Nickolaus' half-hearted rush was easily stopped, his wrist suddenly in her very firm grasp.  It was not enough to cause him to drop his sword ... had he been fully committed to the attack, then there is no doubt that her quick parry would have caused him to lose his weapon ...<br/><br/>But he was not a warrior, and any advantage presented by her action was lost on him.  Instead of using the momentum of his rush to strike with his other hand, he stopped and tried to pull away, twisting his wrist back and forth ... his sword flailing with each attempt.  He braced his feet and tried to pull away, like a disobedient child trying to escape an angry parent.  His other hand grabbed her wrist to help ... but he could not break her grip.  A panic set into his heart ... a real fear of this fearsome woman!<br/><br/><em>"Why had Antopos not listened to him?  He caused this ... she was unarmed, and he attacked anyway!  The fool!!  And now they would both pay with their lives!"</em>Such were his thoughts as he wrestled to free himself from the deadly Amazon.