Despite his smaller frame and often silent demure, Torben could command others when needed. He knew that strategy was required to escape this new hell they were in. Looking at his companions, he knew he'd have to be the buffet against the bulk of whoever was out their intent on their death. Elias's strength diminished with the use of his magic.

"Get this thing moving Elias, we'll hold them back!" he said over the clamour outside, not withdrawing any weapons, but moving to the back of the cart. Momentum and his body were his weapons. They had all fought alongside one another, so Ulric knew to clear the path for Torben, focusing instead on getting the rest of his arrows. Elias used his dagger to penetrate the thin sheet separating the front of the cart from the back. The sounds from outside came closer and closer, Torben blocking all these out between each deep breath in and out. He had to do this before any battle as if to separate and distance himself from the brutality he would unleash. His eyes closed for what seemed to be a drawn-out time, but when they opened a calm and deadliness lay behind his eyes.

The small group of bandits approached the cart cautiously, having seen the driver drop with an arrow to the throat. The leader of the group, a man clad in dulled plate armour with a full helm, gestured for two archers to flank the cart. His smile was hidden behind the mask, he was itching for battle, and the last marks had been child's play. At least this mark would prove to be interesting. He held in both hands a longsword; one he had claimed from a great warrior many winters past. With a nod of his head the rest of his group moved closer, sensing whoever these people were would require all his cunning and strength. Kian was a renowned assassin, and he was likely slain now. He used that anger for a fallen comrade to fuel him, rage was a useful tool in the hands of the right person. His men were close to the cart, and the one with a wooden tower shield jumped into the opening.

Torben didn't wait for any other bandits, with a voiceless power he charged forward, his movement seeming to shake the very cart as he jumped out of the cart feet first, which found their mark on the brave bandit. The momentum and strength of the blow splintered the man's shield and they both seemed to be propelled away from the cart. The bandit cried in agony as he was taken off his feet and his mangled arm lay on his chest. His sword had flown in the other direction, and with no time to react, he only saw the splintered chunk of the shield when it was driven into his heart. With a twist, Torben severed the bandit's arteries connecting his heart.

The other five bandits close by were taken by surprise but nonetheless charged the single assailant with their clubs, axes and swords. Torben carefully moved through the sludge of rain and mud below his feet and took the closest bandit on, a man with a greyed matted beard and a scar running along his grimy face. He wildly swung his great axe, which made the rest of his comrades move out of the way. Torben just managed to duck under the first blow and had to roll to the side as the man's return blow would have split him in half. Covered in mud Torben advanced on the bandit, jumping in the air to bring his fist onto the man's nose. The blow staggered him, and blood poured from his face from the impact. Torben just had time to pivot to the side as a sword pierced the flowing fabric of his rags. Due to the sludge, they were in, the man lost his balance and fell to his knees. Torben took advantage of this and sent a knee into his exposed face, sending him back. He sent a boot into the axeman to propel himself backwards, having seen someone in his periphery. A club grazed his forehead as he toppled back.

Ulric emerged from the cart to see Torben land a blow on an axeman, and the other bandits cautiously surrounding his companion. Ulric notched an arrow, but with the heavy downpour that had started, it would be hard to connect with anyone out there. Pulling back with disciplined strength he aimed for the bandit closest, a heavy-set man with a large club wielded in both hands. Ulric breathed in, as he saw what looked like Torben being sent back to the ground by the club-wielding bandit. He released the arrow, finding its mark in the man's back. A howl of pain came from several people including his target, and with the only light coming from within the cart and the moon Ulric felt an uneasy feeling. Without thinking as to why he jumped off the cart away from the opening, his instincts justified as several things happened at once.

Torben scrambled up from the ground, seeing a bandit with two half axes approach him, one of the few men who weren't injured. Torben gauged his movements and kept his stance lower, and arms extended. He heard the first arrow narrowly miss him, the sound distracting him as a half axe aimed to bury itself into his side. Jumping backwards he managed to avoid death, the dulled blade slicing across his stomach. Instead of retreating away he used the man's momentum and sprang onto him to close the gap. One hand holding the man's wrist, and his other fist connecting with his attacker's face. Given the bandit's proximity when he swung his other arm, he could not connect with Torben. Torben swept the axe wielder's legs from under him, and he toppled into the mud.

