A metal clink sounded as his greaves hit against something, bringing the human to a stop and pulling his attention back down. There was a thin blade blocking his path. Jacques smiled as he sat on his haunches. His left forehoof was held in the steel band of the rapier's strange hilt. Handy suddenly understood the purpose of the odd sword. It was specifically designed for a pony to use without the aid of magic, the clasp holding firm around the hoof, allowing the pony to slash and thrust with the weapon with minimal effort. Sure, it wouldn’t work for a heavier sword, but a rapier? He hadn't even heard or seen the unicorn draw the blade. Handy, slowly, reached for his hammer beneath his cloak. "Non, non, non, non, mon frère. I am quite protective of my friends you see," he said, looking down. He then cocked his head to the side. "Now, if I had a bit of, shall we say, collateral persuasion, I might be more relaxed, qui? In case one friend ends up not being entirely friendly towards another," he said, smiling. Handy briefly recalled Joachim, jokingly, calling him mercenary the other day. He wondered what the good king would call him had he been as flagrantly extortionate as this particular pony.