The inn at Kivotos had seen better days, but the road out front was no longer the main trading route in this province of Greece. The local farmers never seemed to notice its slow decay and the increasing layers of dust on the corner cobwebs, but Hercules was growing tired of his days of inactivity and the close, damp quarters did not improve his mood. Would this rain never stop? A week of almost constant downpours had made the roads impassable. All trade, such as it was, had ceased and travelers fortunate enough to have reached shelter stayed where they were. The inn was crowded, full of ill-tempered men with days of nothing but drinking and arguing behind them. A mood as foul as the weather threatened to envelope Hercules. Even Iolaus had been quieter than usual. The locals hadn't been impressed with his tales of battles fought and monsters destroyed and after a while he had settled into an unaccustomed gloom. If it would only quit raining, Hercules told himself, his sense of foreboding would disappear.
Hercules could not remember exactly when this feeling of dread had settled across his shoulders. He preferred worrying about known things, things visible and practical. That the future held a possible loss of friend or family so great that he could anticipate the awful event made him uneasy. Perhaps I should go to Corinth, he thought. I haven't visited my family since the wedding. Hera had hated Alcmene enough to send a sea monster to ruin the ceremony. She would still be plotting against his family - cruel, jealous witch that she was.
In the instant that he thought of Alcmene and Jason, he was decided. Rain or no rain, he was traveling to see his mother and her new husband tomorrow morning. If he could see for himself that all was well with them, he could perhaps relax. Hercules quickly stood, shook off his gloom, and began searching the low-ceilinged smoky room for Iolaus. The trouble with his short friend, Hercules smiled to himself, was he disappeared in a crowded room such as this. Ordinarily, Iolaus could be found in the center of a group of rapt listeners, retelling one of their many adventures. But tonight, Iolaus was no longer around. It's not like Iolaus to leave early, Hercules thought sourly, and he could have saved me the trouble of trying to find him.
Iolaus was asleep by the time Hercules had made his way through the gloomy darkness of the inn to their small rooms. His candle sputtered and finally died as a draft of wind blew through the chinks in the walls. Great, just great, thought Hercules. I'll pack in the morning; Iolaus and I can be off at first light. Only the comforting thought of seeing his family lightened his mood as he settled into the damp sheets to try to sleep.
In the morning, a stiff wind and a thin bit of sun threatened to end the days of rain. However, Iolaus had not agreed to his plan to leave and travel to Corinth. Hercules had been trying to argue his friend into the journey since daybreak. But Iolaus seemed set on staying where he was. "Why aren't you coming with me?" Hercules asked. "You know they will be happy to see you too. My mother always cooks for you. Mother and Jason will be disappointed if I don't bring you along."
Iolaus frowned and shook his head. "Maybe that's it," he said. "Maybe I don't want to be brought along - like a, a, a parcel or some cargo," he finished lamely. "They aren't my family-she's your mother and I know she always makes me welcome but for once I don't have to tag along."
Hercules began stuffing belongings into his bag, becoming angrier with every moment. "You are just being stubborn. What could you possibly want to stay around here for? What will you do while I am gone?"
Iolaus opened his mouth, then closed it again. He had no real answer and the realization that he had no plans that did not involve Hercules made him even angrier. "Hunting, I'll probably go hunting. Maybe go down to the coast and get in some fishing. I don't know."
Hercules glared at Iolaus but his friend seemed lost in morbid thought. "You would make a lousy traveling companion anyway." Hercules muttered. Iolaus didn't answer but began packing his own things and made ready to go. "See you in a few days, Hercules." It did not occur to Hercules until he was several leagues down the road to Corinth that they had not decided where to meet or when. The uneasy feeling returned, stronger than before.
"Well, self, what are we going to do?" Iolaus was trying to lighten his mood and had not been very successful. At least the weather had cleared; the roads would be dry soon and he could travel faster. But travel where? Never one to ponder too long, Iolaus decided on fishing at the point near Pyrinth. He headed east, away from Kivotos, away from Corinth, away from help. A shadow came and went over the sun and the air suddenly cooled.
