Hercules' travels had taken him to most places in the known world, yet he could count on the fingers of one hand the areas that brought him close to heaven on earth, close to his own personal peace. This was one of them.
The mountains of the Tuscan region in the middle of the Italian peninsula took his breath away each and every time he had the good fortune to gaze upon them. Their snow capped peaks towered majestically over this quiet fertile valley of Tiberina. So engrossed was he in the glory of his surroundings that he almost missed the fork in the road that led to his ultimate destination. He adjusted his course then he let himself get lost in the riot of color and freshness that surrounded him. Autumn was almost half spent. The usually mild winter would fast be coming to this beautiful area. Trees seemed to change colors right before the eye. The demigod hurried down the road, past acres upon acres of farmland. His heart was warmed by the joyful songs and the sun-kissed faces of happy workers as they bent their backs to the task of harvesting the fine late melons and grapes that grew to delicious perfection in this crisp climate.
He was surprised to have arrived at his destination so quickly but he was not surprised to see his partner standing in the vine-covered gateway. Iolaus belonged here in this perfect place. His presence had long been a part of what constituted heaven in the demigod's mind.
Iolaus stirred from his casual stance as he watched the demigod approach the villa from the main road. Hercules knew his partner was happy to see him though Iolaus only offered a weak smile. The warmth in the hunter's eyes when they greeted each other was the one constant in his life that he'd grown to count on over the centuries and he could see the feeling was still there.
Arms offered in the old warriors' greeting were warmly and gratefully accepted.
"Iolaus, I'm sorry I wasn't able to be here when you and Sara needed me," apologized the subdued demigod.
"Thanks for being here now Hercules. There's nothing to be sorry about. Sara and I both knew about the difficulties you might run into on your last mission. We realized you might not be here in time. Um...she left you a scroll. It's probably filled with instructions on what to do with me after she...uh...after she died," said the blond man as he stopped in his tracks in the middle of the garden and hung his head in his hands.
Hercules, who had moved a few paces ahead of his partner, retraced his steps when he realized Iolaus was no longer at his side. He grabbed his partner up into a hug and waited patiently while the grief-stricken blond beat his forehead against the demigod's broad chest. When the torrent of emotion subsided, Hercules loosened his grip and led Iolaus to a stone bench on the columned portico where they could both grieve in peace.
The stately trees surrounding the portico afforded the heroes some much-needed privacy. The sounds of the birds who made their homes in those trees mixed with the subdued laughter of children. Tykes of all ages played nearby in the old stables that Iolaus, with help from Hercules, had converted to a gymnasium for the workers' children on one of his last visits.
Hercules sat in companionable silence with his friend, watching as the hunter brushed a few errant tears from his cheeks. He knew Iolaus would put his pain into words when the time was right for him. He was mildly surprised that he didn't have to wait long.
"Sara was often weak and sickly. She wanted children you know. She wanted them so badly but...I couldn't do it," said the bereaved hunter as he made a small motion with his head towards the gymnasium. "I told her that her scrolls were her children. She took such care with each one, nurturing each story along, cleaning up the parchments, making them all tidy, sitting up and agonizing over them through some long nights, wondering whether or not she'd done a good job turning them out." The hunter shook his head and breathed a heavy sigh.
"I've been so lucky, Hercules. I feel like I've learned so much during these past few years with Sara, more than I ever learned in the Academy so long ago or anywhere else for that matter. I guess when you love the teacher...I mean, not that I didn't like Cheiron," Iolaus offered as an aside with a small mirthless chuckle.
"I guess when the teacher loves the student incredible things happen too," added Hercules.
"I think you're right about that Herc. The doctors said that Sara's will to live, for my sake, was very strong. They said she would probably have been dead more than a year ago without that motivation. I like to think that our love bought her extra time. Thanks buddy," Iolaus said as he felt the demigod give a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder.
Then Iolaus looked up at his best friend and added sheepishly, "sorry I haven't been much of a partner to you for the past six years Hercules. I mean, except for the time Michael sent us to Gaul to save Governor Severus from those assassins."
"I remember," said the demigod with another encouraging squeeze of the hand on his partner's shoulder. "That was a good job we did. Felt like old times...really old times. There aren't too many warlords left, at least not in this part of the world anyway. Not with the strength of the Roman Empire ready to squash any upstarts," he added with a snort of disgust.
"You've been carrying the burden of all the assignments from Michael during this time, Herc and I don't know how to thank you for that buddy. I've really got some catching up to do."
"Um...about that Iolaus...I haven't been the only one on assignment," said the demigod. He was uncertain about how to proceed with this revelation, but he knew that his partner had a right to the full picture to avoid any possible future misunderstandings.
"What do you mean Herc? Do you have another partner?" questioned the puzzled hunter.
"No, no...nothing like that it's...you see, before we came to Tiberina and you met Sara; according to Michael she was seriously planning to kill herself. Her body was in failing health, the depression was driving her to distraction and she couldn't write anymore. You know how important Sara's writings are. The Light wanted Michael to send a guardian to intervene but when the two of you fell in love on your own, it was only natural that she be your next assignment, Michael just didn't tell you...he didn't want you to think that he had anything to do with Sara falling in love with you, or you with her...that was all 100% your own doing."
The partners fell back into a companionable silence while Iolaus digested this unexpected piece of information. The shadows were beginning to lengthen and the breeze coming off of the mountains began to carry a chilly nip to it. Hercules wanted to move inside where he could light some braziers and get Iolaus to eat something. When he hugged his partner earlier, the demigod noticed the blond's weight loss immediately. He would have to get Iolaus back into top fighting form quickly. The demigod's concern came from a cryptic message in his last conversation with Michael when the archangel came to tell him of Sara's imminent death. Michael mentioned at that time that he and Iolaus had to be ready to leave soon after their reunion for their next assignment and, when Hercules questioned him on the exact nature of the next assignment, Michael merely stated that it would be completely apparent to the both of them.
It was obvious to the demigod that he'd have to get things moving so he said, "I'm here now, Iolaus. Can I help you with anything...arrangements or notifications?
"No Herc, I sprinkled Sara's ashes on the wind from the snow line on Mount Corchia just like she wanted. Then I hunted on the way back down and took a couple of days to clear my mind. I've sent messages to all the people who should know. Sara only had one sister...Marcia. Funny thing though, I sent a message to her but the messenger returned from her village near Rome and told me Marcia's villa was empty as was her business and she couldn't be found. The messenger said no one knows what happened to her or no one cared to say what happened. He said it was like all of the villagers were frightened to even mention her name."
"I was going to go check on her myself when I received the message that you were coming. I decided to wait so we could both go together."
There it was, the next assignment was completely apparent just as Michael had said.
"It sounds like a plan, Iolaus. You can tell me about Marcia over dinner. You didn't by any chance happen to catch some rabbits while you were hunting? I've missed your special stew. It's been way too long," said the demigod as he steered his partner into the house.
Hercules was in luck. There was rabbit stew for dinner, and plenty of it, prepared to perfection by the caretaker's wife according to Iolaus' recipe. As long as the demigod could keep Iolaus talking and somewhat distracted, he could load his partner up with second and third helpings of the hearty fare. The potent wine from Iolaus' own vineyard was also helping their appetites.
"I only met Marcia once. It was a hurried visit just a few weeks after Sara and I got married. She was passing through the area while she accompanied her husband Cattalus on a buying trip. I remember being surprised that Marcia was so much younger than Sara, barely sixteen or seventeen years old. She was only fifteen years old when she married, I believe. Her husband wasn't more than twenty or twenty-one at the time. Cattalus took sick soon after their visit and he died. Marsha never remarried. Sara begged her sister to come back here and live with us. She worried about her constantly. Marcia said she couldn't bring herself to sell the business that had meant so much to her husband. I can understand how she felt then but now that Sara is gone and has left her this villa, the farm, all of her scrolls, her jewelry and her money, maybe Marcia will reconsider."
Hercules raised his eyebrows in surprise at this revelation about Sara's bequest, but kept quiet while his partner continued speaking.
"Before Sara died, we hired several scribes to make copies of her scrolls then I sent the copies off to Ignatius in Petra. We knew Sara wasn't going to last much longer but I wanted her to have a small taste of immortality. Before her body failed at least she knew that the pieces of her soul that she poured into those scrolls would last for millennia."
"That was a brilliant idea, Iolaus. Ignatius is the best person to see to it that Sara's scrolls are preserved."
"Yeah, Ignatius mentioned a group of monks living in the desert regions near the Dead Sea. It's their mission in life to preserve histories like Sara's. There's barely a drop of rain or moisture in that entire region so her scrolls should be preserved almost indefinitely. It was the least I could do..."
"It was the perfect thing to do. But Iolaus, about the rest of Sara's legacy, as her husband half of all of this is yours. Why did she bequeath it to her sister?"
"Sara always knew that I'd be leaving this place behind when...when the time came," Iolaus said with a hitch in his voice. "We talked it over and decided that the best course would be to leave everything to her sister. Besides, I have all I'll ever need right here Herc," he said as he took the demigod's right hand in one of his own and held it tightly while with his other hand he patted himself in the chest over his heart and pulled his old medallion from his shirt where Hercules could see Sara's slim gold wedding band hanging between the two halves of carved jade.
They closed the villa, securing it well against the coming cold and damp of winter. Hercules set a slow, steady pace for the work, stopping frequently to eat and drink, urging Iolaus to do the same. By the time they finished the last task and turned the farm and vineyard over to the caretaker, three weeks had passed. The demigod was satisfied with the progress Iolaus was making in his physical recovery and finally declared that they would be ready to start their search for Marcia the following morning.
The caretaker's wife packed them an extra large sack of provisions with fresh, crusty loaves of bread, several small wheels of cheese, grapes, melons and two large skins of home-made wine. Hercules hefted the sack over his shoulder, draped his woolen cape over his arm and went in search of his partner.
He found Iolaus kneeling at the open trunk at the foot of his bed digging and searching for something almost frantically. "I'll be with you in a minute Herc. I've just gotta find... Ah ha! There it is!" exclaimed the blond as he yanked one last time and pulled a familiar purple object out of the trunk, holding it up in the air triumphantly. "I knew it was in there somewhere," Iolaus crowed as he shrugged out of his simple cotton shirt and slipped into the patchwork vest that he loved. Hercules beamed fondly as his friend modeled the refurbished vest for him. The much loved piece of clothing had been patched and re-lined so many times over the years that, at most, only two or three of the small squares remained from the original vest Anya had made his incorrigible friend.
"What do you think, Herc?"
"I think it's perfect Iolaus...absolutely perfect," answered the demigod. "Now let's get this show on the road."
Hercules was determined to keep the same slow and steady pace on their trip to Ostia, the seaside town Marcia called home. He was mildly surprised at how quickly they both fell back into their usual routine after the six-year hiatus. Yet he knew from experience how concentration on the everyday details could help keep one's mind from plunging into grief.
The one thing that was different about this trip though, was the lack of argument he got from Iolaus over their daily exercise sessions. In fact, the hunter even went as far as to initiate the sessions. He told Hercules that he'd kept physically fit while living at the villa with Sara by working side-by-side with the caretakers of the vineyard and by doing enough hunting and fishing to satisfy all of the needs of their little farming complex. He kept up his warrior skills by teaching all of the young men in the immediate community the art of swordplay, hand-to-hand combat and his own brand of eastern fighting techniques.
What he didn't have a chance to practice and felt a bit rusty with were the special skills and abilities that Michael had gifted them both with when they became immortal Guardians of the Light on earth. If Hercules had the strength of ten men, it could be said that Iolaus now had the strength of five. He had amazed himself the first few times he had broken anvils and uprooted tree trunks with his bare hands. And as long as he lived he would never, ever forget the look on his best friend's face the first time he hefted an ox onto his shoulders and carried it out of a deep ditch where it had fallen.
Iolaus hadn't practiced his language skills much, having spent the past six years speaking Latin the majority of the time and Greek only on those special occasions when Hercules visited. He could understand, speak, read and write every language known to man as if he were a native in that tongue. It was an invaluable gift that had saved them many times in the past.
He also needed to practice his 'jumping ability.'
Before he had settled down with Sara, Iolaus had managed to leap from a standing-still position, straight up to a height of almost 30 feet. This ability had also saved his skin on more than one occasion over the past several centuries.
The one ability Iolaus hoped not to have to practice any time soon was the accelerated self-healing from mortal wounds. True, this ability was totally necessary in order for one to live an immortal life, but it came with side effects. Namely, exactly two days after receiving the mortal blow, the injured party would fall into a death-like trance, for at least twelve hours, to regenerate their bodies. They had to be somewhere safe and alone when this occurred, especially if they were both injured at the same time, because they could be mistaken for dead and wind up being buried, or worse, cremated - which, Michael had sternly assured them, is a bitch to undo.
After more than a week of tramping through the countryside, staying as far away from the main roads as possible, the two men arrived in the bustling port city of Ostia. They walked down towards the piers, wanting to start their quest with the people most directly involved in Marcia's business -- the business of foreign trade. Hercules did the asking while Iolaus stood, with his back to the sea, surveying the city.
When the demigod rejoined his friend, Iolaus was having a hard time containing his surprise and excitement. "Herc...Herc...take a look at this place. If I didn't know I was in Italy, I'd swear we were back in Greece. Am I seeing things, or is this place an exact duplicate of Corinth?"
"You're right, Iolaus. You're not seeing things. This place is an exact duplicate of Corinth. This city was founded by Greek sailors hundreds of years ago. I guess they just got homesick and made this their home away from home."
After making several more inquiries of the local merchants, Hercules returned to Iolaus' side saying, "Marsha's shop is just about where you would have found the tavern with the Ethiopian dancing girls if this were back in Jason's Corinth. Think you can find our way there?"
"I could find it blindfolded, buddy. Do you remember that one dancer who had the interesting tattoo on her chest but you could only ever see the top half of it sticking out of her costume?"
"Yeah, you and I and all the other Argonauts used to sit around, drinking ale all night and trying to guess what the bottom half of that tattoo looked like," Hercules fondly remembered.
"Well, I know what the bottom half looked like," Iolaus informed the demigod with a conspiratorial grin.
"Oh really? And just how did you come to have that knowledge or should I be afraid to ask?"
"Come on. It's a long story. I'll tell you on our way," Iolaus said.
They made their way through the crowded streets with familiar ease to the closed and boarded up shop that had belonged to Marcia and her husband Cattalus. In this area of the city, their questions about the woman were met with shrugs and stony silences. Evening was fast approaching. The two men were hungry, tired and frustrated. Just as Hercules was about to give up and try to find an inn where they could spend the night, a young, veiled woman approached them cautiously. After hearing their story, she pointed them in the direction of the home belonging to Marcia's in-laws, that sat on the outskirts of the city. She claimed that she had been friends with Marcia but she seemed too frightened to say much more than that before she hurried down the street and disappeared around a corner.
The home of Marcia's in-laws was large in comparison with its neighbors. The main house with its marble colonnade was set back off the road by more that twenty yards and was completely enclosed by a stone wall that towered at least a foot over the demigod's head. They approached the gate and stated their business to the guards.
Iolaus was requested to leave his sword and hunting knife with the gatekeeper before one of the guards led them up the tree-lined walk to the house. The heroes were ushered quickly through the portico and into the dining room where, it appeared the entire family had gathered for the evening meal.
Iolaus scanned the room but Marcia wasn't among those who sat on divans that surrounded the table. An elderly man, who was propped up on a pallet by strategically placed pillows and bolsters, was carried out of a nearby room and settled between two divans near the head of the table.
Hercules and Iolaus were invited to join them for dinner and to stay the night by a gray haired gentleman who they assumed to be the acting patriarch of the family. The man introduced himself as Eusbius, Cattalus' uncle. The family listened to Iolaus' story and offered him their condolences.
As Iolaus spoke of his search for Marcia a quiet settled over the group. All eyes looked to Eusbius as he responded for them. He told the heroes that Marcia had stayed with them for almost four years after Cattalus died. She was still in mourning and didn't appear to be reclaiming her life after her husband's death. She ran the business expertly and with great care and she told the family that she would continue working to preserve her husband's memory.
Then one day, Eusbius told the heroes, Marcia packed a bag, had her carriage readied, and left on a buying trip to Rome. She informed them that she expected to be gone for one week and that she was taking two of the guards with her.
Neither she nor the guards ever returned. All inquiries proved fruitless. All investigations turned up empty.
Hercules took everything in, searching the faces of the family members for their reactions to the patriarch's story. They all seemed to be in agreement with the details of Marcia's disappearance with the exception of the elderly man on the pallet. He appeared agitated and about to speak when Eusbius ordered the guards to carry him back to his room.
"Please excuse Gaius, he was quite fond of Marcia and, since his stroke, any mention of the girl's name sends him into fits of melancholy."
From where he sat, Hercules could see the old man through the open bedroom door as the guards and servants tried to settle him back into his bed. Gaius was much more agitated than melancholy. The old man had been obviously straining to listen to the rest of the conversation about Marcia and he was trying to talk but the door was slammed shut by his caretakers. The demigod resolved to get a private moment with the old man before they resumed their journey the next day.
Hercules and Iolaus were offered sumptuous accommodations in the guest quarters, which were located on the second floor of the large house. As nice and hospitable as the family had been towards them, they both suspected that vital pieces of information were being withheld. They agreed to do some investigating on their own, starting with Gaius.
On their way to the guest quarters, Iolaus noticed that guards had been posted in various rooms of the house. The only way to Gaius' room would be from the outside. They hoped that his bedroom would have a window facing out onto the gardens. Towards midnight, when the household had been completely quiet for some time, the heroes climbed down from their balcony and made their way to the part of the house that contained Gaius bedroom. They were not disappointed. The room had a large window overlooking the garden and, when they looked into the room, they were happy to find that the old man was alone.
"I've been waiting for you two," the old man whispered with an unsteady, broken voice. "You didn't believe any of that nonsense my brother was trying to pass off as truth, did you?"
"We were a bit skeptical," the demigod admitted as he and Iolaus approached the old man's bedside.
"I'm Gaius Speratus. Cattalus was my son. The day he married Marcia and brought her into our family was a blessed one for us all. She is a gentle soul who brought peace and happiness into our lives. I love Marcia as if she were my own daughter. She's not dead yet, nor has she disappeared. She's been kidnapped by a madman and I have to get her back home safely soon. I fear for her life."
