The core of cadets was marching into town singing at the top of their lungs. The more intelligent merchants saw them coming and quickly closed down for the day. Having the whole group arriving like that could only mean trouble. Jason dismounted in front of Cora's, wobbling only slightly. He held on to the saddle for support. That concerned Hercules. Though Jason seemed to be a little more alert, his body wasn't responding the way it should.

"Where were you supposed to meet Athena?" Hercules asked.

"Here at Cora's." replied Jason. "I don't see her yet."

"Maybe she's inside." volunteered Iolus. "I'll go run in and check." Iolus dashed into the tavern. The other cadets spread out throughout the town square, but Hercules remained close to Jason.

"Jace, what are you going to do?" Herc dropped his voice to ask attempting to allow Jason some privacy with this tricky problem.

"I don't know Herc. I just can't believe she's behind this. That she would betray me." he looked down sadly at the charm that weighed like an anchor around his neck.

"Jason?" a soft voice called. Hercules and Jason turned to see Athena standing by the side of the tavern. Jason approached her cautiously, with Hercules only a step or two behind.

Jason seemed torn between delight and anger. His mind knew that she was the source of the spell that was killing him, but his heart couldn't believe she did it of her own free will. "Athena." He held out his hands to her, then dropped them. "We need to talk."

"I know." she relied sadly, and turned to walk along the side of the building. Jason followed closely to hear her whispered words. "I had such a good time the other night. I really do like you..." Athena whirled, her eyes glowing a mad red, holding a small but sharp knife in her hand. She snatched the leather thong holding the charm around Jason's neck. He jerked back, but wasn't able to pull free.

In a split second Athena slashed at the cord cutting it cleanly. Jason began to gasp as the charm slid slowly off. Hercules kicked Athena knocking her away from Jason. He caught the slashed cord before it slid completely free and quickly tied it up in a knot. Jason looked drained, but he was still awake. The charm hadn't been taken from him, but even that instant of having it removed drained him greatly.

By this time, Iolus had found the pair. He rushed to get Jason back on his feet. Herucles approached Athena angrily. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?" The girl's eyes still glowed madly. Hercules noticed she wore a charm, not unlike the one Jason wore. He reached out and snapped it off of the girl's neck. She gasped and fell back. When she opened her eyes, they were clear again, a normal brown.

"By Zeus! What have I done?" Hercules, sensing the danger was over, helped the girl to her feet. "Oh Jason...I'm so sorry!" She tried to approach the weakened prince, but he backed away into Iolus. Athena seemed to understand his reluctance. "I was under a spell placed on my by the sorcerer Mycene. He is working with Lord Tracius to kill Jason."

"Tracius?!" Jason spat out. "He is an enemy of Corinth and has been making trouble for years."

"The trouble has only just begun, princeling." snarled an evil voice from behind them. Jason and Iolus whirled. There before them stood Lord Tracuis. "Somehow I knew the girl wouldn't be able to kill you, and I'll have to do it myself." Before he could advance further, Hercules gave a shrill whistle to alert the cadets of trouble. Young men seemed to pop out of the woodwork. Not to be undone, Tracius called his troops out. Soon there was hand to hand combat all over the square.

Hercules sent Athena into Cora's to get her out of the fighting. The cadets closed ranks around Jason. He stood at the ready inside the circle, adrenaline giving him the much needed strength he needed. The clash of swords rang out from all around them. The merchants who hadn't closed up were now wishing they had as their merchandise was destroyed.

Tracius's men picked off the cadets to engage them one on one. Slowly the circle protecting Jason eroded. Iolus was holding off two soldiers, as Hercules engaged Tracius.

"I will kill you. Then I will kill the prince. You can't save him now."

Hercules responded as they fought. "You...can't...have...him." He rushed in and under Tracuis's guard and sent the man flying with a massive kick. Hecules turned back to see Jason fighting off a soldier of his own. Hercules ran in to join Jason. The two of them knocked the man out. Hercules then turned to fight off another advancing soldier. Soon the bodies of Tracius' men littered the town square. Tracuis picked himself up from where he had landed across the square. He rallied his men too him. The cadets once again closed ranks around Jason. All stood at the ready.

Tracius called out. "You cadets fight well. You may have won this battle, but I still got what I came here for." He pointed. Hercules and Iolus whirled to see Jason collapse against the wall of the tavern. "Noo!" was Iolus' anguished cry.

"Jason!" was Hercules' echo. Though they were only a few feet away, getting to Jason was like running in a slow motion dream. They reached Jason simultaneously, Iolus leaping over his fallen body to support his other side. His breathing was labored and he could barely lift his head to speak to them. "Sorry...guys. I tried. Stop... Tracius. For... Corinth."

Jason closed his eyes and fell silent. Hercules shook him and called his name. "Jason. Wake up."

Iolus tried from his side. "C'mon, Jason. You can't quit now. We're so close!"

The prince didn't respond. He could no longer withstand the power of the spell, the fight having drained the last of his energy. His friends became more frantic. "Jason, please. Wake up. Come ON." Hercules shook and jostled his friend, but to no avail.

Iolus bowed his head. "Oh ... no."

A somber silence filled the square as the cadets gathered around their fallen friend. Hercules squeezed his eyes shut tight, trying not to see the still form before him, trying not to cry. He could hear the shuffling of the feet of the cadets around him. Then a new sound. Hoofsteps. And a low chanting. Hercules could hear the cadets giving way to the new arrivals. He opened his eyes and looked up and Kyron. "You're too late, Kyron. We never should have come into town. I shouldn't have let him."

"We are, perhaps, just in time." It was then Hercules noticed the man sitting astride Kyron's horse-half. Hercules had *never* seen Kyron giving anyone a ride before. It just wasn't something centaurs did. But the man on his back did not seem to be fully aware of what was going on; he was the source of the low chanting.

"Florian and I made good time. As we approached the town we heard the sounds of fighting. Florian guessed that our assassin had run out of patience and was attempting to force Jason into a fight to drain his energy faster. He has been chanting the counterspell since we arrived. If we are lucky, we were close enough for it to begin to take effect before Jason lost consciousness."

Hercules' heart filled with hope. Kyron moved in closer to check Jason's pulse. "He is still breathing and his heart is strong. I think we may have been in time." He bent down, and with his human half, lifted the sleeping prince as easily as he would have lifted a baby. Hercules marveled at the strength of the centaur as he turned to head back to the Academy. "Gather the cadets, and meet us back at the Academy." Kyron set off at an easy gallop with Jason in his arms, and Florian on his back.

Iolus grasped Hercules' arm. "Do you think he'll be okay?"

Hercules allowed himself to hold onto hope. "I think maybe he will. Let's get going."