Iolaus turned as if someone had come up behind him on the road, but the path behind was empty. The only sound he now heard was the slushing mud as it sucked at his boots. But he had heard something - years of fighting, of being on guard had sharpened his senses. And right now, he was under threat, but from what? He stopped breathing, intently listening, but he was alone with only the wind's rush. After several moments, he resumed walking down the muddy track. But he knew now that he was being followed by an expert - someone who could keep him in view, yet remain invisible behind him. Iolaus shrugged his sword's hilt closer to his hand. Maybe I should have gone to Corinth, he grimly advised himself. If it is only the local bandits, he could probably handle several of them by himself, he thought, but somehow he knew he was in more trouble than he wanted.
Sometimes, you get just what you wish for, Iolaus thought. Hercules ready to fight at his back would be comforting right now. Iolaus sighed as the newly familiar feeling of despair swept over him. Back at Kivotos, he had tried to explain to Herc but the words had sounded small and lost. He had been overwhelmed with this cold emptiness inside. They had fought so many battles, traveled so many miles, and yet he knew that he was as alone as the day Enya died. Iolaus had lost count of the villages, the willing women since then; sometimes recalling the number of years he had spent traveling since his wife had died surprised him.
Pausing as if needing to rebalance his pack, Iolaus looked out the corner of his eye but only the surrounding hills appeared around him. The occasional sound of a dislodged rock told him he was still being followed, probably by at least one horse and rider. Why don't they show themselves? Why don't they attack? Iolaus clinched his jaw against the need to hurl a challenge to fight. Unfortunately, the coastland he was traveling through was barren and rocky. Long ridges swept down to the coast; few trees could find a foothold and grow against the constant wind off the ocean. No place to hide, no place to plan a surprise - as long as the unseen tracker remained above the ridgeline he was invisible. Iolaus decided to keep walking towards Pyrinth. The trouble could just come to him.
Slowly, as quietly as possible, the heavily armed rider moved just below the other side of the ridge line. Carefully pausing to judge when the wind was at its fiercest, the rider picked these times to peer from behind the rock ledges. A slow evil grin came to the warrior's face. Easy when you think about it- the man below has no idea how many are following; he has no idea when or even if I will charge down the hill and end his life. I could keep him nervous and fearful of attack until he wears himself out. But then he wouldn't be much good to me.
Although relishing the game of cat and mouse, the rider had other problems besides mentally torturing Iolaus, as appealing as that was. No matter how skilled, one warrior would not be sufficient for this rescue mission. The more, the merrier and then no chance of success. The innkeeper at Kivotos had provided only a sullen guess at where Hercules might be heading, but had overheard Iolaus was planning to head east, perhaps towards Pyrinth. The warrior would have preferred the assistance of both of them, but time was short and this one would have to do. Still, the warrior hesitated, trying to decide whether to ride after Hercules or confront the certain trouble that lay ahead. Grimly, the rider mounted and headed down the rocky slope to the road.
Below, Iolaus was instantly alert. His trackers were moving into position, charging from above and ahead, judging by the sound of the horses' hooves. The full morning sun dazzled his eyes; he still could not see his foes. This was not going to take long - he hoped that he would have a few good moments of fighting before they killed him.
A dark blur of motion to his left and he was pulling his sword, arching it down by instinct against the throat of the person rushing towards him. As the blade moved against the veins in the neck, he froze, eyes widening in surprise and incomprehension.
"Hello, Iolaus." Xena smiled as Iolaus held the blade in position. "Nice to see you again."
Iolaus shook with pent-up battle fury. His hands trembled as he held his sword to Xena's throat. Thank the gods he had held back from a killing stroke. Xena slowly smiled and lifted her empty hands. "You can put your sword away now-you can see I am unarmed." But Iolaus held the blade steady while he tried to make sense of her sudden appearance.
"I was being tracked," he stammered. "Someone was following me-I thought bandits were attacking. Where did you come from?" Iolaus quickly glanced around but they were alone on the road.
"I'm your bandit." Xena replied. "I have been following you since Kivotos. Must get in more practice. You should have never picked up that I was tracking you. If I promise not to kill you, will you move that sword away from my throat?"