"How do you know she was kidnapped?" asked Iolaus.
"Two people who witnessed her kidnapping as she traveled on the road to Rome came forward and told us of the circumstances. They have both since been killed for their honesty and their courage in coming forward to let us know of Marcia's fate. When we approached the kidnapper to arrange for her ransom we were warned, in the most polite terms, to forget that Marcia ever existed or it would mean the extinction of our entire family. I wanted to stand and fight, to do the honorable thing, but my brothers stopped me. That day as a result of my anger and frustration, I had this affliction befall me and, although I've regained my speech, I have not yet regained the use of my legs. Otherwise I would return to Rome and steal her back.
"Yours is a very powerful family in this part of the empire. Who is there who could threaten you so badly?" asked Hercules.
"A demon that does not deserve to have a name. Yet, he has a name so vile and bitter it would never cross my lips again if I didn't have to solicit your aid. It was Commodus, the dark emperor himself. He was Marcia's kidnapper," Gaius whispered then collapsed back into the pillows, spent by his efforts to control his anger as he spoke to the heroes. He rested but a moment before continuing. "She is too much of a delicate flower to be kept in that lunatic's household. I fear for her life, I fear for her sanity. Will you two help an old man? Will you find her for me?"
"I promise you, we will leave for Rome in the morning and we will bring her back to you," the demigod assured the elderly man.
"You must be very careful. Don't take the rumors or my warnings lightly. You will truly be dealing with a madman who is capable of every atrocity." Gaius warned the heroes as he took Iolaus' hand in his and made him promise to take care.
"I've been away from Rome for a while. What rumors?" asked Hercules.
"I've heard that he likes to wrestle in the coliseum with the gladiators. That he's pretty strong and takes great pride in being able to beat many of them. I've also heard that he likes to take out his enemies in hand-to-hand combat making the kills as painful and bloody as possible and that the opponents don't dare offer him more than a token resistance because they're surrounded by palace guards," Iolaus grimly reported. "I've even heard that he repeatedly forced himself on his own sister and when his wife protested, he had them both exiled. But don't worry; we've dealt with madmen before. We'll be back, with Marcia," Iolaus stated.
"Those aren't rumors, my son. They're all true. And worse, he's also spent the past several years executing hundreds of innocent people for their religious beliefs. He's developed many hideous new ways to torture and kill peoples."
"But that's not all," added Gaius. "The craziest thing is, he thinks he's the reincarnation of Hercules...the son of a god. He thinks it's his divine right, or divine legacy to destroy anyone who refuses to worship the old gods." Then he added with a choked off, sad little laugh, "can you imagine anyone crazy enough to believe they're Hercules? A legend come to life? If it weren't so sad, it would be funny."
Turning his head quickly away from the bed, Iolaus gave a strangled cough, hiding his big, goofy grin behind his free hand. The movement caused something to catch his attention and Iolaus pointed to the outline of a fish on the side of the headboard.
"Are you all Christian here, Gaius, or just you?" he asked the old man.
"I am a Christian. So is Marcia, as was my son and most of our family and friends," Gaius responded.
"Then you were on Commodus' list of enemies even before Marcia was kidnapped, isn't that right?" Iolaus asked.
"That's true, son," the old man replied.
"So, by saving Marcia and returning her to you, we could in effect be signing death warrants for all of you," Hercules surmised.
"Yes," Gaius replied.
"Then my friend and I have a lot of planning to do so the rescue works out with a happy ending for all concerned," the demigod said.
"We'd better be going," Iolaus said to the demigod as he noted the first rays of dawn peaking over the windowsill. "Can we do anything for you before we leave, Gaius?"
"I haven't been able to get out of this bed for a year. I would like to have the chance to see the sun rise over the hills of Rome. There's a perfect view of them from my window if you could just give me a..."
He didn't need to say any more. Hercules gently placed his hands under Gaius and lifted him into his arms. He carried him over to the window where Iolaus joined them. With Gaius sandwiched between them, Hercules lowered the man until he was standing between them, supported on both sides by strong arms.
A single tear coursed down the man's craggy face as he stood on his own two feet and watched the sun rise one more time over the far-off hills of Rome. "I want to see a Rome as great as it was before the Caesars...when we were a country of men, strong, loyal and unafraid to speak. Is that so much to ask?"
"No. No, it's not too much to ask," the demigod replied in a low, husky voice.
They returned Gaius to his bed, accepting his blessings for a safe and successful journey. Iolaus and Hercules hid in the garden near the old man's window waiting until the guard who was sauntering along the path back to their room was finished making his rounds. From their hiding place, they could hear the relatives talk about Marcia and Commodus as they took care of Gaius' morning ablutions. Their conversation confirmed the story the old man had told them the previous night and added a sense of urgency to their quest. It was apparent that the family believed Marcia was being kept by the Emperor as his concubine.
The two heroes snuck back to their room, jumping up to the second story balcony with ease, picked up their gear and prepared to take their leave of Marcia's family.
It was a twenty-mile walk from Ostia to Rome. The road was wide, smoothly paved and bandit-free, since it was well patrolled. There were several villages, many inns and what seemed like hundreds of rest stops and taverns lining the route. It was all so easy; the getting there, that is. It wasn't so easy to decide what to do when they arrived. The only things they could agree on were not to enter Rome at night, to find an inn outside the city walls where they could wash the dirt of the road off themselves, where they could get a decent dinner and a room the for night.
Iolaus had long ago come to the conclusion that no matter how long the two of them lived, the one and only thing he and Hercules would never be able to do together would be to formulate a solid, foolproof plan of action before the action actually took place.
The sun hadn't yet gone down when they stopped in a small village less than two miles outside the city of Rome. They found the inn, a nice warm room, and a place where they could wash up before dinner. The meal they ordered was a good, wholesome chicken stew with lots of fresh vegetables and hot-from-the-oven bread made with whole grains and honey. The friendly innkeeper kept their goblets filled with a robust wine that Iolaus recognized as being the product of a vineyard not far from his own.
Iolaus had just started on seconds when they heard a loud commotion out in the village square. From their table they could see people running past the inn's windows, away from the square as fast as their legs could carry them. They heard the slamming of doors and shutters. And above it all, they could hear the fearful screaming and wailing of women and children.
The heroes jumped out of their seats and ran to the windows to see what the commotion was about. In the twilight they could see a group of twenty or so men women and children being herded at sword point and prodded along by blazing torches into the middle of the square next to the village well.
Before Hercules and Iolaus could make it out of the inn's door, one of the men who was being pushed at sword point turned to face the soldiers and shouted. "We are not animals. Why have we been taken by force from our homes? By whose orders and for what transgression are we here?"
The Centurion stepped forward with a scroll. He theatrically unfurled it and began reading the decree to the small crowd of on lookers who were beginning to gather in the square. His voice rang loud and clear to reach those who chose to remain hidden behind their shutters or on their balconies.
"On this, the Ides of November, under the consulship of Praesens, and under the royal auspices of our great Emperor Commodus, the following citizens and their families have been called to appear here before you all to answer charges of treason against the State of Rome. Cittinus, Donata, Secunda, Vestia, Calimerius and Vincentus. Are you all citizens of Rome?"
"All are citizens of Rome save for myself," answered the same man who had earlier shouted questions at the soldiers. "I am Calimerius, a citizen of Greece."
"Where is your family?" barked the Centurion.
"All men are my brothers. But I'm certain that's not what you want to hear tonight. I have no wife, no children, if that's what you're interested in."
The soldier nearest the Greek raised his gauntleted hand and slapped him across the face, drawing blood. Then the soldier pulled Calimerius' arms behind his back to tie his wrists together. Three soldiers broke formation and dragged the prisoner to the top step of the well, holding him away from the other prisoners who were citizens.
The Centurion continued his reading. "You can obtain grace from our master the Emperor if you return to a reasonable frame of mind."
"I am Vincentus and I believe I speak for all of us when I say that we have never done anything evil nor lent ourselves to any iniquity. We have never said evil of anybody, rather we have always rendered good for evil and because of this we obey our Emperor. We cannot be guilty of treason."
The Centurion let the scroll drop to his side and replied, "We are also religious and our religion is simple. We swear by the greatness of our master the Emperor and we pray for his safety. You should do the same."
Vincentus replied, "Yes, but to whom do you pray? To the gods of Rome who were pirated from Mt. Olympus? Do you pray to the Lares and Penates of your household, or to ones you call the Fates? Or perhaps you pray to the Emperor who has proclaimed himself both god and son of a god?"
The soldier standing closest to Vincentus slapped him on the back of the head with the flat side of his sword, knocking the man to his knees.
"I am finished listening to impertinences against my religion. Swear now, before all these witnesses that you renounce your newly invented god. Swear your loyalty to the Emperor Commodus and we will release you and your families," demanded the Centurion.
"I am Christian, that is all I will swear to this day," shouted the oldest man of the group.
The others stood tall and each proclaimed themselves to be Christian. The Roman prisoners, who defiantly remained standing, were forced to kneeling positions at sword point. Calimerius, the Greek, was hoisted off of his feet by the soldiers and dumped down the well, head first.
This move by the soldiers caught Hercules and Iolaus off guard. But Iolaus knew immediately what was to follow. Roman citizens were executed only by beheading and he immediately informed the demigod of what to expect.
The two heroes ran into the square prepared to protect the innocents and to do battle with the soldiers. Unfortunately, by the time they reached the center of the square, they were already too late to save three of the men. Hercules leapt into the air and flew at the other three soldiers who stood over the remaining three male prisoners with their swords poised in mid air. He hit the first soldier hard with his feet causing the man to crash into the other two soldiers before they could make the downward swings with their swords.
The demigod landed lightly on his feet and found Iolaus at the ready, right behind him, in their usual back-to-back stance. He and the demigod fought so fast and furiously, they made short work of the soldiers who had been with the Centurion in the square. Iolaus loudly urged the women and children to run for their lives when he saw that they were being left unguarded.
Two of the men whose necks the heroes had saved ran to the women and began herding them and the children down the shortest alley that led directly to the fields of winter wheat that grew on the outskirts of the village.
The third man, a large, burly fellow who had the looks of a retired warrior, stayed to fight at the side of his rescuers. Hercules directed the man to block the alley that the others were using as an escape route so the soldiers couldn't follow.
The heroes were so intently focused on fighting the soldiers that they failed to notice a small group of cloaked men who were watching the proceedings from a balcony on the top floor of the inn. The tallest of the cloaked group lifted a torch in the air and waved it twice, signaling to a second group of soldiers. One hundred heavily armored men ran into the square with shields up and spears out, ready to join the fray.
With the demigod momentarily distracted giving directions to the third man, he left himself open to attack. Iolaus caught the glint of torchlight on the spearhead as it made directly for Hercules' ribs.
"No!!!" he screamed as he darted to the demigod's unprotected side. He brought his hands up to deflect the thrust but it wasn't enough to stop the momentum of the spear. The tip entered the soft part of Iolaus' shoulder where the upper arm meets the chest causing him to grunt with the sudden pain of it.
Iolaus pulled the spear out and dashed it on the ground. He never faltered in his job of protecting his partner's back. "Shallow thrust! Keep going!" he shouted over his shoulder to the demigod.
"No!" Hercules replied. "There are too many of them and you're injured. Surrender! We'll get out of it later but just in case be ready to jump on the count of "one." They cautiously raised their hands in the air in the act of surrender and waited.
The Centurion and his right hand man hefted their spears and, taking careful aim, they prepared to impale the two men who wreaked such damage on their comrades. An order, barked by one of the cloaked men from the balcony above, immediately put a halt to the soldiers' quest for battlefield justice.
Another barked order had the two heroes and the third prisoner being led back towards the inn.
Iolaus turned towards the Centurion saying, "you shove that spear in my back one more time, you're gonna wind up wearing it!" In response he received a sharp backhand to the nose.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed as he gingerly felt his nose to see if it were broken. Hercules knew he'd be okay as soon as he heard grumbling from his partner, complaining that he was having feelings of déjà vu and about the more things change the more they seem to remain the same.
The cloaked men met them at the entrance to the inn. One from the group stepped forward, grabbed Iolaus' wrist with a strong, meaty hand and swung him around so he could search the smaller man's eyes. Hercules made a move to protect his partner but was held at bay by at least twenty spears.
"You carry both a sword and a knife, yet you did not use them once during your skirmish with my soldiers. Why?" asked the cloaked man as he threw back his hood revealing the darkest hair and eyes Iolaus had seen since his last encounter with Ares. The man's armored breastplate indicated that he held the rank of a highly decorated General.
"I didn't want to kill anybody today, not even soldiers who worship the Emperor. I respect everyone's right to worship the god of their choice," he replied as he steadily stared back into the eyes of the man who addressed him.
The General looked over the blond's shoulder and called to his men, "Centurion! Casualty report!"
A voice called from the rear of the column, "No deaths to report, Lord. However, twenty are wounded. Eleven with broken bones, eight with sprains and one man is missing two fingers from an accidental blow by a comrade's sword."
The General turned his intense gaze back to the blond warrior. "You've succeeded in your objective. No kills on your tally sheet today."
"Centurion! Go after those two men who escaped from you and don't return until you have them both in custody. I want them alive. The women and children are free to go," the General ordered.
"Yes, sir!" replied the Centurion. He took a detail of twenty men and began the hunt.
Turning to the next ranking soldier the General ordered, "Take these three men to the encampment. Put them in healer's tent and double the guard. Tell the healer to care for their injuries as if they were my guests."
"Yes sir!" the soldier answered, quickly leading the prisoners away from the village.
The general and his cloaked men re-entered the dining room of the inn. They threw their hoods off and took seats at the table furthest from the door. The innkeeper rushed over with a pitcher full of the finest wine he had to offer and a tray of his most expensive, jewel encrusted goblets in which to serve it.
"It's him Eclectus! I'm certain of it." exclaimed the dark General.
"Who is it that you speak of, sir?" answered the older man who was richly dressed, but not in military finery.
"Did you see him Laetushis! He was magnificent! I suspected it first when I witnessed his selfless bravery. I asked myself what kind of love this is, that the smaller man would take a spear and willingly risk death for his bigger friend?"
"And then I realized that's what has been missing from my life. It's something that I had before but it's been gone from me for a long, long time. You are all true and loyal friends. This I know and do not doubt. But you are paid well for your loyalty. There is no one to watch my back willingly, freely and for no more payment than the return of love and friendship."
"But, Lord, that is not so..." exclaimed Eclectus with an emphatic shaking of his head that made the few hairs he had combed over his balding pate fly about in a comical manner.
"Don't deny the truth. But it doesn't matter any longer. When he stood before me and I looked deeply into his eyes, I could see his soul. It was then that my own soul recognized him. After all these years, I've found him!"
"Found who, Lord?" asked the taciturn Laetushis whose armor identified him as Chief of the Emperor's Praetorian Guard.
"I've found Iolaus, my best friend, my charioteer and beloved companion," the dark man cried out with a joyful smile.
"Iolaus, my Emperor? I've known you since you were just a small babe and you've never had a friend or companion by that name," stated Eclectus.
Commodus ignored his Chamberlain and continued; "I knew that Jupiter wouldn't let the Fates bring me back to a life without Iolaus by my side. I must make an offering as soon as we return to the city. Prepare one for me Eclectus. Two, three, no...four, four white, blemish free bulls. Have Jupiter's priests at the ready tomorrow eve. I will make the sacrifice of thanksgiving myself. Go and make the preparations."
"Laetushis, accompany me to the healer's tent. I must see him again. My heart is fairly jumping with excitement," exclaimed the Emperor.
"Yes, my Lord. I am at your service," replied the Chief Praetorian.
As they rose from the table to exit the inn, a young soldier ran in with a message from the healer. He bowed before Commodus and awaited his attention.
"Yes, soldier. Report," commanded Laetushis.
"It's the prisoners sir. They are in the healer's tent but the larger man won't let anyone get near the small blond man. When the guards tried to take him to another area for treatment, the larger man broke their wrists. He shouted at the healer to give him the water and bandages and to leave them alone. Our orders are not to injure either one of them but the big one is dangerous."
Commodus chuckled as the soldier made his report. "Of course the big one would put up a fight to protect the blond. It's obvious that the gods have fashioned him to be the man's protector until his charge can be delivered into my hands. I will see to it that he will be richly rewarded for his part in this."
The cloaked men left the puzzled soldier kneeling in the middle of the dining room as they swept past him on their way to the healer's tent.
Commodus entered the healer's tent accompanied by Laetushis and three heavily armed Praetorians. He remained by the tent's entrance flap while Laetushis ordered all of the guards, but those who had accompanied him, out of the tent.
As Commodus waited, he watched the large man tend to his friend's injury. He noted the tender care the man took as he washed the blood from the smaller man's chest before he examined the wound. When the last guard exited the tent, the Emperor slowly approached the chained men with his hands raised in a gesture of peace.
"What are your names?" he asked in a low, non-threatening voice.
Hercules paused in his ministrations and looked up into the dark Emperor's face, immediately assessing that they were in no immediate danger from this man.
Iolaus' voice piped up from the cot he was sitting on, "He's Marcus and I'm Tullius. We are both Roman citizens but of Greek origin."
Commodus ordered two of the remaining guards to remove the chains from their wrists and legs saying, "I did not order my men to put you in chains. I apologize for the misunderstanding and hope that you do not hold it against our hospitality. You are foreigners and do not understand our laws. As Greeks you undoubtedly would have expected an arrest and trial for the accused. In this great, overcrowded city of Rome however, through necessity, the justice is delivered swiftly. My soldiers were angry that you thwarted them in their duty and," he added with a chuckle, "that you did it in front of all the town's folk."
Hercules acknowledged the apology with a nod of his head but did not speak. He turned his attention back to cleansing Iolaus' wound.
Commodus held out his hand towards Hercules saying, "Marcus is it? Here, let me help you. I have acquired some skills as a battlefield healer over the years."
Hercules was set to refuse when a look from Iolaus stopped him. Hercules handed over the bowl of water and the cloth he was using to clean away the blood.
"You two are warriors? Have you served in the army?" Commodus asked.
"Yes, we have been in the army. Mostly in Greece and Macedonia," Hercules replied.
