The Wings of Pegasus

Pronunciation guide to new characters:
Hyalia - Hi-ah-lee-ah
Diomedes - Dye-oh-meed-ees
Alcippe - Ahl-sip-aye
Calibos - Kal-ee-bohs
Melanthe - Mel-an-thuh

There was only one guard on the back gate and he was quickly silenced.

"I don't believe I'm doing this," muttered the larger of the two menas he carried the guard into the gate house and placed him gently on the table.

"I don't believe you're doing this, either," grumbled the shorter man. Moonlight peeked through the clouds, reflecting pale grey in his blond hair. He looked behind him at the palace and sighed softly. The building was awash with torchlight and music as everyone began celebrating the royal wedding. Today had been the ceremony. By rights, the bride and groom should be having their own celebration while the well-wishers partied, but tonight, the groom had told his bride to have a good night while he and the best man went to bed. Luckily, Princess Dirce had been able to call on an old friend to ease her breaking heart. . . He signaled to the third man waiting in the shadows. The much older man regally led out a small bay mare, already bridled and saddled. He patted her sleek neck before passing the reins to the blond man and fading back into the shadows.

"I never should have brought you with me," the first complained as they led the horse far enough from the gate posts so its hoofbeats wouldn't be overheard.

"For your information, Hercules, Dirce invited me," the second retorted.

"Iolaus," the son of Zeus paused, one hand on the horse's bridle. "It wasn't as if she had a choice. Princesses don't choose who they marry."

"Lycus doesn't even like women!" Iolaus scowled.

"I know." said Hercules wryly as Iolaus swung into the saddle.

"Huh?" He looked down. "Dirce told me. How'd you find out?"

His friend just stared back at him, his blue eyes level. Iolaus waited. He started to grin. It was customary for the groom's attendants to valet for him in the royal bath before the pre-nuptial festivities. Had Lycus made a pass at Hercules? He waited. Oh, yes, Herc was starting to blush. It wouldn't be the first time, but Hercules was never comfortable with the situation.

"Never mind how," Hercules said at last, his face flaming. Iolaus started to chuckle as Hercules' embarrassed glare told him it would be quite a while before he heard all the details of /that/ story!

"Don't worry about me!" Iolaus sent the mare down the road at a brisk trot.

"Right," said Hercules out loud. "Right," he added softly to himself, acknowledging the lie as he shook his head. He walked back to the gate. To his surprise, KingDadaelus was waiting for him.

"He should have a good start by morning," the King said unsteadily. "I doubt Lycus would care, but I can't have people talk." He sighed and looked at the palace."If we didn't need the kingdoms united to buffer Sparta..." He shook his head.

"I know," Hercules rested a hand on the King's shoulder.

"Well, if the Fates are kind, I'll still put a grandson on the throne."

Hercules shook his head. "I know the Fates. They aren't kind, but they have a sense of humor and this sort of situation they find hilarious." He shuddered. Queen Niobe of Arcadia had recently given birth to a son. The Fates would think it uproarious to give Dirce a daughter and then engineer their meeting. . . He made a mental note to seek out the temple of Themis and see if he could persuade his great-aunt to have a word with her daughters.

It was daylight, three days later as Hercules stood by the great reflecting pool in back of the Corinthian palace. He looked out over the gardens and shook his head, sighing. The Fates and their whimsies had seen fit to keep him cooped here, waiting for Iphicles' son to be born when he should be out searching for his errant friend.

"Don't worry," scolded his mother gently. He turned and looked at her. Slim, elegant, with light hair that had turned from rich gold to the ashes of blonde, there was an excited sparkle in her eyes that made Alcmene look more beautiful than ever. Her second marriage was more than agreeing with her.

"Hmpf," snorted her second husband, limping a little as he joined them. "Who's worried?" He was a iron-haired campaigner who rolled a little as he walked, the gait of a sailor. He had been a sailor - a sailor who had voyaged on the greatest adventure the world had known until the fall of Troy. Jason, former leader of the Argonauts kissed his wife. "It's onlymy first grandchild." A shadow touched his face. "/Step/ - grandchild. Iphicles is in more of apother than I am."

"Where is he?" Hercules asked, smiling. At this moment he envied his half-brother more than his ten months older sibling had ever envied him. He remembered how it felt waiting for the first child. . . His smile faded.

Alcmene had smile enough to restore his own. "He's pacing in the throne room."

"Told him to go walk the walls," Jason grumped. "That way he won't drive the servants crazy. What's that?" One hand went to his sword as he pointed into the sky. Hercules turned.

It was a flash of white, bright as a lightning bolt. It grew into adefinite shape. A bird? No - a horse - a stallion as white as seafoam with huge sweeping wings. Two figures clung to its back. With a grace that a swan would be only a pale imitation of , the winged stallion skimmed the reflecting pond, touching it to sun-winking ripples with its wingtips before landing lightly on the pavement before the astonished group of people. Pegasus tilted his head back and whinnied like a trumpet blast.

