From the Annals of Bastet

Part 1

Hercules took off his bracelets. He was preparing to bathe in the hot springs that were tucked away in the mountains of Hephaestus. The god of fire and the forge had invited him to come and work at the forge with him for a time while various festivals were taking up the time and energy of his wife, Aphrodite. Hephaestus was finishing at the forge and said he would soon come and join the hero of the Greeks after he put the last touches on a bow he was making.

The hero and the god shared much in common. They were both outsiders at Olympus. They held a status that was not mortal and yet were not considered quite good enough to be fully accepted in the halls the gods. Hercules was the bastard son of Zeus and as such had some immortal traits. Yet he also continually struggled with the vicious hatred of Hera, Zeus' wife.

Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera. Some said he was their only true son. But he was a cripple with a face scarred by fire. And as such he was considered to be imperfect by the other Olympians. Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, had wed him but secretly Hephaestus wondered if she had done this mainly to spite Hera who had banished Hephaestus to the mountains and his forge because of his faults. Aphrodite spent a lot of time away from her husband and seemed to find any excuse to leave. This hurt Hephaestus deeply though he had not told anyone until today when he and Hercules worked at the forge. She was inconstant and self-centered as were the other Olympians. It would be pointless for Hephaestus to object or chastise her as she would then she would just find more reason to go.

The reasons for the gods to shun Hephaestus were a mystery to Hercules who valued him above the other gods; mainly for his compassion and humility. The two had joked just a while ago as they worked at the forge that Hercules should build him a vast temple in Thebes and be his high priest. This would annoy Hera so much that the idea appealed to them both. But both knew this was just a joke as Hephaestus cared little about temples and was more content when men and women working at the forge praised him with their works of fine metal. They also knew that Hercules would never build a temple to anyone.

The massive warrior took off his shirt and looked around the huge caverns that held the hot springs. This was a great place to be alone. He felt privileged that Hephaestus had shared this private joy with him. He sat down on one of the rocks that had been fashioned into a seat and took off his boots and socks. Then he stood and took off the rest of his clothes. He was glad to be out of his clothes that were soaked with sweat and dirty with soot from the fires.

The water was inviting. He waded into the pool that swirled around as it accepted more hot water from the springs that came from deep in the mountains below the forges. Hercules sat down and put his head back and sighed. He let the hot water massage his muscles tired from working the great bellows of the god's forge. He washed the dirt from his face and arms and was just about to drift off into a light sleep when Hephaestus appeared before him, materializing out of air.

"Sorry, I know how that annoys you." Hephaestus said referring to the coming and going of the gods in a wink.

"Oh, I don't mind the arrivals. But it galls the Hades out of me when I'm in the middle of a sentence and a god just disappears." Hercules replied laughing.

Hephaestus laughed also. "It annoys us too! We do it to each other all the time. No one has the guts to stay and listen to the bad news!" He stretched and took off his vest and bracelets and slid out of the rest of his clothes also. Like the hero, his body was muscular and brown with exposure as he had a forge he worked on outside in a valley which few knew about as well as the forge that he used within the mountains. Years of pounding metal had made his arms extremely muscular.

Hephaestus took out the leather thong and let down his brown hair. He waded into the water as two wraith-like figures came down the stone stairs to bring them wine.

"I've ordered some honey mead. I prefer it, I hope you will join me." he said as he sat down in the warm waters.

His guest nodded and took a cup from the servant. They left without a sound.

The two men sat enjoying the heat of the springs and the sound of the water as it fell from the outlet nearby. They felt the comfort there was in not needing to fill up every moment with conversation. The hot water and the sweet wine made them relax.

"Did you finish the bow?" Hercules asked.

"Almost, I want to put a few more small jewels around the grip and it will be done." Hephaestus answered.

"Do you mind me asking who it is for?"

"For one of the Amazons. Lady Pegasus. Do you know her?"

"Yes, very well. The winged Amazon. Healer, archer and warrior." Hercules said.

