They stopped the first night along a small stream. The water was low with the lateness of the year but it served their needs. Jason had ridden the stallion for part of the day and the cart for even more. He had even walked for a time. But he felt drained by the time they stopped. He made no objection when the demigod and the hunter suggested he rest while they took care of things. He sat on the ground, his back against a tree trunk Hercules had drawn close to the fire. He was tired, but it was good to be outdoors and doing something. He was not a man given to leisure. He had always been active and busy. There'd been companionship in the company of his friends. They'd talked of old times when the three of them had been young together.

Now as the Argonaut stretched his legs out toward the warmth of the fire, he thought of those times again. He felt old, his youth long ago and in another lifetime. I'm not the same person I was then. But then I'm not the same person I was just a few weeks ago. For the first time he felt a longing to return to the way things were before he had taken that first sip of ale. While he had wished for an end to his torment he hadn't allowed himself to think of his life as it had been. He had deliberately shut these thoughts away, because to think of them caused pain and anguish to emotions already raw with guilt and remorse.

Hercules handed him a mug of tea. "A dinar for your thoughts."

"Save your brass. They're not worth the price." He sounded gloomy even to himself. He grinned at his friend. "Sorry. I'm just tired."

Hercules grinned back at him.

When the meal was complete, the former king rolled in his blankets and was soon asleep.

Iolaus motioned to the dishes still soiled from their meal. "I cooked. You clean," he told the demigod.

The big man moaned. "I cook tomorrow then."

"I'm not sure my stomach is up to it. It's used to Sira's good cooking."

"Well, if you don't want me to cook you'd better do the clean up."

"It would almost be worth it," Iolaus shot back.

"Fine." The demigod settled himself more comfortable by the fire.

"I said, almost."

Hercules chuckled and rose to gather the dishes. "Maybe we can get Jason to cook."

Iolaus chuckled, now. "See? You can't even stand your cooking."

The half man, half god tossed a bone at his friend and sidestepped it as it came flying back at him.

When they woke in the morning there was frost on the ground. They stood around the fire cradling mugs of tea in their hands to warm them.

They started on the trail early, and traveled until just past midday. They'd been climbing almost since leaving the farm and they'd left the rolling hills, birch and oak trees behind, to be replaced by rockier terrain studded with tall pines. Clouds had built over the mountains as they traveled. The wind carried their fleeting shadows across the humans that walked the mountain trail that led to a quiet peaceful clearing where a cabin, built with loving hands waited, its windows, unseeing eyes looking into the distance for the love and laughter of those who dwelt there.

By mid afternoon the clouds had thickened and a fine mist of rain fell. They walked on since no place to camp offered itself.

The day's light was almost gone when they found what they were looking for. The hunter, with his keen eyes spotted it. A huge boulder had split in two, one side falling away, to form a large gap. Nature had unleashed its fury at some bygone time to topple several tall trees to form a roof of sorts over the gap. A trickle of water splashed down a rocky bank near the boulder. The forest offered fuel for their fire.

Again the Argonaut was too weary to be of much help. Iolaus made a soup of dried meat and the last of the fresh vegetables they had brought with them. He knew the hot liquid would help warm them. The light had faded before the soup was ready. They ate it with bread that had gone slightly stale.

They woke to a thick fog that dripped from the trees like rain and held the damp cold close to their bodies. By mutual consent they made a hasty meal and left their camp of the night before full dawn. As the sun rose the fog thickened rather then thinned and the cold seemed to intensify.

"Damn," Hercules complained, as he pulled his cloak tighter around him. "I wish it would snow. Maybe that would warm it up a bit."

Jason grinned at his friend. "Would you mind if I asked you a question?"

"I don't mind if you ask. Whether I'll answer or not depends on the question." He grinned back.

"How is it that you have the care of Sarmen? Not that he isn't a wonderful little boy. I just wondered how he came to be under your care."

The demigod and the hunter looked at each other.

The big man began to explain how he had met Liasaya. He explained about the message from the girl and her request to see him. He told Jason about her illness and Sira's inability to heal the growth that was slowly claiming the boy's mother.

"I understand that part. But that still doesn't explain why she chose you to care for her son."

Hercules squared his shoulders, and taking a deep breath, he said. "He's my son, Jason."

The Argonaut nodded. "I wondered."

Hercules nodded back. "I never meant to keep the truth from you or Mother. But it isn't always easy to broach a subject like this."

The former king could hear the self reproach in the demigod's words.

Hercules told of his illness and delirium. "I didn't really remember it when I recovered. I had dreams once in awhile that were very real, but I thought they were just that, dreams."

"You can't blame yourself for that."

"Who should I blame then? I seduced a lonely girl. She helped a stranger and I took advantage of that and left her with a child."

"But you weren't in your right mind. You were sick and out of your head. What happened during that time was not your fault." He stopped talking and stared, unseeing into the blanket of fog.

Could the same be said for himself? Sira had said something very similar to him only days ago. He shook his head to try and clear the fog that seemed to have worked its way from the air around him to invade his thoughts and shroud them in ghostly vapors of confusion.

"You can't blame yourself," he finally spoke again, this time with more conviction. "And you are taking care of the boy now." He smiled at the friend of his youth. "I know you. You would have from the beginning if you had been aware of the boy's existence."

The men spent three days at the cabin. They did all that they could to secure it for the coming of the harsh winter weather. Jason accepted without question the idea that the hunter and his family were staying in the valley to help take care of Sarmen. He had seen how attached the boy was to Sira. They packed many of the foods Sira had preserved in preparation for the coming of the snow. There would be five adults and two children at the farm. Iolaus would hunt to help supply their needs but the food already prepared might just as well be used.

The little cart was filled to overflowing by the time they were ready to leave. The morning they started out on their downhill trek, it was raining. The light shower turned into a downpour, and with no place to stop they kept moving. They broke their fast on dried fruit and nuts they took from Sira's supplies. They found a place just before dusk. It didn't offer much, but it was the best they had found. The hunter had hoped to make it to the gap in the rock where they had camped in reaching the cabin. But the heavy load on the cart slowed them down and they were still too far from it when the day ran out.

The men huddled around a small fire shivering in their damp clothing. They hadn't found much dry wood and the fire refused to burn the soggy wood with any real heat.

When the meal of preserved fruit and dried meat was finished they each rolled up in a tarp near the fire and tried to sleep. But no one got much sleep. They took turns putting wood on the fire or gathering more from the forest.

By morning, ice was mixed with the rain to form a sleet that clung to their clothing and got under their collars. Travel was slow and tedious as the mud deepened and the trail they followed grew slippery and treacherous. And now there was more ice then rain in the moisture that fell from the heavens. The horse pulling the cart was played out, not to mention the men. Jason kept going in a daze of exhaustion. And he decided it was a bad idea to have come when he was still weak from what had gone before.

They made camp in a grove of trees. There was little shelter from the elements. The wood that they found, while abundant, was wet and reluctant to burn.

Both the hunter and the demigod tried to convince Jason to rest. But he insisted he could help. He took the first watch. They knew as tired as they were, they might sleep too long and let the fire burn out. They'd decided to take turns keeping the fire going. The ground they slept on was covered with a light blanket of snow, and the snow was still falling. They must keep the fire burning to warm themselves.

They were all up at dawn. The snow had stopped for the moment, but the clouds didn't lift. The cold stiffened their joints and their breath formed ice around their nose and mouth. The old draft horse protested the labor he was born to, the fire refused to burn well and the hunter, working with stiff cold hands, spilled hot tea over his hand and scalded it.

They made a start only to be delayed as a harness broke. Hercules tied a strip of leather he took from the stallion's tether to make a temporary repair and they started on. Jason walked to relieve the old horse of his weight. He had ridden Raimi for a time but the footing was so unsure, he was afraid his added burden would endanger the stallion. He slogged along in the snow and mud, his mind lost in fatigue. One foot in front of another, then the other foot after that. He stumbled but stayed on his feet and he took a hold on the side of the cart for support. His head was dizzy, his mind drifted, and she stood before him.

"No, he moaned. "Not again, Please don't touch me again."

He jerked his arm from her grip, but it wasn't Venin who had taken his arm. It was Hercules. But how had he gotten here?

"Jason?" No answer. "Jason!" The demigod stopped the Argonaut. "Jason, are you all right?" The former king's face was flushed.

Hercules touched his forehead. "You're burning up. Damn it, man. Why didn't you say something?"

Jason stared at him without seeming to recognize him. "I'm not burning. I'm cold. Really cold."

"You're out of your head with fever."

The Argonaut's body, still not completely well from the days of torture had not been able to fight the harsh conditions of the trail and the weather.

They found no place to stop. Hercules made a pack of some of the goods from the cart and tied it to the stallion's back. He made a place in the cart for the Argonaut so that he could lie down. When he was settled the demigod covered him with several blankets and they kept moving.

When they found a place to stop for the night the former king was feeling better. He'd slept and his fever had cooled. He ate a good dinner and drank a couple of mugs of tea. Then with an apology for his weakness he rolled in his blankets and a tarp and went to sleep.

Iolaus had been strangely quiet all day. He sat moodily sipping tea by the fire.

"What's eating you, my friend?" the big man asked.

"I shouldn't have let him come. He wasn't up to it. I knew he was still weak, but I thought it might do him some good to get away and have something else to think about."

"I think it has done him good. There was no way of knowing the weather would turn so sour, or that so many little things would conspire to delay us." He grinned at his friend. "He's better tonight. Don't beat yourself up about it. Besides, Sira and I both thought it was a good idea also, and he wanted to come. Now get some sleep. I'll wake you in a couple of hours."

Hands were touching him, holding him down, hands everywhere. He turned away, but they followed him. They choked him, tightening around his throat, he couldn't breath.

Hercules shook him. "Jason. It's all right, my friend. It's just a dream."

The Argonaut shook with the fever, cold and reaction to the dream. "Hundreds of hands were touching me. I couldn't breath."

"It's just a dream. Try to rest. It's almost dawn. Rest for a bit if you can."

Hercules had awakened the hunter after he'd started to doze more than he was awake. Then just a short time ago he had awakened on his own and sent the hunter for an hour or so of sleep before they must start out. He put more wood on the fire and started water to heat for tea. He started a second pan of water to boil and when it was ready he poured ground corn meal into the churning water. He stirred it a couple of times then moved it back from the fire so that it continued to cook, but slowly. When it was done he woke the hunter and brought him a generous portion of the cornmeal mush sweetened with honey. He brought him a mug of tea and kneeling near the fire he sipped one of his own.

"How's Jason?"

Hercules shot a glance at the sleeping form of the Argonaut. "He was feverish again and I don't think he slept well."

"Damn. If something happens to him…" Iolaus left his thought incomplete.

Shortly after leaving their camp, they left the snow and found the going easier. The old horse was not fairing well however. Hercules and Iolaus made up packs and carried some of the goods themselves. They stopped at midday to rest the horse.

Jason was a little better, his fever less.

"Hitch the stallion to the cart," the Argonaut suggested. "He pulled a cart for his first owner. He'll remember."

When they started on, the stallion was hitched to the cart beside the other horse. The demigod had contrived a harness of sorts. The stallion had protested at first. But Jason had spoken to him and led him for a time by his bridle. And they made better time.

They kept going. They could make it tonight if they had no more delays. Jason returned to the cart and pulled several blankets over him. He couldn't seem to get warm. He ate only a little of the dried meat Iolaus gave him. His throat hurt, and swallowing wasn't a pleasant experience.

They made the farm just after moonrise. Jason had drifted between an uncomfortable semiconscious state and a nightmare invaded sleep. Alcmene took one look at him and knew he was ill. She moved toward him but he backed away.

"Oh, Jason. You're sick."

"Don't fuss, Alcmene. It's just a sore throat and a sniffle. I'll be fine."

"You're going straight to bed. Right now."

"Yes, my love. That's where I was headed," he grinned at her.

She stared at him a moment, and turning fled the room. He'd seen tears shining in her eyes as she turned.

He looked blankly at the healer. "What just happened?"

Sira motioned for him to head toward his study. "You sounded very like your old self just now. These last few days have been hard for her. She has been so concerned. Then you come home ill. I think it was a combination of all these things." She turned to smile at him. "When you are settled, I will check on her."

They'd reached his study, and stopping just inside the door he lay his cheek on the cool wall at the entrance. "She's really been through Tartarus, hasn't she?"

"Yes, my friend, she has. Now I want you in bed."

He laid down without objection. A sigh escaped his lips as he stretched out. "I need a bath but I don't have the energy."
"Later. Rest for now. I will check on Alcmene, then check back with you."

"I'll be fine, Sira. You've done so much already. Don't worry about me." His words were thick and slurred as sleep claimed his tired mind and body.

The empath stood watching him a moment then quietly let herself into the hall. She could hear the sound of voices in the kitchen and followed them. Alcmene was fixing a meal for the men. Sira came to stand behind the hunter and laid her hands on his shoulders. He moved his cheek to rub it across her hand, then to rest it there. The older woman watched them.

"Is he going to be all right?" the hunter asked.

"Yes. I believe it is just a cold. His defenses are down and it will hit him hard. But I have never seen a cold yet I could not cure. He will be fine."

Iolaus chuckled. "I always forget we have the world's greatest healer in our midst." She playfully pulled his hair, and he howled in mock pain.

"Alcmene, are you all right?" the healer asked.

"I'm sorry I broke down like that. He just sounded so much like… Well, "

"It's all right, Mom." Iolaus grinned at her. "We understand. He did well on the trail. He showed a lot of the old Jason."

"You knew he was sick, didn't you, Sira," Hercules stated rather then asked.

"Yes. We are too closely linked still for it to be otherwise."

"And you've been healing him even over the miles all this time."

"And I will keep on healing him. In fact, I need to get back to him now."

Hercules rose. "You, my more than sister of the soul, are quite something."

"Thank you, my more than brother of the soul."

He grinned at her. "I'm going to unhitch the horses and give them a quick rub down. Then I'm going to take a bath. After that I'll check on you and Jason."

"No, then you will go to bed. I will call you should I need you." She planted a kiss on the top of her husband's head. "You should go to bed also."

He yawned by way of answer. "I'm starving. As soon as I eat, I'll sleep."

Sira stood beside the bed of the Argonaut. He'd heard her enter the room and knew she'd placed her hands on him, but he made no objection. His body was raked with chills as it fought to expel the illness that consumed him. His mind drifted and wandered as the fever robbed him of his senses.

His dreams were invaded with nightmares of the time in the old monastery. He begged Venin to leave him alone. He ranted and thrashed about. Sira moved to sit on the bed beside him. She strengthened her mind's touch on him.

"No!" he shouted and threw out his arm.

The blow took the healer on the cheek and knocked her from the bed. She fell hard on the floor and cried out. Whether Iolaus had heard her or simply felt her, he wasn't sure, but he woke with a start and knew she had been hurt.

He hurried into the room and knelt beside her. "Sira, are you okay? What happened?"

She let him help her to her feet, then took up her position next to the Argonaut. "He is out of his head with the fever. He struck out at Venin and I just happened to be in his way."

"Go to bed. I'll stay with him."

"No. This is the crisis. I must help him through this. The fever will break soon." Iolaus could see the welt already turning dark on her cheek. She read his thoughts. "I am fine, my love." She tried to smile at him but it hurt her face. "I am fine. Go back to bed." But he insisted on staying with her.

She bathed the former king's face and chest with a cool cloth to try and bring the fever down. The network of scars Venin's knife had left seemed to glare in the light of the candles that lit the room. The scar on his shoulder was still purple with new skin. The compassion Sira felt for the man beside her deepened, and she drew on the earth's power to heal him. His mind was lost in the time of his confinement in the monastery. His words of protest and the anxiety behind them tore at the girl's heart. She had been given a glimpse of his ordeal as she knelt in the cell where he'd been imprisoned. The things he said now, the moves he made, told her even more.

Iolaus helped her with him at times as his delirium grew worse, and the night progressed.

A horse in the stable blew. An owl flew over the barn in search of a rodent for a midnight snack. Alcmene tossed in her bed. Restful sleep had become a thing of the past, only remembered from a time before the man she loved had been taken from her, and this stranger who lay ill in a room near hers was returned in his place.

Two small boys lay sleeping in a room on the other side of her. One, the son of the man she had begun to think of as her own offspring, Iolaus the hunter. Former thief and friend of her half god son and the former king of Corinth. The other child, the grandson of the king of the gods.

The demigod slept well for the first part of the night. Then his mind was invaded with visions of a face he didn't know. A face that looked remotely like Sarmen's might in a few years. Then the dreams went on to Liasaya. He seldom dreamed of her as he used to. The dreams were now of the more recent time with her, her face as he'd watched the empath wash it after the spirit had gone to another place. He remembered how hard it had been to dig a grave in the frozen earth. He shivered now. It was hard for him to think of her laying in the cold soil. Sira believed the body was only an empty shell that no longer held any significance to the one who had gone beyond the mortal plane. And he guessed he believed this also. And yet... He shivered again and sat up.

It was almost dawn when the Argonaut's fever broke and he fell into a deep natural sleep.

Iolaus insisted the empath lay down for a time. She stood and stretched tired muscles that were stiff and sore. She made her way out of the back door of the house and past the well. The air was cold and frost crunched beneath her bare feet. She smiled to herself and let her breath out slowly so she could see the white mist before her. She shivered with delight as much as the cold. She loved the patterns of crystals the frost made on the brown grass. She found a secluded place to be alone and stepped carefully around a spider web. The frost on the silken strands was too beautiful to disturb.

She returned to the study, and taking a blanket she lay on the floor near Jason. His breathing was even and normal. Reassured she closed her eyes and let her mind and body relax. Jason had been aware of her hands on him in the healing and had made no objection. She took this as a good sign.

