Disclaimer Hercules
and Iolaus belong to MCA/Universal and Renaisance Pictures. They
were used without permission. No copyright infringement intended. No money
was made
VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS
ByTyndara
Chapter One
Iolaus looked around as he walked, picking up suitable firewood. As he stepped
around a large tree, he stopped. A man lay at the foot of the tree, unconscious.
Iolaus laid his wood down and knelt next to the man. He was alive, and Iolaus
couldn't find any obvious injuries.
"Herc! Hey, Herc! You better come over here!"
Hercules heard his companion call to him and hurried to his side. "Iolaus?
What's wrong?"
"I found someone. He's unconscious, I'm not sure if he's hurt or what.
I couldn't find anything."
Hercules carried the man back to their camp. He was small, smaller than
Iolaus, with thick black hair that fell below his shoulders. He was fair-skinned
and delicate-boned. He was lithe, like a runner, rather than heavily muscled.
He had a delicate, almost ethereal beauty. He was dressed in brown leather
trousers and boots, and a tattered linen tunic that was once a beautiful
green. He wore gold bands around his wrists and upper arms, a gold torque
with green gemstones, and a green gemstone in his left ear. On the back
of his right hand was tattooed a coiled green serpent with red eyes and
tongue. He wasn't injured, but they could tell he was probably exhausted.
A short time later, the man stirred and opened incredible green eyes. Iolaus
knelt next to him. "Hi. How're you feeling?"
"I...I am all right...I think."
Iolaus didn't react to the man's strange accent. "Here." Iolaus
helped him sit up enough to take a drink of water. "You just rest.
You look like you could use a good meal. We have food cooking, it'll be
ready soon. Oh, I'm Iolaus."
"I am Sivari."
"Nice to meet you, Sivari. This is my friend, Hercules." He gestured
at Hercules just as he stepped into the camp.
Sivari looked at Hercules and gasped, his eyes widening. He scrambled backwards.
"By the goddess!"
Hercules stopped, looking at the man quizzically. Iolaus tried to calm him.
"Hey, hey, take it easy. He won't hurt you. What's wrong?"
Sivari slowly calmed. "I..I am sorry. I have...I have never seen a
man so large!"
Iolaus smothered a grin as Hercules looked at Sivari, astonished. "Don't
worry, Sivari," Iolaus said, patting his shoulder. "You're not
the first person to think that."
"Hey!" Hercules said indignantly. He looked at Sivari. "Sivari,
you look as though you've come a long way. Where are you headed?"
"I look for my great-grandfather's home. He called it Ter-mop-o-lay."
"Ter...Thermopylae?" asked Iolaus.
"Yes! That is it!" He shrugged. "I am sorry, I do not speak
your language so well. My great-grandfather taught me in secret."
"In secret? Why?" asked Hercules.
"Slaves were to speak only our mistresses language. They did not like
us speaking so they could not understand."
"Sivari, where are you from? How far have you come?" asked Hercules.
"I do not know. I have traveled many days since escaping from my mistress.
She was an evil woman and I was afraid she would kill me, as she has killed
so many others. I have come from the north. I have followed the river from
the time of the new moon."
"Three weeks," said Iolaus, looking at Hercules.
Hercules nodded. There was something about Sivari's story that bothered
him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Ah, maybe if he slept on it,
it would come to him.
The men finished their meal and settled down to sleep. Sivari didn't react
as Hercules stretched out behind Iolaus, pulling the smaller man into his
arms, and Iolaus rested his head on Hercules' shoulder, lacing the fingers
of one hand through the hand Hercules placed over his heart.
Hercules awoke at dawn; Iolaus was already up and hunting for their breakfast.
He'd set several snares the night before as well as setting a trap in the
river. Hercules walked down to the river. Stripping off his jerkin and the
soft tunic underneath, he washed his face and chest. As he was pulling his
jerkin back on, he realized he was being stared at by a beautiful dark-haired
woman. She wore a dark blue tunic and black trousers and boots, with a sword
at her left hip and a bow and quiver slung over her back.
As she realized he had seen her, in the blink of an eye, she was armed,
aiming an arrow at him. "Do not move!" she said. Her accent was
the same as Sivari's.
Hercules raised his hands. "I'm not armed. I'm not a threat to you.
My name is Hercules."
The woman called out behind her and several more women appeared. Two flanked
him, holding knives. The others followed his trail back to his camp.
Sivari tried to run, but was run down and hauled back. Iolaus had seen what
was happening and tried to hide his trail from them, so he could find a
way to free the others, but they found him. He fought and had to be physically
subdued.
Iolaus held his sword out in front of him as the warrior women surrounded
him. One, tall, stately, and obviously in command, stepped in front of him.
"Do not harm him," she said in his own language, wanting him to
understand her. She looked him over. "I want him. Undamaged."
"He is wild, Vali," said a woman with red high-lights in her dark
hair.
"Yes, he is, Kohri. I shall enjoy taming him."
"I don't think so, woman," Iolaus spat. "I am not an animal!"
Vali smiled. "Oh, but you are, man. All men are." Her smile faded.
"Put down the sword!"
Iolaus smirked. "You gonna make me?"
The words were barely spoken before she came at him. But she didn't draw
her own sword and Iolaus' sense of honor wouldn't let him use his sword
against her. He dodged her blows and lashed out at her with a foot. She
side-stepped, kicked him in the left thigh. He blocked a backhand blow,
hit her in the stomach. She
doubled over, then lashed out to strike him on the inside of his right thigh
with her hand.
Pain shot through Iolaus' entire body. He screamed as he convulsed and dropped
to the ground. He had never felt such pain in his life, burning through
him like fire, consuming him. His screams were torn from his throat and
he writhed on the ground.
Hercules heard Iolaus' screams and instantly ripped free of the leather
thongs binding his wrists. He backhanded one of his guards away from him,
hit the other with his palm in the chest, sending her flying backwards.
He ran to where Iolaus was surrounded by several of the warrior women. One
knelt beside him, stroking his leg. His screams had stopped, but he was
still gasping for breath, pale and shaking.
