He was sad, lonely, terribly depressed since his wife and children had been killed. He needed to get out to find enjoyment in life again. But it just seemed so senseless, so meaningless. The tall man wandered through the empty house looking for something, anything that would keep him going, keep him from ending his own life so he could join his family.
There in the corner of the children's room was a doll, a toy that an old friend of his had made for his little girl... a wooden man, with curly yellow hair, and a vest, he had made that doll so she would never forget who he was. He had been her favorite uncle. How he wished that his friend would come to visit. But years had passed and the two men had drifted apart. His marriage and commitment to family had meant more than the fast and free life that his childhood friend could ever understand.
So he was alone, in the house that had once shared so much love and happiness. The sun had set and it was time for bed, even though that meant staring at the ceiling for hours he went to his sectioned off part of the house and undressed for bed. He said a silent prayer for his family and lay down to sleep.
Tonight it was different, sleep came and came fast for him. One of the Gods was watching him, she had known him as a youth and she still cared deeply for him. So she cast a spell on him causing him to fall asleep, and then she went looking for his friend.
She found him in a bar, under a table, while a much bigger man beat him senseless. She used her Godly powers and removed the badly damaged and dazed man from the bar and started to take him to her friend.
The dazed fighter stirred, and was a bit taken back by his situation. As it wasn't every day that a mortal woke up flying high above the ground. He started to struggle but was knocked back out by a well placed beak in the head.
The trim brunette Goddess set the fighter down inside the house of the sleeping man and woke the scrappy little fighter up. "'Little Wooden Head' that is what your name should be, Iolaus," she snapped at him. "You were going to die in that fight. You, will die in a senseless bar fight unless you change your ways," she further lectured him.
"I will make a deal with you," she said. "You have a chance at a new life, one that will bring joy and happiness to people. You must stop this abuse of your body and mind and start living a life that helps people. I will leave you here with Hercules. Stay and renew your friendship with him, I will give you one month to turn your life around or you will lose it. You may not tell Hercules anything about our deal, but I see that you will need someone to help guide you on this path, so I will send a man, who like you needs to straighten his life out. Expect him in the morning."
With that she vanished, but Iolaus heard her last warning, "I'll be watching you, always."
Iolaus dropped back to sleep, not really believing what had happened, ale did that to him, he sometimes thought he saw things that weren't there.
Dawn was breaking, Iolaus rolled over in the bed. Bed? He thought to himself, how did I end up in a bed? He reached out cautiously to see if he was alone. He was. Well that wasn't all that unusual these days. He sat up, then sank back to the supine position, his head was throbbing and his stomach unsure of itself.
"Let's try this again," he muttered to himself and he slowly opened his eyes. The room was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it. Nausea was winning the battle, forcing Iolaus to bolt from the bed and stagger to the nearest doorway.
Hercules was stoking the fire in the pit to heat up his morning meal when from the corner of his eye he caught movement. He swung around and saw Iolaus's desperate and losing dash to the doorway.
"Iolaus?"
"Blaaahhh," last nights healthy portion of ale and venison stew spewed all over the doorway of Hercules' house. Iolaus saw Hercules standing with a concerned look and the memory of the night came flooding back-flying-Nemesis warning him to change his ways.
"Iolaus, let me get you a rag, here sit down. What are you doing here?" Hercules got a rag and offered it to Iolaus. He then went and cleaned up the mess, and went outside to gather some herbs to calm the stomach of his best friend. Suddenly Hercules felt better than he had in a long time, his life had a meaning, a purpose, a goal.
Iolaus was pale and feeling really bad. "Here, try this it will make you feel better." Hercules offered a steaming cup of herbal tea.
"Thanks, but I don't really think I can han.....," the smell of the tea sent Iolaus dashing for the doorway again. This time he make it to the appropriate place and the dry heaves over took him, racking his body with an almost continuous spasm.
Hercules left Iolaus alone and started cleaning out the stable and doing the never-ending daily chores around the farm. Iolaus eventually made his way out. He was in terrible shape, with fresh bruises, new and semi-new scars marred his body.
"What have you been up too?" Hercules asked with concern in his voice.