She didn't sleep long. Her need to heal lessened the need for sleep or the other needs of the body and she rose to sit next to him again. She placed her hand on his side and opened her mind to him. He slept on. Iolaus brought her a mug of tea, and when it was ready, a bowl of cooked oats sweetened with honey.

Sira still sat next to Jason when he woke. He searched her face a moment and she removed her hands from his side.

"Have you been there all night, healing me?"

"Yes. Please do not mind. I only wished to help you. I did not invade your thoughts about…"

"It's all right Sira," he interrupted her.

She gave him a drink of water. "Would you like something to eat?"

"In a little bit."

She turned to place the empty water mug on the table near the bed.

"What happened to your face?"

She put a hand to her cheek then winced from the pain her touch brought.

"What happened Sira?"

"It is nothing. Do not worry about it. It was an accident."

"But how..? You mean I did that?"

"You were delirious with fever. It was not your fault."

He sat up. "Sira, I'm so sorry." He reached out and took her hand.

She was shocked. It was the first time he had willingly touched anyone since his rescue.

"It is all right, my friend. It will heal." She was afraid to move, afraid to break the fragile bond between them.

"I haven't been very nice to you, have I?"

"You are hurting. I understand that. You need not apologize."

He removed his hand from hers. "No, Sira, you don't understand," he whispered.

"But I could, Jason. And I could help you. Sometimes just knowing someone else is a part of the pain can help. But I truly believe I could help you cope with this."

He shuddered. "I just can't, Sira. Healing would mean reliving it, and I can't. It would also mean others knowing what really happened. I couldn't stand that." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Especially you, Sira," he whispered.

"I would not condemn you. If you know me at all, you must realize that."

"But you would. You would have too." His voice was raspy. "But it's not just that. You're young and naive and, well, innocent. "

She smiled at him. "I am older than you by many years, Jason. You forget, we yosemin live much longer. And we have a very different view of life, and what living it means. We are open and honest about the needs of the body and flesh as well as the needs of the soul and the heart. Do not sell me short, my friend."

He said nothing. He knew she must have gained at least some insight into what had happened at the monastery. Her words just now confirmed that.

"Whatever happened to you at the hands of evil was not your fault. You were not yourself. The torture you had been through and the drugs in your bloodstream were in control of you. You must accept the part these things played in your supposed shame. If you had been yourself, things would have been very different."

"I don't know that that is true." His voice was so low she could barely hear him.

"I know, because I know you. How can you blame yourself for being forced into doing something you would not otherwise have done?"

"If only I could believe that. If I could truly believe I would have acted differently if I had been myself. I used to think I was smart. And yet I did a very foolish thing in going there in the first place. I used to think I was strong. But I broke, Sira. I broke more than once. Sometimes all a man has is his strength and courage, his pride in himself. Well, mine is gone. I was weak and cowardly. My pride was stripped from me and I could do nothing about it."

"If you really believe that, then she has won," the empath whispered. "Do not let her win, Jason. How much must a man endure to be considered a man? Is there some measurement of how much you must endure to pass some 'man' test? Even if there is, I cannot see where you broke. I could feel your thoughts at that moment we found you. For just a moment you thought I was Venin. There was no give in you. You wished for the release of death but not a surrender to the evil." She paused. "You hit me last night. Why?"

"I'm sorry, Sira. I didn't mean to. I didn't know what I was doing."

"Exactly. You were not yourself. What you did to me was not done out of any weakness. You were not yourself. But you hit me and you hit me damn hard. You knocked me on my bottom and that is bruised also. Would you hit me now, Jason?"

"I… No, Sira. I would never hit you. I couldn't do that."

"No, you would not. Not if you were in your right mind. But you did hit me. Does that make you a bad person? Should you be condemned? Think about it, my friend. If we were discussing anyone else you would be the first to understand. Stop wallowing in self pity. I have never known a man with more strength of character and more compassion. You have a dignity about you. Men have always followed you and looked up to you because they could see and feel this about you. You were a damn fine king, mostly because of these qualities. You still have that, Jason. You forget, I saw you dirty and naked lying on that stone floor. And I was proud of you, Jason. In that humbling position you still had that air of dignity that has marked your life from the beginning. Drugged, beaten, and starved, you still fought me. I could still feel your power and your strength. Nothing can ever take that from you except you. You must want to get better. You have to want to believe in yourself again." Tears flowed from the girl's eyes to splash down her cheeks. Tears shone in the Argonaut's eyes as well.

"I wonder if I can ever forgive myself? Or if Alcmene could forgive me if she knew the truth?"

The healer's heart went out to him. "Oh, Jason. I wish I could take this away, reverse time and stop it before it happened. But I cannot. I can only help you now. You must let me try."

"I just don't know if I can do it, Sira. I'm not sure I can relive it all again. I can't even stand to think about it." He pleaded with the empath to understand.

"But you would not be alone this time. I would be with you. And if you would let them, Hercules and Iolaus would be with us also. They both have strong minds and they have helped me before."

The former king shook his head.

"They are your friends. I know the three of you have been through a lot together. Trust them. There should be no shame, my friend. And yet I feel it there."

Tears again filled his eyes. How could she possibly know just how deep his shame ran?

"You do not need to hide from those who love you. You said that sometimes all a man has is his pride. I say sometimes all he has are his friends. True friendship is a sign of a man's integrity. They are an indication of his true worth. Only by being worthy can a man have friends."

"Let me think about it, Sira. Give me a little time. It's all so fresh in my mind." He shook his head.

"There is time. You will have as much time as you need. When you are ready, I will be there for you." She rose. "I will bring you some food. Then you should rest."

"Sira," he stopped her. "I'm sorry about your face." He grinned at her. "And your bottom."

She laughed. "Thank you."

She went to the kitchen to fix a meal for the Argonaut. She found Alcmene there.

"Oh, Sira, you look beat. You go to bed, I'll take care of Jason. He's going to be all right, isn't he?"

"Yes, I believe he is." The empath went to take the older woman's hand. "He reached out to me, at least a little, just now in the study."

Alcmene squeezed her hand. "You've worked a miracle already, if what the boys say about him on the trail is true." Now she became brisk. "You're going to bed. Right now."

Sira grinned at her. "Yes, Mother."

The empath covered a yawn and headed to the hall that led to the sleeping chambers. She was tired. Verbal struggles left her that way. Using the mind was easier for her. She'd used her mind to touch the Argonaut. Without really being aware of it her mind had been on his, letting him feel her emotions as she'd felt his. Her mind had been linked to his since that first time she had pushed it out beyond the confines of the present and touched his tortured thoughts. The link was formed, and when Jason finally agreed to let her help him, the weeks of contact would aid in the healing and speed the process.

She found the hunter in the hall and went into his arms.

"How is he?"

"Better. I think perhaps it will not be long now. He has been through so much." Tears filled her eyes.

"You're exhausted and entranced. Bed is the best place for you."

He picked her up and carried her to their room. He laid her gently on the bed, but when he would have risen she held onto his neck.

"Stay with me a little while."

He laid down beside her and took her in his arms. They faced each other and her hands rested on his chest. His vest had fallen open and she touched his smooth bare skin.

He studied her face then tenderly touched the bruise on her cheek. "Does it hurt?"

"Only a little."

"Shall I kiss it and make it better?" he teased.

"Yes please."

His kiss was light and gentle.

"I have another bruise," she offered.

An impish light came into his eyes. "Shall I kiss it also?" He had read her thoughts and knew where that other bruise was.

"Yes, please," she stated very gravely. Then she grinned at him.

She kissed his mouth, her tongue demanding his lips open to her. She put her hands in his hair and pulled his lips tighter against her mouth. Her kiss was demanding and urgent.

He pulled back to take a breath. "I thought you were tired?" he scolded playfully.

"I am, but I need something besides sleep right now." She helped him slip his vest off. "Where are the boys?"

"Hercules took them fishing."

"Good." She kissed him again.

She was pleasantly drowsy. Their lovemaking had eased her tired muscles and took away the tension from her mind. They lay now in each other's arms. She started to doze then stirred her self. "Would you help Jason heal if he would let you?"

"Of course." He was silent a moment. "Sira?" he questioned, not sure she was still awake.

"Hum?" she mumbled.

"I'm sorry that you must always take on the pain of others. I'd take the burden from you if I could."

She opened her eyes to study his face. "It is not a burden. It is who and what I am. I am yosemin. I am an empath. These things have come from the earth. They are a gift from her. I am proud to be these things. I have been feeling very sorry for myself because my yosemin blood may well deny me the dozen children I want. But the things that have happened lately, well, they have made me realize that it is a small price to pay. I used my abilities to help save Jason. Not just in healing, but in getting us to him in the first place. The earth has led me to use her gifts in ways I never knew were possible. Living with people means sharing their pain. I would not have it any other way."

He kissed her nose. "And I wouldn't have you any other way."

They heard Hercules and the boys return but no one disturbed them. He kissed her gently. She rubbed a finger over the tiny scar on his right temple.

"I guess I should make an appearance," he sighed. "Alcmene will wonder where I am."

"She will know."

"Think she'll mind?"

"No. She will be glad for us."

"I hope we can help Jason, for Alcmene's sake as much as for his."

"We will. I refuse to believe otherwise."

"My stubborn little yosemin empath," he teased.

"That is right. Say, you never did kiss my other bruise."

The hunter took care of that oversight immediately, and it was well past midday before Sira slept. The hunter slept for a time himself.

It was late when he rose. The room was in shadow but he could see Sira lying on her side in the bed. She looked so tiny. The blanket had pulled down and he could see most of her. He watched her sleeping form for a moment. How lucky I am, he thought. He thanked the gods yet again for his good fortune. He kissed the bruise on her hip for good measure, then he pulled the blanket over her. He knew if he didn't she would never get any sleep.

The hunter went to the kitchen. The others were just sitting down to a meal. Jason, feeling much better, had joined them.

"Where have you been?" the demigod demanded.

"I'd say that it's rather obvious by the bemused look on his face," Jason answered the big man's question.

It was so much like something Jason would have said before his ordeal, that a spark of hope lit Alcmene's face.

"Fine way to spend the day, while I take care of the kids," the half man, half god mumbled. His brow was furrowed and he was trying to sound stern.

"I agree. It was a fine way to spend the day," Iolaus nodded, not in the least apologetic.

Hercules and Jason looked at each other and the former king raised his eyebrows. Then both men laughed.

"Thanks for watching Hercus," Iolaus told the demigod. "Sira needed some rest."

"I don't think she got much rest," Jason mumbled under his breath. Despite his soft whisper everyone heard him.

They all looked at him.

He blushed. "What?"

Then they all laughed.

Jason offered to help Alcmene clean up after dinner. Hercules and Iolaus were bathing the boys and getting them ready for bed. There was much laughter and fun. They'd put both boys in the large tub at the same time. They were splashing and playing so much that no real scrubbing was getting done.

"How is it that Sira can do this and they don't get even a drop of water on the floor?" Hercules wondered out loud. He jumped back as a splash came his way.

"Practice, I guess," Iolaus offered

"I think she manipulates their minds."

"Well, I wish she would teach me that trick. I'm wetter than they are."

"Sounds like they're having fun," Jason smiled at Alcmene.

She laughed. "Yes, they're both good with the boys."

"You enjoy having children around, don't you?" he smiled at her.

Their hands brushed accidentally as he handed her a plate.

"Yes, I do," she smiled back. There was an extra loud burst of laughter from the bathers. "I wonder how much sleep Sira is getting with that going on," she laughed.

"If she's hearing it, she's enjoying it. She seems to take great pleasure in the little joys of life."

He handed her another plate and his hand again brushed hers. She wasn't sure it was an accident this time.

"I'm sorry I've been so cruel to you, Alcmene," he whispered.

She turned from the counter to stare at him. "You haven't been cruel to me, Jason."

He searched her face and found only love and sincerity there. But would she still love me if she knew the truth? he asked himself. Can I take that risk? But then if I don't, it would be so unfair to her. Better to risk her love then continue to put her through this.

He reached out and lightly touched her hand. She wanted to grab at him. But she knew, to do so might break the spell. She didn't move. He picked up her hand and studied it a moment. Touching her didn't repulse him as he feared it might. Her hand was small and dainty. There was a tiny scar on her pointer finger and he rubbed his thumb over the scar. In his mind he remembered that hand laying on his chest as they lay in bed together. These memories were good. These memories brought him no pain. The kind of intimacy they had shared was pleasant, not frightening.

He looked up to meet her eyes. He realized he had been holding her hand a long time. She said nothing, only watched him. Her heart was pounding. He raised the hand to his mouth and kissed the fingertips. Then he turned the hand over and kissed the palm. This was good also. He was going slowly, afraid at any moment the fear and revulsion would overwhelm him.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a shuddering breath. Then opening her eyes she lightly touched his cheek with her other hand. She took a step toward him, but he dropped her hand and stepped back. She smiled at him while she cursed herself for going too fast.

"Please, understand, Alcmene. I'm just not quite ready yet."

"It's all right, my love. We have the rest of our lives to get to know each other again."

He closed his eyes a moment. "And if it could never be more than this?" He was afraid of her answer. He needed her. He couldn't bear the thought that he might lose her.

"Then we will have this and be happy," she whispered.

He opened his eyes and searched her face. She really meant what she'd just said. She would have me even this way. And if she knew the truth? he asked himself. But there was no answer to that.

He held out his hand to her and she placed her hand in his. They stood well apart. He wanted to bridge that gap but he just couldn't. He swayed on his feet with the strain of his inner struggle.
"You're tired, Jason. Go on to bed. If it's all right with you, I'll sit with you for a while once I finish here."

"Yes, I'd like that." He dropped her hand and started to turn away. "Don't be long."

Alcmene stood watching his retreating back and tears filled her eyes.

Iolaus came into the kitchen at that moment, and seeing her face he came to stand before her.

She turned tear stained eyes to him and a sob escaped her lips. He took her into his arms, and she cried on his shoulder. Great wrenching sobs shook her. All the days of tension and fear, all the strain and her own pain could plainly be heard in her sobs.

"It's going to be all right," the hunter soothed her.

But she just cried all the harder.

"You're over tired. Leave the kitchen. I'll tidy up, " he offered.

She pulled away and wiped the tears from her face. "I've gotten your shirt all wet."

He laughed. "And I just changed into dry clothing after bathing the boys," he scolded her. He'd tried to sound stern but had failed.

"I'm sorry I let go like that."

"That's okay, Mom. You've held me while I cried a few times." He smiled at her.

"Not recently, however," she smiled back.

"Run along. I'll get Hercus to bed then I'll clean up the kitchen. You're on disability leave until further notice."

She raised up and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You're a good son, Iolaus."

She went to her room to freshen up before going to the study.

Sira and Iolaus were up early. They'd agreed to try and make things easier on Alcmene, and they were fixing the first meal of the day. The healer went to the study to check on Jason, and found Alcmene sleeping on a mat on the floor next to the Argonaut's bed. Jason looked at Sira and put a finger to his lips to indicate that they should be quiet. She nodded and quietly shut the door.

He joined the hunter and the yosemin in the kitchen a moment later. He'd risen and watched Alcmene sleeping. When she'd come to the study last night he knew she'd been crying. She sat in the chair by his bed and they had talked for a time. But he could see she was very tired. She'd suggested sleeping on the floor by him, and he'd liked the idea. Once she was asleep he'd reached out his hand and touched her hair.

Now he felt the need to touch her again. He knelt beside her and lightly touched her cheek, then with a sigh, he rose and left the room. Alcmene put a hand up and touched the cheek he'd caressed. Then with a smile she rolled over and went back to sleep.

Winnie came over early that morning requesting permission to take the boys for the day. She brought Sira a plant. It was a starting of the trumpet vine that grew by the front porch of the farm house that had been Sira's for a short time. The empath was delighted. She lightly touched the leaves and the vine leaned into her touch. Not for the first time, the hunter wondered how these things were possible.

Alcmene slept on. It had been a long time since she'd slept so soundly.

Sira cleaned the house for her. She knew the older woman liked her home to be neat, and the healer enjoyed the work. She hummed as she went about her tasks. She watered the plants that grew in pots about the front room windows and dusted the furniture. She straightened things and swept. The boys had done their share of destruction, and Sira smiled to herself as she set it right. She had a stew cooking for their dinner and had even baked bread. She'd checked on Alcmene twice, and finding her still sleeping she'd left her alone.

It was late afternoon when Alcmene joined the others in the kitchen. She had bathed and put on a pretty pale blue dress.

"You look wonderful, Alcmene," Sira complimented her.

Jason sat at the table. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her. "You certainly do," he told her.

She smiled at him. Her blond hair, only slightly graying, lay in soft waves about her face. There was a glow to her skin.

"I feel much better today," she announced. "The place looks wonderful, Sira. And I smell something delicious cooking. Thank you so much. This means so much to me."

"Everyone has helped. Iolaus cooked breakfast."

Hercules, entering the room right then, interrupted her. "If you could call it that."

"Hey," the hunter objected. "I noticed you ate it."

"Had to. There wasn't anything else to eat."

"Well, you can fix your own breakfast next time."

"No, no. That's okay. Your, well, your, whatever you call it, was just great."

Jason had spent most of the morning in the stables. He spent time with Raimi, cleaned stalls, and kept active. He felt better than he had since his return to the farm. Iolaus had gone to the grove of trees near the river to hunt. Hercules had spent the day in the orchard preparing it for winter.

Winnie brought the boys back just before dark. They'd had a wonderful time, and they were dirty and tired to prove it. They had already eaten so Sira sent then to the bath first thing. Iolaus walked Winnie home and Hercules offered to help Sira get the boys to bed.

"You should have seen the disaster your husband and I made of this last night," he chuckled.

She giggled. "I heard."

