Hercules wandered around the edge of the group dancing around the bonfire. The party was winding down, but it had been a great success. It seemed like every cadet and every townsperson had made there way to the dance tonight, and everyone was having a wonderful time. Hercules spied Jason dancing with a very attractive young woman; he'd been dancing with her all night. Hercules smiled at his friend's good fortune.

Iolus had also been fortunate. He'd hit on just about every available woman at the dance, and was never lonely for a partner, though he never settled on just one. He was having the time of his life. Hercules was a little envious of his friend's easy way with women, or maybe he was jealous of the fact that Iolus has so few inhibitions. Hercules could never be as forward with a girl as Iolus was, though he *had* worked up the courage to ask Cora to dance.

Thinking of Iolus seemed to make him appear. With a cup of cold cider in hand, Iolus came sauntering up to Hercules. "Hey Herc! Are you only going to have one dance?"

"Don't worry about me, Iolus. I'm having a fine time." He winked conspiritorily at his friend. "Doesn't look like you're having any problems finding someone to dance with..."

Iolus grinned smugly. "With dancing feet like mine, who could resist?" He waved his cup grandly at the crowd. "So many girls, so little time. Have you seen Jason?"

Hercules scanned the crowd. He looked to where he had last seen the crowned prince of Corinth, but Jason and his new friend seemed to have disappeared. "He *was* over there with that dark haired girl, but I don't see him now."

Iolus gave a chuckle. "Good for him! Did you see that girl he was with?" He whistled appreciatively. "She's been hanging on him all night. I think our friend may get lucky..."

"And why not?" responded a voice from behind them. Hercules and Iolus turned to see Jason standing behind them, looking very happy with himself. Iolus immediately started to pepper him with questions. "Who was that girl? Where did the two of you go? And *what* were you doing?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, so Jason ignored him.

Hercules, having a little more respect for his friend's privacy, didn't pry as much. Instead he concentrated on asking about a new charm Jason was wearing. He knew the prince hadn't been wearing it when they'd arrived at the dance. "Is that a gift from your new *freind*?" Herc asked pointedly.

Jason looked down and fingered the charm he wore. The gold charm was an intricate design of whorls and vines. It glowed warmly in the firelight. He looked up with a smile. "Athena says it's a charm to bring pleasant dreams. She says it will help me dream of her tonight."

"Dream of her?" Iolus was outraged for his friend. "All you get to do is dream? That is beat!"

Hercules tried to shut Iolus up with a glare; Jason seemed to be genuinely interested in this girl. The last thing he needed was to have Iolus ragging him about it. But Jason again took the high road and refused to rise to Iolus' bait. "I may be dreaming of her tonight, but we've arranged to meet again, day after tomorrow." He fingered the charm again and a soft smile came to his face. The soft affection was quicly replaced with a grin, "I won't be dreaming then." Iolus didn't seem to catch it, but Hercules didn't miss the honest attraction Jason seemed to feel for the girl.

Sensing a need to change the subject, Hercules interjected. "We won't be doing any dreaming unless we get back to the Academy. We may not have duty tomorrow, but we still have curfew. Kyron will have us cleaning the stables again if we're late."

Jason tried to stifle a huge yawn. "Herc's right, it's time we headed back."