"Stop!"
Hercules stopped, her order only barely cutting through his rage at seeing
this woman with her hands on Iolaus, at knowing she had hurt him somehow.
The woman held a knife to Iolaus' throat. Those around them held weapons
pointed at both of them.
"If you move, I will kill him." Vali smirked. "So, our bindings
won't hold you, will they?" She gestured to her warriors. Two walked
over, seized Iolaus by the arms, and hauled him to his knees.
"What did you do to him?" Hercules demanded angrily.
"Taught him a lesson in obedience. It's one you will learn as well."
"I don't think so," Hercules growled.
"Oh, I know so, man." She grabbed a fistful of Iolaus' hair and
jerked his head back. "If you attack me, I will kill him. Even if you
get to me first, you can't kill all of us before someone kills him and then
you."
Hercules knew she was right. She smirked at him. "You are both...mine,"
she taunted. She nodded at the warriors holding Iolaus. His hands were pulled
behind his back and tied. Hercules saw him wince as the leather bit into
his wrists. He was led back to their camp. Hercules, however, was put in
chains the women had brought with them. And the minute they were locked
around his wrists, he knew something was horribly wrong.
Vali laughed. "The Lady was right! She predicted we would meet a giant
man on this trek, and would need her magic chains to bind him! You cannot
escape us now, man! The Lady's chains sap you of your strength, put you
at our mercy! Get used to it!"
Iolaus had regained his color by the time Hercules was dragged back to the
camp. Hercules was forced to his knees beside Iolaus. Sivari was sitting
a few feet away, curled into a ball and weeping.
"Iolaus."
Iolaus looked at Hercules, worry in his eyes at Hercules' tone. "Herc?
Are you OK? What's wrong, what did they do?"
"It's the chains. There's some kind of magic in them. It's...sapping
my strength." He lifted his eyes to Iolaus'. "I can't fight them,
Iolaus."
"We'll get out of this, Herc." He grinned impudently. "We
always do."
Hercules chuckled. "Hold onto that thought, my love. Let me know if
you come up with a way out of this."
"Me? Oh, fine time to admit I'm the brains of this outfit."
The men watched as Vali walked over to Sivari. The man wept and groveled
in front of the woman. She pushed him onto his back with one foot, which
she left resting on his chest.
^Did you really think you would escape us, man?^
^I'm sorry, mistress! Please, mistress, let me serve you! I am happy to
serve! I...I was afraid of the Lady Salin! Please, mistress, let me live
in your service!^
Vali smirked at him. ^Yes, Sivari, you will live and you will serve me.
Salin said if I caught you, I could have you.^ She grabbed him by the hair
and jerked him to his knees. ^But if you ever try to run again, I will hunt
you down and skin you. Slowly.^ Sivari stared at her wide-eyed, mouth open
in slack-jawed terror. ^Do you understand?^
^Y.yes, m.mistress. Yes!^
^Vali. What about these two?^ asked a brown-haired girl with gleaming green
eyes.
Vali looked at Hercules and Iolaus. Her lips curled into a leering smile
as she looked at Iolaus. She walked over, to run a hand through his blond
curls. "Hmmm, Nori, never have I seen a male so beautiful, with hair
like the sun and eyes like the sky! You will be a treasure like no other,
man." She traced a hand down his face. Iolaus jerked away, only to
have Vali grab him by the chin and force him to look at her. "You will
obey me or you will suffer for it. I know many ways to inflict excruciating
agony on you without leaving a mark , just as I did before." She caressed
his cheek, pressed a light kiss to his lips, and then slapped him, hard,
knocking him backwards. He stared at her defiantly, his eyes going violet
with rage.
Hercules had to take several deep breaths to keep from struggling against
the chains that bound him and finding some way to lay into Vali. He hated
to see Iolaus hurt, in any way. Now was no exception.
Hercules studied the women. All of them were Iolaus' height or taller. Vali
was the tallest, at nearly six feet. All of them reminded him of the Amazons,
but there was something...something regal and yet almost evil about all
of them. There was a sophistication about them the Amazons never had. All
of them were dark-haired, though some had red high-lights. All of them had
black, brown, or green eyes. They were perfectly fit, and well-armed, with
swords, bows, and staffs. They were all dressed in leather boots and trousers
and linen or leather tunics. Decorations varied from nothing to feathers
to colored gems and gold.
^What about the giant?^ asked a black-haired woman.
Vali slid a hand over Hercules' chest and shoulder. "I think he will
make an admirable gift to my mother, the queen. She will appreciate his
brute attributes. Don't you think so, Maki?" The black-haired woman
chuckled and nodded.
^I don't like this, Vali. We should kill them all and go home. We could
take Sivari's hand as proof of his death.^ This from a tall woman wearing
a gold headband.
Vali shook her head. ^No, Tris. I want them all returned alive.^
^It has taken us many days to catch up with the runaway, and it will take
as many days to return, more with them in tow!^
Vali snarled. ^You challenge me, Tris?^
Tris was brought up short. ^No, Vali. Of course not.^
^Then prepare to set out! As soon as we have rested, we will go.^
In less than an hour, they were on their way, twelve female warriors surrounding
three men. Hercules and Iolaus noted the northeasterly direction they were
taking - straight into Macedonian territory.
That night, Iolaus kicked Vali away from him as she caressed him; she was
constantly running her fingers through his golden curls. His action enraged
her. She grabbed him by the hair and reached down to stroke the inside of
his left thigh. A sudden motion of her hand and he screamed. He continued
to scream until she undid whatever she had done, the same thing she had
done when he was captured.
Iolaus lay on the ground, white-faced and moaning. Hercules was looking
at him in shock. He had never heard such sounds coming from Iolaus before.
Never. He hadn't believed it was possible to make his friend scream like
that. He began struggling against the chains that held him, wanting to go
to Iolaus, and wanting to snap Vali's neck.