Sira insisted Alcmene rest. "When the boys are down, I will clean the kitchen. You just rest."

"I'm fine, Dear. I feel great after my long sleep."

"If you lift one hand, I shall be offended." The healer had given her a serious look.

Alcmene smiled at her. "Very well. I'll rest today. But you're not keeping me down tomorrow. So be warned."

Sira had kissed her cheek and joined Hercules to finish bathing the boys.

The house seemed stuffy to the older woman. She fluffed a pillow here and turned a knickknack just so. But the empath had done such a wonderful job cleaning there was really nothing that needed her attention. She took a shawl from the rack by the door and stepped out on the porch. The night was cool but not really cold, and the fresh air smelled clean and fresh. She sat on the swing on the porch and gently rocked back and forth. She felt relaxed, and despite sleeping half the day she felt drowsy.

Hercules joined her on the porch.

"Are the boys sleeping?" she inquired.

"Finally," he chuckled. "So is Jason. I hope he didn't overdo today." The big man let out a sigh and relaxed on the swing next to his mother. "Iolaus and Sira are cleaning up in the kitchen. I guess I should offer to help."

She reached for his hand. "Stay with me a bit."

He had started to rise but he sat back at her suggestion.

"It's been nice having you around more of late."

"I've enjoyed it myself."

"Sarmen is a delightful child."

He took a deep breath. "Uh, mother, there's something I need to tell you, about Sarmen."

"Like for instance, he's your son?" she asked.

"How did you know?"

"I didn't know, not at first. I suspected from that first day. Not that he looks like you. But the way you treated him gave me a clue. Then a conversation with Sira." She shrugged. "She never broke your confidence and we never talked of the real relationship between you and the boy. But I knew."

"I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner. I wasn't trying to keep it from you. But there was so much going on."

"I knew you would come to me when you were ready."

He explained to his mother how the boy came to be. He held nothing back from her. "So I had to take the boy. He's my responsibility."

"Yes, you're right, of course."

He waited. "Is that all you're going to say?"

"What would you have me say?"

"I was afraid to tell you at all."

"Why? Surely you didn't think I would condemn you?"

"Well, yes, actually. I thought you might."

She chuckled. "I have no right to condemn you for a weakness of the flesh, my half god son."

"But you at least had feelings for Zeus. I didn't even know this girl."

"Yes, I had feelings for your father, but that came later. Your father can be very charming."

Hercules was silent.

"I know you had feelings for Sarmen's mother. I can sense that."

"Yes, I guess I did. But not when… Not until…"

Alcmene patted his hand. "What happened was not your fault. You were ill and not yourself."

"It was still wrong." He sighed. I was wrong."

"Were you? Perhaps the deed could be considered wrong. But not you. You said yourself, the girl admitted she could have stopped you. She chose not to."

"But I made the advances in the first place."

"No, the fever and delirium did that. Your illness lowered your restraint and Liasaya took advantage of that. If a girl is forced by a man, has she done wrong, or has he? If a thief steals your purse, are you wrong for losing it or is he wrong for taking it?" She patted his hand again. "Our flesh is weak. Who of us can truly say we haven't been tempted at some time or another? We all do things that might be considered wrong. But we're an imperfect species, living in an imperfect world, ruled by imperfect gods.

"I don't regret the time I had with your father. He came to me at a time in my life when I was lonely and vulnerable. He's very charismatic. I had feelings for him. I refuse to apologize for that. I do regret that my indiscretion may have caused you to be made uncomfortable at times. But you've been so wonderful. You've fulfilled my dreams and expectations to overflowing. I have never regretted your existence. And if some people wish to consider that wrong, then to Hades with them."

"It's not always easy to let go of guilt."

"I know, my son. But there should be no guilt. What happened was forced on you. The one being forced is not the sinner, but the one doing the forcing. Liasaya could have stopped what happened. She came to you just as I came to your father. "You're taking care of Sarmen. You would have from the start if you had known of him. You should have no regrets."

"You're right, Mother. I need to let it go. I owe that to Sarmen." He put his arm around her shoulder. "You're shivering. Let's get you inside." He stood and pulled her up, then hugged her. "Thank you, Mother."

Jason turned from the window of his study. He'd awakened and been unable to return to sleep. The room seemed stuffy and close, so he'd gone to the window and opened the shutter a crack to let some air in. He stood now with his back to the window. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop. But he'd heard what Alcmene had told her son. A lot of what she'd said could be applied to him. Could she find it in her heart to forgive him? There'd been no condemnation for her son. But knowing her as he did, he would have been surprised if there had been. At one point he'd considered giving her up rather than facing her and his own shame. But once he saw her again he knew he could never willingly do so. Much of his shame was because he felt he'd betrayed her. But while his body may have, his heart had not. I'm being unfair to her. I need to face this and take the consequences. If I lose her, then that will be the price I must pay for my foolishness and for the weakness of my body.

He crossed the room and sat at his desk. He lit no candle, preferring to sit in the dark. He forced himself to think about the events in the monastery. Did I at any point find Venin desirable? No, he admitted, I didn't. I did look at her scantily clad form in the wet nightdress, but did I feel moved by it? No. Her intimate touches, did I find them desirable? He shuddered. Quite the opposite. So, he asked himself, what now? But he already knew the answer. He must seek the empath's help.

Sira had gone to the garden. She was most happy when she was outdoors. She sat cross-legged on the grass, her mind open to her surroundings. She had spoken with her mind to Thysis. But now she simply rested in the sunlight. Jason found her there and approached her reluctantly. He had sought her out, and yet now that he was here, he was apprehensive about talking with her.

She opened her eyes and smiled at him, then held her hand out to him to help her stand up. He stood looking at the hand a moment then reached out to take it and pulled her up.

"Walk with me," she suggested.

He nodded.

They started in the direction of the orchards. He was silent, unsure how to start the conversation.

"It will be all right, my friend. We will do this together."

"So, you know what I wished to speak to you about?"

"Yes."

"And?" He took a deep breath. "You're still willing to help me?" He wasn't sure if he wished her to say yes or if he wished her to deny him, and thereby eliminate his need to participate in an exercise he knew would be unpleasant.

"Of course I am still willing. Whenever you are ready."

"I think I'm ready now."

She could hear the dread in his voice. "We will go slow. I will let you lead me in a lot of this, and you will have control of a great deal of what happens. You must understand however, the more we share of our feelings and emotions, the more you will heal."

He was silent a moment. "Could you be hurt by this?"

"Not if I am allowed to complete the healing. But once we start, there is no turning back. If you were to pull your mind from mine while we are in transfer…" She left her statement incomplete.

"Will you feel pain?"

"Yes. If you do, then I will also."

He let his breath out in a sigh. "This isn't going to be pleasant. I think you've already guessed some of what happened in that cell. I… Well..."

She turned to face him. "You need not feel embarrassed. You are right. I have been shown some of your ordeal, and I think I have guessed some. But we are friends. Healers are often put into situations that could be embarrassing. I have trained a long time to deal with whatever might happen in a healing." She grinned at him. "Before the healing is complete, we will know a great deal about each other."

"You're still willing to do this?"

"It is not always a matter of being willing. It is something I must do. I have been healing you since that first moment our minds touched. I have stayed here on the farm because I knew that the healing was incomplete. I will feel your pain and all that you feel. You were right when you said that to heal meant to relive the ordeal. But this time you will not be alone in this. And if I am not allowed to complete the healing, it could very well be painful, or even worse."

"He shook his head. "I can't ask you to do this. It would be too cruel."

She held out her hand to him, and he placed his over hers. "No," she whispered. "No, Jason. To not ask me would be cruel. To allow me to help you is the ultimate demonstration of your affection and trust."

He nodded.

"I feel your fear, my friend. It is understandable. What we are contemplating is not to be taken lightly. It will be unpleasant for both of us. But it is something that must be done. It can put a stop to the discomfort we feel now. If we do not do the healing, the pain will continue. While a person can get used to pain, I for one, would rather not have to." She smiled at him again. "Would you be willing to let Hercules and Iolaus help?"

He was silent as he struggled with himself. Then he nodded. "If we're going to do this, then I must be honest about what happened, and about my part in it. And I believe you would rather have them there."

"I would. I believe they will be able to help. Hercules is very strong of mind, a sensitive. His strength may be needed."

They turned toward the house. She could feel his churning emotions. "I feel your dread of Alcmene knowing of your ordeal. Do not underestimate her. She will understand. She loves you."

"I wish I could believe that." He turned to face her. "I can't bear the thought of losing her."

"If you truly love her, then you must believe in her."

"I know." He closed his eyes a moment. "I owe it to her to at least make a try at coming to terms with my own private Tartarus."

"Together. We will do it together."

Hercules and Iolaus were constructing a shelter in the garden for the healing. The weather had been clear and cool so the grass was dry. The ground underneath was still damp however. The yosemin had gone to the river with the old horse and the cart. With Winnie's help she cut reeds. She chose the driest ones since there would be no time to let them dry before she began to work the sinewy fibers into woven mats to protect them from the damp soil.

The young girl had offered to help with the care of the boys during the healing. "This won't be easy for Alcmene, and I want to help. Hercus will understand what is going on, but Sarmen won't. Hercus and I can help keep him occupied."

Sira smiled at her. "I am most pleased that you and Hercus have bonded."

Winnie grinned at her. "His touch on my mind is so tender. He has his mother's compassion."

Sira stopped what she was doing and stood watching the girl.

Winnie laughed. "Yes, I can feel his mind on mine. It seems I gained more than just an ability to heal growing things from the healing you did for me. I wonder just how much really does pass from one person to another in the transfer, and just how much is retained when the healing is complete."

"You are very perceptive, my friend."

"It comes from too many idle hours to daydream. At least that's what Father says."

"And yet he is most pleased with you and what you can accomplish with the green gifts of the earth mother."

"He is," she nodded. "I feel his pride in me. It's amazing how you set out to heal an injured child, and the father was healed at the same time."

When they returned to the farm Alcmene and Winnie helped the healer weave the reeds into large mats that would cover the floor of the shelter during the healing. Alcmene was nervous and on edge. Jason had announced his decision to her in the study. He had asked her to accompany him there so that they could be alone.

"Oh, Jason. I'm so pleased." Tears came to her eyes. "It's been so hard seeing you in such turmoil."

"I have a request to make of you," he stated. "I'd like to ask that you not come to the shelter during the healing."

She looked shocked. "Why?"

He went to stand at the window, his back to her and the room.

"I… It would be easier for me if you didn't. It's not that I wish to keep anything from you. When this is over I want everything out in the open. I'll be honest with you." He paused. Then in a whisper, "And hope you can forgive me."

She went to him. But hearing her approach he turned and held up his hand to stop her.

"Not yet, Alcmene. It's still hard for me to be near people." At the look in her eyes his voice softened. "Even you, my love. But hopefully that will change." He sighed "You're right. It is hard living with this. Mostly because it keeps us apart." He stood in indecision. He hated seeing the tears in her eyes and the pain written on her face. He wanted to hold her, to try and ease her discomfort. But he couldn't. With a groan he turned away from her again. "I'm sorry, Alcmene."

"Oh, Jason. You know I love you. We'll find a way, no matter what happens. If it makes you more comfortable, then I'll stay away during the healing. When it is done, we'll start again if that's what it takes." Her voice broke. "I can't lose you. I don't care what happened, or that you may be different now."

"Wait, Alcmene. Wait until the truth is known before you say that. You must promise me you'll be honest with me about your feelings."

"I will be. But surely you don't think my feelings for you will change?"

"They may, Alcmene. They may." His voice was tinged with pain and self reproach.

"If you believe that, then you don't know me at all." She turned and left the room.

He turned from the window and watched her retreating back. Maybe, he thought, I just don't know myself anymore.

The night was cold and clear. A strong wind blew across the yard and past the barn. Jason sat at his desk in the study. He knew he should be sleeping. Tomorrow they would start the healing. But he couldn't sleep. He'd stayed in his study the rest of the day. He hadn't wanted to face Alcmene after the scene in the study. Sira had brought him a midday meal and tried to convince him to come out, but he had refused. She had brought him his evening meal, then sat with him while he ate. She knew that something uncomfortable had happened between him and Alcmene. The older woman had been distracted and depressed all day.

"I thought Alcmene would be happy that we are going to do a healing."

Jason set his knife down. He didn't feel like eating anyway. "I asked her to stay away from the shelter during the healing."

Sira said nothing. She knew there was more, but it was up to him to share it if he chose.

"She's still upset, I take it?"

"Yes," she acknowledged.

"She got angry when I said I thought her feelings for me might change after the healing."

Sira nodded. "I see. She feels you do not trust her."

"You know I love her. She's a special person, but she is human. People's feelings change."

"No, not always. She may feel any number of negative emotions about what happened. But the love she has for you, that I believe, will not change."

He pushed back from his desk and began to pace. "But the negative emotions can get in the way and destroy a friendship, or a love."

Sira sighed. "Yes, that is true. But only if you let that happen. Alcmene is a formidable woman. She can be very stubborn. She will not give up without a fight. You must not either."

He grinned at her. "She can be stubborn. When she found out I would have to give up my crown she refused to marry me. She was convinced I would regret doing so. I had to talk long and hard to get her to agree to the whole thing. Then when Hercules refused the position as king..." He shook his head.

Sira smiled back at him. "You will find a way to work this out with Alcmene. You must believe that."

"I hope so," he whispered.

When Sira left the study she went straight to her room. She had borrowed a nightdress from Alcmene. When Iolaus had gone to the cabin for their things he had forgotten night attire. The empath accused him of forgetting on purpose, but he denied the allegation. The grin on his face at the time made her doubt his sincerity however.

She bathed then rubbed jasmine petals on her skin. She knew the hunter liked the aroma of the yellow flowers. She brushed her hair until it shone. Then she slipped the pale green satin shift over her head. The soft material felt cool and sensuous on her bare skin. It raised goose flesh on her arms as it slid down her form to pool in soft folds around her. It was tight around the top, cut low to reveal a great deal of her. Then it flared at the bottom to highlight her slender hips and flat stomach. The color brought out the green of her eyes. Around her throat hung a pale lavender crystal. That and the gold band she wore on her left hand were her only adornments. She stood in front of the mirror a moment to judge the effect. She grinned and twirled around. Wait until he sees this, she thought.

She laid in the bed, the covers pulled up around her chin. Iolaus let himself into the room quietly. He was afraid she might be sleeping.

"Are you all right, my love?" Seeing her in the bed, the covers pulled up around her, he was afraid she was ill.

She threw back the covers. "No, I am not all right. You have kept me waiting far too long," she scolded him. She jumped out of the bed to stand with her back to him and pretended to be looking out the window.

He watched her. The nightdress glimmered in the light of the candles. Her hair fell in a cascade of silver gold strands down her back.

"I have half a mind to make you sleep elsewhere tonight," she stated.

"I didn't know, my lady awaited me. If I had but known, I would have come to her chamber immediately." He was trying to sneak up on her. She could see his shadow on the wall, but pretended she was unaware of his approach.

He grabbed her, and picking her up he deposited her on the bed. Her hair flew around her and she giggled. He joined her on the blankets.

"Braid my hair for me, please," she requested.

"I like it loose." He picked up a handful and let it slip through his fingers.

"I know. That is why I left it down. But it gets in the way."

"Gets in the way of what?" he asked very innocently .

She pushed him over and hovered above him. "It gets in the way of making love to you, silly."

"Then by all means, let me braid it."

She sat up. "I do not know. You did keep me waiting." She pretended to be working over the idea in her head, weighing the pros and cons of the whole business.

He pulled her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck. "Please let me braid it for you."

She shook her head.

He trailed kisses down the cord that ran from her ear to her throat. "Please, my lady?" he pleaded.

She shook her head again. He pulled the strap of the nightdress aside and nibbled on her shoulder. "Please?"

She took a deep breath and let it out in mock exasperation. "All right. If you are going to whine and beg."

"Oh, thank you, my lady. I'm your most humble servant."

He pulled her hair behind her back. The feel of his hands on her neck made her shiver.

Later, as they lay in each other's arms, the hunter kissed her cheek. "Thank you for making tonight so special."

"It will be awhile before we can be together."

"I know. That's why this night was so wonderful. I liked the nightdress. Where'd you get it?"

"From Alcmene," she said. "Why?"

"I thought so. I wonder where she got something like that?"

"Jason got it for her, in Athens. She said she had never had the nerve to wear it," the empath giggled.

"Are you keeping it, or returning it?"

"Returning it. Why all the questions?"

"Well, you're not taking very good care of it. It's crumpled in a heap on the floor," he teased her.

"And who put it there?"

"You have a point. I was in a hurry," he laughed.

She pulled his hair and he swatted her bottom. It was very late before they slept.

Sira woke with a start. She had sensed rather than heard something. She slipped out of the hunter's arms and pulled the nightdress over her head. She left the room with no candle. The moon was almost full, and enough light filtered in from the windows to guide her.

Her mind led her to the door of the boy's room. Hercules was sitting on the edge of Sarmen's bed. He looked up when she entered and held a finger to his lips. She waited silently in the room. After a moment the big man rose and she followed him from the room and closed the door silently behind her. He motioned to the kitchen and she followed him.

"Sarmen had..." He stopped talking. He stared at her a moment then looked away. The room was flooded with moonlight and she stood in the reflection.

He took a deep breath. "Sarmen had a bad dream, but he never really woke up."

The big man stood before her, clad only in the loose fitting woven moss trousers she had made for him. She admired the width of his shoulders and chest. He was a magnificent example of the male species. He cleared his throat and she pulled her eyes away from his torso to meet his eyes.

His voice shook. "I guess we should try to get some sleep."

"Yes," she stated.

Neither of them moved.

"You're beautiful," he whispered.

