The retaliation is expected, but her reflexes are a little rusty - she hasn't been in a real fight for months. She's able to escape most of the blow, but it still connects with her side, easily bruising several of her ribs in the process. The shot elicits a sound of annoyance rather than pain and she spins directly away from him with an added flourish when she returns to facing him again.

Her steps are light as she rushes back at him. She fakes to the right and then ducks left at the last second, bringing a second dagger up from underneath. If her aim is true, and he doesn't move a little faster, she'll be catching him in the side with that dagger right between his ribs. Either way, she twirls away from him, stepping back and around herself as she does so, with that dagger still in hand.