"Well, you fight like a two-man army. I was quite enjoying the exhibition you put on in town," Commodus said as he liberally sprinkled Iolaus' wound with a white powder that helped to stem infections.
The Emperor ran his fingers along the leather thong around Iolaus' neck. "You'll have to remove this so we can bandage you," he said.
Hercules helped Iolaus with the task. The broken medallion caught the Emperor's eye and piqued his curiosity. "How unusual," he said as he reached out a finger to run it across the smooth jade surface. What is it?"
Iolaus was about to answer when Hercules hand on his good shoulder squeezed almost imperceptibly. "My friend is an Olympic wrestler. One of the best in the world. This is one of the first-place medals he won."
"But it's broken. Why do you still wear it?" the Emperor asked.
"It was broken during a life and death struggle. I wear it to remind myself of how precious my life is and why," Iolaus answered and received another of Hercules' understanding squeezes on his good shoulder.
Hercules held the padding in place over the wound while Commodus wrapped the bandages around Iolaus' shoulder and chest.
"Why were you visiting this particular town?" the Emperor asked.
"We were on our way to Rome to find our fortune," answered Iolaus. "We wanted to enter the city in the morning fresh and well rested."
"Well, it seems that fortune has found you. If you're looking for work I have the perfect jobs for both of you," the Emperor said with a warm smile for them "There is an opening for Head Instructor in our Gladiatorial School. I have watched you, Marcus. You are patient and self-assured... the two leading attributes of a great teacher. You can start tomorrow. I will have Laetushis take you there and introduce you to your staff in the morning."
Then turning to Iolaus he continued, "You have undoubtedly heard that the Emperor is an Olympic-class wrestler himself. He has won every match and holds every title. But he needs to be challenged and you, Tullius, are just the man to do it. You will accompany me to the palace in the morning. As soon as you are healed, you will take on the position of personal wrestling trainer for the Emperor."
"I'd prefer to stay with my friend at the school while I recover," Iolaus protested.
"That's quite impossible. Although you may come and go as you please, your accommodations will be in the palace as my guest," replied the Emperor as he donned his cloak to leave. "You will both stay here in the healer's tent tonight. Be prepared to depart for the city two hours after dawn."
"And may we know the name of the man we have to thank for this great opportunity?" asked Hercules who was totally thrown off by the man's generous offer of freedom and jobs for them both when instead he had been expecting an immediate sentence of death.
"Oh my, have I forgotten to introduce myself? I guess I have. My name is Commodus. I am the Emperor of Rome."
When the heroes had finally been left alone in the healer's tent, they exchanged looks that spoke volumes of their shocked disbelief.
"Well, my friend, it looks like fortune has smiled on us today. You'll be in the palace where you can gather information about Marcia and I'll be in the biggest rumor-mill this side of the Tiber River where I can try to pick up some clues," said Hercules.
"I don't like it when fortune comes this easily. It doesn't feel right," Iolaus responded.
"I don't like it much either. We'll have to stay in touch daily until we can locate Marcia and get her out of the city."
"You're assuming she's still alive," Iolaus stated.
"Well, that was Commodus, her alleged kidnapper. He doesn't appear to be that much of a madman so maybe she's enjoying his hospitality as a guest of the palace too," Hercules said with a wink and a smile for his friend. "Let's get to bed. I think we both deserve a good rest after that workout we had tonight."
"Now that you mention it, I am tired. I haven't had a good fight like that in years," Iolaus replied as he tried to stifle a big yawn.
"Iolaus?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it Herc. Come to bed."
"Yeah. Goodnight Iolaus."
The next morning the heroes woke with the soldiers before dawn. As they rolled out of their beds, even before their feet hit the floor, servants entered the tent bringing them washbasins filled with warm, floral scented water and soft towels. Breakfast trays piled high with hearty, military fare were waiting for them on a makeshift table right inside the door of the tent.
Commodus and his cloaked men appeared at the healer's tent exactly two hours after dawn ready to start the march back into the city of Rome.
"Good morning, gentlemen. Tullius...Marcus, I trust that you both slept well," said the Emperor with a genuinely happy smile and a warrior's handshake for each of them.
Turning to Iolaus he asked, "do you drive? I have a chariot waiting to take us to the palace. I thought if you enjoyed driving and if your shoulder isn't hurting too much, you might like to take the reigns. She's new and she handles like a beauty."
"It's one of my favorite past times," Iolaus replied enthusiastically, thinking that this assignment might not be so bad after all.
"Good. My men will show you to my chariot. I'll join you in a few minutes," said Commodus with a friendly clap on Iolaus' back.
"And you, Marcus, Laetushis will take you to the gladiatorial school just as soon as he receives his orders. Your wait will be just a few more minutes," Commodus said before turning away to join his cloaked advisors.
Hercules sat on a bench close to the group, making himself look busy taking his boots off, shaking them out and re-adjusting them on his feet. His presence went totally ignored by the group, allowing him to hear Commodus' conversation.
"I am now more certain than I was last night. It is him. My heart and my soul have recognized him," Commodus declared to the group.
"But Lord, if he is truly the man you say he is, wouldn't he recognize you too?" asked Eclectus.
"These things come slowly. We have only just met in this lifetime. We must give him a chance for the recognition to set in. As he spends time with me his memories will return. Just like mine did. It could take months." Commodus replied. "In the meantime Eclectus, when you have finished arranging the sacrifice of the bulls to Jupiter, I want you to have papers drawn up to legally change his name back to what it once was. Tullius is a noble name but from tomorrow he will be known only as Iolaus. He will once again be my beloved companion."
"Laetushis, after you take Marcus to the school and introduce him to the staff I want you to take Iolaus on a tour of the palace. I want him to get to know the place as rapidly as possible, as if it were his own home. He'll come around more quickly if it feels comfortable in his surroundings. And tell him I'll see him at breakfast tomorrow in my chambers."
"Yes Lord," replied the Chief Praetorian who saluted sharply as the Emperor strode off towards his new chariot.
The Emperor's orders to have his partner's name legally changed from Tullius to Iolaus shocked and frightened the demigod to his very core. Even more chilling was the conversation he overhead next between Laetushis and his men.
"Gentlemen, he's thinking he's Hercules again but now he thinks that this blond Greek is the reincarnation of his companion, or catamite or whatever. I don't like it. He's getting to be more of a lunatic as the days go by."
"Is there nothing we can do, Commander?" asked one of his men.
"No. Nothing at present, however we must be vigilant. And now we have the added concern of these Greeks. We'll let them have their freedom for the time being but, whatever you do, don't let them out of your sight. Watch their comings and goings. Mark well who they associate with and, if either one of them makes a false move, kill them both."
Laetushis and his men strode over to where Hercules was now standing and asked if he were prepared to leave for the school. Receiving an affirmative response, they all turned to the main road leading into the city.
As they walked along the smoothly paved road Hercules couldn't help but think, 'He is a madman after all. He probably has Marcia imprisoned somewhere and now he's got Iolaus too. I've got to warn Iolaus to be extra careful.'
Commodus asked Iolaus to pause the chariot on the top of a hill. From this vantage point the whole of the city was displayed before them. The view struck Iolaus' eye with a dazzling white light. The city climbed upward until great pillars and walls and shining domes mingled together in a vast forest of gleaming stone. This would be his home for the time being until he could find and rescue Marcia -- a daunting task in a city so big.
Iolaus was given a luxurious suite of rooms on the same corridor as the Emperor's suite. Commodus had instructed him to become acquainted with his quarters while he waited for Laetushis to take him on the royal tour.
He knew that the Emperor considered him to be a guest, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that guest was just one step above prisoner here in this cold impersonal palace.
Laetushis gave him a very thorough, efficient tour of the palace. They lingered in the royal kitchens just long enough to sample some of the dishes that were to be served at the Emperor's table for lunch.
The praetorian noticed Iolaus' look of distaste over several of the platters that passed them on the way to the royal dining room and he laughed. Something that Iolaus thought the taciturn soldier was incapable of doing.
"I'm not too fond of the hummingbird tongues in wine sauce, or the ground tiger mixed with rice and spice and cooked in it's own entrails either," said Laetushis.
"I have a great appetite and I'll usually eat everything and anything that's put in front of me," Iolaus told the Praetorian. "But seeing the dead animals... skin, fur, feathers and all...decorating the same platters that the food is being served on is just a bit too much for me to take. No offense, but if they're going to serve this stuff for dinner, I'll just go out and try to find a tavern where I can get some simple food," Iolaus said with a small shudder.
"If you don't mind simple military food, you're invited to dine with me in the officer's quarters," offered Laetushis who was beginning to relax a bit around Iolaus now that he'd had a chance to spend some time with him.
"I most gratefully accept your kind invitation. If your dinner is as good as the military breakfast was this morning, I plan on being a frequent visitor at your table," Iolaus replied with a friendly smile.
They continued the tour with a visit to the stables, the emperor's personal training arena and the royal bathhouse. An hour before sunset both guest and guide were back in the part of the palace that contained Iolaus' suite. His eyes idly roamed the corridor, passing from the walls of gleaming white marble to the tremendous soaring columns and the vaulted ceiling, so lofty that the upper pillars were lost in hazy shadows. His gaze shifted to the center of the vast corridor where a fountain featured a nymph-like figure holding aloft a torch so brilliant it illuminated the entire hallway.
"Laetushis? Am I correct in assuming that those large doors across the hall lead to the Emperor's quarters?" Iolaus asked the Praetorian.
"Yes, your assumption is correct," he replied. "It is heavily guarded and no one enters uninvited."
"That's...uh...good to know. Thanks. So if that's the Emperor's suite, then who is my neighbor?" asked Iolaus who pointed to a doorway just a little further down the corridor from his.
"That's the Lady Marcia's suite. She's not here at present. She's been sent on a mission to bring comfort and supplies to the Emperor's sister and his ex-wife who are presently being detained on the Isle of Capri. This area of the palace will be very quiet until she and her entourage returns to celebrate the Saturnalia. Enjoy it while it lasts," Laetushis advised as he gripped Iolaus' arm in a warrior's handshake.
"Ah, the Lady Marcia. I never figured the Emperor of Rome to be so progressive as to employ a woman diplomat or envoy," Iolaus observed.
"She's not the Emperor's envoy. She's the Emperor's wife. If I may offer a word of advice for when she returns, friend, I would suggest that you keep a respectable distance and behave towards her as you would towards your own sister. She is young and, in her innocence, she could inadvertently do something to upset her status here. I would not look kindly on anyone who might cause such a thing to happen. I look forward to seeing you at dinner. Are you certain you can find your way? If not, I'll send one of the guards to escort you."
"No, I'll find my own way. I remember directions very well," Iolaus replied, leaving no doubt in Laetushis' mind that Iolaus both heard and understood his message.
"It's so good to see you again Tullius!" the Emperor exclaimed as he rose from his divan to greet Iolaus the following morning. He draped his arm around the smaller man and steered him towards the head of the table where they could sit side-by-side to share breakfast.
"How is your shoulder coming along?" he asked solicitously.
"Almost as good as new," he replied as he gingerly moved his shoulder back and forth to confirm it. "It was nice of you to send the healer around to my rooms this morning to change the bandages."
"Come and eat. A good breakfast will help you heal even faster," Commodus said as he motioned for the slaves to start bringing the platters of food to the table.
The Emperor dominated the conversation, regaling the group with stories of his travels until all of his invited guests had finished their meals. When the last platter had been cleared from the table, all were dismissed from the room with the exception of Iolaus.
"Does anything in this room catch your fancy or seem somewhat familiar Tullius?" the Emperor asked Iolaus.
"Well, now that you mention it, the lion skin caught my eye. I haven't seen one so fine since my travels in North Africa." Iolaus cheerily replied. Thinking to make conversation he asked, "did you take down the beast yourself?"
This question made Commodus laugh with unbridled happiness. "Oh, my friend, of course I did. I brought him down with my own two bare hands in fact," he exclaimed.
Iolaus raised his eyebrows in mild disbelief at that revelation.
"And do you know why your attention was drawn to it. It's because you remember it from another place, another time that is very, very far back in your past. You are going to find this hard to believe at first, but I want you to keep an open mind about what I am going to tell you. This skin is from the Nemean Lion. Do you recognize that name?"
"Yes, of course, everyone knows the story of the Nemean Lion," replied Iolaus. "But Hercules was the one who killed it."
"Yes!" Commodus shouted with glee. He grabbed Iolaus by his upper arms and held him still while he earnestly looked into the blond's eyes. "I am Hercules. Jupiter, or Zeus as you know him, had me brought back to life. As his favorite son, and as a reward for my love and loyalty, he made me a gift of this great Empire and he has asked me to rule it and to bring all worship back to him as the greatest god of all. It has been a lonely existence for me, until now. Jupiter has heard my prayers and he has given me the greatest gift possible with the exception of this Empire. He has returned to me my beloved companion."
With those words, he pulled the surprised hero into a bear hug and whispered huskily into the blond's ear, "I recognized you the moment I set eyes on you Iolaus my old friend."
Iolaus stood stock-still waiting for the Emperor to release him from the tight embrace. "I know it's a bit of a shock and it may take you a while to recognize me again. After all, reincarnation can disorient a person for a while. It took me until my eighteenth year to remember that I was Hercules in my previous existence. You don't mind that I call you Iolaus do you?"
"Uh...nah, I guess not," Iolaus stuttered when he finally found his tongue. "Actually I think I rather prefer it. You know - new life here in Rome, fresh beginning..."
"Oh my old friend I envy you that. I need a new beginning myself. But that's a luxury I'll never know -- being the son of a god - saddled with the responsibilities of state - putting up with all these pathetic, mewling old men of the Senate. Mark my words, Iolaus. Someday I'll take matters into my own hands, knock over the pillars and pull the whole senate building down on top of them."
"Come with me Iolaus. I'll introduce you to our city," the emperor said as he linked arms with the hero and led him through a back door and out to the stables.
'I was right,' Iolaus thought as he let the Emperor take the lead. 'He's crazier than Caligula and Nero combined. I've got to warn Hercules.'
Iolaus spent most of the day in the chariot with the Emperor being shown around the beautiful city of Rome. He was surprised to realize how close the palace was to the Coliseum. The magnificent arena was less than a quarter of a mile down a wide statue-lined concourse.
The gladiatorial school, where the demigod was now acting as head instructor, occupied a multi-columned white marble building that could easily have passed as a temple. It sat at the rear of the Coliseum connected to the arena by a series of decorative wrought-iron fences.
With the possible exception of Athens in it's glory days, and Cairo in the time of Cleopatra, Iolaus had never seen such a breathtakingly beautiful city. It was a shining white marble jewel perfectly placed in the setting of the seven hills that surrounded and protected it.
They finished their tour shortly before the Emperor was scheduled to take lunch with a visiting delegation from Libya. He offered an invitation for Iolaus to join him but Iolaus respectfully declined. Commodus fell into a brooding reverie of rejection, his sad eyes upon the floor of the chariot. Witnessing the instant mood swing, Iolaus quickly added that he was much too restless to sit through diplomatic or political lunches and that he wouldn't want to make a bad impression on the Emperor's guests. Then he soothed any hurt feelings Commodus' might have harbored by asking if he could have an invitation to dinner instead.
The Emperor's visage brightened and he clapped Iolaus on the back saying, "I wouldn't be with them either, if I didn't have to for the betterment of Rome. Go. Enjoy your new home."
Iolaus jumped off the chariot and turned to wave before heading down the concourse towards the Coliseum.
"Laetushis!" Commodus called to the Chief Praetorian.
"Yes, Lord!" Laetushis responded with a sharp salute.
"Have him followed. It wouldn't do to have anything happen to him now that I've just found him again," Commodus ordered.
"Consider it already done, Lord," the Praetorian replied with another sharp salute.
Iolaus entered the gate to the gladiatorial school and was shown directly to the training room. He stood and watched as Hercules attempted to demonstrate to a group of at least fifty gladiators how to fight with unconventional weapons. It seemed that they had been so indoctrinated into fighting with their assigned weapons that even if they became disarmed during a match they wouldn't look for anything else to defend themselves with. When he saw that he wasn't making any headway with the class, the demigod switched approaches.
"I am unarmed yet I could still beat any one of you in the arena by using unconventional weapons," he stated.
The warriors of the arena just stood around shaking their heads and calling him crazy.
"Okay, I'm crazy. Attack me and I'll show you how crazy I am. Come on. Attack me," Hercules ordered.
One of the larger gladiators asked, "Which one of us are you talking to?"
"All of you," came the demigod's reply.
Iolaus grinned and shook his head when he heard the demigod's reply. 'This is going to be a fun lesson,' he thought as he settled back to watch the action.
They attacked. The demigod did a tuck and roll, sending himself bowling into the legs of the gladiators who went after his back. He knocked down about ten men with that one maneuver and in a flash he was standing behind them wielding a mace that he had taken from one of the fallen men. He swung the mace as a diversion at the gladiators who continued the attack so he could go after the smallest man in the group first. He caught the smaller fighter off guard and off balance knocking him hard to his knees. Hercules kicked the net out of the man's hand causing it to land on top of four gladiators who were preparing to rush the demigod with swords drawn. It slowed their advance down just enough to give the demigod time to grab the smaller gladiator by his hands and swing him around so that the man's booted feet now became the unconventional weapon of Hercules' choice.
Hercules fought about twenty of the attackers off this way as he slowly backed up towards the door where Iolaus leisurely stood leaning against the doorjamb, arms folded, watching amusedly. The demigod let go of the smaller gladiator, sending him flying into the attackers who were at his back separating him from the door.
Hercules jumped backwards over the fallen men and when he was within six feet of the door he yelled "Thermopylae!"
"How does he do that," Iolaus muttered under his breath as he jumped into position at his partner's back. He was certain that Hercules hadn't seen him come into the room. He'd been hoping to surprise him.
Within ten minutes they had defeated all fifty men in the room. Hercules helped Iolaus into a standing position, dusted himself off and as the two heroes left the training room he shouted orders over his shoulder for the men to continue their training.
When they arrived in Hercules quarters, the demigod double-checked the rooms. When he was assured that they were alone he began speaking with Iolaus in a dialect of Chin.
"Just a precaution. I'm being followed everywhere," Hercules said
"Make that both of us. I was followed here by two of the soldiers we fought the other night," Iolaus replied.
