The cadets headed back to the Academy in a big group. Most of the cadets
were still pumped up by the evening, and chatted excitedly as they walked
home. Jason hung back a little, and Hercules slowed his stride to match
him. Jason seemed in an unusually reflective mood, and Hercules guessed he
didn't want to share with the group.
"You still have Athena on your mind?"
Jason nodded. "It's really strange, Herc. I've only known her a few hours, and I feel like... I don't know. There's something about her. She had the most wonderful sparkling eyes..."
Herc gave silent thanks to Zeus that Iolus had walked ahead with the other cadets. If he'd been in on this conversation he certainly would've gone off on the "sparkling eyes" comment. But Jason seemed serious, so Hercules just listened. "She is so beautiful and smart. And as far as she knew, I was just another cadet, not the crowned prince of Corinth. That can get to be a real drag sometimes."
Hercules nodded. He knew that Jason took his duties as crowned prince very seriously. And he wasn't the kind of guy to lord his position over the other cadets. They followed his lead because he was strong and smart. Probably the best warrior out of all of them. He would make a great king one day. But Hercules knew that it bothered him when girls suddenly paid more attention when they found out he was a prince. Not that he didn't play it up occassionally, but he was looking for someone to love him for who he was, not what he would eventually be.
"So you're pretty serious about this girl?"
"I guess,...I don't know. But I guess she must like me. She gave me the charm and everything." Jason stifled another yawn as he reached down to touch the charm around his neck. "That must count for something. Plus, she's a great dancer."
"She'd have to be to keep up with you." answered Hercules. With the mood lightened, the young men picked up the pace, and caught up with the tail end of the pack of cadets heading for home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a still well of water, the images of Hercules and Jason faded from sight. A hooded figure turned away from the well. His hunched form was more an indication of subordination than old age. "It all goes according to plan, my lord."
A heavily armored man stepped out of the shadows. "I don't like this. And I don't like you. But if this will get the baby prince out of my way, I'll do it." He fingered his sword unconsciolusly. "I'd rather kill him outright, like a man."
"Patience, my lord, patience. Why kill the prince outright and start a war, when it can be done with a trace of mystery? No one will ever be able to trace his death back to you, and the Corinth won't be able to start a war with you, until you are ready to bring it to them." the wizard spoke in a simpering tone that was completely irritating to the warrior.
"If this doesn't work, Mycene..." the warrior left the threat hanging.
"It cannot fail, my Lord Tracius. He has no indication that he is in any kind of danger. The charm he now wears around his neck has already begun to zap his stregnth. All he has to do is fall asleep...then he will never wake."
"You still have Athena on your mind?"
Jason nodded. "It's really strange, Herc. I've only known her a few hours, and I feel like... I don't know. There's something about her. She had the most wonderful sparkling eyes..."
Herc gave silent thanks to Zeus that Iolus had walked ahead with the other cadets. If he'd been in on this conversation he certainly would've gone off on the "sparkling eyes" comment. But Jason seemed serious, so Hercules just listened. "She is so beautiful and smart. And as far as she knew, I was just another cadet, not the crowned prince of Corinth. That can get to be a real drag sometimes."
Hercules nodded. He knew that Jason took his duties as crowned prince very seriously. And he wasn't the kind of guy to lord his position over the other cadets. They followed his lead because he was strong and smart. Probably the best warrior out of all of them. He would make a great king one day. But Hercules knew that it bothered him when girls suddenly paid more attention when they found out he was a prince. Not that he didn't play it up occassionally, but he was looking for someone to love him for who he was, not what he would eventually be.
"So you're pretty serious about this girl?"
"I guess,...I don't know. But I guess she must like me. She gave me the charm and everything." Jason stifled another yawn as he reached down to touch the charm around his neck. "That must count for something. Plus, she's a great dancer."
"She'd have to be to keep up with you." answered Hercules. With the mood lightened, the young men picked up the pace, and caught up with the tail end of the pack of cadets heading for home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a still well of water, the images of Hercules and Jason faded from sight. A hooded figure turned away from the well. His hunched form was more an indication of subordination than old age. "It all goes according to plan, my lord."
A heavily armored man stepped out of the shadows. "I don't like this. And I don't like you. But if this will get the baby prince out of my way, I'll do it." He fingered his sword unconsciolusly. "I'd rather kill him outright, like a man."
"Patience, my lord, patience. Why kill the prince outright and start a war, when it can be done with a trace of mystery? No one will ever be able to trace his death back to you, and the Corinth won't be able to start a war with you, until you are ready to bring it to them." the wizard spoke in a simpering tone that was completely irritating to the warrior.
"If this doesn't work, Mycene..." the warrior left the threat hanging.
"It cannot fail, my Lord Tracius. He has no indication that he is in any kind of danger. The charm he now wears around his neck has already begun to zap his stregnth. All he has to do is fall asleep...then he will never wake."