We were eating breakfast - well, Iolaus was eating while I was writing down how the golden cloak had changed during the night - when a messenger ran up to us, breathing hard and looking scared. His clothes were torn and dirty, showing he'd run through rough land to find us.
It seemed like he had come from a long way, seeing the state he was in.
"Mighty Hercules!" he said, bowing so low he almost fell down. "Terrible news from Lerna! A monster... a beast like nothing we've ever seen!" He stopped to catch his breath, and I almost reached for something to write with before remembering I was supposed to be a hero, not a teacher.
"Tell me everything," I said, trying to sound brave instead of just curious. "Start at the beginning, and tell me all the details." I saw Iolaus roll his eyes at how carefully I was asking for information.
I knew what this was about, how could I not? After all, the second labor of Hercules did happen in Lerna.
