Tigasis looked again at the spot that Athena, Goddess of War, virgin in her own right, had just dispersed from. In his hand lulled two eyeballs, both the irises a shimmery, icy blue. Could these belong to Adrinna?, he thought. Were they not the same familiar color? And what was he to make of the golden arrow Athena had gifted him? Was this an omen of more quests to come?

     He had not time to contemplate. As the last few rays of the sun diminished behind the majestic Mount Tokai, Tigasis resolved to finish the quest before dawn. Quickly, he tied Hera's horse to an olive tree, lit one of the wicker torches, and began the ascent. It was a steep climb, but Tigasis' body was indeed a finely tuned instrument and handled it with ease. The mountainside vegetation was lush and strong, providing him with ample assistance when his feet faltered on loose rocks or mossy ledges.

     He was halfway up Mount Tokai when he came upon a small terrace, formed by a gentle spring. The uneasy feeling of being watched put him on edge. Remembering the story of  Tiresias in Helicon blinded by Athena bathing, Tigasis dared not near the tumbling water. It was indisputable that Hera's meddling was adverse to his quest, however, Athena's motives were uncertain. It was a well known fact that the Gods and Goddesses loved toying with the mortals. Tigasis remained suspicious and felt he had best be wary of both.

     He staked the torch into the soft soil and looked around. The entrance to the Hydra's cave was directly above him. He could make out the worn pathway that marked the creature's travels, wide and smooth, indicating a rather large Hydra was in residence. Tigasis had never actually laid eyes upon one before, but he had heard many stories from his mother and grandfather. The beast was serpent-like, with nine heads. Only one was immortal, the other eight having the ability to regenerate. Herkales had cauterized the stumps, allowing him to defeat the Hydra. He'd been fascinated by accounts of his father's heroics, fancying himself to follow in mighty Herkales' footsteps one day. His chance had come.

     Tigasis surveyed the contents of his first satchel. One bottle of wine, three stalks from an aloe plant, fennel seeds from Athena, a vial of crushed rosemary, and a plate with cheese, bread, honey, and grapes. In the second, two small daggers, Athena's golden arrow, a small bottle of olive oil, and a whetstone. He withdrew his bronze Lakonian and the whetstone, poured a bit of oil onto both, and began to methodically sharpen the blade's fine edges. The bronze being quite malleable, it didn't take long. He tied his sacks to an overhead branch, and retrieved the blazing sword Athena had loaned him for the battle from his side sash. A few nips of cheese, a bite of bread, and one long swig of wine later, and all was ready.

     Tigasis eased himself over the ledge and sidled up to the mouth of the cave. The first ten feet of the entrance was lit by the moonlight and he could see that nothing was there. Shadows concealed the rest of the interior, but the element of surprise would be ruined by the torch if he continued inside. Tigasis decided to draw the hydra out. He disappeared into the thick brush and returned moments later carrying a limp pheasant. He laid it before the cave, using his dagger to slice the body open, and retreated to a crevice near the cave's outer wall. The bird's blood spilled onto the grass, shining black in the dark night.

     From deep within Mount Tokai, the beast began to slither towards the source of the coppery tinged aroma, drooling a bit at the mouths. Each of the eighteen nostrils flared and retracted, flared and retracted. Tigasis drew a deep breath as the hydra neared him. It was a creature unlike anything he'd ever seen. The body was that of a normal serpent, with oily black scales and a coiling, flared tail. Nine heads sat atop long necks of a sort, converging into one grotesque joint on the otherwise smooth body. Nine sets of crimson eyes trained on the pheasant corpse, forked tongues lashing out in anticipation of the meal before it, fangs exposed, and emitting a loamy, earthen odor.

     Tigasis held the Sword of Hephaestus before him and stepped out of the crevice. The creature was fully enthralled with the pheasant, having just reached it, and with each head save the middle, it began tearing the flesh from the body. Waiting for the moment when all mouths were occupied, Tigasis advanced swiftly on the Hydra, shearing off two of the heads in one powerful strike, leaving a fiery stub in each place. The beast wailed as it turned on him, and Tigasis stepped back just as three sets of fangs slashed the air in front of him. Raising the sword again, he moved quickly to the outside, causing the Hydra to circle him. As another of the snake heads surged forward, Tigasis thrust the sword into its skull, cauterizing but not decapitating. Still, it did not move again, and hung limply to the Hydra's side. The creature gave out a terrifying howl and shot forward, grabbing Tigasis by the leg and sending the Sword of Hephaestus skittering across the rocks. With its teeth sank deep into his thigh, Tigasis reached into the sash at his side and withdrew a dagger. The Hydra lifted him high into the air , swinging him to and fro with such ferocity that Tigasis could scarcely hold onto the dagger. He plunged it into the neck, slicing the head off, and dropping him to the rocky soil below.

