Tangled Webs		Home

 Quicksearch
 Advanced Search
 Random Story

 Upload Story
 Upload Help

 FAQ

      	

  Tangled Webs 
 by Margui  
 


 TANGLED WEBS

 Anticlea came bounding into the kitchen of the palace. She quickly
grabbed a piece of flatbread from the table as she skirted around the
cook. She was trying to make it to her bedchamber before her guardian
would notice.

 Feta couldn't help but notice. Along with the mud that she tracked into
the kitchen and that covered her boots, the teen`s face was streaked with
purple and her long, dark hair was sprinkled with dried grape leaves.

 "What have you been up to, my child? Your father would not be pleased,"
Feta chastised.

 "Come on Feta, I was just having a little fun in the vineyard."

 "I can see that," Feta laughed as she dipped her apron into the water she
was using to prepare the afternoon meal. She approached the sixteen year
old and cornered her, wiping her face of the purple grime. "Who'd you take
down this time?"

 "Morson," Anticlea answered as she ripped off a piece of the bread with
her teeth. "I didn't like the way he called me princess. It was so, um,"
she thought for a moment as she chewed her bread, "condescending."

 Feta continued to scrub Anticlea's face.

 "Hey, watch it." Anticlea protested, "I have delicate skin you know,"
then she teased, "After all, I am a princess."

 Feta shook her head, "What am I going to do with you?" she laughed. "It's
amazing. You're as rough as raw silk until it suits you."

 Feta looked at her young charge. She decided Anticlea's face had had
enough scrubbing. "Okay, you're done," she announced going back to her
chores.

 Anticlea plopped down on the stool next to the fire and took off her
muddy boots. She then wiggled her unrestrained toes in front of the fire.
Relaxed and comfortable, and never very princess-like in the company of
Feta, Anticlea jumped up when a young attendant walked into the scullery
holding a large wrapped package. 

 "Princess Anticlea, " the young girl announced. "It looks like your
secret admirer has struck again. This was left for you."

 "What do you think it is?" Anticlea asked Feta as she rushed up to the
attendant and took the package greedily from her. 

 The mysterious packages began appearing shortly after her mother,
Amphithea died. Anticlea was about three. The gifts seemed to come only on
special occasions and always anonymously. 

 Protective of his only child, King Barchan was concerned at first, but
did not openly object to the mysterious packages and the unwelcome
intrusion into his young daughter's life. She came to look forward to the
special gifts, and when several years had gone by and no harm had befallen
the princess, he reluctantly accepted they would remain a part of her
life. 

 "Open it." The attendant encouraged.

 Anticlea needed no encouragement. She had already ripped into the brown
and gold wrapping and had flung open the box. She pulled out a silk beaded
top in a deep turquoise, a color that could have easily rivaled the beauty
of the Aegean Sea. Underneath the mid-rift top was a long flowing skirt in
the same shade of turquoise.

 "For the festival of Demeter?" she asked, already knowing the answer. 

 For as long as she could remember she would receive a special gift a day
or two before the spring celebration. It was always clothing, and it was
always made out of the most exotic and breathtaking material. So special
was the fabric and style, she knew that no other woman in the province,
whether princess or peasant would have an outfit like it. 

 Anticlea dug around in the wrapping for the personal note that always
accompanied her gifts. She found it on the bottom of the package. It was
never much, usually a sentence or two. She read it aloud: "For the
festival of Demeter."

 Anticlea grabbed the top and began parading it in front of Feta. "Told
you," she giggled as she sashayed around the room. 

 $$$$$$

 The festival of Demeter was held in the early spring when the warm days
outnumbered the frosty mornings two to one. It was designed to encourage
community cooperation, collaboration and political accord with other
kingdoms. The festival was one of the most popular and biggest
celebrations in the province and was visited by many dignitaries across
the land. It was already in full swing when Iolaus arrived. 

 A procession of minstrels, dressed in colorful costumes, singing and
carousing, forced Iolaus off the main road as he proceeded toward the
village square. From the side of the road, he watched the procession move
by and smiled.

 The hunter was without his best friend and partner, Hercules, who had
detoured to Cephalonia to settle a territorial dispute between two warring
kings. 

 Iolaus really didn't mind going to the festival alone. Although he loved
Hercules like a brother, the demigod was somewhat of a killjoy at
festivals, always worrying about something. Hercules didn't know how to
cut loose, but Iolaus did. He was looking forward to having a good time
and catching up with old friends.

 The village square was gaily decorated with colorful flags, paper
lanterns and ribboned streamers. Numerous kiosks lined the square and sold
souvenirs and consumables such as food and beverages. Surveying the kiosks
for something to eat, Iolaus spotted a familiar face. He carefully tiptoed
past the booth that Falafel was occupying, hoping that the meager chef
wouldn't notice him.

 "Iolaus," Falafel cried, trying to get the hero's attention.

 Iolaus stopped, shook his fist briefly in disappointment and defeat, and
then proceeded over to the chef.

 "Falafel," he greeted. Iolaus then peered over the booth to watch in
fascination as Falafel prepared his most recent culinary nightmare.

 The chef stood behind a contraption that looked very much like a stone
potter's wheel. Underneath the wheel, a descent fire loomed. Sitting atop
the wheel was a large metal caldron. Falafel worked the peddle with his
foot which allowed the wheel to spin. "Would you like to try my spider web
candy?" he asked.

 Without waiting for an answer, Falafel dipped a paper cone into the pot
and began swirling it around the sides. As he did, strings of the spider
web candy wrapped around the cone. In minutes, the white confection grew
in size and shape.

 Falafel handed Iolaus the candy. "What's in it?" Iolaus questioned
skeptically.

 Falafel smiled brightly, showing each of his rotting teeth. "It's sugar
cane, heated at extreme temperatures and then spun onto a cone."

 It seemed harmless enough, Iolaus thought. He tore a bite off the cone
and closed his eyes, tasting it. He was cautiously concerned after trying
Falafel's many other creations.

 Iolaus was surprised when the concoction melted on his tongue and created
a pleasant, sweet taste.

 "You like it?" Falafel asked.

 "It's not bad, Falafel, but you really should do something about the
name."

 "What do you suggest?" he asked.

 "I don't know. It kind of looks like wool. How about `Wool Candy'?"
Iolaus suggested and shrugged. He took a step back and began to wander the
grounds in search of more diversions. 

 "Well, that's just silly." Falafel said to himself after Iolaus left. "In
that case, I might as well just call it Cotton Candy."

 Iolaus followed the path that led to the arena. A raucous wrestling match
between a local favorite, Morson and a wrestler from the village of Nemea
was in progress. The crowd formed a tight circle around the perimeter.
Morson had his opponent in a tight hold. He was quickly wearing him down.

 Iolaus spotted Anticlea standing in the inside circle of the crowd. He
smiled. The warrior had known the spirited princess since she was a little
girl. He watched with delight as Anticlea tried valiantly to disguise her
enthusiasm for the local wrestler. 

 Getting involved with the action of the match, Anticlea was animated,
twisting and turning, anticipating Morson's next move. Realizing that her
odd gyrations and obvious bias were not becoming a princess, she would
stop and look demurely around to see if anyone had noticed her. Lost again
in the wrestling match, she would soon forget about her royal boundaries
as she cheered for Morson again.

 Iolaus took his eyes off of Anticlea momentarily and looked around the
crowd. Across the circle from the princess were three ruffians. Their sour
demeanor and scowl suggested to Iolaus that they were not happy with how
the match was progressing. In an obviously heated conversation they would
occasionally point in the direction of Anticlea and the two wrestlers.

 From the back of the crowd, Iolaus recognized another familiar face. The
tall man wove his way into the inner circle of the match. His body moved
with ease between the crowd and Iolaus couldn`t help but wonder how many
trinkets the thief had picked up. 

 But when the King of Thieves finally stopped and stood in the crowd, he
was not focused on the wrestling match. He was watching Anticlea with rapt
attention. Iolaus smiled briefly at the smitten look on the thief's face
and then frowned. If Autolycus was here, it could only mean one thing; he
was planning some elaborate theft. His attention toward the young princess
sent shivers up the hunter's spine. Iolaus surmised he either planned to
charm Anticlea into letting him into the palace walls, or he planned to
steal from her outright.

 Iolaus decided to confront the thief before he had the chance to
victimize Anticlea. Although the direct approach was never very effective
with the stubborn thief, at least his presence would catch Autolycus off
guard. 

 Iolaus left the inner circle of the match and walked around to where
Autolycus was standing. Weaving his way back into the crowd, he stood next
to Autolycus. The thief continued to watch the princess, a look of longing
on his face.

 "Exquisite, isn't she?" Iolaus asked.

 "Yes she is," Autolycus answered in affirmation and then turned his head
to see who had initiated the conversation. Autolycus jumped when he saw
Iolaus, as if he was caught with his hand in the royal vault. "What are
you doing here?" the thief asked in obvious vexation.

 "More importantly, what are you doing here?"

 Autolycus ignored the question as he looked in the crowd for the tall
demigod. When his presence wasn't immediately noticed, Autolycus asked,
"What? Did Hercules finally let you off your leash?"

 Iolaus bristled at the barb. "Ha. Ha," he mocked. Iolaus wanted to make
sure Autolycus knew the attention he paid to the young princess had not
gone unnoticed. "At least I'm not making a ninny of myself. She could be
your daughter," Iolaus finished, nodding in the direction of Anticlea.

 Autolycus gave Iolaus a withered look, "What do you mean by that?" 

 "Don't you think she's a little too young for you?" 

 Iolaus looked at the thief's sullied expression. "Hmm...how can I put
this politely? I don't think you should be thinking about sowing your wild
oats in her field, that`s all. Her father is very protective and you have
enough trouble staying on the right side of the law as it is."

 Autolycus let out a long sigh, "You're right. I`m a thief, not a
pervert," Autolycus said as he narrowed his eyes in distain, and then his
demeanor brightened. "Besides, I was just admiring her, um, necklace." 

 Iolaus looked at Autolycus and then squinted his eyes to spy on Anticlea.
"She's not wearing a necklace, Autolycus."

 Iolaus couldn't quite figure it out, but he knew Autolycus was up to
something. If the thief was not infatuated with the lovely, young princess
then it had to be something else.

 "Oh?" Autolycus said shielding his eyes from the sun that was already
behind him. "So she isn't. My mistake," he said as he turned from the
crowd and waved the objection away.

 Iolaus stopped Autolycus by grabbing his shoulder. 

 "That's right. It will be your mistake if you're thinking about using the
Princess of Ionia to steal from King Barchan."

 "She's a princess?" Autolycus asked, his attempt at lying being all too
evident to Iolaus. 