"Hercules. Don't. I'm all right," Iolaus rasped. He was recovering
from the mind-numbing pain that had been inflicted on him, and two warriors
jerked him to his knees.
Vali chuckled. "My people know many things about the body. Including
where some of the major nerves are located. Pinch them just right, and it
causes excruciating pain, yet can be undone with a touch and there is no
lasting damage." Her face hardened. "We also know certain points
that can cause death, either instantly or in a matter of moments. Is that
what you want, Hercules? To die? Do you want to watch your friend die in
agony?"
"NO!" Hercules fists clenched. "We aren't animals, here for
your amusement!"
Vali laughed. "Why, Hercules, that is exactly what you are. That is
what all men are, brute beasts to be used in the service of the Goddess."
"What goddess? Hera?"
"No. The Lady. She is our mother, and our protector. As her daughters,
we serve her and follow her tenets. She rules with a gentle, loving hand.
And she has taught us that men *are* animals. Always fighting, warring with
one another over land, over gold, or women. Foolish men. Women will always
be superior to you."
Without warning, Vali spun and hit Iolaus in the mouth with a closed fist
as hard as she could. The warriors had known what was coming and released
him at the last instant. Iolaus' head snapped back; he was limp as he hit
the ground.
Vali looked at Hercules, eyes blazing. "Remember this: from now on,
when one of you disobeys, the other pays the price!" Vali cheered at
the look in Hercules' eyes. She had read the relationship between the two
men correctly, and could use it against them.
Hercules nodded. He was allowed to go to his friend. He knelt beside Iolaus.
Though his chains restricted the movement of his arms and hands, he lifted
Iolaus into his arms and carried him to where they had spread their blankets.
He was starting to come to as Hercules laid him down. Sivari brought a cup
of water. Iolaus rinsed his mouth, spitting bloody water to one side.
Hercules turned Iolaus' face up to his. "Still got all your teeth?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"How's your head feel?"
"My head's fine, it's my jaw that hurts. She hits like you do, Herc."
"Thanks a lot." Hercules winced at the bruise already forming
on the left side of Iolaus's face. "This is not going to be either
pretty or comfortable by morning."
"Yeah, I know."
One of the warriors gave Iolaus a cloth soaked in a medicinal poultice.
"It'll help take the pain away and speed the healing."
Iolaus held the cloth to his sore jaw and glared daggers at Vali as Hercules
held him. As they bedded down, Hercules noticed that they were ringed by
the warriors. There was no chance of any of them escaping. He pulled Iolaus
close, a sudden shiver of fear running down his spine.
Next day, Hercules and Iolaus were separated. Vali sent Iolaus ahead with
one group of warriors, the others stayed behind with Hercules. There was
always a runner on the edge of either group, ready to report to the other
force. If one attempted to escape, the other would be severely punished.
As for Sivari, he remained behind as well, too terrified to do anything
but what he was told.
Iolaus' group made good time, for he was in as good a shape as they were,
and able to keep up with the grueling pace they set. They took him to a
magnificent hidden valley, deep in Macedonian territory. They stood on a
bluff overlooking the valley, and Iolaus gazed in astonishment below him.
The city below them was like nothing he had ever seen. It was enormous,
sprawling over the center of the valley, gleaming gold and ivory, blue and
green and red, in the sunlight. There were domes and pyramids, and as they
got closer, he could see rich villas surrounded by verdant gardens. There
were paved streets lined with lamps, to be lit at night. As they walked
down the tree-lined street, in front of homes and shops built from marble
and fine woods, he saw women coming to see the returning search party.
Iolaus had never seen anything so opulent, not even in Egypt, or during
his travels in the far East. All the women were dark-haired and physically
fit, beautiful of face and form. Even the elderly matrons were still tall
and straight in their bearing. Everyone wore fine linen or leather, dyed
in bright blues, greens, reds, creamy ivory or white. Young girls wore short
leather skirts and short tunics; older women wore fine dresses.
And then he began to notice the men. All of them were small, like Sivari,
with an almost unearthly beauty. Some were well-muscled, obviously used
to hard labor. Others were obviously pampered pets, used to doing nothing
but being displayed. They peeked from behind doorways or alleys, always
obviously in a subservient position. Some, working in the gardens and along
the streets, wore only loincloths; others, peering from doorways, were richly
dressed, like Sivari had been. He saw no males younger than mid-teens. And
all of them, like Sivari, were dark-haired. No wonder Iolaus' blond curls
had caused such a stir.
In the center of the city were three pyramids of equal height, built so
that they formed a triangle. They were equally beautiful, but each was differently
designed. The sides made steps up to the top, upon which sat a temple.
The group's leader, Sienna, grabbed Iolaus by his bound wrists and pulled
him to the top of the first pyramid they came to, where she forced him to
his knees. Eighteen days with these women had taught him to obey without
protest, unless he wanted to be either beaten or suffer the nerve pinch.
Iolaus watched as she knelt in front of a regal woman dressed in a red sarong
over a white dress. By this time, Iolaus had a pretty good grasp of the
women's language, and was able to follow long as the regal woman greeted
the warrior.
"What have you brought to me, Sienna? And where is my daughter?"
"My queen." Sienna stood. "Vali follows behind, with our
captured run-away and a gift for you."
The woman, Deron, looked Iolaus up and down, walking around him. "I
have never
seen such hair and eyes, or such a physique. He is truly a magnificent specimen."
"He pales in comparison to the other one. Vali wants this one for herself,
and said tell you the other one will make up to you for his loss. They had
to be separated in order to control them."
"Indeed. I await this gift eagerly. Take this one to Mistress Linn
for training. How far behind you is Vali?"
"We traveled much faster than the others. I would say they are about
six to ten days behind us. The runaway was barely fit to travel, and the
other will likely be belligerent."
"Thank you, Sienna."
Iolaus was taken to the training mistress and given to her. She ordered
him bathed and dressed in clean clothes. Iolaus didn't fight or protest.
Until he was brought back to her.
"So, you are to be Vali's new servant. I can see why she would want
you."
"I am no one's slave!" Iolaus spat.