One axe flew away, and the bandit grabbed Torben's neck with the free hand. But Torben was on top of the bandit, with his other axe hand now pinned under his leg leaving the man's face unguarded, and Torben's left arm free. Torben wasted no time, raining a flurry of blows, each one slowly exposing the muscle and bone underneath. What seemed slow to Torben, the man's grip loosened on his neck, but he did not relent. The man's eye popped from its socket with one blow, and with the grip loosened, Torben pinned the Bandit's other arm with his knee and continued his onslaught, only stopping when his enemy was a bloody pulp. Torben's breaths were ragged, and the effort of this kill took its toll. He surveyed the scene of chaos, two men were slowly getting up cradling their faces, and another man had dropped his club desperately trying to claw at the arrow in his back. He looked around for Ulric but couldn't see him.

The second arrow found its mark.

Torben felt the arrow pierce his shoulder, the pain white hot as it tore through the muscle. He was knocked onto his back once again and he stayed there, knowing to get back up was to expose himself to another blow. Torben pulled the arrow out and whimpered as blood flowed from the wound, tearing a scrap of cloth away he wrapped this around the wound, crawling on his back away. The first axe man was moving over to him, limping as he held the great axe in both hands. He moved far back enough that he was able to grab the half axe with the arrow still held in the other hand, all training leaving his body as the bandit raised the great axe above his head.

Torben rolled well out of the way given how telegraphed the blow was and sent a boot into the man's shin. More bone splintered and he leant all his weight on his uninjured knee and axe which was stuck in the mud. Torben jumped up, pain tearing into his shoulder as he drove the arrow into the bandit's exposed jugular. Another arrow missed him and hit into the large bandit. Using him as cover Torben threw the half axe towards the swordsman, which unfortunately hit the bandit on the nose again with the handle of the axe, sending him back onto the floor in another howl of agony.

With the jump, Ulric had narrowly missed a morning star which destroyed one of the doors of the cart he was near. The fifth bandit had crept over, and it was only the rattle of his weapon which betrayed him. Ulric rolled away and was able to survey the scene, as the morning star was being yanked from the cart. Torben was carving a bloody path through the bandits, but he would die if those archers were not dealt with. Focusing his efforts Ulric aimed towards the closest archer, a man protruding from shrubbery nearby. The arrow connected with the bandit's eye socket; no sound escaped him as he slumped to the floor.

Ulric turned to the fifth bandit and quickly loosed an arrow which missed him, only aiding in throwing the man off balance as he tried to dodge it. Overhead what looked like a comet shot past and set the second archer ablaze, the morning star bandit paying it no attention as he advanced on Ulric. He cursed under his breath, knowing he had no time to draw another arrow. The morning star swung overheard and was brought down where Ulric was just a moment ago. Mud and water shot up, and the weapon was pulled out of the soft earth as it swung again. Ulric wasn't quick enough this time, and the razor points tore into his upper arm as they swung by. Enraged Ulric advanced on the bandit, punching him in the face with the bow. He stumbled back and Ulric didn't relent, unsheathing the dagger and planting it into the man's guts. There at that moment, Ulric enjoyed twisting the dagger in his enemy, knowing he had emerged victorious.

In his bloodlust, Ulric hadn't noticed the towering knight behind the man he was killing, who lifted their longsword up, intent on killing both his comrade and his attacker in one powerful blow.

"Ulric!!!" Elias called from the top of the cart, trying with all his willpower to conjure another spell. Ulric felt a force against his chest, hurling him back in what appeared to be slow motion. As he was knocked off his feet he saw the longsword bite into the shoulder of the bandit, hueing him from the point of impact to his groin. The rest seemed to happen so fast, the impact of the ground below him and tumbling back into thick overgrowth, his descent down a hill only stopped when he hit into a tree. All air was knocked out of him as he lay there, holding his chest, willing his breathing to come back to him. He needed to get back up there; he needed his companions alive. If they were to get what each was promised to them, he needed them alive. The lives of many hung in the balance of what happened in the next moments.