still say it's a good plan. One to distract the slavers, the other to slip back and let us out."

"And whoever does it will be up to his neck in trouble," Edrius snapped. "Do you want to do it?"

Altopius hesitated. "Whoever it is has to have two things on their side, looks and skill. I've got the skills, but face it; I'm no Ganymede. I figure I'm on my way to a Gladiator pit."

Iolaus slid a slow look at Pegasus, noting his interested look and realising that he had no idea what Altopius was hinting at. "Pegasus hasn't had much training as a warrior," he said slowly.

"What about you?"

"Me?" Iolaus gave him a surprised look. "I know how to fight, yeah, but…are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?"

Altopius gave him an evil grin. "I bet you're not headed for a Gladiator pit."

Iolaus glared at him furiously even as he felt his blush rising. Small, blond and slender, he knew what a slaver would think when he set eyes on him. He knew that Elides had been counting the dinars that first time they met.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," Pegasus said quietly.

"Why not? You a military expert?" Altopius shot at him.

"No," Pegasus admitted. "But the odds of such a foolish plan succeeding without someone getting hurt are remote."

"So?"

Pegasus leaned forward, his amber eyes taking on the colour of fire from the torches. Altopius leaned away from his expression uncertainly. "If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, then it is extremely likely that the slavers would expect us to go much further than mere flirting."

"I doubt it, they have your value to consider."

"The answer is no," Iolaus said firmly but thoughtfully. "At least not the way you’re thinking. If it was a matter of luring the guard close enough to get the keys though…"

"The guard does have the keys," Edrius observed. "But he never comes close enough to grab them."

"Would he come inside if he thought one us was in danger?" Iolaus asked.

"They’re not scared of us if that's what you mean. They know we wouldn't get far."

"Okay, so suppose we start a fight. Get him to come inside to protect one of us…"

"Why would he do that?" Altopius asked suspiciously.

"Like you said, value," Iolaus said and turned huge blue eyes on him, somehow managing to look small and helpless.

"He's got a point," Edrius said dryly. "Elides said you and Pegasus would fetch a good price. He told the guard to keep an eye on you."

"There you go then. We can get him inside and get the keys."

"Then what?" Altopius asked, his belligerence mitigated by curiosity.

"You said they disarmed you. Do you know where they keep your weapons?"

"In one of the carts," Altopius said thoughtfully. "I know which one. Once we get out of here…"

"With weapons we'd stand a chance," Edrius agreed. "But we’d have to move fast and quiet. No standing and fighting. We could sneak out of camp…"

"They’ve got horses. If we scattered the horses or took them for ourselves…." Iolaus suggested.

"Too noisy," Altopius argued.

"I could do it," Pegasus put in shyly. "The horses would stay quiet for me."

"I doubt that," Edrius said.

"No, if Pegasus says they'll stay quiet, they will. He's got a way with them," Iolaus said after a quick look at the silver haired student. "I'll go with him. You and Altopius can concentrate on getting your friends out."

Altopius nodded slowly, looking to Edrius. Edrius grinned, looking faintly smug. "Guys, I think we have a plan…"

* * *

"No!" Cheiron bellowed, glaring at the handful of young students gathered in the torch lit practise square before him. Fordius, Edsellius, Skodius and Mercides were brothers and more cut out for the merchant life they came from than that of warriors. Their father considered that a sound military education would be good for them however and, since Cheiron knew and liked their father, he was prepared to give them a chance. So far they were doing well enough but there were limits to what they were ready for. "N-O. It spells no. Which part don't you understand?"

"But you’re taking Hercules," Fordius protested.

"Hercules is different," Cheiron argued.

"Don't we know it," Skodius, the smallest of the dark haired quads, muttered.

"Hercules has his strength, training and some experience, you four don't," Cheiron told them firmly. "I can't afford to have anyone guarding you and if I take you out there, the chances are one of you will get himself killed and if not you, then someone else because of you. Now, you won't want that on your consciences do you?."

They all looked to Edsellius who was the oldest by several minutes. "No," he admitted, answering for all of them. "But we want to do something about the slavers. We all do. And if you've made an exception for Hercules…"

Cheiron sighed and folded his arms. He had known some of the younger students would take an affront to him including Hercules and not them. "Hercules is going because Pegasus and Iolaus are among those missing. Also, he's hung out with Iolaus often enough to know these woods almost as well as he does and that may well prove useful. I'm taking the best of the older volunteers. The rest of the students are staying here to guard the Academy under Pattonius' leadership. The chances are you will get some fighting if that's what you’re so eager for." The Centaur lifted his head, looking towards the other students gathered around Pattonius and Davron. One or two kept glancing towards him and he knew perfectly well that the quads had been sent as a delegation representing the younger students. "Look, boys," he said more gently. "I understand how you feel. But you'll do more good by staying here and protecting each other. Now, go and take your instructions from Pattonius. We all have a long night ahead of us."

"Cheiron!" Acrides hailed him, jogging up to his side as the four youths trudged gloomily back to the others to be quickly surrounded by their classmates. The instructor had changed into plain black fighting leathers with a loose chain vest over it and carried a helmet under one arm. "The village men and the Watch are here. Plus extras…"

"Extras?" Cheiron said sharply, looking over the top of his head and frowning towards the gate. He swore vehemently under his breath, keeping it down so his students wouldn't hear. "What's he doing here?" Clad in shiny gilded armour that looked as if it had been made for a statue of considerably more muscular proportions than his own, Hyperius sat upon his horse in the gateway, gazing arrogantly around him. A handful of men wearing Hyperius' school livery stood watchfully around him, looking less like instructors than a bunch of hired mercenaries. The men of the Watch had moved off to one side, watching the mercenaries warily and surreptitiously fingering their weapons.

"Come to help apparently," Acrides said dryly, sounding as unimpressed as Cheiron felt. "Care to bet he doesn't know one end of a sword from the other?"

"No. Presumably that's why he brought his bodyguard," Cheiron retorted and stomped across the practise square, his hooves raising dry dust with each stride.

"Ah, Cheiron, there you are. I brought the men along," Hyperius greeted him as he came into range. "As soon as you have your boys ready, we should move along."

Cheiron inclined his head to him and then ignored him, turning his attention to Mikos, the leader of the Watch. From the expression on Mikos' broad-featured face, his opinion of Hyperius was even lower than the Centaur's. "He turned up at the village as we left," he hissed. "We could hardly dump him. The Elders wouldn't let us. They respect you, but they’re in awe of Hyperius and his money. If you ask me the man's all talk and no do."

"What about his uh bodyguards?"

"They at least can fight. I had a quiet word with one or two of them on the way out here. Hyperius took them on at his school as physical fitness 'instructors' when he heard about the slavers."

"Didn't do him much good. How many students did they snatch? Seven?"

Mikos nodded. "According to Brutus, he's their leader, Hyperius hired them to protect him, not the students. They weren't at the school when they were attacked."

"Convenient," Cheiron muttered grimly.

"I thought so."

Cheiron turned thoughtful eyes on the Watch Captain. "You think he's involved?"

Mikos folded his arms, a bronze armband glinting around one muscular upper arm. "Would have looked suspicious if he wasn't attacked," he said slowly. "I went out there after the raid poking about, asking questions. The students who went missing all had money, but not status. And there were prettier boys around if you wanted a slave. That suggests to me the slavers knew who to grab."

"Ransom?" Tydeus suggested worriedly having overheard the conversation as he joined them.

"Could be. Could be hostages."

Cheiron looked over to Hyperius, who was casually buffing his armour as he talked to a couple of Cheiron's students who was young enough to be impressed by the shine. Acrides stalked over and barked at the boys, sending them scuttling back under Pattonius' wing. He looked at Hyperius who beamed at him arrogantly.

"You know how to handle them," Hyperius told him. "Ever considered moving a little up market?"

Cheiron gritted his teeth, knowing perfectly well that Hyperius was at it again with his oily smooth persuasive tactics.

"Meaning?" Acrides asked

Hyperius leaned towards him. "Cheiron won't last long with this curse, you know."

"What curse would that be?" Acrides demanded.

"Oh, you know, I hear things. I've heard lots about you for example. I can always use another good instructor at my Academy when you get tired of amateur hour here."

Acrides' eyes narrowed and he spat at the horse's feet. "Screw you and the horse you rode in on," he sneered then stalked off with his nose in the air, leaving Hyperius' staring after him with cheeks burning with humiliation.

"I didn't know he had it in him to turn him down," Tydeus said softly.

Cheiron glanced down at him and smiled faintly. "Acrides knows which side his pitta's buttered," he said quietly. "And I've never doubted his loyalty."

"What? Never?"

"I gave him another chance, Tydeus. His pride wouldn't let him betray me or any of these kids. He may be bitter, but underneath it all he's a good man."

"And perfectly placed to cause a few accidents," Tydeus pointed out sharply.

"Too perfect," Cheiron said coolly. "Acrides doesn't repeat mistakes. He wants no more lives on his conscience."

"You trust him?" Tydeus gazed up at him in amazement.

Cheiron inclined his head, his ponytail swishing against the leather weapons harness on his back. He gazed after Acrides as he hustled the students into position so that Davron could hand out the weapons. "He may run them ragged in class, but he'd give his life for any of these kids. His teaching will keep some of them alive when a kind hand would have got them killed. He'll do. Now, Mikos, we need…."

"Cheiron!" Ithis' excited voice floated down to them from the guard tower beside the gate. The read haired student was leaning precariously or the side, waving at them furiously. "Cheiron!"

"I heard you the first time!" Cheiron bellowed at him. "Get back before you fall!"

"But it's Constantius! He's coming back!" Ithis pointed towards the gates.

"Is he alone?!" Tydeus called anxiously, cupping his hands around his mouth to hail the youth.

"I can't see anyone else," Ithis' excitement faded a little as he realised Iolaus and Pegasus weren't with the student.

