Dashing into the forest, she ran with all possible speed toward the village. In the fields at the village's edge she saw her father with other farmers.
"Demo! He's in danger. A swordsman has him prisoner."
They gathered their tools, and her father his longbow. "Show us!" her father commanded, grim-faced.
They arrived in time to see Demo toss the buck's haunch at Dionysius. He fell back to ward it off, even as his sword was impaled by the meat.
Demo lunged forward, wrestled with Dionysius before the latter could free his sword. His own knife fell to ground.
Suddenly Dionysius released the sword, dove to the ground and seized the fallen knife.
He smiled as he stepped toward Demo.
Only then did he note the ring of farmers at the forest's edge.
And most of all he noted the longbow, drawn, in the hands of
Theresa's father.
Dionysius, stopped, bowed. "Here, boy, you'll need this to finish cutting the meat."
He extended the knife, hilt first.