Laughing, Iolaus slid off the stallion's back and handed down a young girl. She clung to his side in sudden shyness - moonlight blonde hair, emerald eyes, wearing a green tunic, skirt and sandals in contrast to Iolaus' leathers, which looked like they'd been through a battle. He was sporting a tremendous black eye like he'd been through a battle too.

"Mother! Jason!" Iphicles, slimmer and darker in coloring than his half-brother, came running from inside. "Mother! Jason! It's a - !" He stopped dead and stared atPegasus. His mouth opened, then closed and he whirled on Hercules.

"You did it again!" he accused. "You upstaged me again!"

"I did not!" Hercules protested. He pointed at Iolaus. "He did!"

"Hey," said Iolaus. "Can't I have a dramatic entrance for a change?"

"Stop it all of you!" Alcmene pushed her way into the middle. "Well? What is it?"

"What's what?" asked Iphicles. "Oh! It's a boy! Rena had a boy!"

"Wonderful!" cried Alcmene.

"Congratulations!" said Iolaus. Jason came over to offer his congratulations and the three went into the house.

Hercules took Iolaus by the shoulder before he could follow. "Wouldyou like to explain all this?"

"Oh, sure! It's a great story." Iolaus said. "This is Hyalia by the way. She's Diomedes' daughter. Diomedes from the Argo."

"Diomedes? The one with the horses? But he lives all the way in..."

"Better sit down," Pegasus advised in a low voice that seemed to come from his chest rather than his mouth. He shook his head and fluffed his feathers. "It's a bitcomplicated. Involves the relatives."

"Relatives?" Hercules eyebrows rose. "Our relatives?"

"Yes," Pegasus nodded.

Hercules sat down. "I'm listening."

"Well," began Iolaus. "I left Dadaelus' palace and started down the road..."

Iolaus slowed the mare as he reached the wooded area. The trees threw heavy shadows across the road and he didn't want her to stumble. What a place for an ambush, he thought.

"EE-ONK!" the raucous cry shattered the silence. "EE-ONK-ONK-ONK!"

"Oh, hush up, you silly beast!" exclaimed a woman. Iolaus swung down from the mare and led her forward slowly. Just around the corner, an old woman in a grey robe was attempting to move a white donkey, who was sitting in front of the cart it was supposed to be pulling. The old woman huffed indignantly and the donkey flapped its ears.

"Hello, ma'am," said Iolaus politely. "Oh, sorry!" he said quickly as she started.

"Good heavens, young man," she leaned on a walking stick as she camearound to look at him. "Isn't it awfully late for you to be out?"

"I could say the same thing, Granny," Iolaus grinned. "Old fellow won't move?"

"Stubborn and ridiculous," she sputtered. "I should sell him for sausages."

The donkey did not look threatened or impressed. Iolaus reached into one of his saddlebags and came out with an apple. He walked over in front of the donkey. The beast put his ears up.

"Here you go," said Iolaus. "Come on." The donkey stretched his head out, sniffing. Iolaus took a step back. "Come and get it." The donkey stood up. "That's it."The donkey took two steps forward. Iolaus let him munch the apple while he helped the old woman toher seat.

Her face held a ghost of beauty still in her high cheekbones and full lips. If anything, her chin was a bit too pointed. Her silver hair was still thick and shiny. She settled her smoke-colored skirts primly around her.

"Where are you going, Granny?" Iolaus asked.

"Over the hill to the Temple of Hestia," she said calmly. "And I'm no one's Granny, young man, I'm a priestess."

"Oh-er-ah, you're a Hestial virgin?" Iolaus could feel himself starting to blush.

"That's right; not the kind that'll give you the fidgets, eh?" she chuckled. "It's been a long time since I had men challenge my vows of chastity. Call me Melanthe."

Iolaus tied his mare to the back of the cart and walked alongside the donkey. A heavy mist quickly rose around them, making it impossible to see anything except thetrail ahead. The night fell silent, except for the occasional hoot of an owl and the sounds the horseand donkey made as they clopped on the hard-packed road. He found himself talking to Melanthe about his life and his travels. Eventually, she deftly wormed out of him the reason he was traveling the road.

"Won't the princess think it rude that you left her wedding?" she asked.

Iolaus sighed. "She's the one who suggested I leave. Before her new husband found out --"

"Found out what?" Melanthe narrowed her eyes. "That you violated his marriage bed?"

"Lycus doesn't like women," Iolaus flared. "He has no intention of making this marriage a real one. She said --" he paused. "She said she had the right to ask for a little happiness on her own wedding day." He shrugged, "I - well, she trusted I wouldn't hurt her, and I won't."

"Ah," Melanthe looked far away. "But he will not object to the son you will give to his name. Another child, another hearthside you cannot ever claim."