"I was thinking the same thing about you."

He laughed and the spell was broken. "May I make a suggestion?"

"Of course."

"Don't wear that thing in polite company."

She looked down her front. "I will try not to. May I make a suggestion?"

"Of course."

"Do not ever wear anything else."

He laughed again. "I would, you know. But then I can't keep the women off of me."

"I can well understand why," she whispered.

He drew in a quick breath. "We should get back to bed, err, that is, our respective beds."

"You first."

"You're closer to the door."

"You are not afraid of me, are you?"

"You're damn right I am."

She stood silently a moment. "I guess I am a little afraid of you also."

"So, now what?"

She took a deep breath. "So now we return to our, respective beds and stop teasing each other."

He grinned at her. "You mean flirting with each other."

"Yes. It is one thing in the light of day, when you are more appropriately dressed. But tonight the moon has cast its spell and we have fallen under it."

"You're no more appropriately dressed than I am. That damn thing leaves little to the imagination."

She giggled and turned to leave. "Sleep well, my more than brother."

Right. Like I'll be able to sleep now, he thought.

The empath and the hunter joined the others in the kitchen for the first meal of the day.

Jason was already there, nursing a mug of strong tea. He looked dreadful. Sira lay a hand on his shoulder. He tightened his muscles, then forced himself to relax.

"Did you sleep at all?"

He shook his head.

The empath's conscience pricked her. She could have been healing him last night. But then he wouldn't have slept any better if she had been, she supposed. Alcmene came into the kitchen from the pantry. She looked as bad as the Argonaut.

When the meal was completed, Hercules went to the shelter to build a fire. Sira followed. She wanted to be sure everything was ready. She found that someone had placed potted plants around the sides. There were curtains on the sides of the shelter that could be rolled up to make the sides open, or dropped for privacy.

"This is wonderful. Who did this?"

"Iolaus and I. We thought you might be pleased."

"It is very thoughtful. Thank you."

The demigod came to stand before her and took her hand. "Thank you for helping Jason," his mind told her.

"You know I must," her mind replied.

"No. I think it's more than that."

"You would do the same." She smiled at him and now she used her voice. "Besides, you are going to help." And now she was serious. "We must go slow, my brother. Jason is very vulnerable right now. The healing must not be more traumatic than the original experience. We must make him feel that what happened to him can be accepted and dealt with." She took a deep breath. "I feel there will be moments when what must be faced will be of a carnal nature. It will be up to us to help him deal with this. We must control our embarrassment. If he at anytime felt stirred by the nature of the torment Venin used, we may also experience this."

"You really believe she… That she tortured him in this way?"

"I am sure of it. Can you do this without undue embarrassment?"

"Can you?"

"We yosemin feel differently about these things. An example is, you were embarrassed last night. I was not."

He grinned at her. "You felt no embarrassment at having me see you so, shall we say, revealed?"

"No."

"Or by the fact that we were both moved by what we saw?"

"No."

He studied her face a moment. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"Yes. What we felt was a natural animalistic reaction. You, my brother, are splendid."

He laughed. "You're not so bad yourself." He turned away now. "I felt like a heel about it though."

"You must not. We are very close. Our souls have touched in a deep and lasting way. We will have other times when the instincts mother earth gave us will rule our lives. But we knew what was happening and we dealt with it."

He turned back to her. "You're right. We did. And we'll deal with whatever the healing reveals."

She nodded. "I am somewhat apprehensive. I have never done a healing of this type. The earth has led me to it. I know I must be able to help or I would not be here. But I will be feeling my way as I go. I will need your strength."

"And you shall have it."

She smiled at him. "We must help him. We are talking about two lives here, not just one."

"Three. I've sensed your own pain, my sister."

She let her breath out in a sigh. "Yes. I have been linked to Jason almost since that first moment. If I were not allowed to help him, I would retain a sense of disquiet. In time it could become a part of me, and I would not be as conscious of it. But it would still be there."

Jason and Iolaus joined them in the shelter. Sira smiled at the Argonaut.
"Well, my friend? Are you ready?"

"Yes, I guess I am."

Her smile widened, and she motioned to the mats on the ground. For him she had placed several cushions

and blankets. For her she had brought the warm soft blanket that Calla had given her.

Jason made himself comfortable. Sira sat beside him, her legs crossed.

"All right, Jason. I want you to close your eyes and try to relax. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Envision your tension leaving you as you let the breath out. Take another breath and let it out slowly. I want you to think of a scene in your mind. A pleasant meadow, tall green grass, wild flowers of many colors. Tall purple snow capped mountains caress the sky. Ancient pines stand watch over the cold clear stream that chuckles over stones and sand. The air is fresh and sweet. You see a deer in the meadow, her fawn beside her. You can smell the sun on the grass. You can hear the insects as they sing. A fish jumps and you hear the splash. Watch the ripples as they ride the water in ever widening circles. They go on and on, never ending."

The empath swayed, her words became a chant. "Cantos, cantos, cantos. Remember, once our minds are linked, we must not break that link. Once I have touched you in transfer, we must stay in physical and mental touch. We will go slow, my friend. There is no hurry. Earth, earth, earth. Relax, Jason. Will your mind to open and relax. I will touch you now. A light touch that cannot harm you."

She put her hand out to touch his arm. His mind caught for just a moment then he relaxed. She strengthened her touch on his mind, and felt him start to panic.

"No, Jason. Relax. We will go slow. You may guide this." She pulled her mind back a little. "It will be all right. The transfer has not yet been made. We can break contact if you feel you must." She felt him relax. She must be careful. She hadn't even tried to touch that part of his mind that was hidden behind the defensive barrier of his tortured mind.

Throughout the morning she lightly brushed his mind with hers, letting him get used to the feel of her mind on his and accept that she would not bring him harm. She strengthened her hold on his thoughts and he panicked. He very successfully shut away the thoughts she'd touched. She cried out as she was abruptly thrust into an abyss of blackness. It felt as if she were swimming in a pool of thick black sludge.

Hercules had been in the shelter all morning. He'd stayed in case she might need his help. At her cry he went to his knees beside her and touched both her hands. He sent his mind to hers and felt the confusion there.

"Sira, " his mind called.

She grabbed onto his thoughts, as one might a life line, and began to pull her mind back from the hole she'd fallen into. She reached blindly out to the Argonaut and his mind shouted in fear. He too had found the sudden loss of the minds touch painful. She helped him to once again relax and bring his mind back to her. She'd still been unable to transfer and she knew he needed a break. She led him back to conscious thought and let her mind and his separate slowly.

The empath removed her hand from him and opened her eyes. The demigod still held one of her hands and she made no effort to remove it from his support.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I went too fast." She turned to the former king. "Forgive me. I did not mean to frighten you." She searched his face. "Are you all right?"

He nodded. "I'm sorry I panicked like that. You warned me not to break the contact." He shuddered. "It felt as if I were falling from a cliff."

"It is my fault. I pushed too hard. We will rest for a time before we start again."

"Are you all right?" he asked her.

"Yes, " she nodded. She still felt confused and unsteady, but she managed a smile.

Hercules stood and offered her a hand up. She swayed slightly on her feet and he steadied her.

Jason rose also and left the shelter. He felt sick to his stomach and was afraid he might be sick. Perspiration beaded on his forehead. When he entered the house Alcmene jumped to her feet. He said nothing. Heading straight to his study he closed the door behind him. He felt the need of privacy to gather his thoughts.

Sira found Alcmene standing in the kitchen, a bewildered look on her face.

"It is all right, my friend," the empath assured her. "We are taking a break."

"He looked dreadful." The older woman turned to the yosemin. "I don't think he recognized me."

"It will be fine. He is doing very well. But this is, I am afraid, not going to be done in a few hours. It will take time." Sira smiled at her. "You must be patient."

"It's being here, not knowing what's happening. Iolaus has tried to keep me busy, but I know you need him at the healing."

"Be strong a little longer." She smiled at the mother of her more than brother. She could sense the state the older woman was in. She'd gone through these weeks of tension and uncertainty with a brave front. But the empath knew how fragile that control was.

The hunter came into the kitchen and put his arms around the healer from behind. "Everything okay?"

"Yes, of course. We are just taking a break."

"The boys were getting restless so I took them to Winnie's. She said she'd bring them back later and stay with Alcmene. Then I'll come to the shelter." He put an arm around the older woman. "I just couldn't leave you alone through this, Mom."

"That's nonsense," Alcmene stated. "I'll be fine. I insist you be there for Sira. I can always walk over to Ezekial's." Her face wore a look of stern stubbornness.

"All right, you win. But you know where I'll be if you need me."

Sira ate a meal. She wasn't really hungry but knew she must maintain her energy level. She rested for a time then she went to the shelter again.

Hercules found her there. "Where's Jason?"

"He has not come out of his study yet."

"Shall I go get him?"

"No. He must come to me, when he is ready. And I believe he will." She smiled at the demigod. "You might make sure he has eaten."

At the light tap on the study door, Jason stiffened.

"Jason, it's Hercules. I've got some food for you. Open the door."

The Argonaut did as he was bid, then stood aside while the demigod entered. "Thank you. I was getting hungry."

"Then why didn't you come out and get something to eat?"

He didn't answer, but asked a question of his own. "Is Sira all right?"

"Yes. In fact she's waiting at the shelter for you."

"She warned me not to break the contact." He shook his head.

"Stop worrying about it. You've learned something from the experience. Just don't do it again."

Jason picked up a piece of the cold meat on the tray the demigod had set on his desk. He took a bite and chewed in silence a moment. "She's still willing to help me?"

The demigod poured some tea into the mug on the tray and handed it to his friend. "Of course. Did you really think she wouldn't be?"

The former king took a sip of the tea, and a smile crossed his face. It was Tassis tea with lemon. He knew damn well, Alcmene had made it for him. And as the realization hit him he made a decision.

"To answer your question, I do find it rather remarkable that anyone would be so willing to go through this whole thing just to help someone else."

"Sira 'is' rather remarkable." The big man grinned at his friend. "So, are you going to hide in here all day, or are you going back out there?"

Jason sipped his tea again. "Alcmene made this tea, didn't she?"

The frown between the half man, half god's brow deepened. "Yes, as a matter of fact she did."

Jason nodded, and poured himself more of the fragrant brew. "In that case I'm going back out there." The Argonaut chuckled at the blank look on his friend's face. "I wasn't sure I would. Not until I tasted the tea. Alcmene made it special."

Hercules looked all the more confused.

"I have to do this. For her. For Alcmene."

Hercules still wasn't quite sure what his friend meant. But it didn't really matter. Sira had been right. He'd made the decision on his own. He smiled at the older man. "So, shall I tell Sira you'll be out soon?"

Jason nodded. He'd taken a bite of apple and waited to swallow before answering. "Yes. Tell her I'll be right out. But I'm going to eat first. I really was hungry."

Chuckling, Hercules made his way to the door.

"All right, Jason. We are going to return to where we were. We will go quickly because we have been here before."

When Jason had returned to the shelter, he'd given the empath a sheepish grin and laid down on the mats without being asked.

Sira sat at his head, her hands on his temples. She let him take the lead. Now that he understood a little more about what to do, he was open to the healer's trance. He openly went further this time. As his mind relaxed and he came closer to the buried memories, he gave more and more control to Sira. He knew they were in dangerous water here.

Sira felt his fear and soothed him. She seemed to know his every thought even before it formed completely in his mind. She was a part of him, joined in thought as one.

"You must anchor yourself to the earth, my friend."

The hunter looked at the demigod. This was the start of the transfer. Sira was most vulnerable at this point. The big man nodded at the hunter to reassure him.

"See tentacles coming from your feet and into the earth." The yosemin swayed as she chanted the directions to the former king of Corinth. "See them reaching into the center of the earth to wrap around the core. Feel the energy of the earth surround you, holding you fast." Tears dripped slowly from the tightly closed lids of the empath. Wave after wave of pain swept over her. Not so much physical pain, as a pain of the soul. Her heart filled with compassion so deep it threatened to overwhelm her.

"Picture a soft blue white light surrounding us both. It engulfs us in its healing power. Open your mind to mine."

At the healer's quickly drawn breath and the grimace on her face, the hunter jumped to his feet. Hercules reached out to lay a restraining hand on his arm.

"She knows what she's doing, my friend. She'll be okay."

The hunter sat back down and shot a sheepish grin at his friend.

The girl rocked with the anguish she felt from the man she was now so closely linked with. "You must remember back, back to when you first went to the monastery. I am here. You are not alone. These are but memories, and they cannot hurt you. Do not give them the power to rule you. Let them go, and discard them. Remember and release them to take their rightful place in your thoughts. A place where they can no longer harm you."

The girl's face was beaded in perspiration. Her head moved from side to side as if she tried to leave the pain and torment behind. She must go slow. This first memory had been hard for him to think about. He couldn't seem to get past the moment when he realized he had been drugged. The empath could feel the effects of the potion Venin had mixed in the Argonaut's ale. Her mouth was dry. She shook with the numbing effects of the narcotic. Over and over again they went through the events in their combined thoughts. Over and over again she felt his growing panic as she tried to lead him beyond this point.

It is all right, she told herself. There is no hurry. She led him back from the thoughts and let his mind return to consciousness. At some point, he'd bitten his lip and it had bled. She ran her finger over it lightly, then again. He shuddered at the intimacy of the act. She repeated her movement, however. He must see that intimacy was not something to fear. He began to relax a little. He felt tired and drowsy. What she was doing wasn't in possession, but in concern.

Iolaus just shook his head. The raw place on the former king's lip had disappeared completely.

The healer lay down beside the Argonaut. She kept some distance between them for his sake, but one hand rested on his arm, one brown spotted foot was against his trouser covered leg. She held her other hand out to the hunter and he sat beside her. Taking the hand he brought it to his lips and placed a kiss on the palm. She smiled but didn't open her eyes. While she had healed, the day had given way to night. The fire that the demigod and the hunter kept burning lit the shelter in a dancing reddish gold.

Hercules lowered the curtains on the side of the shelter to help hold the heat of the blaze closer to the sleepers. He placed blankets over them as well.

"Why don't you lay down with Sira," he whispered to the hunter. "She'll take comfort from it even in sleep."

"Can you take care of things and still get some rest?"

"Of course. Rest, my friend. I'll build the fire up then I'll go up to the house and sleep for a bit. But I'll be back."

The hunter did as the big man had suggested. He was tired. Seeing Sira in the pain of a healing was hard for him. He stretched out his legs with a sigh.

"What about Hercus?"

"I'll check on him. But I'm sure Mother has taken good care of him." Hercules put a blanket over the half asleep hunter.

"Thanks, Herc."

"Shhh. Go to sleep."

Iolaus grinned, and did as he was told.

Hercules stood watching the sleepers for a moment. Then he placed another log on the fire. For some reason he felt gloomy. He wasn't sure where the feeling had come from this time. He was no stranger to depression. It had become a very real part of him at one time. And yet of late he had seen a lessening of the negative emotions. He was honest enough with himself to admit that Sira had had a great deal to do with that. Her mind's touch had helped ease some of his loneliness. The friendship of both her and the hunter had replaced, at least in part, his need of a family. Hercus had helped him find a way to deal with the loss of his own children.

Now he knew where his mood had come from. The empath's mind had been so involved with the healing that it hadn't been so actively a part of his consciousness. Now he knew why she had insisted on Iolaus and himself being allowed to help in the healing. It wasn't so much that she needed the help, as that she knew the effect her involvement in the healing would have on them both.

He shook his head. She was indeed remarkable. With a lifting of his spirits he headed toward the house. His mother waited there. And the boys. Hercus his nephew. Not by blood and yet closer. Sira was right. The soul's touch could be a stronger tie than the tie of blood. And his son. He shook his head. It was still hard for him to think of the boy in this way. Somehow he always thought of him as Liasaya's boy. But it will come, he told himself.

Sarmen had not found the changes in his life easy. He was very attached to Alcmene and to Sira, but not so much with the men. Hercules had never said anything to the boy about being his father. I need to, he decided. He nodded to himself. When this is over and we head to the cabin, then he must know.

She rolled into a little ball. Hands were touching her. The touch hurt. "No!" she cried out.

Iolaus, careful not to break the physical touch she had on Jason took her in his arms. She struck out at him.

"Do not touch me." She felt the revulsion, and bile filled her mouth. A bitter taste that made her gag.

"Sira. It's all right, Sira. It's just a dream."

She reached out blindly to grasp the haven of his arms. She shook with reaction to the dream.

He rocked her gently. "It's all right. It's just a dream," he repeated, trying to soothe her.

"It is not mine. It is his dream."

The empath turned to the Argonaut and sent her mind to touch his. Slowly he opened his thoughts to her. The emotions she felt took her breath away. She used his sleep to bring his mind to the earth. She helped him to become entranced and the healing began.

The sky was black, no stars lit its velvet canopy. Clouds passed quickly over the realm of the sky god. Moisture filled the clouds and they grew heavy. The wind whipped around the sleeping farmhouse to rattle along the path to the barn.

The demigod woke with a start. He sat up in his bed and listened for a moment to the sound the wind made blowing through the huge old trees around the farm's main well.

He rose and slipped his woven leather trousers over his legs and fastened them around his waist. He slipped his arms into the dark gray shirt his mother had made for him. The sleeves were long and loose. He shivered slightly in the damp air. The sleeves would help keep the chill off.

He slipped out of his room in bare feet. There was a glow from the kitchen and he followed it to find his mother sitting at the table.

"Did the storm wake you also?"

He nodded and yawned.

His mother rose, and going to the stove poured him a mug of tea.

He smiled at her by way of thanks, then setting it on the table he went to his room and returned with a pair of moccasins. "I need to bring up more wood for them," he stated.

"Will you take some tea to them for me?"