     He watched in amazement as another head sprouted from the neck, glistening and slimy in the moonlight. Backpedaling with his hands behind him, Tigasis moved toward the sword that had been thrown from his hands. It was the only way to defeat the Hydra, he knew, but even as he made his way to the bushes housing the burning weapon, he could see the creature ambling to block his path. Tigasis rolled to the side, shot to his feet, and threw the last of his daggers at the neck joint of the beast. His aim was true, confirmed by the metallic thunk of the blade driving deep into the cartilage, and the Hydra roared in anger as blood spurted from the wound. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction he had caused, Tigasis wasted no time scrambling for the sword, the creature on his heels once more. Whipping around, he brought the blade down in rapid succession, tumbling four more serpent heads to the ground at his feet.

     Two sets of glaring red eyes bore down on him, one darting out to grab his wrist in mid strike. Yet Tigasis held steadfast to the sword. With his free hand, he seized the neck of the immortal head and squeezed with all his might. The grip on his wrist loosened and, still clutching the middle serpent, he wrenched the armed hand clear, hooked the sword up with a masterful ease, and detached the last of the mortal heads. Visibly weakened, the Hydra launched its tail at Tigasis' feet, throwing him into an amassment of sharp stones.

     Pain obscured his vision. He could feel his cloak dampening with his blood, the tip of a jagged piece of white granite buried underneath his shoulder blade. The Hydra moved closer, rearing its head back and readying for the kill, when suddenly a bronze sword slashed through the air, hitting the beast square in the eyes. It bellowed and hissed, spitting blood and flailing its head about as if trying to shake the vision back into its eyes. Small, delicate hands began to pull at Tigasis, helping him to his feet. Limping from the wound in his thigh, and bleeding heavily from his back, Tigasis looked into the face of his savior.

     Adrinna smiled back at him, holding both of his satchels in one hand, and, noticing his confusion, shook her head.

     "All shall be explained to you, but first, Tigasis, you must slay the Hydra. And hurry, now, while it is not thinking of you." 

     Adrinna held her hand out to him. In her palm lay a few of the fennel seeds the Goddess Athena had given him at the base of Mount Tokai. He swallowed them quickly, for the taste was wretched, but his eyesight improved tenfold.  Adrinna broke open a stalk of aloe and rubbed the sap into his wounds, mixing the crushed rosemary into the salve and covering them with scraps of cloth from her robe. The effect was immediate, soothing the burn. She tied the owl around his neck once more.

     Tigasis stood. He lay the Sword of Hephaestus on the ground and retrieved his trusted Lakonian from Adrinna. His foe was in obvious agony, still thrashing its head wildly and screaming at a shrill pitch. Tigasis made his way to the Hydra and drew his bronze Lakonian high in the air above him. With true God-like force, Tigasis swung the sword one last time. He picked up the immortal head of the Hydra and shoved it into his bag.

     Adrinna ran to him, hugging him fiercely. She sat him on a large stone and whispered in his ear.

     "I know that you are confused, but you must do as I say. I wish you no harm. Take the eyes Athena has given you and place them onto mine. They are under a transformation spell and won't last for long. I will need the remaining fennel seeds as well. The sacred owl adorning your neck was a trick against Hera, and was a calling for the help of the Goddess Athena. The owl is her symbol, Tigasis. Call for her now."

     Adrinna swallowed the seeds as Tigasis joined the two eyes to hers. He wasn't sure how he was to do this, but as he lifted them to her face, they became translucent and soft. With the claylike texture, Tigasis was able to mold them over Adrinna's eyes. He stood back in amazement, watching the magic do its work. Within moments, the fennel began to kick in and Adrinna could see sufficiently for the tasks at hand. Tigasis spoke Athena's name.

     "Well done, Tigasis. Your quest has been completed."

     Tigasis knew that voice. He spun around. "Hera!

     The smirk on her lips was quickly replaced by a scowl as the moonlight lit upon the pendant on his chest. She rushed forward, clasping the silver owl in her hand, a look of pure hatred distorting her features. Adrinna cried out behind her, knowing the Goddess would punish her, and in an instant, Hera had her by the neck. Her loyal peacock preened unmindfully at her side.

     "Adrinna, you have betrayed me. For this, your punishment will be death by poison," Hera shrieked. A single pomegranate seed shone between her thumb and forefinger as Hera tried to shove it into Adrinna's tightly shut lips. Before she could, Athena slapped her hand away. For a moment, Tigasis thought, it was like Olympus on Earth as the two Goddesses stared each other down. Athena spoke first.

     "Hera, I will not allow you to harm these mortals in vengence of your unfaithful husband Zeus. Your jealousy has caused many innocents to suffer. You wish to have payment for your horse? Tigasis, son of the great Herkales, bring me the eyes of Adrinna, Virgin Priestess of Artemis."

