The explosion of heat from behind caused the charging men to halt for a moment, Bardeck having narrowly blocked a sword swing with his shield before he too looked past them. In a split second, the battleground was now an even playing field, though until Ferthyr made it to him, it was still two men versus one. And these men were competent swordsmen with well made armor. The Northman suddenly found him nearly being overwhelmed by a flurry of attacks from both sides as the soldiers moved in concert with their blades. 

It was only by instinct that Bardeck managed to survive, blocking one swinging blade with a similar axe swing while thrusting his shield out to keep the other man at bay. 

"You'll never get out of this bandit!" One of the men growled and stabbed at Bardeck's legs. "I'm not bandit!" He cried back, shield rushing him suddenly. He left his back exposed, but if he moved too quickly to be hit then it wouldn't matter, and he crashed into the man as his leg was cut, bowling him over with his great girth. If Ferthyr could get there in time, there would be a man attempting to make it over to his fellow and stab Bardeck into the back.