"How did you -?" he began, then froze, the hair rising on the back of his neck. He'd seen the priestess of Delphi look just like that when Apollo spoke through her. Her eyes met his, glowing warmly golden - like a well-tended hearth fire.

"Your own hearthside was stolen by Hera when she took Prometheus's torch." He didn't like to think of that. He had Aina had huddled together, trying to keep alive. The warmth of the returned fire had roused him from the stupor he'd fallen into -- but Ania never awakened and their child died unborn.

"You have wandered very far and done many deeds." Even before Hercules lost his own family, Iolaus had been a restless, aching soul. It had hurt him too much to see his friend's happiness - yet that very happiness drew him back too a welcome at their hearth. Ithad never eased the ache for a home and hearth of his own.

"You encountered Hestial virgins before and each time you honored the decision the woman made. You were tempted - what man isn't? But each time you showed only respect to them. You've impressed my lady and she is not easily impressed by mortal men." Her eyes darkened to normal. "Therefore I am to give you the welcome of the hearth when we reach the shrine."

"Hm, thank you," said Iolaus. "I'm not sure just where your shrine is. This fog..."

"We will be getting there soon," said Melanthe placidly.

"Melanthe, I don't think --" Iolaus stopped as he saw a faint glow up ahead. It shaped itself into two torches, burning in front of a small hut. It was made of rough stone with the crumbling mosaic of a fire just over the door. Two young women dressed in grey came out.

"Mother Melanthe!" scolded one with curly hair, moving with a heavy limp. "Where have you been?" She reached up to help Melanthe to the ground, but paused when she saw Iolaus.

"It was Snowy again, wasn't it?" said the second simultaneously. Her hair was straight and a very large, black mole stood out on one cheek. She also paused.

"Yes, it was this sorry old donkey again," Melanthe huffed as Iolauslifted her to the ground. "Thank you, young man. Girls, this is Iolaus, for tonight he has hearth-welcome." She gave Iolaus a stern look. "He will behave himself."

"Of course, I will," Iolaus sputtered. Nevertheless, while the straight-haired priestess saw to the mare and the donkey, the curly-haired vanished behind the curtain into their small dormitory as soon as she served him a plateful of hearth cakes. The other priestess joined her quickly.

The shrine had only two rooms. The outer, where Iolaus spread out his blanket, contained only a couple of benches and a large fire bowl. Melanthe sat next to himon a bench until he finished the cakes.

"Sleep well," she said.

The next morning, Iolaus was surprised to hear birds singing. He sat up and discovered he was a in a forest glade. The mare was grazing nearby. He stood up and looked around. She pointed her ears at him and snorted.

"I agree," said Iolaus. "I don't think we're in Corinth anymore." He stood frowning a moment, trying to figure out just where he was and how he got here.

"Well," he said to the mare, "I know you can't tell me anything."

Having nothing better to do, he tethered the horse and went to look for water. He could hear a stream just over a slight rise. He walked towards the sound - only to stop and quietly slip into the bushes.

The stream widened into a shallow pool on the edge of the glade. There was a small herd of horses there, drinking and grazing while foals played with each other. They were beautiful horses, sleek and compact of body, with arched necks and tails and dish-shaped noses. Except for two or three bays, the rest were every shade of grey from silver to smoke.

Their watcher was playing by herself in a clear circle just below Iolaus. She was a centaur filly, long-legged and fine boned, a very pretty dapple grey with a white-gold mane and tail. "Now I know we're not in Corinth," he said.

The filly was trotting in a circle; the stiff-legged parade step used by the centaur warriors. She stopped, prancing in place. Flinging her arms wide, she jumped straight into the air, kicking her heels as high as they would go at the top of her leap. The dreaded centaur battle-kick. Iolaus had seen men killed by such a kick from bronze-shod hooves. She landed lightly and laughed, swishing her tail with self pride.

"Highest yet!" she said aloud to the mares, who looked at her unimpressed.

Iolaus sighed to himself. Only play, but like little boys sparring with wooden swords, too soon it becomes real. The wind shifted. Iolaus's mare whinnied for the other horses. The lead mare whinnied back.

The filly froze. "Who's there?" she demanded. "Who's up there?"

Iolaus stood up slowly. "It's just me," he said.

"Th-this is Diomedes land," she announced, backing up.

"Can I water my horse?" he asked.

"I-I suppose," she shifted uneasily. Iolaus untied his mare and brought her down to the stream. The filly took care to herd the other mares well back from wherehe was and watched him closely.

"I'm Iolaus," he said. "I've been wandering for quite awhile. Where am I?"

"This is Diomedes land," she repeated. "On the southwest slope of Mt. Helicon."

"Helicon? Helicon!" Iolaus gaped at her. "That's impossible! I'd have had to --" he stopped. She was backing away, closer to the mares. "Oh, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to frighten you. It's just - uh - just hard to explain."

She nodded, and kept moving away, nudging the mares with her flank.

"Hyalia!" called a man's voice. An older man on a slim-necked chestnut cantered up. "What's wrong?"