"Get back to your lookout!" Pattonius roared up at him, snapping the red head back to attention. "It could be a trap."

"Arm yourself! Battle stances!" Cheiron yelled, galloping towards the gate. Hyperius gaped at him, alternating between staring at the on coming Centaur and looking over his shoulder for Constantius. His expression was impossible to read; shock mingled with alarm. Cheiron assumed he was terrified the student had the slaves on his tail.

The man Mikos had pointed out as Brutus finally grabbed the horse's reins and led the animal and its rider out of the way. Cheiron trotted past them without a word, thudding down the path to meet Constantius as the youth came to a breathless halt. He was filthy from head to foot and looked as if he had been rolling in the dirt, his arm was bleeding from a thin slice of a wound, his clothes were torn and his sword was missing.

"Cheiron, sir," he gasped, drawing himself up to his full height. "The slavers…"

"You've seen them?" Cheiron took his good arm, shooting a wary look towards the forest before he led the student back to the gates. Acrides and Davron had taken positions beside it, both of them holding crossbows as they stood watch.

"Yes, I barely managed to get away. They took Iolaus and Pegasus. There was nothing I could do. It all happened to so fast."

"Where did this happen?"

"Down by the river ford, I think. I got so turned around in the woods I got lost. You have to go after them, sir!" Constantius paused, spotting Hyperius as they came through the gate. From his expression, he clearly recognised him, then turned away to gaze anxiously up at Cheiron. "You can't let the slavers have them!"

"We won't. Did you see any other captives?"

"No. They grabbed the three of us and drugged us. I managed to trick them into thinking I was drugged when I wasn't and managed to get away. I couldn't help the others. I thought it'd be best if I went for help. But I heard the slavers talking. They were heading for the caves, but they're planning on leaving the area tonight. You have to help the others!"

Cheiron patted him reassuringly, shooing the hysterical youngster into Tydeus' capable hands to be cared for. His gaze fell on Hercules as the youth appeared out of the shadows. Hercules' blue eyes flitted hopefully past Cheiron and out into the darkness, then to Constantius and then finally back to the Centaur in anguish.

"I'm sorry, Hercules, but it is as we feared. The slavers have them," Cheiron told him grimly. "And we’re going to get them back. Everyone! We ride!"

* * *

The slaver was bored; standing guard over a bunch of kids was the pits. Sure he had a sore arm after attacking Hyperius' school, but it wasn't much more than a scrape. It was hardly likely to slow him down against a bunch overachievers like Cheiron's kids. Elides though refused to take anyone on a capture expedition who was less that one hundred percent fit. The Chief had an exaggerated opinion of the students' capabilities; an opinion that had more to do with their fighting abilities than Kaltron's concerns about what they'd be like in a bed and how much they could be sold for. Looks weren't everything, the guard snorted to himself. Kaltron went by a pretty face, not the personality underneath. Some of those students weren't boys, but young men. He expected Elides to run into more trouble than he was expecting and resented the fact that he'd miss out on the fight. If anyone had asked him - not they ever did, of course - they should have forgotten all about the Centaur's school, ripped off Hyperius for whatever he was worth and legged it out of the area before the Watch caught on. Screw Hyperius' bargaining with Elides; a handful of picked students as a bribe wasn't worth the parchment for the slave ownership.

"Hi…" The youthful voice came from behind him; polite, nicely shy and full of subtle hints.

The guard turned around, looked at the blond blue eyed youth gazing up at him and ran an expert eye over him; taking in the slim, boyish figure, the ruffled mane of golden curls and the ingenuous blue eyes. Exasperated, he snorted again. "I know what you’re after. Go back to the others," he ordered crisply.

"I was only being friendly," the youth pouted.

"You must think I'm really dumb to think I’d fall for that one," the guard told him sarcastically.

The youth hesitated, then pressed on cautiously. "I was lonely. I thought it'd be nice to talk to someone…."

"Yeah, right, then you suggest that if I was to let you out you could be even more friendly?" The guard grinned; reckoning that the kid's blush was genuine. "What makes you think I'm any more inclined that way than you are? Been there, done that, kid. You know how many slaves have done their best to seduce me to get away?"

"I'm not a slave," came the sharp protest.

The guard shrugged. "You look like one to me, kid. And with your looks, you’re going to get plenty of practise at being friendly." The youth flinched and he felt a slight twinge of sympathy for him. The ones who were obviously not interested in men were usually the ones who went for the highest price; to the weirdos who enjoyed breaking them in. "Better get used to the idea. Now, go back to the others and let one of them introduce you to the sport if you’re that lonely."

The youth however frowned, glanced over his shoulder and then moved closer to the cave entrance, curling his fingers around the metal as he peeked out towards the camp. "Can I talk to your leader then? Elides?"

"You know Elides?" the guard demanded sharply, eyeing him suspiciously.

"We've met. Maybe he can be persuaded to let me go."

The guard snorted again, folding his arms across his chest. "First of all Elides isn't here. He's on his way to your precious Academy to find you some more company. Secondly, you've got nothing to bargain with. If he wants you, he’ll have you. And thirdly, Elides wouldn't ruin your price by bedding you, so you can forget that little idea." He paused, wary of the sharply intelligent look in the youth's eyes as he studied the camp. Bright eyed and ingenuous though he looked, the guard belatedly realised that this one had more on his mind than the obvious. Taking a long step, he deliberately placed himself between the youth and the camp. "Get back to the others," he ordered grimly. "Before I decide to take a whip to you."

The youth started and looked up at him, a hostile expression flickering across his face before being concealed behind a sulky look. "You wouldn't dare mark me if what you say about Elides is true," he challenged.

The guard swore mentally and reached out quickly, grabbing the youth by his vest and yanking him up close before he could dodge. "Now listen, kid, I know ways to hurt you that won't leave a mark on you. Things that'd have you begging for mercy. Or I could embarrass the life out of you by taking the flat of my sword to you in front of your friends. Now scat, get back to the others before I decide to stop being so nice to you."

Released, the youth scrambled away, but not before he gave the guard a look that promised murder. Unimpressed, the slaver turned back to his patrol, taking a mental note of the youth for later. Elides was usually fair with the division of the spoils; so he might put in a bid for shares on the blond and drop his sharing interest in some of the others. Blonds were rare enough as it was and he was bound to make a good price with his smart mouth and those looks. If Elides followed Kaltron's advice, which he usually did - when it came to selling the merchandise Kaltron was the acknowledged expert of the band - then they'd head for Athens and make a fortune on this bunch of pedigrees.

The sudden explosion of noise from behind him made him jump and whip around, half drawing his sword. It was no enemy attack however, but a fight breaking out amongst the slaves along with a lot of yelling, kicking and enraged screaming.

Annoyed, he let go of his sword and turned away, inclined to ignore it and let them sort out their own pecking order. A shrill yelp however had him swinging back and reaching for his keys. Elides didn't allow a slave to do anything to lower his price. And permanent damage to any of them would come out of the guard's hide if he failed to intervene.

Besides, his little blond profit was on the bottom of the pile…

Iolaus couldn't say he was disappointed when the guard turned him down flat. He was no good at flirting with men. It came instinctively with girls, but he didn't know how to read male reactions properly. If the guard had let him out, he would have been downright astonished. Getting turned down came as a relief.

The guard's comments about Cheiron's Academy and Elides however sent a chill through him. No wonder the camp looked so empty if the slaver chief had left the bare minimum of his men on guard and taken the rest off on a slaving raid. Thinking furiously, he reacted instinctively to the whip threat and then wished he hadn't at the suspicious expression that crossed the guard's face. He let the man frighten him off and retreated back towards the others, giving Altopius and Edius the signal.

Altopius nodded and closed in. "What do you think you’re doing, you traitor?" he demanded loud enough to be sure his voice carried.

"Nothing…" Iolaus did his best to look waif like and edge round him.

Altopius grabbed him by the shoulder and swung him around the face him. "You were bargaining with them!" he roared, keeping a wary eye on the guard.

"He's not even looking," Edius hissed in exasperation.

"I was not! I was being friendly!" Iolaus yelled back.

"Too friendly!" Altopius bellowed.

"He's ignoring us," Edius groaned.

Iolaus bit his lip. "Hit me," he ordered Altopius.

"Are you kidding? I’ll squish you!" Altopius whispered in alarm.

"No, you won't, I'll ….Oh never mind," Iolaus could see Altopius wasn't convinced. Bigger and stronger than Cheiron's student, Altopius was clearly worried about accidentally hurting Iolaus. "Bargain with this then!" Iolaus shouted and swung at him, relying on the bigger youth's reflexes to come into play. Sure enough, Altopius instinctively grabbed for his fist and turned it into a wrestling hold. Following their instructions, the other students started yelling and jeering, urging the two combatants on. Altopius quickly shoved Iolaus to the floor, attempting to pin the squirming young hunter and finding it a great deal more difficult than it looked. For a moment, it started to turn into a genuine contest to see who was the better, then Pegasus lunged into the fight.

"Pegasus! Not now! I'm okay…" Iolaus yelped as Pegasus savaged Altopius' ear and brought a shrill yelp out of the youth. He grabbed him by the hair and pulled, making him let go of Altopius. "Drop him! You don't know where he's been…"

"Get out of it, you little bastards!" the guard was suddenly standing over them, laying about him with the flat of his sword as he scattered the students. "Bunch of animals…"

With one accord Iolaus and Altopius dived at him, grabbing him by the ankles and slamming him down on his back. The slaver hit the ground with a grunt, flailing wildly to get free. Pegasus grabbed his wrists and sank his teeth into the tendon of his thumb, forcing him to drop the sword with a cry of pain. Edius scooped up the weapon and hit him with the pommel, knocking him out cold.

Panting for breath, Iolaus and Altopius let go of the man. "D'you kill him?" Iolaus asked, rubbing a bruised cheekbone where the slaver's fist had caught him.

Edius looked up from checking and shook his head. "No," he admitted shakily.

