a hand through air as if to banish the thought. ?As far as I?m
concerned the laws of hospitality were not violated.?
As she said those last words, Helen noticed Lucas?s eyes snap
over to Daphne, and she knew that he had sensed a lie, but decided
to overlook it for the greater good.
?I called this meeting to address two very important matters that
concern both our Houses,? Daphne continued in a smooth voice.
?The first is Hector and his future, and the second is my daughter
383/395
and her part in the prophecy.? Helen?s head spun around to face
her mother.
?My what?? she asked, completely at a loss.
Helen wasn?t the only one in the room who didn?t understand.
Castor and Pallas looked around, confused, and even Cassandra
shrugged as if to admit she had no idea what Daphne meant.
Jason stood up and took a stiff step forward.
?Helen is the Descender that the Oracle mentioned in their
prophecy?the prophecy that says that the Descender will free the
Houses from the cycle of revenge,? he said from his place behind
his father?s seat. ?I only realized it this afternoon, when Helen described
the dry lands so perfectly that I knew she?d seen them. That
puzzled me at first because I know she isn?t a Healer. Then she told
me that she would come down and drag both Claire and me out if I
wasn?t strong enough to make the journey on my own. From her
confidence, I knew she meant what she said, and I also suspected
that she had physically been there more than once.?
?The dust on your feet!? Ariadne exclaimed as she recalled
Helen?s dirty feet and the mystery of the un-rung jingle bells.
?What about it?? Helen asked, looking around at everyone?s immobile
faces.