Her mocking words finally convinced Iolaus that he was in no danger. He lowered his blade and quickly glanced at her neck beneath. Returning his sword to its sheath, Iolaus picked up his dropped pack and turned to face Xena. While his face was smiling, his eyes were cold and unknowable. "That was a pretty stupid trick. I could have killed you."
"Perhaps," she replied in her slow way. "I wouldn't have let that happen. I need your help, Iolaus. You and Hercules, but he doesn't seem to be around." she trailed off uncertainly as Iolaus' face grew hard. This was not going well - she needed Iolaus on her side. She remembered their first meeting - how easily he had been persuaded to join her army and later try to kill his friend. But the sexual wiles she had used on him then would not work now. She knew that Iolaus still struggled with the unchangeable fact that his greatest betrayal had been towards his best friend. All the frosts of winter were in his eyes as he shrugged and turned away. "Hercules is well on his way to Corinth by now. You should be able to catch up to him by tomorrow."
Uncertain how to convince him of the urgency of her mission, she started again to explain why she had sought them out. She put her hands out to stop his moving past her but he avoided her touch and walked away. "I don't have time, Iolaus. The children will die if you won't help me."
After she called his name, Iolaus reluctantly turned and saw only a pleading woman who held out her hands to him. Why now, why her? He turned back to continue his trip alone. I don't need another adventure, he rationalized. But she had mentioned children....in wars and raids, it was always the children who suffered most. Iolaus shook his head and with almost a hint of his old self returned to her side. "All right, you knew that would make all the difference. How can I help?"
Xena whistled up Argo and made camp. They shared a meager meal scrounged from the food in their packs, but as she told her tale, Iolaus wished even that little bit of food was not in his stomach. A new god, foreign to this land, was worshipped in the city of Sikion. At first, only unbelievable rumors about heathen ways and abominations had circulated. In a land of many gods, though, what was one more? The priests were jealous of each other's prestige and influence; spreading rumors to keep their own worshippers in line was an old ruse. But then the children began disappearing, first from Sikion, then from the surrounding villages. When the tale of lost children reached Xena, she immediately began traveling towards Sikion, picking up information from whomever had heard the stories. As she neared the city, her suspicion grew that the children were not acolytes being tutored in the new religion, but unwilling sacrifices to a blood thirsty god. Slipping into Sikion, she visited the temple and found it was more a fortress than a place of worship-no open doors led to an altar. Entrance was only for priests and their guards, more guards than even Hera's wealthiest temples needed. Once the children entered, they were never seen outside the temple walls again.
"That is when I decided to find Hercules and... and you." she added too quickly. At the next dark of the moon, so the story went, the children would be killed. "The loss of their innocent blood strenghtens the lifeforce of the new god. I cannot let that happen, but the temple is too well guarded. I need your help." Xena glanced over at Iolaus. Maybe it was a trick of the morning sun but he seemed paler than usual, older somehow than she remembered. He had not said a word during the minutes that she had been talking of Sikion and now she waited for him to either agree to her plan or laugh in her face.
Iolaus simply stood and offered a hand to Xena. "Let's go. Sikion's two day's travel back the other way. If we need to rescue them before the dark of the moon, we will need to start now." His voice was steady, all the earlier anger was gone. But, Xena wondered, where was his battle-ready optimism? The man before her seemed only resigned to the inevitable fight that lay ahead. As she picked up Argo's reins to lead the mare, another thought came to her. Why is he alone? Where is Hercules?
Mile after slow mile, they had walked towards Sikion. He only spoke to ask details of the temple's layout, number of guards, what weapons they carried. Now, only awkward silence lay between them. Even Gabrielle's endless chatter would have been better than this, Xena considered.
"By the way, where is Gabrielle? I thought she was always with you." Iolaus was on the other side of Argo and he could not see Xena's surprised look. When did he become a mind reader? She bit her tongue to avoid asking the same about Hercules. Sooner or later, she hoped Iolaus would thaw and be more like the man she had seduced so many months ago. If I could force thoughts into that stubborn head, I would tell you that I have changed, that I am sorry, that I would ask your forgiveness. But no, better just to worry about the fight to come.