"Iolaus, we've got to be extra careful. The Emperor's crazy. He thinks he's me," Hercules advised his best friend.
"Crazy doesn't even cover it. Sure he thinks he's Hercules but guess who he thinks I am?" the blond asked.
"Iolaus." Hercules answered.
"Yes Herc?" Iolaus responded.
"No, Iolaus. He thinks you're Iolaus," Hercules advised in earnest.
"But I am Iolaus," the blond replied with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
"Iolaus!" Hercules growled in frustration.
"Gottcha!" Iolaus replied with a giggle.
"This is no time for kidding around, buddy."
"No kidding, Herc. He's got Marcia." Iolaus said as he sobered quickly.
"You've found her already?" Hercules asked.
Iolaus recounted for Hercules his conversation with Laetushis, adding a comment of his own that he believed the Praetorian was possibly in love with Marcia himself.
"So we have almost one month before Marcia returns from her trip to Capri. I don't think it would be wise for us to try to leave here now, or to attempt to intercept her and take her from the island. Not with our every move being reported back to someone, probably the Emperor. We'll just have to bide our time. Do you think the Emperor will pose any danger to you? Or Laetushis?"
"No Herc, not if I play the part. Commodus doesn't expect me to regain memories of my 'previous life' for several months yet. I'm sure I can play him along for the next four weeks just being my normal, loveable old self." Iolaus said with a grin.
"You do that. And while I'm here there are a few things I want to investigate. It seems that Commodus is using Christian prisoners as fodder for the gladiators in the arena. There seems to be an underground tunnel that connects this school with the prison. On days when there are exhibitions in the Coliseum the prisoners are led through the tunnel into the school and enter the arena from the gladiators' entrance. I want to find a way for these people to escape. I understand that the Emperor has special games planed for after the Saturnalia. That will give me time to study the situation and develop a plan." Hercules informed his friend.
"Just be careful. If we time everything right, we could rescue Marcia and the prisoners in one clean sweep," Iolaus added.
"We have to be in touch. Will you be able to come back for a while tomorrow?" Hercules asked.
"I don't think that would be wise. Commodus wasn't too happy that I wanted some free time today. How about you come up to the palace for dinner tomorrow as my guest," Iolaus suggested.
"Sounds good. See you tomorrow," Hercules replied.
Hercules came to dinner the following evening as they had planned. He was not happy to find Iolaus and Eclectus, the Emperor's Chamberlain, waiting at the main entrance of the palace carrying an evening toga with matching sandals for him to change into.
He had assumed that he and Iolaus would be dining alone, but instead found that they would be among almost a hundred guests at a state dinner, sitting at the Emperor's table.
The heroes didn't have much time to talk all that evening; the Emperor monopolized most of the conversation at the table.
The following day Iolaus asked for permission to take his leave of the Emperor in order to go to the gladiatorial school under the guise of finding some good opponents to train with.
Commodus seemed to be a little annoyed with his asking. "Why are you running off to spend so much time with your old friend? You've been employed to be with me here in the palace."
"It's been a while since I've wrestled professionally, Lord. I'm good. In fact I'm the best...but I'm no match for a demigod such as yourself. I need to work out my injured shoulder and get into peak form quickly so that you and I can begin our training sessions." Iolaus responded with a quick, winning smile that melted Commodus' stern face into a matching broad smile.
"Go, you have my permission but don't take too long. I need to be perfectly trained by New Year's Day. I have grand plans that include an exhibition in the Coliseum," Commodus replied. "By the way, I would like it very much if you would call me Hercules instead of Lord."
"I couldn't do that," Iolaus protested. "I mean, it wouldn't feel right to be so familiar."
"All right Iolaus," Commodus conceded. "I won't push you. It will come to you naturally soon enough."
Over the course of their first week in Rome, the heroes managed to spend at least a little time together each day. Iolaus reported on the daily routine of palace life and Hercules reported on his investigation into the plight of the Christian prisoners.
He told his partner that, in his nightly explorations of the tunnels between the prison and the school, he had been able to make contact with the three men whose lives they'd saved in the village outside of Rome. They were being held in the prison and they had heard rumors about a mass execution planned for some time around New Year's Day. This rumor was leant credibility when combined with Commodus' cryptic remark to Iolaus about a wrestling exhibition for the same day.
Hercules had formulated a plan of escape and he shared it with his partner. He decided that he would talk to the warden of the prison, asking him for the loan of ten to twelve strong prisoners who could help in reconstruction of one of the training rooms. Hercules would ask to pick the prisoners himself, ostensibly to determine their levels of skill, but mostly just to make certain that he chose them all from the group of condemned Christians.
He planned to have the outer wall of the training room demolished and extended so that it almost touched the guard fence around the school. While some of the prisoners were attending to various construction aspects, Hercules would have the rest of them working at digging a tunnel under the fence - a tunnel that would surface inside a near by safe-house for the Christians - a safe-house that contained another secret tunnel that led to a series of underground chambers known as the catacombs -- catacombs from which the Christians could find safe escape.
The heroes decided that this was a good, solid plan that presented the best opportunity for success. The only thing that concerned Hercules was how Iolaus might be able to get Marcia away from the palace to join them in the catacombs. That part of the plan could not be solidified until Marcia's return from Capri and the actual time for action drew near.
By the end of the heroes' first week in Rome, the Emperor was beginning to develop a deep sense of jealousy over the relationship between the two Greeks, and the amount of time that the two men spent together in the larger man's quarters at the gladiatorial school. He wanted Iolaus' attention all to himself but he didn't want to put too much pressure on him, fearing that a swift end to the old relationship would slow down the return of Iolaus' memories of his former life.
Early in the morning of the first day of their second week in Rome, Commodus sat in his study, brooding over his official calendar. He realized that the upcoming three weeks before Saturnalia were going to be relatively quiet ones. It was the perfect time for him to start stirring things up.
Just a little later in the morning, he called Laetushis, Eclectus and Iolaus into his office for a meeting. He struck his favorite lecture pose and began to long-windedly inform them of his plans for the New Year.
"My friends, my dear, dear friends...let me introduce you to the noted historians Dio and Herodian. The five of you are all here to bear witness to a birth. The greatest birth since that of my father Jupiter's."
"I assume you are all aware of the problems I've been having over the years trying to obtain the cooperation of the Senators. They have closed their minds to me...to Rome...and as a result they think I have committed a grave offense against them. I taxed them! Yes, I have dared to tax them and, in my munificence, have spent the money on the people and the army where it belongs."
"I have tried for over ten years to gain the Senate's attention. They will not listen to what the gods have ordained for this great Empire. So, I am revealing all of it to you, my friends and through these noble historians I will also be revealing it to my people and my army. They're the only ones who really count any way. Isn't that so, Laetushis...Iolaus?
"To begin this Golden Age, Jupiter brought me anew from his loins. I am Hercules Romanus and I am to reveal myself as a god to my people on the New Year. I will take part in the spectacles in the Coliseum that day. I will fight and defeat our most skilled gladiators and I will test my talents by taking on the most ferocious of our beasts. I will prove to our people and to my armies that Jupiter has restored me to be the sole protector of his Empire."
"On New Years Day I will also take the title of Consul and absorb all the powers of the Senate through that title. There will be no more Senate. There will be no more Rome. There will be no more talk of restoring the Republic. Until today Rome has been nothing more than an egg. A great, nesting egg that is on the verge of hatching. The Senate has been protecting the developing Empire like a shell -- nurturing it like a yolk -- but it has outlived it's usefulness."
"Out of this hatching egg will emerge the true, everlasting Empire that we've become. Lucia Commodiana! I will love and protect the people and the armies of my fledgling Empire. I will control them as a father controls a very young child, with a firm hand and without censure or opposition. Lucia Commodiana will expand to include every piece of land in Europe, Asia and Africa. The world will be as one and I, Hercules Romanus, will be it's heart."
"You, my friends, and I will be spending the next three weeks touring the villages in the vicinity of the city at the head of my army. I feel the need to remind the people of the region, as well as the Senators, who their real leader and protector is and to imprint in their minds who holds the favor of the army. Laetushis and Iolaus, you will accompany me on my triumphal tour. Eclectus I order you to stay in the palace and prepare for the New Year's Day ceremonies. Please be ready to leave before dawn tomorrow morning. There is no more time to waste. Jupiter is losing patience. Now, you are all dismissed, except you Iolaus. Accompany me to my private training arena. I am invigorated and feel the need to exercise."
Once in the dressing room he and Iolaus stripped down to their loincloths. Attendant slaves oiled their muscles, and escorted them into the wrestling arena. A referee was chosen from amongst a group of Praetorian officers who had the Emperor's standing permission to use the modern facility, and the match was on.
Iolaus curbed his strength and gave the Emperor several fairly even matches. During one particularly difficult hold, Commodus poked Iolaus in the shoulder and noted, "You've healed quickly, my friend."
Iolaus reversed the hold, poked Commodus in the shoulder and replied, "I had to. I was under orders from the Emperor." Then the hero went on to pin Commodus for three matches in a row. Each time he patiently taught Commodus the moves he had used to bring the Emperor down.
When Commodus had enough he called an end to the training session. He grabbed a couple of soft, extra-large towels from the slave and threw one at Iolaus before leading the way to the bathhouse. The Emperor escorted Iolaus into a large room with two ornately carved tables and he clapped his hands loudly. Four slaves appeared immediately from behind the marble columns. One carried a tray laden with fruits and sweets. One carried a pitcher of wine and two goblets. The other two slaves brought with them flagons of scented oils for their massage and styli for scraping the oil off of them before they entered the baths.
After their massage and scraping they headed leisurely towards the warm baths. Commodus' left hand was draped casually over the smaller man's shoulder as he pointed out the tiled murals on the walls and ceiling of the vast bath chamber with his other hand. As he spoke of the artistic decorations and statues, his left hand began to move purposefully and seductively over the muscles of Iolaus' back.
Iolaus looked about the chamber and realized that they had been left alone. No guards, no attendants were there to witness what Commodus intended for him. His muscles twitched with revulsion and he shrugged the murderous Emperor's hand off of his back.
"Iolaus, what's wrong?" the Emperor questioned in an innocent tone of voice.
"Don't. Just don't do that, okay?" Iolaus said to Commodus as he took one step out of the Emperor's reach.
Commodus smiled at Iolaus and looked as if he were going to say that it was all a mistake but instead he struck out as quickly as an attacking cobra. He took Iolaus off guard and pinned him against the base of one of the marble statues that ringed the chamber.
"It's been torture having you here with me but still without your memories. I've been longing to touch you and to resume our relationship. You do know how the legend goes, Iolaus. You're my beloved companion. Maybe this will help you remember," Commodus urged as he pressed his face into the blond curls at Iolaus' neck.
"Not in this lifetime, pal," Iolaus responded angrily as he gripped the marble under his hands and pushed back, attempting to knock Commodus away from his back.
"You'll come around eventually Iolaus. It's been preordained by Jupiter. You will regret today's rejection and missed opportunity. On that day, I will be magnanimous. I will forgive you, but you will make it up to me. Of that you can be most certain," Commodus, whispered against his ear before roughly letting go of the hero.
Iolaus returned to his rooms, changed his clothes and made his way to the school to tell Hercules of the Emperor's plans.
"We can't be out of touch for such a long period of time," said Hercules after he'd been apprised of the plans and about the encounter between the emperor and his partner. "I think I have an idea. Come with me to the marketplace we're going to do some shopping."
The heroes took a leisurely stroll through the marketplace stopping at several shops and stalls to pick up extra warm clothing and travel gear that Iolaus would need for his three weeks on the road with the Emperor and the army. Then Hercules led them to the slave auction house. They walked through the lines of chained men, women and children until the demigod saw what he was looking for. They called the chain master over and placed their bid for one of the men in the line. After some shrewd bargaining, the slave that Hercules wanted was delivered into their hands. Then the three men made their way silently and quickly back to the school.
Once inside the demigod's quarters, Iolaus took stock of the slave they had purchased. He was an unassuming young man, approximately the same height as Iolaus but rather on the thin side. He had large brown eyes, a strong aquiline nose, and a receding hairline that made his forehead look much too big for his face.
"Iolaus," said Hercules with a grin. "Meet Pontian, your new 'slave'. Oh, by the way, you're not really a slave. I'm having your manumission papers written up as we speak."
The young man gasped. "How did you know my name?"
Hercules clapped his hands once and in through the office door walked another young man who ran to Pontian's side and grabbed him up in a bear hug. "He knew because I told him, brother."
"Peregrinus!" the young slave shouted joyfully as he hugged his twin brother back enthusiastically. "How did you get out of the prison?"
"Marcus here is the new head instructor at the gladiatorial school. He's found the tunnels that connect the school to the prison and he's helping us build an escape route. He and Iolaus are our friends and we're going to help them in return for their kindness."
"You don't have to help, if you don't want to. You're free to choose, Pontian," Iolaus reminded the young man whom they'd just rescued from the slave market.
The heroes sat with the twins for the rest of the day sharing their plans. Iolaus would take Pontian back to the palace and introduce him as his personal slave. Peregrinus would shadow the Emperor's entourage until he could find a convenient time to slip in and pass himself off as his brother. They would both be there, in the camp with Iolaus, but they would not allow themselves to be seen together. When one man would leave to bring messages back and forth between the heroes, the other would still be seen in the camp the whole time.
Iolaus returned to the palace, with Pontian, in time to wash and dress for dinner. When Iolaus entered the dining room, he was shown to a different seat from the one he had been occupying since his arrival at the palace, although he was still seated at the Emperor's table. His customary spot at the table had been taken over by a young wrestler whom Commodus introduced to his other guests as Narcissus, an up and coming new star of the arena.
His resemblance to Iolaus was not lost on the other dinner guests. Narcissus was a compact blond with large blue eyes and an athletic physique. His laughter filled the air as he and Commodus shared stories of their accomplishments in the wrestling arena. Most uncomfortably noticeable to Iolaus was the fact that the young wrestler did not seem to be opposed to the Emperor's physical attentions, even though with every touch or caress Commodus would look right past him and directly into Iolaus' eyes.
The evening was nerve wracking. Iolaus endured the Emperor's outrageous behavior and the titters and whisperings of the other guests until he thought he couldn't stand it any longer. When Commodus judged that he had pushed Iolaus as far as he could without risking a scene, he dismissed everyone, citing his need for rest due to his early departure on the following morning.
When they gathered in the courtyard at dawn, Iolaus was directed towards the Emperor's chariot while his 'slave' Pontian was directed towards the contingent of household help that would accompany them.
Iolaus was given the reins and the Emperor climbed into the chariot, taking his place next to the hero. Commodus was quite animated; laughing, joking and making pleasant small talk until they were all ready to leave. Just before the chariot took off, Commodus held out his hand and motioned towards someone on the edge of the crowd. Narcissus stepped forward and the Emperor invited him into the cab to ride with them.
Iolaus concentrated on driving the chariot, taking in the sights and delights offered by the villages that lay on the outskirts of the impressive but cold, marble city of Rome.
They rapidly fell into a travel routine. Iolaus was impressed by how the Roman army operated like a well-oiled machine. Tents for the Emperor, his guests and his officers were erected and fully furnished within five minutes of the call to set up camp. Mess tents and cooking fires were fully functional within ten minutes.
In the evenings, as they waited for their supper, Commodus would engage in either sword play or wrestling exhibitions with the officers, or with Iolaus or Narcissus to entertain the troops.
The first evening on the road, Commodus recalled that Iolaus had carried a sword and a knife on the night they had met. He asked the hero if he knew how to use them both effectively. Iolaus replied that he was a swordsman, trained in the best Academy in Greece when he was a teenager. In response, Commodus challenged him to a match.
The Emperor was a skilled opponent with a ruthless sense of timing. Iolaus was equally skilled but he had the added benefit of having picked up several unique sword tricks over the centuries. He had the Emperor disarmed inside of three minutes. When Commodus found out how accomplished Iolaus was with a sword, he ordered that only half of their training sessions would involve wrestling, the other half would concentrate on back-to-back practice with their weapons.
Each night, after supper, Commodus would take Narcissus and retire to his tent, leaving Iolaus and the officers to their own amusements.
During the long, chilly nights, Iolaus became closely acquainted with Laetushis. The Chief Praetorian initiated the friendship by asking Iolaus if he would instruct him in all of the moves, both wrestling and sword-wise that the blond was teaching the Emperor. Iolaus happily obliged and warmed to the Praetorian, discovering in him a simple man who loved his country more than his own life; a man who served his Emperor in spite of the man's cruelty, hoping to temper the cruelty with whatever mercies he could allow.
Iolaus sent word to Hercules, via Pontian, of his developing friendship with Laetushis. Hercules responded that he thought it was a very good idea to try and cultivate him as a possible ally for when they attempted their escape. Especially if Iolaus thought there was an emotional connection on the part of the Praetorian for Marcia.
One evening, after their training exercises, Iolaus and Laetushis sat about a warm brazier in the Praetorian's tent, sharing a skin of the Emperor's best wine. Talk turned to women.
"Are you married, Iolaus?" the Praetorian asked.
"I was. My wife died shortly before I came to Rome. What about you?" Iolaus replied trying to turn the conversation away from himself.
"Yes. I have a wife and two children. I haven't seen them for quite a while. It's my job. It doesn't exactly guarantee safety for them. I bought a good-sized piece of land in Gaul many years ago and sent them off to live there. It's for the better," Laetushis said before draining his cup and refilling it with the potent wine.
Iolaus shook his head in sympathy.
"Have you ever been in love, Iolaus?" the Praetorian asked.
"Of course, I loved my wife deeply," Iolaus replied.
"Ah, it must be nice when your love and your wife are the same person," Laetushis replied. "Let me give you a word of advice, my friend. If you find it in your heart to love again after your loss, never, never fall in love with another man's wife. It can slowly drive you mad, especially if the woman you love is abused and you are powerless to do anything about it."
"There must be laws on the books here in Rome that protect women against abuse by their husbands. I know for a fact that the villages in the mountains north of here have such laws. Can Rome be that much different?" Iolaus questioned.
"I have watched you, Iolaus and I have come to believe that you are an honorable man. I have come to trust you. So I ask that what I tell you here in confidence remains between the two of us," Laetushis said and waited for Iolaus' assurance of confidentiality.