"Should we?" Pegasus asked, reaching for the sword. Edius held it away from him.

"No," Iolaus yelped hastily, aware of the way the others all stared at him. "He's not that bad, Pegasus."

Pegasus snorted, not so sure of that.

"Ooh, I think Iolaus fancies him," Altopius mocked, ignoring the look Pegasus gave him.

"Screw you," Iolaus spat at him as he scrambled to his feet. The other students had followed orders and were at the entrance, peering out warily. The first pair sneaked out, keeping low as they headed for the carts. "You may be a cold blooded killer, but I'm not. Let's get out of here. C'mon, Pegasus, we’ve got to get the weapons."

"I'm not a killer" Altopius grumbled as he picked himself up.

"You asked for it," Edius snorted at his friend, pushing him after Iolaus and Pegasus. "Let's move. We don't have much time before they’ll notice he's gone."

They had less time than Edius thought. By the time they had reached the carts were the weapons were stored, a couple of slavers were headed for the caves, hands on swords as they looked around them suspiciously.

"Keep it quiet and hurry it up," Iolaus hissed at the others from where he kept watch.

"We're finished," Altopius called back, handing the last weapon to a waiting student and dropping to the earth from the back of the armoury wagon. He offered Iolaus a sword, meeting his eyes when the hunter reached for it. "That crack about the guard, it wasn't meant. Sorry…"

Iolaus nodded and slapped his shoulder. Altopius struck him as the kind to taunt without meaning any harm. At any other time Iolaus would have let it pass with only a glare. "We're all on edge. Let's get out of here." He looked round sharply, spotting Pegasus' silver hair in the darkness. The horses had been picketed close to the carts and Pegasus had gone over to them without a word, whispering to them under his breath to keep them calm. Gesturing to the others to move out, Iolaus padded over to him, silent footed in the soft earth.

Pegasus had his arm around the neck of a vicious looking black that had its ears back and a strange look in its eyes as if it was listening to something only the horse could hear.

Edius was standing guard over them, looking awed. "I don't know what he's doing," he whispered to Iolaus as he and Altopius joined them. "But I can feel something."

Iolaus nodded. He could feel it too. A kind of tingling sensation on the skin as if he was bathed in a bubbling spring. "Pegasus? We’ve got to go."

"The horses are willing to take us," Pegasus whispered back.

Iolaus hesitated. It was tempting, but the horses would have to go slow on the rough ground of the forest if they weren't to be hurt. And if they were where he thought they were then they had a lot of rough mountainous ground to cross before they got anywhere near a road. They could hide better on foot.

"No, let them go." Iolaus leaned closer and caught his friend's wrist, pulling him down to whisper his ear. "Can you ask them to scatter and stay away from the slavers? It'll give us some time."

"That tickles," Pegasus yipped, shying away and rubbing his ear. "Don’t blow in my ear."

"Pegasus!" Iolaus hissed in exasperation.

"Oh yes, of course I can…" Giving Iolaus a little pout, Pegasus turned back to pull the black's head down and whisper into his twitching ear.

"What? Does he think it’ll understand him?" Altopius scoffed.

"You never can tell," Iolaus said mildly as the black lifted its head and nodded it briskly up and down, stamping one massive hoof into the ground. The horse reminded him a bit of Cheiron. Pegasus grinned, patted the arched muscular neck of the black and let him go. Turning away from him, the black whickered softly to its companions, nipping at the flank of a brown mare as he herded them off into the trees.

"Well, I'll be…" Altopius began but didn't get to finish as Iolaus glimpsed movement behind him and shoved him out the way of the spear thrust aimed at his back.

"Over here!" the angry slaver yelled, flourishing the spear at the teenagers. "I've got the little bastards cornered…"

Iolaus snorted and lunged, feinting a sword thrust at him. Instantly, the man slashed at him, bringing the spear in front. With a twist of his wrist, Iolaus turned the lunge into a parry and sliced off the spearhead.

"Nice move!" Altopius congratulated him as the slaver gaped stupidly at his apparently innocuous bit of wood.

Iolaus didn't give him time to consider using it as a quarterstaff, but closed in fast. The man dropped the spear shaft and scrambled backwards, only to go down with a thud as Pegasus hit him from behind with a rock.

"Did I do it right?" Pegasus asked hopefully.

"Uh yeah…" Iolaus said slowly, figuring that now wasn't the time to go into the niceties of how it wasn't right to go hitting people from behind.

"I didn't hit him very hard," Pegasus went on, prodding the slaver with a toe. The man groaned and rolled over. "Should I hit him again?"

"Druses! Where are you?" someone shouted.

"No time…" Iolaus exclaimed and grabbed Pegasus' wrist. "Come on, run!"

"Scatter everyone!" Edius ordered the other students as they stood in frozen pack of fright. Altopius swung around, shoving the nearest youth towards the trees and dragging another with him by the arm. As soon as one started moving the others broke and fled.

"There they are!" a man bellowed.

"Get them!" another slaver screamed.

"What did they do to Drusus!? Make them pay!"

"Grab them!"

The slavers had got them spotted; a band of snarling, half drunk and enraged men seeing their valuables slipping away. They charged towards the students in a screaming war band, flourishing weapons from swords and spears to whips and axes. The guard from the cave was among them, obviously staggering but as furious as any of them.

Iolaus didn't hang around to see where the students were going as they scattered into the trees, striking out into the darkness at speed. His responsibilities now where to get Pegasus to safety and to get back to the Academy to warn Cheiron that Elides was on his way; assuming the slavers didn't get there first. The plan was for Hyperius' students to separate and meet up at the river further down the valley when it was safe. From there, they were to head to the village and raise the Watch.

Despite Edius' urgings for Iolaus and Pegasus to join them, Iolaus had been insistent that he had to get to the Academy. And where Iolaus went, Pegasus went. The silver haired youth could not be dissuaded and Iolaus had to admit that he wasn't exactly averse to his company. He knew Pegasus could run like the proverbial wind from personal experience and he figured that it meant that one of them at least would get to Cheiron with the warning.

All they had to do was stay ahead of the baying slavers on their tails.

* * *

Hercules shivered, wishing he had thought to bring a cloak. Warm though the night air was, forests tended to have a damp atmosphere all their own and he had to admit that his poisoning had taken more out of him than he had expected. He couldn't remember ever feeling so weary before and it wasn't the good kind of weariness that came from hard exercise, but a bone deep exhaustion. He wasn't even aware that anyone was speaking to him until Cheiron's hand landed lightly on his shoulder.

"I said stop, Hercules," the Centaur told him, keeping his voice low as they all were for fear of giving themselves away to the slavers should they be near by. "We're taking a break."

"I'm okay. I can go on…"

"I'm sure," Cheiron said dryly and offered him a wineskin. "Drink some of this and sit down for a few minutes. You don't have to prove anything to me. Iolaus getting caught by slavers isn't your fault."

"I told him to get lost."

"Have you ever known Iolaus to get lost if he didn't want to?" Cheiron chuckled. "Don't blame yourself."

Hercules gazed up at him for a moment then nodded tiredly and took the wineskin, slumping down on a handy rock and taking a mouthful of the sweet wine as he looked around him. They seemed to have walked over half the forest tonight and found nothing except a few startled night creatures. The only thing he was glad of was that Hyperius and his men had already given up and left the search party. One more sarcastic remark from him and Hercules was sure he would have punched him out.

Sitting still, he could hear the burbling of the frogs and the frantic chirruping of excited insects. The splash and plop of a frog leaping into water was followed by the angry screech of something missing its supper.

Mikos was making the rounds of his men, checking up on them quietly, nodding approval as a couple of them started making new torches where the old ones had burned down. Cheiron had gone into his statue pose, arms folded and four legs braced as he stared off into the trees apparently lost in deep thought. Hercules knew better; the Centaur was ever alert and ready and nothing would get past him.

Watching him and Mikos, Hercules realised it was good sense to stop and rest while they rethought their next move. They were getting nowhere fast at the moment.

Mikos suddenly crouched next to him. "How you doing?" he asked.

"I'm fine."

"Worried about your friends?"

"Wouldn't you be?" Hercules responded, offering him the wineskin.

"Yeah." Mikos took a pull from the wineskin and blinked. "Smooth. Yours?" he wondered.

"Cheiron's," Hercules admitted.

"Good taste. Look, we’re doing the best we can. We'll find the slavers and get your friends back."

Hercules forced a smile and nodded. "Sure we will," he agreed, wishing the Watch Captain wouldn't patronise him.

Mikos gave him a thoughtful look and slapped his knee as he straightened up. He handed the wineskin back to the young demi-god. "Best not to think we won't. They'll be alive. Slavers don't kill the merchandise," he told him quietly and moved off towards a returning scout. Cheiron stirred immediately and followed him.

Hercules gazed after the Watch Captain in surprise, wondering if he had known what he was thinking. He supposed he must have. Mikos had a lot of experience with people and probably had a shrewd idea of how someone would react in any given situation. He had probably dealt with more than one person who had lost someone they loved somehow. Right now, he was right. Iolaus and Pegasus and Hyperius' students would be alive because the slavers had no reason to kill them after having gone to the trouble of catching them. Hercules had to believe that. Because the alternative…

The alternatives were even worse.

Iolaus and Pegasus would be alive. Assuming Iolaus had kept that smart mouth of his shut for once…

* * *

"Iolaus," Pegasus hissed urgently at his friend. The two of them were crouched in a tangle of flowering bushes, hopefully well hidden from the men crashing about in the woods.

Iolaus turned his head, half-looking at him, half still watching the path. He had torn off a strip of tunic and made it into a makeshift slingshot for which he had collected a handful of pebbles to use as ammunition. A sword was all very well, but it couldn't be used at a distance and he had grown up hunting with a slingshot. "What?" he asked softly.

