I stood on her right, and my left arm caught it.

The blade went through the muscles of the forearm, and stayed there, but that was of no account.

Gerda's light mail would hardly have stopped it.
She gave a little cry, and I set my arm behind me, smiling.

But the men saw and roared, and there was not one on the side of the man who would do so evil a deed.

They made a rush for the dais, overturning the tables, and hustling aside Eric's men, who were in their way, else there would have been an end of Arnkel.
Maybe in the long run it had been as well for him, but in the scuffle he opened the door behind him and rushed out.