“Leave us alone old woman, we are in a hurry to catch a boat while the tide is in our favor,” said Demetrious.”

    “Please young master, help me,” said the old woman with her crippled twisted hand stretched out towards Junior.

    “I said leave us alone old woman we are in a hurry.”

    “No wait,” said Junior as he walked toward the crippled beggar with Bo right behind him. “What is your name?”

    “My name is Helene of Laconia.”

    “Well Helene of Laconia, I have no money to give you but I have a little bit of food and some water if you like.”

    The old woman smiled and nodded yes, as Junior opened his bag that Demetrious had him carry, the young boy sat down in front of her with Bo by his side. They sat there for quite a while eating as Junior listened to the old woman’s tales of adventures from her youth as she patted Bo. Sitting beside them in silence was Demetrious. Demetrious tried so hard to be patient, as he waited for his young friend to be ready to move on until he could no longer keep his mouth shut. “Well my young friend we have missed the tide that we needed to start our journey. It will be hours before we are able to get going again.”

    The old woman begged their forgiveness for causing them such a delay to their trip as she asked the young boy. “Why are your cloths torn and soiled my dear young man and you also do not seem to have a sword or shield.”

    “No I do not have any shield or sword my dear lady. As far as looking a mess, I am afraid that I fell down, ripped my shirt, and dirtied my pants.” Looking towards Demetrious, he stated that both Bo and he were tired.          

    “Since we missed the chance to get our boat why don‘t we try to get some rest before continue our trip. We will camp here with this fine woman if she will let us.”

    The old woman nodded yes, as she smiled. Junior place his backpack on the ground in front of him so he could use it as a pillow, closed his eyes, and being so tired Junior fell asleep immediately. Bo watch as his young master started to snore. He then looked towards Demetrious as he settled himself to rest and finally Bo looked at the old woman that called herself Helene as she stared deep into his big brown eyes and smiled.

    Bo slowly opens his eyes as he saw the old woman still staring at him except something was different. The woman that now stood in front of Bo was a young beautiful woman. That was not crippled but stood straight with a presence of elegance and greatness about her. Even with these changes, Bo knew who it was, no matter what the difference of the way the stranger looked, his instincts and the scent was the same. As he continued to watch her closely, she started to give off a glow that intensified to a point that a human could barely tolerate. At that moment Bo’s master, Junior who had slept for hours and would have slept longer if he had not woken with the dazzling light that was now shining in his eyes

    Still half-asleep Junior woke up and leaned on one of his elbows as he shaded his eyes from the intense light with his hand. He tried to look into the light as he looked around for the old crippled woman. He could not see her anywhere. Now worried about the safety of the woman and himself Junior cried out “Helene where are you?”

    Junior’s yelling woke up Demetrious from his sleep as the bright light mesmerized the creature. Demetrious petrified of the blazing light, he desperately tried to make out the figure that stood in front of them.

    “Young man, do not call or distress yourself for the old crippled lady that you showed kindness too, because she is no longer. I Goddess Athena stand before you to repay you for your kindness.”

    “Goddess Athena?” said Junior in a state of total bewilderment.

    Demetrious cowered in the presence of the Goddess Athena, speaking with a shaky frightened voice he spoke “Please do not kill us Goddess Athena, my young master is ignorant of our ways and doesn’t understand the greatness and powers of the gods.”

    “You have nothing to fear. I will repay his kindness by helping you on your quest.

    Stand my young warrior and behold your sword and shield. It has been made by the gods to help you defeat Martoid the Cyclops.” Junior stood and walked towards to Goddess Athena as he looked upon the sword and shield that the Goddess held out to him in absolute awe.

    “Zeus himself has sent me to help you if you prove that you are worthy to be his champion. You have passed the test my young warrior with your heart. Come forward and show the world and us how your sword and shield goes well with the brilliance of your armor.

    Junior stood in amazement as he saw his reflection in the shield that lay against a boulder beside the road. “It is so beautiful; I’ve only seen pictures of armor and shields like this in books. Yet, it sure does not come close to how awesome this it.” said the young boy. The young boy mumbled to himself, “Except, why me? I am just a boy. Why would the gods chose me?”