He placed a hand on his mother's shoulder. "I know it's hard not being there."

"I can't understand why he would want it this way."

The big man took a seat across from her. She deserved to know more of what had happened to the Argonaut. Perhaps if she did it would make it easier for her. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. How do you say these things to your mother? he wondered.

He told her of Sira's suspicion of the kind of torture Venin had inflicted on Jason. It tore at his heart to see the look that came to his mother's eyes as he spoke.

"No wonder he was so sure my feelings for him would change." Her eyes filled with tears. "You think he gave in, don't you?"

"I don't know, Mother."

She stood and began to pace. Then she turned to her son. "Well, I don't give a damn if he did. If she forced him to sleep with her or not, it changes nothing. He still loves me and I still love him. He can go sleep with the entire population of Hestian virgins for all I care. What we feel for each other won't change because of some weakness of the flesh."

She poured more water from a gourd into the pot and placed it on the stove. Hercules waited. He knew she wasn't finished.

"Jason was no novice to the ways of the body when we married. I understood that. I'm not some innocent little thing to be coddled. I've felt the needs." She grinned at her son. "If I hadn't, you wouldn't be here now. Jason's... Well, he's..."

Hercules grinned. "Very active in that way?" he supplied.

His mother blushed. "Exactly. It's one of the things that we found a common ground in."

Her son chuckled. "I begin to understand the silk nighty you let Sira borrow."

She chuckled also. "I never had the nerve to wear that thing."

Now the demigod was serious. "Jason feels he's betrayed your trust. He feels guilt about whatever might have happened to him at the hands of that bit..., Venin. You can understand how he must feel."

She nodded. "Yes. Thank you for being honest with me. He has said that when the healing is complete he wants me to know the truth." She shook her head. "I know he would never willingly do something to hurt me. If what you suspect is true, it's not something he did deliberately. I don't care about the details. I just want to be able to be near him. I want..." Her voice broke. "I want to hug him, and feel his arms around me."

The big man pulled her to him and held her against his chest. "I know, Mother. And Sira and I both feel that once we can make him believe what you have just told me, then he'll be able to hug and touch again. But it will take time and we must go carefully. You must be patient."

She stood back and wiped the tears from her face. "I will be. I have to believe he'll be mine again. I can't bear to think otherwise. Now you go check on them. Come back in a bit and I'll have a fresh batch of tea for you to take to them."

The half man, half god built up the fire. He took a moment to better secure the sides of the shelter. The wind was growing stronger. As he worked the first few drops of rain fell. Sira sat cross-legged beside the Argonaut. That she was entranced in her healing, he could easily tell. Iolaus still lying next to her, had his hand on her thigh. His eyes were closed. Whether in sleep or in the healing, Hercules wasn't sure.

When he'd done all he could at the shelter he returned to the house. He didn't stay long however. He felt the need to be in the shelter with the others. He knew that if Sira needed him, he would feel her call. But he was drawn to the healing as if part of him was already linked to both the healer and the one being healed.

The sky had lightened as the dawn approached. But there was no sun. The clouds that filled the sky were black. As he walked to the shelter, the sky was lit with a jagged streak of light. The air shook with the sound of thunder. It hurt his ears and he ducked involuntarily.

The rain came harder as if the vibration of the sound had shaken loose the torrential downpour. He ran ahead and ducked under the tarp that covered the others. He shivered with a chill from the damp. He set the pot of tea on the fire then turned to check on the others.

The healer, still entranced in the healing, was unaware of the rain. Jason was fighting her. His mind seemed bent on pushing her mind from his. She must not let that happen. It was crucial now that they stay in contact. The Argonaut was not so much ashamed of his feelings now, as he was lost in them. He associated the healer's hold on his mind with the intrusion Venin had heaped on his body. Even enveloped in the struggle to keep his mind linked to her she marveled at his strength. How could he believe he was a coward? There was no give in him. No surrender.

The demigod watched the healer closely. He could see that she was struggling. He wasn't sure if he should help or not. He put more wood on the fire. He checked the tarps that covered the sides of the shelter. Thunder shook the ground and the healer moaned.

The big man went to his knees beside the girl and placed his hands over hers. He gasped as the healer's mind clawed for a hold on his offered strength. She pulled his mind to her so quickly that he felt light headed. He felt as if he were falling, and he knew a moment of panic before he could calm himself.

Jason shouted and rolled from side to side. The hunter, awakened by the crashing fury of the storm, held the former king down. He knew how important the physical touch was.

"Rope," the empath croaked from a throat gone dry. "Tie my hands to him. I must not lose my grip on him."

The hunter did as he was told. It pained him to wrap the ropes around the tender flesh of her wrists. When he was sure the contact between her and the Argonaut wouldn't be broken he placed his hands on his friend's side, and using what the healer had taught him he willed his mind to open to the healing.

Sira made no move to push beyond the barrier Jason had maintained almost since her first touch of the transfer. But neither did she release her hold on him. She must somehow get past this point and help him to realize her touch on his mind wasn't in possession, but in compassion.

The day wore on. The storm lashed at the farm with arms of steel, throwing sheets of water at the earth as if bent on destruction. Water ran in gullies to muddy the path to the well. A branch of one of the large old trees that surrounded the well broke and crashed to the ground.

The mother of Hercules sat at the kitchen table, two small boys beside her. One who had sent his mind to the storm and reveled in every crash of thunder and each drop of rain, one who cowered in fear. She had an arm around each of them, but her mind was not in the room. It was instead on those in the puny shelter. How would the storm affect them? Would the shelter be blown down? Would they be warm enough? When her son hadn't returned to the house she assumed it was because of the storm. But still she worried.

She knew the animals in the barn needed fed, but hated the thought of venturing out. The rain was so hard and the wind so strong. Besides that, she didn't want to leave the boys alone. But, she reasoned, the storm must soon pass. Then I'll feed them.

As if reading her thoughts, the room was lit with a blue brilliance. The sound that followed the light was deafening.

The former king of Corinth cowered in a damp dark cell. The hands that touched him made him feel ill. He could taste again the bitter bite of the powders the evil witch forced into his bloodstream. He felt again the nip of the knife imparting still more of the vile potion that robbed him of his senses and rendered him incapable of protecting himself from the baleful deliverer of the bane.

Then as if something in his mind tore, the barrier was dropped and the healer was flooded with the pent-up emotions of the man she had such a tight mental hold on. Like an over full bag of cornmeal slit with a sharp knife the contents so long held in check spilled out to consume her. She felt the hands of the woman on her. She lived the Argonaut's shame as his body responded against his will to the witch's demands. Her shoulders ached from being stretched out so long. Her muscles cramped. The cuts from the knife bled. But through the physical pain was the pain of the soul. The shame and humiliation. She cried out as wave after wave of raw emotion threatened to bury her.

The demigod strengthened his mind. He was frightened by the reaction he felt from the healer. He must reach her and bring her back from the black hole that threatened to swallow her. He gasped as her mind released not only his but the Argonaut's as well. He reached out a hand to steady himself. The pain of separation shot through him, and he felt as if he were being torn apart. Just as quickly as it had come the feeling passed.

He opened his eyes. The healer lay unconscious beside him.

"By the gods," he whispered and pulled her into his arms.

The hunter knelt beside them both. "Sira?"

The anguish that was torn from his throat in that one word slashed at the demigod's insides to mingle with the nausea left from the separation. Then he felt the gentle touch of his more than sister's mind on his. He let his breath out in a hiss of relief.

"She's all right, Iolaus. She just passed out."

Her hands were still tied to Jason's side. She let her mind touch his to be sure the loss of the mind's touch hadn't harmed him too deeply. Relief swept over her and began to soothe her. The sudden loss of mind had been painful but not harmful. Thanks to the physical touch, the transfer remained unbroken. The girl shook with reaction and cold. The hunter wrapped a blanket around her and spread one over Jason. Then he built up the fire. The former king of Corinth had fallen into a fitful exhausted sleep. Iolaus came back to sit beside the woman he loved. He gently removed the ropes that held her hands to the Argonaut's side. The ropes had cut into the flesh to leave a nasty red streak.

I hate this, the hunter thought. I can't stand to see her hurt. Why must someone so special, so giving, be forced to endure other's pain?

The healer reached a hand out to him and he took it in his. "You must not mind, my lover. This is what I am. I would not be complete without this part of me."

He brought the hand to his lips and kissed each fingertip. He helped her lay down beside Jason. He could sense her fatigue. The demigod lay down on the other side of her. The hunter placed a blanket over his friend. He watched them a moment, then ducking his head he left the shelter and made his way to the farmhouse. The storm had lessened but still promised to hold the farm in submission for a bit longer.

He checked on Alcmene and the boys, then taking them with him he fed the horses and other animals in the barn. He took more wood to the shelter. The rain was more of an annoyance now than anything. He took some time to check for storm damage. He had already found the branch across the path to the well. Alcmene could easily get around it so he felt no urgency to remove it. Besides, Hercules could do it much easier with his god given strength than he could with rope and horse. He returned to the house and ate the meal the mother of his best friend had fixed for him.

She packed some food in a wooden box for him to take to the others. "How's the healing going?"

Iolaus sighed. "I don't really know." He turned to her where she stood at the sideboard. "I hate seeing Sira in pain. She has never come out and said she could be killed. But I know that there is real danger to her in any transfer. It rips my heart out."

"It must be as hard for you to be in the shelter seeing her go through this as it is for me to be here away from it and not know what Jason is going through."

"I'm sorry. That was selfish of me. You've got enough to worry about without my bellyaching."

She went to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "It wasn't bellyaching. It was voicing concern for the woman you love. You know I'm here for you."

He grinned at her. "You always have been, Mom." He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know why we found each other; if it was just chance, or the fates. Maybe Sira is right, and the earth led us to each other because we are mates of the soul. I know we wouldn't have found each other if she were not the way she is. I know this is something she must do." He shook his head. "She tried to warn me, when she was healing me and things were building between us. She told me it would be like this. But the truth is, I was already lost, from that first moment my mind touched hers. I wasn't even conscious. But I felt her and I knew. Somehow I have to come to terms with this part of her and the risk it puts her in."

"You will, Iolaus. The love you two share will make the difference."

He stood now and his breath left him in a sigh. "I need to get back. Thanks for listening."

She smiled at him. "We'll get through this."

He grinned. "I'll check on you later. I've left enough food for the animals. They won't need feeding again tonight. Your wood box is full. The rain filled the kitchen barrel so you should be all right."

"I'll be fine. Stop worrying about me."

He winked at her, and taking up the wooden box returned to the shelter.

Sira felt the shame the Argonaut felt at the weakness of his body. She worked on helping him understand that the defection of his flesh was not a defection of his heart. She could sense his loathing of Venin. What had happened had not been because of pleasure. He hadn't willingly and knowingly participated in the act. But his body and mind, so weakened by the narcotic, lack of sleep, not to mention food and water, had responded as an involuntary reaction, not a voluntary one. What he had seen as giving up and surrendering to Venin, Sira saw as fighting her.

"You would rather have died than give in to her. How is that a surrender? I feel the fight in you as we relive this. If your hands had been free you would have used them to harm her. I feel your desire to have your hands around her throat."

Sira cried in frustration at her inability to stop the torture Venin perpetrated. She bled from the cuts of the knife. Her body and soul ached. But through it all she felt the courage and strength of the man she was linked with. Her respect and love for this man grew rather than diminished. And through the link he felt her love and pride in him. He was shocked and surprised. All the things he felt were shameful, she turned into a triumph. What he saw as defeat, she saw as victory. And slowly he began to believe that perhaps there was another side to the desperation he had felt. Slowly he began to accept his role in the play that had so deeply scarred his mind and soul. With her help he was able to detach from some of it and put it in its proper perspective.

For three days now they had healed. It had been three days since that moment when he had dropped the barriers on his inner turmoil. He had never tried to block her mind again. Over and over again they went through the events of his ordeal. Slowly they chipped away at the mound of shame and humiliation. Jason no longer felt embarrassed by the fact that the empath knew the details of his humiliation. She felt none and that very fact helped him accept it and put it in its proper place.

They sat now beside each other. He no longer resented or loathed her physical touch. In fact, he had come to rely on it. He had turned away to let her wash herself. The day was warm, the sun bright. She felt better today and had requested the pan of hot water. She felt no shame in her body and wasn't the least embarrassed by her need to freshen up. Jason was surprised to find he wasn't either. But he had a deep respect for this remarkable child of the forest and had turned away out of respect. When she was done she insisted he bathe also. She turned away to make it easier for him.

The scar on his shoulder was almost completely gone. The small scars left by Venin's knife were gone as if they had never been.

The Argonaut let his breath out in a hiss of exasperation.

Sira giggled. "I know this is hard, but we must maintain the physical contact."

"It's damn awkward," he complained.

"Wait." She moved her hand to his foot. Then covered her eyes with one hand. "Now you can stand and drop your trousers."

There was dead silence. The man beside her didn't move.

Sira took her hand from her eyes and studied his face. Then they both laughed.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to embarrass you." She blushed. "It is just that the yosemin feel differently about such things. You need to wash and you need to remove clothing to do so." She shrugged. "Clothing is worn to protect tender flesh. We do not have the thick hair of the animal to protect us. But there is no shame in the human form."

He grinned at her. "It's not every day a pretty woman says something like that to me. Maybe I should be flattered."

"Alcmene is very pretty and she paints a different picture."

He had started to rise but he sat back down. His quickly drawn breath made the empath open the eyes she had closed.

"Jason?" she questioned.

"She was in my mind so much, when I was there in that cell. I needed her. I dreamed of her so much. Venin used one of those dreams to... Well, to."

"I know, Jason. But that was not your fault."

"It wasn't," he nodded. "You're right. Alcmene has always had the power to stir my desires. Just now, what you said reminded me. I..."

Tears shown in the healers eye's. "I know. I am glad."

"I should be embarrassed, I guess, to be stirred by a simple statement. But it made me realize how I still feel about her." He watched the girl beside him a moment. "You felt it through the link, didn't you? I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

She ran a finger over the stubble on his cheek. "No, my friend. Do not apologize. Do you not see? This is a major breakthrough. You have seen that you still love and desire Alcmene, and that to feel moved by her is good and right."

He reached for her hand. "By the gods, I've missed her, Sira. It's like a part of me is missing."

"She is there when you are ready. You need only make the first move."

"How can I ask her to forgive what has happened to me? No, it wasn't my fault. But it still happened."

"You do not need to ask her. She understands some of what happened. Hercules has spoken with her.

She has accepted it and put it in its rightful place. She loves you too deeply to let this come between you."

"You're sure of this? It would kill me to see contempt in her eyes."

"I am also linked to her, my friend. I know her feelings. As for seeing contempt in her eyes, you should be ashamed to even think that. How could you think so little of her? Give her a chance. If you love her, let her show you how she feels."

Jason stood and began to unfasten his trousers. Sira quickly covered her eyes.

"Well," Jason stated, "if I'm going to have her here, I want to be clean."

The empath laughed.

He wet the cloth and added soap. "Stop peeking, Sira. Remember, I can sense your thoughts also."

The girl blushed. "Forgive me, Jason. I..."

He laughed. "No, no. You flatter me." He laughed again. "But that's not the only reason Alcmene loves me."

Sira smiled. "But it does help."

He laughed openly.

Sira's heart soared. He had bantered the innuendoes with her without shame or embarrassment. He really had come a long way.

Hercules, sitting on a chair near the shelter had heard the exchange between the healer and the former king of Corinth. With a smile he rose and headed toward the house.

"Mother," he called.

She came from the study and he could see she'd been crying. The boys had gone to Winnie's and he suspected his mother had gone to the study to be near Jason's things.

He put an arm around her shoulders. "Have you been out of the house at all?"

"Only to feed the animals and to get water or wood. I didn't want Jason to think I was trying to intrude."

"Come on, you're taking a walk with me."

She made no objection as he led her from the house and headed toward the orchards. The storm had broken some smaller branches and the demigod saw his work cut out for him. Well, that was all right. The storm had also left a thick blanket of snow in the mountains. He and the hunter had already talked of it. There would be no returning to the cabin in the woods this winter. He would have plenty of time to clean up the mess, and he would have the hunter's help besides.

When the demigod was sure that Jason had had enough time to complete his absolution he led his mother in the direction of the shelter.

"Wait, Hercules. I promised Jason I would stay away."

"It's all right, Mother. He wants to see you."

She stopped walking and turned to take both his upper arms in her hands. "You're sure?"

"Yes."

She hesitated. Now that the moment had come she was afraid to go to him.

"The healing isn't complete. But he wants to see you. You need to be strong."

Still she hesitated.

"He loves you, Mother. When we were on the trail to the cabin to get the stuff for Sira and Iolaus, he told me he had cared for you for a very long time but had been afraid to voice it. He knew it might be hard for me to think of my close friend and my mother together. And he was right. It was hard at first. But somehow it all just feels right. You two were meant to be together."

"I also had feelings for him that I was afraid to voice. He stirred me so completely and I was embarrassed by it at first. But you're right. We are meant to be together." She smiled at him. " All right, I'm ready."

The sides of the shelter were rolled up to allow the sun to enter. Jason had watched mother and son make their way to the orchards, and had turned to the healer.

"Will he bring her here?"

"Yes. He is giving you a chance to finish your bath, and giving her a chance to prepare herself."

The former king raised his eyebrows at the latter part of her statement.

"This has been very hard for her. She has needed you as much as you have needed her."

He nodded but said no more. He watched them now approaching the shelter. Sira could sense his apprehension and reached out to squeeze his hand.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" he whispered.

The healer grinned. "Yes, very beautiful."

