33_Where's Heracles

“ Pin him, boy! ” Hermes shouted. “ That’s the way to do it! ” ” Settle down, Hermes. ” Athena sounded exasperated. “ The mortals are only training. Save your enthusiasm for the Games. Or at least try not to shout directly into my ear. ” Brody stood up, brushed off his hands, and waited for Athena’s champion, a dark-eyed youth named Leontis, to climb to his feet as well. “ Are you okay?” Brody asked. “ I didn’t twist your arm too hard, did I?” “ I’m fine. ” Leontis flexed his arm, checking it.

” But don’t expect to pin me again so easily. ” Brody grinned. “ Oh, I do expect it! ” he bragged. The two of them started wrestling again. Brody tried to stay focused on the match, but he was a lot stronger than Leontis, and his thoughts quickly wandered. Last night Julia had told him what she’d heard Hermes and Caerus say about the rift. What if it closed before they could return home? " My family must already be worried about me, ” Brody thought. “ What will they think if I never come back?” " Pay attention, boy! ” Hermes’ shout broke into Brody’s thoughts. “ He’s beating you! ”

Brody blinked and focused on the wrestling match again. But it was too late. A few seconds later, Leontis pinned him. ” There. ” Leontis smirked as he let Brody go. “ Now we’re even. ” Brody didn’t answer. He’d just heard Zeus’ booming voice. The king of the gods swept past, cheerfully greeting Hermes and Athena. Heracles and Iphicles were right behind Zeus. As they passed, Heracles gave Brody a friendly nod. Brody nodded back.

Athena’s champion noticed the two champions’ interaction. ” Be careful that you don’t seem too friendly with Zeus’ champion, my friend, ” he said grimly. “ What do you mean?” Brody asked. Leontis shrugged. “ All the gods wish to defeat Zeus’ hero, ” he replied. “ If they think you’re his friend, they might decide to include you in their plans. ” “ I’m not scared of anybody, ” Brody declared. “ Perhaps you should be. ” Athena’s champion flexed his hands as he prepared to grip Brody’s shoulder.

“ Hera appears to have stopped meddling with Heracles for now. Everyone thinks she’s waiting until the Games officially begin to return to her trickery. ” “ Why would she do that?” Brody asked. “ Her bet only counts if Heracles actually takes part in the Games, ” Leontis replied. “ If he’s knocked out before the competition begins, the bet is off. ” “ Oh, I get it, ” Brody said. “ Cool. Then we don’t have anything to worry about, right? At least not for two more days. ” “ Not exactly, ” Leontis said. “ The other gods might have different plans. ”

He cast a quick look around to make sure that Athena and Hermes weren’t close enough to hear him. “ In fact, I heard that Ares was seen just this morning consulting with Hypnos. ” “ Hypnos?” Brody said. “ Who’s that?” “ The god of sleep, ” Leontis replied. “ Everyone suspects Hypnos and Ares are plotting something against—” He stopped talking abruptly. Brody saw that Athena had just stepped closer. Leontis was watching her, and he seemed nervous. Brody quickly decided to take advantage of the other champion’s distraction.