"As a teacher, I will be very happy if you are able to do so. It is always a glad day when the student can surprise the teacher..." It is true some teachers become offended when their students best them, but Diarmuid has never been that way. Being bested by a student just means that student is that much more likely to survive the battle field.

Lancelot's strategy is not a bad one. Many people would have a lot of trouble blocking someone attacking from that angle. However, Diarmuid has so much experience that a simple attack with no feints will not fool him. Smoothly, he leans back and away from the attack. He doesn't try to bring his weapon around to block, though. Instead, his armored right leg comes up to connect with the weapon. All of his weight is then leaned into Lancelot in hopes of unbalancing him and pushing him back.

"You have speed now. You must use it. Do not come at me with just one attack. Chain them together. Box me in. Give me too much to react to. That is how you will win."