Alcmene stood somewhat uncertainly at the side of her son. She was afraid to approach too closely. Jason held a hand that shook slightly, out to her. She came forward slowly. Sira could sense the panic start to build in the man she was linked to and sent her mind to calm him. He felt no aversion to his wife's approach, but he feared he would. He wanted to touch her but was afraid it would bring a return of the nausea and distaste he had felt from any close contact. The mother of Hercules reached her hand to take his. Hers shook also.

He had to fight the impulse to pull his hand away. He no longer feared or abhorred the touch of the yosemin. In fact he had come to depend on it and to enjoy their close physical contact, not to mention the mental one. But this was different. So much depended on this. He wanted this so badly.

Her hand slid into his and he tightened his grip. He searched her eyes as she searched his.

Can he do it? the older woman wondered. Will he pull away from me?

He pulled her down on the mats beside him and reached for her other hand.

"Alcmene." His whispered word was a caress.

Tears filled her eyes. She was afraid to move. Afraid the fragile bond would be broken. He pulled her into his arms and a moan escaped his lips. The moan was a release of the fear and frustration. The simple sound torn from a throat constricted with emotions spoke a thousand words. As his arms tightened around her, tears filled his own eyes.

Sira turned away to give them as much privacy as she could. The hunter and the demigod looked at each other and quietly walked away.

Iolaus cleared his throat, then cleared it again before he could speak. "Shall we tackle the fallen branch near the well?"

"Yes," the big man nodded. "Yes, now is a good time."

They gave each other sheepish grins and headed to the barn for a couple of saws.

Jason sat cross-legged beside the healer. It was late, or perhaps early was a better term. The sky wore a black velvet curtain, moth eaten and full of holes that light shown through. Sira had healed for a time then they had slept. But the healer had awakened, and realizing that Jason wasn't sleeping she had turned to check on him. Both Iolaus and Hercules were sleeping close to them. Alcmene slept in her bed in the house. She had spent the last two days in the shelter, spending every free second close to the man she loved. Winnie had returned with the boys but stayed to watch them so that Alcmene could stay close to Jason. Hercules and Iolaus had helped with them also.

"What troubles you, my friend" Sira had sensed the Argonaut's disquiet. She knew now that it was this that had awakened her.

"I wish I could feel at ease with Alcmene. I like having her here. I like touching her. But I still can't... I mean when things start to become intimate, I still..."

"The healing is not yet complete. Give it time."

"But what if I can't get past this? I haven't seen much improvement in the last couple of days."

Sira took his hand. "I know. I am sorry. I had hoped to take this from you completely. There is still time, and time itself heals."

But, Sira admitted at least to herself that she had begun to doubt her ability to completely heal him. She had seen no improvement in the last two days either. There was still a barrier on his deeper emotions she couldn't seem to break through. He wasn't trying to keep her out deliberately. In fact he had grown quite good at leading her mind to his and had brought her to the barrier himself several times. But try as she might she couldn't seem to make even the slightest crack in the surface of the wall his mind had erected to protect itself from the torture he had endured.

"We will try again. In the morning we will try again. Then, my friend, I think we will wait for a time. We will give nature a chance to heal you on its own. " She felt his panic. "I will not leave you. I will be here. And we will heal again. It may just take a little longer than we had hoped."

He ran a hand through his hair in exasperation and frustration. "Why can't I just let this go?"

She squeezed his hand. "Try to rest. We will try again in the morning."

He lay back down and Sira sent her mind to comfort his. She sent wave after wave of gentle comfort to him, rocking his mind and soothing him to sleep. When he was asleep, the healer laid back down beside him but she was unable to sleep herself. She had wanted so badly to be able to remove all restraint from his feelings and emotions. She felt frustrated and inadequate. She prayed to the earth to give her strength.

The stars had faded as the sky in the east turned to gray. Alcmene brought a pot of tea to the shelter. Sira sat up at her approach. The older woman looked drawn and tired. Sira wondered if she had slept at all.

When the pot was warming Alcmene took a seat near the healer. "Things aren't going as well as you had hoped, are they?"

Sira shook her head. She must be honest with Alcmene. She explained everything to her. She wanted her to understand. "Sometimes time itself is a healer. Let us give him time. I will remain so that I am close, and I will know when he is ready. Then we will try again."

The older woman could hear the disappointment in the girl's voice. "I know you've done everything possible. Now we at least can touch. And if what we have now is all there is, then so be it."

"But I wanted so much more," Sira whispered.

"Yes." The older woman heaved a sigh. "So did Jason and I. But you said yourself it may just be a matter of time."

Sira swayed with the healing. She was determined to bombard the barrier with all she had. This would be the last time she would actively heal the Argonaut, at least for a time. She wanted desperately for this to work.

Hercules had pulled up one of the garden chairs for his mother to sit on. She was there now watching the healing. She had gained a sense of the empath's anxiety and her need to heal the man she was in transfer with. The mother of Hercules realized that should this last barrier not be crossed, not only would Jason not be healed completely, neither would the yosemin.

Alcmene closed her eyes and sent a prayer to the gods. She thanked them for what had already been accomplished then she asked for help in the healing. She prayed for Jason and the empath, not herself. But of course she too would be healed by his return to a more normal emotional state. Hercules and Iolaus were there also. Hercules watched the healer closely. He was ready to help should she ask him, or without her asking should he sense her struggling.

Sira was lost in the healing, her mind linked to the man she fought so hard to help, and was unaware of the others. Her face lit up and a smile played about her lips. She threw back her head and took a deep breath. The air around her surged with energy. She seemed to glow with a blue light that made a halo around her pale hair. She trembled with the power that was almost visible in its intensity.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much."

She grinned, then blushed. She looked for all the world like a school girl caught in some act of mischief. The blush deepened and she chuckled.

Iolaus and the demigod looked at each other. The hunter shrugged.

The child of the forest swayed and chanted. She took the emotions to herself and bombarded them with the power Demeter had given her. The last barrier had fallen at last, just as she had been ready to give up.

The day wore on. She continued to heal. Alcmene, unaware that Sira had at last succeeded, went through the day in a haze of apprehension. She fixed a meal then couldn't eat it. She cleaned the house. Winnie had taken the boys to her farm. Alcmene was glad. She was so preoccupied she knew she wouldn't have been much good to them. And still Sira healed.

The shadows began to lengthen. An evening breeze sprang up as it so often did in the valley that cradled the farm. A mockingbird sang in one of the tall trees that surrounded the well. Hercules fed the animals. Iolaus chopped wood then stacked it beside the back door of the farm house. The tension grew.

Alcmene did work that didn't really need doing, but she couldn't sit still. She reached for a plate to wash and dropped it. She stood staring at the shattered bits of pottery that littered her clean floor. Iolaus heard the clatter and came to check on her. He put an arm around her shoulder.

Sira brought her mind back to the present. She was tired but it didn't matter. The healing was complete. She opened her eyes to smile at the others. Jason, exhausted by the day of healing fell immediately into a deep sleep.

Sira reached her hand out to Alcmene. The older woman took it, apprehension plainly written on her face. "It is done, my friend. He is healed."

Alcmene searched the girl's face.

The healer smiled. "The last barrier is down. We succeeded." Sira squeezed her hand. "You have your Jason back."

Alcmene slumped forward and Sira put her arms around her. She kept a foot against the Argonaut to maintain the physical touch and held the woman as she wept. Anguish and pain were in the tears the woman shed. And as the tears fell they washed away the weeks of uncertainty. The distress and wretchedness of the last few days faded and eased. Sira took the pain from the woman she held. She pulled it to her and released it to disappear into the breeze that fanned her face and blew whiffs of hair about to tease and tickle her cheeks. She cried and smiled and felt the other woman's emotions and grew even closer to the mother of her more than brother. The empath placed Alcmene's hand on Jason, and drew her into the transfer so that she could feel for herself that the healing was a success.

Hercules cleared his throat and looked away. Iolaus poured himself some tea. He didn't really want it but it gave him something to do. He met the eyes of his friend then quickly looked away. Then he looked back and a wide grin crossed his face. Hercules smiled back. Then he chuckled. Iolaus laughed. They patted each other on the back in congratulation as if they had done the final deed. Sira grinned at them both.

Hercules put a hand on his mother's shoulder. She stood and held her son tightly. She laughed through her tears and held an arm out to Iolaus. "Thank you all, my children. All three of you." She laughed again. "I can't believe it yet. But it's true, I felt it. He's mine again. Thank the gods."

"Yes," Sira whispered. "Yes indeed. Thank the gods."

Iolaus shot her an inquisitive look, his eyebrows raised. She only smiled at him.

He sat next to her and put his arms around her. "You did it," he whispered.

"Not alone." She smiled and leaned into him.

"You're exhausted," he said in concern. He helped her lay down next to the Argonaut and he spread a blanket

over her.

"Stay with me a little while."

He laid down beside her and took her into his arms. Her head rested on his arm and she turned her head to

plant a kiss on the soft flesh of his inner biceps. He smelled clean and faintly of soap. She drew comfort from the closeness her desire for him brought.

He kissed the top of her head. "My child of the forest," he whispered, and she could feel his own desire.

Jason woke refreshed. He had slept well. The first thing he had seen when he woke was his wife. He watched her closely. She was working around the shelter, making it more comfortable. She fluffed a cushion here and straightened a blanket there. She felt his eyes on her and turned to smile at him.

He drew in a quick breath. "You look so beautiful." His whispered words were a caress.

She smiled at him. "Would you like some tea?" Her voice shook slightly.

"I'd love some. And some food if there is any ready. I'm starving."

She brought him the tea and a bowl of stew, then sat beside him while he ate.

"Have you spoken to Sira since last night?"

He shook his head and swallowed before answering. "No. I just woke up when you arrived."

"Do you know that the last healing finally broke through?"

He stopped chewing and sat in silence a moment. He let his mind remember the events of yesterday. A grin crossed his face. He watched the play of emotions on his wife's face.

"I remember now." He grinned at her. "I should have known by the way I felt watching you work around the shelter."

She blushed, and he laughed.

The empath sat on the mats, her back against several cushions for support. One foot lay against the Argonaut's leg as he sat beside her. She was sewing a night dress for herself. She had been teaching Jason how to weave thin strips of leather. She had prepared the leather during the summer to give herself a project for the long winter months at the cabin. She had dyed the long slender strips different colors. First she attached several strips to a weaving frame then wove the different colors through it to form a solid piece of durable hide.

"You need it a little tighter," she advised. "It has to be as tight as you can get it without making it pucker."

He let the weaving frame drop to his lap. "It's not as easy as it looks." He stifled a yawn.

She smiled at him. "Sleepy?"

"Drowsy. It's being confined. It makes me tired." He yawned again.

"I know. But it will not be for much longer. Why not take a nap? You do not have to entertain me."

"It'll be good to return to the real world. But I'll miss our contact."

She used her teeth to bite the thread she had just knotted. "I will miss it also. But that part gets easier. Still, my friend, we will always be linked. Somehow I have never been able to sever the tie of healing completely." She threaded the needle and wound the thread around her finger. Slipping it off she knotted the end and stuck the small pointed bit of bone through the cloth to make a stitch. "Some healers have been able to do so. But I just cannot."

"I'm glad."

She smiled at him and he yawned again. "Go ahead and sleep."

"You're sure you don't mind?"

"No. I'm just going to finish this night dress, since Iolaus forgot night attire for me when he went to the cabin."

Jason had laid down and stretched out. "Smart man."

His eyes were closed and he didn't see the grin on the empath's face. "Yes, well, I borrowed a very revealing green satin nightgown from Alcmene, but it was not much protection from the cool night air."

"Especially after Iolaus saw you in it, I'll bet. Alcmene never had the nerve to wear it. I wonder if I can convince her now."

Sira laughed. "It is good to have you back, my friend."

He grinned, then opening his eyes he raised up on his elbow and searched her face. "You've given me back my life, Sira. How does one repay a debt like that?"

"You do not owe me anything. I was not the only one to heal you. But what I did was because I wanted to. I owe you a debt. By letting me help you, I was healed also."

He nodded and laid back down. "Now, if you can just teach me how to weave that damn leather."

She chuckled. "Go to sleep."

Alcmene was sitting in the chair she had spent so much time in during the healing. She was snapping peas for their dinner. As Jason watched her, a grin played about his face.

Sira sitting next to him blushed and Jason laughed. Alcmene looked up to see what had tickled her husband. She drew in a quick breath at the look on her husband's face as his eyes caressed her. Sira's blush deepened, and Jason winked at Alcmene.

Tears welled in the older woman's eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Jason held his arms out to her, and setting the bowl of peas aside she went into them.

"I'm sorry you've been through so much, Alcmene."

Sira turned away and did her best to shut out the emotions she could feel through her mind's link with the Argonaut. She had no desire to intrude. But she was glad she had felt his thoughts. He was truly healed.

"Oh, Jason," Alcmene whispered. "It doesn't matter now. I have you back. That's all that matters."

Sira swayed in her trance. She took the former king of Corinth to the point of separation slowly. She knew how painful the physical break could be. Jason had had enough pain. She had no wish to bring him more. When she released her hold on him he grabbed wildly for her and she took his hand again.

"It will get easier. We will wait a bit then try again," she told him.

He took a deep breath to calm himself. He had wanted this. He was tired of the confinement, and he wanted to be with Alcmene. But now he wasn't so sure. That first release had not only hurt physically, but it had filled him with a sense of bereavement.

Sensing his thoughts, the empath sent comfort. "Remember, we will still be linked in mind, Jason. We have grown too close for it to be otherwise."

"It hurts."

"I know. But it does get easier."

"Is it like this with every healing?"

"In every transfer healing there is this, to a greater or lesser degree. We have grown closer because of the nature of the healing. But the separation is never easy."

"How can you be willing to do this over and over? By the gods, Sira. You must live in constant pain."

"No, my friend. It is not like that for me. There is pain, but life is good. While I feel pain, I also feel happiness and joy. And there is a reward in doing for others. It is what I am. The earth mother, or Demeter as you call her gave the gifts to me to use for the good of others. How could I turn my back on such a sacred trust?"

"Are there many empaths out there?"

She heaved a sigh. "No. Once there were more, but not any longer. Thysis fears I may be the last."

"I think that is a great tragedy," he whispered.

When the break was finally made Jason pulled Alcmene into his arms. "How I've longed to hold you like this."

Sira walked away hand in hand with Iolaus. Hercules went to the barn. For some reason he felt rather gloomy. He pitched hay to the horses and cleaned out a stall. The boys were with Winnie at the river. With a shrug he left the barn and went in search of them. He knew the boys chatter and play would take his mind off his mood.

Iolaus fixed Sira a meal, then filled the bathtub for her. Alcmene and Jason were nowhere to be seen. But no one needed to see them to know what they had on their minds.

Sira took a deep breath as she lowered herself into the tub of hot water. She let it out slowly as the water caressed her skin and caused goose flesh. The hunter watched her and his breath quickened.

"Wash my hair for me," she begged.

"If I get any closer to you, you may never get bathed."

She grinned at him. "The tub is big. You could join me."

He shook his head. "You need to rest."

She poured water over her hair then lathered soap in her hands and started to wash the damp tresses. Iolaus said nothing. He watched her for a moment then went forward to help her with her task. She turned in the tub to face him and planted a kiss near his navel.

"I'm warning you, Sira. If you plan to bathe and get to your healing sleep, you had better behave."

She unbuttoned the top button of his trousers. He took the gourd from her and rinsed her hair. She sat quietly until he had finished. He soaped a cloth and began to wash her back. He rinsed the cloth, and soaping it again he handed it to her.

When she was done she turned back to him and finished unfastening his trousers. She kissed his stomach again then trailed kisses lower. He threw his head back and drew in a quick breath. She teased him for a moment. He felt as if he couldn't breathe. His legs felt weak. Her touch seemed to seer his skin.

"Join me in the tub," she whispered.

He removed his vest. His pants were over his boots, and with her hands on him it took a moment for him to get his boots off. He stepped into the tub and stood over her.

She kissed his thigh, then ran her tongue across his flesh.

"Sira."

She ignored him and continued what she was doing.

He trembled at her touch. "Sira," his voice was pleading and urgent.

Still she caressed him.

He pushed her away and lowered himself into the water beside her.

The hunter dressed then lifted the sleeping empath from the tub. The water had grown cold long ago and he feared she might become ill from the draft. He wrapped her in a large towel then carried her to their room. He laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket. He took up her comb, and sitting on the bed beside her he pulled her up against him and gently combed her hair. She slept on, entranced in the healing sleep. He braided her hair, and when he was done he slipped the nightgown she had made over her head, then covered her again. He lay down beside her and took her into his arms. He laid behind her and rolled close to her. She turned to her side and moved up against him.

"Forever," she whispered.

"Even unto death," he whispered back.

The empath woke but didn't open her eyes. She stretched and took a moment to determine if she was well. With a satisfied smile she threw back the covers and rose. There was water on the washstand and fresh clothing waiting for her. She drew the nightgown over her head and stood naked before the basin. There was a chill in the air and the water was cold. But being the true child of the forest that she was, she took pleasure in the feel of the air on her damp skin.

When her bath was complete she donned the woven moss dress someone had been thoughtful enough to set out for her. She'd made it from moss she'd dyed a dark forest green. It fit tightly over her upper torso then flared at the waist. It was made on simple lines that flattered her figure. The color turned her eyes to an even darker green. She took the braid from her hair, and sitting on the edge of the bed, proceeded to comb it. She left it loose, and when she was done she slipped from her room into the hall.

"Mommy!" Hercus called and ran to her.

She went to her knees and hugged him tightly.

"I missed you, Mommy."

"I have missed you also."

Sarmen stood a little uncertainly at the entrance to the hall watching mother and son. Sira held an arm out to him in invitation and the child ran to her.

"You boys have been so good. You were quiet during the healing and while I slept. Thank you so much."

"You are well now, Mommy?"

