back up, but as soon as she did she was thrown down again as
something fell from the sky and landed violently on top of Hector.
Lucas had rammed into Hector from above, driving his cousin two
feet into the dirt before he reared back on his knees to hit him.
?Lucas, stop!? Helen screamed in concert with Cassandra and
Ariadne.
Jason didn?t yell, but as usual, he dove on top of the other two to
put himself between them. In his rage, Lucas hit Jason accidentally,
and that misguided blow made him stop and look at his cousins
more clearly. Hector lay at the bottom of the pile, covered in
layers of dirt, his hands held up in a surrendering gesture. Jason
lay across his brother?s body, bleeding from the mouth and pushing
on Lucas?s shoulders to keep him back. Lucas blinked and
looked up at Helen.
?He was trying to kill you.? Lucas lowered his raised fist. He
forced his eyes to focus on Hector and his voice frayed at the edges,
like he was a young boy. ?I saw it. You had a sword.?
?I?m okay. Look at me, Lucas. No blood. I?m fine,? Helen said
gently as she moved to the side of the trench. She put her hands on
his shoulders and tried to coax him off his frightened, panting
cousins. Lucas allowed himself to be led up out of the trench, docile
with regret and confusion.
Cassandra briefly explained Helen?s imperviousness to her brother
as Helen, Ariadne, and Jason pulled Hector up out of the collapsing
ditch. He was injured?not too seriously, but badly enough
that he couldn?t walk on his own. Ariadne and Jason took Hector
into the house, having to hold him up as he walked. Lucas watched
his cousin half limp, half drag himself across the yard. He had to
sit down in the sand at the sight.
Three fast-moving shapes came rushing out of the house to see