She was one step behind Dale, ready to duel, and it was a good thing.  Just as Dale had leapt to action on the beach with no warning of his intention, the mare was noiselessly swinging a table-leg at Dale’s head.  While Lyra was more accustomed to magical attacks, there were competing unicorns who got physical.  An attack on the horn could force an early end to a match, and it was something that Lyra knew how to defend against.  She instinctively threw a half-shield up to protect Dale, while also grasping the cudgel with her telekenesis and deflecting it upwards.  A novice would have tried to stop its movement, but redirection of energy was much more efficient than stopping the same energy.  The shield was a hopefully unnecessary precaution, since it went both ways—Dale bounced off and fell on his back as the weapon sailed harmlessly over his head.