 "Oh, come on, Autolycus," Iolaus chastised, "you knew she was a princess
and you're trying to worm your way into Anticlea's good graces just so you
can take advantage of her. Well listen, buster. I`ve known Anticlea since
she was three and I`m not going to let you get within five feet of her.
So, with that being said, you might as well just go."

 Autolycus opened his mouth for a smart retort, but his gibe was drowned
by the excited cry of Anticlea.

 "Uncle Iolaus," she yelled as she spotted the hunter in the crowd. The
match had been decided and the crowd was thinning. Anticlea was giving
Morson a victory hug when she spotted Iolaus talking to the thief.

 Autolycus glanced toward Anticlea. She had broken away from the wrestler
and was heading straight for the two of them at breakneck speed. The
usually calm thief panicked and gave Iolaus a steely glower, cursing him
silently for putting him so close to Anticlea before he was ready. 

 He shook his shoulder from Iolaus' firm grip and spoke to the hunter in
an angry murmur. "Fine, Iolaus. If that is your warning, then consider me
warned. Now, if you don`t mind, I have things to do." 

 Autolycus slid into the anonymity of the crowd as Anticlea connected with
Iolaus by giving him a fierce hug. 

 The blond warrior looked around for the thief but Autolycus had already
made his escape. Iolaus could see his dark head and familiar green tunic
quickly heading away from the square. The thief turned around and glanced
at Iolaus once, before turning a final corner out of the square.

 The princess rocked Iolaus in an exuberant embrace. "You came!" she
squealed.

 "Are you surprised? You've only been inviting me for five years now." 

 "Yeah, but I never thought you'd really come," Anticlea said as she
wrapped her arms around Iolaus' bicep and led him away from the arena.
"How is Hercules?"

 "Well, you know. Hercules is Hercules." Iolaus shrugged.

 "Couldn't make it, could he?" Anticlea asked.

 Iolaus shook his head. 

 "Too bad," she answered, "I really wanted to meet him."

 An official stepped up and reluctantly stopped the two as they traveled
arm in arm. "Anticlea, your royal presence is needed at..." the dignified
man paused as if too ashamed to speak the words, "the farkenberry eating
contest."

 "Judging?" Iolaus queried.

 "Heck no! Eating," Anticlea said as she stepped away from Iolaus and
smiled. "Catch you later?" she asked.

 "You bet," Iolaus answered as he waved her on to her next official
function. 

 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 The three ruffians from the arena quickly gathered the defeated wrestler
and walked out of the square and toward a narrow alley. They were huddled
in an alleyway speaking in whispers when Iolaus approached.

 "Whoa, are you telling me that's the same princess of Ionia whose father,
King Barchan, ordered my father killed?"

 "Yeah, yeah. Anticlea. I heard the little blonde guy tell the thief
that." Tomis answered.

 "So, whatcha gonna do, Hoffus? Huh? Watcha gonna do?" another chimed in,
as if egging him on. 

 "I'm going to make him pay," Hoffus spat through clinched teeth. "You say
the girl is not protected?" 

 The three men shook their head in unison. 

 "Barchan is a fool, then." Hoffus answered. A wicked sneer crossed his
face as he pulled his compatriots further into the alley. Iolaus was no
longer privy to their covert conversation.

 "Here's what we're going to do..."

 Filling ill at ease with the conversation he had just heard, Iolaus
stepped back for a moment. Although he had set his hopes on other
diversions for the day, Iolaus had made a mental note to keep a close eye
on the defeated wrestler and his cohorts, and an even closer eye on
Anticlea.

 $$$$$$$$$$

 Iolaus was looking for Anticlea for a good portion of the afternoon. The
crowds had gotten thicker making it more difficult to spot the
masquerading princess. Finally spotting her in her vibrant costume, he
walked toward the open-air theater where she and several children had
congregated. 

 Storytelling was a favorite pastime in the province and Anticlea had
gathered the children around a grassy area. She was reluctantly determined
to entertain them. Generally considered a royal function of the festival,
the poet laureate would usually perform the narrative, but he had suddenly
become ill after trying Falafel's newly created confection. He bowed out
and Anticlea reluctantly stepped in, but in her stage fright, the princess
could only remember one story to recite. 

 She sat in a corner under a large tree, surrounded by a semicircle of two
dozen or so children. 

 Iolaus stood back from the crowd, folded his arms against his chest and
listened to her story. 

 "Moments later the two thugs come back with their reinforcements. The
contemptible and sinister King of Thieves reaches into the chest and pulls
out the most valuable and precious of the jewels, the stone from King
Menelaus' scepter, the Dragon's Eye Ruby. He tosses the chest toward
Iolaus who he knows will have to take the fall for his vile thievery..."

 Anticlea's slow, methodical narrative enthralled the young children and
Iolaus chuckled at the description she had painted of Autolycus. Anticlea
had heard the narrative many times. It was her favorite of Iolaus'
cornucopia of stories but like any good fairy tale, there had to be an
unequivocal good guy and bad guy, so Anticlea chose to embellish the story
and vilify the outlawed thief. 

 In another corner, Autolycus frowned. He was also listening to the story.
Even from a distance, the thief could spot the colorful outfit Anticlea
had worn to the festival. He walked up to the group hoping to get another
glimpse of the girl but spotted Iolaus on the other side. 

 Autolycus thought about leaving since, if he were caught, he would have
to listen to another sanctimonious diatribe from the overprotective peon
to Hercules. However, upon hearing the story, the thief was compelled to
remain. After Iolaus' earlier warning, Autolycus was careful to stay out
of the hunter's line of sight.

 The manner in which Anticlea delivered the words as she described the
thief clearly showed the children her contempt for the King of Thieves.
Iolaus made him seem so unbelievably callous that Anticlea vilified him
heartlessly even without knowing him. She had never thought of Autolycus
as being a real person, with real feelings. 

 The creature she was describing bore little resemblance to the King of
Thieves. Sure, Autolycus was often misguided and insensitive but in the
end he did the honorable thing. He returned the ruby to King Menelaus and
cleared Iolaus` name. 

 Autolycus was about to turn and walk away from the travesty, or at least
make his escape before he was unduly recognized, when he heard the sound
of horse's hoofs bearing down on the crowd. He watched as four riders
passed him and beat a path toward Anticlea and the children.

 "Anticlea! Behind you!" he yelled trying to warn her, but his shout was
drowned in the din of the thundering hooves.

 The clatter of the hoof beats stopped Anticlea's story in mid sentence.
She got up from the ground as the horses and their riders bore down on her
and the children. The horsemen were not slowing down, even through the
desperate cries of the children's parents.

 Those children not too terrified by the deafening sound of the hoof beats
moved out of the animals' path. Others stood in the grassy area petrified
in fear. Iolaus dropped his shoulder bag and rushed into the crowd,
ushering as many of the children off to the side as he could. 

 A toddler boy was standing in the middle of the field in the direct path
of one of the horses. Iolaus rushed in and grabbed the boy, then turned
around to identify the rider that galloped by him. The leader was the
wrestler Iolaus recognized as Hoffus. The wrestler pushed toward Anticlea
as the three other men wrecked havoc by circling and taunting the
children.

 It was clear their actions were meant as a diversion to take attention
away from the intended victim, Anticlea. The three men were getting a
perverse pleasure from circling the children in wide arcs, thus ensuring
that the kids would be frightened, but not harmed.

 Hoffus approached Anticlea with steeled determination on his face. She
was oblivious to the thundering hooves behind her as she worked valiantly
to get the kids to safety. As she turned to help another one, Hoffus swept
past her on his horse. Tilting low in his saddle, he grabbed the young
girl by her waist, slowing just long enough to pull her up and onto his
steed. 

 Once Hoffus had Anticlea safely on his horse, he turned his steed and
headed directly out of the village. The three men abruptly broke off their
attack and followed Hoffus out of town.

 Anticlea fought and tried to scream for help but Hoffus clamped his
calloused hand tightly over her mouth and squeezed the breath out of her
as he clinched her to his chest. 

 Autolycus moved toward Anticlea as fast as he could. He carelessly pushed
the men and women out of the way as he tried to reach her in time. Iolaus
on the other side of the open-air theater was converging on Autolycus as
the blonde was chasing after the kidnappers.

 Hoffus kicked his horse harder as he raced toward Autolycus. Eager to
leave with his hostage, Hoffus barreled toward the thief, who seemed
determined to stop him from abducting Anticlea.

 Worried that the thief may actually stop his plan, Hoffus released his
foot from the stirrup and kicked Autolycus as he rode by. The sole of the
kidnapper's boot hit the thief squarely in the chest as Autolycus tried to
stop Hoffus from his flight. Autolycus fell back and rolled away, gripping
the side of his chest in pain. He writhed slowly on the ground. 

 "Talk about kick starting your day. Ooh, that smarts," Autolycus moaned
as he struggled to get up. The pain in his side was growing into a raging
fire with each labored breath. But as he watched Hoffus ride away he
forced himself to stand, gritting his teeth to stifle the pain in his
side.

 Iolaus continued to run after Anticlea and the kidnapper. He stopped
within inches of Autolycus, panting and out of breath. Together, they
watched Hoffus ride away. Despite the vise-like grip the kidnapper had on
his captive, Anticlea forced herself around, panic building in her usually
fearless face. She tried to entreaty Iolaus for help, stretching her arms
toward the hunter, but Hoffus angrily slapped them down.

 "Why didn't you stop him?" Autolycus asked.

 "What do you think I was trying to do?" Iolaus answered perturbed.

 "Come on. We've got to go after her," Autolycus stated, an edge of panic
in his voice. He began walking toward their escape, favoring his injured
side as he stepped. When the rider faded into the distance, Autolycus
ignored his pain and quickened his pace to a slight run.

 "Wait," Iolaus pleaded. He ran back and grabbed his haversack. As he was
running toward the thief, Morson caught up to Iolaus. He had witnessed the
chaos, but had not seen Anticlea abducted.

 "What's going on?" he asked Iolaus as the blonde was rushing toward
Autolycus.

 The hunter looked at Morson as the wrestler kept pace with Iolaus. He put
a hand on the wrestler`s shoulder, but barely slowed as he said. "Tell
King Barchan that Anticlea has been kidnapped. We're going to rescue her."


 "Who's we?" Morson asked as he stopped in stunned disbelief.

 "Me and Autolycus," Iolaus shouted as he retreated from the wrestler. 

 Morson watched as Iolaus caught up with the green-clad man. Quickly
turning around, he sprinted toward the castle to inform King Barchan of
what he had learned.

 Running into the kitchen, Feta could see the concerned look on Morson's
face and knew something was wrong. 

 "Where is King Barchan?" Morson asked as he grabbed her shoulders in a
desperate plea.

 "In his throne room, I think," Feta answered.

 Morson breezed by Feta and traveled toward the throne room. The troubled
wrestler threw the chamber doors open.