"Yes, very much so. How long did I sleep?"

"This is the third day."

"And how is Jason?"

"He is funny now, like he used to be."

Sira grinned. "That is truly great to hear. So, where are you boys off to?"

"We were going to get the wooden horses and men and play in the garden. But if you would like, I can stay with you."

She could sense her son's dilemma. He wanted to be with her, and yet he and Sarmen had made plans.

"Go ahead. I will get something to eat and then join you in the garden."

"Will you play with us?"

"Of course." Sarmen's eyes grew large with surprise. Sira gave each of them another hug then stood. "Run along. I will be with you soon." As the boys started to walk away she called to them. "I get the little horse with the long tail."

"I will save it for you," her son called back.

With a smile of pleasure she proceeded down the hall.

"Sira, " the hunter pulled her into his arms. "I've missed you." He held her tight and buried his face in her hair. "You smell so wonderful."

She chuckled at the thought she gleaned from his mind. "Later, my ardent lover. I promised two other boys I would play with them first."

He let his breath out in mock exasperation. "I bet my games are more fun."

She kissed his nose. "I know they are. But I did promise. Besides, I am starving."

He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. Alcmene greeted her with a warm smile and a tight hug. Iolaus pulled a chair out for her, and when she was seated he whispered something in her ear. Her face turned slightly pink and she nodded.

"I'm going over to Ezekial's for a little while," he announced to both women. "Alcmene, did you want me to take that box of food to them?"

"Yes, please. It's all ready to go." She pointed to a wooden box on the counter.

"Do not be too long," the healer suggested.

The hunter grinned at her and took up the box. Alcmene watched the hunter out the door.

"He looks so tired," Sira whispered.

"This hasn't been easy for him. He worries so much about you."

"I know. I wish I could spare him somehow."

"He fears that you might be harmed severely, or perhaps even killed."

Sira sighed. "It has happened to some empaths." The older woman searched her eyes. "I read your thoughts, my friend," Sira admitted. "But I cannot just turn it off. I am an empathic healer. It would harm me not to heal."

"He understands that, I believe. But it doesn't make seeing you in pain any easier."

Sira sighed again, then smiled at her friend. The older woman set a mug of cider and a plate of food before the empath. She'd placed a thick hunk of meat between two slices of fresh bread and cut up an apple to go with it.

"Thank you, Alcmene." Sira took a bite of apple and chewed in silence for a moment. "I always wake up so hungry from the healing sleep."

The older woman sat on a chair across from her. Sira grinned at the her.

"What?" Alcmene grinned back. "What's so humorous?"

"You, my friend, have a definite glow about you."

Alcmene chuckled. "You were right about that green night dress. It doesn't do much for keeping you warm, and for some reason it keeps ending up on the floor."

Sira laughed. "Yes, I had the same problem when I borrowed it."

"Oh, Sira," Alcmene was serious now. "You have given him back to me. How can I thank you?"

"Seeing you so happy is more than thanks enough. Besides, you are going to have to put up with us during the winter."

Alcmene started to say something else but Jason entered the room. He pulled Sira from her chair and swung her around. "You've worked a miracle, little empath. I feel wonderful."

Sira studied his face a moment, then grinned. "You have dark circles under your eyes."
He laughed. "Well, someone's been keeping me awake at night."

"Who's been keeping who awake?" Alcmene scolded.

"She can't keep her hands off me," he confided to the healer, pretending to be very serious.

"Humph..." was his wife's reply.

The Argonaut took Alcmene in his arms and nuzzled her neck. His hand slid to her bottom and she pulled it up to her waist. He kissed her and she pulled his hand back down to rest on her buttocks once again.

Sira, with a smile and a wave to them went in search of the boys. She found them in the flower garden earnestly engaged in a game of horse and soldier. She sat cross-legged on the grass with them and played. Shedding her adulthood like a cloak on a warm day she laughed and played.

Hercules had been in the barn, but hearing the giggles came to watch them. He shook his head as Sira made a very horse like sound and pretended the man on the horse's back was talking. When he had approached them Sira had looked up with a smile of contentment on her face, and the demigod realized she wasn't just sitting there playing with the boys to make them happy. She was actually enjoying herself. He marveled again at his more than sister's ability to take pleasure in the small things. How could someone who was so serious and intense in a healing, turn around and in the next breath play like a child?

"Join us?" she offered.

He sat next to Sarmen and gravely took the offered horse and soldier. He played with them and found it was pleasant. But somehow he just couldn't bring himself to make the horse noises.

"So, who wants to help me feed the horses?" Jason had come up to them from the house.

Both boys offered to help. The Argonaut knew Hercus enjoyed being with the animals and never missed a chance to be near them. Thus his suggestion.

"Is it all right, my mother?"

She nodded. "Of course. Say hello to Raimi for me."

The boys started ahead. Jason grinned at their backs. "The funny thing is, it's almost as if Hercus does talk to Raimi."

"He does," the healer stated simply. "He has a way with the creatures our mother has provided."

Jason nodded. "I guess I'm not really surprised." He grinned and walked after the boys.

Hercules drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them. "Jason is his old self again. What you did was nothing short of a miracle."

"I did not do it alone. You and Iolaus helped. Thysis' mind was there for me. Even Hercus sent his mind to give me strength." She turned to face the half man, half god beside her. "There was another who helped also, at the end, when I had decided to wait and try a healing later, after Jason had had a chance to grieve."

"Who? Another yosemin?"

"No, my more than brother. Search your heart. You will know the answer."

Whether it came from his heart or from the yosemin's thoughts, he was unsure. "Zeus." The name was an accusation.

"Yes. He did it for Alcmene. He still has feelings for her."

"Did he tell you that?"

"He did not have to. I felt it."

"Yeah. Right."

"What your father did was a nice thing. He gave her back the man she loves."

"And what did he want out of it?"

"He wished for nothing. He simply gave me the strength to break through the final barrier. He was very charming."

"Oh, Sira. Not you too."

"He, shall we say, turned his considerable charm on to the fullest. I found it endearing."

Hercules grunted. "That sounds like my father."

"Perhaps I found him charismatic because I see the same rakish charm mirrored in his son."

"Thanks a lot."

"I meant that as a compliment."

The frown on the demigod's brow deepened. "Does Mother know?"

Sira examined the tiny flower she had picked from the grass she sat on. "No. He requested I not tell her or Jason."

The big man nodded.

"Hercules, what your father did was an unselfish act. He asked for nothing in return."

"Did he tell you to let me in on it?" The question was charged with sarcasm.

"No. That was my idea. He did not say to keep it from you. I can read your thoughts. What you are thinking is wrong. It really had nothing to do with you. He had no wish to impress you or anyone else."

"You read my mind too well, and too freely, my sister." His voice was harsh.

"Your feelings about your father need to be healed, my brother." She stood to leave.

"Sira, wait." He reached for her hand to stop her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be petulant. I can't seem to control it when my father is involved."

"I wonder if you really know your father at all?"

He stood now also. "No, I suppose I don't. He was never around to get to know. But don't let your brief encounter with his charm fool you. You don't know him either."

"No. So who are we to judge him?"

Hercules sighed in exasperation. "You make a good point," he conceded. "I can only judge him by my own experiences."

"The sad part is, you are also judging yourself by the same cynical judgment you have of your father."

"Perhaps you're right." His voice held a stubborn note. "But don't try to fix it, Sira. Just leave it alone. You can't fix everything."

"You are right," she whispered. "I do try too hard when it involves someone I care about." Tears stung her eyes despite her effort to hold them back, and she walked away.

Hercules made no effort to stop her this time. What just happened? he asked himself. Why did I hurt her? She didn't deserve that. Sarmen came running up to him and hugged his leg. My conscience. That's where the anger came from. It wasn't really about my father, and it definitely wasn't about Sira. Damn! he swore under his breath.

At dinner Jason was very considerate of Sira. She found it touching that he would be so. It helped with her gloom. Hercules had tried to catch her eye several times but she deliberately ignored him. She had shut her mind to his thoughts as well. She knew she was pouting but didn't care. She helped Alcmene with the clean up then excused herself to get the boys ready for bed. Hercules offered to help but she declined the offer. Iolaus looked from one to the other of them. He could sense the tension in the air.

When the boys were sleeping, Sira went to her room rather then joining the others. She sat on the edge of the bed rubbing her temple. It throbbed with a dull ache.

The hunter entered the room and came to sit beside her. "What's troubling you?"

"Nothing."

"You're not fooling anyone. What happened?"

She told him about the help she had received in the healing and about her conversation with Hercules.

"I know Herc has a hard time dealing with his feelings about his father. He grew up without him. He felt the sting of his illegitimacy and the fact that he was different from other boys. Zeus has let Hera torture and harass Hercules almost since his conception. She killed his family and Zeus did nothing about it. He has turned his back on Hercules on too many occasions. Can you blame him for being defensive about his father?"

"No. But he feels guilty about his father's promiscuity and blames himself for it. He holds his father's deeds against himself."

Iolaus stood and started to pace. "I know. I've seen it in his feelings about Sarmen. But he's right. You can't fix everything. Let it go for now, Sira. There may come a time when he will willingly let you help him. But for now, it's better left alone."

She let her breath out in exasperation. "He feels guilty about Sarmen. But I wonder if he really needs to?"

"What do you mean?"

"I do not know. It is just a feeling I have."

"But you're not going to share it, are you?" he laughed.

"No, I am not. Now, are you going to talk all night?" she teased.

"Actually I had a very different activity in mind for tonight."

"Show me," she coaxed.

Hercules lay in his bed, his arms behind his head. He stared at the dark ceiling, but he wasn't seeing it. He'd tried in vain to sleep but he was restless and nervous. He'd wanted to apologize to Sira but had been given no chance to do so. The closing of her mind to him had left him with a feeling of emptiness. She hadn't closed it completely. He could still sense her, but he couldn't actively communicate with her. He began to realize how hard it must have been for her to have lost her people and to have been left with no one whose mind was open to her.

He rolled over to his side and thought back to that evening in Acubus when he'd made the decision to open his mind. He'd felt a sense of relief. He hadn't even been aware of it until the barrier he had erected was lowered, but he had been actively keeping his mind from hers. When he lowered the barrier his mind had flowed to her as if drawn to it by a strong magnet. It must have been hard for her to keep her mind from mine all that time, he thought.

So now, mingled with the guilt he felt about hurting the healer's feelings and the guilt he felt about Sarmen, was the guilt of having caused Sira discomfort by keeping his mind from her for so long.

"You're in a gloomy mood tonight," he whispered to himself.

He rolled off the bed and went to the window. The moon was full and the yard stood out in shadowy shards of ebony and silver. He ran a hand through his hair which just disheveled it even more than his tossing and turning had done.

Sarmen. What to do about him. He's my responsibility, but I can't help but wonder if I am up to the task. He felt the dread wash over him. He couldn't help but fear what might come if he tried to settle down at the cabin in the woods and raise the boy. Helping people has become such a part of my life, he thought. It's made all the pain and loss bearable. Somehow it has given my life meaning. Can I give that up? And if I can't, what then? I can't expect my mother or Sira to take care of him. I know they would, but it wouldn't be fair to them or to the boy. He deserves a full time father. I know too well, the pain of not having one.

Sira let herself out of the house and silently closed the door behind her. The night was cold but she wore no cloak. She'd also been unable to sleep and the brilliance of the night called to her. The demigod saw her in the garden. His mind shot out to her, demanding entry. She opened her mind to him gladly. She hadn't liked the loss of his mind's touch any better than he had. The big man reached out to steady himself. Her acceptance of his thoughts had been so swift it had left him feeling dizzy.

He quickly pulled his woven leather pants on and slipped his arms through his shirt sleeves as he headed for the door. He pulled a cloak from the hook near the door and made his way to the garden.

Sira stood waiting for him. He could sense her nervousness and stood before her uncertain what to say.

"I am sorry, my more than brother. I..." Her voice broke.

With a slight moan he pulled her into his arms. "It is I who should apologize. You didn't deserve my anger. I was really angry with myself. Forgive me for taking it out on you."

"I cannot seem to stay out of other people's affairs. I was wrong to push you when you had not asked for help."

"No, my sister. You did nothing wrong. You just care too much." He took her hand and led her toward the orchard. "I just feel so guilty about Sarmen." He let his breath out in frustration. "I just don't know if I can settle down and take care of him. Helping others has become my life." He shook his head, unsure how to voice his thoughts.

"I understand, my brother. You are a healer. I do not mean an empath, but you are a healer. A great deal of healing can be done without transfer, if the mind is strong enough. You, my demigod brother, have a very strong mind. And you are a healer in that way. You have the compassion and depth of feeling needed to heal. But you are also a healer in other ways. When you help people, you heal. You have found a way to use the god given gifts you possess to heal people. You use your strength to heal in a mostly physical way, but it is healing all the same. And just like me, you cannot turn your back on one in need."

He put the cloak over her shoulders. It was darker under the fruit and nut trees that stood in rows before them. Somehow the deeper shadows seemed to cool the air even more.

"So now what? How do I take care of Sarmen and still help people?"

"You must become one with him so that he will understand when you must be away. Being separated from a child can be very hard. But with your strength of mind you can keep the touch strong enough so that he will not feel alone. I believe as you learn to love him, you will find less need to be away. Now you actively pursue the next healing. But in time you will find contentment with yourself, and the need you feel to help others will take a more congruent place in your life."

She stopped walking and turned to face him. "When the passes are clear, come to the cabin with us. When the need arises for you to go, then you must do so. You know that Sarmen will be well cared for until you return. You are right in what you are thinking. It will change your life a great deal. But the change will not be as painful as you seem to think. Yes, you will be gone from Sarmen at times. But that does not mean he will grow up without a father. He will have your love and the mind's touch to feel that love. The soul's involvement makes a profound difference."

"I know you've found it hard to be away from Hercus. But you're right. He seems to be happy and content."

"He is. But he does have an advantage that Sarmen does not. Hercus is very strong of mind and can send his mind to mine whenever he feels the need. Sarmen will feel your mind's touch and you will feel his, but I fear he will never be able to actually send his mind over the distance that might separate you. Still, I can help there. I can bring your mind to his, and his to you. He has touched my heart and soul. I would not willingly give him up. Leave him with me when you must, and trust that he will not feel the same loss that you grew up with."

"How can I ask you to raise my son?"

"You did not ask. I insisted. And I would not be raising him, only helping you to do so. But more than that, if he is your son he is also a part of me. I know it is hard to understand the soul's involvement. But believe me when I say that he is also my son. My son of the soul." She lay her hand on his arm. "I had wished for a dozen children. My heart has longed to again be with child. But the earth has different ideas for me, it would appear. To have Sarmen in my home, and to feel you through him would be like a salve to a wound."

He pulled her tightly against him. "Thank you, my more than sister. You're right. We'll work this out somehow."

She closed her eyes and took strength from the comfort of his embrace.

"We should get back," he whispered. "The moon has almost set and it's getting darker." But he made no move to leave.

"Yes, we should return. You are cold. You should take the cloak. I do not feel the chill as much as others do." But she made no move to leave either.

He planted a kiss on her hair then let his breath out in a wistful sigh. Taking her hand they started back toward the house.

"You know, Thysis had an interesting idea of who should father your next child."

She could sense the humor in his words. "He told you of that also?"

"Yes. I've been giving it a lot of thought."

"You know it would be impossible. I... That is," she stammered. "It is not that I would not want to have your child. I mean..."

He laughed. "I know. But I wonder if Iolaus would really mind?"

"Hercules, you know how much I care for you, but that part of me is for no other than Iolaus. We could lay together and produce a child, but the soul's involvement that makes the act pleasurable would not be there. I could not touch your feelings and mind and become one with you. My soul belongs to another."

He had been joking with her. But now he was serious. "It sounds like you've given this some thought also."

"I have. Thysis is right. We would make an exceptional child, you and I. Perhaps he is also right, that it could mean the difference in my people's destiny."

"So?"

She laughed. "So we have talked about it and we have decided it is not something we can do, right?"

They had reached the house and gone into the front room. Hercules stirred up the fire and put another log on the coals. Sira sat on the edge of one of the chairs watching him.

He turned back to her. "Who says 'we' have decided?"

"But I thought... I mean you cannot really... I care for you." Her face was red with the heat of her discomfiture.

He laughed at her and she picked up a pillow from the chair and threw it at him. He caught it deftly and tossed it to the other chair.

"You know, I hadn't really taken this seriously until I saw you in that green nightdress."

She moaned. "I am beginning to despise that thing."

He laughed again and headed for the door. "Thysis said we didn't have to be in love with each other."

She threw the other pillow at his retreating back, then slumped back in the chair. She felt flushed. She knew he had been teasing her. But he was right. She had thought a lot about what Thysis had said. Her blush deepened. Then a grin crossed her face. Shaking her head, she rose and headed toward her room.

The empath walked on the grass in the garden. The dew clung to her bare feet and dampened the hem of her dress. She had only slept a short time then awakened. But despite her lack of sleep she felt refreshed. Rising, she had donned her clothing, then leaving the hunter sleeping she had made her way to the garden. She loved the feel of the morning's damp chill on her flesh. She could see her breath as a white vapor. She felt contentment seep through her being. It wasn't the forest, and soon she must return there. For being away too long had proved to be impossible for her. Without the renewal of the forest and the earth, she seemed to wither like a plant left too long without water. Something in the tall trees and rich soil, something in the moss covered rocks and the icy streams nurtured and sustained her. But for now she took comfort from the garden and thus postponed her need. She sat on the damp grass, her legs crossed and opened her mind to the earth. She pictured a grassy meadow dressed in its spring finery. She smelled the flowers and saw the butterflies.