"Th-there's a man, Papa," she said.

"Papa?" Iolaus blinked. The man dismounted with an unconscious ease. He was as tall as Iolaus, with grey-streaked hair and a thick, black moustache. He wore leather breeches and boots with a loose tunic.

"Who are you?" he demanded gruffly.

"It's been over ten years," Iolaus admitted. "Hello, Diomedes. Do you remember Iolaus?"

"Yes," the man advanced, his eyes twinkling. "Puffed-up little fellow who was always bragging - had the most appalling taste in women."

"Better women than horses," Iolaus retorted. The two men slapped each other on the back, laughing.

"Hyalia," called Diomedes. "This is my old friend from the Argo. Iolaus, this is my daughter Hyalia." He patted the filly's flank. "Run home and tell your mother wehave company." He turned his horse loose to run with the herd."What are you doing in this neck of the woods?"

"Would you believe I haven't the faintest idea?" Iolaus shrugged, unsaddling his mare so she could run as well. "I escorted a Hestial virgin back to her temple, wentto sleep on the floor and woke up here."

"Escorted a Hestial virgin to her temple?" Diomedes scoffed. "And what was she once she got there?"

"Oh, come on, she was old enough to be my grandmother." Iolaus shouldered the saddle. Diomedes took the saddlebags.

"Has that ever stopped you before?" Diomedes clapped him on the back. "Oh, never mind. So, what have you and Hercules been up to? Is it true that Jason marriedAlcmene?"

The two old shipmates shared a long gossip as they crossed the rolling green area to the house. There were two other small groups of horses on the land, mostly greys, all with the same graceful configuration. Iolaus remarked on it.

"Yes, they're beautiful, aren't they?" Diomedes swelled with pride. "It's the stud - he breeds true every time."

He paused in his boasting. There was a line of five horses in frontof the long, rambling house. They all looked like they had been ridden hard.

"I seem to have other guests," he said quietly.

Iolaus frowned with him. There were nets and spears strapped to theback of the saddles, as well as more than one set of long, black arrows. Hunters? he wondered.

A long-legged yellow roan centaur mare came out of the house. "Diomedes, we have guests." Her voice carried a warning.

"So I see, Alcippe," said Diomedes.

The leader came out. He was unusually tall, with a hard face and anair of arrogance. "I am Calibos, the son of the Titan Orion," he announced. "I seek noble game."

"We are honored, my lord," said Diomedes warily as Iolaus set down his tack. "But, I'm afraid I don't understand. There's mostly pot-game in these hills; rabbits, deer, the odd wild pig, nothing of what some consider noble."

Calibos smiled. The expression was charming - unless one looked into his eyes. There was nothing charming in that frost-blue gaze. "Let us go inside and I'll be glad to explain. You, boy, tend our horses." He waved negligently at Iolaus.

"Boy?" Iolaus asked softly. Diomedes started to say something but Iolaus shook his head. "Yes, sir," he exaggerated a bumpkin's accent. "Right away, sir." Dearly as he would have loved to throw the order back in Calibos face and a fist besides, it wouldn't be prudent. Five to three odds - but Diomedes obviously hadn't been spending his time at war, neither had his wife, although he wouldn't want to get in the way of her hooves. There was also Hyalia to consider. Iolaus would not endanger a child. Calibos, had Hercules ever mentioned him? He rummaged through his memory as he tended the horses and stabled them in the barn.

After a while, he remembered. One of those "relations" of Hercules that caused a painful I-wish-I-wasn't expression to cross his friend's face whenever he was mentioned. Calibos was a hunter - but not like his father, Orion. He was trying to prove he was better than his father. Calibos was out to get the biggest trophy, the largest prize and Hades take the cost in lives wasted, both human and animal.

"What would he be after here?" he asked the last horse. It rolled an eye at him. "The only thing around Helicon is --" He dropped the grooming brush, his stomach going cold. "The Hippocrene. The fountain of Pegasus."

He looked back at the house and swallowed hard. Calibos must be after Pegasus, the winged horse. The stallion was said to be the offspring of the sea god Poseidonand the water nymph Medusa. What had Hercules said? "Amphirite is no Hera, but Medusa went and rubbed the business in her face --" The result was that Medusa became the Gorgon and her son, Pegasus.

Iolaus picked up the grooming brush. He finished his business and went to the house.

Calibos and his four henchmen were inside the main room. Alcippe was stepping daintily among them, serving an afternoon meal. Hyalia carried a towel and basinfor the "guests" to clean their hands while Diomedes handled the drinks. Iolaus poked up the fire and waited, watching carefully.

"I am a hunter, even as my father was," Calibos announced. "I seek the finest trophies. I have slain creatures without equal. I have gone to the far north to slay the great-tusked walrus and the whale with the spiral horn. There is a island on the eastern sea where there are elk with antlers that could span this room, I have killed the noblest! To the far south, thereis a spotted cat as fast as Zeus' thunderbolt, a horse that dwells in rivers and great, black coated beaststhat walk upright like men. I have slain them all."