"Rome is a very different place when the woman being abused is the Emperor's wife. There is no law on this earth that protects her," the Praetorian advised.
He took another drink and began to tell Iolaus of the three times Commodus "took" Marcia. The Emperor's wedding night was nothing more than a rape sanctioned by the state. He told Iolaus about the blood and broken furniture; of finding Marcia half dead and about helping to nurse her back to life when all she wanted to do was die. He told Iolaus about her second rape at the hands of the Emperor less than a day after she had returned to her place at his table.
After the second assault, Commodus left her alone for almost ten months. Laetushis thought the Emperor had lost interest in Marcia. He seemed to prefer the company of prostitutes. And then the third, and worst assault occurred the night before she was to embark on her trip to Capri. They had to carry her onto the ship the following morning because she remained unconscious and bleeding from many bites and wounds.
Laetushis hoped that Marcia would be staying on the island of Capri with the Emperor's ex-wife and sister. At least there she would be safe from her husband's violent attentions. But now, things had suddenly changed. The night they had captured Iolaus and his friend, the Praetorian was privy to a conversation that Commodus had with the palace healer about the birds and the bees. The healer informed the Emperor that with most women it took a sustained effort of daily lovemaking sessions in order for them to become impregnated.
The following morning the Emperor issued orders for his wife to be returned from Capri in time for the Saturnalia. Now Laetushis was concerned that Commodus was planning to rape the girl every night after her return until she was pregnant with his child.
Iolaus, who had stopped drinking after the first cup, pledged his help to the Praetorian if he could figure out a way to deter the Emperor from his apparent course of action with Marcia.
Laetushis, who had continued to drink heavily, stood up from his stool and began weaving towards Iolaus. The hero stood quickly and caught the Praetorian before he fell forward. "Only thing's gonna save her is when he's dead," he slurred as Iolaus led him to his cot. "Better for her...better for Rome..." he mumbled as Iolaus tucked him in and returned to his own tent.
Before Iolaus retired for the night, he sent Pontius off with another message for Hercules giving the demigod the locations for their projected campsites for the coming week. Without giving details he informed him of the likeliness of trouble and that he should be ready to move on a moment's notice.
As their trip began to wind down, Commodus was becoming increasingly surly towards Iolaus so the blond decided it was time to lead the Emperor on a bit and hopefully get himself back into Commodus' good graces. He began calling on the healer, complaining each night of headaches and each morning of having suffered through nightmares filled with battles and monsters and great powerful titan-like beings. Commodus was notified of his guest's difficulties and he excitedly took it to mean that Iolaus was beginning to have flashbacks of his previous life. He felt that he was right to get Iolaus away from the city and away from his old friend.
Three nights before their return to Rome, Commodus addressed his troops. He told them all about his plans for a greater Rome. He told them all about his plans to take over the Consulship of the Senate on New Year's Day. He told them that when they reentered the city it would be as conquering heroes bringing their Emperor home in triumph.
The soldiers cheered long and loudly at the end of the speech, not so much at what they'd heard but because of the ten extra gold pieces they'd each be receiving when they reentered the city at the end of the triumphal march.
When the speech was over, Commodus called a meeting with his two top generals and Laetushis.
Iolaus strolled off to his tent. He'd begun carrying his sword again when they began this trip. He thought it would be a good opportunity to polish it and then turn in early. The boredom and being away from Hercules was beginning to get to him. At least it was until he saw Laetushis storm out of Commodus' tent, anger and panic mixed on his expressive face.
He caught Iolaus' eye as he passed by and Iolaus rose to follow the Praetorian to his tent. Laetushis was normally so staid and under control that his face was virtually unreadable. To see his new friend in such a state put Iolaus in worry mode even before he knew there was something to worry about.
Iolaus lifted the Praetorian's tent flap and called to his friend.
"Please come in Iolaus, I don't want to be alone right now," Laetushis said.
"That's why I came. I could see as you passed that you're not feeling well," Iolaus said as he fully entered the tent.
"You're right. I'm not okay right now, nor will I ever be again."
"Can I help you?" Iolaus asked.
"No. No one can help me. Thank you for offering, my friend. You're a good man, don't get in the middle of this," Laetushis replied as he began removing his heavy dress armor while pacing nervously back and forth in the tent.
"Believe me, it's my job to help," Iolaus said. "Whatever is wrong, you can tell me, trust me. Nothing is too bad that it can't be fixed."
"This is. Commodus just told us that he fears assassination attempts might be made on his life now that the Senators and the general public know about his planned take over of the Consulship. He told us that, before we left Rome, he issued orders to have the three most influential Senators, his Chamberlain Eclectus, his ex-wife, his sister and Marcia killed if he were to be assassinated."
"Who would be foolish enough to make an attempt on the Emperor's life with half the army here to guard him. Especially an army who has just been promised a hefty bounty when they return to the city?" Iolaus asked.
The silence grew long and Laetushis didn't answer.
"You?" Iolaus asked incredulously.
"And now, just a few moments ago in his tent, he added your name to the list of people to kill. He told us that, if he died he wanted your soul to go with his this time so Jupiter could reincarnate both of you together at the same time. He's crazy" Laetushis said as he slammed his gauntlet on the table for emphasis.
"Eclectus and I have lived with his insanity for years. He has to be stopped to save Rome. He's killed so many innocent people. He's taking us further and further away from his father's ideals. Marcus Aurelius was a great Emperor. He wanted to restore the Republic. His son wants to destroy any possibility of that restoration. We had to do something and fast, before Commodus had a chance to take the Consulship. This is the perfect opportunity, out here on the road. Half the army would come with us regardless of the hefty bounty. They know they'll be much better off in the future with a different Emperor in charge. But at what price? Oh gods, the price! Eclectus has arranged for over one hundred of the most highly trained soldiers to come into the camp tomorrow morning around dawn to kill Commodus. Things are already so deeply in motion that they can't be stopped. They'll come in here to kill Commodus and then..."
"And then we'll stop them," said Iolaus in an assertive voice that commanded Laetushis' attention.
"It can't be done Iolaus. I told you this so you would have time to get away. Run as far away as you can and don't look back. Get your friend and go back to Greece before it's too late," Laetushis urged him.
"I can't do that, my job here isn't complete," Iolaus told the Praetorian.
"What job are you talking about?" Laetushis bewilderedly asked.
"To find my kidnapped sister-in-law and take her back where she belongs," Iolaus quietly replied.
"If you haven't found her yet, my friend, you never will. You'll be dead shortly after dawn tomorrow if you don't leave here now," Laetushis again urged.
"I don't have to find her. In fact, she's coming to find me. But in order for her to do that I'm going to have to keep the Emperor alive for a little while longer. You see, I was married to Marcia's sister," Iolaus told the stunned Praetorian.
"B-b-but...she never said anything about a sister," Laetushis stuttered.
"I'd wager that she probably wanted to keep that information away from Commodus. When she gets here you can check out my story with her. All we have to do now is to make sure she gets back from Capri safe and sound by keeping Commodus alive, and I have a plan on just how to do it," Iolaus said confidently. "Come back with me to my tent and we'll set things right."
Back in Iolaus' tent, his 'slave' Pontian was called for and given instructions. "If you run swiftly it should take you a little over an hour to get back to the school. Tell Marcus the whole story, exactly as I have just told it to you. Tell him to be here before dawn on any pretense and to bring plenty of reinforcements."
Pontian was gone with a nod of the head and a promise to return with Marcus before dawn.
"So much is happening right now, I think I need a drink to calm my nerves," Laetushis said as he began to relax a little. He heard the sound of liquid hitting the insides of metal goblets but realized that Iolaus hadn't moved from in front of him. He lifted his head and saw the 'slave' who had just left the tent on a mission to get Marcus standing next to him proffering the filled goblet.
"Laetushis, meet Peregrinus. He's Pontian's twin brother. They've been helping me keep Marcus apprised of our every move since we've left Rome," Iolaus said with a shrewd grin.
The Praetorian was momentarily stunned but his grin grew equally as wide as Iolaus' before he said, "a moment ago, I didn't think we had a chance to pull off your plan. Now I think we have every chance to save Marcia. Thank you."
Not fifteen minutes had passed after daybreak when a loud commotion was heard in the vicinity of the Emperor's tents. Dozens and dozens of heavily armed soldiers poured into the clearing and charged towards Commodus and four of his personal guards who had run out of his tent, with swords drawn, to see what the commotion was about. The Emperor and his guards were joined within seconds by Iolaus and Laetushis.
The assassins attacked so swiftly and fought so savagely in their attempt to make a quick kill that three of the four guards around Commodus were dead before their swords had a chance to strike out at their killers.
Iolaus, Laetushis and the remaining guard formed a protective triangle around Commodus who was using every one of his own formidable skills to ward off his attackers.
Dozens more of the assassins came rushing towards the Emperor but this time they were stopped by a loud, raucous group of warriors in gladiatorial attire led by Marcus, their new instructor.
The gladiators were unarmed but they had learned their lessons well about fighting with unconventional weapons. Before a minute had passed they were all taking weapons from fallen assassins or using the fallen assassins themselves as weapons.
Hercules took up his usual position at Iolaus' back and Iolaus saw that Laetushis had fallen into a back-to-back stance with the Emperor. They were beating back the assassins successfully.
Iolaus finally had a second to look around and judge the progress they were making when he saw the glint of early morning sun reflecting off of the highly polished silver of a long-bladed hunting knife. It was aimed directly at his partner's heart.
"Hercules! Duck!" Iolaus shouted as he saw the knife flying with deadly aim through the air.
Hercules and Commodus both ducked low at Iolaus' barked command and the knife flew over their heads, striking an assassin's chest instead.
The hunting knife caused enough of a distraction for Iolaus, that he wasn't quick enough to parry a sword thrust aimed at his abdomen. He sustained a deep scratch before he could finish off his attacker.
And then, as quickly as it began, the attack was over.
Commodus spun slowly on his heel a full three hundred-sixty degree turn, looking at the bodies that littered the ground in front of his tent. He appeared to be in shock, shaking from the adrenalin rush that sustained him as he fought for his life.
His eye caught on the sight of Iolaus and his big friend joyously greeting and congratulating each other on the victory. Laetushis walked over to the two heroes with arms outstretched, wanting to offer them thanks. That's when the memory struck the Emperor and he too shouted joyfully as he ran to Iolaus and grabbed him up in a bear hug.
"You saved my life! You called me Hercules and it saved my life! You must be remembering Iolaus! Your memories must be returning!"
Then, without thinking, without a word to anyone else, and without letting go, he carried the blond hero into his tent. Laetushis quickly searched the crowd of soldiers who had gathered outside the Emperor's tent and spotted the palace healer. He called him over and ordered the soldiers to clear the area of the fallen assassins' bodies.
Having been around the palace for many, many years, the Praetorian was afraid to have Iolaus alone in the tent with Commodus for any length of time. He grabbed the healer by the scruff of his neck and motioned for Hercules to follow him into the Emperor's tent. Commodus was kneeling on the floor babbling incoherently in front of Iolaus who was sitting in the Emperor's portable throne trying to calm the man down.
"Lord," Laetushis addressed the Emperor loudly. "Lord, I've brought the healer to look at Iolaus' wound. Please let us get to him before he looses any more blood."
"What? Laetushis, is that you?" Commodus looked confusedly about him.
"Yes Lord. I've brought the healer. He has to take care of Iolaus. Your friend is hurt. Please let us help him," Laetushis cajoled the disoriented Commodus.
"Yes. Yes, of course. Care for him well healer and you shall be richly rewarded. Thank you Laetushis," the Emperor muttered as the Praetorian helped him to a standing position and drew him away from the injured hero.
Commodus finally took in his surroundings and his eyes fell on Hercules who had been eyeing his partner with concern. "Marcus...I'm so sorry. I haven't thought to thank you yet. How did it come about that you and your students so miraculously happened to be here?"
Hercules looked to Laetushis then back to the Emperor before replying. "You may want to call it precognition. I was having bad feelings and couldn't sleep at all last night. Misery loves company so I woke my students up and made them come with me on a pre-dawn run to improve their stamina. I guess we were just in the right place at the right time. I'm glad we could help you."
"Yes...well, it feels to me like Jupiter has been at work again. He has created an obvious connection between you and my friend Iolaus. I think Jupiter did it to make sure of my companion's safety until he and I could be reconnected in this lifetime. Iolaus has finally recognized me for who I am...Hercules. The rest of his memories should be coming back to him over the next several months. You have accomplished the mission you have been ordained by the gods to fulfill, Marcus. You will no longer be required to protect him. He is sufficient for me and I for him. When we get back to the city I will thank you properly and reward you richly for your services to Jupiter, my father.
The day before the Saturnalia celebrations were to begin, although physically and emotionally exhausted, muddied and bloodied, the Emperor, at the head of his legions, forced a triumphant march back into the city of Rome. Once inside the palace, they all hurried into the crowded bathhouse to wash the dirt and grime of the road off of themselves. Then, skipping dinner, they went their separate ways to sleep an uneasy sleep, and dream uneasy dreams.
Iolaus was awakened in the middle of the night by the loud voices of busy people coming from the hallway outside of his suite. He opened the door a crack and peeked out just in time to catch sight of the Lady Marcia, followed by her large entourage of maids and servants being greeted by the Emperor and his equally large entourage of praetorian guards. Pleased that he had now confirmed the Lady was indeed 'his' Marcia, he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw them each go to their separate suites after a brief conversation.
Iolaus silently closed the door and returned to his bed, determined to confront Marcia the first chance he could.
Iolaus took breakfast in his suite the following morning. He wanted to listen to the goings on in Marcia's suite, hoping to find a time when he could catch her alone. With the door cracked open less than an inch, and his ear pressed up against the crack, Iolaus was finally rewarded by the sound of Marcia's soft voice in the hallway, issuing orders to her maid who remained in the suite.
As Marcia began to head down the corridor, away from their suites, Iolaus slid his head out of the door and urgently whispered "Psssst...."
Marcia halted in her retreat down the hallway and turned at the sound.
Iolaus slid out of the door and at the startled look of recognition on her face; he put his finger to his lips signaling her to keep quiet until he could close the distance between them.
"Iolaus, is it really you?" Marcia whispered in disbelief when the hero drew close enough for her to speak.
"Yes, Marcia. I've come to see you, and to get you out of here if that's what you want," Iolaus whispered back.
"My sister sent you?" Marcia inquired hopefully.
Her face fell and tears welled up in her eyes when Iolaus just bowed his head and shook it.
"She's dead?" Marcia asked.
Iolaus took a deep breath and nodded.
"She was happy with you Iolaus. When you came into her life it was to bring joy and contentment where there had only been depression and confusion. May God bless you for that," Marcia comforted the hero then continued. "I'm grateful that you attempted to find me, but I can't leave here. The lives of too many people rely on my staying here and being a wife to the Emperor. If you have met him, you know he's not an easy man."
"I've been here for over a month, but he has no idea that you and I know each other. I'd like to keep it that way. Commodus hired me to be his personal wrestling trainer. He thinks he's recognized me from his previous existence as Hercules. I haven't discouraged this belief, I was waiting for a chance to see you and talk to you." Iolaus replied. "He's not an easy man, in fact he's quite dangerous and has been getting even more so over the past few days. I fear for your well being and your life," he added.
"You don't have to worry about me, I'll be fine. I have a friend in the palace..." Marcia said.
"You mean Laetushis?" Iolaus asked. "He's been in a bit of danger himself lately. That's why you have to be extra careful until we can make arrangements to get you out of here safely. Please trust me."
Before the two of them could make a move, Commodus, and a large contingent of praetorians came striding rapidly out of the doors of his suite. The first sight that caught the Emperor's eye was Marcia in Iolaus' arms.
Iolaus urgently whispered "Faint!" into his sister-in-law's ear, then the words "trust me!" and Marcia immediately pretended to collapse against his strong frame.
Commodus marched towards them demanding to know what was going on.
"I came out of my suite and saw this woman weaving down the corridor, shaking and looking ill. I called to her and when she turned around her eyes fluttered. That's when I caught up to her. Just in time apparently, before she fainted in my arms. At least she didn't hit the floor," Iolaus explained. "Do any of you know who she is and where she belongs?" he asked innocently.
"She," said Commodus as he pointed to Marcia, "is my wife. Laetushis! Call the healer. The long boat trip must have made her ill."
Laetushis turned to leave but Iolaus' voice made him stop.
"If your wife's suite is the one next to mine, she doesn't need a healer." Iolaus informed Commodus.
"What are you talking about Iolaus? She's fainted. Of course, she needs a healer," the Emperor said impatiently.
"The woman who occupied the suite next to mine was sick to her stomach for a good part of the morning. She called out loudly to her maid for salted biscuits and oranges. I've seen these symptoms many times before and it usually means that congratulations are in order; it looks like you're going to be a father. This woman is with child."
Marcia's eyes shot open at Iolaus' words. Laetushis' mouth fell open and Commodus looked truly shocked. The Emperor's mouth opened and closed but no sound came forth.
When he'd sufficiently composed himself, Commodus lifted the Lady Marcia's hand to his lips and took her gently from Iolaus' arms.
"Is it true? Are you to bear me an heir?" He whispered huskily.
"Yes, my Lord. I suppose our last encounter bore fruit," Marcia blushingly responded in her own low whisper.
"When?" Commodus asked.
"I suppose you can expect your heir sometime in late summer, during the month named after the Emperor Augustus," Marcia replied.
"There will be plenty of time to make arrangements then. I will prepare the biggest feast this city has ever known. Go back to your chambers and rest. I will send for you tomorrow. That will be time enough for you to make your report on your visit to Capri. Be well my Lady," Commodus said before taking his leave.
Laetushis and Iolaus helped the Lady Marcia back into her suite. Once inside, Laetushis picked Marcia up in his arms and he carried her into the bedroom motioning for Iolaus to follow them. He ordered the maid to run and get the healer. He wanted some time alone with her so they could discuss things.
Iolaus explained that the revelation of a pregnancy, no matter how fake, would serve to keep Commodus away from Marcia saving her from any further assaults. They could have the palace healer convince the Emperor that she was in such a weakened state, that any sexual activities could bring on a miscarriage. Iolaus assured both Marcia and Laetushis that they would be long gone before Marcia was expected to have a belly. With instructions to his sister-in-law to act like she was sick every morning and to leave the details to him, Iolaus left the suite allowing Laetushis some time alone with Marcia.