"This and that. I go and fight wherever the money and the cause are worthy. If the women are pretty but the money's not great I may still go." Iolaus added with a laugh.
"So what brings you to my house after all this time?"
Iolaus, remembering a bit more of the previous night and the fact that he KNEW he had been in a town on the other side of the country, tried to hedge his answer. "I was passing through and thought maybe YOU would like to clean up after me for awhile," was the best he could come up with.
"Clean up after you? That seems to be correct, at least for today. Sure, why don't you come in and stay a while."
"Herc, um, well," Iolaus was struggling to find the right words. "I am sorry about Deianeira and the kids."
"Here, let's get you some of that tea, it will help your upset stomach."
It was clear that Hercules didn't want to talk about his family. Iolaus bowed his head in shame, it was true, then.
Iolaus followed Hercules into the house, wondering what was going to happen next. As they entered the house there was a tall handsome man trying to steal the only thing of value in the house. Deianeira's vase, the one she always had fresh flowers in.
"Stop!" Hercules ordered.
"Wha????" the man said. "You can't stop me I am Autolycus, the Greatest thief this side of Thebes!" He turned to run out the doorway with the vase but a well-kicked chair blocked his exit. "Now wait a minute. I will put the vase back and leave the house, there is no need for a fight." Autolycus was desperately trying to avoid getting hit.
"Hercules," Iolaus asked quietly, "maybe we should invite him to breakfast with us?" Iolaus could remember clear as crystal the words of Nemesis--that she would be sending him someone to help straighten out his life. He couldn't believe it would be a common house thief, but then Iolaus thought, all I am is a common drunk.
"What? Invite him to eat with us?" Hercules was shocked.
"Well, maybe he is hungry and that is why he made the poor choice of stealing the one thing in this house that could make your blood boil." Iolaus answered.
Autolycus just stood by quietly; in his years of larceny he had learned that sometimes just being quiet and out of the way was the best way to handle things. But inside he was wondering just how he had come to this little house and why in the world would he even steal this vase? And why would he do anything to upset Hercules?
"Yes, I see your point Iolaus. Autolycus, would you like to join us for breakfast?" Hercules made the offer to the stunned thief.
"Ah, su-sure, why not?" Autolycus stammered.
Hercules shook his head and walked outside to gather more eggs for the meal. He had not cooked for a crowd in a long time, to be truthful, he thought to himself, he didn't cook much at all anymore.
"Hey, you, Auto-whatever, what are you doing here? Did a bird lady send you here?" Iolaus asked in a hushed forced whisper.
"It is Autolycus, and what? Did a bird lady send me? Have you been hit on the head a few too many times?"
"Oh, never mind, this person told me that I would be meeting someone today who would help me straighten out my life, but by the Gods I can't see how a dumb common thief could be the person who could help me."
"Dumb common thief!!!! I am anything but a dumb common thief. I don't steal from houses, I'll have you know. I only take from temples and palaces, from people who can afford to loose the few trinkets that I take."
"Ya, right, so how does that explain your being here in this house? Look around you, oh brilliant thief! Is there any thing of real value here?" Iolaus spat back.
"Well, see, it is like this..." Autolycus looked around the room, it was a small room and clearly there was nothing of value in the room. He had no idea why he was there, but he wouldn't give this small angry man the satisfaction of knowing that he too had met a bird lady the previous night. "I have been told about the wonderful powers that that vase has when it is crushed and made into a paste."
"Wonderful powers? I helped Hercules make that vase. There is nothing out of the ordinary about that vase. You will have to try harder." Iolaus was clearly upset.
Hercules came into the house with eggs and some vegetables. He was happy and asked for some help. Iolaus and Autolycus glared at each other but were able to help prepare, eat, and clean up the meal without coming to blows. The day passed with a strained atmosphere but Hercules didn't seem to notice, he was happy to have someone to talk to. After dinner Iolaus headed back to the bedroom that the children had shared and Hercules invited Autolycus to stay over too.
"Great, now I have to sleep with you!" Iolaus snarled.
"Like you are a prize? I have slept with pigs that smelled better than you." Autolycus snapped back.