"What did they ever do to you?" Hyalia exclaimed indignantly.

Alcippe silenced her with a gesture. Privately, Iolaus agreed with her. Hunting was fine so long as it was for food. The hunt for the Caledonian boar had been for acreature that attacked a farmer who'd taken his pigs to forage in a beech mast. The Nemian Lion Hercules killed had turned out to have been wounded by a pit-trap and had started hunting the easierprey of goats and goatherd.

"Indeed," said Diomedes gravely. "Those are remarkable deeds," he said with the slight twitch of eyebrow that meant he was lying through his teeth. "Again I say, my lord, we have nothing of the sort around here."

"Ah, but you do. I have watched this farm for two days. I have seen mares and I have seen foals, but no stud. The villagers say the east wind fathers the foals. What stallion studs your mares, Diomedes?" Calibos leaned forward.

"My stud died, my lord," said Diomedes evenly. "Wolves attacked theherd in the spring after the weanings were gelded. I have three mares still nursing that I hope to choose a colt from and raise me a replacement."

"And what of Pegasus?" demanded Calibos.

"Pegasus? Oh, that story," Diomedes laughed weakly. "He hasn't been seen for years. After he pitched off that fellow that killed the Chimera - what was his name? Bellerophon, I think. He took to avoiding people altogether. Oh, there's more than one of us in this area that had him cover a mare, but not for years and years."

"Well, then you won't mind selling me one of those mares you have separated out for breeding. I mean to go to the Hippocrene and see what I find." Calibos leaned forward.

"You're wasting your time, my lord."

"Sell me a mare." The frigid blue eyes sucked all the heat from theroom. One of the henchmen started for the top of his boot, but a second stopped him. Iolaus kept the poker he used on the fire in his hand. Alcippe nudged Hyalia behind her.

"Very well, my lord," said Diomedes. "Although I hate to break up the blood lines. I will sell you a mare ready for breeding."

"Good," Calibos smiled, but his eyes were still cold. Diomedes went outside with him. The deal was quickly made and the five men led a grey mare away with them towards the foothills.

"Diomedes," Iolaus began.

"Yes," said Diomedes quietly. "Before you ask, yes, Pegasus comes down and studs the mares. There's a special path I take to the Hippocrene. I'm going to warn him."

"No," Iolaus shook his head. "Calibos is probably still having the house watched. Tell me where the path is and I'll go after dark."

"Pegasus might not have any truck with you," Diomedes warned as they went back inside. "I wasn't lying when I said he's not over-fond of men."

"Daddy! We can't just let them--!" Hyalia exclaimed indignantly.

"Hush, child," said Alcippe. "Diomedes?"

"Iolaus is going to slip out at dusk and warn him. The hunters are probably watching the house."

"Hmpf! They're snoops as well as selfish swine!" Alcippe cleared the wooden bowls with an angry clatter. "If that's what comes of having an immortal for a father, I'm glad mine had all four hooves on the ground."

"He shied those hooves at my head when I asked about marrying you, as I recall," Diomedes teased.

"Because you were being a perfectly arrogant human."

"And you were being a perfectly stubborn centaur."

Iolaus chuckled at their bantering.

All day he played stable hand, working about the farm with Diomedes.He caught one of Calibos' watchers when the man began snoring in a clump of bushes. As the sun set with ominous blood red patches on thick purple clouds, Iolaus slipped from the back ofthe house. He carried only his knife; this was reconnaissance, not a battle.

Iolaus slid through the brush. There was a large, rough-cleared area before him that marked Calibos' camp. Calibos was walking among the men. They seemed to be constructing a large fishing net. Every so often, the Titan's son would bend down and examine the work. He seemed pleased, but it was so hard to tell.

Iolaus did a fast head count. There were the four men Calibos brought to the house. Two had been waiting at the camp, taking care of the net and one more caring for the picket line of horses. Iolaus frowned. He counted the men again. Then he counted the horses.

"Too many horses," he murmured to himself. "Even with the mare, it's too many horses by three..."

The wind shifted, blowing over his shoulder. It carried the smell of burning wood.

"No," Iolaus whispered. He straightened slowly. "Oh, no..."

He ran back to the farm. He heard the squeals of frightened horses at the fence line before he reached the clear area. He charged out in time to see Diomedes' barn start to flare up. The house was already on fire. With a savage yell, he grabbed the mane of the nearest horse, jumped astride and kicked it to a gallop towards the flames.

Two bodies lay twisted in the front yard. Two more men ran from thebarn. One readied a bow, the other backed up, swinging his torch. Iolaus sent the horse charging at the archer. The arrow skinned the leather vest on his shoulder. The horse stopped and reared as Iolaus jumped from its back, straight for the archer.

