Read Online Monsters of Greek Mythology, Volume Two by Bernard Evslin - Free Book Online

bore twins. One was the son of her husband; the other—a giant, shining babe—was the son of Zeus. She named this one Hercules. And from his infancy on, Hera hated him and vowed to destroy him. She couldn’t kill him herself because Zeus favored the lad and would be most displeased.
    So she employed monsters.
    But Hercules slew the first two she sent against him—the Nemean Lion and the Hydra, each of whom had wasted their districts, devouring herds, herdsmen, villagers, and warriors. And with each of the young man’s victories Hera’s hatred festered and swelled, filling her to the brim with its venom.

2
    The Harpy Queen
    Hades, Ruler of the Dead, also loathed Hercules and had taught his fiends and demons to do so. For by killing monsters the young hero saved the lives of mortals, depriving Hades of subjects, and the fiends and demons of those they might torment. So it was that Hecate, Queen of the Harpies and Hades’ most trusted murderess, was often sent to the upper regions to confer with Hera—who welcomed her advice.
    Hecate knew that it was Hera’s habit to finish the day by strolling in the Garden of the Gods, when dusk bewitched the sight and the evening breeze was heavy with fragrance. The hundred-handed giant who tended the garden did his best to please Hera, who was very hard to please. Each day he wove her a different chaplet of flowers. And upon this dusk, as Hecate folded her brass wings and landed on the grass, she saw that Hera wore a crown of iris and rose and gentian. Soft flames of blue and deeper blue and crimson mingled in her dark hair.
    Hecate gasped with pure pleasure. “That creepy gardener of yours has worked well today, O Queen. His chaplet of flowers burns upon your head more gorgeously than any wrought of jewels.”
    â€œI’m glad to see you, dear friend,” said Hera. “I’ve been in a foul mood all day long.”
    â€œAny reason?”
    â€œThe same reason. The same damned thing has happened again despite all my efforts. Hercules has killed the Hydra and come out of the battle without a scratch. I can’t understand how it happened.”
    â€œLet us reason it out together, My Queen. Reports of the battle have drifted down to us, remote as we are from your business up here. And from what I understand Hercules went in very well prepared. He was armored from head to toe in the hide of the Nemean Lion—his first kill, as you will remember—and that hide cannot be pierced by any weapon. Yes, his entire body was covered; he made leggings and boots of the hide, gauntlets too, and wore the lion’s skull as a helmet. So he went untouched by the poison fangs of the hundred-headed monster. We must ask ourselves why this rash youth prepared himself so carefully this time.”
    â€œAny ideas?”
    â€œI think someone is feeding him valuable information.”
    â€œYou’re saying my secrets are being betrayed?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBy whom?”
    â€œBy someone you confide in. Someone close to you.”
    â€œI confide in almost no one beside you.”
    â€œThen the traitor should be easy to find. How about that creature who flits about on your errands?”
    â€œIris?”
    â€œI mean the loony thing who flutters out after storms, flinging those stupid colors around.”
    â€œThat’s Iris, Caster of Rainbows, and my messenger.”
    â€œDoes she know your secrets?”
    â€œA few, perhaps. Not all.”
    â€œSomething tells me she’s the one,” said Hecate. “She has a treacherous look. All smiles all the time, and soft words. No one can be that sweet.”
    â€œYou just don’t like her.”
    â€œDo you— really?”
    â€œWell,” said Hera, “I admit her sugary ways gripe me sometimes, but she’s been useful to me.”
    â€œI think she’s been even more useful to Hercules.”
    â€œAs it happened, I kept her close to