"Behind us…two more coming…"

Iolaus scowled, tucking the sling and pebbles into his belt pouch, then reaching for Pegasus' hand before drawing him after him as he moved out. He had already almost lost Pegasus once in the darkness when the other student wandered in the wrong direction. Pegasus didn't seem to quite appreciate how much danger they were in if they got recaptured. Iolaus didn't think the slavers would treat them kindly for having to chase them over half the forest. He had also noticed something else - maybe it was paranoia or arrogance - but most of the slavers seemed to be on their tails rather than that of Hyperius' students.

"This way…" Pegasus swerved, yanking Iolaus after him. "The path…"

"No," Iolaus yipped and dug in his heels, but Pegasus slipped free and darted onto the narrow path.

"It's going the right way and it'll be quicker. If we…"

"Gotcha!" The slaver lunged out of nowhere, squashing Pegasus to the path under his solid weight. Pegasus yelped in fright as he was slammed down flat and pinned.

Without thinking Iolaus plunged out of the bushes to his friend's rescue, grabbing the man by his hair and laying the flat of his blade across his throat. "Let him go or I'll kill you," he hissed in his ear.

The man froze, one hand locked loosely around the back of Pegasus' neck and holding the squirming youth face down in the dirt. "Put the sword down, boy," he ordered evenly. "You’re not going to kill me, but I could kill your friend."

Iolaus bit his lip, wishing the man hadn’t called his bluff, but he tightened his grip on his hair and kept his voice low. "Want to bet?" he demanded, letting a little of his anger and scared frustration show in his voice. "Hurt him and I’ll kill you. Only you can't, can you? Elides would have your hide."

The slaver hesitated, but he wasn't stupid. Iolaus sounded close to the edge. He loosened his grip on Pegasus and eased back on his knees, holding his arms out and away from his body. "I'm unarmed," he pointed out mockingly. "Cheiron teach you to kill an unarmed man?"

"You've got a knife in your belt." Iolaus wasn't going to miss that.

The slaver grunted and lifted his hands further as if to fold them on top of his head.

"Don't do that," Iolaus warned.

The man shrugged and froze, scowling as Pegasus wriggled out from between his clamping knees. "Well, you've got me, now what?"

Pegasus pushed to his feet, dusting himself off as he looked around him warily. "Iolaus, we should go. Now."

"Get his belt then, we'll tie him…" Iolaus yelped aloud as with a flash of speed the slaver grabbed his wrists, tearing his hand free of his hair and yanking the youth forward over his shoulder as he blocked the sword from his throat. With a twist he flung Iolaus into Pegasus, knocking the silver haired youth flying. Lunging to his feet, the slaver bellowed, grabbing for Iolaus' dropped sword.

"Young idiots think you're so good," he growled irritably, reaching for Iolaus. "You need a good hiding to teach you a lesson…"

Iolaus kicked, knocking the man's feet from under him. The slaver hit the ground with a thud that slammed the breath out of him. Hip-springing to his own feet, Iolaus followed through with a snap kick to the jaw, nicely calculated to knock the slaver cold. As the man slumped h he darted forward to grab for his sword…

Something hit him in the left upper arm with enough force to knock him off his feet with the impact. With an involuntary cry of pain echoed by Pegasus, he dropped to his knees, stunned by the explosion of pain that went through him, burning into his hand as if his very fingers were alight. His senses swimming with shock, he was dimly aware of men's voice surrounding him as a group of slavers burst out of the forest, but his attention was absorbed by the arrow sticking out of his upper arm. The point had gone straight through and jutted out of his flesh where he couldn't reach it.

One of the men grabbed him, yanking him roughly to his feet and turning him around to examine the wound. "Nice shot," he commented over his shoulder to a man armed with a bow who was holding Pegasus' arm twisted behind his back. "Won't leave much of a mark once its healed up."

"Leave him alone!" Pegasus yelled, twisting furiously in his captor's grip. He was unhurt but frightened, taken by surprise at seeing Iolaus wounded in front of him. Anger crept up on him, swallowing all other emotions.

Iolaus flinched as the man gripped his arm and pulled it out straight. "Don't…" he began pleadingly.

"Hold still," the slaver grunted as he grabbed the arrow and snapped it off behind the point, then yanked the shaft out of the wound. Iolaus howled and crumpled at the knees, nearly blacking out in agony.

Pegasus screamed, rage exploding through him as he struggled to free himself without success. The slavers were too experienced to let him slip through their hands and stayed well away from his teeth.

The slaver let Iolaus fall and dropped astride him, pulling his wrists behind him to tie them with a length of cord. He looked up at the others. "Maybe we should break this one in," he cackled. "Have a bit of fun and teach him to do as his masters tell him, huh?"

"Why not?" the man reviving the unconscious slaver grinned nastily.

Pegasus screamed again, an ear splitting war scream that made the two men holding at him look at him in horror at the unnatural sound. They felt his skin writhe under their hands, vivid blue silver light flaring under his skin as he twisted and screamed again. They let go of him instinctively, flinching from the fat electric blue sparks snapping round them and raising their hair into tingling spikes. A nimbus of light surrounded Pegasus's slender figure as he flung his arms out wide and screamed again. In sudden panic the slavers backed away as the light exploded outwards like a whirlwind of crackling energies filled with all the colours of the rainbow.

"What in Tartarus is it?!" a slaver cried out in panic.

Wings that shimmered with multi-colours exploded suddenly from the cocoon of light. One smacked into the nearest slaver, sending him crashing into a tree. A silver hoof snapped out of nowhere, bloodily smashing another to the ground under a razor sharp edge. The whirlwind sucked inwards again, turning back into a nimbus around a horse shaped figure; an aura that abruptly exploded into shards of prismatic colour that evaporated as they fell.

Pegasus reared and screamed a stallion's war scream, hooves slicing the air as they lashed out. His rainbow wings cracked open the air as they beat knocking another man screaming in agony to the ground. His rainbow mane and tail flew and crackled with the last metamorphic energy as he lunged at the nearest man, his teeth closing on his shoulder before he flung him into the trees with a snap of his head.

Panic stricken the other slavers fled rather than face this winged nightmare. The last one held onto Iolaus, holding him between him and the stallion. Pegasus reared again, screaming in fury as he pawed the air over the man's head, his hoof slicing a tuft of hair from his temple. With a squeak, the slaver fainted and Pegasus descended to the ground with a stamp of hooves as he landed with his front legs astride Iolaus.

Lowering his head, he snuffled at the young warrior and snorted into his hair. "Iolaus? Look at me…Please? Can you hear me?"

Badly shaken, Iolaus cracked one eye open to peep at him, astounded to hear Pegasus' familiar voice apparently inside his head. "Pegasus?" He stared up the flying horse, taking in the glittering wings of reds and blues, greens, golds, purples even as the colours faded gently.

"Yes. Can you hear me?"

"Uh, yeah…I'm not sure how but…"

"Oh good," Pegasus nuzzled him in obvious relief, his wonderful amber eyes full of gentle concern even though his hooves were bloody.

"You’re not going to kill me, are you?"

"What do you think I am? Some kind of animal?" Pegasus snorted, both amused and a little hurt.

"You trampled them…" Iolaus looked shakily towards the battered, moaning slavers lying around the path.

"Bad guys don't count," Pegasus told him and Iolaus could have sworn he was grinning. "And they were going to hurt you."

"Us," Iolaus said absently, gingerly tugging at his bond wrists. Tartarus but his arm hurt…

Pegasus nudged him gently, pushing his velvety soft nose against his wrists as he started to chew on the ropes. Iolaus wisely held still, not wanting Pegasus to accidentally bite him. The ropes gave suddenly, letting Iolaus ease his arms in front of him with a sigh of relief. "We should go," he told Pegasus as he struggled to his feet and leaned without thinking on the wing thrust out towards him for support. The brilliant colours of his wings mane and tail had had settled down to a pristine whiteness that shimmered with a rainbow overlay of iridescence. Like water catching the sun; one moment they were pure white, the next alive with every colour imaginable. Cradling his arm, Iolaus blinked, dazzled and dazed by the colours.

"You’re bleeding," Pegasus fretted.

"Uh yeah…" Reminded that he needed to tend the wound, Iolaus took a wobbly step towards the woods and then sank to the ground on his knees. "Pegasus, I don't think I'm going anywhere," he muttered dizzily, aware that he was trembling in reaction and shock. He tore off a strip of his tunic and bound it awkwardly around his upper arm, smiling faintly as Pegasus lipped at his hair. "You'd better go on the Academy. Hercules or Cheiron will be able to understand you."

"I won't leave you. You’re my friend."

"You have to warn Cheiron," Iolaus pointed out, patting Pegasus' velvety nose. Pegasus didn't feel quite horse like, he was like velvet and satin all combined. He didn't smell like a horse either; more like sea salt and lemons.

Pegasus snorted into his hair. "I doubt if anyone there would understand me. Besides, you can ride me now," he pointed out cheerfully. "And we should go. More slavers are coming."

"Damn. You sure?"

"I have very good hearing," Pegasus assured him, cocking his head to one side. "They’re swearing quite a lot and they have more bows. I'm not sure they could kill me, but getting shot hurts."

"Good point," Iolaus admitted, struggling back to his feet with the help of a convenient wing. "Sheesh, you’re big."

"But not skinny," Pegasus replied brightly, bending up a powerful foreleg to make a step.

Iolaus hesitated, then accepted the help and stepped cautiously on his fetlock, heaving himself up onto Pegasus' back and settling between his enormous feathered wings as the flying horse folded them back to cradle and support the mortal as he got comfortable.

"You'd better hold on to my mane," Pegasus instructed.

"Hey, I'm a good rider. Even bareback!" Iolaus protested indignantly

"I'm sure you are. I can tell you have a good seat. But I'm not a normal horse. You’re also wounded."

"Oh, okay." Iolaus settled himself a little more securely and wound his hands into Pegasus' silky mane. "Walk on then."