 "Morson?" King Barchan questioned, scrutinizing the wrestler's ill
manners.

 "I'm sorry King Barchan," he apologized as he inhaled deeply. 

 He continued in a single, rushed breath, "Anticlea's been kidnapped from
the festival. Iolaus and his partner went to rescue her." 

 Barchan exhaled heavily and collapsed into his throne in shock. "By the
gods, just like her mother," he muttered.

 "King Barchan?" Morson questioned still catching his breath.

 "Anticlea's mother, Amphithea was abducted 13 years ago at the festival
of Demeter. A warlord thought he could gain his king's favor by committing
such a vile act. Iolaus finally brought the man to justice but not in time
to save my wife."

 "You said Iolaus and his partner? Is Hercules with him?" Barchan asked,
unsettled but feeling somewhat relieved that the powerful demigod would be
involved with the rescue of his daughter.

 Morson shook his head, "No," he answered, "Iolaus said his name was
Autolycus."

 "Autolycus? The King of Thieves?" Barchan asked and then turned to his
courtier. "Quick, get the horses ready," he commanded. "I'm joining the
rescue."

 $$$$$$$$$$

 Iolaus quickly caught up to Autolycus. Customarily a self-serving coward,
the thief seemed to be on a desperate mission to catch the kidnappers.
Iolaus once again put his hands on the thief's shoulder to momentarily
stop him. 

 "Autolycus, what's going on, here?" he asked, "You don't normally give a
fig about anyone. So why are you doing this; rescuing Anticlea and going
after the kidnappers?" 

 Iolaus paused and then countered, "Unless it's because you're expecting a
reward." 

 Autolycus slowly turned around. His words were tinged with indignation
and sadness. "Believe it or not, Iolaus, not everything I do is about the
money or the gems. That`s not what this is about."

 Iolaus took a moment to study the thief. Genuine concern clouded his
features. Iolaus didn`t know what to think, but knew that Autolycus was
telling him the truth. It wasn`t about the money. It was about Anticlea.
The hunter's voice softened.

 "Then tell me what it is about? Iolaus asked.

 "You wouldn't understand," Autolycus answered, looking into Iolaus'
expressive blue eyes.

 "Come on, Autolycus. I can see that you care for Anticlea more than you
should. But, my question is: why?"

 Autolycus turned and continued to move toward the path that the
kidnappers took. His will to travel with speed was hampered by the burning
pain in his side. He knew he needed the hunter's help, but was too proud
to ask for it. 

 When it wasn't certain that Iolaus was following him, he turned around
and beckoned. "Well, are you going to play the consummate hero and
buttinski and come, or am I going to have to do this alone?"

 "Oh, I`m coming. I`m coming," Iolaus answered sardonically, shifting his
haversack to his other shoulder. He could see Autolycus was in no
condition to follow Hoffus alone. Injured, he wouldn't be able to fight
Hoffus or his men even if he should happen upon them. Besides, after being
chained to Autolycus for one day, he knew the thief to be a lousy tracker.


 "Fine," Autolycus responded turning back to the road.

 "Fine," Iolaus reiterated.

 Iolaus soon followed behind Autolycus all the while wondering what was
driving the King of Thieves on. 

 Their progress was slow and several times Autolycus would have to stop.
He would often gulp for a breath of air and grip his side in obvious pain
before silently beginning his trek again.

 Keeping pace with the thief, Iolaus tried to draw Autolycus into a
conversation, "What happened to your side, anyway?" he asked.

 "Oh, it's nothing," Autolycus answered waving the hunter off. "I'll be
okay as long as we keep moving." But the thief knew he wasn't moving very
fast. "We should have gotten horses. There's no way we can catch up to
them like this."

 "Autolycus, maybe we should call it a night." Iolaus suggested.

 "No. If we keep moving..."

 "I know, I know. You'll be okay."

 "I'll be able to find Anticlea." Autolycus answered.

 The two men traveled in silence for a while. The thief's ashen complexion
and the grimace on his face suggested he couldn`t continue much longer.
Iolaus looked up at the sky. The light blue canopy that was above them
when they started their search was deepening into dusk. 

 Finally, the thief stopped--so abruptly that Iolaus almost ran into him.
Autolycus didn't turn around, but in a single breath announced, "Anticlea
is my daughter."

 Silently, Autolycus set out on his own again as Iolaus stood in the path
for a moment in stunned disbelief. 

 Iolaus thought about Barchan and Anticlea. Nothing the king did or said
would suggest that Anticlea was not his natural born daughter. He loved
the impetuous girl and even doted on her every whim. No father could be
more devoted to his daughter. He quickly caught up to the thief. "What do
you mean? How can Anticlea be your daughter?"

 Autolycus snorted. "It doesn't surprise me that Skouros was too busy to
tell you about the birds and the bees Iolaus, but I would have thought by
now you'd have some practical experience with it."

 "Of course I've had experience, " Iolaus bristled at the comment. He
grabbed Autolycus by the arm and steered him in another direction. "Over
here," 

 Even engrossed in the conversation as he was, Iolaus was continually
looking for clues to the direction Hoffus had traveled. Noticing broken
branches high along a narrow path, he determined that the horsemen had
chosen the lesser-traveled route that wound to the west.

 Autolycus nodded and moved past him taking the lead again. "Good," he
answered, "because I don't have the time to educate you now."

 Iolaus was not sure what to say or what the thief would be willing to
share, so they traveled in relative silence for a while. Most of the time,
Autolycus insisted on taking the lead in the search for Anticlea, even
though Iolaus had to steer him down the right path several times. Iolaus
could tell that thief's mind was not focused on the immediate search. 

 Iolaus was about to go mad with the silence and quietly wished for one of
Autolycus' biting insults when the thief finally spoke up. The blond
warrior barely recognized Autolycus' voice. It was so tinged with emotion.


 "Amphithea was very young when she fell for the likes of me. Back then, I
was nothing but an up and coming thief and her father was the magistrate
for King Barchan. He frowned upon our more than platonic relationship and
forbade her to see me. I don't know whether it was the excitement of
dating an outlawed thief or just a chance to rebel against her father but
we continued to meet, in secret at the old guard house on top of the
acropolis, overlooking the city. Hours would be spent in tangled sheets." 

 He let out a lamented sigh, "I couldn't help it. She was so beautiful and
so willing. I loved her, but Barchan was also in love with her."

 "So what happened?" Iolaus asked.

 "She announced she was in the family way." Autolycus said and then he
turned to face Iolaus. "I would have liked to marry her, but I was a
thief, wanted in three provinces. What kind of life would she have had?
Would my daughter have had? She deserved better than that." 

 He sighed, "Heck, she deserved someone she could be proud of, or at least
show up in public with."

 Autolycus rested against a tree, emotion and exhaustion biting at his
words. He rubbed his hands across his face as if to wipe away some memory
from long ago. "Sometimes at night, I can still hear her sobbing," he
tapped his sternum, "feel her tears against my chest, just like the night
I told her I couldn't marry her. I know you think I'm a heel and maybe it
was the wrong decision. I don't know anymore, but by the gods, I loved
her, Iolaus. It just about killed me to hurt her like that but I loved her
so much I had to let her go."

 Then he let out a sardonic laugh. "Two weeks later she married Barchan."

 Iolaus listened attentively. "I don't mean to be insensitive, Autolycus.
But if she was being courted by both you and Barchan, and she was so quick
to marry Barchan, what makes you so sure you're Anticlea's father?"

 "Oh, I don't know," Autolycus, said with an ironic smirk. "Could be the
fact that Barchan came to me and asked if he could raise my daughter as
his own."

 Autolycus pushed himself up from the support he had gained from the tree.
He moved forward, back to the broken path Iolaus believed Hoffus had
taken. He turned to Iolaus who followed closely behind, and gave him a
wry, sweet smile. "I mean, who wouldn't want their daughter to grow up to
be a princess?"

 The two men quickly came to a fork in the road and Iolaus bent down to
study the tracks left in the soft dirt. He could see that one horse had
taken the path to the left, which led back to the village, while the other
three horses had taken the path to the right, which led them further into
the woods. But it was too dark to determine which path the large wrestler
and Anticlea might have taken. He didn't want to take the wrong path and
backtracking would only delay the rescue, so he had to convince Autolycus
to stop.

 "We need to make camp," Iolaus said, steadying himself for the thief's
certain objection. 

 He turned to see Autolycus along the side of the path, bent over and
gasping for air. "What about Anticlea?" he asked.

 "Right now, I'm not worried about Anticlea, but I am worried about you.
You're as white as a sheet. Besides, it's getting dark, and I can't track
in the dark. Hoffus has probably made camp by now so he`s not going
anywhere. We`ll get an early start tomorrow." 

 Iolaus went over to Autolycus and patted the thief's shoulder in
sympathetic camaraderie. He then said, "She'll be okay."

 Iolaus then moved ahead of Autolycus to find a campsite. 

 It took every effort Autolycus had to keep moving. His legs felt like
they had run a marathon, and he had trouble catching his breath. Even
though he could barely breathe, Autolycus had to do something to occupy
his thoughts and once he started talking to Iolaus, he was finding it hard
to stop. 

 "You know, I saw her as a baby once," Autolycus said in bemusement. "By
then I had become more than just the local nuisance of the province, I was
the King of Thieves. Amphithea sent word for me to meet her in the guard
house. I was sure it was a trap set by Barchan or her father, but like a
fool in love I couldn`t stay away." 

 Autolycus laughed. "Anticlea was beautiful, even as a baby; ten fingers
and toes, long, thick eyelashes, a cute little pout and a head full of
black hair. It stood straight up."

 Iolaus smiled. He remembered all too well the first sight of his own
sons. Autolycus had the same sense of awe that Iolaus had looking into the
tiny, helpless face. Yep, ten fingers and toes. Too bad he couldn't say
the same thing about Obi. Iolaus thought when his mind wandered to the
birth of Typhon and Echidna`s youngest monster. Which brought Iolaus'
thoughts around to another kidnapper and finally why they were both in the
woods together.

 "Why don't we make a camp here and let me look take a look at your ribs?"
Iolaus asked. He was suddenly eager to change the subject. Iolaus wasn't
sure if Autolycus knew about either Anya or their sons, but he didn't want
to think about it. Autolycus was dishing out enough misery for the both of
them at the moment.

 Iolaus insisted Autolycus sit under a tree while he quickly built a fire.
The hunter always kept bandages and healing herbs in his backpack and once
he was sure the fire was going strong, Iolaus plunged into his haversack.
He pulled out a roll of linen bandages and a small bag of herbs.

 He dropped the bag into a water tight skin placed above the fire with a
spit. He used a stick to stir the concoction and then crossed over the
camp to where Autolycus sat.

