*********************************
“I got you now!” Jason, the prince of Corinth shouted as he stood over the demigod. They had paired off for afternoon drills and Jason had finally brought down the tall Hercules with a side swipe.
“I don’t think so,” Hercules muttered, as he sprang to his feet. The two paired off again, while the centaur-teacher, Cheiron, watched a ways back with his assistant, Feducious.
“Hercules is getting better.” Cheiron said.
“He still needs more work. He gets ahead of himself and then gets caught off guard.” Feducious said, crossing his arms. “But I have to admit that he is the best fighter we have here.”
Cheiron smiled. He sometimes thought of Hercules as a son. Since Hercules has never seen his real father, Zeus, Cheiron had looked after the young demigod ever since he had arrived at the Academy. Feducious was a strict teacher and none of the cadets seemed to like him much, but Cheiron knew that Feducious took a liking to Hercules.
Cheiron clapped his hands when Hercules finally swiped Jason off his feet with a round house kick. “Good work Hercules. I see you remember the move that I taught you from yesterday.”
Hercules helped Jason up and went over to Cheiron. “Yes sir. Jason gave me a work out though.”
The prince of Corinth lightly punched Hercules on the arm. “Ah don’t lie, you know you beat me...again.”
Cheiron laughed lightly and then called the attention to the other cadets that were working on their drills. “All right cadets. Practice is over. See you next week!”
The cadets cheered and ran out of the room, leaving Jason, Hercules, and Iolaus standing there.
“So, where are you going for spring break?” Iolaus asked as they walked to the shower room.
“I have a meeting to attend tomorrow and Ophius wants me to be prepared for it.” Jason muttered. “What about you guys?”
“I promised Cheiron that I would help him clean up today, then me and Iolaus are going over to my mom’s and stay there.”
“I would rather go to Alcamedes today, but by helping, I am getting extra credit.” Iolaus whispered, rubbing his hands together.
“Iolaus, you wouldn’t need extra credit if you would work harder on your school work.” Hercules said.
“Well, I know that. I just hate school. All I want to learn is to fight.”
“Yeah we know,” Jason sighed rolling his eyes at Hercules.
The three cadets quickly washed off and were soon on their separate ways. “I hope spring break will be fun, I am in need of some fun.” Iolaus muttered as he waved goodbye to the prince.
“Well I wouldn’t worry about fun. Where ever you are, excitement always follows.”
“Ha Ha very funny.” Iolaus said sarcastically, shoving Hercules away.
Hercules laughed. “I had better meet up with Cheiron and see what he wants me to do. Want to come?”
“Well, he will end up putting me to work anyway, I might as well beat you to the good jobs.”
The two cadets laughed and went inside the Academy to find Cheiron.
As they entered, they heard angry shouts. Hercules motioned for Iolaus to be quiet and they two cadets slunk around one of the pillars to see about ten men surrounding Cheiron and Feducious. One of the men was tall and dark and had a sword drawn and pointing at Cheiron.
“Oh boy Cheiron, look what you have done to the place. It looks mighty good.”
“Taborius, why have you returned?” Cheiron asked, keeping his voice low and Hercules knew he was trying to control his anger.
“I see you still remember your best cadet, eh Cheiron?” Taborius sneered. “Such a shame that you threw me out of this stinking academy.”
“If you hadn’t endangered the rest of the students, I wouldn’t have had to.” Cheiron said, remaining calm.
“Ha. You never gave a damn about me.” Taborius shouted. “Well, now I am going to show the same hospitality to you. With all of your measly cadets gone, there is nobody to save you and your stupid academy!”
Suddenly Taborius’ henchmen jumped Cheiron and Feducious.
“Crap,” Hercules muttered. Turning to Iolaus, he whispered. “You have to get help. Go and get Jason.”
“But what about you?” Iolaus whispered back.
“Don’t worry about me, ok? Just go and get help. These people are going to destroy the academy if we don’t stop them.”
“Ok, just be careful.” Iolaus said, thumping Hercules on the back.