"Hah!" Pegasus snorted. "Me? Walk?! Hah!" He raised his wings, sweeping them out sideways and brought them down in a brisk movement, once, twice…

Iolaus yipped and clung, shutting his eyes and wrapping himself around Pegasus' neck as they lifted smoothly off the ground.

"You don't get air sick, do you?" Pegasus asked conversationally as they rose straight up. "Bellerophon got air sick the first time. Mind you I was doing my best to buck him off."

"I've never flown before," Iolaus whispered.

"Pity, you could throw up on the slavers," Pegasus chuckled. "Look, they're coming…."

"I've got my eyes shut."

"Don't do that. Open your eyes and look. It's gorgeous up here."

Iolaus whimpered and clutched him tighter.

"Look, I've never crashed yet. Or dropped anyone, at least not accidentally."

"Accidentally? You mean you have deliberately?" Iolaus opened his eyes without thinking and caught his breath as he suddenly realised how high they were. The trees were below them, a carpet of darkness in the night. Overhead the sky was a midnight blue so deep as to be black and scattered with huge brilliant stars that glowed like tiny fires. Peering downwards out of curiosity, Iolaus could make out the pale blurs of the slaves gaping up at their escaping prey.

"I dropped Bellerophon once, but that was because he was annoying me by being a moron. He wanted me to show off for his girlfriend so I did; I somersaulted. But I did catch him before he hit the ground. And I wouldn't do that to you, Iolaus."

"I'm glad to hear it," Iolaus mumbled, swallowing hard. He could feel Pegasus moving beneath him, his powerful wings sweeping the air in hypnotic rhythm.

"If you’re going to throw up, I'm going to turn back," Pegasus warned. "No sense in wasting it. Or I could do my incontinent pigeon impersonation."

Iolaus giggled and hugged his neck, relaxing a little with the rush of air tickling his skin. It was a good thing he had never been frightened of heights and now he was actually in the air, he was finding that he was starting to enjoy himself. If only his arm didn't hurt so much…

"Iolaus, stay awake please. I know you're hurting. I can feel it. I’ll get you to the Academy as fast as I can."

"Okay," Iolaus rested his cheek against Pegasus' neck, inhaling his scent. "What do you do with your legs?" he asked, his thoughts wandering.

"Huh?"

"You don't feel like you’re galloping."

"Oh, that. When I'm in a hurry like now, I keep my legs tucked up as if I'm jumping. It's more streamlined. When I want to slow down or the air's rough, I gallop for stability. And when its warm I spread my wings and glide. That's a marvellous feeling. No effort at all. Iolaus!"

"Huh? What?"

"Don't fall asleep. You might fall off."

"Oh, sorry," Iolaus rubbed one hand across his eyes then frowned at the stain on his fingers. Blood from his arm. "Hey, got any wine? In flight meals? Complimentary nuts?"

"No. Hold on. I'm going down."

"Are we at the Academy yet?"

"No, but I'm going to land and see if I can turn back so I can do something about your arm. We need to get you to a healer."

Iolaus wasn't really listening. "Sheesh, Pegasus, did you change not knowing whether you can turn human again? You could be stuck…"

"It doesn't matter. You needed help."

"Wow, I'm honoured. Thanks Pegasus."

"My pleasure. Being winged again feels good. Hold on. I spy somewhere to land."

"No, I’ll be 'kay. Get us to the Academy first and I'll see Tydeus..." Iolaus blinked as the wind rushed over him, blowing his hair into his eyes with every sweep of the wide white wings. Trees swept around them, leaves battering as it blown by a gale as Pegasus descended and touched down lightly on all four hooves.

Iolaus slid off his back and wasn't even aware of hitting the ground as he blacked out.

"Iolaus?" Pegasus nuzzled his friend's limp body in alarm, swearing silently in frustration at his lack of hands. It wasn't until he had had them for a while that he realised how useful they were. There were so many things that a mortal could do that he couldn't. A memory flashed into his mind; Bellerophon had had a talent for giving him a good rub down, he remembered the feel of the brush…The mortal might have been a moron but still they had had some good times. He had always been ready with an apple…

Shoving the memory aside, Pegasus turned his thoughts inwards, searching for that feeling the Stone of Form had given him, the feel of how to twist his shape into a human one.

It wasn't there.

For a moment Pegasus felt a human urge to cry well up inside him, then he suppressed it instead and sank to his knees, folding himself carefully around Iolaus and wrapping a wing over him for warmth and protection as he held the mortal against his large body.

Okay, so Artemis had been right. Need had shown him how to change back to his first shape. But it had lost him his mortal form in the process. He should be bitter, angry, but he wasn't. The price had been worth it. Helping Iolaus had been worth it. Mortals were valuable and he had learned his lesson.

Iolaus still needed him. But he needed the mortal form now…If only Artemis would give him a break and let him help…

Miserably, he sent his thoughts winging into the night, pleading for mercy and assistance from whoever was listening…

* * *

"Did you hear something?" Hercules asked, looking up sharply. He had been walking between Cheiron and Mikos, head down and sunk in his own gloomy thoughts as he plodded along. They were on their way back to the Academy after a fruitless search. They planned to search a new section of the forest once they had rested and eaten. Ten minutes before something had passed overhead. They hadn't been able to make it out in the darkness, but they had heard the beat of its wings. Rumours had started among the village men and the more alarmist members of the Watch that the slavers had a witch on their side and had called up some demon to come a-hunting them.

As Cheiron had dryly pointed out, if it had been a demon, then they didn't have much to worry about since it hadn't even seen them, but the unease was still there.

"Hear what?" Mikos asked, looking around them suspiciously.

"Someone calling…"

"Didn't hear anything," Mikos said firmly.

Cheiron frowned, gazing off into the darkness. "I thought perhaps…"

"There it is again. It's Pegasus! That way!" Hercules decided and bolted off, dodging Cheiron's grab for him. "Pegasus! Iolaus!"

"I still didn't hear anything," Mikos growled. "The boy's imagining things. That's all we need. For him to stir the boys up seeing ghosts."

"No," Cheiron said slowly. "No, I don't think he is imagining things. Bring the men, I'm going after him." The Centaur plunged off the path at a fast clip, following the young demi-god as he crashed through the trees ahead of him.

* * *

Hercules pounded through the woods, dodging trees that got in his way since knocking them aside would slow him down, but trampling everything else. He burst out into the clearing before he even knew it was there and skidded to an arm flailing halt, belatedly remembering warnings about looking before he leapt and not letting himself be ruled by his heart. Hercules had a feeling that where Iolaus was concerned though, his heart would always rule his head.

Breathing hard and fast he gaped at the sight before him, taking in the kneeling winged horse gazing back at him with every appearance of being surprised to see him. "Pegasus?" he guessed tentatively.

"You know another winged horse?" Pegasus retorted sarcastically.

Hercules blinked at the voice in his head then took it in his stride and eased closer, eyeing the stained wing held oddly against Pegasus' side. "Are you hurt? You're bleeding. And where's Iolaus?"

"It isn't mine," Pegasus answered grimly and lifted his wing, folding it back so that Hercules could see what it had concealed. "It's his I'm afraid."

"Iolaus!" With a yelp of dismay, Hercules flung himself to his knees beside his friend, frantically feeling his throat for a sign of life. Iolaus moaned at his touch, shivering and curling up tighter.

"It's his arm. One of the slavers got him with an arrow," Pegasus explained gloomily. "I don't think it's too bad, but I can't…" His head shot up, his nostrils quivering as he scented the air. He relaxed as Cheiron trotted into the clearing, respectfully bowing his head to his teacher.

"Ah, Pegasus," Cheiron said mildly as he trotted over to join Hercules. "I take it that was you flying overhead and frightening half of us out our wits?"

"Only half? I must be slipping," Pegasus responded. "I didn't even see you or I’d have landed. Iolaus is hurt. Can you help him?"

"We'll see. Let me have a look at him, Hercules."

Reluctantly, Hercules yielded his place to Cheiron as the Centaur eased awkwardly down on his knees beside the blond youth.

"The wound's straight through and looks clean enough. The bleeding seems to have stopped which is good," he observed once he had peeled off the makeshift bandage. "Should heal without any problems." He shrugged out of the satchel he wore slung over one shoulder, handing it to Hercules to hold while he took out the herbs and bandages he needed. He was an accomplished healer in his own right and Tydeus had sent him well prepared. "Hold his arm out straight for me now, Hercules…"

Pegasus stiffened, snorting as Mikos padded into the clearing with the first of the search party. The Watch Captain came to a startled halt. "Well, I’ll be a pickled Hydra…" he exclaimed in amazement, gaping at the winged stallion.

Pegasus gave him a narrow eyed look which gave him an interestingly unhorse like expression and then turned his attention back to Iolaus, nuzzling him hopefully as the young warrior started to stir.

Iolaus stiffened, hissing through his teeth in pain as Cheiron firmly bandaged his upper arm.

"It's okay, Iolaus," Hercules hastened to say soothingly, leaning closer and putting a warm hand on his shoulder. "It's me and Cheiron."

"Herc?" Iolaus relaxed as much as he could and opened his eyes. "Hey, I had this weird dream that I was flying and…. oh…hi, Pegasus."

"Hi, Iolaus, and, no, it wasn't a dream."

"Oh man, are you stuck like that because of me?"

"I don’t know yet. But if so, do not fret. I am quite comfortable with this shape. I am more concerned with you. Cheiron?"

"He'll be fine," the Centaur answered calmly, ruffling Iolaus' hair gently. "But we should get him back to the Academy to rest."

"The Academy!" Iolaus yelped, sitting up way too fast and reeling dizzily in reaction. Pegasus' wing swept around him like a cloak, engulfing him and Hercules as the demi-god hastily supported him. "Cheiron, Elides is going to attack the Academy! We were on our way there to warn you!" Iolaus paused, frowning at Cheiron in bewilderment. "Er, they haven't done it already, have they? Is that why you're here?"

