Heroes: The Greek Myths Reimagined (Stephen Fry's Great Mythology, #2)

by Stephen Fry

As Artemis took aim, her twin Apollo stepped out of the wood and pushed the bow down. “Now sister,” he said. “Don’t you know this is Heracles?” “If it was our father, the Storm Bringer himself, I would shoot him for daring to take my hind.” “I understand,” said Heracles in his meekest voice. “It is a terrible sacrilege, but I am bound to King Eurystheus and it was he who commanded me to take the animal. It is Hera’s will that I obey him.” “Hera’s will?” Apollo and Artemis conferred. The Queen of Heaven had at best a stiff and formal relationship with Zeus’s children by other women43 and had never made the twins’ lives easy. It amused them to assist her enemy. Artemis turned to Heracles. “You may continue on your way,” she said. “But when you have shown my hind to the court in Mycenae you must return her to the wild.” “You are as wise as you are beautiful,” said Heracles. “Dear me,” said Apollo. “That sort of flattery is not the way to my sister’s heart. On your way.”