This year, the great Roman feast honoring Cronus - the Saturnalia - was being celebrated without any gladiatorial exhibitions in the Coliseum. Commodus had decreed the weeklong holiday to be one of food and wine, music and theatrical treats only. The people were a little disappointed but those in the inner circle were relieved.
The Emperor wanted to save the Gladiatorial Games and sporting tournaments for New Year's Day when everyone in the city would be in the Coliseum and relatively sober that day to hear Commodus declare himself Consul as well as Emperor.
As the plan now stood, the heroes would use the holiday week and the three days between the end of the Saturnalia and New Years Eve when the Emperor would be most distracted, to start sneaking the Christians out of the prison through the new tunnel to the catacombs. Marcia, Iolaus, Hercules and Laetushis would be the last ones to leave
From the minute they had returned to Rome, Commodus insisted on being called Hercules, and not just by Iolaus. The Emperor spent long daylight hours practicing wrestling and swordplay with Iolaus. He spoke almost constantly about how perfect their performance must be on New Year's Day. He felt that they would be playing for the whole populace of the world.
But the nights were spent in celebrating the holiday, not as it was originally intended as an occasion to call down the blessings of the gods on the seeds they'd planted to bloom in the spring; but as the drunken, bacchanalian debauchery it had devolved into over the years. And each night of the Saturnalia that passed the Emperor became increasingly unstable and more and more lost in his insanity.
On the first day of the celebration he called in two hired assassins and sent them to Capri to kill his ex-wife and his sister. He'd wanted to kill them ever since he sent them to Capri, but now he could justify the killing to himself and others by decreeing the women to be a threat to his heir - the child that Marcia was supposedly carrying in her womb.
On the second day, after the palace healer had advised him about Marcia's delicate condition, Commodus called on several of his favorite prostitutes and Narcissus to keep him company during the festivities. He gave them free rein in the bathhouse until the New Year and he joined them there frequently.
Commodus was also becoming very possessive of Iolaus' time and attention. He wouldn't let him very far from his sight, so the hero had to suffer through being a reluctant witness to the Emperor's daily debauchery. He wanted to keep from being too obvious in his dislike of the situation. He flirted some, finding a different girl each night to sit and talk with him and, although his 'slave' was bringing him watered wine, he acted as if he'd consumed as much as all the other revelers. By the time Iolaus returned to his rooms each night he was thoroughly disgusted by Roman palace life. He couldn't wait for an end to this assignment.
Because of the restraints put on Iolaus' time by the Emperor, the only way he could spend time with Hercules was in the middle of the night. Laetushis helped by showing them a secret passage that Hercules could use to circumvent the guards and gain access to the palace.
On the third night Commodus retired with one of his favorite prostitutes. He awoke in the middle of the night suffering from nightmares that were more hallucination than dream. He screamed that his sister was coming to haunt him. He believed that the paid assassins had not finished the job on his sister and that he would have to do it himself. By the time Laetushis and the other guards could make it into his bedroom, the young prostitute lay dead, her neck broken by Commodus' bare hands.
On the fourth night the Emperor invited all of the Senators to dine with him in the palace and he wound up in screaming matches with them all before the evening was done.
For the past year, Marcia had been the only one in the palace who could bring a sense of calm to the Emperor. She would talk soothingly and logically to him and eventually he would come around. Her charms in this respect, however, were no longer working on Commodus' moods. Iolaus and Laetushis begged her to stay away and after observing first hand the insanity in his eyes; she bent to the wisdom of the two men who only wanted to protect her.
Every night after the nightmare about his sister's ghost, Commodus insisted on taking a sleeping draught to help him avoid any further nocturnal visitations. He also insisted on sleeping with Narcissus in his bed and with guards inside his room. He chose Laetushis and Iolaus to stand guard over his bed to watch him while he slept. He was afraid that the apparition of his sister would come again to steal his life. He would only take the sleeping draught from Marcia's hand. He trusted no one else in the palace except for her.
By New Year's Eve there were only a handful of Christians remaining in the prison. They were the men who had built Hercules' tunnel and they had offered to remain behind while the other's escaped first.
The previous night, during the demigod's usual meeting with Iolaus it was agreed that Hercules would take the remaining men after dinner on New Year's Eve and escape with them through the catacombs. The demigod would make his way to the wheat field that bordered the town where they had first been captured by Commodus and he would wait for Iolaus, Laetushis and Marcia to catch up with him there after they'd given the Emperor his sleeping potion.
The air was cold in Iolaus' suite. The heroes huddled together for warmth over a brazier filled with dying coals as they finalized their plans.
"You don't know how happy I'll be to finish up this assignment and get out of this place. I feel like I've been trapped in an insane asylum," Iolaus grumbled to his life-long friend.
"I'll just be happy to breathe fresh air again. I've been down in the tunnels so much lately that I've almost forgotten what that's like," Hercules replied as he rubbed his hands together over the coals.
"Just be careful, Herc. You're so close to getting the last of the Christians out safely and I won't be there to cover your back tomorrow night," Iolaus said.
"My part of this assignment is a lot less dangerous than yours is. I've got the clean escape. You've got Commodus and a whole palace full of guards to deal with. I don't feel right about leaving you here to handle it alone."
"I understand exactly what I'm up against here, Herc. Don't be so concerned," Iolaus said a little testily. He knew his partner was only concerned for his safety. After all, he'd been out of the hero game for six years while he was with Sara. It was no wonder that Hercules was thinking his Guardian skills might be a bit rusty.
"You're still grieving for Sara, my friend. I can see it every time I look at you, it's in your stance, in the way you move and it's in your eyes every time you think I'm not looking."
"She's only been gone a short time, Herc. Of course I'm still grieving. Don't worry about me so much," Iolaus said as he laid a reassuring hand on his partner's arm.
"I wouldn't worry about you except for the fact that I know you just as well as I know myself and I know that you get reckless when you're grieving. We can't afford for you to get reckless now, not while you're dealing with an unpredictable madman."
"After all this time you're saying you don't trust me?" Iolaus asked with a hurt look.
"No, Iolaus. I trust you with my life. You know that...you've always known that. It's Commodus' whims I don't trust. He has that sickness of heart and mind that happens to all men who believe themselves to be above the law."
"Rest easy tonight Herc. I promise not to do anything too crazy. Marcia's counting on me," Iolaus assured his partner as they took leave of each other in the early hour before dawn -- Hercules to return to his teaching duties, Iolaus to resume guard duty with Laetushis beside the Emperor's bed.
Right before dinner, Laetushis received a summons from the Emperor to join him. He assumed Commodus had come up with some last minute instructions for the New Year festivities. When the guards opened the great doors to the throne room all thoughts of festivals fled the Praetorian's mind.
Commodus sat on his throne with the lion skin thrown over his shoulders, a large wooden club, clutched tightly in both hands, rested across his lap.
Marcia stood on the dais to the left of and slightly behind the Emperor's throne. Eclectus stood at the bottom of the stairs and ringing the room were at least two hundred soldiers in full battle gear.
"My Lord, you called for me?" Laetushis addressed the Emperor as he bowed before the throne.
"I have asked you to address me by my rightful name, Praetorian," Commodus growled. "Let's try that again."
"My Lord Hercules, you called for me?" Laetushis repeated as he bowed once more before the Emperor.
"That's better. Yes, Praetorian, I have news of interest to us all. The Christians that we worked so hard to hunt down and imprison have managed to disappear. The warden has just been here to see me. He and his men have searched the entire prison for an escape tunnel and there isn't one...not even one big enough for a mouse to escape through. The entire building is secure. They've just disappeared," Commodus advised the Praetorian, and they could all hear the nervous edge to his words.
"But that's impossible," Laetushis said.
"Apparently not, Praetorian. It's a fact. The only explanation possible is that this god of the Christians has made them disappear. He's taken them out of our hands to make both Jupiter and I look like fools on the very eve of our most triumphant moment," Commodus said with conviction.
"But Lord...um...Hercules, how could you know this?" Eclectus asked.
"Because my father, the great god Jupiter has been talking to me and advising me personally for many days now. It's a communication between gods that you mortals cannot hear. He has said that I am to make this great empire once more dedicated to him alone. The other gods will have to go. They know that they will no longer have a place here in Rome and they are angry and jealous. I am the supreme Emperor and after I take the consulship, neither gods nor Senators will have the power to oppose me. For this reason Jupiter has urged me to speed up the process. I have decided not to wait until the noon hour tomorrow to be declared Consul. I will go to the Coliseum at midnight and become Consul in the first minute of the New Year. My faithful soldiers, guards and friends will be my only witnesses. My wife, who bears my heir, will be by my side."
Marcia cleared her throat and, while looking Laetushis directly in the eye, she addressed the Emperor. "My husband...Hercules, if you want your friends by your side tonight, why have you ordered that the man Marcus be crucified in the arena with the handful of Christians that you could find? He is Iolaus' best friend and when Iolaus finds out that you've ordered the man's death he will be beside himself with grief and won't be able to attend you this evening."
"I am Iolaus' best friend!" Commodus turned and shouted at his wife. At her shocked expression he calmed himself, not wanting to cause her any stress that could trigger a miscarriage.
"I have not been unkind to the man. He has been given enough opium to put an elephant into a coma. He will be kept completely sedated until the moment of his death, which should come within an hour or two. He's been nailed to the cross to make his death come swifter. You have to understand, Marcus has delivered Iolaus into my safe keeping. He is nothing more than a deliveryman or messenger from Jupiter to me and now that his mission is fulfilled, Jupiter told me he wants Marcus' soul back. I am merely complying with the wishes of my father. Iolaus cannot blame me for that, he knows how the gods work...he understands the mystery of their ways."
"Excuse me, Lord Hercules," Eclectus addressed Commodus. He was upset to the very core of his Roman sensibilities by the Emperor's total disregard for the law of the land in ordering this man's execution by crucifixion. "This man Marcus is a citizen of Rome. He should have received the kindness of a beheading, not a demeaning death on the cross like an outsider or a common criminal."
"He is still more Greek than Roman and we need more bodies on the crosses now that we've lost all the Christians. The bodies make the crosses burn so much longer and we'll need plenty of light in the Coliseum tonight," Commodus explained in a very matter-of-fact way.
As those last words left the Emperor's mouth, a loud commotion could be heard in the domed rotunda that occupied the enormous space between the great columned entrance to the palace and the throne room. The sound of shouting soldiers and clashing swords could be heard clearly as they echoed off the marble walls. All two hundred soldiers stood at the ready, shields down, spears out, surrounding and protecting the Emperor from possible attack.
After five minutes of a rousing fight, quiet fell in the reception hall and the doors to the throne room were opened. About thirty armed soldiers escorted Iolaus into the chamber and forced him to a kneeling position in front of the Emperor.
Iolaus had been taking his dinner in the officer's mess with the soldiers and Praetorian guards when he overheard several young officers talking about what had been done to Hercules. He made his way over to them and asked for more information about the execution of the Gladiatorial School's new instructor. They happily obliged, giving the blond every piece of gory gossip they knew.
The hero would have to do something to rescue Hercules. Even knowing that his friend was immortal, Iolaus still couldn't stand the thought of anything life threatening happening to him if he could in any way prevent it. And, if his partner's body were burned on the cross, reduced to ashes, it could take years before Michael would be able to return Hercules to his side.
Even after all these centuries, Iolaus didn't want to go it alone. He always felt incomplete without the demigod by his side. The years hadn't changed a thing. In fact, they had only served to sharpened that need in him.
"Why all the fuss, Iolaus. Did you suddenly feel the need to put my soldiers through one of your famous training sessions?" Commodus joked, trying to make light of the situation.
"How could you do this to Marcus. He helped save your life," Iolaus sputtered, not quite believing the light tone he was hearing from the Emperor.
"Do you presume to tell me what I can and cannot do, my old friend?" Commodus barked menacingly at the hero.
"No, Lord...Hercules," Iolaus said calmly after remembering his partner's words from the night before and after catching the alarmed look on Marcia's face. "But as your friend I have to question..."
"Don't ever...ever question my reasons or motives again. You are here simply to watch my back, drive my chariot and carry out my orders with unquestioning obedience. That is all Iolaus," Commodus growled in an almost predatory manner. Then he added, "The guards will escort you to your rooms and remain with you there while you reflect on the hurt you've caused me. Laetushis and I will come and get you before we head to the Coliseum at midnight. Now go!"
Iolaus couldn't wait. There was no way out of the palace from his suite. With such a heavy contingent of guards, it would be impossible for him to escape in time to save Hercules. The only option that was left to him was to be condemned to death and sent to the Coliseum. Commodus could have one more body to put on his crosses.
"That's not acceptable. You're going to have to do a lot better than that if you want to keep my friendship," Iolaus shouted at Commodus. "I demand that you let me see my friend right now. I want him taken down from the cross and brought to my suite. You had better give the order or I will begin to tear things up around here, starting with that precious lion skin around your neck. And you know I'm just the man to do it."
"You insolent worm! How dare you speak to me like that? You want to see your friend? You'll see him all right...but it's when we put you up on the cross next to his. You can see him all you want until the two of you die," Commodus screamed at the hero until the veins stood out on his neck and temples. "Take him!" he commanded the guards standing on either side of Iolaus.
The guards stepped forward and grabbed Iolaus by his upper arms. He put up a token struggle then stood before the Emperor waiting for the next move.
Commodus stood before his throne looking Iolaus over from head to toe. He took a deep sighing breath and tears coursed down his face before he spoke again in a more subdued tone. "I loved you, Iolaus...I would have given you the world. Why wouldn't you let me love you? Why didn't you love me back? You were supposed to. That's why Jupiter sent you here. Why? Why didn't you love me back? Was it because of him? Because of Marcus? How could you prefer death with that sorry, weak mortal over life with a demigod?"
"You pathetic fool. There's nothing godly about you. You're deluding yourself if you think you could ever be one of them. You said that you would have given me the world, but it's a world that's not yours to give." Iolaus exploded.
Commodus ran down the steps until he stood right in front of Iolaus. He raised his hand and slapped the hero across the face so hard that it momentarily disoriented him causing his knees to buckle and his body to sag between the guards who held him captive. The sound of the blow echoed loudly through the otherwise silent throne room.
Iolaus dragged himself up to a standing position between his captors, spat blood at Commodus' feet from the cut inside his mouth that the slap had opened, then he flashed the Emperor a sad smile and a look that was loaded with pity. "The saddest thing is, you're the most powerful man in the world and you don't have a clue. You just don't get it, do you? Even if you had the ability to give someone the whole world, what use is it to them if you've taken away their soul?"
"Arghhhhhh!!! Get him out...get him out of here now! I don't want to see him again, until after I become Consul. Then I will set his cross on fire with my own two hands. The wood his body hangs on will become the torch that lights our procession back to the palace!" Commodus screamed.
The Praetorian guards and the soldiers liked Iolaus and they began to grumble at the Emperor's order to take him to his death in the Coliseum. Laetushis knew that all he had to do was nod his head and the guards would stop their grumbling and obey the order blindly. He'd also spent enough time with Iolaus in recent weeks to realize what the hero was trying to do in a last ditch effort to save his friend, and he admired him for his courage more than he'd admired any other man before. Knowing what was in Iolaus' mind didn't make playing his part any easier though.
Trying to buy some time to gather his thoughts, Laetushis stepped forward and asked Commodus what Iolaus' crime was so they could post it on a parchment above his head on the cross, as was the custom.
"He stole my heart and then he rejected my friendship. Give me the parchment to write his crime."
Commodus held the parchment and pen in his hands for a moment, looking into Iolaus' eyes, searching for something that wasn't there.
He was having second thoughts about his angry condemnation of this shining blond man in front of him. His insane thoughts prompted him to think that Jupiter might be angry with him for rejecting this gift. The king of the gods had obviously gone to a lot of trouble to bring Iolaus to him in the first place. Commodus hesitated, hoping that this man, his Iolaus, would ask for the forgiveness he was so anxious to bestow.
Iolaus stood proudly before all in the room. He returned the Emperor's look with disdain and defiance, not speaking a word.
Seconds ticked by in a silence so great that it filled the entire throne room with a feeling of dread expectation. Commodus' eyes filled with unshed tears, his lip quivered in heartfelt sadness. Then, as quickly as that sentiment appeared, it vanished and was replaced with one of raging anger. He raised the parchment and on it the Emperor wrote one word... "Thief".
When Iolaus saw the parchment he grinned widely and chuckled. The chuckles grew louder. What began as giggles turned rapidly to great guffaws of laughter as the hero realized, after all these centuries, a small piece of his past had finally caught up with him.
He laughed loudly all the way out of the palace, escorted by his captors, as the angry, frustrated screams of Commodus following them out.
Iolaus entered the Coliseum through the Emperor's gate and was taken immediately to the center of the arena where at least a hundred crosses stood surrounding a central stage. A quick sweeping glance around the arena had Iolaus mildly surprised. Only ten of the crosses had people hanging on them. He took that to mean that all of the other prisoners had managed to escape into the catacombs.
Iolaus was rapidly stripped of his boots by two soldiers who examined them then threw them to a leather dealer who also examined them and tossed the soldiers a couple of coins in return. Then long ropes were tied around the hero's wrists. Two soldiers climbed up on ladders that rested against the crossbeam. They hoisted him up by the arms and tied him tightly onto the cross right next to the one Hercules was on.
Up until that point, Iolaus had been trying not to look too closely at Hercules. The sight of his best friend hurt and bleeding left a wound on his own soul that never healed. Memories of the first time he'd seen and cared for his mortally wounded friend flooded back into his mind as if they'd happened only yesterday, not centuries ago, when the demigod had been the victim of an arrow delivered by Hera's archers. Even the knowledge of their immortality didn't stem the emotions that overwhelmed Iolaus each time over the years that his friend was made to suffer.
Now, Iolaus was both heartsick and outraged by the devastation and violation done to his soul mate's flesh as he took in the damage the soldiers had inflicted on his beloved friend. Nails in each wrist and through his feet affixed Hercules to the cross. Some of his blood dripped on the ground, forming small pools of brownish-red that reflected the light from the braziers. Some blood ran along the demigod's arms and down his chest, soaking into his shirt turning it from tan to crimson.