Within minutes Hercules was in the room breaking up a fight between the two grown children.
"Well, he started it." Iolaus told Hercules. "He said I smelled worse than pigs!"
"Ah, Iolaus," Hercules started.
"What, what, you are going to take his side??? I can't believe that!"
"No, I am not going to take his side, but Iolaus you were the one who did ask me to invite him to stay. You should be nice and make him feel at home here. He is the stranger, not you." Hercules said soothingly trying to calm the frayed nerves. "And, to be honest, you could use a bath." Hercules ducked out of the room before the blow could reach him.
"I'll get you for that. You just wait and see." Iolaus said with a giggle. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to insult you. Well, maybe I did, but I will not do so in this house. Hercules means too much to me, to cause him to be upset over something that I have done is unforgivable." Iolaus held his hand out as a friendly gesture.
Autolycus looked at the offered hand, waited a beat, then took it and said, "It's okay, I understand, I think. Now let's try to get some sleep." He was planning on sneaking off in the night, that bird lady couldn't be watching him all the time. She had to be off doing something else by now, he figured.
As soon as Autolycus heard the gentle breathing of Iolaus he slipped out of the room and headed for the door. He opened the door and got two steps out when she appeared. "What do you think you are doing?" Nemesis asked. "And where do you think you are going?"
A shocked Autolycus stammered, "Na ..nature's calling. I need to use the... well the..." and he pointed off in the general direction of the facilities.
"Oh, I see, so you were not trying to leave before the month is up? You are still planning to fulfill your promise to me? Because I just know that the King of Frezzia would love to have you back in his jail."
"Oh, yes, I am staying, no worries there, I will stay and do what it is I am needed to do. Please don't misunderstand my motives, I just need to answer nature's call." Autolycus looked relieved when it appeared that she had bought the story. He headed to the facilities and then back to the house, he waved good bye to her as he stepped back inside the doorway.
After breakfast the next day, Hercules asked Iolaus and Autolycus to go into town to get some new seeds and some other supplies. Hercules did not venture into town any more if he could help it. He couldn't take the looks of pity from the townspeople. While sending Iolaus and Autolycus was a gamble, they had come close to blows twice already this morning, he felt it to be best. Autolycus would keep Iolaus out of the bars and Iolaus would keep Autolycus out of trouble. At least that was the plan. If they became friends in the meantime that would be an added bonus.
"I can't believe that I have to baby sit you, a scrawny little chap," Autolycus taunted as they walked to town.
"Great, I am fool enough to believe that you are the one to help me set my life back on course, but instead it was all a lie and you are nothing but a pain in the rear."
"A pain, a pain!" Soon both men were throwing punches at each other, landing most, inflicting pain on each other. The towns folks stood and watched as the men rolled around in the dirt, cursing and hitting each other.
"Now who will give me odds on the little one? Five to one odds for the little guy... What you want the big fella-ok what odds will you give?" The toga clad man worked the crowd taking bets and making some of his own but clearly making more money than he would ever have to pay out.
"Odds, the odds are against me?" Iolaus heard part of the bartering in the crowd and jumped to his feet. "How could you? I grew up in this town, how could you bet against me?"
Autolycus using the break rose to his feet and with both hands clasped firmly together hit Iolaus on the back of the head knocking him out.
"There, Iolaus, that is why they bet on me. Because I am the best." Autolycus bowed deeply to the crowd and spied the man who had been making book on the fight.
"Hey there, what is my cut for the fight?" Autolycus demanded.
"Your cut? I don't remember offering you a portion of my winnings?" the man said nervously.
Autolycus reached down and grabbed Iolaus by the back of the neck, and said, "Well, friend, we just made you a lot richer than before, so I think you owe us something."
"Okay, how about I buy you a drink and one for your friend too?" The trio headed for the tavern. On the way, Autolycus tossed Iolaus into the water trough. "Well now at least you will smell better."
Iolaus came up sputtering, "What did you do that for? Where are we going and who is he?"
"Good question, yes, just who are you?" Autolycus asked.