Hercules nodded and watched Iolaus’ back as Iolaus quickly snuck out of the back of the Academy. Hercules sighed when he noticed Iolaus safely exit the Academy.
Hercules turned to see what he could do to help, when suddenly a fist met Hercules in the jaw!
Hercules stumbled back, the pain blinding him. He could see blurry objects in front of him and laughter. The he was ruffly grabbed and yanked to where Cheiron and Feducious was now tied up to pillars.
“Look what we have here, a visitor.” Taborius grinned as Hercules was thrown to the ground in front of him. “Let me guess, a cadet of yours, Cheiron?”
“Leave him alone, Taborius!” Cheiron shouted as Taborius circled Hercules. Hercules glared up at the dark man. He now saw the dark brown eyes of the taunt faced man as Taborius glared at him like prey.
“Oh does the teacher have feelings for this young, helpless cadet?” Taborius sneered. He suddenly stopped in front of Hercules. “Stand up boy.”
Hercules glared up at Taborius and slowly stood.
Taborius smiled a toothy grin. “Boy this cadet has fire. Well, Cheiron, I will show you just what I have learned at my training facility when you turned me away. Nobody interfere with this match. This scrawny cadet is mine!” Taborius turned to Cheiron and smiled a wicked grin. “Take one last look at your cadet. I will make him my first example.”
“Taborius! Don’t!” Cherion yelled.
“Shut up!” Taborius screamed. “You are not my teacher anymore.” Turning to Hercules, Taborius smiled. “Or is your cadet afraid to fight me?”
Hercules touched his jaw. He could taste the blood and it made him mad. “No I am not afraid to fight you.”
“Good.” Taborius sneered. “Then lets start.”
Taborius set his sword down and replaced it with a wooden rod. Hercules was handed another wooden rod and the two paired off.
Cheiron could only stand there and watch as his once favorite cadet and now favorite cadet faced each other, unable to break the scuffle. He knew Taborius was good and with added height and age against Hercules, Cheiron knew that this battle would not be easy for the young demigod.
Taborius made the first blow, but Hercules expertly blocked it. The demigod then swung the rod, hitting Taborius in the ankles and causing the tall man to fall. Taborius fumed as he scrambled up. He was not about to let a young cadet win this, especially not in front of his former teacher.
Taborius lunged and the sticks collided. “You are nothing, you little worm.” Taborius whispered to Hercules, their faces nearly touching. “And I will show you and your stupid horse teacher that.”
“I don’t think so,” Hercules whispered back, and at that moment, he shoved Taborius away.
Taborius laughed and swung the rod at Hercules again. Hercules dodged and swung his at Taborius, but Taborius quickly jumped out of the way. When Hercules swung his stick again, Taborius saw his chance and moving out of the way, slammed his stick into Hercules’ side. Hercules gasped and he stumbled away as Taborius snickered.
“Did Cheiron not teach you that lesson yet?” Suddenly Taborius lunged at Hercules and hit him hard on the shoulder, causing Hercules to drop his weapon. Before Hercules could regain his balance, Taborius lashed out with his rod, hitting Hercules in the face!
Hercules was knocked to the ground and he struggled through the pain of the blow as Taborius laughed again. “Boy Cheiron, has your training lowered through the years?”
Hercules could feel the blood oozing down his face from the cut on his forehead and he tried to stand, but spots danced before his eyes causing him to stumble.
Taborius walked up to the demigod and suddenly kicked him in the side again, and again until Hercules was gasping in pain.
“Stop Taborius, you will kill him!” Cheiron yelled.
Taborius’ face turned into a frown as he looked in Cheiron’s direction. “This cadet is a disgrace to your academy, Cheiron. You should be glad to be rid of him.”
“It is me that you want. Do not harm him just to get even with me.”
Hercules was only half listening to the conversation, the other half was screaming in pain. He tried to draw in painful breaths but his lungs seemed to protest to the new pain. Suddenly he heard a soft voice calling to him.
“Hercules....Hercules.”
Hercules looked up to see Feducious standing there. Even though he was tied to the post, the older teacher had worried eyes turned to Hercules. “Hercules...listen to me. You can do it. Get up!”
