Ryssa felt a fierce glee as Neriad was forced to block and then blinded as her ploy worked. Moving quickly, for speed was her best weapon when a man like this one had the weight and strength. The sand shifted under her shod feet as she moved, for better or worse sand cushioned noise if one was not listening for it. But if one was of a very keen ear it was easy enough to pick out. So Ryssa moved all the quicker, her staff whirling to strike the points where muscles joined with joints on Neriad's body. Namely the knees and elbows. Had the warrior, Rhys, been trying to kill the fellow pirate, he would have gone for the head or neck. A good jab right in the throat would have bought even more time for damage to be dealt.