The sun shining down over the agora was hot, but Julia felt a chill run through her as Hera stepped up to Alcides.
"Well, well, well," Hera said, walking in a circle around Zeus' champion.
"I see your champion has finally arrived, Zeus."
"Alcides, may I present my lovely wife, Hera," Zeus said.
"Hera, this is the champion you've heard so much about:
Alcides of Thebes, the greatest mortal athlete of his generation. Possibly the greatest of any generation."
"It is my honor to be in the presence of the queen of the gods," Alcides said, bowing low.
Hera looked unimpressed as she studied Alcides from head to toe.
At last she turned to sneer at Zeus.
"He's just another ordinary mortal after all."
"You won't say that when he beats your champion in the Games," Zeus said.
Hera sniffed in disdain and returned her attention to Alcides.
She stared at the young man with pure hatred in her eyes.
Alcides gazed back, his expression calm and untroubled.
Julia, though, thought she could see his hands trembling slightly.
"It's not surprising that Alcides looks nervous," she thought with a shiver.
"Hera is scary all the time—but when she's angry, she's terrifying!"
Finally Hera turned away again. "I see that I've wasted my time coming here today.
My champion and I have nothing to worry about."
Zeus clenched his jaw in anger. "Is that so?" His voice boomed.
"Perhaps Alcides and I can show you otherwise."
Zeus leaped off the dais. In three huge strides, he reached a stall containing live chickens and sheep.
A large ram stood in a pen in front of the stall.
Zeus kicked the pen apart as easily as Julia might kick away some twigs, sending wood flying in all directions.
Then he grabbed the ram by the horns and dragged it over to Alcides.
"Here you go, my boy," Zeus said through gritted teeth.
"Please show my wife how you choked those serpents in your crib."
"So that tale is true!" Markos whispered in amazement.
Julia nodded slowly. "I knew that story sounded familiar.
So do some of the other stories we've heard about Alcides."
"Shh," Brody said. "He's going to strangle the ram!"
"Oh no!" Julia exclaimed. "The poor ram didn't do anything to him—or to Zeus, either."
The crowd murmured and pressed forward as Zeus stepped back, leaving Alcides facing off against the ram.
The ram lowered its head, snorted, and pawed at the dusty ground.
"Go on, boy," Zeus urged Alcides. He turned to the crowd.
"As you may have heard, Alcides strangled not one, but two deadly serpents when he was just a baby in his crib.
By doing so, he saved not only his own life, but also that of his twin brother. Isn't that right, Iphicles, my boy?"
Julia had almost forgotten about the second youth. But now Zeus pulled him forward.
"This is Iphicles," Zeus announced. "He and Alcides have been together since birth.
They're as close as brothers can be despite their obvious differences."
He chuckled, poking Iphicles in his skinny arm. "Isn't that right, my boy?"
Iphicles nodded. Then he ducked his head, looking uncomfortable.
Julia knew how he felt. She didn't like being the center of attention, and she could tell that he didn't either.
Alcides seemed to see it too. "Look at me!" he called out, stepping forward and blocking his brother from view.
"This ram is no match for my strength." He struck a pose to show his biceps.
The ram charged him with its head lowered, but Alcides grabbed its horns and flung it to the ground.
Julia winced. "Is he really going to strangle it?" she cried.
The crowd shouted with excitement as the ram bleated in alarm.
Julia braced herself for a horrible sight.
But Alcides didn't strangle the ram. Instead he held it down and tied its legs together.
Then he lifted the animal above his head and carried it back to its owner.
"Here you go, sir," Alcides said to the livestock seller. "You have a fine, strong ram here."
"Thank you," the livestock seller said. He sounded relieved.
Alcides walked back over to Zeus.
The king of the gods was frowning slightly.
"I thought I told you to strangle the ram," he said.
"I'm sorry, Zeus," Alcides said. "The crowd is so loud, I must not have heard you correctly. I meant no disrespect."
"Humph." Zeus hesitated, seeming unsure whether to get angry or not.
Finally he shrugged and turned toward the crowd.
"Behold Alcides, your next and greatest Olympic champion!"
The crowd went wild. Julia glanced at Hera.
The queen of the gods was watching her husband through narrowed eyes.
"Even the king of the gods cannot know the future," Hera said coolly.
"Anything might happen to your champion between now and the Games."
She smirked. "After all, he is mortal. Isn't he?"
Zeus stepped closer, his smile fading. "Is that supposed to be a threat, wife?"
"Of course not, husband." Hera raised one eyebrow. "It's merely an observation."
"Wow," Brody commented to Julia and Markos.
"For a husband and wife, they sure argue a lot."
Suddenly Zeus spun to face the crowd again.
"I just had a wonderful idea," he announced. "Come here, my champion."
Alcides stepped closer. Zeus pulled him over to stand between himself and Hera.
"I've decided to give my champion a new name," Zeus continued.
"One befitting the great champion he will soon become.
A grand name worthy of the grand feats he will soon perform."
Hera scowled at him. "We get the picture," she said. "Get on with it."
Zeus smiled broadly, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"My champion's new name will also honor my beautiful wife, Hera," he went on.
"From this moment on, he will be known by the name . . . Heracles."