Hercules closed his eyes and managing all of his strength, he struggled to his feet.
Taborius had his back to Hercules, arguing with Cheiron. Hercules gathered his strength and suddenly flipped over to Taborius. Before Taborius could turn around, Hercules had kicked him in the back, knocking him to the ground.
“Ok you little worm, I am not going to play so nicely now.” Taborius growled as he lept to his feet. He then flipped something on his right wrist and three pairs of sharp metal spikes suddenly lept out of a contraption on his wrist. Taborius lunged and swung his spiked fist at Hercules. The demigod dodged the strike and did a round house kick, knocking Taborius forward. Taborius screamed and lunged again but again Hercules dodged the blow and ended up kicking Taborius again.
Taborius was furious now. He suddenly punched at Hercules with his left hand and when Hercules went to block the blow, Taborius punched with his spiked fist, stabbing the metal spikes into Hercules’ shoulder!
Hercules cried out in pain and Taborius laughed wickedly as he grabbed Hercules’ shirt with his other hand and held him there. Hercules tried to get away but with the spikes in his shoulder and Taborius’ other arm holding him there, Hercules could feel his strength slowly ebbing away.
“Please Taborius...don’t!” Cheiron cried out, his fear for the young cadet showing. Hercules wouldn’t be able to survive much more of this.
Taborius just sneered at Hercules, then suddenly he withdrew the spikes from Hercules’ shoulder and backhanded the cadet, throwing him across the floor by the force of the blow.
Hercules withered on the floor, the pain blinding him. He heard Taborius shouting at Cheiron again and Hercules turned just in time to see the former cadet punch Cheiron.
“No...” Hercules murmured and he struggled to his feet.
Taborius turned and frowned as Hercules stood back up. “You ready for more beating wimp?”
Hercules wiped at the blood that was coming out of his busted lip. “You leave Cheiron alone.”
Taborius laughed and picked up his sword. “Say good bye to your cadet, Cheiron.”
Hercules readied himself, remembering one of Cheiron’s lessons when he had been knocked down by a bigger cadet and thought he could never get up. Cheiron had taught him to push down his pain and fear and look like a stone wall to his opponent.
Taborius suddenly swung the sword but Hercules quickly rolled away just in time.
Hercules bit his lip in pain as he landed on his wounded shoulder, but he stood up again as Taborius looked at him in amazement. Suddenly Taborius lunged at Hercules. Hercules quickly grabbed the older cadet’s arm and threw Toborius to the ground, so hard in fact that the former cadet lost his sword. As Taborius started to get up, Hercules made a flying kick and knocked Taborius back down.
Suddenly Feducious’ “Look out!” brought Hercules attention around him and he noticed one of Taborius’ henchmen making a move. The henchmen, though, did not have the training that Taborius did, and Hercules easily threw the man into the five others that were behind him. But before he could turn his attention back to the former cadet, a booted foot kicked Hercules’ knee cap, causing the demigod to collapse to the floor, clutching his leg in pain.
“You are going to pay for that.” Taborius muttered as he stood over Hercules.
Just as Taborius raised his sword to finish off the young demigod, Hercules remembered the fight he had with Jason in drills that afternoon. Lashing out with his good leg, Hercules tripped Taborius and the large man fell with a ‘Thud’.
Hercules flipped to his feet and grabbing Taborius’ sword, pointed it at the cadet. “I would say that I have won, wouldn’t you say?”
Suddenly there was shouts and Jason with Iolaus and several guards suddenly ran into the Academy.
Taborius cursed at Hercules under his breath. “I will get you back. You just wait. Both you and your stinking teacher.”
Just then two guards came up and grabbed Taborius and took him away.
“Hercules! Are you all right buddy?” Hercules heard Iolaus ask as the smaller cadet rushed to his side.
“Is Cheiron and Feducious all right?” Hercules asked trying to find where the two teachers were.
“Hey Herc, calm down. They are all right. It’s you that I am worried about.”