     A slow grin spread across Hera's face as Tigasis neared and she gripped Adrinna's chin to steady her. Tigasis reached up and plucked the organs from their sockets, Adrinna screamed, and Hera let her fall to the grass. She laughed as Adrinna covered her face with both hands and sobbed dramatically, not knowing a show was being put on for her.

     Athena took the eyes from his hand and held them before the smirking Goddess. Hera snatched them away, and without a moment's pause, applied them to her own. She opened her thickly lashed eyelids to find absolutely nothing. Blackness surrounded her. She had been deceived! Hands were grabbing Hera from all angles, twisting the fabric of her robes into their fists, pulling her in every direction. And the voices, all shouting at her, and all voices that she recognized, began admonishing her for her cruel actions and meddling.

     There was the voice of Artemis, of whom Adrinna had vowed celibacy to, and the illegitimate daughter of her beloved Zeus. Artemis was recounting the time that Hera had banned Artemis' mother Leto from giving birth on land, forcing her to find a floating island and live there ever after. Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, who had been abducted by Hades and forced to return to the Underworld by the consumption of pomegranate seeds, a plan Hera had designed. Aneris, angry with Hera's treatment of her sister Eris. Io, once a follower of Hera, who had been harrassed by her after falling for Zeus' seduction.

     Athena turned to Tigasis and Adrinna. "Go now, and do not seek shelter until you have reached the sacred grounds of High Priestess Grizlediy. I will finish this."

     Adrinna took Tigasis' hand into her own and gently led him down the mountainside. Tigasis was bursting with questions, and he fired them one after another with barely a breath between. As the sun rose in the distance, she smiled and urged him on in silence.

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    The arrival of the great hero Tigasis was met by a grand celebration at the Temple of Artemis. The virgins danced and sang for him, musicians played melodies written in his honor, and a true feast was laid out before him, the likes of which no mortal had ever been treated to. But Tigasis was unhappy, for his beautiful Calisti wasn't in attendance. He looked for her wavy auburn locks and gentle blue eyes in every corner of the room, searching intently into the face of every woman present. Late into the night, he recounted the adventure to his audience, and at the end, produced the immortal head of the Hydra of Mount Tokai for Grizlediy's approval. The High Priestess of Artemis took the head to a servant, commanding her to set forth into the villages to spread word of Tigasis' victory and let it be known that the people were safe once again.

     She turned to the women and motioned for them to be silent. Then Grizlediy took the hero's hand and pulled him to a set of steps leading to a marble statue of Artemis, both bowing down at the Goddess' feet and offering the defeat of the Hydra in her name. As they stood again, she smiled at Tigasis and placed a silver deer pendant in his hand.

     "Tigasis, the Goddess Artemis has forgiven your trespass on her sacred grounds. She has bestowed upon me the permission to grant fulfillment of your heart's greatest desire. What do you request, young hero?"

     "Calisti."

     "Very well, Tigasis. She is waiting. Adrinna will accompany you. Perhaps there you will find the answers you seek."

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     In a lush rose garden beside the misty pool where Tigasis had slayed the wolf and first laid eyes upon her, Calisti sat on a stone bench beside her hero. Adrinna stood at her side and helped to explain their part in the quest. Tigasis was shocked to learn that Adrinna had betrayed her deal with Hera after Calisti had confided her love for him. Adrinna had been certain that Hera was using her to upset Artemis, and she and Calisti conspired to save him from her treachery.

     Tigasis turned to Calisti, still confused. "How did Athena become involved in this? And where did the eyes come from?"

     "As you were readying for your quest, my love, I sought my sister Adrinna and found her with the pomegranate seeds in her palm. I trampled them beneath my feet and implored her to deceive Hera. Athena had overheard our plot and offered assistance, enemy of Hera that she is. We replaced the peacock pendant with the owl to keep you safe."

     "Athena assembled many of the jealous goddess' enemies, then borrowed Hera's own son Hephaestus' sword to aid in the defeat of the Hydra," Adrinna added with a smirk.

    "She met me on the mountainside where Hera had left me to attempt to seduce you. She had went to her father for help. The two eyeballs were, in fact, made of mud, an illusion sent from Zeus himself. When Hera tried to see through them, Athena brought forth her victims to distract her so we could take leave. Calisti was very brave to conceive of this plot against a Goddess as powerful as Hera, and I wish that you accept my apology for my distrust. My sister has renounced her vows to Artemis and granted her heart to you, Tigasis. I give you both my blessings."

     Tigasis took Calisti in his arms, delighted that the beauty he held felt the same for him. She gazed up at her handsome man, then nestled her cheek into his chest, sighing with contentment. Tigasis turned his head to watch Adrinna smile and leave. She was almost out of sight when suddenly, Tigasis called out for her.

     "Adrinna, wait! You have told me all there is to know, but one question remains; what am I to do with the golden arrow from Athena?"

     Adrinna turned to face him, bewilderment plain upon her delicate features. Tigasis was correct. Everything had been explained except the golden arrow, but for this, Adrinna had no answers.