Hephaestus nodded. "Just the one. I want to make her a bow as a present of thanks."

"For?"

The fire god seemed to hesitate. Then he smiled and spoke. "For saving my life."

Part 2

Hercules sat forward suddenly making the water splash around them both.

"What?" he said amazed. "I hope you're going to tell me this story!" he added.

Hephaestus nodded. "I'll tell you but I hope you will tell no other."

It was Hercules' turn to nod. "I swear on the name of my mother."

Hephaestus sighed and put his head back closing his eyes. He seemed lost in thought for a moment.

Then he began, "It was not so long ago. I remember well when Ares came to me with a knife. The blade had been broken and he wanted it fixed. It was a special blade, he had told me and he wished me to mend the break rather than fashion a new blade for the hilt. He told me not to clean the blade.

"The knife was very sharp. I gave it no thought as I have cut and burned myself many times on the weapons I make. It is a part of the risk one takes in this trade....even for a god. I wrapped the blade in leather so as to minimize the likelihood of cutting myself but the blade was like the finest razor. I slipped and cut my hand and instantly felt the life going from me.

"It was such a strange sensation. Such a minor cut being so powerful. I summoned Ares at once and demanded he tell me what was on the blade. He seemed angry when I confronted him and stated that any problems I had were of my own doing. He accused me of being careless.

"Then he told me that the knife had the blood of the golden hind on it; the one thing that can kill a god. He laughed and said that he would miss the fine weapons I fashioned but that I was clumsy as usual and that my own clumsiness had been my downfall." The god of the forge shook his head sadly as he sat silent for a moment staring off into the water.

Hercules put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Ares is a pig." he said angrily. "He's a coward and a bully."

"He just laughed and stood there watching the life running out of me." he said looking up again at Hercules.

"He was amused."

"But you survived."

Hephaestus smiled once more. The creases of his scarred face deepened. "Lady Pegasus." he said softly.

"That gentle warrioress."

He continued, "I stood there outraged at Ares' complete lack of concern. I swore then that that would be the last time I would assist him and so far I have been true to my word. But I knew that I was dying and I was...confused. Think about it, Hercules. Who does a god pray to?"

"I always wondered." Hercules replied.

"It's a long story and sometime I will tell you. Of course we pray also. Every deity has their deities until you get to the top. We are not the top! Not even close. But we want humans to think so.

"Well, at that moment when all I could hear was the echo of Ares' laughter as he vanished (as I said, we do the same thing to each other); I felt very alone and not at all like a supreme being. I was afraid. Like every being that ever knew life, I have a healthy respect for the journey into the next world." Hephaestus said. "And I was not ready to make that journey."

"And?"

"I called out. I called out to my wife, Aphrodite, to my sister Hebe...to anyone I could think of and all I heard was silence. It was the loneliest feeling I have ever experienced and I hope never to have that feeling again." the god of the forge explained. He took a long swallow of the mead and paused for a moment letting the water of the springs swirl around him.

Hercules studied the strong scarred face and waited.

"I was out in the valley forge. You know, where I fashion the javelins and the larger pieces." he continued.

Hercules nodded knowing the place.

"There is a small pass that leads from the mountains that border the Amazon's northern territories into the valley but the passage is treacherous and you have to be a damn good climber, or a mountain goat to get through."

"Or have wings?" Hercules added raising his eyebrows in the question.

Hephaestus laughed. "Of course, gods, I never thought about it till now. Of course it would have been easier for her.

"I don't know how long I lay there. It must have been through the night, as the sun was rising when she found me. She was alone. She told me later that she wasn't quite sure why she had taken that journey but that one of her sister Amazons had come to her in the night and insisted that she make the trip into the valley. You know the Amazons. Intrepid...loyal. When her sister, Calico I think her name was, told Lady Pegasus that she was needed in that valley; she went straightaway. Would that we gods were half as loyal to each other as those mortals!" the forge god said.