 "Let's say we take a look at that wound?" Iolaus asked as he helped
Autolycus out of his green tunic and black shirt. The thief sucked in a
large gulp of air when he moved his arm to pull the shirt from the waist
of his pants.

 Even in the dimness of the firelight, Iolaus could see the large black
contusion along the thief's ribcage. Autolycus looked down at the nasty
sight as Iolaus pressed his fingers along the injury to check for any
broken bones. 

 Autolycus stifled a groan. "Dig in a little deeper, Iolaus and you'll
come out on the other side."

 "Sorry," he apologized. "You have a couple of broken ribs." He got up and
walked to the fire. Pulling the bag of herbs out of the warm water, he
applied the potion as a compress to the wound, guiding the thief's hand to
hold the warm poultice in place as he unwound the linen strips.

 "Lift your arm," Iolaus commanded.

 Iolaus tried to be as gentle as he could as he wound the linen strips
around the larger man's torso. He knew it had to hurt. Autolycus grumbled
in painful protest every time Iolaus would pass by the tender ribs.

 "How does that feel?" Iolaus finally asked as he sat on his heels to
admire his handiwork.

 "Like someone kicked me in the ribs," Autolycus answered, laughing
ironically. 

 "Well, think of it this way. You can now tell everyone you were the sole
survivor of the attack." 

 "Ha. Ha. Very funny," Autolycus smirked.

 There was a moment of complete silence as the two men`s eyes met in
congenial accord. Iolaus turned around and picked up his backpack. 

 "Thanks, Iolaus," Autolycus said, making sure the warrior's back was
turned before he voiced his appreciation.

 Iolaus smiled to himself and then replied, "Don't mention it," before he
turned back to question the thief. 

 "Hey! We need to eat." Iolaus said as rubbed his hands together in hungry
anticipation. "Will you be okay while I dig up some grub?" 

 "Sure, go on." Autolycus answered, waving nonchalantly at the hunter. The
thief stared absently into the fire as Iolaus grabbed his snare and
wandered into the woods to find them some food.

 About an hour later, Iolaus emerged from the woods.

 He looked around for Autolycus, but the man was not in the camp. "Oh no,"
Iolaus said to himself, "Don't tell me that fool went out to find Anticlea
on his own. Does he ever listen?"

 Iolaus was about to grab his haversack and start the search for the thief
when he heard some rustling in the underbrush behind him. He grabbed the
hilt of the sword and turned around to see Autolycus push through the
bushes.

 "Where were you?" Iolaus asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

 "Nature called," Autolycus answered pointing toward the brush behind him.
"So, what's for dinner?" 

 $$$$$$$$$$

 Autolycus lapsed into silence again during dinner. He picked at the
partridge the hunter had caught and barely touched his vegetable. He spent
most of his dinner intently watching the fire, so Iolaus decided to engage
him in another conversation.

 "So how is it?" Iolaus asked.

 Autolycus diverted his eyes from the fire and looked over to Iolaus. The
hunter had given the thief a perfect opening for an insulting barb, but
Autolycus refused to take the bait.

 So Iolaus continued, "You don't like my cooking either, do you? Hercules
is always complaining about my cooking." 

 Iolaus threw the food down on the small wooden plate in dramatic effect.

 Autolycus knew he had been absorbed in his own self-misery and worry.
"Sorry I haven't been proper dinner companion for you, Iolaus. I've just
had, well, things on my mind."

 "It's okay, Autolycus." Iolaus began apologetically, "I was just trying
to make some dinner conversation. I didn't mean it that way. It's okay.
Really."

 Autolycus tried to smile. He picked up a small white morsel about the
size of a thumb from his plate. "Well, you know," he prefaced in an
attempt at good humor, "when you said you were going to dig up some grub,
I didn't think you meant dig up some grubs." 

 "They're not grubs!" Iolaus defended, "they're tubers."

 "Well, they taste like grubs," Autolycus protested. He threw down his
plate. "I'm not hungry anyway."

 Iolaus sighed, "Autolycus. Anticlea is resourceful. She'll be okay."

 "You would know, wouldn't you?" Autolycus answered an edge of resentment
in his voice.

 "Know what?" Iolaus asked.

 "More about my daughter than I do."

 From tracking to taping his ribs, the self-reliant thief seemed to be
relying on Iolaus for almost everything on this trip, even as far as
giving the thief the smallest tidbits of information about his daughter. 

 He wanted to know about his daughter, and the only one at the moment that
could provide him that information was Iolaus. So Autolycus begrudgingly
began asking questions.

 "Tell me about her. What is she like?" Autolycus asked shielding his
wounded pride by putting the fire between him and Iolaus.

 Iolaus was silent for a moment. "Actually, Autolycus. She's a lot like
you in many ways."

 "Oh really?" Autolycus chuckled, "In what ways?"

 "Well, she's proud and stubborn, that's for sure. She can be manipulative
to get what she wants, but she`s got a good heart." Taking a bite of his
partridge, Iolaus added, "And she's passionate."

 Autolycus sat up and pointed toward Iolaus in a gentle warning. "Hey,
watch it buddy, that`s my daughter you`re talking about." 

 For sixteen years he had kept her existence secret, his thoughts of her
only his own. Finally, it was the first time he could speak of her in such
an intimate way and although it had to be disclosed to Iolaus, his
interminable antagonist, it still felt good. 

 Autolycus shifted into a reclining position in front of the fire. He
rested his head on his arm. "What's her favorite color?" he asked.

 Iolaus thought about it for a while. "I know she hates turquoise, but not
as much as she hates pink."

 "You're kidding?" Autolycus answered, "Then why in Tartarus did she wear
the dress I gave her to the festival?" he asked.

 "Dress?"

 Autolycus nodded, exhaustion creeping into his words, "Yeah, you know
that expensive one-of-a-kind silk number she wore today. Every year for
the festival, I would send her a special dress. That way I'd be able to
spot her easily in the crowd." 

 "How long have you been going to the festival?" Iolaus asked in surprised
curiosity.

 Autolycus sighed. "Since she was nine. After all, what kind of a thief
would I be if I didn't at least try to steal a glimpse of her growing up?
Before that, I used to send her little trinkets I would pick up here and
there; things I thought my little girl would like. With Amphithea gone, I
wanted to be some part of her life, however unapparent that may be."
Autolycus smiled half-heartedly at his play on words. 

 "I'm sorry about Amphithea." Iolaus said, "So you're her secret admirer?"
Iolaus asked.

 "Uh huh," Autolycus yawned. "Secret, yeah. And it'll have to stay that
way. If she found out the King of Thieves sent her that dress, you'll soon
be seeing me wearing it--around my neck as a noose. She hates me, you
know."

 "Anticlea doesn't hate you," Iolaus countered wondering where his sudden
diffidence was coming from. "Heck, she doesn`t even know you, other than
what I`ve told her about you."

 Iolaus was suddenly quiet, realizing the impact his confession had on the
thief.

 "Why does it not surprise me that you, of all people, would poison my own
daughter against me. Still can`t get over what happened in Scyros, can
you?" Autolycus said in distain. 

 "Aw, come on Autolycus. First of all, I didn't know she was your
daughter." Then Iolaus deciphered what really had the thief stirred up,
"You're not talking about her story are you? Come on. She was just
entertaining the children. You know kids today. Monsters don't frighten
them like they used to-- probably because Hercules has managed to kill
every one of them. Today they need a good guy and a bad guy to root for." 

 "Yeah, but why did she have to make me the bad guy?" Autolycus asked.

 Iolaus' voice rose in exasperation, "You're a thief, Autolycus. You're
always the bad guy," then he looked at the shattered face of the thief and
his voice softened, "well, most of the time."

 "No, you're right, Iolaus," he said as he waved the hunter off, "I know
that. I just don`t want her to know that, seeing that the King of Thieves
is also her old man."

 Iolaus frowned. "Get some sleep, Autolycus. Things will look better in
the morning."

 "Yeah," Autolycus answered, yawning again, "maybe a little shuteye would
be nice." The thief closed his eyes, and asked in exhaustion, "Did I do
the right thing, Iolaus? Is Anticlea happy?" The thief was asleep before
the words were practically out.

 Iolaus stretched out in front of the fire, hoping to get some sleep
himself. Knowing Autolycus couldn't hear him, he still answered the thief,
"She seems happy, Autolycus. She seems very happy."

 $$$$$$$$$$

 Hoffus and his men had stopped by the fork in the road to let their
horses rest. By then, the men had slowed their rides to an easy trot,
figuring they had put enough distance between themselves and the town. 

 Anticlea was quiet and subdued, but she had not surrendered. She was
carefully studying her captors. Hoffus seemed to have a tight control over
his toadies, as they looked to him for every little step in the abduction.
It was clear that her kidnapping was not thoroughly planned and Anticlea
decided that she could work that to her advantage.

 Hoffus stopped and turned to Cendus, "Send a message to King Barchan.
Tell him: Hoffus, son of the warlord Titias, has his daughter and will
exact revenge for the murder of his father."

 "Whose daughter?" Cendus queried.

 "Barchan's daughter," Hoffus sighed annoyed.

 Cendus nodded his head in understanding. He repeated the message back to
Hoffus to make sure he had understood the message completely. "Okay, let
me get this straight: `Hoffus, son of the warlord Titias has Barchan's
daughter and will exact revenge for the murder of his father`?" Cendus
queried again.

 "My father," Hoffus answered.

 "Your father, not his father?" Cendus asked again, pointing to imaginary
figures in front of him in confusion.

 "That's right, you moron. Titias is my father not Barchan's father."

 "I know that, but whose murder are you going to exact revenge upon, your
father, or his father?"

 Hoffus began to turn red with fury. "Just give him the message."

 Cendus nodded reluctantly. "Okay, fine. But don't blame me if he doesn't
understand it," he mumbled conspiratorially to himself. He turned his
steed toward the path that lead back to the village and galloped off.

 "I'm not speaking some crazy foreign language like English, am I?" He
turned and asked rhetorically. "I mean, it certainly sounds Greek to me." 

 Not expecting nor wanting an answer, Hoffus then dug his heels into the
side of his mount and raced down the path continuing to hold Anticlea
tightly against him.

 As night fell, the woods in front of the kidnappers had quickly become
dark. Hoffus realized they could no longer traverse the woods in safety
and began looking for a favorable but well hidden place to camp. Finding a
clearing behind a thick copse of trees, Hoffus quickly dismounted and
hauled Anticlea down from his horse. Carrying her over his shoulder, he
unceremoniously dropped her down on the ground next to a tree. 

 The princess rubbed her rump as she glared up at Hoffus. He instructed
Tomis to unbridle his horse and used the rawhide restraints to tie her
arms behind the tree.

 The three men quickly built a fire and huddled around the warming flame,
leaving Anticlea tied to the tree. Their conversations were strained and
whispered, as Hoffus would often turn around and gaze at his captive.

