"It's a bruise, nothing more," he assures her. "I made the mistake of being caught out by the Sheriff's men, and they managed to get a hit in while my back was turned."

If Kiseki hadn't panicked, he might have been able to hold them off -- but it was unlikely in the best of scenarios. One man on his feet, no matter how well-trained in combat, would never be able to hold off opponents on horseback with not only swords, but bows and arrows.

It would always have ended how it did: he's only grateful that Marian was hidden from their view.