Someone might think that Sword, who grew up on a farm and had never seen a fight before would need a lot of work to calm, but apart from its initial fear at being threatened with a weapon, he is now remarkably calm, settling easily under Darya's care. Her knowledge of religion serves her well, she recognizes her assailant as one of the cult of assassins that worships Dantilus Telgar, god of black magic and death.