Iolaus found her entranced where she sat and wisely left her to her meditation. He joined the others for the first meal of the day and advised the boys to let the healer have her time alone.

"She's taking strength and comfort from her mother. We have to respect that."

Hercus understood. Sarmen did not. But it was okay with him. He would soon be going with Hercus and Alcmene to see Winnie. She was nice and she always gave him bread and honey, like his mother used to do. He remembered how his mother always said it was one of his father's favorite snacks. He had a sense of his father. Not from being with him since he was only a few weeks old when his father had gone to be a soldier, but he remembered him still from the tales his mother had told him. They were not conscious thoughts since his mind was still too immature to retain the thoughts consciously. But the memories his mother had given him were there. His mother and father had grown up together, playing in the mountains and the fields as they watched the goats graze. She had even told him once that his father was the first boy she had kissed. They had always gone together to the few social gatherings the tiny village of Tolmecia had offered.

"Your father was a good dancer and he had a beautiful singing voice. I used to love to hear him sing the old folk songs." She had spoken of the hours she had spent in the mountain valley watching the goats and listening to him sing. She had told Sarmen how his father had always had a smile on his face and a joke on his lips.

"He used to tease me, and sometimes I would get upset by his teasing, But he always knew when I had and he would hug me and tell me he was sorry. I loved him then. When we were kids, I loved him."

So Sarmen knew his father. He'd learned to say his name as his second word. First was "Mommy", then "Seth."

He still didn't understand about death. He knew his mother had died and he had come to live here without her. His mother had always told him his father would return someday. No one had told him otherwise, so he still waited for the man who was his father to return for him.

He had changed a lot since leaving the high mountain valley where he had been born. He was more open with the adults. His speech had improved, he was no longer shy about asking for what he wanted. He had done his best to emulate Hercus. And now he often openly sought affection. In the early morning he had started coming to Hercules' room and crawling into bed with him. The first time he had, the demigod had been surprised. The boy was cold so he had pulled him under the covers. Sarmen had gone back to sleep almost at once. But the son of Zeus had not returned to slumber. His emotions had been too torn to relax. He decided he liked having the child with him. But he admitted to himself he was afraid to become too attached. Too many that he cared for had been taken from him.

Sira sensed rather than heard the man approach. She kept her eyes closed a moment. She knew who he was and a feeling of gloom swept over her. She opened her eyes and stood to greet him.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," he apologized. "But I seek Hercules."

"Welcome, Seth."

Surprise was plainly written on his face. "How did you know my name?"

"You look like your son."

"So, Sarmen is here?"

"He is. He is visiting a friend now, but he will soon be back." The empath could sense his relief.

"I was afraid he might not be here."

Sira's touch on his mind was light but his emotions seemed to scream at her. So, he knows of Liasaya's deception, she thought. Now the reason for the mother's refusal to accept help from the empath became clear. She had feared the healer would learn the truth. What pain of soul she must have endured to take such drastic measures to protect her son.

"You know of Liasaya's deception." It was a statement, not a question. "But Hercules does not. I would ask that you give me time to prepare him."

"Of course. I... Well... I'm sorry about what Liasaya did. I guess I can understand why she did it, but it was still wrong."

Sira put a hand on his arm. "She did what she had to do to protect her child."

He dug in his pack and handed her a parchment. "Give this to Hercules. It's from Liasaya. She left it for me to give to Hercules if I should ever return. Longinus had it and a parchment for me also." He shook his head. "I couldn't believe it when I found her gone." His voice broke. "I loved her. I know she never really loved me. Not like a woman should love her husband. She was so unhappy in Tolmecia and somehow she blamed me for that. We were close when we were growing up together and we always talked about getting away from the mountains." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this."

"Because you are grieving and you need to express your pain. I was there when Liasaya passed to the earth. She talked of you. She did not really blame you and she did love you in her own way. Perhaps as you say, not as a wife should love her mate, but still she did care and she trusted you. She knew you would not willingly stay away. She waited as long as she could for your return. Then she did what she felt she must do to protect Sarmen."

She led him to the chairs in the garden. "Hercules has thought of Sarmen as his son. But nothing has been said to the boy. I believe he will know who you are and I believe he will grow close to you very quickly. The blood tie and the tie of the soul will bind you together."

What she must now do, she dreaded. Her own heart was torn. She knew without doubt that Seth had come to claim his son and to take the boy with him when he left. She had grown to love the child. She had suspected there was more involved with his existence than Liasaya had admitted. She had not felt the tie of blood or soul that should have been evident between father and son. At first she had not suspected his true father might still live. It was only of late that doubt had crept into her mind about it. By then it was too late. She had bonded to the child. Already she could feel the emptiness in her soul.

"If you will wait here, I will talk to Hercules."

"Of course. Would it be better if I came back later?"

Sira took a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm herself. "No, Seth. You have waited long enough to meet your son. Just wait here for me."

He nodded. "Are you his wife?"

"No, his sister."

He nodded again.

The men were in the Argonaut's study. Sira waited at the door a moment. She closed her eyes and took a moment to calm herself then entered. Hercules sat across a small table from Jason. They were absorbed in a game of chess. Iolaus stood nearby, watching them play. He looked up when he heard her enter the room.

"Sira, are you all right?" He came to her and put an arm around her.

Hearing the concern in his voice the demigod looked up also. Sira handed him the parchment.

"What's this?"

"Please, read it."

He shrugged and unrolled the porous paper. He started to read then stopped and looked at her. "Did you read this?"

"No."

"Where did you get it?"

"Please, my brother, read it first."

He searched her face a moment then lowered his eyes to the paper once again. The look that came over the demigod's face tore at the girl's heart.

"Should I leave?" Jason offered.

"No, stay," she told him. She knew her brother would need his friends and family.

Hercules read the parchment then read it again. Without looking at any of them he handed the paper to the hunter.

"Read it, Iolaus. Out loud."

Iolaus was puzzled. He could feel the emotion in the air and he could see it not only on Sira's face but now on his friend's.

Iolaus started to read. "My dear Hercules," he began. "Are you sure you want me to read this?"

"Yes, Iolaus. Read it."

The hunter shrugged. "My dear Hercules," he started again. "If you are reading this it means Seth is still alive and has come to claim his son. Seth is a wonderful man and he will be a good father. I hate to think of Sarmen growing up in Tolmecia, but Seth will take good care of him.

"Please try to forgive my lies and deceit. Understand my desperation. There was no one I could turn to. I loved you, Hercules. I could think of no one better to protect and love my son than you. Please don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault. You were sick and I was taking care of you. Even in your illness you were kind and gentle. I had never seen a man like you before. I was lonely. You tried to stop me. I took advantage of your illness to seduce you. That doesn't say much for me, does it? I don't know what I hoped to accomplish. Maybe just a few hours of pleasure to dispel the boredom and loneliness. Perhaps I thought I could make you fall in love with me. But I was the one who fell. When you began to get better and didn't remember what had happened, I said nothing. By then I was ashamed of what I had done. And I loved you too much to want to hurt you. I knew by then you were not the kind to take something like this lightly. I knew you didn't share my feelings. You can't know how many times I wanted to tell you. Maybe if you had remembered you would have taken me away from Tolmecia. But I loved you enough to let you walk away.

"I never should have married Seth. I cared a great deal for him, but I didn't love him. I was so unfair to him. Then when I had Sarmen, things were better for me. Having him made up for so much. But it was my doing that Seth left the mountains. I pushed him too hard. I used to daydream that Sarmen was your son. I would make up all kinds of stories in my mind about how you would come to me and take both of us away.

"Try and understand why I did this thing. I had to protect my son. He was all that remained of myself and of Seth. I truly believed Seth was dead or I would not have used you again. I am so sorry. I have loved two men in my life. Seth, when we were children, and even after we grew up. Perhaps more like a sister loves a brother, but still love. Then you, the almost father of my child. And I have hurt and used you both. Forgive me."

Iolaus had read the letter through. He'd paused once to look at his friend but Hercules had refused to meet his eyes. He looked at the demigod now.

"Herc?" he questioned.

"Sira, is Seth here now?" Still Hercules didn't meet their eyes.

"Yes, in the garden."

"Will you show him in?" His voice was level and controlled. Sira could sense the struggle it was to keep it that way.

Seth entered the study hesitantly.

"Seth," the demigod motioned to a chair. "I'm Hercules." He introduced the others as well.

"You've read the parchment?"

Hercules nodded.

"I don't know what was in the note. There was one for me that explained about Sarmen and what she had done. I'm sorry about this." He paused. "I really don't know what to say."

"Sarmen is a fine boy," Iolaus offered.

"I haven't seen him since he was a few weeks old." No one spoke for a moment. "You're probably all wondering where I've been all this time?"

"We thought you were dead," the hunter stated.

"Yes, Liasaya's note explained that. I really did try to write to her. I knew there was no way the note would get to her in Tolmecia. But I left notes with the army whenever I could. I figured Longinus would check with the army for her whenever he was in the city. I didn't know he had gotten so feeble. You did know I had joined the Athenian army?"

"Yes. Liasaya explained that."

"Well, I'll be honest. At first I went kind of wild. You know, first time out of the mountains? Just before I left, Liasaya and I had had a big fight. She kept after me to take her away from Tolmecia. But we had nowhere to go. I had her and Sarmen to worry about. How could I pull up and leave with nothing? But she was so unhappy she couldn't see it. She often said she didn't care if we begged in the street. Anything would be better than Tolmecia. But I didn't find it such a bad place. I had always been happy there." He shrugged. "I guess I just never understood. So anyway, I didn't try to see her for a time. I took leave a couple of times, but I went out with the boys and..." He shrugged again.

"We understand, Seth," Jason soothed him. "Go on."

He took a deep breath and let it out in a puff. "We were everywhere for a while, fighting. There was no way to get back to her then. For almost a year there was one battle after another. In our fighting we held a three day battle in and around this old monastery. Some of the monks were killed and the others fled. It was really hard for me. I have no idea who those monks worshipped. But they were peace loving quiet people that didn't deserve what happened to them. Two of my buddies and I found this old trunk in a back room of the monastery. The thing was half full of gold and jewels. Well, you can imagine the trouble that started. The money belonged to the monks. If we gave the trunk to the army they would just keep it. It was wrong of us to keep it. We hid the stuff and for days we went over and over what we should do. Finally we decided to divide the money among ourselves. We could do anything with it we pleased. Myself and one of the others decided to return the treasure to the monks if we could find them."

Jason brought the young man a mug of cider from the pitcher on his desk. "Keep going," he encouraged.

"We couldn't just leave to go in search of the monks. That would be desertion. So we kept the stuff hidden. One of my friends did disappear. He took his share of the loot and deserted. But Gendary and I stayed. Just two days before our time in the army was due to end, Gendary was killed. I was with him when he died. I offered to take his share of the stuff to his family but he said he wanted me to have it. He'd never gotten along with his stepbrother and that was all the family he had left. He wanted to return to his village to be buried next to his mother and father, but he asked me to return his share of the money to the monks."

He took a sip of the cider. "I returned Gendary to his home. I thought his brother was a nice person, but anyway, all these things took time. Then I went in search of the rightful owners of the treasure. It took me a long time to find them." He paused and sat in silence for a second. "It was the funniest thing, but when I did find them they knew nothing about the money. The high priest had been killed and they had no idea who the trunk belonged to. They refused to take the money at first. I insisted they take at least some of it. But they only took a little."

He squirmed in his seat. "I know this was wrong, but I took the gold and jewels and I bought a farm in the valley. It's a real nice place. I did it for Liasaya and Sarmen. I know the money wasn't mine to take. But I had tried to return it."

"Just where was this monastery?" Jason asked.

"It was near a village called Fashidra. It's south of here."

The Argonaut looked at Hercules then at Iolaus. "Venin's money. She talked of a missing trunk of money."

"You know who the trunk belongs to?" Seth had gone red, then white.

"Don't worry, Seth. She won't need the money where she is. You did the right thing. The money should go to a worthy cause. And I'd say you and Sarmen are just that."

"You're sure? I do want to do the right thing."

"You have."

He nodded. "I went back for Liasaya and that's when I found she had died." His voice broke despite his effort to control it. "I'm sorry. I really did love her. Now I would just like to get to know my son and take him to our place. We can make a go of it. I know we can."

"Hercules? Jason?"

"We're in the study, Mother," the demigod called to her.

Alcmene entered the room, both boys in tow. Hercus came to stand by his mother. His perceptive mind had felt the tension in the room. Sarmen went to stand beside Hercules. The demigod knelt beside the boy. Jason put an arm around Alcmene. Iolaus put a hand on Sira's shoulder.

"Sarmen, I would like you to meet Seth, your father."

The boy's mouth fell open. "You're my father? You're Seth?"

Jason tightened his hold on his wife. Iolaus squeezed the empath's shoulder.

"Yes, I'm your father."

Sarmen watched the stranger for a moment then he went to him. Seth knelt and opened his arms to the boy. Sarmen went into the offered arms and Seth picked him up and hugged him. Tears shown in the father's eyes.

"My son," he whispered. "My son."

Sira wiped the tears from her cheek. She sent her mind to comfort her more than brother.

"Do you think it would be all right if Sarmen and I took a walk? Maybe get to know each other?"

"Of course." Hercules stood straight and his voice was even. But at what cost?

Seth left the room, Sarmen still in his arms.

"Oh, Hercules," Alcmene whispered.

"I'm sorry, Mother."

"It's you I'm worried about. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you, Mother. If no one minds, I think I'll take a walk myself."

Sira rose and watched him leave the room.

Jason put his arms around Alcmene. "I'm sorry, my dear. I know this is hard for you."

"I can't understand why the girl would lie to him. The boy looks just like the father so I have no doubt of his claim. But to do this to Hercules." She shook her head.

"I'll explain more later, Alcmene. I think you'll see that the girl did what she thought she had to do to protect her son. She had no one else to turn to."

"Why lie? Why not just ask Hercules to help her?"

"She really didn't know him that well. She must have thought he might need the extra incentive of thinking the boy was of his flesh and blood. And who's to say what her mind was like at the end? She had been sick for quite awhile. There is one good thing that has come out of this. At least we know Venin's loot went to a good cause. She would have hated that."

"Venin? What's she got to do with this?"

He took Alcmene's hand and led her from the room. "Come on," he coaxed. "I'll explain."

Iolaus put his arms around the empath and she rested her head on his chest.

"I'm sorry, Sira."

"It is hard now. But it is for the best."

"You knew already, didn't you?"

"I suspected almost from the start. I could not feel the tie of the soul I would expect in father and son. But it was only in the last few days that my suspicions took on credence. I felt Seth. And I felt a growing awareness in Sarmen that his father was near."

"That sounds incredible, but I know better than to question what your mind tells you. And do you feel the tie of soul between Seth and Sarmen?"

"Very much so."

He let his breath out in a sigh. "Is Hercules going to be all right?"

"Yes. But he will need his family. We must be there for him, despite our own grief."

He nodded. "You know we will be."

She stood back from him and ran a finger over his cheek. "I will return. Will you look after Hercus for me?"

He nodded. He knew she was going in search of Hercules.

She found him sitting in the chairs in the garden.

She took a seat beside him. "I am sorry, my brother."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's better this way, really."

"You will miss him." It was a statement.

"Yes, I'll miss him."

"I feel your guilt. But you have no reason to feel guilty."

"But I still do."

"Was Jason at fault? Did he do something to make Venin desire him? Maybe when he delivered her to Corinth he flirted with her and he is to blame for the torture she inflicted on him. Come, my brother. You were the first to understand about that."

"Your point is well taken. But somehow it's easier to forgive others. It's not always so easy to forgive one's self."

"But you have done nothing wrong."

He said nothing.

"You are not alone, my more than brother. You have us."

Her mind spoke to him as she sent comfort and acceptance of his grief. And her own grief mingled with his and they both found comfort in the joining of their feelings.

It had been nearly two weeks since Seth had taken Sarmen to the farm he had bought with the money he'd found in a deserted monastery. The farm he had bought for the woman he loved, and their son.

Father and son had taken a week to get to know each other and Sarmen wanted to be with his father. But still there were tears when he said goodbye. Right after they left Sira had gone to the river to let the cold water wash away some of the pain she felt at his leaving. There were invitations given and promises of visits to follow.

Hercules was putting logs in the wooden box near the fireplace in the front room. Sira came into the room, and dropping into a chair she put her feet up with a sigh.

"Tired?" he asked her.

"Yes. But the work is done for now."

"The preserving is done. Wait until my mother gets back from Ezekial's with Hercus. He'll be here any minute demanding your time."

"You are right. Mothers are never done. And to think I wanted a dozen children."

He grinned at her. "Given anymore thought to Thysis' idea?"

"Let us not start that again."

"I just can't get that green nightdress out of my head."

"Then I will see if your mother will give it to you. You can sleep in it all you like."

He laughed. "Would you like to see me in it?"

She laughed back. "It might be interesting at that." She rose and headed back to the kitchen. "Yes, maybe I would like to see that."

There was a knock at the door and Sira went to open it. An old man stood on the door step. He was quite out of breath. "Where is Hercules? I need to speak to Hercules. Our village is being terrorized by a giant. He must help us."

The demigod came up behind Sira. A grin played about his mouth. "Here I go again."

Iolaus had just entered the room. "Here 'we' go again," he corrected.

"Yes. I will be ready when you are," Sira added.

Hercules laughed. "The three of us together. That giant doesn't stand a chance." He put an arm around them both. "Life is good," he whispered.

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Special thanks to Stacey, AKA BonaDea-Amazon Goddess, for her words of praise and the excellent job she did on Acubus as a beta reader. Thanks a bushel.

Donna

AKA the weaver of Bard's tales-

"There are certain advantages to being trapped in the skin of a psycho." Ares to Callisto/Xena in "Ten Little Warlords"

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