The soldiers must have been under orders to make the demigod's death a quick one. Iolaus, however, was put on the cross with ropes so he could linger until he watched his friend die. And that would be their biggest mistake. The flaw in the Emperor's plan.
Iolaus was glad in a way that Hercules had been drugged because his friend wouldn't feel the pain of his wounds for quite some time. But in order to get the demigod down from the cross he was going to have to rouse his partner somewhat. He wanted Hercules to be able to protect himself while he did battle with the soldiers guarding the other crucified prisoners.
The Centurion in charge of the soldiers liked Iolaus. He had grown to respect him during the three weeks they'd recently spent together on the road with Commodus. The officer was sickened by the fact that he was ordered to carry out the Emperor's wishes for Iolaus' death. He stood at the foot of the hero's cross, took one look at the parchment with the word "Thief" on it and said to his men, "this one is no thief, believe me. He's being killed for the crime of loving someone too much. Someone who wasn't the Emperor."
The Centurion tore the page with the word "Thief" into little pieces and asked one of his soldiers to bring him a clean parchment and some ink. On this clean parchment the Centurion wrote the words "Ultra Amorem" ... "Beyond Love" and declared to the soldiers in his command "this man is dying for going one step beyond love, for indeed standing up to the Emperor for his friend and desiring death to the dishonor of abandoning their friendship is such a selfless act that it goes beyond what we Romans call love."
As they waited in the throne room, Commodus ordered Laetushis and Eclectus to go to the kitchen and to bring a small dinner for himself and his wife. On their way to the kitchen the two men quietly agreed that the Emperor would have to be killed before he could set foot in the Coliseum if they were to have any chance of saving Rome at all. Time was of the essence here. Laetushis had the additional agenda of trying to rescue Iolaus before it was too late.
The Praetorian wanted to keep Marcia out of it, but Eclectus convinced him that they would have to bring her in on their plan if they were going to succeed.
Eclectus pulled a small vial out of the folds of his toga. It contained the tasteless sleeping potion Commodus took each night in order to fall asleep. When he set up the tray of food in front of the Emperor, Laetushis was to slip the vial into Marcia's hands with instructions for her to use it all when she served the Emperor his wine.
The men returned to the throne room with the food, Laetushis successfully passed the vial to Marcia and the waiting game was on.
Marcia realized how high the stakes were. Each night as she gave her husband the sleeping potion she'd contemplated giving him an overdose and taking his life. Not because he'd raped her and hurt her so terribly, but because of the hurt he was doing to the entire empire and to the hurt he was inflicting on the Christian community. Now, with her options limited, she decided to do the only thing that was right in her mind. She would use the potion supplied to her by the Chamberlain but she wouldn't use the full strength. She knew that she couldn't bring herself to kill anyone. She would give her husband enough to keep him knocked out until the morning. That would give Laetushis enough time to save Iolaus and for the three of them to get out of the city. She waited for the middle of the meal when she knew he would call for his wine. That would be the right time to administer the potion.
"Herc! Herc! Time to wake up pal. Let's go!" Iolaus called in a low, urgent voice to the demigod who hung so still on the cross next to his.
He hadn't wanted to raise his voice any more than was necessary to wake his friend. He didn't want to call too much attention to himself and raise the suspicions of the soldiers until he was good and ready to get down and rescue everyone, especially if that meant he would have to fight off these same soldiers to do so.
Unfortunately, the low tone of voice he was using wasn't enough to get a reaction from his best friend. He would have to get louder.
Herc! Hercules! Hercules! Time to get up...time to get going!" He urged.
"Look!" said one of the soldiers to the Centurion. "He's calling for the Emperor to come save him."
The Centurion turned from the brazier where he had been warming himself to look at the two crucified friends. Curiosity made his step a bit closer so he could hear Iolaus' words.
"No, he isn't calling the Emperor," the Centurion informed him. "Look, he's calling to his friend. Hercules must be his friend's name. Funny, I could have sworn they told me it was Marcus."
Iolaus' voice got louder still when he saw his friend's lips moving and fingers twitching. He realize there was no time to lose since he'd drawn the attention of the soldiers. He's just have to go for it. He flexed his leg muscles, breaking the ropes that held his feet to the upright beam. Then with one swift, powerful move of his arms, the cross beam cracked in half. He fell to the ground and with a quick shake of his arms he was loose of the ropes that held his wrists to the wood.
The soldiers were momentarily stunned by what they were seeing. Then those who were closest to Iolaus picked up their weapons and made their way over to capture him for re-hanging. If this one prisoner in particular got away, the Emperor would have all their lives in exchange for it.
Iolaus scooted to the back of Hercules' cross, jumped and held onto the upright beam above his partner's head.
"Hercules! Hercules! Now would be a good time to wake up pal!" he shouted as he caught sight of the soldiers running towards him.
The soldiers stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the demigod lift his head, open his eyes a slit and in a husky, slurred voice reply "Iolaus? Hi buddy..."
"Herc, listen! You've been nailed to a cross. Your arms, your feet. Oops, soldiers with swords. I'll be right back Herc." Iolaus said hurriedly before he let go and landed lightly on the ground before they attacked.
Iolaus fought like a demon. Hands, feet, fists and elbows hit the soldiers, fast and furiously. Ducking under their swords, leaping over their heads then attacking them from behind. In less than a minute he had six soldiers rendered unconscious laying about the base of Hercules' cross.
Iolaus leapt again, holding on to the upright beam above his partner's head.
"Herc...I'm back and I'm going to help you get down. I'm going to pull the stake out of your right wrist first. Then you can hold on while I get the other stakes out. Okay?" Iolaus said as he hoisted himself up to kneel on the cross beam so he could reach his partner's arm.
Another group of soldiers rushed the cross, one of them throwing a spear at the hero on top of it. The Centurion shouted to his men to throw down their spears. The prisoner was not to be harmed, only captured and held on the cross until the Emperor arrived.
Two soldiers came up behind the cross wielding a ladder. They leant it against the wood and began to climb up to push Iolaus off into the waiting hands of their comrades.
Iolaus tipped the ladder backwards causing the two soldiers to fall to the ground. Then he turned immediately back to Hercules. "Okay Herc, let me..."
"I've got it..." Hercules said through drug-numbed lips. With an enormous effort he stiffened the muscles his right arm then levered it off the crossbeam, taking the stake with it. He groaned then lifted his right arm in the air. Iolaus grabbed his hand, pushed the stake out then helped his partner grip on to the crossbeam so they could remove the other stake.
A morbid curiosity caused the Centurion to hold his men in check as he waited to witness what would happen next.
When the demigod opened his eyes in this drugged state, the glare of the firelight from the braziers flashed off of the highly polished metal of armor and swords and made it appear as if there were a lot more soldiers coming at them than there really were. His hazy thoughts began to regain their focus when he realized that Iolaus was putting himself in danger to help him get free from this object of his torture. Not waiting for Iolaus' help Hercules began to lever his left arm off the wood - stake and all.
"Hercules...let me..." the blond hero urged his partner.
"No! Save yourself. Go...save Marcia," Hercules
The remaining soldiers were frozen in place by their fear. They had never witnessed anything like it as the demigod raised his freed arm in the air so his partner could remove the stake for him.
One grizzled veteran threw down his spear, horrified by his own thoughts which he shared with his comrades. "What have we done! This is Hercules...see what he's doing. We have crucified a god. We are all damned!"
His fear multiplied the fear that had already taken up residence in the hearts of his young comrades. All but two soldiers turned and ran away to hide in the shadows.
"Men...men..." called the Centurion but no one heeded his call. He looked at the one young soldier remaining at his side and issued the order to capture Iolaus.
They poked at him with their spears as he tried to retain his precarious balance on the crossbeam. Hercules was attempting to bat the spears away from his partner without success.
Iolaus knew he would have to deal these last two soldiers first so he could get his friend and the other men off their crosses safely.
"I'll be right back Herc. Try to get your feet free," Iolaus shouted to his best friend as he jumped off and away from the cross in an attempt to draw the soldier's spears away from his partner.
Iolaus was tiring rapidly. He had been beaten up pretty badly from his earlier encounter with the Emperor's soldiers outside the throne room. The soldiers here in the arena had added a few more bruises and sword nicks to his collection. He would have to finish this fast if he were going to have any chance of succeeding in this part of his mission.
He took one last look at his best friend hanging on the cross, struggling to free his feet from the upright beam. That desperate picture both pierced his heart with sadness and fueled his determination to finish off the men who had done this to his beloved partner. With a flying kick, he caught the younger soldier with his heel to the right side of his face, knocking him into the Centurion. The two soldiers fell to the ground in a heap. Iolaus divested the younger one of his sword, hit them on the backs of their heads with the hilt, rendering them both unconscious.
Iolaus turned to make his way back to Hercules' cross when he caught sight of one of the soldiers he had knocked off the ladder. The man was attempting to crawl away, on all fours, as quickly as he could.
With a mighty jump, Iolaus landed in front of the crawling man who looked up into the face of one fiercely angry hero. Iolaus didn't hold back his strength very much for this man who had the tools of a carpenter strapped to a work belt around his ample waist.
Iolaus dragged the soldier back next to the base of Hercules' cross then held the quaking soldier's neck in a vise-like grip.
"Are you the one who drives these stakes into people's flesh?" the hero angrily asked.
The soldier gave a brief, terrified nod of his head, afraid to cut additional air off to his own windpipe.
"Then grab those tongs and pull the stake out of my friend's feet without doing any further damage, or I'll be forced to do some damage of my own on your neck." Iolaus growled.
The soldier picked up the tongs, looked at the angle of the spike as it traveled through the demigod's feet and into the wood. He gave one powerful pull and the spike came out. He dropped the tongs on the ground, turned tail and ran as Hercules fell off of the cross straight into Iolaus' waiting arms.
Hercules struggled to be put down. He weaved and staggered in his drug induced stupor, not really feeling his legs under him. But, at his partner's still insistent calling of his name, he roused himself enough to remain upright so Iolaus could start to break the others loose from their crosses.
A very young soldier emerged from the safety of the shadows. He timidly approached Iolaus and asked if he could be of any help explaining that he hated what they'd been ordered to do to innocent men.
Iolaus gave him a quick smile and asked the young man to help the demigod so that he could be free to help the others. But first he asked the soldier to see if his boots were anywhere to be found. In the soldiers' haste to escape the 'divine retribution' of the crucified Hercules, they'd knocked several braziers over scattering burning coals across the ground at the bases of the crucifixes. His feet were in danger of becoming burned and he couldn't let that happen. In order for them to escape, they would need at least one good pair of feet between them.
Everyone's boots and shoes had been taken from the arena already except for Iolaus'. The soldier found the hero's boots exactly where the frightened leather dealer had dropped them in his haste to leave the scene.
"Are you the god Hercules?" the soldier asked as he took the full weight of Hercules off of Iolaus' hands. He tried to keep the demigod in a standing position but was finding it difficult.
"I am Hercules. Not a god...just Hercules," he mumbled. The soldier understood his words, although the demigod's speech was slow and slurred by the drugs.
"I've come to offer you my help," the soldier said.
"Then please ... help Iolaus. Get the others down," Hercules rasped.
"As you wish," said the soldier as he helped Hercules to sit on the ground with his back propped against the base of the cross that he'd been hanging on only moments before.
Hercules turned his head slowly and saw his partner and the soldier untying the others and helping them down. That small motion with his head caused the demigod tremendous dizziness and nausea. He emptied the contents of his stomach on the ground next to him then passed out.
When Iolaus and the soldier had gotten all the men down and made sure they were well enough to take care of themselves, he quietly ordered them to return to the gladiatorial school through the gate in the rear of the arena. He instructed them to get down into the catacombs and from there to find their way out of the city as fast as they could.
Iolaus joined his partner at the base of the cross. He made a quick examination of the demigod's wounds glad that Hercules was still unconscious. He knew how painful his probing would have been to the demigod if he had been awake. Iolaus was happy to discover that nothing was broken although some bones appeared to be chipped in his partner's left wrist. The iron stakes had made their way through skin and muscle only. The soldiers who put his partner up on the cross were apparently very skilled in their job.
The arena was empty, except for the few wary soldiers who remained cloaked in the shadows at the other end of the arena. But Iolaus could hear more soldiers coming and he knew he would have to make a quick getaway if he and Hercules were to evade capture and get back to the palace to save Marcia.
Iolaus could see that the approaching soldiers blocked the lower entrance to the arena. He picked Hercules up in his arms, looked all about him and ran to the part of the arena directly below the Emperor's personal box. With one swift, easy motion Iolaus jumped straight up, landing in the Emperor's box. In a flash he was out of the Coliseum with his precious burden, running through the dark back streets towards the secret passage into the palace.
Two of the soldiers who had hidden in the shadows -- who had been witness to the events in the Coliseum -- ran to the palace to report the miracle to their commanding officer.
The commanding officer, realizing the importance of this information, ordered the two soldiers to follow him. He made his way to the throne room and demanded an audience with the Emperor.
"Urgent news has arrived from the Coliseum, my Emperor," the commanding officer said as he pushed his two soldiers in front of him to kneel before Commodus' throne.
The soldiers reported everything that they'd seen to the emperor and his advisors.
"Tell me, soldiers. Iolaus and the other man, where did they go?" Laetushis asked.
"They disappeared," one soldier said as he looked with trepidation at the Chief Praetorian.
"They disappeared! No one just disappears!" Eclectus said his voice fraught with nervous tension.
"Those two did. We saw it with our very own eyes. The small blond man held the one he called Hercules in his arms. He jumped straight upward and disappeared into thin air," the soldier repeated emphatically while the other shook his head in agreement.
Commodus, who had stood to greet the officer, began to shiver uncontrollably upon hearing the soldier's report. He was frightened to the very core of his being. His whole life was collapsing around him and he began to doubt every decision he'd made over the past few years. He became totally undone. His knees buckled under him and he found himself falling back into his throne.
He fumbled around in the folds of his robe and pulled out a dagger with an ornately carved ivory grip.
"Marcia," he rasped across dry lips. "Come to my side. Take this. Protect my back. Iolaus was supposed to do it, but he couldn't be here right now. Damn him!" he whispered urgently while pressing the dagger into her hands.
His own hands were shaking uncontrollably as he handed Marcia the dagger. Then he picked them up and held them in front of his face, turning them over and over, not really recognizing them as being part of his own body. "I'm afraid…so afraid, my dear wife. Jupiter has his back turned to me. He's not answering me when I call his name anymore. See, Marcia. He's over there just a little bit beyond Laetushis," Commodus said as he gripped her arm much too tightly with his left hand while pointing off into the distance with his right. "Call to my father for me, on my behalf. You're a good person. You carry his grandchild. Jupiter will listen to you. Tell him to save me. Save me from the ghosts and the gods." He quaked at the thought that the original Greek Hercules was coming to take revenge on him for trying to pass himself off as the demigod reincarnate.
Laetushis watched the scene play out between Marcia and Commodus. She looked in his direction, appealing to him with her eyes.
Being careful not to catch the attention of the Emperor, he made the slightest motion to remind her of where she had placed the vial of sleeping potion.
Marcia received the unspoken message in Laetushis' look. She was frightened herself and the fear and sadness showed plainly on her expressive features.
Commodus took this to mean that Jupiter had also refused Marcia's silent prayer. The god must have refused because in the Emperor's mind he could plainly see that Jupiter was still standing with his back to him. He needed a drink, thinking it would calm his nerves. He felt as if everyone was shouting around him, making too much noise for him to think. In actuality, the quiet in the throne room was so profound, all in attendance could have heard a pin drop. He turned weakly to his wife and motioned for her to bring him wine.
It was the perfect opportunity. Commodus was too distracted to notice anything at the moment. Marcia slipped the potion into the Emperor's goblet, stirred it well and brought it to him.
Commodus grabbed the goblet, downed the contents in one large gulp then handed his wife the goblet, motioning for a refill. She brought him the refill then stood out of his reach. She was afraid of what her husband might do when he realized he had been drugged.
It turned out that she needn't have bothered worrying about his reaction. The Emperor had never been good at dealing with stress. Life-threatening stress, battlefield stress, always made Commodus' thoughts slow and confused. He was unaware that it was the drug that was making his thoughts muddled this time.
He would have to do what he always did over the past twelve years when he found himself in this type of situation. He would rely on his closest generals and advisors to relieve him of the burden of decision-making.
"Laetushis! Eclectus! Attend me at my throne!" Commodus shouted way too loudly and in a voice that quivered at least an octave higher with his nervousness.
"Jupiter has informed me that he is too busy with heavenly matters to help us deal with the situation at hand. It is your responsibility Praetorian - and yours Chamberlain - to protect the Emperor at all costs. I am afraid that this Iolaus and the one calling himself Hercules are probably coming to the palace to take their revenge on me. Iolaus is an evil demon who was sent by the other gods, in their jealousy, to deceive me. If he could deceive me, he could easily deceive my guards. What do you plan to do to protect my person?" Commodus demanded of the two men.
Eclectus took the lead in dealing with the Emperor. Commodus had, after all, been in his charge since he was just a boy.
"My Lord Emperor, you need not worry about a thing. Laetushis and I have just been discussing the matter and we know how to deal with this situation. We are going to hide you. We were just discussing our options when you called us over." Eclectus stated. "I beg you to give us just a few moments more and we'll present you with our plan." He was counting on the Emperor keeling over dead within the next few minutes from the drugs Marcia had administered.
When Commodus didn't die within those minutes, Laetushis questioned Marcia. He anxiously reported the facts to Eclectus when he found out what she'd done.
Now they would really have to find a place to hide the Emperor. In order to finish the job of killing him, they would have to get him away from the two hundred soldiers in the throne room.
After a brief deliberation, Laetushis and Eclectus decided to take the Emperor to the bathhouse.
"Lord Emperor," Laetushis addressed Commodus. "We have a place that we believe no one would ever suspect to look for you."
"Where? Is it close by?" Commodus anxiously asked.
"Yes, my Lord. It's the bathhouse!" Eclectus answered.
"The bathhouse? Have you two lost your minds?" Commodus demanded.
"No Lord, just think of it. Who would ever think of looking for the Emperor there, amid all the wrestlers and prostitutes?" Eclectus responded.