"We were close to Poteidia so Gabrielle went to her village for the harvest festival. She talked constantly about you after Hercules and I freed Prometheus." No, she thought, that would only remind him that he had been helpless and dying instead of fighting Hera's warriors. But he only nodded and kept walking.
Something to stir him up, get him talking, anything besides this grim and silent trudge. She succeeded all too well. "Gabrielle really seemed infatuated with you. Talked about you for days," Xena teased. "She said you kissed her. Aren't you a little, shall we say, experienced for her?"
Iolaus had known he would regret that kiss, although at the time all he had wanted was to thank Gabrielle for saving him. If he had been alone in that dank cave with the life draining out of him.....But Xena's accusation stung. He started towards her as all the rage that he had been holding inside since his betrayal of Hercules came rushing in. Suddenly, he was furious. His hands ached with the need to hurt her, to destroy the cause of so much pain. For a moment, Xena thought he might actually attack her. She slowly moved her hand closer to her sword.
With a great effort, Iolaus calmed down enough to speak. Raggedly he began, getting more deadly intense as the words finally came. "It was a friendly kiss, nothing more. She's very innocent, Xena, unlike some people I know. She wouldn't use people for her own ends. She wouldn't make a person believe that she loved only him, then fall in love with his friend. She isn't you, Xena."
Long moments passed as the two faced off. But Xena had learned regret, a feeling she had long avoided. Of all the things in her past, what she had done to Iolaus....She prayed to whichever god was listening that Iolaus might believe her words. "You're right, Iolaus. She isn't at all like me. But I am no longer the Xena that you remember. I have been trying so hard to make amends. The villages that I pillaged, the men I killed. I can pay back for some of that misery. But how can I ask you to forget what I did to you? How can I ask for forgiveness?"
Iolaus' shoulders sagged as the rage left him. He stood, slightly swaying, feeling suddenly nauseous. This is not good, Iolaus, he thought to himself. Maybe I should sit down before I fall down. Xena anxiously watched as he found a nearby boulder and propped against it. She hurriedly wiped her eyes and went over to his side. "Are you all right, Iolaus? You look a little green."
"I feel a little green," he murmured, but the worst was over. His breathing steadied and he rose to his feet. Uncertainly he began to explain, "I wouldn't have hurt you, Xena, no matter how angry I ..." She cut him off. "I wouldn't have let you." She slowly smiled, one eyebrow arching above her still worried eyes. Was it really over - one less piece of her past to haunt her? She realized that she had been holding her breath.
"Let's hope we never find out." Iolaus wiped his brow. She noticed that his smile had finally reached his eyes. "We should reach Sikion late tomorrow. I hope your many skills include babysitting."
Xena had not exaggerated the difficulty of gaining entrance to the temple. While only two guards were stationed outside its massive doors, those were barred and locked from the inside. The only other hole in the walls was a small window high above the street. With the late autumn sun setting behind the city walls, deep shadows made the temple seem even more forbidding. Iolaus did a slow ten count to allow Xena time to scale the building on the other side of the alley. Xena stretched her borrowed ladder across to the window. Now, Iolaus now, she thought. Make some noise.
Iolaus, reeking of the local ale, staggered towards the first guard and caught his arm. "Ho, guard-I've lost my horse. Have you seen my horse?" Annoyed at his noisy persistence, the second guard walked over to kick him out of the way. Suddenly, Iolaus straightened, slamming fists into both noses, then banging heads together. The guards slumped to the ground. Iolaus moved to the door. Come on, come on, Xena. I'm just a little suspicious looking out here.
Long moments passed before Iolaus heard the bar sliding out of the iron bracket. "Where now?" he asked as they tried to imagine where the children might be imprisoned. "Left, right?" "Down," Xena answered, "dungeons are always down." "Don't I know it," Iolaus chuckled. Iolaus watched as Xena searched for a stairway. "Here, over here" she whispered. Iolaus followed her down the stone staircase, around one turn, then another. Far away, water dripped through the stone and cobwebs draped from the ceiling.
