Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Two Book Collection (Juvenile) Read Online Free

firm.
    â€œI’m not a fake, Peuris,” Hercules said calmly.
    â€œYou are, you liar!” Peuris screeched. “Get your hands off me!” The boy ran back to his father’s side.
    â€œStop it, Peuris,” Honorius said. “You’re acting like a baby.”
    â€œDon’t care! I only joined the army to fight alongside him!” the boy snivelled.
    â€œWhat in Hades is going on?” Ferocius roared, marching over.
    â€œMy fault, sir,” Honorius said. “My wife and I used to tell our son tales of brave Hercules. My boy, well, he believed them all. He practically worshipped Hercules. When he came along—” Honorius cocked a thumb at Hercules—“it was a dream come true. And now—”
    â€œNow that he’s seen what a lying fraud Hercules is, not once but over and over, it’s too much for him,” Ferocius finished. “I don’t blame him.”
    He walked over to Peuris and wrapped an arm around him. “Look at this boy, Hercules. How can you do this to him? They say I’m a hard man, and I am, but I wouldn’t destroy a boy’s trust like this.” He patted Peuris’ shoulder gently. “It’s all right, lad. This man, this fraud, was impersonating a hero I believed in too. But it’s true. There is no Hercules.”
    â€œNo!” Hercules shouted. Dropping to a crouch before Peuris, he looked up into his tear-streaked face. “Look, I’ll prove it. Name a feat and I’ll do it. I promise.”
    The boy looked doubtful. “Well . . . Fly to the moon and bring me back a crater.”
    Salmoneus groaned. “He’s got you there, Herc.”
    â€œHush, Peuris, believe me, no one can do that except a god.”
    â€œBut I heard you could!” the boy protested. “Everyone says you can. Travellers said—”
    â€œThey exaggerated. Try another one,” Hercules said. All of the soldiers and cadets had closed in, along with, a growing number of curious townsfolk. All eyes were on him.
    â€œOkay,”
the boy said. “Can you read minds?”
    â€œWell, no.”
    â€œWalk through walls?”
    â€œUm . . .”
    â€œTurn invisible?”
    A man spoke up. “Breathe fire?”
    â€œSummon spirits?” a cadet suggested.
    â€œSpeak the language of animals?” Sycophantius added.
    More voices joined in. “Command the winds?”
    â€œSee through mountains?”
    â€œRaise the dead?”
    â€œNo,” Hercules admitted. “I can’t do any of those things.”
    â€œThen forget it,” Ferocius said. “We’ve all heard of Hercules. We know what he can do. If he had been here, he would have been our friend. You, sir, are no Hercules.”
    Several soldiers pulled out daggers.
    â€œBesides which,” added Ferocius, “no matter who you are, you’re still the one who betrayed this city and went over to our enemies.” He turned to his soldiers.
    A light dawned behind Hercules’ eyes. That’s it!
    â€œKill him!” Ferocius ordered.

Chapter 5
    Listen to me! Hercules shouted. But six of Ferocius’ guardsmen were rushing towards him, their daggers raised.
    Hercules swept Salmoneus behind him. “Get out of here!”
    â€œErm, Herc . . .” Salmoneus started.
    Hercules turned to find more soldiers charging from behind. Salmoneus dived to the ground. The spearmen tripped over him, hitting the ground in a snarl of arms, legs and sharp points.
    Hercules turned to the soldiers before him and grabbed the nearest. Holding his wrist, he swung him into the others, knocking them flying.
    The soldiers behind Hercules clambered to their feet and thrust their spears forward. Hercules swerved aside and jerked two spears from the soldiers’ hands. He whirled them around before him and six daggers went flying. Suddenly weaponless, the soldiers all decided upon a simpler tactic: as one, they jumped