"I am Salmoneus, entrepreneur extroardinaire , and I have a proposition for you two. We will have 3 ales." Salmoneus ordered from the bar maid who was checking out the 2 men with Salmoneus.
"What, just what do you have in mind?" an inquisitive Iolaus asked.
The barmaid brought the ale, she gave a winning smile to Iolaus, as she set the drinks down in front of him.
"Now, here is my plan for making us rich beyond our dreams." Salmoneus leaned forward to share his plan. Iolaus watched the bar maid move off, her hips swaying-oh so delightfully. Autolycus reached round and slapped Iolaus on the back of his head.
"Pay attention, to what Sal is telling us."
"Ow! Why'd ya have to hit me?" Iolaus asked angrily.
"Gentlemen, and I use the term very loosely, this plan needs you to stage fights in one town with the short guy winning and then in the next town you can win Autolycus."
"Hey! Wait a minute I'm more than just the short guy, I'm Iolaus."
"Okay, Iolaus, whatever, we will have you fight and look like you will be winning the we get the odds in our favor, I will give a sign and the outcome will change. I will make 60% of the profit and you two can split the remaining." The way Salmoneus told the tale and the amount of ale consumed made this seem like a good deal to Iolaus and Autolycus.
The bright day moved into the golden afternoon, the trio spent it happily devising ways to spend their not yet earned money. Soon Sal made a motion to move on, " We should be heading to the next town, then we can put this plan into action and start rolling in the dinars."
As they started down the road, a pouch tied to Autolycus's pants banged against his leg with each step. He slowed to adjust it, when from above he heard the coo of a dove. Autolycus realized it was the bag Hercules had given him in the morning. This was the money for the seed and other supplies that they were to have bought and taken back to the farm house.
"Ah, Iolaus, Iolaus, may I have a word with you?---NOW!" Autolycus pleaded.
"What? What could possibly be troubling you now? We are on our way to fame and fortune, so why are you being so whiney?" Iolaus was not pleased with the look he was getting from Autolycus.
"Why were we headed to town? Why did we go to town today? Do you remember or did the ale erase all that from your mind?" Autolycus slammed a hand hard to Iolaus's shoulder.
"Town, why did we go to town.... So I could get some ale, Hercules.." Iolaus stopped, "Hercules, oh my, Hercules sent us to town and he is waiting for us to return. How could you let this happen to us? It is all your fault."
"All my fault, all my fault. I don't think so, you had a hand in this too." Autolycus answered back hotly.
"Ah, Salmoneus, we have to be going, we can't come with you now. I'm sorry but we have something else we need to do first. Maybe next time you are in town?" With that the two men turned and ran back to town, where they found that all the shops had closed for the day, they were not going to be able to get any of the supplies that Hercules had wanted.
"Great, now what are we going to do?" Autolycus lamented.
"When we get back to the house just follow my lead, okay?" Iolaus sounded like he had a plan.
They were greeted by the wonderful smell of dinner as they approached the house. Hercules looked outside and saw them coming empty handed. "Are you ok?" He asked with genuine concern.
"Yes, we are fine, but boy it was touch and go there for a bit," Iolaus said with an unseen jab into Autolycus's side. "We were out numbered but we were able to fight them off and get back to safety."
Autolycus just stared at Iolaus, he couldn't believe the story he had just heard. No one would fall for something that stupid, something that lame. He rolled his eyes, and started to tell Hercules what really happened when all of a sudden the elbow to the gut hit again, and he changed his mind.
Hercules seemed unfazed by the contortions Autolycus was performing. "Bandits, here, on the road to town? Funny but no one has ever complained about them before?"
"The towns people know that you are still grieving for your family and they didn't want to intrude on your grief so they have been trying to take care of the situation themselves." Iolaus rambled on and on. Autolycus was getting more and more upset by the blatant lies, but seemed helpless to stop Iolaus. Darkness helped Iolaus with the telling of his outrageous lies. Autolycus couldn't been seen rolling his eyes. Hercules took the tale as fact. He didn't want to believe anything but the best about his friend.
