“That depends,” he said, “If they getcha like I’ve got Cassidy, ye use one hand. It’s smart to use the one on the same side as the one what they’re grabbin’ ye with.”
“There’s a reason fer that,” Cass said. “Yer gonna use yer other hand t’ pry ‘em offa ya.”
She reached up with her free hand, across to Seamus’. “Get yer fingers around their littlest finger,” she said, moving slowly, going step by step. “It’s the weakest one. The more fingers ye can get round it, th’ better. Then, ye bend it back. Most people’ll let go, ye bend it far enough. If they don’t ye keep bendin’ ‘til it snaps. This part ye wanna do as fast as ye can, t’ catch ‘em off guard.”
“Keep yer elbow up,” Seamus instructed. “If they decide t’ haul off an’ smack ye, yer arm’ll block ‘em from hittin’ yer face.”
He raised his hand and moved to hit Cass, but she raised her arm and blocked it, pulling back on his little finger until he let go. This, too, was done slowly, so that Su’yina could see how exactly Cass was pulling Seamus’ hand off her hair, and how her arm blocked the strike at her face.
“Show ‘er how fast ye can do it,” Seamus said.
Cass nodded, signalling she was ready for him. For a man his age, he moved fast. He grabbed a fistfull of her hair, at the side of her face, as he had done before. Despite his speed, there was a practiced care in it. It was clear he wasn’t pulling hard enough to cause her any harm. Cass, too, moved quickly. She grabbed his wrist and wrenched on his hand, freeing herself easily. Seamus winced as his finger was bent back, shaking his hand out.
“Good,” he said, “just like I taught ye.”
Cass smiled at the praise, then looked to Su. “Now, if they grab ye on the top of yer head, ye wanna grab the wrist with both hands. After that it’s the same, protect yer face an’ pry ‘em off.”