Chapter 24: Chapter 24: First Blood, Part 3

"I can help," Binhadi said, sounding amused. "I am no untried mage. We four can handle a few bandits if we work together."

Sule grunted, but before he could reply, they were upon the bend and fallen tree. Two men slipped from the woods and blocked their path, exactly as anticipated. They looked like brutes, scarred and weathered men who had survived the woods this long and had every reason to believe that would not change any time soon.

Only the truly desperate or heartless made a life of stealing from travelers. They were just one more monster in the trees so far as Sule was concerned. He drew his sword and said in the tone of voice that made soldiers jump to obey, "Stand down or die."

In reply, the bandits only laughed—and the eyes of the left-most flashed brilliant silver. An overwhelming sense of panic overtook Sule's mind, and he dropped his sword as his horse succumbed to the same—

Beside him, he only barely noted that Cemal was in the same poor condition.