They shared an uneasy meal, Iolaus was proud of himself for pulling off such an abominable tale. Hercules was happy to have everyone home. Autolycus and Iolaus seemed to have reached an understanding at least they weren't fighting and squabbling anymore.
For the next few days, Iolaus and Autolycus stayed on the farm and helped Hercules finish getting the crops into the ground. Iolaus and Autolycus had no nocturnal visits from the bird lady. Laughter could be heard from the house.
"Since you have been working so hard, why don't you two go into town for the day?" Hercules offered.
"Yes, that sounds great," Iolaus said, "I sure could use a day off."
Autolycus groaned he could see trouble ahead, keeping Iolaus in line, while on the farm it had been an easy task. Town was going to be difficult, the whole Salmoneus fight offer almost destroyed his chance to avoid a long and painful death at the hands of the King.
Iolaus headed into town humming a happy song, he was hoping to see that fetching bar maid again and perhaps spend some quality time with her. Autolycus followed along grudgingly, he felt this was a bad idea.
"Iolaus, we are just going in, getting a meal, picking up some things and returning. Right? No crazy schemes?" Autolycus pleaded.
"Ah, sure. Whatever." Iolaus answered.
The trip was uneventful to town, the 'bandits' had been dispatched. Once they got to town, the men went their separate ways. Autolycus found some beautiful jewelry that he wanted but just as he was about to move it to his pouch he heard the soft coo of a dove. He became so rattled he dropped the necklace and walked quickly from the sellers stall.
Iolaus had made a bee-line to the tavern. Inside he found the barmaid. She was more than willing to take the day and spend it with the handsome blond man.
"Friend!" A familiar voice called out.
Iolaus turned to see who was calling, he saw Salmoneus running towards him. The barmaid looked at Iolaus with disgust and headed back to her job. Iolaus watched broken-hearted as she walked away.
"Salmoneus," Iolaus said with a forced smile, " What can I do for you?"
"Do, do for me. No my friend it is what I can do for you. I have just made a deal that is so sweet. All you have to do is take a small boat ride to the island of Graffiti. Sadly it is an island that does not have enough men to take care of all the business." Salmoneus was bubbling with enthusiasm.
"What? An island of only women? All I have to do is take a boat? Just what will I have to do?" Iolaus's curiosity was peaked.
"Well, that I am not sure. I have been contracted to send as many men as I can find today to the docks to board the boat, Tampon. It leaves at moon rise tonight, I want you to know that I will be on that boat. And I thought maybe your friend Autolycus would like to join in the fun too."
"Who contracted you?" Iolaus was interested but he did want to know a bit more about this deal, he had to be certain it was a sweet as it sounded.
"Ah, well, I don't know, you see-now this is not the way I normally do business but I got this scroll asking me to round up as many men as I could. With the scroll was a pouch with 100 dinars in it, and a promise of more for each man that I get on that boat tonight." Salmoneus was looking off dreamily. He was spending the vast sums of money already.
"Ah, so you trust this deal? You did say that you would be going along, right?" the deal was sounding better and better to Iolaus all the time too.
"Yes, now what about Autolycus? Do you think you will be able to convince him to join us?"
"Oh sure, no problem. We will meet you at the docks tonight at moonrise."
Iolaus left Sal and headed off to find Autolycus and let him know about their plans for the future.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!!!" Autolycus shouted at Iolaus after listening not too patiently to the fanciful tale that was being told. "Excuse me Iolaus, but do you remember Nemesis, Goddess of Retribution, the Goddess that put us together and told us to straighten out our lives? What do you think she would say of this plan?"
"Look she works for Hera, she is busy, don't worry, she will never find out. And besides, we will be helping those women out on that island." Iolaus had already made up his mind he was going Autolycus or no Autolycus.
"Well, Iolaus if you go, you will go without me. I'm heading back to the farm. What do you want me to tell Hercules?"
"What?! How can you pass up a golden opportunity like this?" Iolaus was stunned, he could not believe someone would just throw away a chance at a life time on a island where there were no men. "Just tell him that something came up that I couldn't pass over and leave it at that." Iolaus turned and walked to the tavern.
