Hercules Serpents Shadows by Timothy Boggs

There were hundreds of people in the square. The rich people sat nearest the council building. Hercules and Iolaus sat at a big table outside the doors of the council rooms.
Everybody's looking at us,' said Iolaus.
'Eat your food,' said Hercules. Jocasta Perical sat near him, but did not speak to him. Venitia sat next to Iolaus. 'How much time before ...?' Iolaus asked him.
' I don't know,' said Hercules. He saw somebody come and say something in Jocasta's ear, and her face went white. She got up quickly and took Titus with her.
Hercules waited for Titus and Jocasta to get to the council office doors, then he jumped up and followed them. He heard Jocasta say,'They found him by the cave. The other men weren't there.'
Titus saw Hercules and put a hand on Jocasta's arm. 'Hercules!' he said, and smiled. 'Let's sit down and — ' 'What did Hera say to you?' asked Hercules.
'What — what are you talking about?' said Titus.
Jocasta tried to leave, but Hercules stopped her. 'You know,' he said.
Suddenly,Titus was tired and old. He spoke quietly. 'Hera said, "I'm going to tell you to do things. Do them, or I'll kill your wife and daughter, and everybody in the city.'"
'Don't be angry with him, Hercules,' said Jocasta. 'Titus is a good man. He's good for Themon.' 'And the rebels?' asked Hercules.
' I started them,' said Jocasta. 'Titus didn't know about them before this year.'
Hercules looked at them. 'Now I understand!
You,' he told Titus, 'couldn't stop. But you — ' to Jocasta, 'you wanted him to stop. You don't want him to be council leader next year. Right?'
Jocasta smiled. 'That's right. We planned to leave tomorrow night.'
'We have a small place,' said Titus, sadly. 'Near the mountains. No sea birds. Nobody to ask me to do things.' He looked at Hercules. 'What happens now? Hera ...?'
'She wants me,Titus,' said Hercules. 'She told you to ask lolaus to come here because she knows I usually go to places with him. She'll do anything to get me. She'll kill everybody in this city'
'But we can't stop the festival,' said Titus. 'All these people ... the gods will be ... What are you doing about it? You're here, but you're doing nothing!'
'We've got a plan,' said Hercules. 'How can we help?' asked Jocasta.
'Do the usual things,' he said. 'Nothing more.'
He went back to the table, and they followed him.
'I'm right,' he thought. ' I know I'm right. But am I ready?'