 Still early in the spring, the afternoons were warm, but the daytime heat
would evaporate into the atmosphere as the sun went down causing the
nights to become bitterly cold. 

 Anticlea was far enough away from the fire to receive none of it's
warming benefits and she shivered in the cold.

 Hours had passed when Anticlea finally asked through chattering teeth,
"What do you plan to do with me?"

 Sauntering up to his captive, Hoffus bent down. He looked into her deep
brown eyes and answered in a sadistic laugh. "Didn't you hear me? I plan
on killing you to send a message to your father."

 "King Barchan?" Anticlea asked.

 "That's right, King Barchan." Hoffus spat. "Thirteen years ago, he
ordered some little warrior punk by the name of Iolaus to kill my father.
I believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life or
more precisely, a father for a daughter. Don`t you?" Hoffus asked tilting
his head and smiling with cold, calculated intent.

 "Perhaps. Except King Barchan is not my father," Anticlea announced
calmly.

 "What?" He asked in clear annoyance, "You are Anticlea, the Princess of
Ionia, aren`t you?" Hoffus asked, fearing that his men misunderstood their
information thereby prompting him to kidnap the wrong victim.

 "Yes, I am. But King Barchan is not my father."

 "Then who is?" Hoffus asked.

 Anticlea lowered her head in shame and answered, "Autolycus: The King of
Thieves."

 The sinister glare that Hoffus had delivered told Anticlea that his
threat to kill her should be taken quite seriously. Hoffus was not playing
a game. His argument was against her father. But, thank the gods, as far
as she knew; he continued to remain safe and protected in his palace,
where Hoffus could not reach him. As long as she was tied to King Barchan,
she was threatened from his ill conceived and poorly planned retribution,
so to diffuse the situation, Anticlea decided to disavow her relationship
with her father. 

 She quickly ran through the gambit of eligible men to suddenly call
`daddy`. She thought of naming Iolaus as her father, but couldn't put him
in jeopardy considering he was named as being Titias' executioner. She
thought of Hercules, but who could believe she was the daughter to the
demigod. Finally, Anticlea's thoughts lit on the King of Thieves.

 Using the thief's name in vain may make Hoffus think twice about seeking
retribution. Anticlea figured that kidnapping the daughter of someone as
vile and corrupt as the King of Thieves would be at best ineffectual. From
the pictures that she had conjured up of Autolycus, she was sure he would
never risk his nefarious reputation by attempting a rescue of his daughter
or even care if she was murdered.

 "It's really a sad tale," Anticlea began. "My mother was traveling to
Scyros to do some volunteer work for the Widows and Orphan's fund. King
Barchan begged her not to go, seeing that they had just gotten married and
hadn't consummated their marriage yet. Kings, always busy," she announced
flippantly as she rolled her eyes in dismay.

 Hoffus laughed sardonically, "Yeah, maiming and murdering."

 "The road to Scyros was dangerous, filled with all sorts of robbers and
cutthroats, not the least of whom was Autolycus. Have you ever met the
King of Thieves?" Anticlea asked conversationally to gage his knowledge of
the despicable thief. She took the blank stare she received from Hoffus as
no and continued.

 "Traveling alone down the main road, my mother saw a figure lying in the
road. Of course, she stopped to help and when she did Autolycus jumped up
and demanded everything my mother had." 

 "The small beady eyes and look of depraved hunger on his face told
Amphithea that he meant business." Anticlea said as tried to embellish the
story by remembering the thief's weapon of choice, but could only remember
it was a hook of some kind. She went through the logical choices:
shepherd's, fish, crochet. Finally she said, "He carried with him a large
meat hook that he threatened her with."

 Long before she began her tale of woe, Anticlea had been gently working
on the rawhide ropes that had her hands bound. She had wedged the knot
onto a broken stem along the base of the tree trunk and was gently pulling
the strap, stretching it ever so slightly until she could free her hands.

 "When he discovered my mother carried no gems or money, he did what any
vile thief would do," Anticlea said as she forced tears from her eyes, "he
took the one thing she could give him, her virginity. He...he de-flowered
her."

 Anticlea lowered her head to her knees and began sobbing uncontrollably.

 Hoffus spoke up, "You know, I just don't believe you," He said as he
stared down at his victim. His voice was filled with such saccharine that
Anticlea knew not a hint of her lie had gotten through. "Because Autolycus
carries a grappling hook, not a meat hook." 

 He thumped her head in meanness. Slowly, Anticlea lifted her head and
gave him a searing look as she continued to work on the damnable strap.

 "Oh, all right," she confessed, her demeanor changed in an instant. The
sobbing stopped and a sinister grin crossed her face. "That's not the
truth. Truth is, my father hates me. I've been a big disappointment to
him. I don't think he's ever forgiven me for that nasty little
assassination attempt on him last summer," Anticlea mused, "You'd actually
be doing him a favor by killing me."

 Hoffus shook his head and laughed wickedly. "I can understand why, but
you know, I still don't believe you."

 Anticlea finally got her hands released. "Fine," she answered before she
slammed her foot into Hoffus' groin. "Would you believe this?"

 Hoffus doubled over in pain as Anticlea rose and ran toward the woods,
hoping the primeval darkness of the thicket would protect her.

 "Get her!" Hoffus croaked.

 Tomis and Hoffus' other toady began running after Anticlea as Hoffus
writhed on the ground in pain. Her athletic skill kept her in the lead,
but the men kept pace and continued to keep her close within their sights.

 Anticlea tore through the underbrush trying to keep her distance from the
two men chasing her.

 The brambles and the vines whipped at her legs as she struggled through
the thicket. Low slung branches slashed at her face. She tripped over
exposed roots, and believed the forest was punishing her with it's own
retribution, but she continued to keep a safe distance between her and her
captors. Still, after long hours in the chilled air, she was quickly
tiring.

 As Anticlea entered an open field she turned around once more and saw
Hoffus in the distance. The assault on his groin was driving him to catch
up to his vagarious victim for which he now shared a personal enmity.
Although she couldn't see them, she could imagine the rage in his eyes,
not only because she had gotten away, but also because she had assaulted
him in the most intimately painful way.

 Anticlea felt like she had been running for an eternity. Her muscles
burned with exertion and she wondered how much longer she could run before
her legs would give out. Then she saw the flicker of a dim firelight in
the distance. Knowing she could be running into another set of despicable
outlaws, she weighed her options and headed toward the flame.

 Iolaus had tried to sleep, but the tossing, turning and low moans from
the thief kept the hunter awake. He could understand that Autolycus was
having a fitful night, what with his injury and his long-kept secret
finally being revealed, but Iolaus was even more astounded that the thief
could be just as annoying asleep as he was awake. He turned his attention
from Autolycus when he heard the sound of rushing footsteps and rustling
in the thicket of brush beyond him. He quickly got up and shook Autolycus
awake.

 "Hey, get up. I think we've got company." Iolaus said.

 "Huh, what?" Autolycus answered in a sleepy fog, but then became fully
alert when he heard the sound of not only one set of footsteps, but
several moving toward him. As a thief, it was a sound he was intimately
familiar with.

 The thief got up and immediately readied his grappling hook. At that
moment, he was very glad that his injury was on his right side and not his
left. The jerking motion that he had to use to summon the grapple would
have been impossible if the injury had happened to the left side.

 Autolycus turned just as Anticlea erupted through the bushes. She
immediately recognized Iolaus and ran toward him. 

 "Incoming," she gasped as she pointed to the bushes from which she had
just escaped. Anticlea stood along the edge of the encampment with her
hands on her knees, panting and trying to get back some of the breath that
the chase had taken away.

 Iolaus pushed her behind him protectively and set himself for the melee
that was sure to follow.

 Autolycus stepped back also readying himself for the assault. He let the
lead on his grapple fall several inches. Looking up at a tall branch that
hung over the campsite, he began swinging the grappling hook in a low
circle, and then he let it go. The grapple wrapped around the branch.

 Tomis was the first of Hoffus' men to escape from the bushes. Taller and
thinner than his compatriots, his long legs carried him farther. His look
of surprise when he saw Iolaus and Autolycus waiting for him gave Iolaus
the advantage he needed. Inches from the kidnapper, Iolaus produced a hook
of his own, a right hook to the side of Tomis' jaw.

 The kidnapper's head snapped to the right. He touched his jaw and then
smiled at Iolaus with evil intent. Tomis brought out a knife from the back
of his belt and quickly swiped it at Iolaus' midsection. The blonde
warrior was forced to retreat from the attack by falling back toward the
fire. Tomis lunged again. Iolaus rolled away from the man's advance and
picked up a smoldering stick from the fire. Rising safely from a distance,
Iolaus began his own advance with the only weapon available to him, a hot,
smoldering hand staff.

 Iolaus waved it in front of Tomis, urging him back. The choking smoke was
effective in drawing the kidnapper into a corner. Tomis tried one more
offensive attack, swiping again at Iolaus' midsection with the tip of the
knife. As Tomis lunged toward Iolaus, the hunter forced his weapon down by
blocking the blow with the burning stick then he turned toward the
kidnapper.

 Iolaus forced an elbow to the face and followed with a swipe to the legs
to bring him down. The hunter soon made quick work of Tomis. 

 Autolycus spit in his hands and readied himself for the next kidnapper to
come through the bushes. As the kidnapper emerged, the thief grabbed his
grappling line and swung himself toward the man.

 He grimaced in pain as the force of his own weight coupled with the taped
ribs and outstretched arm reminded him of his recent injury.

 Autolycus' feet hit the kidnapper directly in the solar plexus lifting
him off the ground and causing him to fall backward into a tree trunk. The
kidnapper's breath was knocked out of him, thereby ending his attack. 

 Hoffus watched from the bushes at how quickly the blonde and the brunette
dispatched his men. But his distain for the two fighters could never
replace his hatred toward Anticlea and her father. He still intended to
make good on the promise he had delivered to King Barchan, so he circled
the group and snuck up behind Anticlea, intent on recapturing his prize.

 Gripping his side in renewed pain, Autolycus turned toward Anticlea and
saw Hoffus coming up behind her. He was within a hair's breath of grabbing
her.

 "Clea, watch out," Autolycus shouted.

 Startled, Anticlea stood up and turned toward the dark haired man. She
was surprised to hear her pet name of "Clea". Her mother had given her the
nickname, but because she was a princess, her parents were the only ones
that were permitted to use it.

 "What'd you call me?" Anticlea asked the instant before Hoffus wrapped
his arms around her neck in a chokehold.

 "I swear. Back off or I'll kill her," Hoffus announced with murderous
intent gleaming in his eyes.

 The hold was a classic wrestling move, one that Morson enjoyed using on
Anticlea endlessly. There were several methods of diffusing the hold and
putting the advantage back onto her and Morson had taught the princess
every one. Anticlea was not afraid to wrestle. 