Hercules laughed and skimmed the water with his hands. "Calico, yes, I know her very well. And I can see the conversation now. 'Lady Peg, you need to go to a distant valley all alone for some unknown reason through a dangerous passage. Why? I don't know' 'Oh, okay.' and Lady Peg sets out right away." Both men laughed.

"Come on," Hephaestus said finally, "we'd better get out of this spring while we can still walk. I'm so relaxed now I don't know whether I can make it up those stairs."

"Well, this is a perfect time then to wink yourself from one place to another. Unfortunately, I have to walk." the warrior said.

"Now that would be really rude to leave you here. Come on." he gave Hercules a hand up and they both got out of the springs and went to the towels that had been set out for them. Hercules towelled himself off and gave the wet towel to a waiting servant who handed him a wrap for his hips and soft slippers for his feet. He combed back his wet hair with his hands and waited for Hephaestus who was ready soon also. They made their way up the stairs to the room where two divans had been set out by a dining table and a fine meal had been set for them.

"So.."Hercules said as he tore off a piece of bread and dipped it in the sauce that had been served him, "You are near to death in the forge valley. The sun is rising and you look up into the emerald green eyes of the Amazon Lady Pegasus. Then what."

"She must have gotten me back into the fortress....you know, those women are stronger than they look!" Hephaestus said cutting into a quail breast and eating it.

"You're right there." Hercules answered. "I could tell you a story or two! So, she has taken you into your fortress and you are near death...."

Part 3

Hephaestus continued again after taking a swallow of wine.

"I looked into green eyes so gentle. I told her I had been poisoned by the blood of the golden hind. I thought for sure that there was no hope. But the Amazon only nodded and began to practice her healing arts. She told me she had been to the east as far as the land would go and also to the ancient lands of the pharaohs. Everywhere she had gone this fascinating winged lady had gathered the secrets of healing and now, she said, she would put them all to use...she spoke softly and worked as she spoke. I think she was mesmerizing me with the sound of her voice. She told me to listen carefully to what she was saying. Periodically she would gently rouse me from unconsciousness by shaking my head with her hands and having me focus on her again."

"She was probably concerned that if you lost consciousness, she might not get you back." Hercules replied.

Hephaestus nodded and took another sip of wine continuing, "She worked on me all through the day drawing the poison of the hind's blood from my body. She had the servants carry me to the mountain forge and had them turn up the bellows so that the room was as hot as it could be. I can stand such heat but I thought that she would expire from the blazing temperature. She worked over me constantly, talking all the while. She told me of the Amazons and of the Greeks. She spoke of her adventures and the deeds of her sisters. I wish I could remember half the things she told me but I was too ill.

"All the while, she fanned herself with her wings. I remember that her long red hair was completely wet. Finally as night fell, I began to feel better. The servants told her of the hot springs and she had me taken down there to be bathed. The fever of the poison had broken and I felt weak but better. I knew then that I would survive. She came to check on me in the springs and then left without a word." His voice trailed off.

Hercules looked at his friend's face. It was hard to read the emotion. Hephaestus looked up at him and Hercules shrugged.

"Well?" Hercules said.

"Well what?" the fire god replied.

"Well, it sounds like you have feelings for the woman!"

"I'm a god and she's a mortal woman and I am married to a god."

"That doesn't seem to stop any of the other gods. They have whom ever they want." Hercules said. His voice had an edge of bitterness.

"I'm not like the others." Hephaestus replied, "And she....well, she is not like other mortal women."

"Because she has wings?"

Hephaestus smiled, "That too."

The fire god got up from his divan and limped into the room beyond where he made his precious weapons and works of great art. He came back with a small gold box in his hands. It was tiny enough to fit in the palm of his hand but intricately carved and encrusted with rare jewels. Hercules sat up as Hephaestus came over to show him the contents of the container.

"She left this behind. It must have been shed when she worked on me."

Within the box was one white feather.

Finis