The archer fell to the ground with Iolaus on his throat. The torch bearer swung at Iolaus's head. Iolaus flipped backwards at the last second. The flaming branch took the archer full in the face. He screamed as his hair and shirt caught fire. He rolled in the dirt, still screaming.

Iolaus grabbed the wooden shaft of the torch and shoved backwards. The end of the pole punched the bearer in the chest. He staggered, and tripped over one of the two bodies. Iolaus yanked out his knife. He stabbed once. He straightened and saw that thetorch bearer had tripped over Diomedes. An arrow protruded from his friend's chest, but his swordwas in the other's stomach.

"Thanks, old friend," he whispered. He ran to the house.

"Alcippe!" he shouted coming as close as he dared to the burning doorway. "Alcippe! Hyalia!"

"In b-back!" cried Alcippe, coughing.

Iolaus ran around to the back wall. He attacked the rough planks with his knife. He stepped back and kicked as hard as he could. He grabbed a garden stake and pried. One board creaked and snapped free. Hyalia shrieked.

"Stand back!" shouted Alcippe. Bronze-shod hooves thudded on the broken area. Iolaus dove in and pried off another board. Both centaurs were coughing violently. Alcippe's kick lacked force, only splintering a third board. The flames were all through the thatch. The main beams creaked.

"Go!" Alcippe croaked. "Hyalia, go." The filly had to go flat on her belly and try to crawl with her long legs. Iolaus grabbed her around her human waist and pulledon her to try and help. He shifted as she fell on one side and grabbed her forelegs. All he could think of was delivering a foal as he hauled her out of the gap. Like a foal, she staggered, legs splayed widely as she tried to pull herself up. He shoved her aside and reached in.

"Come on!" he yelled to Alcippe. The female centaur's equine body was on its chest, her human half almost flat to the ground, coughing. "Come on!" The roof beams groaned.

"Mama!" cried Hyalia.

"Give me your hand --" Iolaus begged.

"I can't," Alcippe coughed. The roof beams cracked.

"Mama-ah-ah-ah!" Hyalia wailed.

"Take care--" Whatever else she might have said was lost as the beams broke and the hut fell in. Iolaus hurled himself backwards, grabbed Hyalia and crushed her face into his shoulder so she wouldn't see.

"No, no, NO, NO, NO!" Hyalia screamed, beating on his back with her fists. "MAMA! MAMA! MAMA!"

"Shh," was all he could gasp. "Shh. Shh." Inside he was screaming. By the blood of Diomedes, relative of Herc's or not - I'm going to KILL Calibos! The hair rose on the back of his neck with the chill knowledge that someone or something had heard.

The sun was high by the time Iolaus shoveled the last dirt over the graves. The fire had burned throughout the night. Hyalia, her face still streaked with tears,came with a bundle of flowers to place on the cairn between the first two graves. Iolaus threw the shovel aside and went to place an arm around the filly.

"He'll have waited until he was sure they weren't coming back." Iolaus said. "That's bought us some time. I'm going to the Hippocrene."

"I'm going with you," said the filly. Her green eyes had gone as hard as jade.

"No," Iolaus shook his head. "There's seven of them besides Calibos." He slipped the archer's quiver over his head. "One shot and they won't care about Pegasus. I can do it from cover, alone."

"There's a secret way father goes," said Hyalia flatly. "I can guide you."

"No."

"Then I'll go myself," she stamped a hind hoof. "Even if I don't have shoes, I can kick heads. I have a right!"

Iolaus sighed inwardly. "You have a right," he agreed. "I just wish it had never happened."

Her lower lip quivered and she suddenly looked very young. "I keep hoping it's a bad dream and I'll wake up," she confessed in a small voice. Iolaus put his arms around her again.

"All right, show me this path." He patted her flank, "but when we see them, you do exactly as I say. Got that?"

"Yes, sir," she straightened her shoulders. She looked ages older than the carefree, tail-whisking filly of yesterday morning practicing herjumps and her prancing.

The grey mare nibbled at the grass on the verge of the bubbling spring. A far off whinny brought her head up and she called an answer. A speck of white detached itself from a cloud and swooped down. Pegasus landed in a flutter of huge wings. He snorted andarched his neck. The mare shook her head and whickered. Flirting his tail, the stallion pranced in front of her, coming closer until their noses touched. They snorted and nuzzled. The mare turned her hindquarters to the stallion.

"Now!" shouted Calibos. The hunters leaped from concealment. The mare squealed and bucked in surprise. Pegasus sprang backwards, rearing and screaming challenge. The men threw their nets. One came too close and was flung aside by a mighty wing, breaking his neck as he landed. Another, trying to entangle the stallion in the nets, came too close to the panicked mare and was savagely kicked. The stallion bucked, but the nets tripped him. He fellon his side with an angry whinny. Calibos drew his sword.

