Swordmaidens or Not? (2)

When the dust had finally settled, both swordmaidens found themselves kissing the dead grass and dirt. Their swords and shields floated harmlessly behind me, enveloped by blue light. A not-so-subtle way of showing that they were now unarmed and horribly outmatched. 

To their credit, they were strong and brave. Not only did they remain defiant even as I parried their strikes and shutdown their efforts, but they possessed martial skill equal to that of a junior paladin. Did those still even exist? 

If they had faced the Lich, maybe they would have had a grand and epic clash. Such a battle would go both ways, assuming the Lich did not use his army in any way and received no injection of power from his masters.

That said, the two swordmaidens lay defeated before me. Their stubbornness against reason rewarded.

"May we speak now?" I asked as I knelt down before one of the swordmaidens.