"Ji, look out --" shouts the other man, his voice mingling with Kaya's shriek.

Thomas's belt knife scores a deep gash through the blue uniform, drawing blood. The guard called Ji lets out a hoarse cry and goes to one knee, and his grip slips off Kaya's arm --

-- and the other guard's sword comes out with a clear singing scrape, and he swings for the intruder's legs.