"No, we were looking for you," Hercules told him grimly as Cheiron took Iolaus' word for it and turned to bellow instructions at Mikos. "Constantius told us what had happened. Although we’d already guessed. What in Gaia's name possessed you to go off on your own like that?"

"Like you cared?!" Iolaus snorted, pulling away from the demi-god. "You didn't want me around."

"Oh, come on!" Hercules yelped.

Cheiron gathered his hooves under him and lunged to his feet. "Stop it, you two," he said sharply. "Iolaus and Pegasus were both warned and they’re both old enough to take responsibility for themselves. There are more important things to think about than your squabbles." He frowned at Iolaus who glared back sullenly. "You, young man, are going to be punished for this. As for you, Pegasus…" Cheiron paused, for once at a loss.

"Suddenly I'm glad I'm a horse," Pegasus observed innocently.

Cheiron snorted. "Don't be so sure. I'm sure I can find a wagon for you to pull."

"You wouldn't!" Pegasus gasped mentally.

"Then don't push me. Learning to take responsibility is the reason you were sent to me in the first place," he pointed out, giving him a narrow eyed look. "You can consider yourself lucky that I don't punish you for bringing us all out here to look for you. We were looking for Hyperius' students."

"I guess that puts us in our place," Pegasus sighed, drooping.

"We were looking for you too," Hercules said hastily, flicking a look at his partner. "Both of you. But have you seen Hyperius' students?"

"Uh huh, we all got away," Iolaus said quickly. "They were going to meet up by the river and Edius was supposed to take them all to the village to get help. Pegasus and I were going to warn you."

Cheiron's stern expression softened a fraction as he gazed down at Iolaus' earnest expression. He was pretty sure that Iolaus had only been doing what he thought was right.

"He only left the Academy to look for me and Constantius," Pegasus explained. "You should punish us, not him."

"He should have told someone not gone off on his own," Cheiron argued.

"Wasn’t he supposed to take responsibility for us? You did tell him to look after me."

Cheiron gave him an exasperated look. "Enough," he growled impatiently. "Iolaus? Can you walk?"

"He can ride me," Pegasus said eagerly. "I can take him back to the Academy."

Cheiron hesitated. "Not if the slavers are there first."

"I could go with them if Pegasus agrees," Hercules offered cautiously.

"I can carry two," Pegasus agreed. "And we should get back to find Constantius."

Iolaus pushed unsteadily to his feet, leaning on Hercules despite still being annoyed with him. "Pegasus is right. Cheiron, we think Constantius is involved with the slavers somehow. Pegasus says they let him go."

Cheiron stared at him, a chilly expression entering his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Hyperius told Elides to talk to him," Pegasus put in. "I heard them. I think Constantius was behind the accidents at the Academy."

Iolaus nodded. "And I think Hyperius put him up to it."

Cheiron looked from one to the other of them and then up at the sky, his jaw flexing in fury. "If there's one thing I cannot stand, it's a traitor," he snarled, stamping one large hoof hard. "Pegasus, are you sure you can carry Hercules and Iolaus?"

"No, problem, sir," Pegasus assured him, rising to his hooves with surprising grace.

"Fine. Take them. Hercules, make sure you hand Iolaus over to Tydeus. Warn Pattonius and Acrides about the slavers. Then you find Constantius and shut him up in a storeroom out of the way. Get Pattonius or Acrides to put a guard on him. Make sure he can't get out to help the slavers."

"Uh, I'm not sure they'll listen to me," Hercules said warily.

Cheiron looked down his nose at him. "They'll listen if you tell them our suspicions," he said grimly. "Now move, we don't know how much time there is before Elides raids the Academy."

"Can we borrow some weapons?" Iolaus asked hopefully as Hercules propelled him to Pegasus' side. "Only I lost my sword and I've only a got a slingshot."

Cheiron hesitated, glancing around at Mikos. Mikos shrugged and unsheathed his long belt knife. "You can borrow this," he offered.

Iolaus took it eagerly and gave it an experimental figure of eight swing around one hand. The knife was long enough to be a short sword. "Cool…"

"Stop showing off and come on," Hercules exclaimed in exasperation. Grabbing Iolaus by the waist, he boosted him up onto Pegasus' back. Iolaus gave him a filthy look for the manhandling as he wriggled into place and tucked the knife into his belt.

"Mind you don't cut anything off," Cheiron said dryly.

Iolaus coloured then offered Hercules a hand in mounting up. Pegasus offered a foreleg and soon Hercules was settling across his back behind Iolaus. "Better hold on, Herc," Iolaus urged.

"Er, he doesn't do aerobatics does he?" Hercules asked uneasily as he wrapped his arms around Iolaus' midriff.

"Nah…"

"Ready?" Pegasus asked, extending his wings and flapping briskly for take off without waiting for an answer.

"At least not until we’re in the air," Iolaus chirped as they rose skywards. Cheiron waved, then turned his attention to Mikos and the men as they moved out.

"Sadist," Hercules groaned and pressed his face into Iolaus' shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut rather than look at the ground sinking rapidly away below them.

Iolaus giggled. "Don't look down and you'll be fine, Herc."

"Too late. I already did. Pegasus, do you have to go so high?"

"I wanted to get my bearings. We’re not as far from the Academy as I thought," Pegasus answered. "And the thermals are better up here anyway. Hold on now…"

Hercules was relieved to hear Iolaus' yelp echo his own as Pegasus folded his wings and dived suddenly, the wind whistling around them as they plunged downwards.

"Don't do that, Pegasus!" Iolaus urged.

"Not so tight on the mane!" Pegasus protested the strangle hold Iolaus had on him.

"Then don't forget we’re here!" Iolaus yelled back, his voice snatched away by the wind as he spat out a mouthful of whipping mane.

"Oh, stop fussing. You won't fall off!"

"Slow down anyway!" Hercules begged.

"I thought we were in a hurry to get to the Academy?"

"Not that much of a hurry!" Hercules yelped.

"Oh, all right then," Pegasus snorted impatiently and extended his wings and legs. The sudden drop in speed made Hercules tighten his grip on his partner instinctively and Iolaus clutched at his wrist with one hand, the other having a white knuckled grip on Pegasus' streaming mane.

"There's the Academy!" Pegasus called after a few moments.

"Can you see it, Herc?" Iolaus called.

"I've got my eyes shut."

"Oh….Herc?"

"Yeah?"

"One of us is going to have to open his eyes and look."

"You've got yours shut too?"

"Uh huh. Because of the wind though…."

"Uh huh, sure. You okay?"

"My arm hurts."

Hercules grimaced and forced his eyes open, squinting against the wind. He could see the lights of the Academy ahead, the torches blazing along the walls. His sharply bitten off swear word made Iolaus tense and open his own eyes.

"What? Oh man…we're too late…"

The slavers had beaten them to it…

* * *

Snarling, Acrides feinted left and cut right, slicing deep into the slaver's side. The man fell howling and Acrides darted past him, launching a savage attack on the men who had cornered a handful of the younger students who had been returning from delivering arrows to the walls. Attacked from behind by a berserk warrior the slavers scattered and Acrides swung protectively across in front of the frightened boys.

"That way," he ordered curtly, herding them briskly towards the safety of the main hall. He could hear Pattonius bellowing instructions across the square, organising the fight. Oblius was having a marvellous time; with a handful of students, Aerides and Clemis among them he was handing out miniature balls of Greek Fire to be tossed among the larger groups of slavers.

The slavers weren't having such a good time, but their leaders who had so far stayed back were refusing to let them retreat despite the furious opposition. They were more interested in squashing the group gathered around Pattonius than anything else and barely noticed Acrides and his bunch of youngsters.

"Ho on, get inside. And this time stay there," Acrides ordered, reaching the doors and shooing the boys inside before he turned back to stand guard on the steps.

"Acrides?" Tydeus called from behind him. "How's it look?"

Acrides flicked a glance over his shoulder at him. "Not bad," he admitted grudgingly. "The students are good. They're standing their ground and Pattonius knows what he's doing. Where have your door guards gone?"

"Ithis is in here. He's wounded."

"Badly?" Acrides said gruffly, concerned. The red head had showed a spark of promise from time to time.

"No, fortunately. He got clobbered; slingshot I think. Good thing he was wearing a helmet. But Constantius has vanished. I don't know if he panicked and ran off when Ithis went down…"

"That one wouldn't panic," Acrides grumbled. "Conanius!" he bellowed at the big Macedonian as he spotted him fighting a slaver. "Stop playing with him, boy, and get over here!"

Conanius grunted and let out his war scream, the shrill yi yi yi echoing over the square. Several men turned to look and his opponent gaped at him in disbelief.

"Huh?" the slaver said blankly.

"Everyone's a critic," Conanius grumbled and slugged him, punching him out with his sword hilt. Then he turned and trotted over to Acrides. "Yes, sir? You wanted me."

"Conanius, you’re going to go a long way," Acrides said dryly.

"What? Now? We're kind of busy."

"And the sooner the better obviously," Acrides muttered under his breath then continued aloud, "Er, never mind. I need you to stand guard here."

"Oh, right. Check. You can count on me, sir." Conanius took up position, sword held ready as he glared menacingly around him.

"Yes, I rather think I can," Acrides mused as he headed off to join Pattonius in the thick of the fighting again.

The students were doing their best, but they didn't have much experience and the weight of the battle was falling on the instructors. The slavers, hardened experienced fighters all, were starting to turn the tide against them.

Acrides thrust himself into the middle of a fight, cutting his way through to Aerides and Clemis who had been surrounded as likely prey. The only thing they could be grateful for was that the slavers weren't interested in killing students that they wanted to enslave. Not that that was much of an advantage.

The sudden shrill echoing from overhead through the darkness and the sweep of air as the beat of powerful wings battered the air down around them. Acrides saw the slaver in front of him fly backwards as a flash of white struck him in the face. Another slaver was plucked off the ground by something grabbing him then he was dropped into a group of other men as the air rushed and gusted powerfully over them.

