Finlay raced across the keep to stand shoulder by shoulder with Max. They faced Juno together. ‘So you have chosen accuracy!’ the goddess snapped. Max nodded. A smile spread across Juno’s face. ‘It will not help you. You will never slay the Man-Eating Birds. They are incredibly intelligent and utterly vicious. To complete the task you must bring me absolute proof that you have killed all the birds in the flock. Are you ready to meet them?’ She raised her hands. ‘We can’t fight them yet,’ Max said quickly. ‘Oh?’ Juno raised an eyebrow. ‘We …’ Max’s cheeks burned red. He knew how lame he was sounding. ‘We’ve got to go out with my mum this morning.’ Juno smiled nastily. ‘So, the mighty champion of Hercules must delay his task to go out with his mother to Haslemere House.’ Finlay stared. ‘How did you know?’ ‘I am Juno,’ she said simply. ‘Well, you needn’t worry about coming back here to find the birds. They will find you.’ ‘No, Juno!’ Hercules exclaimed.