Hercules brought his finger to his busted lip. The blood still flowed and Hercules could feel his muscles and injuries come alive. The pain that seemed to have disappeared reappeared and Hercules groaned.
Then everything went black.
*******************
The black slowly turned to gray and Hercules could hear a voice off in the distance that seemed to be calling his name. “Herc...hey buddy, can you hear me?”
Hercules slowly opened his eyes to see a blond, curly-headed cadet looking at him.
“Iolaus..?” Hercules murmured, but his voice sounded like it came from far away.
“Hey, nice to see your up finally. We were beginning to wonder about you.” Iolaus said, a smile lighting his face and he laid a hand on Hercules’ shoulder.
Even though the touch was light, pain suddenly shot up his arm and through his body, causing the young demigod to gasp in pain.
“Oh...I’m so sorry!” Iolaus gasped yanking his hand back. “I forgot about the wound there. Boy you must have been through a lot while I was gone.”
Hercules smiled despite the pain and reached out to grasp Iolaus’ hand. “It’s ok..buddy...I’ll be all right.”
“That’s good to here because I don’t really think you will want to spend all of your spring break cooped up in here.” Cheiron said cheerfully.
“Cheiron. Are you all right?” Hercules asked as he tried to sit up, but the sudden pain again caused him to lay back down, gasping for breath.
“Yes, I am fine. But you will have to lay still if you want those wounds to heal.” the centaur said, gently laying a wet rag on Hercules’ now sweaty forehead.
Hercules groaned at the thought of having to be cooped up all day. “Does my mother know?”
“Yes, Jason went with one of his chariots and is bringing her back here so she can see you. I know she will be worried to death for you.”
Hercules sighed and closed his eyes. He was tired, so very tired, all of a sudden.
*****************
Hercules awoke to a soft hand gently caressing his cheek. He forced his eyes open and saw his mother, Alcamedes, standing beside him, smiling. “Hey sleepy head, how are you feeling?”
“Like I have fallen off of a horse,” Hercules muttered. He tried to sit up but a pain in his side stopped him. His whole body felt like it was on fire.
“Just lie still, dear. You have some bruised ribs and on top of that a stitched up shoulder, so I don’t think you will be moving around in awhile.”
Hercules forced a smile but he was miserable inside. He could not spend all of his spring break lying down. He and Iolaus had planned on spending time together and now look at him... as helpless as a baby.
Suddenly there was the sound of horse hooves and Cheiron walked in.
“Well, I’ll be right outside,” Alcamedes said, standing up and smiling at the teacher, walked outside the room.
Hercules smiled when the centaur reached his side.
I am so sorry... I wish you had never gotten involved.”
"Cheiron, he would have killed you. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Cheiron smiled and laid a hand on the blond boy’s hand. “I know. And I owe you my life. But I would rather give my life then have one of my cadets injured.”
“Ah, don’t worry about me. I will heal and with all of the rest I will be wanting to come back to the academy just to work out all of this extra energy I have.”
Cheiron laughed. “Well you rest. Your mother will stay until you are well enough to travel then Jason has arranged a chariot to escort you back home for the remaining time that is left in spring break.”
Cheiron’s smile disappeared. “Just get better. I feel that this is partly my fault.”
“No Cheiron. It was my choice to stay. It is nobody’s fault. But I just have one question. Why did you end up kicking Taborius out? He is a great fighter.”
“Well, during one of our training lessons, he decided that he was going to take matters into his own hands and nearly caused the death of several cadets. I had warned him before for stuff like that but this time he had pushed my limit and I told him that he had to leave. He was filled with anger but left.”
Cheiron turned to look at Hercules. “Yes, he was a good cadet. But you are better. You remembered your lessons and used them well. When a cadet does that, then they are better then their opponents.”
“But I almost lost. I sure got beat up worse than Taborius did.” Hercules muttered.
Cheiron smiled. “But you learned your lessons. Taborius did not. Now get some rest.”
Hercules sighed and watched Cheiron leave the room. His eyes drifted close and instead of pain, Hercules now felt pride.