The scream came again, a blood chilling sound of war and rage.

Another slaver went down, struck by an invisible missile.

Convinced they were being attacked by some unnatural invisible force the slavers started to retreat nervously, gaping uneasily up into the darkness as the wind once more swept over them.

"I want to drink your blood!" a weird voice boomed out of the darkness at the same time as the horrible scream. It was too much for the slavers, they scattered, running for the gates and hotly pursued by the angry students and instructors.

"No!" Acrides raced after them, shoving students out of his way. "Don't follow! Don't follow!"

"Stand down!" Pattonius bellowed. "Don't leave the walls!"

"They'll cut you down!" Acrides screamed.

A white shape dropped down unexpectedly in front of the gate, huge white wings whirring against the night as Pegasus blocked the way out. Hercules and Iolaus hastily slithered to the ground as Pegasus lifted his heels and bucked, smashing a couple of slavers on their way with a drop kick. Spreading his wings, he prevented anyone from pursuing the slavers by blocking the gate.

"Pattonius! Acrides!" Hercules raced towards the two military instructors. "Cheiron's on his way but we’ve got to find Constantius! He's betrayed us!"

Pattonius looked at Acrides with a furious scowl. "I told you someone unlocked the damn gates and let them in!"

Acrides grunted. "Okay, point to you. I’ll buy the drinks. Hercules, who in Tartarus is that!?" He pointed at Pegasus who had turned into a kicking, biting snapping fury as he kept the gates clear while the students closed it.

"That's our Pegasus," Hercules panted.

"Our…." Acrides gaped, for once at a loss for words then he started to scowl, "How come no one told me?"

"I didn't know either," Pattonius said as he watched Pegasus admiringly. "But he's a damn fine war horse." He eyed Hercules thoughtfully. "That was him screaming?"

"Uh, yes, sir. About…"

"Iolaus would have been the one with the slingshot and you grabbed one of the slavers?" Acrides guessed.

"Yes, sir. As I was saying…"

"And you yelled about drinking their blood? Good threat…scattered them nicely, thinking it was a demon," Pattonius rumbled. "Their kind always believes in demons and things."

"Sirs, about Constantius…" Hercules pressed anxiously.

"I don't know where he is," Pattonius admitted grimly. "But are you sure about him? With his background…"

"Pegasus and Iolaus are sure. The slavers had him but they let him go. We think he arranged the accidents for Hyperius too. Iolaus, tell him….Iolaus? Iolaus, where'd you go?" Hercules looked round wildly. Iolaus had been right behind him when they dismounted. "Oh, Tartarus…now where is he?"

* * *

Dumb, dumb, dumb, he knew he should never have listened to Hyperius in the first place. He hadn't needed the money after all. It was only to prove himself cleverer than anyone else, to show he was better than Cheiron's riffraff whether they knew it or not. Why did Hyperius have to tell the slavers about him? Elides had scared him with what would happen to him as a slave and he had been too frightened to bluff him with threats about his father. His father would disown him if he was sold into slavery. He probably wouldn't even bother to buy his freedom. The shame of it would be too much…

His fingers trembling, Constantius swore as they slipped on the girth buckle and his horse deliberately breathed out and looked at him smugly over one shoulder. "Damn dumb animal," he snarled at it bitterly. "They should turn you into burgers."

"Don't take it out on the horse, Constantius, it's smarter than you," Iolaus' quietly angry voice made him flinch and swing around to face him.

"Iolaus! You got away!" Constantius filled his voice with relief and even a small part of him actually was glad.

"Yeah, surprise, surprise. Pegasus and I both got away. No thanks to you." Iolaus pushed away from the doorjamb of the stables and came towards him. "I thought I might find you here. Running away, are you?"

Constantius swallowed, flicking a glance at the belt knife the blond youth was carrying. "No, I was going to ride to the village and fetch help," he lied. "Or maybe find Cheiron. He must be on his way back by now."

"He's probably right outside the gates," Iolaus agreed sardonically. He came to a halt, loosely hooking the thumb of his left hand into his belt to support his wounded arm. His free hand he rested on his knife hilt. "And he knows all about you. Why'd you do it?"

"I didn't want to leave you but someone had to fetch help."

Iolaus raised an eyebrow at him. "I didn't notice you bringing us any."

"Cheiron wouldn't let me go with the rescue party. I was hurt and I'd gotten lost…" Constantius did his best to look ashamed, but he could tell from Iolaus' expression that he wasn't fooled.

"Pegasus saw you bargaining with Elides. What did you offer him? A way into the Academy for your freedom?"

Constantius hesitated, his pride and arrogance reasserting itself. "No," he said bitterly. "I didn't bargain with him, he told me what to do."

"And you went along with it? Once you were free you only had to tell Cheiron where we were." Iolaus paused, studying him sceptically. "Only you couldn't, could you? You were scared of him. Scared of what he'd do."

"No!" Constantius denied it angrily.

Iolaus was thinking fast. "Of who he'd tell. That's it, isn’t it? Elides knows Hyperius paid you to cause the accidents here. I'll bet he threatened to tell your father. And your father would disown you for it. That's why you did what Elides wanted. You opened the gates and let them in to save your own damn hide!"

"And you’re not going to tell anyone," Constantius snarled and grabbed for the sword at his hip, whipping it from its sheath and pointing the tip at Iolaus. "Put your money where your mouth is, Iolaus. You’re supposed to be good with a sword. Let's see if you can beat me."

Iolaus had drawn his belt knife the second Constantius moved, but he backed away from him cautiously. "This is crazy," he argued. "Where do you think you’re going to go?"

"Easy. I tell them you were the one Hyperius paid and you attacked me when I caught you making a run for it. They'll believe me. With my background, they’ll never dream I’d lie."

"And opening the gates? I wasn't even here!"

"Anyone could have done that. Maybe someone panicked and thought they could run for it. Maybe one of the servants was bribed to do it. If you’re out of the way, it won't matter, Iolaus!" Constantius lunged, driving Iolaus further back with a flurry of blows that the young hunter parried hastily.

Iolaus was at a disadvantage; Constantius had the reach on him at the best of times, now his sword gave him even more, plus the fact that Iolaus wasn't at his best because of his wounded arm and lack of rest.

Constantius came on determinedly, hacking and thrusting, using brute strength to batter down Iolaus' weapon. His expression was grim, blood lust glinting in his eyes. He had nothing to lose now.

"Listen to me," Iolaus panted. "This is pointless. Hercules knows the truth, so do Pegasus and Cheiron. Put the sword down."

"Lies all lies," Constantius spat. "You've made it all up. You wouldn't tell anyone else! You expect me to pay you off! Well I will!" With a sword!"

Iolaus knocked his sword aside and ducked under a backlash that nearly took his head off. Constantius jumped over his effort to kick his feet under him with a sidesweep of his leg and nearly cut the young hunter in two with a return blow. Catching the blow on his knife, Iolaus was jarred off balance by the impact and he went down, rolling back to his feet only to get caught by a vicious kick and knocked backwards. He slammed into the stall partition with his wounded arm and cried out, seeing stars as his head spun. Dimly through the fog he saw Constantius raise the sword over his head and bring it hurtling down to crash into him. He flung up his own blade in a futile effort to block the powerful blow.

"Bastard!" Hercules' voice screamed across the stable as he tackled Constantius from a standing start, hurling him backwards. Constantius crashed into the hay rack, stunned by the blow. Grabbing him by the throat Hercules yanked him up and smashed his fist into the jaw, hitting him once, twice…..

"Hercules!" Iolaus yelled, crawling over to grab his elbow. "Stop it! You got him, big guy. Put him down!"

For a long moment Hercules hesitated, his arm trembling as his fist hung in the air, clenching and unclenching in his fury. Then he dropped Constantius in a limp heap in the straw and turned to sweep Iolaus into a hug. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Iolaus admitted shakily, pushing him back with an embarrassed glance at Acrides and Tydeus as they appeared in the doorway. "Take it easy, Herc. I forgive you for telling me to get lost…"

Hercules shoved him back to arms' length and shook him carefully but insistently. "Why didn't you tell me you were going after Constantius?!" he yelled at him.

"Hey, it was lucky guess!" Iolaus yelled back.

"He could have killed you!"

"Hey, no way!" Iolaus bluffed.

"He wasn't going to give you a hair cut with that sword," Hercules snarled. "He'd got the drop on you."

"I slipped!"

"That's all it takes," Acrides observed dryly from where he had stood beside Constantius. Iolaus blushed and ducked his head, admitting the truth of that.

"It's my arm's fault," he mumbled self consciously, cradling his wounded arm. Hercules flinched and paled, releasing him.

Tydeus sniffed, looking up from where he was examining the unconscious student. "Hercules, stop yelling at him and give me a hand here. You appear to have broken Constantius' jaw."

"A smack in the jaw is the least of what he should get," Hercules grumbled, releasing Iolaus and giving him a sheepish look. "You scared me," he whispered. "Are you really okay?"

Iolaus inclined his head in acknowledgement, knowing that Hercules always yelled when he had been worried or scared. "Yeah. Me too. Thanks."

"Am I still forgiven?"

"You know it. If you forgive me?"

"Don't I always?"

"Stop cooing at each other and get over here!" Acrides barked.

Iolaus grinned. "Go help Tydeus," he urged, letting Hercules help him to his feet before the demi-god went to carry Constantius for Tydeus.

Acrides came over and looked thoughtfully down at Iolaus. "Dumb move," he observed. "You should have told someone. Both this time and before when you went after Pegasus."

"You were busy," Iolaus said warily.

"Never that busy," Acrides said grimly. "Go get yourself tidied up and do something about Pegasus. I don't want him running amuck. Pattonius and I have to secure the Academy."

The sudden crash of the doors being kicked open made them both jump and reach for their weapons.

"Thank you, Pegasus," Cheiron's voice observed dryly as he strolled through the gap. "But that is quite enough. I don't think there is any need to actually kick the stables down."

