Feel the Burning Light by Dewy_Pink_Morning_Roses52

Chapter 3: A Wicked Stepmother, A Bitter Ex-Wife, An Evil Stepfather

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Hyacinthus is nearly killed by two wicked stepmothers working together.

Icarus is haunted by his past life.

Percy has a close call

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Tale of Hyacinthus

Prince Hyacinthus of Sparta grew from a sweet, cute baby to a lively, lovely toddler and then older. The older he grew, the more beautiful he became. He became the talk of the Peloponnese when his godly mother surrendered him to his kingly father. The world's prying eyes never left him, and there was always something to talk about. As was typical with demigods, he took his first steps earlier than fully mortal children, spoke his first words before his father expected it and had no trouble handling weapons with barely any instruction.

His mother might just be a muse, but all demigods were bred for war; they were the gods' weapons, which showed in each of them. Hyacinthus was not the only demigod in Sparta, but he was the most famous. It was kept a secret when goddesses had demigods, maybe whispered in hushed tones to avoid offending Zeus.

Hyacinthus was on public record as the son of the goddess Clio. That made him stand out from the demigods with godly fathers. Those were a dime a dozen in a prosperous kingdom like Sparta. Many of their women were beautiful, independent, and fierce and the gods noticed. When a god noticed a mortal woman, demigods happened.

Hyacinthus was special, his mortal parent was not a woman who might be shunted aside from society but the king of all he surveyed. And Hyacinthus was beautiful, very beautiful. Amyclas and his mother, their city's namesake couldn't be prouder, but Diomede and her children were most certainly not.

As Diomede had predicted, her sons could not compete with a demigod. Great grandsons of Zeus they might be, but so was Hyacinthus, along with being a grandson. The little boy was stronger, quicker on his feet, and had a knack for strategy, which made Sparta's generals smile indulgently. Amyclas did not help matters by taking his youngest son with him to every assembly or political gathering.

The well-born of Laconia quickly saw which side of the bread was dipped in olive oil. It would not be the first time a stronger, more talented younger son was elevated to crown prince and became king over his older brothers. Spartans followed strength and ability, not primogeniture.

Before Amyclas had started acting strange and sneaking away to see Clio, Diomede had not worried. While Amyclas had the occasional dalliance with pretty serving girls and suchlike, Diomede had been able to ensure that no child resulted from this or if unable to prevent the birth, she would bribe the elders to order the child exposed. Diomede was not about to allow her own bloodline to be eclipsed and usurped.

As a young girl she had been devastated to have been sent away from her home in Thessaly all the way to Laconia. The distance between the two kingdoms ensured that she would never be able to go home again. Not even for a visit. It just was not practical when the journey took months both on land and on sea. For better or worse she had to make Sparta her home. Something that would have been much easier if Amyclas' exacting taskmaster of a mother had been dead, or if at least Amyclas had fallen in love with her.

As a young bride, Diomede had prayed fervently to Hera and Aphrodite so that her marriage could be happy and husband would love her. It had never happened. They managed to produce plenty of children, but never developed companionship. Spartan women were different from the women of the other lands beholden to the Olympians. It took Diomede long years to realise that to appeal to Amyclas she had to be bold and fierce.