 Anticlea gave Iolaus a knowing smile. Grabbing Hoffus' arms for leverage,
she bent over and rolled, forcing the man who was twice her size onto the
ground. Using his own taut muscles against him, she grabbed one arm and
the opposite leg and forced them toward his back, pushing them with the
leverage of her own weight until the breaking point.

 "Say Uncle," she commanded.

 Hoffus fought against her and almost succeeded in toppling her over but
Iolaus quickly came to her rescue. He allowed Anticlea to relinquish the
hold she had on Hoffus, as her weight was replaced by his own. "Say Uncle
Iolaus," the hunter directed in Hoffus` ear.

 "Iolaus," Hoffus hissed, "I should have known that that evil she-devil of
a princess would be in league with you. You killed my father."

 "Killed your father?" Iolaus asked and then looked at Anticlea. "Do you
know what he is talking about?"

 "According to Hoffus here, you killed his father, Titias thirteen years
ago by the order of my father."

 Iolaus looked back at Anticlea mulling over the statement and
questioning. "Thirteen years ago?" Then Iolaus pulled Hoffus' arm tighter,
"You think I killed Titias?"

 "Didn't you?" Hoffus spat.

 "I brought Titias to justice, yes, after he kidnapped and murdered Queen
Amphithea, Anticlea's mother and King Barchan's wife. Fearing retaliation
from King Barchan, your king ordered Titias to death, not King Barchan."

 Anticlea only had vague memories of her mother, so she could listen to
the retrospective of Amphithea's death with detached interest. Still the
ironic connection between her kidnapping and her mother's did not go
unnoticed. She wondered how twisted it was that the son of her mother's
kidnapper and murderer would commit the same torture to her family some
thirteen years later. She chewed her lip thinking of the torment that her
father must be going through. He was probably consumed with worry, still
unaware that she was safe.

 Autolycus was watching Anticlea. He had often imagined what he might have
said to his daughter if he ever had the chance to meet her. He had
rehearsed his speech in his mind, going over it, refining it, but the day
had come and the usually verbose thief was tongue-tied. For years,
Autolycus had only seen his daughter from a distance and spied on her from
afar. Only the space of the campfire had separated the two now. Without an
inkling of what he was going to say, Autolycus found himself approaching
his daughter. 

 "Anticlea...I...That is, you...I just wanted to say..." Finally giving up
Autolycus asked, "Are you okay?" 

 She turned and regarded the stranger in front of her. His dark,
beseeching eyes showed an odd combination of pain and wonder as he
scrutinized her face. He was staring, as if looking desperately for
something.

 Autolycus saw a scratch on her cheek and reached up to blot the trickle
of blood away. Being so close to her, he wanted desperately to touch her,
but certainly felt that kissing away her injury would have been slightly
inappropriate considering their relative unfamiliarity with each other. As
he raised his hand to her face, she flinched away from the stranger.

 The thief backed up as he withdrew his hand. He pointed feebly toward the
scratch. "You have a nasty, little gash...on your cheek, over there," he
said dismayed.

 Anticlea nodded and put her hand up to wipe away the blood. "I'll be
okay," she answered him, still apprehensive about his staring, "I'm just
worried about my father. He doesn't even know that I'm safe."

 Autolycus was hoping to find some connection to the young girl that stood
before him, but the wary and worried look on her face reminded Autolycus
that although he had always considered her his daughter, he most certainly
was not her father, nor would ever be. 

 "Your father," Autolycus answered almost choking on the words in
resentment, "Good old King Barchan."

 "Did you know him?" Anticlea asked, "Did you know my father?"

 Autolycus was compelled to answer, "As well as I know myself," but his
thought was interrupted by Iolaus, who very much wanted to hog tie the
kidnapper underneath him.

 "I need a rope. Got any rope?" he asked Autolycus.

 Autolycus was glad for the momentary distraction. He turned toward
Iolaus, opened his outer tunic and pointed to his various accouterments.
"Rope, manacles, fetters, straight jacket, muzzle...which I'm surprised I
haven't used on you, yet...grappling line." He pulled out a lariat of rope
and threw it toward Iolaus.

 Anticlea looked at Autolycus with curiosity hearing the list of the
varying restraints he had in his possession. "A magistrate?" she asked.

 "Not exactly," Autolycus answered and then added in lament, "Although, in
my line of work, I've come close to hanging with a few.

 Anticlea smiled warily and sat down to warm herself by the fire.

 $$$$$$$$$$

 King Barchan would have like to have set out to find Anticlea on his own,
but his advisors sternly objected. When Morson agreed to accompany him,
King Barchan reluctantly accepted. He surmised any more time spent arguing
with the old fuddy-duddies would cost him precious time looking for
Anticlea, and Morson made an agreeable companion when he wasn't constantly
talking about wrestling. 

 A fair tracker himself, Barchan and Morson continued their quest until
the darkness of the woods became impenetrable. The two men, eager to get
out and not fully prepared for a day-long search, set up an impromptu
camp. As Morson worked to build a fire, Barchan's thoughts quickly turned
to Autolycus, Anticlea and Amphithea.

 He worried just what kind of lies the thief would tell Anticlea if he
managed to rescue her. He was sure that the thief must harbor some
animosity for the man that raised his daughter. It was for that reason
that Barchan chose to go and search for Anticlea, himself. He wanted to
find his daughter before Autolycus did.

 Idealistic as a young king, Barchan had thought he could give both the
beautiful Amphithea and her child a better life than even the hubristic
thief could have imagined. In the end, Amphithea was unhappy in the
exigent and forced marriage and then later killed, so Anticlea grew up
deprived of her mother. Now, it appeared Anticlea could well suffer the
same murderous fate as Amphithea. The luxury of being the wife and
daughter of a king may have cost both of them their lives.

 Barchan paced as he wondered if Autolycus could have made a better home
for Amphithea and Anticlea. He knew the thief loved them both, and his
decision to walk away from them must have been a hard choice to make.
Autolycus may have tried but could never make Amphithea understand the
reasons behind his sacrifice, because it was Autolycus whom she loved. As
for his daughter, Anticlea was never far from the thief`s mind. Barchan
had always suspected Autolycus was Anticlea's secret admirer and his
presence in Ionia at the festival confirmed it. 

 The king could well imagine both Amphithea and Anticlea with Autolycus,
constantly on the run but alive and happy. 

 "A dinar for your thoughts," Morson responded in the quiet of the woods.
He warmed his hands by the fire. He could tell the king was consumed with
thoughts of Anticlea.

 Barchan smiled back as best he could. It was a sad smile but one filled
with hope. "Ah, but Morson, you know my Anticlea is priceless."

 Morson nodded. He had quite a crush on the young princess.

 Barchan sighed as Morson yawned trying to stay alert and ready for his
king. 

 "Try to get some sleep, son." Barchan commanded. "I'll stand watch. I
can't sleep anyway. We'll start again at twilight."

 $$$$$$$$$

 "Need some help?" Autolycus asked as he watched Iolaus hauling Tomis to
his feet and then forcing him to sit beside the other kidnapper along the
base of a tree. Iolaus began binding the two kidnappers hands together.
Once they were sufficiently bound together, he bound them to the tree for
good measure.

 The thief really had no interest in helping Iolaus and had waited to the
last possible moment to offer his help. But, nonetheless, at least this
way Iolaus couldn't say he didn't offer. Instead, the thief's eyes focused
on Anticlea, his mind lost in thought. So much so that Autolycus couldn't
hear Iolaus' answer to the thief's request to help.

 "Autolycus, you're staring," Iolaus whispered as walked past the thief,
pushing Hoffus toward the tree.

 "Oh, yeah. Right." Autolycus answered and then turned away nervously. The
thief was torn. Moments were spent with a litany of different emotions:
anger, sadness, regret, embarrassment and pride. 

 Anticlea watched the dark haired man and the watchful gaze he had on her.

 Once securing the kidnappers to the tree, Iolaus tugged on the line once
for good measure and then joined Anticlea by the fire. He sat down beside
her and laid a reassuring hand on her arm, "It looks like you fought some
kind of battle, there." he said as he gently touched the skin beneath the
scratch with his thumb. "I'm glad to see you're safe. So, how did you
manage to escape from those bruisers?"

 Autolycus followed Iolaus to the fire and sat down next to the hunter,
keeping the flame between himself and his daughter. He watched intently as
Iolaus traced his thumb under the scratch on Anticlea's cheek.
Uncomfortable with the closeness he and his daughter shared, he picked up
a stick and began drawing in the dirt to avoid the crushing scene.

 "I'm fine." Anticlea answered eying Autolycus as he played in the dirt.
"As for escaping, once I got my hands free, I kicked Hoffus where the sun
don't shine, and then ran like Tartarus."

 Iolaus grimaced at the thought of being kicked in the groin as Autolycus
laughed halfheartedly and replied in a proud but hushed voice, "That's my
girl." 

 "What did you say?" Anticlea countered.

 "Uh, he said `atta girl. Didn't you buddy, " Iolaus interjected, giving
Autolycus a warning glance and a friendly slap on the shoulder.

 Iolaus knew Autolycus could be just as impetuous as his daughter and the
hunter had a real fear that once the selfish thief had met Anticlea, he
wouldn't be able to hold his secret for long.

 "Yeah, right, sure, whatever," Autolycus mumbled.

 Anticlea watched the sideward glances and the forced smiles and knew
there was some burning secret shared between the two men. Being female and
the only one on that side of the camp not privy to the secret, Anticlea
pushed for some answers.

 "So, Iolaus," Anticlea prefaced, "Who's your creepy friend over there?"

 Iolaus sighed suspecting the heightened reaction the princess would have
once she found out who he was keeping company with, "Are you sure you want
to know?" Iolaus asked as Autolycus pulled his head up in panic.

 "I asked, didn`t I?" she bristled.

 "Anticlea, meet Autolycus." He then turned to Autolycus and sighed again.
"Autolycus...Anticlea."

 Autolycus waved weakly as Anticlea's eyes widened in surprise.

 "Autolycus? The King of Thieves? That Autolycus?" she asked pointing
indignantly at the thief.

 "The one and only," Iolaus answered in resignation.

 Rising like a phoenix from hot ashes, Anticlea stood and demanded, "Get
him out of my camp!"

 "Whoa, hold it. Wait a minute," Autolycus said as he jumped up in
protest. He gripped his side in pain, "your camp?"

 Iolaus was quick to follow the two to a standing position, "First of
all," Iolaus objected, "this is my camp..."

 "Our camp," Autolycus corrected.

 "...Okay, our camp and I say..."

 "We say," the thief interrupted. 

 Iolaus glowered at him. "...we say who comes and goes. I know you don't
trust Autolycus but to spite what you think of him, he came along to try
to rescue you."