Commodus laughed loudly with a touch of hysteria. In his hazy thoughts, Commodus began to think that it was a foolproof plan and he eagerly issued orders for the soldiers to leave immediately and return to their barracks. He felt certain he would be safe among his friends -- his real friends -- the wrestlers.
The Praetorian and the Chamberlain escorted Commodus to the baths but Marcia was ordered by the Emperor to go to her rooms and to stay there with her maid until someone came to get her and reunite them.
Iolaus carried the unconscious demigod back to the palace. He wanted to hide Hercules someplace close by until he could find Marcia and Laetushis so they could all get out of the city together.
On his way to Laetushis' quarters he encountered Marcia and her maid. She quickly told Iolaus of all that had transpired since he had been taken out of the palace. She told him that she was on her way back to her suite. Laetushis would come to her there after Commodus was hidden. Then they could all depart together.
Iolaus was relieved that he wouldn't have to leave Hercules unattended in his drugged state. It would take a little while for the demigod's healing powers to kick in. When he got his partner settled comfortably on a divan in Marcia's sitting room he told her that he was going to retrieve Laetushis from the bathhouse. He wanted to leave the palace immediately. Marcia might not have realized what Laetushis and Eclectus really had in mind for the Emperor, but Iolaus had a very good idea. He had to see if he could get Laetushis out safely.
Before he left the suite, Marcia stopped him.
"Iolaus, is it true?" Marcia asked timidly.
"Is what true?" Iolaus puzzled.
"Is it true what everyone is saying about your friend? Is he really Hercules, the son of Jupiter?" she asked as she ducked her head and blushed, almost ashamed of even thinking such an impossible thing.
Iolaus chuckled warmly at his sister-in-law's shy blush before he responded. "There's no need to feel shy about asking an honest question. Yes, he is really Hercules, but not the son of Jupiter."
When he saw disappointment begin to fill her eyes he giggled, smiled at her and added as he opened the door, "he's Hercules, the son of Zeus, a different god all together."
Iolaus found Eclectus and Laetushis in the Emperor's massage room just off of the heated pool. They were quietly arguing about the next step in their plan to save Rome.
Eclectus caught sight of the hero first. He stopped speaking. His eyes grew incredibly large and his jaw hung open as if he were seeing a ghost. Laetushis swung around and smiled broadly when he saw the compact blond warrior approaching them.
"Is it true?" whispered the stunned Chamberlain. "Are you the real Iolaus?"
The grinning hero bowed elaborately before Eclectus saying, "at your service."
"Where's the other one, Marcus? Hercules? Your friend?" Eclectus stuttered.
Iolaus answered the Chamberlain's question but looked at Laetushis the whole time he spoke. "Hercules is taking care of Marcia. We need to get out of here. I came to get you Laetushis."
"Wait! Iolaus, if you are from the gods then you know that we need to save Rome. You've got to help us finish this once and for all, to preserve Rome for the people. Help us kill Commodus, then you can have your revenge for his trying to kill you and Hercules too," Eclectus begged the hero when he finally found his voice.
"I can't do that," Iolaus responded.
Eclectus pressed on excitedly. "You must realize how important it is for Commodus to die. Unfortunately neither I nor Laetushis can kill Commodus ourselves. I have hopes that we will be able to control the Empire until a new and suitable Emperor is chosen by the Senate."
"Iolaus please, Eclectus continued. "When we turn the Empire over to a new ruler, I will personally send Laetushis to join Marcia wherever she may be. Killing the Emperor will be easy for you. Commodus is still under the influence of the sleeping drug. You've got to help us."
"As long as I've lived, I have never killed a man in cold blood and I never will...no matter how crazy that man might be. There always has to be another way. If Commodus is a problem for the Senate and the people, then the Senate must find a way to overcome that problem. I'm sorry."
Eclectus could see he was fighting a losing battle with the hero. He turned to Laetushis and growled angrily. "You try to talk some sense into him. Time is running out. We can't leave Commodus alone with the whores until the sleeping potion wears off. Don't take too long or I'll be forced to take care of things my way...even if I have to kill him myself!" The chamberlain turned on his heel and stomped off while grumbling to himself and fingering the hilt of his dagger.
After the chamberlain was out of ear shot, Iolaus tried to convince Laetushis to join him in fleeing with Marcia and Hercules - to get out while the getting was good. He was having about as much success with Laetushis as Eclectus had with him.
Eclectus was a fastidiously clean man who couldn't even stand to have his hands sullied by the food he ate. He wondered how he could ever bring himself to undertake something as messy as a bloody murder. That was why he had been counting on the drug to kill Commodus. It was the cleanest death he could think of. Laetushis was taking too long and the Chamberlain was afraid that he'd run off with the Emperor's wife. He knew the Praetorian was enamored of Marcia, from the moment they'd taken her from her carriage on the road to Rome. It would be just his luck. He'd have to come up with something else quickly, just in case he'd be taking this path alone.
The Chamberlain spotted the blond hair first. It was Narcissus, the wrestler, preening in front of a mirror in the dressing chamber. That's when another thought hit Eclectus. Strangulation was also a clean way to kill someone. No blood, no fuss, no mess.
Eclectus approached the young wrestler fawning over him with praises about his prowess in the arena and his great intelligence. He pressed Narcissus to join the cause of freeing Rome from the grip of a madman. He let the young man believe that he was an agent for the Senate of Rome. He spoke of the urgency and immediacy of the need to save Rome that night, before dawn arrived, before Commodus declared himself Consul. He pushed the young man to become a hero to the Senate and the people of Rome. In their gratitude, Eclectus promised him, they would make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. Eclectus removed his own sizeable money pouch and pressed it into Narcissus' hands.
It didn't take any longer than that to convince the wrestler to become an assassin. He was ready to perform this service for Rome. He'd been in Commodus' inner circle less than five weeks and he was already tired of the Emperor's insanities.
Eclectus entered the room with the heated pool and found Commodus snoring with his head resting on his arms at the side of the pool. He dismissed the prostitutes and waited, impatiently tapping his foot, while they all clambered out of the water, wrapped towels around themselves and departed for the changing rooms.
When the room had emptied out, he instructed Narcissus to enter the bath with Commodus and get the job done as quickly as possible.
The Emperor roused as he felt a strong arm around his neck in a wrestling hold. His eyes could only open a slit, but he saw a flash of blond hair and thought he was in wrestling practice.
"Iolaus?"
"No, it isn't! It's Narcissus who is with you in this bath. And you will never make that same mistake again. It's Narcissus who has been entertaining you each night. It is Narcissus who has warmed your bed and now it is Narcissus who sends you to your death. Say 'hello' to Pluto for me and, do yourself a favor, don't make the mistake of calling him by Hades' name." Then with a strong flex of his muscles, the young wrestler snapped Commodus' neck.
At that very moment, several of the senior Senators and government officials stormed into the bathhouse with a small contingent of the Praetorian guard. They caught Narcissus with his arm still around the Emperor's broken neck choking off whatever life remained in him.
"What are you doing?!? What are you doing!?! Guards! Guards! Arrest that man!" shouted Pertinax, who held the position of Prefect of Rome.
"Wait! Wait!" shouted Narcissus who was still squeezing away at Commodus' neck. "I'm making sure he's dead just like Eclectus said you wanted. You can't arrest me! I'm working for the Senate!"
Pertinax turned to the two highest ranking guards and ordered them to take as many men as they needed and to find Eclectus, who had slipped out of the room when the Senators and guards entered, and to bring him back for questioning.
Another order from the Prefect had the remaining guards pulling Narcissus and the Emperor's broken body out of the bath. The young wrestler kicked and screamed protests all the way out of the water.
Laetushis and Iolaus heard the commotion in the bathhouse. They both turned to run in the direction of the noise but the Praetorian halted Iolaus in his tracks before he could follow.
"I have to go back there. I am the Praetorian Prefect of the Empire. It is my job. I have to do my best to protect and preserve Rome and if that means I must pay with my life, so be it. But you still have a job that's not finished. You have to get Marcia out of here. Please, save her for her sister's sake, save her for my sake? Marcia must not be made to suffer any more than she already has. Please Iolaus?" Laetushis begged the hero.
"If you're not with us when we leave this place, Marcia will suffer. You know that," Iolaus whispered gently to his new friend. "If you go back in there, you're most likely going to your own death."
"I know that. I wish it could have ended differently. Please, tell her that for me," Laetushis asked.
They could hear the guards' rapid approach and knew the time for talk had run out.
Iolaus nodded then he turned his back to the Praetorian as if to make his way back to Marcia's suite. "Laetushis, my friend," Iolaus said. "You may not understand this right now, but you will soon. Forgive me." And with that, Iolaus turned back to the Praetorian with lightning speed and knocked him out with clean left hook. Before the punch could even register on Laetushis' face, Iolaus was beside him helping him to fall gently onto the cold marble floor. Iolaus then removed his much loved vest, knelt next to his friend's body, and crumpled it into the Praetorian's fist. "I'm going to want that back some day," the hero whispered as he rose from his knees and ran as quickly and carefully as he could through the quiet corridors to get back to Hercules an Marcia.
The soldiers who had been on duty in the Coliseum - the ones who crucified Hercules and the Christian prisoners then hid in the shadows of the arena when the inexplicable happened - made their way back to the barracks. Along the way, they spread the word about the frighteningly awesome events they had just witnessed.
Word of the wonders spread like wildfire from the soldiers to the general population and, within minutes, crowds of soldiers and citizens were making their way to the palace.
The courtyard and the wide statue-lined concourse were filled with men, women and children determined to find Hercules -- the REAL Hercules, son of the god Jupiter, who came down off the cross -- and his champion the immortal Iolaus.
As they stood in the cold night air, the people shared their recollections of the demigod's legend with their neighbors. They recounted the stories about his Labors and his loves. Some told the legends surrounding Hercules' friend Iolaus, who was still worshipped as a minor god on Sardinia.
The people wanted to see the truth with their own eyes.
With the air full of voices screaming for Hercules, and the Senators and Praetorian guard on the steps of the palace trying to calm the crowd down and restore order, Iolaus decided on his way back to Marcia's suite that it would be best to get out of the palace fast through the secret passage, avoiding the streets at all costs.
Iolaus joined Hercules and Marcia in her suite and told them the short version of what had transpired in the bathhouse.
"Where do we go from here? What's going to happen now?" Marcia asked the heroes in a lost little girl voice when she realized Laetushis would not be joining them.
"You've got nothing to worry about. You're going to be all right. The Senators will take care of things from here on. They know you had no part in any of this," Hercules assured the young woman. "And, unless Eclectus is a completely dishonorable man, they'll know Laetushis had no part in the assassination either. Iolaus gave him an alibi. Just in case it doesn't work, we'll go back in and bring him out."
"We're getting you out of here right now. Sara left you her villa, the farm and the vineyard. Everything that was hers is now yours," Iolaus added as his own reassurance to Marcia of her continued safety. "Just take your warmest cloak and a change of clothes. We've got to start heading for the secret passage right away.
"Can I take my maid with me, she's my friend too? Oh, and can we stop back in Ostia before we go to the Sara's villa? I'd like to take my father-in-law away from those people and try to help him regain his health," Marcia begged the heroes as she threw a couple of items of warm clothes in her small carry sack.
Hercules agreed to her request with his most reassuring smile. "Of course we can. Your maid is welcome to join us and I don't think there is anything that would make Gaius happier than to join you at Sara's villa."
Although his arm was around his partner's shoulder and Iolaus was offering him additional support with a steadying arm around the waist, the demigod stumbled.
"I can't go around like this, I need boots," said Hercules who had stopped to rewrap the bandages on his feet.
"Why won't you let me carry you? It would be just until we hit the tunnel..." Iolaus argued until he caught the look on his partner's face.
"No, not this time Iolaus. We may have to fight our way out of here yet. I'd rather be on my own two feet just in case," Hercules replied.
Iolaus led the demigod to a marble bench outside the doors of Marcia's suite and helped him to be seated while Marcia gave instructions for her maid to follow her.
They hurried into the Emperor's quarters, reappearing in less than a minute bearing trays laden with boots of every color and design, as well as a warm, soft knit shirt for Iolaus and warm woolen cloaks for both men.
"These belonged to Commodus but he won't be needing them any longer." Marcia advised. "Most of them he never wore."
Hercules picked a brand new solid looking pair of brown suede boots. Iolaus donned the shirt then helped the demigod pull the boots on over his bandages.
"Funny that," said Iolaus as he pointed to his partner's feet.
"What's funny?" asked the demigod.
"Look how easily you can wear his boots, but if he lived a million years he could never fill your shoes."
The two heroes, Marcia and her maid found their way to the secret passage unhindered. All of the soldiers and guards in the palace had their hands full trying to control the crowds in the streets and concourses surrounding the palace. The Christians hid them in the catacombs until Hercules had his healing sleep and was ready to go on the road again.
During their stay-over, in the catacombs they picked up news from the other inhabitants. They learned that Narcissus, Eclectus and Laetushis had been tried by the Senate for the assassination of Commodus. Narcissus and Eclectus had been executed for their part in the conspiracy.
Laetushis was censured for his 'neglect.' Although he was supposedly able to thwart Iolaus from taking his revenge on the Emperor for the crucifixion, he failed to stop the actual assassination by the Chamberlain and the wrestler. For his 'neglect' the Senate stripped him of his rank and sentenced him to two years in prison. When Marcia heard this particular piece of news she couldn't stop smiling. Laetushis was a strong man. If he could survive so many stressful years dealing with Commodus, he could survive two years in prison. She would try to get word to him that she would be waiting for him when his sentence was up.
One other bit of information that made Hercules and Iolaus particularly happy was the news that the Senate elected Governor Severus to be the next ruler of the Roman Empire. A couple of regents were appointed to rule in the interim until Severus could make his way to the city from Gaul.
They swung by Ostia to retrieve Gaius who didn't stop thanking the heroes for the entire duration of the trip. While there, they had to purchase a carriage to help them carry the old man across the mountains and valleys that lay between Ostia and Sara's villa.
Iolaus was secretly happy that they had an excuse to ride most of the way home. Although his partner would never admit it, he knew that the big guy was still feeling some pain from the injury that he'd received to his feet during the crucifixion.
They traveled the whole way back to Tiberina unchallenged -- staying away from the main roads when they could -- sleeping in small, out of the way inns each night. To other travelers, they looked like a family of well-to-do farmers returning from holiday celebrations spent in the big city.
When they finally arrived at the villa, Iolaus gave Marcia the room he had shared with Sara. He didn't feel as if he could ever stay in there again and expect to get any sleep. He shared one of the guest rooms with Hercules instead.
That evening, they all retired to their beds early, after having enjoyed a particularly wonderful supper courtesy of the caretaker's wife. Iolaus sat on the end of their bed massaging some medicated ointments into the demigod's feet, trying to increase the circulation and aid in their healing. Hercules hissed every time his partner hit a particularly sore spot
"How do you feel about Severus becoming the new Emperor of Rome, Herc?" Iolaus asked, trying to draw his partner's attention away from his feet.
"If he's the same Severus we met in Gaul - if the hard life he's had there hasn't changed him - then I'd venture to say that Rome will have a good and fair leader for a change," Hercules replied. "And Laetushis may yet get his chance to help steer Rome in the right direction, thanks to you. When his prison term is up, Severus might be persuaded to put your friend's incomparable skills to good use in the new the government."
"Ah...I don't know, Herc. I'm hoping that the two years in prison will give Laetushis a different perspective on life. Maybe he'll get out of politics all together then come here to spend a quiet life with Marcia."
"Speaking of the 'quiet life,' you sure had to put yours behind you real fast with this assignment," Hercules noted.
"I guess so, Herc. Nothing like jumping right into the thick of things, is there?" Iolaus replied with a small grin.
Hercules cleared his throat and broached a subject he'd been meaning to talk with his friend about ever since they left Rome. "Um...Iolaus? Back there...in the catacombs...I heard what happened between you and Commodus in the throne room... the night that..."
"...that I did what had to be done. That's all Herc." Iolaus cut his friend off.
"Yeah. You always do. Thanks buddy."
"Don't mention it, Herc," Iolaus replied then tried to change the subject with a question. "When I'm finished with your legs can I help you with anything else, or maybe get you something?"
Hercules reached out his hand, laid it over Iolaus' hands where they rested on his ankle. His voice low and tight with emotion he replied, "Nah, I've got everything I'll ever need right here."
Tears came unbidden to Iolaus' eyes. He nodded his understanding then ducked his head to hide his blush. His massaging hands roamed further up the demigod's leg, paying particular attention to a knot of muscles he discovered on his partner's calf.
"Yes...yes...that's it! Right there, Iolaus...that's the one that cramps up on me every time I put my foot flat on the floor. Don't stop," Hercules hissed again in mild pain.
"I wish I could take this pain away from you, even if I had to suffer it myself," Iolaus told his friend in a quiet voice as he pressed softly on the sore spot one more time. To the demigod's amazement all of the lingering pain in his legs and feet seemed to magically disappear with that one touch.
"Iolaus, what did you do? The pain is completely gone," said Hercules with a look of shocked amazement.
"I...I don't know, Herc. Nothing different from every other time," Iolaus said as he held his hands up to show them to his partner.
There was a flash of golden light and Michael appeared next to the bed.
"As much as Iolaus wished he could do it, it was I who made you heal faster, Hercules. It looks like you and Iolaus will have to leave on another assignment in the next day or so. There's some trouble brewing in Alexandria and the Egyptian authorities will need your help. I'll be back to give you the full details of the assignment before you've reached the other shore of the Mediterranean."
"Good," Iolaus said as he flashed Michael a grateful smile. "At least we're being sent someplace warm for the winter."
"Michael, after all that we've just been through, do you think another emperor will be able to make things right? Is Severus the right man for the job?" Hercules asked the archangel.
"You've accomplished your mission as Guardians of the Light. That's what counts. Whether it turns out for the good or the bad remains in the hands of the people and their free will. It's up to them to make the right choices from this point on," Michael answered.
"And if they don't," Iolaus asked as he rubbed the back of his neck while looking up at Michael.
Michael had a soft spot in his heart for this particular Guardian and his lips curled in a warm smile for him as he replied, "then you'll be here to protect the innocent and help those in need...just like you've always done Iolaus...just like always."
The end.
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