[color=A0A0A0][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]

With some time to spare before being ordered into position, Fleuri removed his helmet to get a better look at where his armor was struck with a quarrel.  To his relief, there was no damage beyond a minor scratch where it glanced off his pauldron.  The only other telltale signs of his participation in the battle was his bloodied greatsword and a few scarlet drops that had dripped from his sword onto his white cape.  The evening was still young, however, and they had another fight ahead of them.

Fleuri contemplated about what the bandit had said while being interrogated.  [i]If this knave is telling the truth, sentries might be an issue if they spot us before we can get into position.[/i]  If the bandits were alerted before they were encircled, many of them would be able to slip away into the woods.  The other detail he noticed was the mention of prisoners.  It wasn't surprising that these brigands kept prisoners, but it posed a slight complication in that the camp contained innocent people.  There was a chance the bandit was lying about that detail, but the Iron Roses would not gamble with people's lives by calling his bluff.

There was one other detail that was worth noting- the bandit's description of the Bandit King.  According to the reports, most of the royal soldiers sent to stop the bandits were torn apart by a single, unknown weapon.  It was speculated that Jeremiah was this weapon's wielder but assuming he wasn't some sort of elaborate red herring- which these bandits were clearly not smart enough to pull off- this further suggested that it was indeed Jeremiah.

[i]If he is surrounded, he could try to break out- after all, if he's as skilled as they say, he could very well succeed.  But a man as bold as Jeremiah does not seem like the type to flee.  [/i]Fleuri glanced at Fanilly.  If the Bandit King opted to stand and fight, he'd probably go straight for the young captain.  The thought of the Order losing its Knight-Captain so early into her captaincy, and just a few short years after losing their previous captain, made him uneasy.  On the other hand, from what little he had seen of Fanilly, she wasn't just some bravado filled fool.  Between the Vindramael knight and the legendary First and Youngest, she was in good hands.

He thought of speaking up to the captain, but decided against it.  He had nothing noteworthy to say, and there were already enough people telling Fanilly how to do her job.  He silently put his helmet back on and mentally readied himself for the next phase of the battle.