Grantaire isn't expecting her to be gentle, but there's a little extra in her attack at the moment, an aggressiveness, even an anger he suspects she has little outlet for. It's making him work for his defensive moves, and it's also why he's not particularly bothered when she does strike home, as much as it stings with the flexible wood.

She'd have won by points already, if they were playing at sticks, but to knockdown is a different sort of thing. With her momentum constantly moving forward, he keeps up his quick defense and then abruptly steps out of the way, sweeping his baton down across her step.