In the end, the sound of crying children led them to the cell door. Again, only two guards stood outside. Iolaus dropped one with a blow to the head; Xena cold cocked the other and lifted his keys. "Iolaus?" He turned to watch her as she tried the lock. "This is too easy, you know." He was about to agree as six guards armed with pikes rushed into the passageway. Iolaus gestured to his left as Xena turned right, slowly swinging her sword from side to side. "It's just a woman." one guard muttered, the last mistake he would ever make. His friends soon joined him on the stone floor.
Xena handed Iolaus her sword. "Help me with these bodies. These children have been through enough; they don't need to see this gore." With the passageway cleared, Xena opened the door and carefully stepped inside. A dozen children looked up at her. Some of the older boys tried to comfort the younger ones. The smallest girl was barely able to walk. Xena put on her brightest smile. "My friend and I are here to take you all home but we must be very quiet or the bad men will come back. Follow me." She scooped the youngest child up and led them out the door. Iolaus stayed in the shadows until they had passed him and started up the stairs. As silently as possible, they climbed the stairs and went through the temple doors.
"Go, go." Iolaus gestured to Xena. "I can do this alone." Several bottles of the cheap ale that Iolaus was wearing had been hidden behind a pile of straw. After piling a large stack inside the doors, Iolaus soaked the straw with the rest of the ale. One strike of his flint and the straw began heavily smoking. Iolaus slammed the doors and slid the bars through the outside handles. Iolaus, Xena, and the children would be well away before the stones cooled enough for the townspeople to break down the doors and find that there had been no survivors.
Iolaus leaned against the wall of the farmhouse. The mother's hysterical cries of joy had driven him outside. Suddenly, he ached with the need for a bath, warm food, a real bed. Xena stepped through the door and slowly looked him up and down. "You still stink of ale and you're mostly black with soot." She picked straw out of his hair. "I think I need to clean you up. Any decent inns around here?"
"Corinth, you are going to Corinth." he announced. "Hercules is there visiting his family." Xena looked at him appraisingly. "And where are you headed, if not to Corinth with me? There are bandits about-I might need protecting." Iolaus picked up his sword and pack, patted Argo's nose and walked away from where Xena was standing. Over his shoulder he called back, "The gods help any bandit who tangles with you. Tell Gabrielle hello."
But Xena had other plans for him and when Iolaus came to, he knew only two things-he was upside down and his head throbbed unmercifully. After a while longer, he realized he was strung across Argo's saddle and Xena was leading them both to Corinth. "Good, you are finally awake. Maybe that head isn't as hard as I believed."
Iolaus struggled but Xena had him firmly tied. Finally, his head bursting with pain, he pleaded with her to cut him loose. "I will undo you if you will agree to one thing." He glared at her but realized he had no say in this deal. "What do you want? Just untie me," and he again tugged at the ropes. One swift cut and Iolaus slid to the ground. Leaning against Argo, he waited until the whirling in his ears had slowed. "You know what I want," Xena demanded, "an answer. Why is Hercules in Corinth and you are in the middle of nowhere heading the other direction? What has gotten into you two?"
"It's not Herc's problem. It's me. I'm tired of having nothing to show for all my adventures. I don't mean money, but somewhere that is mine. Someone I can go home to. I'm always odd man out, Xena." He stopped and swallowed hard. "After all this time, I miss my wife. I miss my son."
"I understand more than you will ever know about your family." Thinking of her son brought her close to tears. "Iolaus, today you gave the future to children who had none. You and Hercules do so much good together. The past is gone and can't be changed, but if you go off by yourself, then think of all the other children who might lose their chance at life. Hercules needs you. Even I need your help....sometimes."
Maybe he agreed because his head was hurting so and he wanted her to be quiet. Maybe a family, even someone else's, was what he needed most. Maybe she was simply right.
Jason and Alcmene were the first to spot them slowly walking up to the house. Alcmene grimaced at Iolaus' ragged appearance, then hugged him anyway. She shot her son a questioning look as Xena appeared but knew the time for explanations would come later. Soon she was ordering servants to prepare bath water, food, and extra rooms.
Later that night as they were enjoying the last of the wine, Alcmene leaned over Jason to whisper to Iolaus. "Is this where I am supposed to tell my son what a sweet, young woman he has brought home?" The trio collapsed in helpless laughter. Hercules shrugged at Xena. "What can I do? They're all family."
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