The manacles fall away not a moment too soon.
Hermes spins just in time to avoid the deadly arc of a blade. His enemy this time has attacked again, the knife cutting through the air with a dull hiss. Hermes evades it once more. What comes after is a quick sequence of thrusts, slices, and dodges.
On the fourth pass, the man managed a cut along his shoulder. Hermes is better prepared by the fifth strike. His hands capture the man's wrist, dislodging the weapon from his grasp.
The fight seems to be in Hermes's favor now. Or at least, it should have been had his focus not momentarily faltered. Giselle had suddenly given a sharp cry of pain. All it takes is the brief dart of his eyes in her direction, and with that, his adversary regains the upper hand.
"I don't think you can afford any distraction now, you fool!"