Faster than the eye could follow, Linn lashed out with her fists, hitting
him in the left shoulder and right hip. The pain was such that he couldn't
even scream. He lay on the floor, convulsing, until she released him.
"That was your first lesson. You will speak when spoken to. You will
do as you are told. Do you understand?" Iolaus stared at her. "I
am not Vali. I will not take your impertinence. After today, anything you
do or say could be grounds for punishment. What I did a moment ago was nothing
to what I could do, and will do if I have to. Now. *Do you understand?*"
Iolaus slowly nodded, hating himself. But he had to bide his time until
Hercules arrived.
Iolaus was introduced to Seagare. He was the overseer in charge of the slaves,
and reported directly to Linn. He was about twenty years Iolaus' senior,
his hair graying at the temples, but he was still a robust, healthy man.
He would be Iolaus' mentor.
Iolaus was first assigned to learn the duties of a companion. He would be
expected to fetch and carry, entertain, and take care of all of his mistress'
needs. Whatever they might be.
Iolaus discovered the inhabitants weren't ignorant of the outside world,
they merely chose not to be a part of it. Still, they kept up with the outside
world, and knew much that went on. They heard news of wars, of gods and
heroes. They knew who he and Hercules were, but were not impressed. Now,
he was just another slave to be tamed and trained.
Iolaus saw what Seagare had brought him to wear and began to shake his head
"No. Absolutely not." He wasn't going to put those clothes on.
They were designed to expose rather than to cover, to show off his unique
beauty. The filmy blue trousers would cling to his muscular legs and hips,
while the tunic was open to expose his chest and abdomen. There were soft
blue boots and gold accessories.
Iolaus' fists clenched. "I am not a doll to be dressed up and shown
off! I will be no one's toy!"
"Don't do this, Iolaus. All you'll do is bring yourself pain."
"Let her kill me! I won't do this!" Iolaus was shaking.
Seagare looked at Iolaus. It wasn't just this. There was more to the wildness
in Iolaus' eyes than suddenly finding himself a slave.
"Iolaus. It's all right. Calm down." Seagare laid the clothes
aside and stepped t toward Iolaus, hands out. He stopped as Iolaus backed
up. He looked like he was ready to run. "Iolaus, please. You have to
calm down." To Seagare, Iolaus appeared almost hysterical. He had to
get him calmed down. "Iolaus, please, talk to me. What is it, son?
Tell me what's wrong?" Seagare kept his voice pitched low and soothing.
Iolaus was trembling. "I thought I had forgotten," he whispered.
"Locked it away...in the darkest corners of my mind...."
"What did you lock away, Iolaus?"
"What he did to me." Iolaus' anguished eyes filled with tears,
still staring at the clothes.
"Tell me, Iolaus. Let it out. Bring it into the light, so that it can't
hurt you anymore."
"My father...came home...that summer. He was...wounded. He drank...a
lot. He hit me...a lot. Never in front of my mother...told me I was worthless
... useless ... would wind up as some man's toy, to be dressed up and paraded
on his arm ... someone's catamite...Told me I was...too pretty...to be a
boy ... sh.. hould've...been a girl...."
"Iolaus? Was there something else he did to you?" Seagare asked
quietly.
Iolaus shook his head and slowly unclenched his fists. He took a deep breath
and slowly let it out. "I'm sorry, Seagare. I just...saw those clothes...and
suddenly his words came rushing back to me." He walked over to the
single window, which overlooked the inner garden. "I have to be free,
Seagare. I will die if I am kept like this. I need the fields and forests.
I need the blue sky, and the rain. I need to be able to hunt and fish and
to go when and where my restless spirit takes me. *That* is why I am afraid.
I would rather be dead than kept in chains, no matter how soft or beautiful!"
Seagare nodded. "I understand, Iolaus. You might not think so, but
I do. I have seen just that thing happen to other men who've been captured."
He put a hand on Iolaus' shoulder. "You've told me about your friend.
Hold on until he gets here, Iolaus. Don't do anything to get yourself killed.
He'll need you, you know, if everything you've told me about him is true."
"It is, all of it." Iolaus took a deep breath. "You're right,
Seagare. I have to be here when Hercules gets here."
"Good. Now, you'd better get dressed, before Linn orders both of us
into chains."
Linn examined Iolaus closely when he appeared. Satisfied, she ordered Seagare
to take him for the day's lesson.
Linn watched Iolaus. He was sitting in the garden, meditating. She walked
over to him, standing over him. Iolaus opened his eyes, looked at her, and
got to his feet. He waited, an air of calm radiating from him. Linn walked
around him. "So. You are adjusting to your new station."
"I am trying, Mistress."
Linn grabbed Iolaus by the hair and jerked his head back. Her eyes locked
with his. He merely looked back at her. "I don't believe you,"
she hissed. She released him. "Kneel!" Iolaus sank to his knees,
bowing his head. Linn walked around him, watching him. He didn't move. Linn
kicked Iolaus, knocking him sprawling backwards. He lay on the ground, watching
her. She backed off and motioned him to get up. He slowly climbed to his
feet, his eyes never leaving her face. She backhanded him, splitting his
lip. He merely turned his face back to look at her, not even moving to wipe
away the blood that trailed down his chin.
Linn laughed. "You think to placate me, lull me into lowering my guard,
so that you may escape. You are a slave, man. Whatever you have been before,
you are a slave now. You will bend that proud neck to our service, to do
whatever your mistress, whoever she may be, may ask of you. Whether it be
the most menial of tasks or the privilege of warming her bed and siring
her daughters. You have no will now of your own."
Iolaus looked her in the eye. "I will do as you have said, but not
forever. I will escape this place, and with me my brother whom Vali even
now brings. I was born a free man, and a free man I will die." His
voice was low and when he finished speaking, he bowed.