 Autolycus opened his mouth and was about to protest when Iolaus countered
with, "Who's telling this story, Autolycus?"

 "You are," he answered, "and you're doing a lousy job of it too, Shorty.
Came along? You`re the one who `came along`." Autolycus pronounced.

 "Yeah, rescue me?" Anticlea objected over the din of Autolycus. "you
know, I thought I was doing a pretty good job of rescuing myself. I didn`t
need his help."

 Iolaus raised his arms in an effort to quiet the cacophony of the two.
"Will you two shush? Can I get a word in edgewise? Sheesh, you two even
argue alike."

 Autolycus quieted. Anticlea, however, did not. Taking advantage of the
silence she continued with her tirade. "You know what, I don't care if he
was trying to rescue me." Anticlea prefaced. "I still don't like him. He's
a thief and a liar and he keeps staring at me," she answered as she
shifted her top up to make sure she was adequately covered. "How can you
associate with him after what he did to you?"

 "It's a long story, but I've forgiven Autolycus."

 "Fine. You forgive him," Anticlea said with resignation, "I still don't
want him around. So, ask him to leave."

 "Anticlea, I'm not going to ask him to leave."

 "Fine," she said, "If you won't ask him to leave, then I'll leave."

 "Aw, come on. You don't mean that," Iolaus answered.

 "Oh, I don't?" she responded, "Just watch me." Anticlea turned on one
heel in anger. She walked past Autolycus, giving him a caustic look and
then headed out of the encampment. 

 "Did I mention she was stubborn?" Iolaus asked as they both watched her
leave.

 Autolycus raised his hands in frustration. "Now you did it, Iolaus. Boy,
talk about your royal temper fit. Where does she get that from?" Autolycus
asked then turned to the hunter, "This is all your fault." 

 "Did what? And how exactly is this my fault?" Iolaus asked.

 "I know I could have won her over with my natural charisma," Autolycus
began but was interrupted by Iolaus' disbelieving snorting, "But no...you
had to take my side, and you know what Anticlea thinks of me. Now, she's
mad at both of us." 

 "You think?" Iolaus asked mockingly.

 "How am I supposed to win her over, now?" Autolycus asked as he pointed
toward the area she was last seen.

 Anticlea wasn't serious about leaving the campground, but she didn't want
to be in the company of Autolycus, either. Iolaus always had a forgiving
nature, but Anticlea still could not forget how the thief left Iolaus to
be executed for a crime he didn't commit. 

 Fuming as she left the encampment, she wasn`t aware of how dark and
foreboding the woods were away from the firelight. She stood shivering in
the cold listening to the mumbling sounds of Iolaus and Autolycus talking
in the backdrop.

 The loud hoot of an owl above her startled Anticlea and she came running
back to the encampment, putting a quick halt to her excited steps once she
reached the perimeter. 

 Not wanting Iolaus or Autolycus to see her frightened, she smoothed her
turquoise skirt against her legs and then sauntered over to the
kidnappers.

 Anticlea stopped at the tree and regarded the three brutes. Since Iolaus
didn't run after her, it was clear that he didn't take her threat
seriously. Now, instead of being angry with just one of the men, she was
irritated at both. 

 Coming up with an alternate plan, she smiled wickedly and asked Hoffus,
"Mind if I join you?"

 The kidnapper snarled in response.

 "I'll take that as a yes," she said as she glanced toward Iolaus and
Autolycus still standing by the fire. "I hope I didn't hurt you earlier in
the day," she said with saccharine sweetness. Then she bent down and
whispered to him, "you know it was just business, kneeing you in the
macadamia's and all." 

 She kicked the side of the buttocks of Hoffus and Tomis with her foot so
that they would move over. Anticlea then sat down, squeezing tightly in
between the two. "This is cozy," she said as she looked to Hoffus and then
to Tomis. Finally, she glanced toward Iolaus, and nodded in compliance to
the threat she had given him.

 The thief's back was facing Anticlea, and he didn't see her take up
residence with her three kidnappers. His spirit suddenly brightened as he
laughed, "The good news is, I think she's madder at you than she is at me.
Hey, with you on the outs, I might actually get a chance to get on her
good side." Autolycus slapped Iolaus on the shoulder in gratitude,
"Thanks, buddy."

 "I'd hold that thought," Iolaus told Autolycus as he pointed toward
Anticlea. "Looks like she'd rather keep company with the kidnappers than
the likes of us."

 Autolycus looked back. "Oh, now that's just being cruel," he answered
pointing toward her. 

 "You know, she's doing this just to get to you." Autolycus said. He
rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Maybe I should go talk to her.
You know, convince her she`s made a mistake. You know, socializing with
these backsliders."

 "Maybe you shouldn't." Iolaus answered back but he could see that
Autolycus had already made up his mind. "You're not going to say anything
stupid, are you?" Iolaus asked.

 "Yeah, Probably," Autolycus answered. With that, the thief left
protection of the fire.

 Anticlea was trying to fight off the chill by drawing her knees up to her
chest and wrapping her arms around them. Still, her arms were left
unprotected and she shivered in the cold night air.

 She watched as Autolycus approached, "What do you want?" Anticlea spat.

 Autolycus could see her shivering and took off his tunic. "Here, take
this," he said offering her his jacket. The black shirt was tucked
clumsily into his black leather pants and exposed his taped ribs. Anticlea
looked up and saw the bandages.

 "What happened?" she asked pointing toward his ribs.

 "Oh this, it's nothing," Autolycus answered.

 Seeing the result of his handiwork in the village, Hoffus laughed, and
responded proudly, "I fed your hero over there a little sole food when he
tried to rescue you."

 Autolycus pushed back the opening of his shirt so that more of the
bandaged ribs could be seen. If he couldn't receive Anticlea's love or
respect for trying to rescue her, at least he could possibly gain her
sympathy.

 He pointed to the wound. "Yeah, guess you could say he fed me some
foot-lay of sole."

 Anticlea smiled at the pathetic attempt at humor. 

 "You like that?" Autolycus asked, responding to her smile. "Hey, I`ve got
a million of them." 

 In response, she grabbed the jacket from Autolycus. Anticlea`s demeanor
softened, but her stubborn nature would not let her forgive the thief so
quickly. "I'm sorry you got hurt. Thank you." She said trying to finalized
the conversation. She wrapped his jacket around her arms. 

 "Well, I'll go now," Autolycus said as he lowered his head and turned
around. He took two steps and then waited a moment hoping against hope
that Anticlea would stop him from leaving. 

 Something about the thief's contrite demeanor and his promise to leave
made her respond. She got up from her spot between her two kidnappers and
stood next to Autolycus. "So there is honor among thieves? You`re going to
leave?" she said.

 "Well, you know," Autolycus prefaced, "The Thieves' Guild of Scyros would
revoke my charter membership if I didn't do at least one `less than
despicable' act a year."

 "Okay. Okay. I get your point." 

 "And?" Autolycus asked prodding her.

 "And I'll loose the right to call myself princess if I don't throw at
least one royal temper fit a year." She answered back as she hung her head
low and shuffled her foot in embarrassment.

 "You call that an apology?" Autolycus smiled, "Tell you what. I'll keep
your secret if you'll keep mine. Iolaus thinks he's reforming me."

 She smiled again as she wrapped the thief's tunic tightly around her. 

 Autolycus found himself watching her again, trying to pick out
similarities between Anticlea and her mother and himself. The casual
conversation gave him new hope and he grinned thoughtfully.

 "You're staring again, Autolycus," she warned.

 "Sorry," the thief said, diverting his eyes toward Iolaus. The hunter had
warned him, but he couldn't help it. His impetuosity was getting the best
of him, "you just remind me of my little girl."

 "You have a daughter?" Anticlea asked.

 "Yeah, a daughter," he uttered thoughtfully. "I haven't seen her in a
long time, but it's not hard to imagine that she'd be a lot like you."

 Anticlea blushed, wanting to think of something kind to say to the thief.
"Then, I'm sure she misses you. I grew up without my mother and I miss
her, even though my Dad has always tried to be there when I needed him."
Anticlea answered candidly.

 "Has he been good to you, King Barchan that is?" Autolycus asked,
suddenly needing to know. 

 "He tries," Anticlea answered suddenly shy, "But, you know, some things
you just can't talk to your dad about." She shifted her eyes to the ground
shuffling her foot in discomfiture again, "What would you say if your
daughter was with you now?"

 Autolycus spent little time thinking about it, he had already had sixteen
years. "I'd probably pull her into a tight hug and tell her how proud of
her I was." 

 He hesitated and then he sighed. "But alas, she's not here, is she? It's
just you and me."

 Anticlea nodded sadly, her teeth chattering from the cold.

 "Listen, Anticlea. Why don't we call a truce for tonight? You can go back
to the fire, warm up, and talk about me behind my back. I can stay here
and watch these bozos for you. Then, in the morning, I'll be on my way." 

 It had been a harrowing night, and Anticlea was too tired to argue with
him. 

 "Okay," she nodded reluctantly and turned to walk back to the campfire.
She turned back to check on Autolycus, but the thief had already found a
spot under an adjacent tree and settled in for the night.

 Iolaus watched Anticlea and Autolycus from the campfire. They seemed to
be having a friendly conversation, and the young girl had yet to raise her
voice or storm off. He could even see a smile dance across her face a
couple of times. Iolaus wondered if Autolycus was indeed using his charm
to win her over. He watched Anticlea nod and then turn to walk back to the
fire. Autolycus stayed behind.

 "Where's Autolycus?" Iolaus asked as Anticlea joined him by the fire.

 "He decided to stay behind." Anticlea answered.

 "I see," Iolaus said, eyeing the thief. "I really wish you would give him
a chance. Autolycus has a talent for getting into trouble, but his heart
is usually in the right place. He has been a good friend to Hercules and
myself when we've needed him to be."

 "I know." she said as she sat down next to the fire. "He reminds me of a
weed you`re trying to get rid of. You keep stomping on it, but it keeps
growing on you." 

 "Yep, that's Autolycus." Iolaus said as he sat next to her and drew her
into his arms, letting her head rest on his chest. He rubbed her arm as
she breathed a heavy sigh.

 "Try to get some sleep, okay?" Iolaus suggested and Anticlea nodded.

 The thief's head rested against the tree as he watched the deep purple of
the night sky slowly transform into daylight. He never thought being so
near to his daughter would be so excruciatingly painful. It must have been
the reason he had kept his distance for so many years. 

 He had made a promise to Anticlea, and had decided he had to keep it.
Once Iolaus woke, Autolycus would leave. He just hoped that Anticlea would
still be asleep when he made his farewell, but for now he shared his time
with watching the morning unfold and his daughter sleeping peacefully
against Iolaus` side.

