A sick feeling remained in Hercules's gut all the way to the palace at Thespia, where the king and his attendants were preparing the banquet. He kept Megara close to him even after helping her off of Pegasus's back. He'd forgotten with how formidable Megara seemed to him that she was, in fact, a petite young woman who'd never spent much time outdoors and had only her wits to protect her in dangerous situations.

He could imagine all kinds of nightmare scenarios, demonstrated by the ones playing out in his mind whenever he blinked. The only way to ward them off was to catch the scent of her hair and feel her warmth at his side. If he lost her, he'd crumble like an unruly child's favorite toy chariot after hitting the wall too many times.

There had to be some way to protect Megara from every threat known to man and gods. He would find this method, and he would perfect it before Megara's life became collateral damage forfeited to the pursuit of heroism.

"Don't you agree, Hercules?"

"Wha–?" How many minutes had passed by while Hercules was lost in imagining the dangers that could befall his beloved? What were people saying around him?

Now that his eyes focused, he recognized that King Thespius was staring at him with a rictus grin. He hadn't seen this guy since the last time Megara confronted him with a flurry of insults at a party. Hercules should have been paying more attention to this king, especially since Megara had flagged him as a man to watch out for.

"His Majesty thinks it would be a great honor for us to stay here with him overnight," Megara told him. "Isn't that such a kind, unselfish offer that makes you want to trust him implicitly?"

"Uh… yeah?" Was that what she wanted him to say? If she and Cassandra worked together for a few weeks, they might teach him how to do this polite double-speak stuff, but the most he could do was recognize it happening.

Megara smirked at him, but King Thespius seized on the surface-level version of the conversation.

"Excellent! After the banquet, you'll stay in one of the guest chambers prepared for visiting dignitaries!"

"That's appropriate," Megara said. "Considering we're from the most powerful city in Boeoetia. You'll do well to impress us with your hospitality, and entertaining the Son of Zeus well enough will also please the god of hospitality."

"Yes…" the king eyed Megara the way Phil did.

Hercules bristled. "Or we won't have time to stay overnight. I miss having some privacy with my fiancee."

"Hey, don't knock it!" Phil protested. Oh yeah. How long had Phil been there? He must have flown to the palace with them, right? Or was he completely losing his mind?

Megara squeezed his hand. "I'll sleep anywhere with you," she purred.

Ah, and that was why he couldn't remember anything!

Why was he laughing like a giddy teenager? He'd gotten rid of that uneven, goofy-sounding laugh when– who was he kidding? He'd never entirely expunge his goofiness.

Megara seemed amused by it, at least.

Off to one side, he noticed Phil watching him as if his very presence was a faux pas. "He's more than a set of muscles to show off. He can help the city with anything major you need."

"Personally," Megara said, "I need to discuss how you'll spread Herc's reputation. Since we're not stationed here and don't plan to be here very often, we'll need to leave you with an official writeup on how you'll represent Herc to your people."

"What d'ya mean we won't be here often?" Phil asked.

"Herc's presence here will intimidate other men away from the princesses before they have a chance to do it themselves," Megara replied. She gave the king a snide smirk. "You don't need that kind of help, do you? It's been Anthea's primary talent ever since I knew her."

A bell seemed to ring in the back of Hercules's mind to warn him that his girl would get herself in trouble if he didn't step up.

Hercules reached out a hand to grip Megara's shoulder and pulled her closer to him. "Heh, well, Meg's great with her words, she ought to be the one who writes up the official words andd such, it'll be great!"

Megara gave him an amused little smirk, and once again, he read the phrase, 'I can handle this' on her face. Sure, she could, but she had a habit of accumulating more danger when she injected venom into her voice. He'd seen her whip up a frenzy from too many people so far. This wouldn't be one of those times.

"I could never outdo Meg's talent for driving men away," a higher-pitched voice alerted Hercules to the presence of another princess. Those girls were faster than he'd given them credit for. Her large, cow-like brown eyes were undeniably pretty, but they had nothing on Megara's catlike violet ones. "I'm sure you'll see soon, Hero," Anthea giggled. "She'll use her talents on you soon, and then you'll need someone to comfort you."

Hercules cleared his throat, jerking Megara so sharply against him that the retort died on her lips. "Meg shows me her talents every day, and they'll do exactly the opposite of driving me away. Thank you, Miss." He glanced down at Megara for approval.

"You're speaking my language," Megara whispered with glittering eyes that made his heart sing. "You've got a cute accent, so it doesn't matter if you're not fluent yet."

Anthea seemed less impressed. With her arms folded and a pout firm on her lips, the princess stood at the head of all her assembled sisters. It looked like they'd created a battle formation for a decisive striking strategy. If he knew anything from history class (and if he didn't, Herodotus might haunt him forever), this looked like a wedge formation used to break an army in half.

That wasn't good.

"You're coming to our banquet," Anthea said, and all her sisters grinned in unison behind her.

A shiver shot down Hercules's spine, but he couldn't understand why. These were just a bunch of human girls, not a many-headed monster or a volcanic eruption.

Megara had positioned herself before him before he could reflect more on his reaction. This was her arena, the one where words were the only weapons.

"Well, hostesses, we're so pleased to accept your humble service," Megara said in a voice smooth as the sweet flow of honey. "I'm sure you've all been thinking of ways that you can impress the gods by waiting on their most beloved scion. How would you like it if you started now, before you say or do something that will make us leave you before you execute your sacred duty?"

Hercules should be taking notes. Megara made appealing to divine authority sound like she was the one who could dole it out.

"Yes," Anthea said through gritted teeth. "Please follow us to the banquet hall." She shot her father a look that made Hercules curious, but then she'd turned away, and all her sisters moved to join her, never leaving the formation.

There were too many of them. They didn't look like a family; it looked as if he'd gotten knocked on the head too many times and saw everything triplicate.

"Let them go on ahead," Megara said, "it'll give them time to let off their steam."

"Yeah…" Hercules looked down at her, astonished by how nonchalant she seemed. Then he looked in Phil's direction. "I know you want to start the banquet immediately, so go ahead of us, okay?" he asked.

Phil started to say something almost like denial, but then the plump little satyr ran toward the scent of food.

Once they were alone, Hercules braced his hands on Megara's shoulders and looked seriously down into her eyes. "I've gotta ask how you're so relaxed."

Megara shrugged under his hands. "Nothing bothers me at the moment."

Tilting his head, Hercules lowered his voice. "Okay, but how about earlier, in the crowd? What were those guys saying to you?"

For an instant, Hercules caught fear in her eyes, but she smoothed it out and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you wanna talk about it now? It's over. What they said didn't matter."

Hercules gripped her shoulders a little tighter to maintain her attention on the point. He'd never paid much attention to how delicate her bones were. She was like a tiny songbird, easily harmed. Even if those men from before were dozens of times weaker than him, could they crumble her up in their hands if they tried?

"You have to tell me, Meg."

"No, you don't, and besides, I've already forgotten." Megara intensified her smile, but he recognized it for the defense mechanism it was and shook his head.

Leaning closer, almost resting his brow against hers, Hercules murmured, "Meg, I saw that look in your eyes. I know whatever it was, I should've killed them for it."

"All the more reasons I shouldn't tell you about it," was her flippant reply.

His eye twitched. "Meg…" he started, but then a gong startled him. To his surprise, he had to quickly relax his fingers and lift them off Megara's shoulders before he could accidentally squeeze too hard.

The banquet must be ready.

Hercules looked back down to see nothing below his hands. Hadn't he had a gorgeous violet-eyed fiancee by his side moments ago?

"C'mon, Herc," Megara said casually from down the hall. "It's showtime."