Linn was furious. She screamed obscenities at him, screaming for her guards,
and had Iolaus dragged into a special room. Cuffs were locked around his
wrists. Attached to the cuffs were silver chains, which were then pulled
over his head. He was pulled up until his feet were about a foot off the
floor. He watched Linn warily as she walked into the room. She was carrying
a short whip, much like the riding crop he'd seen some people use. He tried
to steel himself, resigned to his fate. She wouldn't kill him, for he belonged
to Vali. But she would inflict great pain, to make him wish for death.
The first blow came to his back, just above his right kidney. It was quickly
followed by a lash from the whip across his shoulders. Iolaus couldn't stop
the cry that escaped his lips at the sudden double pain. She ran her hand
over his chest, down his ribs, to his right hip, and pressed. Iolaus screamed
from the pain, flinging his head back.
Outside the door, Seagare waited. He visibly flinched each time Iolaus cried
out, and went stiff when he screamed. It seemed to go on forever. He didn't
know how a person could survive such torture as this. He'd known men, outsiders
like Iolaus, who had died in this room, and in much less time.
Linn stepped back from Iolaus, listening to his rasping breath. He slowly
raised his head and looked at her. He didn't say a word and after a moment,
his eyes closed and he lost consciousness. But Linn had read the question
in the anguish of his eyes: 'why?'
Linn stepped out of the room. She looked around, knowing Seagare would be
waiting. He stepped from the shadows and bowed. She nodded at him and left.
Seagare watched as Linn walked away, then turned to the doorway. He took
a deep breath before going inside, not knowing what he would find. He shook
his head as he saw what Linn had done to Iolaus. His back was a mass of
welts, a few oozing blood. The whip had been employed very effectively.
The welts would been painful for days, but would leave no scars to mar the
perfection of his skin. Even those where the skin was broken weren't deep.
The deep bruises on his sides, lower back, and stomach were actually more
serious.
Seagare lowered Iolaus to the floor, easing him down so as not to injure
him further. He unlocked the cuffs and lifted Iolaus into his arms, carrying
him to his quarters. One of the other slaves brought the healer just as
Seagare was settling Iolaus onto his stomach on the bed.
"Father?"
"Yes, Tera. Thank you, Aran. Will you wait, in case Tera needs to send
for anything?"
"Of course, Seagare." The boy glanced at Iolaus. "How is
he?"
Seagare sighed. "He's hurting right now, but he'll live." He led
Tera, who was blind, to the bed, sitting her on the edge and guiding her
hands to Iolaus' left arm.
Tera left one hand on Iolaus' arm and held the other over his back. "Aran?"
"Yes, Tera?"
"His bruises are deep and painful. I will need the comfrey for these,
both inside and out. Also the bittersweet and chamomile ointment, there's
a new jar on my worktable. Father?"
"Yes?"
"I will need a strong tea to be made of the comfrey. I will need some
to give him to drink, to ease the pain inside. I will need some help, as
well, because these bruises and cuts must be dealt with, and the best thing
to do will be to keep hot compresses on his back, to improve the circulation
to draw away the bad blood and speed the healing. Who can I have to help?"
"I will, and Aran, as well."
"Whatever you need, Tera," said Aran.
"Thank you, Aran. Go now, and get what I asked for." She heard
him leave. "Do we have enough clean cloths for compresses and to use
as bandages later?"
"No, I'll go get some now. Let me get some water, you can start cleaning
his back."
Tera placed one hand on Iolaus' head. She was surprised by the softness
of his curls. "Is he really as beautiful as everyone says, Father?"
"Yes, child, he is."
"Poor man." There was pity in her voice, for she well knew the
fate of truly beautiful men in this city.
"I know, child. But he is stronger than he looks. He will survive."
Seagare set a bowl of water by the bed and pressed a cloth into Tera's hand,
then left to get more bandages.
To watch Tera work, one would not suspect she was blind. Her hands moved
over Iolaus' back slowly, yet unerringly, her touch sure and gentle. Tera
directed Seagare and Aran in keeping the warm compresses changed all night,
as well as coaxing Iolaus into drinking sips of the tea she made, though
he didn't regain consciousness until the next morning.
Iolaus slowly became aware that gentle hands were touching him. Something
cool and soothing was being gently applied to his abused body. He turned
his head and opened his eyes and wished he hadn't. Nausea ripped through
him. Hands turned him on his side so that he threw up into a chamber pot
at the side of the bed. Stronger hands replaced the others, holding his
head and stroking his hair. When he finally stopped heaving, a cup was placed
in his hands, with water to rinse his mouth with. He spit into the pot,
then the cup was taken away and he was gently eased back onto the bed, with
a hand holding his head as he laid back to the pillow, easing him onto his
back.
"How do you feel?" came Seagare's voice.
Iolaus opened his eyes and looked at his friend. "I'll live, I think,"
he whispered. His throat was raw from screaming.
"Here. This will help your throat and settle your stomach." He
put a cup in his hand and helped him to sit up.
Iolaus sipped the cup, filled with a warm tea. It felt good on his abused
throat. He slowly drained the cup and handed it back. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." As he took the cup, Seagare stood and moved
away.
Iolaus closed his eyes, opening them again as he sensed a different person
now standing beside him. A woman sat down beside him. He stared, for her
eyes were covered with a gold band. As she reached out to touch his face,
Iolaus realized with a start that she was blind. "My name is Tera.
Seagare is my father. He brought me after Linn...finished with you, to treat
your wounds."
"How long ago?"
"Just since last night. My poultices have helped most of your bruises
and the cuts from the whip. None of the cuts are deep, merely breaking the
skin. I have a cream I make that soothes away the pain from the nerve pinch,
as well."
"You said...Seagare is your father? But I thought...."
"I was born blind, and so they have little use for me. But my father
begged for my life, and he was my mother's cherished pet, so she relented,
and gave me to him. And he has taught me to live without needing my sight.
But to the women, I am no better than any male slave, because I am imperfect."
"Who is your mother, if I may ask?"
"Mistress Linn."
Iolaus was shocked, to say the least. That such a brutal woman could have
a daughter so beautiful, and so gentle...he could hardly dare to believe
it.
