Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) are planning to visit Hercules' mother Alcmene when Iolaus receives an urgent message from Hector (Derek Payne), a trusted aide of King Orestes (Michael Hurst). It seems that Orestes, who is Iolaus' cousin and identical look-like, and his wife Niobe (Lisa Ann Hadley) have come up with a plan to form a League of Nations in order to bring peace to all the kingdoms in their area. The King and Queen are preparing to leave for Garantus to present their idea to hot-tempered King Xenon (Roger Oakley), and Hector fears for their safety should Xenon prove to be unsympathetic to their cause. Having lost his heart once to Queen Niobe, Iolaus is understandably hesitant about seeing her again, but he's unable to ignore Hector's plea for help and quickly sets out for Garantus. Along the way, Iolaus manages to escape an ambush by Choleus (David Downs) and Cleitus (Ranald Hendriks), a couple of thugs eager to ransom him, believing he's King Orestes.
When the King and Queen arrive in Garantus, Orestes delivers an impassioned speech about the need for all the kings in the area to unite as allies for the common good. Xenon pretends to consider the proposal seriously, having already devised a plot to kill his fellow ruler during the Hunt of the Dark Sun. Orestes accepts Xenon's invitation to the hunt and despite his wife's warnings, agrees to attend without her or his aides. In the meantime, Iolaus reaches Garantus and slips by Xenon's guards into the castle, where he finds Hector and Orestes' lieutenant Linus (Ross McKellar). Upon learning about the hunt, Iolaus confronts his cousin and offers to observe the event secretly to ensure the King's safety. When Orestes declines, Iolaus decides to ignore his cousin's wishes, believing he could easily be in serious danger. Iolaus' worst fears are realized at the hunt the following morning. In the fading light of the oncoming solar eclipse, Iolaus is able to kill one of Xenon's assassins as he takes aim at Orestes, but is unable to prevent the assassin's accomplice from mortally wounding his cousin. Before Orestes dies in his arms, he makes Iolaus promise to assume his identity in order to see his peace plan through. When Xenon arrives on the scene, expecting to see the dead body of Orestes, he is barely able to conceal his anger as Iolaus, now disguised as his cousin, emerges from the woods.
Iolaus returns to the castle with the hunting party and Niobe, instantly recognizing him, realizes her husband is dead. At Niobe's urging, Iolaus decides to continue impersonating Orestes in order to carry on their important work. He and Niobe meet with Xenon, who agrees to support the peace plan provided he can accompany them on their journey to the other kingdoms. The three, joined by Hector and Xenon's entourage, depart immediately for Marathon to present the plan to King Phaedron (Walter Brown). At their campsite that night, Xenon makes a grand show of his sincerity by killing one of his own hired assassins just as he is about to knife Iolaus in the back. Still wary about Xenon's real intentions, Niobe and Iolaus also find themselves struggling with their unresolved feelings of love for each other. The next day, the group is granted an audience with King Phaedron, a taciturn and eccentric old warrior, who for decades has refused to speak directly to any outsider. Iolaus becomes frustrated having to communicate through the King's minister and quickly begins addressing Phaedron directly. To everyone's amazement, Phaedron responds enthusiastically to what Iolaus has to say, agrees to the peace plan and invites his visitors to join him in a feast. That night, Iolaus and Niobe finally give in to their passion. Their joy is soon interrupted, however, by Phaedron's guards, who burst into their room and charge Iolaus with the attempted murder of their King.
Iolaus' accuser turns out to be Xenon, who has framed him by having Phaedron shot with one of King Orestes' distinctive arrows, which Iolaus gave him at the hunt. Xenon secretly orders his flunky Boron (Peter Ford) to make sure the unconscious Phaedron dies following Iolaus' execution. In the meantime, he has invited the kings of three neighboring realms to Phaedron's castle under the guise of holding a peace conference in order to murder them and gain control of their lands. But Xenon's plan begins to fall apart when Niobe enlists the help of Phaedron's wife, the kindly old Queen Euriana (Ilona Rodgers). Believing Iolaus is innocent, Eurania assists in his escape from the castle dungeon. In the end, Iolaus, with the help of Hector and Niobe, manages to defeat Xenon and his soldiers in a fierce battle, preventing him from murdering the visiting kings. Iolaus bids Niobe a sad farewell, leaving her to continue her quest to make the League of Kingdoms a reality.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Michael Hurst (Iolaus & Orestes)
Guest Starring: Lisa Ann Hadley (Niobi), Roger Oakley (Xenon), Derek Payne (Hector), Ross McKellar (Linus), Peter Ford (Boron), Walter Brown (Phaedron), Ilona Rodgers (Queen Euriana), Crawford Thomson (Arcarious), John Parker (Minister), Andrew Glover (Illegibus), Lulu Alach (Clemitus), Ranald Hendriks (Cleitus), David Downs (Choleus), Min Windle (Young Woman), Kingi Gilbert (Xenon Guard #1), Kelly Greene (Phaedron Guard #2)
Teleplay by Sonny Gordon
Story by Patricia Manney
Directed by Timothy Bond