Autolycus headed towards the farm, overhead a white dove was flying. "Yes, I know I was supposed to watch out over him. But he is really pig headed. Come on you think I didn't try? Oh, just leave me alone. Ok, ok I will go back and try to talk him out of it or go with him. It would help me to know just why Iolaus is hurting so deeply you know. Why is he taking all these chances? It would be nice if you would land and talk to me. I feel really dumb talking to a bird you know."
The dove just kept circling overhead, large lazy circles. She was enjoying the show. As Autolycus turned and walked back towards town he thought he heard "Thanks, that was the correct choice."
Autolycus didn't have any trouble finding Iolaus and Sal, the ship Tampon was loading. Sal had managed to get 40 men to join up. Salmoneus figured he would be the wealthiest man on that island, and he would have his pick of the prettiest girls.
The boat took off as the men sang and drank. It took two weeks to get to the shores of Graffiti, by that time the men were ready for solid ground and women. Beautiful young women met the ship as it docked. Each man had his own personal escort, they were shown to a room and given baths, the chance to shave and then treated to the delights that they had each been bragging about on the long voyage to the island.
Back in town, Hercules made the rare trip into town the morning after the two had not shown up. What he heard had him shaking with rage. Hercules knew that the island of Graffiti was controlled by Hera, and Ares loved to use it as his personal playground of torture. No mortal man had ever returned from the island.
Hercules went home and packed a few of his belongings, he knew that Iolaus was in deep trouble and in the few days they had been together Autolycus had become a good friend too. It was going to take a while to make it to the island on his own but Iolaus did not deserve the horrible fate that awaited him on that island.
Autolycus, feeling locked up, even though she was young, pretty and very talented, went out for an unescorted walk. He headed down to the docks for some fresh air. The boat was being loaded for another trip to sea, he over heard the sailors talking about leaving with the morning tide. Autolycus walked on. He came to a temple and being a thief he just had to check it out. People always left valuables for the Gods, and well the Gods, didn't need them but Autolycus loved the pretty baubles. Autolycus slipped unnoticed into the temple of Hera.
Kneeling before the alter was a tall brawny man. He was speaking with Hera. "Oh mighty Hera, we have a new crop of men for your enjoyment. Soon they will be ready for the slaughter."
"You have done well, Nicotine, " Hera answered.
"Yes, Nicotine, this is a good group of men, they will do quite well. I too am pleased with them. The side bonus of getting my half brothers best friend to toy with is excellent. Too bad we can't send that Salmo.. guy back out he did get us a great group of guys, not the usual drunkards we get. But he too shall put up a good fight before he joins the rest in the Tartarus."
"Ares!" Nicotine jumped, "You startled me, when did you join us?"
"Now, does that really matter? Just know that the games begin at noon tomorrow so make sure the girls are all out of sight by then. We can't have them see what happens to their men... can we?" Ares' laugh sounded very evil.
Autolycus slowly left the building, he was terrified. He somehow had to convince Iolaus to leave with him, and Salmoneus too. Ares and Hera, this place was going to be worse for his health that the dungeon of King Frezzia. Finding Iolaus was no easy trick, he managed to capture the hearts of at least four of the hostesses. Autolycus went from room to room till he found the sleeping man.
"Wake up! I need to talk to you, NOW!" Autolycus was adamant about this so Iolaus was offered no choice to go back to sleep even tho that is what his overwhelming desires were.
"What, what could possibly be so important that you had to wake me?" an angry Iolaus demanded.
"Iolaus, I woke up and took a little stroll. I went to that temple over there. See it? Inside the temple is a very big and ugly man named Nicotine. He was praying to Hera. Remember Hera? She was talking with him. And guess who should join that little group?--- Don't bother, Ares. It seems that this island is a playground for Ares. He likes to 'toy' with the men that come to this island."
Iolaus started shaking with fear. Deep in his mind he remembered Hercules telling him about such a place. But he thought it was just something Hercules did to tease him about his women.
"Did Ares say anything about knowing that I was here?" Iolaus demanded.
"Let's see would you be Ares' half brother's best friend? If so, then yes he mentioned you." Was the numbing response.