Tera soothed Iolaus back to sleep. She woke him shortly after noon for a
meal and to tend to his injuries. Seagare joined them.
"You have to be careful, Iolaus," Seagare warned. "If you
fight too much, they won't care how exotic you look, they'll kill you."
Iolaus was still getting used to being thought of as 'exotic' looking. He
shook his head. "It doesn't matter, Seagare. I won't be a slave. Maybe
they can keep me here for a while, but once Hercules gets here, we'll find
a way out, one way or another."
"It's that 'another' that worries us," said Tera. "You're
a good man, Iolaus. We've seen others like you, wild ones captured by hunting
parties. They never last long. They either die with their spirits crushed
and broken, or trying to escape. Or they're executed because they can't
be tamed."
Iolaus shook his head. "You're talking about men as if they're wild
beasts: 'wild ones', 'tamed'. It doesn't have to be like this. The rest
of the world isn't like this. Out there, men and women are free. Sure, there
are places that still have slaves, but even then, it's not like this. It's
both men and women doing the owning, and being owned. Men and women share
the burdens of everyday life. They live together, love together, raise their
children together." He threw his head back against the pillow in disgust.
"We do understand, Iolaus," said Seagare. "But this is how
life is here. And there's no changing it."
"Besides, we're dying, little by little," said Tera. "Anyone
could see it, with eyes to look, or knowledge to understand."
Iolaus frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"This is a closed society, Iolaus. There has been very little new blood
brought in in the last few generations. You see the men. Seagare tells me
that his grandfather was bigger than his father, who was bigger than he.
Seagare is bigger than Sivari, who is about the same age as his eldest son.
The men here are being bred out of existence. And without men, there will
be no more babies at all. And more and more of the girl babies are being
born imperfect. Blind, like me. Some are born deaf, and it isn't discovered
until much later. They are born with obvious defects, like webbed hands
or feet, or club feet or they stop growing so that they're the size of a
one or two year old or they have severe mental deficits. All such children
are supposed to be put to death. A very few, like me, with lesser defects,
have been allowed to live, but not to breed. We're allowed to live with
our fathers. If we do have children, they're immediately put to death. This
cannot go on."
Iolaus nodded. "You're right."
Tera stood, reaching out for Seagare's arm. "You should rest now. Linn
will want you to return to your duties tomorrow morning. I will come to
tend your wounds before you go."
Iolaus caught her hand. "Tera...thank you."
Tera's hand went to his face, with his help. She smiled. "You're welcome,
Iolaus." She and Seagare left, going to their own rooms. Iolaus carefully
laid back, thinking about Hercules, wondering when he would see his friend
again.
********************************************************************************
Hercules was wondering if he would ever see Iolaus alive again. It had been
four weeks since the parties separated. He had watched the party leave,
his eyes never leaving Iolaus' form. Once they were out of sight, he had
closed his eyes and bowed his head, sinking to his knees and sitting back
on his heels. He looked at Vali as he heard her chuckle.
"Your friend is in good shape, he will keep up with my warriors well.
They will make good time back to our home. By the time we reach our city,
he will be well and truly broken and ready to serve me."
"Never," Hercules swore.
Vali threw her head back and laughed. "Hercules, he is but a man, the
same as you! You will share his fate! You will both live as slaves to the
end of your days." She looked at her warriors. "We will rest here
for today." She smiled wickedly at Sivari, who paled. "I want
to give our run-away time to regain some of his strength. We wouldn't want
him dying before we get him home, now would we?" Sivari had paled and
trembled at her words and the look she gave him.
Now, almost a month later, he wondered how Iolaus was doing. Was he all
right? Had they reached the women's home, the city he heard these warriors
talking of so longingly? Like Iolaus, he had picked up their language quickly.
Sivari's tutoring helped. He could follow much of what they were saying
now, and they no
longer used his own language.
It was not easy for Hercules to remain docile. But he had only to remember
the sentry, who was always out of sight, and the threat to Iolaus, and he
was able to hold his temper, though only barely at times. Vali enjoyed goading
him, finding any excuse to hit him or to use her nerve pinch on him. Hercules
had finally concluded that she was insane, and her warriors weren't much
better. What kind of society produced such people?
The women were excited. They were only a few days from home, three, perhaps
four. They began pushing their prisoners, at times literally. Kohri kept
shoving Sivari, until he finally stumbled and fell. She lashed him with
a whip, until Hercules grabbed it.
Vali was suddenly there, grabbing Hercules' left hand, pressing down on
a nerve that left his hand numb, so that he dropped the whip. Hercules almost
blacked out from the pain as she suddenly twisted his arm. He didn't know
if she'd broken something or if it were just badly twisted.
"Perhaps that will teach you to keep your hands to yourself,"
she said coldly.
"I doubt it," he muttered, only to have her backhand him, knocking
him onto his back and planting a foot in his chest.
"Do you want to die?" Vali asked conversationally. He only looked
at her and she pressed down with her foot. "Do you?!"
"No," he answered. He shook his head. "No, I don't."
Vali stepped back. "Then you must enjoy pain. Any other man would have
learned to keep silent by now." A thoughtful look crossed her face.
"Perhaps I should let my mother have the other one, and I will keep
you." She appeared to think about it, then shook her head. "No,
I think the other one is going to be the greater treasure." She gestured
for Hercules to get up. "On your feet. C'mon, get up."
Hercules rose, careful to keep his injured arm close to his body. Vali gestured
for him to walk, and he did. She returned to the front of the column.
As they walked, Hercules knew what he had to do. Normally, he healed quickly,
but the cuffs he was wearing had made him vulnerable. He didn't heal so
fast. And he realized that if he antagonized Vali too much, she might just
kill him, leaving Iolaus alone in their hands. He had to stop fighting them.
Sivari splinted Hercules' wrist the best he could that evening. He shook
his head. "Why won't you learn, Hercules? They're not going to release
you, and you'll never get away. All you have to do is obey them and they
won't hurt you."
Hercules sighed. "Well, I never have been exactly what you'd call the
obedient
type."
