49_Back to the Temple

Brody peeled off the rest of his armor as the horses galloped toward the Temple of Caerus. “ Did you bring our regular clothes?” he asked Julia. Then he blinked, realizing she’d already changed. She handed over his clothes. “ Hurry, ” she said, glancing back over her shoulder. “ It won’t take long for the gods to catch up to us. ” “ Only if they figure out where you’re going, ” Heracles said. “ Do you think they will?” Brody asked. Julia shrugged. “ Hermes or Caerus will certainly figure it out. But will they tell Zeus and Hera?”

“ I doubt it, ” Heracles said. “ Hermes and Caerus won’t wish to help Zeus or Hera under the circumstances. ” Brody hoped Heracles was right. Soon Iphicles pulled sharply on the reins, and the chariot skidded to a stop at the bottom of the temple’s steps. “ Thanks for the ride, ” Julia called as she and Brody climbed out. She looked at Heracles. “ Is it safe for you two to return to the Games?” “ I think you’ll be fine once we’re gone, ” Brody said.

“ Zeus will protect you from Hera, Heracles. And he probably wants to crown you with that olive wreath! ” “ The festivities can wait. ” Heracles climbed out too. “ I want to make sure you two get home safely. How will you get past the temple guard?” “ We’ll be fine, ” Brody said. “ I insist, ” Heracles said firmly. “ Come on, Iphicles. ” “ If you say so, brother. ” Iphicles got out of the chariot and tied the horses to a tree. There was no guard outside the temple.

“ Good! ” Brody said. “ Modern times, here we come! ” He charged through the temple’s outer room and through the entrance to the inner room. The passage was still open. “ Whew! ” Brody exclaimed. “ Hurry up, Julia. We don’t want to—” A sudden flash of bright light interrupted him. Brody shaded his eyes and coughed at the smoke that suddenly filled the chamber. When the smoke cleared, Hera stood between Brody and the rift. “ Oh, good, ” she said with a sneer. “ I was hoping I wasn’t too late to see you off, mortals. ”

Julia ran in with Heracles and his brother. “ Hera, leave them alone! ” Heracles called. “ They’ve done nothing. ” Hera ignored him. “ Come here, mortal, ” she said, reaching for Iphicles and pulling him toward her. Brody expected Iphicles to struggle to free himself. But Iphicles just stood there as Hera stroked his hair. “ You have my thanks, mortal boy, ” the goddess purred. “ Without your information I might not have learned all of your friends’ secrets until it was too late. ”

“ Huh?” Brody said, not understanding what she meant. But Julia was scowling. “ I hate to tell you this, Brody, ” she exclaimed, “ but Iphicles betrayed us! ” “ Don’t flatter yourself, ” Iphicles snapped. “ It wasn’t you two I was after. ” He glared at Heracles. Now Brody was starting to follow along. “ Wait. . . you betrayed your own brother, Iphicles?” he blurted out. “ That’s low! ” Hera chuckled. “ It’s all a matter of perspective, mortal. I consider Iphicles a hero. “