"Sorry, I got carried away," Pegasus' telepathic voice mumbled as he paced into the stables behind Cheiron. The Centaur looked round, observing Constantius as Hercules slung him over one broad shoulder with Tydeus' help. Pegasus headed straight for Iolaus, snuffling at him and headbutting him gently in the chest. Iolaus grinned and rubbed his nose for him.

"Can I take it that Hercules got a little carried away too?" Cheiron asked.

"Broken jaw. But it’s a clean break. Nothing I can't fix. Take him along the infirmary, Hercules," Tydeus said briskly. "Iolaus? Where exactly do you think you’re going?"

"Acrides told me to get cleaned up." Iolaus protested, caught as he attempted to sneak out.

Tydeus sniffed. "Come here and let me look at your arm first."

Iolaus grimaced and slunk over to him. He knew exactly what Tydeus was going to say as soon as he peeled off the bandage and looked at the wound. It had started bleeding again where he had landed on it. "You need a sling, young man."

"Aw, must I?" Iolaus protested. "It looks worse than it is because I knocked it against the wall."

Tydeus ignored him. "You’re going have a huge bruise. Cheiron? Why exactly didn't you strap him up in a sling?"

"Kind of difficult to ride a flying horse with one arm in a sling," Cheiron pointed out defensively.

"So, he should have walked," Tydeus snapped. "Come along with me, Iolaus. I dare say I can fix you up while I take care of the other wounded."

"Tydeus?" Cheiron said sharply.

"Don't panic. It's all been minor stuff. Pegasus, you are not setting foot inside my infirmary in that shape."

Pegasus flattened his ears back. "You let Cheiron in."

"That's different."

"That's speciesit."

"No, practical. I don't want you flapping wings that size around if you get excited. You can wait outside unless Cheiron can find something for you to do. Come along now, Iolaus."

* * *

Two days later, Hercules and Iolaus sat on the steps soaking up the sunshine. Iolaus was on a break from being kitchen slave in place of Aerides and was happily munching an apple. Despite Tydeus' best efforts he was no longer wearing a sling; although he was still favouring his arm. The demi-god was watching him enviously, his own diet being restricted by Tydeus until he was quite sure he was over his poisoning. Hercules was convinced the healer was being deliberately overcautious because he had gone off with Cheiron instead of staying at the Academy and resting.

"I had a really weird dream last night," Hercules observed after a few moments of companionable silence.

"Is that why you were yelling?"

"Mmmh. I dreamt I was watching a Centaur mating dance in a barn and they were all prancing around doing a do-si-do while Pegasus as a horse was playing a kithara."

"How could he do that?" Iolaus exclaimed.

"Don't ask me. It was a dream Told you it was weird." Hercules shrugged. "Then Cheiron came out wearing this pink frilly skirt thing round his waist. Man, it was scary. That's when you hit me with the pillow and woke me up."

"Like I said you were yelling," Iolaus told him. "Sounds scary."

"I thought so."

"Probably psychological because of your terpsichory classes."

"Uh yeah." Hercules fell silent again, pondering what in Gaia's name terpsichory meant and deciding not to ask and get teased. Iolaus crunched the last bite of apple and put the core down on the step to dispose of later.

"You know, I kind of miss Pegasus." Iolaus sighed. Pegasus had returned to Mount Olympus since he was hardly able to attend classes in his winged shape and despite his best efforts he had been unable to change back into a human form. He had been unhappy as they had been about his going; but Mount Olympus called and he had had no choice. "He was fun. Remember the look on Attenburis' face when he asked how deep the ocean would be if you took out all the sponges?"

"Yeah," Hercules chuckled.

"Wish I’d thought of that."

They fell silent again, watching the latest batch of new students being herded towards the main hall. They were the pick of the crop from Hyperius' school that had now been closed by the Elders for 'corrupting the youthful flower of society'. Cheiron's students had laughed themselves hoarse over that one. Meanwhile, Cheiron was being careful who he accepted despite the blandishments of the rich nobles; money had never been an option with the Centaur and they couldn't simply buy a youth a place under his training. They had to have at least a hint of ability first.

The students of the Academy all knew that the main reason for the closure was of course Hyperius himself; mostly because the Elders and nobles had finally found out that Hyperius was an ex slave and therefore persona non-grata as far as they were concerned. Also, according to the leader of his mercenary bodyguards, Hyperius had last been seen abandoning his men in the woods and fleeing Northwards on horseback. Considering the speed he had been going, he had probably reached Macedonia by now. Conanius had promptly offered to go and find him on hearing that particular suggestion and been gently turned down by Cheiron.

Brutus figured Hyperius had realised that discretion was the better part of valour and got while the getting was good before his involvement with the slavers and the accidents at Cheiron's Academy caught up with him. He had apparently taken the school treasury with him; which hadn't gone down to well with the Elders and nobles either. The mercenaries had let him go, since they hadn't been paid to either go with him or to bring him back. Brutus however had returned of his own accord to tell what he knew and offered to join the Watch. Hyperius had indeed paid Constantius to cause the accidents and had let Elides' men into his school; even telling him who would be safe to kidnap.

Constantius had reluctantly admitted what he had done and seemed almost contrite; not that Hercules or Iolaus or several of the other students believed a word of his earnest apologies over being threatened and forced into helping them by both Hyperius and Elides. He admitted to tampering with the chemistry lab and to poisoning Hercules; although he earnestly claimed that Hyperius had given him the poison and he hadn't realised how dangerous it was.

Cheiron had removed him from the school, returning his course fees and sending him home to his father in disgrace; broken jaw and all. Despite everything, Cheiron considered that he was too young to be held responsible for being a greedy, arrogant fool and letting himself be manipulated into taking actions that deep down he knew were wrong. The scroll being sent by separate messenger to his father glossed over the details but pointedly suggested that what he really needed was military tutors and an army education and was out of place at the Academy.

Kaltron had been killed during the fighting, but Elides and the other surviving slavers were being taken to Athens where they were to be either executed or sold into slavery themselves.

Hercules sighed, stretching lazily and crossing his legs at the ankles. Things had turned out better than he expected. He had always had a low opinion of slavery in general and slavers in particular so he knew he shouldn’t feel sorry for Elides and his men, but still; slavery or execution wasn't of a choice even it had been theirs to choose.

"I know what you're thinking," Iolaus growled, prodding him in the ribs. "Leave it, Herc. They didn't have to turn slavers."

"Even so…"

"They'd have sold Pegasus and me into slavery and never thought twice," Iolaus argued with a hint of uncertainty that told Hercules he wasn't happy with the end for the slavers either. "It's Hyperius we should be thinking about. End of season we should go up to Macedonia and look for him."

"You've got to be kidding! We’d never find him!"

"We could take Conanius."

"We don’t even know that's where he went," Hercules pointed out. "North covers an awful lot of territory."

"Even so," Iolaus frowned. "We could go beat up Constantius then."

"Hey, give him a break!"

"That was the general idea," Iolaus grumbled. "He poisoned you. He could have killed you!"

"He didn't know that. And he did admit he fouled up the chemicals for your Greek Fire experiment," Hercules reminded him reasonably.

"Yeah, so? Your point being? Oblius is still making me take extra chemistry."

"Well, that's because you've got it wrong two other times." Hercules pointed out then paused and looked up warily as a shadow fell across them, a moment later a familiar slender figure bounded down the steps and plopped down between them.

"Hi, guys!" Pegasus chirped brightly as they both stared at him in awe. "Got any apples left?"

"Uh yeah…" Iolaus held out the one he had been saving for later and watched Pegasus grab it with glee and chomp into it with relish.

"Miss me?" he asked brightly.

"Uh yeah," Iolaus said again, still amazed. "You're human?"

"Uh huh," Pegasus looked from one to the other of them, drooping. "You’re not pleased to see me?"

"You have no idea how glad," Iolaus grinned, brightening up as he realised he wasn't imagining things. Pegasus really was back. "You are here to stay, aren't you?"

"Uh huh," Pegasus nodded, shoving his hair out of his eyes with a mutter about his forelock needing trimming before he tripped over it.

"Things were starting to get dull without you," Iolaus said happily.

Hercules laughed and flung an arm around Pegasus. "Sure, we're pleased. And stunned. We thought you were stuck in your other form."

"Oh that. Hermes found the Stone and Artemis decided that I was doing so well at being human that she'd give me another chance." Pegasus paused, glanced skywards and added with a sheepish grin, "Actually I begged. It's fun here!" He looked at Iolaus. "Hermes helped too. He said that because I was willing to give up being human to help you, because I did it without thinking that proved I was learning. So he helped talk Artemis into letting me come back. Isn't it cool?"

"Way cool," Iolaus agreed with an impish grin and a sly look at Hercules. "Think of all the fun we can have now, Herc. Hey, does Cheiron know you’re here?"

Pegasus nodded brightly, briskly crunching his apple core. "I went to see him as soon as I landed," he pouted. "He said that since I'm here I have to fix the stable doors."

"Centaurs tend to be practical," Hercules observed.

"Landed?" Iolaus asked however.

Pegasus smirked and waggled his eyebrows at them. "Well, I wasn't going to tell them I can change shape on my own."

"What did Cheiron say when you said you were back?" Hercules asked curiously.

"He seemed quite honoured to have me," Pegasus answered.

"Honoured?" Hercules repeated cautiously.

"Uh huh. He said 'what did I ever do to deserve this!?'" Pegasus said happily. "Isn't that nice of him?"

"Uh, yeah…" Hercules leaned forward and met Iolaus' blue eyes. Sure enough, his diminutive friend had a distantly wicked smirk on his face as he gazed off into the distance, merrily contemplating mayhem.

"Chaos here we come," Hercules murmured, feeling a grin of anticipation start to spread over his own face. Life at the Academy was about to get exciting. It sure didn't stand a chance of being dull with both Pegasus and Iolaus around!

oooOooo