"What will you do...if you find Iolaus didn't survive...when we get
home?"
Hercules shook his head. "Iolaus is alive. I would know if he were
dead."
"How?"
"I would know. I just would."
Sivari looked at Hercules doubtfully, obviously thinking he was in a state
of denial. But it didn't really concern Sivari. He shrugged, lay down, and
went to sleep.
Hercules lay back, looking up at the stars. His thoughts, as always, were
on Iolaus. *Hold on, Iolaus. I'll be there soon and we'll find a way out
of this. I give you my word. We will find a way home. Please, love, have
patience.* He slowly fell asleep.
The day Hercules was dragged into the city, word had gone ahead of the party's
arrival, and the streets were lined with women wanting to see the 'giant'.
Vali dragged him to the temple steps, to present him to the queen as Iolaus
had been just ten days before.
Iolaus was standing in the shadows at the temple door. He had been brought
there the day before, to work for Deron until Vali's return. He watched
as Hercules was forced to kneel, and as Deron walked around him, looking
him over. He looked his friend over carefully. He didn't look good. He winced
as he saw the splint on Hercules' left wrist, and wondered if it was broken.
His face was bruised; obviously Vali had been trying to beat him into submission.
Iolaus hoped he would be allowed to see his friend later.
Deron looked at Vali, smiling. It never reached her eyes. "I have never
seen a male, even a wild one, so large. He is magnificent, daughter!"
"He is yours, Mother. A gift from me to you."
"Thank you, child. Yes, I shall enjoy having a new toy to break in."
"We aren't toys," Hercules growled, "to be used by you."
Vali growled at him. She gestured to someone behind him. The next thing
Hercules knew, pain was rippling through his body from his back. He arched
his back, throwing his head back, trying not to scream. But the pain didn't
stop. He doubled over as a scream was finally torn from his throat.
Iolaus stepped from the shadows and was grabbed by two warriors. He struggled
against them. "Stop it! You're killing him, stop it!" he pleaded.
Deron nodded and the woman touched Hercules' back again, unknotting the
nerve. Hercules collapsed onto his side, breathing hard, as Deron nodded
at the warriors holding Iolaus. They let him go and he ran to Hercules'
side.
Iolaus lifted Hercules' head into his lap, stroking his hair and face. "Herc?
C'mon, Herc, look at me. Open your eyes."
Hearing his beloved's voice, Hercules opened his eyes. "Iolaus? You're
alive. Are you all right?"
Iolaus smiled and nodded. "Yes. As well as can be expected."
"Oh, gods, Iolaus, I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again!" Hercules
reached up to grasp his arm.
"I know. It's OK." He looked at the guards nervously, then back
to Hercules. "Can you sit up?"
"I think so."
Iolaus helped Hercules sit up, then walked over to where Deron was talking
to Vali. Hercules' eyes widened as he saw Iolaus go down on one knee and
bow his head. Deron smiled as she turned to him, running her fingers through
his hair. She spoke to him and he said something back to her. Deron looked
at Hercules, then back at Iolaus and nodded. Iolaus dipped his head again
and then walked over to Hercules.
Hercules grabbed Iolaus' arm. "Iolaus?"
"Not now! C'mon!" He helped Hercules up and let him lean on him
as he led his friend away from the temple. They were followed by two guards.
"What happened to your arm? Is it broken?"
"No, just badly twisted, maybe sprained. You know me, my patient streak
really isn't that much longer than yours."
"Did Vali do this?"
"Yes." He shook his head. "She's either deceptively strong
or I'm weaker than I thought."
Iolaus took Hercules to Linn's 'school', where they were met by Seagare.
Iolaus sent him for Linn, knowing he had to present Hercules to her before
he did anything else. Iolaus helped Hercules sit on a bench. "Herc,
listen to me," he said urgently. "No matter what happens in the
next few minutes, don't say or do anything. Promise me!"
Hercules frowned, but nodded. Iolaus spun as Linn walked up. Immediately,
he dropped to one knee, bowing his head. Hercules swallowed hard and clenched
his jaw tight to keep from saying something.
"Mistress Linn, this is Hercules. Lady Deron places him into your care
for training."
Linn looked at Hercules, looking him over. "I see Vali's handiwork
on your face and wrist, Hercules. Iolaus, are you staying or are you expected
back?"
"Staying, Mistress."
"Good. Take him to the baths. Seagare can bring you clothes and something
for that wrist and the bruises." She unsnapped the chain between the
cuffs and removed it, as the magic was in the cuffs.
"Thank you, Mistress." Iolaus turned to Hercules, helping him
up and guiding him down to the baths. Hercules was too tired and hurt to
do anything but let his lover take care of him.
Iolaus helped Hercules undress and slide into the warm water. He frowned
at the bruises marring Hercules back, chest, and stomach, as well as his
face. It hurt him to think of Hercules being hurt. "Hercules, we have
to do this very carefully. These women aren't like any I've ever seen. They're
cruel beyond belief. If we want out of this alive, we're going to have to
play their game for a while." He began working to get the splint off
Hercules' arm.
Hercules looked at Iolaus as if he'd lost his mind. "Where is Iolaus
and who are you?" he asked.
Iolaus splashed him. "Very funny. I'm serious. I've been here ten days,
I know what I'm talking about. Herc, at this moment, if someone told me
that Xena had gone back to Ares, and was twice as vicious as before, and
they had an army that was about to attack and I was going to be on the front
lines, I'd say 'great, where's my sword, point me in the right direction',
if it would get me out of here!"
Hercules frowned. "How bad has it been for you?" he asked quietly.
Iolaus sat on the floor beside the tub. He turned his face away from his
friend. "I...I tried to defy them. But the trainer, Mistress Linn...gods,
Herc, I didn't know it was possible to feel such pain and not die. What
they did to you out there wasn't the worst they can do. I know."
Hercules put a hand on Iolaus' shoulder, concern in his eyes at the haunted,
hunted look in Iolaus' eyes. "Iolaus? Are you all right?"