"I am the son of Orion," he announced. "I claim the greatest trophyof all - the wings of Pegasus." He raised his sword for a killing blow. An arrow sprouted in his wrist. He dropped his blade with a cry of pain. "Who dares -?" he shouted.

The hunter next to him dropped with an arrow in his chest. The remaining four henchmen scattered for cover. Pegasus kicked and regained his feet.

"Hold him!" Calibos screamed, grabbing his sword in his other hand. Another huntsman fell from an arrow.

"Hold 'im yerself!" shouted one of the remaining three as they bolted for cover.

"Show yourself! Show yourself, you coward!" Calibos shouted.

"You burned an honest man's home to the ground for a hunting trophy and you have the nerve to call me a coward?" asked Iolaus quietly as he came out of hiding.

"You stupid peasant," Calibos raged. "I am the son of a Titan."

"You bleed like a mortal," Iolaus retorted. He raised his bow. "I think you'll die like one."

Calibos froze. "You'll pay for this," he promised.

"I doubt it," Iolaus suddenly grinned, looking behind Calibos's shoulder. Calibos didn't turn until he heard the whinny. A slim, dappled centaur filly yanked away thelast net. Pegasus beat the air with his huge wings. He leaped into the air and vanished from sight.

"No!" Calibos' handsome face went beet red. "No! I had him!"

"And you'll never take him again!" jeered the filly. She trotted over to the trembling mare.

Calibos whirled back on Iolaus, but the smaller man was putting his arrow back in the quiver with a smirk.

"No," he said. "You're not worth the trouble." He walked passed the outraged demi-mortal to the filly and the mare. "Come on," he said. "Let's get out of here."

Calibos's face went purple. He reached down and forced the arrow through his wrist. He broke the head off and yanked out the shaft. Once the arrow was removed,the wound stopped bleeding.

With a roar, he charged them. The mare reared in surprise. Iolaus barely got Diomedes' sword out in time to block a savage blow that would have bisected him. Sword clanged on sword as the two circled. Hyalia shooed the mare towards home. She paced nervously around the fighters.

Suddenly, one of the henchmen that had fled came back through the brush. He was in back of Iolaus, to her side. Hyalia thought about calling a warning, but moved instead. She turned and reared up, striking with her hooves at his head. The man backed away andshe followed him with little hops - once, twice, three times. He stumbled over a root and felldown. Hyalia whirled and kicked him with her hind legs.

She felt something crack as her hooves hit and he made an ugly gurgling sound.

She stumbled forward, suddenly feeling as if she was going to be sick. Her hind tendons ached from the strain of hopping.

Calibos looked desperate. He'd never had anyone stand up to him before. Iolaus was sweating, looking for an opening. Calibos made a sudden lunge. Instead of countering, Iolaus sidestepped, grabbed Calibos's sword arm and flipped him head over heels.Calibos landed heavily on his back and didn't get up.

Iolaus looked around. Hyalia was fidgeting on the sidelines. Something moved in the brush behind her.

"Hyalia!" he yelled. Hyalia looked, gasped - and jumped straight into the air, lashing out in the battle kick. She caught her attacker full in the throat. Off-balance, she landed wrong. Iolaus ran towards her as he heard bone snap. She shrieked in pain. He grabbed herarms, pulling her away from her attacker, who was writhing on the ground, clawing spasmodically at his throat. Hyalia staggered on three legs.

"H-hurts!" she squealed. "Oh, it hurts!"

"It's all right," Iolaus tried to reassure her. It wasn't. He could see the bulge in the skin where her slender pastern had snapped under the stress. It was an injury that would force a horse's death. It could cripple a centaur.

An inhuman roar startled them. Calibos was charging, swinging his sword over his head. Iolaus moved in front of Hyalia, Diomedes' sword rising to block.

"I am the son of a Titan!" Calibos screamed.

There was a flash of white. Swift as a falcon, the winged stallion dropped like a thunderbolt from the sky. Calibos half-turned in surprise. Hephastos-shod hooves caught him full in the face. His head exploded with the impact.

Pegasus landed, shaking his bloody forehooves the way a cat will shake a wet paw. "And I," he said coldly in a strange, deep voice that seemed to buzz from his chest. "Am the son of Poseidon Hippos!"

Hyalia choked and began to retch. Iolaus braced himself, uncertain what the winged stallion would do. Pegasus regarded them a moment.

"Peace," he said. "Put down your blade, mortal. You have defended me, I offer you no hurt."

Iolaus sheathed the sword. "All right," he said awkwardly.

"Never talk to a horse before?" Pegasus chuckled.

"Never had one talk back," Iolaus admitted.

Pegasus fluttered his wings. He came over and sniffed at Hyalia. He was all compact grace - the pink muzzle he extended might have slipped easily through a woman's bracelet. Hyalia hugged his neck. "I'm sorry, child," said Pegasus. "Your father was a good man." He fixed his dark eyes on Iolaus again. "Who are you stranger, that you battle the son of a Titan?"

"Iolaus," he said. "Of Corinth."

