"No, I would not permit you to harm me." Once again, Hector reaches out to block, twisting away and then rising to his feet. His breath comes quicker now, and the muscles in his sword arm are afire. He grins again and tilts his head toward the edge of the forest, off toward the familiar lurking somewhere amid the sun-dappled trees. "And neither would Cain."

He makes a clean swipe toward Firo's thigh. Quickly, but not too quickly, so there's still plenty of room to turn his blade aside.