Iolaus nodded. "Physically, I'm fine. But...for the first time in a
very long time, I'm well and truly scared, Herc."
Hercules nodded. It took a lot to scare Iolaus. He'd braved dangers no sane
man would consider facing, and laughed through it all.
Hercules slid under the water, shaking water out of his face as he resurfaced.
Iolaus washed his hair for him, since he couldn't do it one-handed, as well
as his back, being careful of his bruises. His hands slid carefully over
Hercules' chest, down his stomach and legs. For the first time in a long
time, Hercules felt truly clean. He relaxed into Iolaus' touch. When Iolaus
touched his lips to Hercules', he slid a wet hand into Iolaus' hair and
held him, kissing him, making up for the last four weeks.
Seagare stopped at the door of the bath, seeing the two men in such an intimate
embrace. He cleared his throat and they looked at him. He had brought clothes
that had been prepared for Hercules ahead of time: tunic and trousers in
the same style as Iolaus', but dyed dark green. Linn herself came a little
later to replace the cuffs around his wrists with a golden torque that held
the same power.
Iolaus led Hercules back to his room, where he massaged Tera's cream into
his bruises and re-splinted his wrist.
Iolaus sat down at the head of the bed, his back against the wall. Hercules,
still sprawled across the bed on his stomach, pillowed his head on his arms
and looked at his friend. Iolaus cocked his head as he looked at Hercules,
his expression serious. "Herc, I've learned fast how things operate
around here. Will you listen to me, and do as I say? The smallest infraction
or defiance gets punished, severely. I've seen men die, Herc. I saw one
of the guards, Talin, kill one of her slaves with a touch to his temple.
He didn't make a sound, just dropped like a sack to the floor, dead. She
did it without any emotion at all."
Hercules read the concern in Iolaus' eyes and realized that he really was
frightened. He sat up and pulled Iolaus into his arms, settling his head
on Hercules' chest. "Iolaus, I trust you. I trust your instincts and
your judgement. Will you tell me what has happened to so frighten the bravest,
strongest person I know?"
Iolaus' arms tightened around Hercules. He swallowed, hard. Hercules felt
him tremble. He looked away, then back. "Herc...the men here...they're
these women's fathers, and brothers, and sons. And that means nothing to
them. I watched a woman sacrifice her day old son on the alter of their
goddess. She drowned him in a basin of holy water, then burned him in the
sacrificial pit. She did it with absolutely no emotion whatsoever. It was
like it was nothing to her. After her, another woman brought her newborn
daughter to that same alter and had the baby blessed. And the other mother
joined in a banquet they had afterwards. I saw her laughing and feasting
as if nothing were wrong." Iolaus shook his head as he sat up and looked
away.
"Iolaus. I understand. Oh, gods, I do understand, now." He put
his arms around Iolaus' shoulders. "We will find a way out of here."
Hercules frowned as something caught his eye. He pushed Iolaus' tunic open.
His eyes widened and he sat up. Iolaus let Hercules pull him to his feet
and push his tunic open further. Iolaus wouldn't look at him and didn't
say anything.
Iolaus' stomach, sides, and, when Hercules pulled the tunic off, his back,
were marred with livid bruises and whip marks. Most were obviously days
old, a few of the bruises looked new, only hours old. The whip marks weren't
deep, he was relieved to see, it looked like only the first layer of skin
was broken, but still....
"Iolaus?" Hercules turned his face toward him, eyes searching
his face, full of concern.
Iolaus shrugged. He didn't want to talk about it. He started to step back,
but Hercules grabbed his wrist.
"Iolaus, talk to me. Please," Hercules pleaded.
"Linn hates me, because she can't break me. She beats me every chance
she gets, no matter what I do or don't do. I'm wrong if I speak and I'm
wrong if I keep silent. Are you happy now?"
"Gods, no, Iolaus!"
Iolaus' shoulder's slumped and he leaned against the wall. He slid down
it and leaned on his knees, his ankles crossed. He put his head down, hiding
his face in his arms. As his shoulders began to shake, Hercules realized
he was sobbing. He knelt in front of his friend, reaching out to stroke
his head, then wrapping his arms around him, pulling him against him.
"It's OK, Iolaus. We'll get out of this, somehow."
Iolaus wrapped his arms around his friend, pressing his face to Hercules'
chest, over his heart. "I didn't know if you were going to make it
here, if I would ever see you alive again," Iolaus whispered
Hercules hugged Iolaus tight, laying his cheek against Iolaus' head. "I
know. I felt the same way."
Hercules lifted Iolaus onto the bed and held him until his tears subsided.
Those tears almost broke Hercules' heart, for he knew the smaller man was
close to the breaking point, to have given in to tears as he had. And to
have been pushed to that point, he must have endured unimaginable agony.
Rage built in Hercules' soul for what Iolaus had endured. And he vowed that
no matter what, he wouldn't be hurt again. Hercules would kill Vali if she
laid a hand on Iolaus or caused him one moment of pain. They could only
depend on each other here, and that had always been enough before. Here,
however, their bond had been seen for what it was, and they were going to
be kept away from each other. For the first time, Hercules had doubts about
their getting out of this.
Hercules held Iolaus for a long time, even after he realized his friend
had fallen asleep. It was probably the first time he'd allowed himself to
feel safe since they were separated. Hercules didn't need as much sleep
as normal humans, thanks to his divine blood, and he sat for hours, listening
to Iolaus' soft breathing.
Hercules loved Iolaus very much. He was the brother Iphicles could never
be. They had laughed and loved and cried together, had been the best of
friends since the day they met and lovers for the past five years. He had
often thanked the Fates for sending Iolaus into his life. As long as he
knew his best friend was there, fighting at his back, telling his outrageous
stories, flirting with all the pretty girls, and loving Hercules as Hercules
loved him, Hercules felt he could do anything. They would survive this as
they had survived other times of captivity. He was sure of it.
The next day, Iolaus was sent to Vali's residence, where his training would
be taken over by Vali's slave trainer.
Forward to Chapter Two
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