"Ah! Friend of my old friend Hercules?" Pegasus gently nosed Hyaliaaway. He came over and sniffed at Iolaus' leathers. "But why not Hercules as well?"

"I really don't know." Iolaus admitted. As he and Hyalia made theirslow decent from the Hippocrene, Iolaus told his story to the white stallion who paced at their side. It took them the whole night to reach what had been Hyalia's home. Dawn's pale light parted theclouds and the morning star rose above the tree line.

Pegasus' ears were flat to his head when they reached the remains ofthe farm. He stood silent a moment before the two graves. He paced around the yard. "There is much about your story, Iolaus that sounds like the sort of meddling my relatives are famous for." He side-stepped away from them, reared up and called. It was a cry like thunder.

"Now, really, was there any need to shout?" The old priestess Melanthe hobbled up on her stick. "Silly old horse."

"I seek answers, Aunt," Pegasus retorted.

"Aunt?" Iolaus and Hyalia chorused.

The old priestess' eyes twinkled. She straightened up, taller than most mortal women. Her hair turned to ash brown and her face smoothed. She was not quite what one might call classically beautiful, but her face held much strength, much character and her goldeneyes a great deal of warmth.

"Hestia," Iolaus gurgled.

"This doesn't seem like your doing." Pegasus stamped a hind hoof.

"It wasn't," said Hestia calmly. "I merely stepped in to help my niece." She turned. "Well, come on then."

A tall woman carrying a hunting bow stepped from the shadows. She wore green and silver, with a crescent moon holding back her hair. Iolaus gulped; he'd seen Artemis before - when Aphrodite had tricked him into a beauty contest with her, Artemis and Athena.

"I might have known!" Pegasus snorted. "Calibos violated your laws but you dared not punish him yourself, because Zeus has forbidden any battles between the gods and the remaining Titans."

"What is it to you?" retorted the huntress. She frowned at Iolaus. "You always hunted wisely. I'm not sure just what impressed my aunt - but you did well, man."

"You're welcome," Iolaus heard his voice crack and cleared his throat.

"You can ask of her a favor," Pegasus pointed out. "Ask of her anything."

"Not anything!" Artemis retorted.

"Yes, anything," snapped Hestia. "He's earned it."

Mist was beginning to gather around them. Hyalia shifted her weightand whimpered, holding high her damaged leg. Iolaus turned to steady her - then turned back to face Artemis. He knew what he wanted.

"Heal her," he said. "Heal her. She was hurt while I was on your business."

The mist rose up and Artemis looked uncomfortable. Pegasus stamped his hoof again. Hestia turned and frowned.

"Oh, very well," said Artemis in a sulky voice.

The mist swirled around them. Iolaus shook his head, blinked - and found himself sitting next to the hearth at the little Hestian temple where it had all started. Melanthe was mending something in the other corner.

"Melanthe?" he asked weakly.

"The real one this time," said the old woman. "Congratulations. You've impressed two goddesses."

"Hyalia?"

"Will be returned soon." Melanthe held up what she was mending - itwas a green tunic with a pattern of silver crescents on the hem. "Alas, she'll just have to make do with two feet instead of four."

"Hm," Iolaus shifted uncomfortably.

"Might as well make yourself useful, young man," Melanthe stood up. "Come along - there's wood to chop and you can help shovel out the stall of that silly donkey."

She kept him busy until midday, when a green-golden light shone in the dormitory. Melanthe went in and came out with a shy, stumbling girl-child all dressed in green.

"Hyalia," Iolaus hugged her.

"What the younger sister took away, the elder may help restore," said Melanthe. They both looked at her. "Call it one last mystery of Hestia. I believe someone wants to speak to you."

Pegasus landed in a flurry of white feathers. "Need a lift to Corinth?" he asked.

"Me too?" asked Hyalia shyly.

"Of course you too," said Iolaus boosting her on to the stallion's back. "If I know Herc, we'll find the right place for you."

"...And so we will," said Alcmene, coming out of the palace with a bundle in her arms. "Certainly, she's more than welcome to stay here. Come and have a look at your brother's son!"

Pegasus even poked his nose into the wiggling bundle and blew on himbefore he started to leave. Hyalia ran awkwardly to his side.

"Don't worry about the horses, child," he nuzzled her hair. "They are safe. Already they run on desert sands among a people who will say they were sired by the East Wind. They will be regarded as life itself to the tribe, treated as their children - never sold, but only given away to the worthy."

He blew into her face. "I hope we see each other again." And he took off.

Iolaus walked over to where Hyalia stood looking up at the sky. He put his arm around her and said something Hercules couldn't hear from where he was standing.

"What the younger sister took away the elder may help restore," he murmured to himself. Hera may have been Zeus' wife and Queen of the Gods, but Hestia was the eldest child of Chronos and Rhea. He turned and found himself holding out his arms so Alcmene could place the new baby in them.

END

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