If he'd had his swords, there wouldn't have been any problem with what Lloyd had done just then. With a dagger, though, his reach was so short, but he wasn't used to taking that into account. On top of that he was already exhausted. Exhaustion led to mistakes.

Lloyd realized all this a moment too late, the moment after his dagger struck home and the tailypo, thrashing desperately on the ground, raked its claws right across Lloyd's ribs and the top of his left arm. He stumbled, far too tired to catch his balance, and he went down as a cry of pain tore from his throat. It was all he could do not to fall right into the monster's claws - but he still hit the ground hard.