 He was lost in his own thoughts when he heard the thunder of hoof beats
in the distance. He rose from the base of the tree, groaning at his stiff
muscles and the annoying pain in his side. He walked over to the
encampment, where Iolaus and Anticlea slept. The hunter's arm was wrapped
protectively around Anticlea. 

 Autolycus gently shook Iolaus awake.

 "What is it?" Iolaus asked in annoyance, his sleep being interrupted by
Autolycus for a second time in one evening.

 Autolycus whispered, trying to allow Anticlea more time to sleep.
"Horses, coming this way," he answered.

 "At this hour?" Iolaus asked. He knew it could only be a search party
sent out to look for Anticlea or the errant kidnapper coming back with
reinforcements. Iolaus carefully lifted Anticlea's arms away from his
chest, cognizant of the disapproving and yearning face of the thief.

 "Do you want to keep her company while I go check?" Iolaus asked, but his
gentle jostling and the familiarity of his voice brought Anticlea awake.

 "What's going on?" she asked looking to Iolaus and then to Autolycus.

 "Horses. Heading this way." Iolaus answered, "Autolycus, keep an eye on
Anticlea while I check it out. Be ready," he warned.

 "I know Iolaus is a little soft in the brains but does he also make a
good pillow?" Autolycus asked still stinging from the sight.

 "Good enough," Anticlea answered as she got up and dusted herself off.

 Iolaus walked out of the perimeter of the encampment and into the field.
He drew his sword but quickly sheathed it when he saw the two riders
heading toward him. He recognized the one in the front by the heraldic
symbol on the muzzle of his horse. It was King Barchan.

 The hunter waved toward the two riders. Barchan saw the blonde man and
galloped toward him. The two riders stopped as they reached his side.

 "Anticlea, have you found her?" Barchan asked with no preamble.

 "She's safe," Iolaus said as he pointed toward the encampment.

 "Thank the gods!" Barchan breathed. "And the kidnappers? We found their
encampment abandoned and feared the worse."

 "Captured."

 Barchan nodded as he kicked his horse to a trot toward the encampment. He
was quick to confirm that his daughter was safe. Morson followed at a
slower pace with Iolaus walking behind him. 

 Barchan jumped off of his mount even before it came to a halt when he saw
Anticlea beside the thief.

 "Daddy," Anticlea yelled and came running to him. She held him in a tight
embrace. 

 "It's okay pumpkin. Everything is okay," Barchan said and took his
Anticlea's head in his hands, tenderly pulling it away from his chest. He
kissed the top of her forehead as he examined her face for any untold
horrors she may have experienced. 

 Morson got off of his mount and patted Anticlea affectionately on her
shoulder. The young girl turned around and gave Morson an affectionate hug
before returning to her father's side.

 Morson stood by Iolaus as Autolycus reluctantly walked up to the family
reunion. The thief's eyes remained downcast, not willing to view the
obvious affection between Anticlea and Barchan.

 "Iolaus. Again, you have come to my family's rescue. Thank you," Barchan
announced.

 "I'm glad to have been there to help, King Barchan."

 Barchan turned to the King of Thieves. "Autolycus," he acknowledged, "I
see you've had the chance to meet my daughter, Anticlea."

 Autolycus looked up and opened his mouth to answer but hesitated. "Yes I
have, Barchan. She's a great kid. I little pigheaded for my taste, but you
have done a fine job raising her."

 "Daddy?" Anticlea prefaced looking up at her father, "Do you know
Autolycus?"

 Barchan looked at Autolycus as he spoke. "I knew him a long time ago,
pumpkin. He once gave me something very precious to keep for him."

 Autolycus turned away, finding something more interesting on the ground
behind him until he could force his eyes to clear. Hearing the kindness in
the voice of King Barchan brought on a new set of emotion. 

 Iolaus, understanding the gist of the veiled conversation also looked
away.

 "Was it a gem?" Anticlea asked looking from the thief to the king hoping
for some momentary intrigue.

 Both Barchan and Autolycus began to hem and haw around the answer.
"Um..." Autolycus faltered and then nodded in sync with Barchan`s
agreeable nod, "Yes...yes, I think you can safely say it was a gem."

 "A stolen gem?" Anticlea asked looking up at her father.

 "Um...well..." Barchan stammered.

 Autolycus came to the King`s rescue. "Stolen has such a negative
connotation, don`t you think? I prefer permanently appropriated or
borrowed." The thief finished as his hand moved to suavely stroke his
mustache.

 "You'll never change, will you, Autolycus?" Anticlea asked.

 "What? And ruin my sterling reputation?" the thief answered.

 "You mean your reputation for stealing sterling, don't you," Iolaus
answered back.

 "Ha, ha," Autolycus sneered.

 Barchan turned toward Morson eager to get his daughter back to the safety
of the palace. "Morson, see to the prisoners," he commanded then he looked
down at Anticlea once more. He smiled at his daughter as he patted her
upper arm in encouragement. 

 "I think it's time to say your goodbyes," he announced. Barchan allowed
Anticlea the opportunity to say her farewells in private. He mounted his
horse and patiently waited as his daughter walked toward Iolaus.

 "Uncle Iolaus," Anticlea said as she drew him into a loving embrace. "I'm
sorry we didn't get to spend much time together. Will you promise to come
to the festival next year? I can`t promise it`ll be as exciting as this
year's, but it`s bound to be more fun."

 "I`ll try," Iolaus promised, patting her reassuringly on the back.

 Anticlea released herself from his arms, not fully wanting to let go of
the warm embrace. She turned to Autolycus.

 "Hey kid, maybe I'll see ya around," Autolycus announced, jabbing at her
arm with his closed fist ostensibly in unconcerned play. He was trying to
set the tone for the sad goodbye.

 "Maybe," Anticlea answered demurely, and then said to herself, "Aw, what
the heck."

 She took two steps toward Autolycus and wrapped her arms around the
thief, squeezing hard. Autolycus winced in pain as her arm brushed past
his abused ribs. Surprised at the uninhibited sign of affection, Autolycus
looked toward Iolaus and Barchan. Barchan smiled and nodded his
acquiescence.

 The thief closed his eyes to keep the tears from escaping and tentatively
wrapped his arms around his long forfeited daughter. When he felt the hug
was genuine, he held on tightly, resting his cheek momentarily on the top
of her head. 

 "Thank you." Anticlea whispered and she pushed away from him. When she
separated from the thief, she could see the pain wrought on his face.
"Your ribs. Oh, I`m so sorry. I forgot."

 Autolycus tried to laugh. "You know what they say, no pain, no gain. It's
okay, Clea. I would have much rather had the hug.

 "Funny," Anticlea prefaced, "no one calls me Clea but my mom and dad and
you`ve done it twice in one day."

 Autolycus began to panic as he stumbled across his words. He was still
not comfortable with his newfound truce with his daughter, and wondered
what tirade would follow for his thoughtless faux pas.

 "I'm sorry...I didn't know...Anticlea, then"

 "No. It's okay," she said mulling it over, "Somehow it...feels okay." 

 Morson had come up beside the princess and tapped her on her shoulder.
"King Barchan tells me it's time for you to go."

 Anticlea nodded and reiterated as if the two men had not heard the
wrestler, "It's time to go." She followed Morson to his horse, turning
around once to wave goodbye. With Morson holding the reins, Anticlea
placed her foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself up, on to the beast.
She spurred the horse to stand beside her father's mount.

 "You ready to go?" Barchan asked. 

 She nodded her assent and then looked from Iolaus to Autolycus to Morson.
Without taking her eyes off of the three men, she kicked her horse to a
gallop. Barchan nodded to the three and he too, spurred his horse to a
full run.

 $$$$$$$$$$$$

 Autolycus, suddenly feeling magnanimous helped Iolaus quickly break camp.


 "Morson and I are going to be escorting the kidnappers back to the
village. Do you want to come?" Iolaus asked.

 "Huh?" Autolycus queried turning back toward the hunter. He picked up his
tunic- the same one that Anticlea had used to warm herself the night
before. It smelled of jasmine and ginger. The fragrance was a bit too
feminine for the King of Thieves, but he put the garment on anyway. He
hoped the delicate fragrance would linger, reminding him for some time of
the hours he spent with his daughter.

 "If it's the same to you, Iolaus, I think I need some time to myself."

 "Sure. I understand." Iolaus said as he began to kick the fire with dirt
to smother it. "Autolycus, are you going to be okay?"

 "Me? Why wouldn`t I?" came the thief's reply.

 "Because, I've seen you hurting before, that's why?"

 Iolaus walked up to Autolycus and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to say it again, Autolycus, but
I`m proud of you. You had plenty of chances to tell Anticlea who you are,
but you didn`t. 

 ""I wanted to," Autolycus answered back, "I just couldn't break
Anticlea's or Barchan's heart like that."

 Iolaus nodded assuredly. "Her father loves his daughter." 

 "I know he does." Autolycus answered, "So do I," he said almost silently.


 Iolaus looked toward Autolycus, but the thief's face was turned away from
him, so it was hard to gage his feelings. Still the tenderness in the
thief`s voice was hard to disguise. "I meant you, Autolycus." Iolaus said
as he finished with a smile. He patted the thief once more on the shoulder
and then walked toward Morson to help round up the prisoners for their
journey home. 

 Morson quickly went over and hauled the kidnappers up from the tree. He
pushed Hoffus toward Iolaus. Morson shoved the abductor with fury, hoping
the bound wrestler and orchestrator of Anticlea's kidnapping would fall
flat on his face. 

 "Easy there," Iolaus cautioned. "We wouldn't want him to have an accident
before his trial. Remember, they`re supposed to be the brutes." 

 Morson nodded reluctantly and quickly followed with the other two
prisoners. Autolycus watched the large wrestler struggling with his two
charges. Suddenly, the need to be alone in his misery escaped him.

 "Which do you want?" Morson asked Iolaus as he shoved the other two men
toward Hoffus.

 Autolycus came up and grabbed the binds of Hoffus. "I'll take this one,"
he answered.

 "Alright then," Iolaus nodded in approval. "Morson, you take Tomis, I'll
take this one." 

 As they headed out of the encampment, Iolaus pushed on the back of his
prisoner to match the thief's hurried stride.

 "Tell you what," Iolaus began, "I know a great tavern in town. Good food
and all the ale you can drink. We`ll deliver the kidnappers to the
authorities and then I`ll buy you an ale to help you nurse your own ails.
How does that sound?"

 "They don't serve grubs, do they?"

 "I told you they weren't grubs." Iolaus admonished.

 "Still tasted like grubs," Autolycus answered remembering the foul taste.
He pushed Hoffus ahead of Iolaus and his prisoner.

 "I'd like to see you do better, hunting in the dark," Iolaus answered.

 "Anytime, Shorty. Any time." Autolycus challenged as they slowly made
their way back to the village.

 THE END

  
   
 Please post a comment on this story.