Defence or parry

[Mim]

Hello!

If I have the luxury, and as Mercenary I do, to spend 20 skill points in either parry or defence, what is preferable?
Assume I have good skill in both at the same skill lvl, but another 20 would bring me up to guru something skill.
(Also if any of the skills are better under certain circumstances, I recall someone said once that parry has to do with two handed weapon skill (does it?), assume I use two weapons)

[Tarlok]

Defence should be preferred. Parry only helps if wielding a weapon. I suspect they are of equivalent value in preventing normal melee attacks. I also guess that some abilities check defence and not parry as parry is a rarer skill amongst players.