The man who had engaged Fanilly in the first place was almost immediately killed by Forina, who took the moment to chastise her for her actions. Dully, Fanilly realized it had been foolish to move before trying to see if the man was alive, but... but weren't they also knights of compassion, who helped the innocent? Weren't they...

In her moment of silence, another man leaped from behind the cart. Seeing her distracted, and likely realizing there wasn't much room to run where he had found himself, had managed to mount another attack moments after Forina had changed targets. But Fanilly wasn't completely stunned. She caught his shortsword it swiftly on the edge of her own blade, sliding his weapon along it and forcing it downwards. She'd practiced practically every possible motion with her longsword over and over, and this bandit, while not totally unskilled, was simply not someone who could claim the same thing.

She made her opening, adjusted her grip, and thrust her sword. The leather armor was no match for her blade. Neither was the bandit's torso.

It wasn't the first. It was the second. The second man Fanilly had ever killed.

The blonde girl stepped back, and he let out a gurgle, tumbling sideways.

Fanilly took a deep breath. It was striking her in her heart, for a moment. Even if it wasn't the first... But, they had come here to kill these bandits. Any that surrendered would be taken prisoner, but any that resisted would be killed. They were murderers. They were the type of people who hurt innocents, who had no remorse for their actions, who would kill anyone if it meant making coin.

Just like the first.

These facts in mind, Fanilly readied her bloodstained blade. Around her, the knights were taking initiative, those with poleaxes pushing forward, others taking out the archers in the brush. Tyaethe had rushed to her side swiftly and tended to the injured farmer, as well as cut apart one of the bandits. The sight of a man cut in half before her eyes gave Fanilly a moment of shocked pause, but she swiftly shook her head and tried to recover. She couldn't freeze up. She couldn't let herself be lost in the frantic clash. She had to make up for not realizing how this was a trap. She had to do everything she could. She couldn't be the fool Forina had called her. She had to do everything she could to be the captain that the Iron Rose Knights needed!

Given the bandits were, for the moment, unable to focus largely on her, Fanilly took a moment to take stock of the situation, trying to clear her mind and ignore the hammering of her heart. This was likely not all of the bandits. The first bandit's reaction indicated they weren't expecting the Iron Roses. Therefore...!

"Do not let a single man escape!" cried Fanilly, finally managing to speak, "They cannot alert the camp to our presence!"

Every bandit here had to be killed or captured. If they were not, it was possible they could warn the others, in which case the bandits could prepare further defenses, traps, or flee outright.

"Archers, magi, suppress their crossbowmen!"

The most dangerous bandits among this small force had to be those that were hidden among the forest, using their crossbows to fire unseen. To keep them from injuring, or worse, killing any of her knights, Fanilly knew she had to suppress them in any way possible. She had to keep them from being able to concentrate enough to aim! Even if they didn't know exactly where the bandits were, it would be difficult for them to attack if they were being struck with a hail of arrows themselves. Ah, what else could she order?! She had to give further guidance, she had to think! But everything was happening around her, bandits being slain left and right...

She had to have faith in her knights above all else!

With Tyaethe caring for the man, Fanilly took a swift step forward. Ducking low, she heard something whistle over her head. Shortly afterwards, she heard a pained cry from the same direction.

A man with an axe sprang from behind the tree in front of her. As he swung down, she responded immediately with her parrying dagger, locking the axe's head between the blade and the hilt!

This one came easier, her sword cutting downwards between his shoulder and neck, hacking into his leather armor. The bandit's numbers were dwindling swiftly, and though there were a considerable number still fighting for their lives... there were others wavering, preparing to flee.

Fanilly tore her blade from the dead bandit.

"Do not let them escape!"

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