"Sal, we have to get Salmoneus and get off the island as quickly as possible. But how?" Iolaus began to think, his mind was clearing and things were becoming crystal again. It was like a haze was being lifted.
The boat, yes the boat it was still moored at the dock. Autolycus and he could easily overcome the few men posted around the boat and sail away on it. But they would have to act quickly. Iolaus went down to the dock and scouted the place out while Autolycus found Salmoneus and forced him to leave the beauty he was with. Sal couldn't understand why she had to be bound and gagged as they left, but Autolycus insisted and he seemed possessed so Sal didn't argue with him.
Autolycus and Sal met up with Iolaus who had already quietly taken out the two guards. The men then snuck onto the boat and slowly slipped into the darkness. Iolaus was glad for the new moon, it offered them the perfect cover, with luck they would be out of sight by daylight.
The trip back took longer due to the inexperience of the 3 men none had much of a sea going background, and Iolaus and Autolycus both thought that they should be captain of the boat. Salmoneus just wanted fresh food. One night while sitting on the deck Autolycus looked over at Iolaus who seemed to be upset.
"Want to talk about what ever it is that is eating you?" Autolycus asked gently.
"No. I am fine, just leave me alone." Was his answer.
"Iolaus, after everything we have been through, I can tell, you are anything but fine. But if you don't want to talk about it, then don't" Autolycus continued to sit on the deck staring at Iolaus.
"I killed them," whispered Iolaus, his voice breaking. "I am the one who killed Deianeira and the kids."
"Now wait a minute, I heard they were killed by a fire ball." Autolycus answered.
"No, they were killed by fire, but it was because I didn't properly seal the fireplace. Hercules and I were working on it and it was hot, I wanted to go into town for some ale and all, so I just hurriedly slapped on some mud and figured I would finish the job the next day. Deianeira must have gotten cold and started a fire, a spark flew through MY shoddy work and burnt down the house, killing her and those precious children. How Hercules can stand to be around me, I don't know. I can only assume he doesn't know the truth."
Iolaus had been carrying that guilt around for so long that to finally be able to tell someone was a relief. But it also brought back the horror of his finding out, the next day. He had stayed in town, Hercules had walked back home anxious to join Deianeira and see if they could add to their family. When the news hit the town the next day, it had been a dark haired man who told him that a fire had killed Hercules' family. The man had a strange earring a dagger, Iolaus could remember that very clearly.
"Wait a minute, you said the man in town had a dagger for an earring?" Autolycus questioned Iolaus.
Iolaus hadn't been aware that he had even been talking. Salmoneus and Autolycus both just let him spill the story, somehow they knew Iolaus had to get the story out. "Yes, he was wearing black leather pants, a vest and a real unusual dagger earring. Why?"
"In the temple, back on the island. Ares was wearing black leather pants and a vest and he had a dagger earring that looked like this.." Autolycus quickly sketched a drawing of the earring on the deck floor.
"That is the same design. But why would Ares " Iolaus's voice trailed off.
With renewed vigor the men made their way back to town. The winds were with them and the made the final bit of the trip in record time. Iolaus hit the ground running, he had to get to Hercules.
"Hercules! Herc!," Iolaus ran from the house to the barn in a desperate attempt to find Hercules.
A dove fluttered to the ground and morphed into the lovely Nemesis. "He is gone, he left the day after you did. He left to try to save your life, Iolaus. His love for you goes deeper than your love for him apparently."
"Did he head to Graffiti? I will find him. I was wrong, I have been tricked." Iolaus said.
"Tricked? What are you talking about?" Nemesis asked.
"Answer me this, how did Deianeira and the kids die?"
"Hera sent down a fire ball, and killed them as they slept."
The news staggered Iolaus. "I need to get to Graffiti." Without any further words Iolaus ran back to town. He obtained a smaller boat and started to the island of Graffiti.
"Iolaus, let me help you," Autolycus called after him.
"No, please stay and watch after the place. We will all have a grand dinner when we get home. Please, I need to do this myself." And with that Iolaus was off heading back to the island and a very uncertain future.
