The three bandits who had been charging hesitated again, unnerved by the masked youth's sudden display of agility and the strange green energy flickering around him. The Thorn Iron men, however, saw only an ally in danger. Two mercenaries broke from the main fight, intercepting the bandits before they could reach Evan, their blades flashing.
Martino cut down the bandit leader with a powerful overhead blow, shattering the crude axe and cleaving deep into the man's shoulder. The leader's death cry seemed to shatter the remaining bandits' resolve. Those still standing began to flee, scrambling back up the rocky slopes, abandoning the fight.
The Thorn Iron men didn't pursue. They secured the perimeter, tending to their one wounded comrade. The bandit Evan had thrown into the rocks groaned, clutching his ribs. Others lay still or moaned on the ground. The ambush was over almost as quickly as it began, leaving behind the metallic tang of blood and the groans of the wounded.
Martino wiped his blade clean on a fallen bandit's tunic, his gaze sweeping the scene before settling on Evan. The mask obscured his features, but Martino saw the faint green energy fading from the young man's hands. He saw the unconscious bandit Evan had felled with a word. He saw the bandit stumbling away from the rocks, clutching his side.
"Garth!" Martino barked. "Clear the rocks blocking the road. Hurry! We need to move before any stragglers regroup." He then strode towards Evan, his expression unreadable. "Evan. Or should I say... 'Masked One'? A useful trinket. Take it off now."
Evan, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline, carefully peeled the mask away. His face was pale, his eyes wide, but held a newfound glint of resilience.
Martino studied him intently for a long moment. "A Lute Magus... who can stun men with a word... and moves with the speed and technique of a trained warrior. Who are you, Evan Young?"
Evan met the captain's gaze. "I am who I said I am. A student heading to the Milan Institute to study Zither Magic." He offered no further explanation. Quentin's warning echoed in his mind: Conceal your true strength. Never let outsiders know the full extent of your power.
Martino grunted, clearly dissatisfied but pragmatic. "Right. Well, whatever you are, you saved yourself back there. That shout... and that throw. Unexpected." He looked at the unconscious bandit near Evan. "That one won't be bothering anyone for a while. Garth! Bind the wounded bandits who can walk! Leave the rest. We move as soon as the road's clear!"
Within half an hour, the larger rocks were hauled aside. The wounded mercenary was stabilized and mounted. The bandits who could stand were bound and forced to walk alongside the lizards. The Thorn Iron Band, now carrying the somber weight of battle and the spoils of prisoners, resumed their journey north, leaving Redfang Pass and its grisly markers behind.