Hercules made shore, and hid his boat in a cave along the shore. He could hear the screams of pain coming from just the other side of the cliffs. He hoped that Iolaus wasn't among those corpses he had seen floating out at sea. Quietly and quickly he headed around to get a grasp on what was happening on the island. What he saw made his blood rage with anger. Ares looked up and saw his half brother standing on the ridge, with sadistic pleasure he slowly gutted the man he had been fighting.
Hercules ran down to try to save the man but was too late. Ares had Hercules taken to a holding cell built by Hephestes so there was no way for Hercules to break free.
"Stay and enjoy my hospitality brother, you never call, you never write. My feelings are hurt." Ares said with a sneer.
Hercules just glared back at his brother.
Days passed, Hercules struggled to find a way out. Ares toyed with and killed all the men from town. Iolaus fought the sea and the winds to get to the island to save Hercules. Autolycus and Salmoneus watched the house and fields keeping an eye on the horizon hoping to see the two men walking towards them.
Iolaus came to the docks of the village he had escaped from earlier that month. He crept through the town ever watchful. Off in the distance he could hear the sounds of battle.
"So brother, what do you think of my 'playground'?" Ares asked.
"Not much, but then I don't think much of you either. And since I haven't seen Iolaus around I must assume he got away from you." Hercules snapped back.
"Ah, don't assume anything brother dear."
Hercules charged Ares and the two men fought desperately. Ares just trying to save his own skin, Hercules because of what must of happened to Iolaus. The battle waged on, an exhausted Ares kicked Hercules across the arena and gathered his strength to toss a fatal bolt of electricity.
Iolaus seeing what was happening, not believing that after what he did to Hercules' family, Hercules would still care that much for him, stood and took one last and heroic leap at Hercules.
The bolt of electricity meant for Hercules hit Iolaus and injured him badly. Hercules crawled to his friends crumpled body, "Why, why?" He asked the dying man.
Ares couldn't believe it. First Iolaus escapes from his island and the breaks back into his island. "I will never figure out these mortals!"
"Hercules, I am so sorry about Dien.... I didn't mean to kill them," the last of Iolaus' strength left and he died in Hercules' arms.
From above, a white dove circled and landed. Nemesis appeared. Hercules was wounded badly from the fight and now his soul had again been torn. Iolaus had died saving his life and what did he mean kill them?
Nemesis looked at Iolaus then Hercules then Ares, she was very upset. "Ares, set this straight. What you did was cruel even for you. If you don't set this right I will be forced to take it higher and you don't want o face the council...... do you?"
"Geesh, ruin a guy's fun why don't you." Ares waved his hands and Iolaus began to stir in Hercules arms. Ares blew a kiss towards Nemesis and then disappeared from sight.
Hercules sat a very groggy Iolaus up. Both men were badly injured and would need a few days to recover from the physical wounds, but Nemesis was worried about the mental injuries, would they ever heal?
"What did you mean about you killing Deianeira and the kids, Iolaus?" Hercules asked gently.
"A man told me, well I just found out it was Ares, that they had died because of a crack in the fire place. You remember the one we had been working on that day, before we went into town. He said that due to the crack in the mortar a spark got out and burned down the house. I left after that, because I couldn't face you. I didn't think that you would want the man who had murdered your family in your house," sobs racked his broken body.
Tears streamed down Hercules' face as he remembered the horror of watching his family die, and the puzzlement of Iolaus's leaving so suddenly without a word. The pain Iolaus had to have been going through thinking that he had been the cause of his families death. Hercules looked at Nemesis and said, "You aren't here to kill him are you? I won't allow it."
"No, Hercules, I did find Iolaus and tell him to straighten up his life. I had no idea that Ares had been behind Iolaus' self-destruction. But I think the two of you will be ok now. I have other work to do. Besides you need to get home, I'm not really sure just how much longer Salmoneus and Autolycus will be able to look after your farm."
"Autolycus, and Salmoneus are watching the house? Iolaus, hurry, we have to get moving." Hercules struggled to his feet. Iolaus followed.
The men headed down to the docks. The wind was blowing out and the sail snapped smartly. The two men headed home, both relieved to have his best friend back.
The End
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