[center][h2][i][color=6ecff6]Ethelred[/color][/i][/h2][/center]

[color=6ecff6]That could've gone worse.  I suppose, however, it also could've gone better.[/color]

The woman retreated upon hearing the horn, leaving Ethelred with a maimed, badly frozen bandit.  Any hope of questioning them seemed moot now- the bandit was so deeply frozen that he probably wouldn't recover, and it'd be unlikely he could catch Cecilia even if he chased her on horseback.

According to Lugh, the young Tuatha squire, the battle was over, and the knights were being summoned in the strategy hall.  Ethelred would guess that it had to do with the bandit attack, and how they'd be responding.

[color=6ecff6]"Thank you, but, I don't need any help,"[/color] Ethelred replied, placing his hand over his damaged pauldron, simultaneously relieved to be uninjured and disappointed that the blow wasn't enough to temporarily free a part of him from his crystalline carapace.  [color=6ecff6]"I'll be heading back now, but first, I have one other matter to attend,"[/color] Ethelred stated, looking down at the frostbitten bandit.

[color=6ecff6]"I'm afraid your ice burns are likely too far deep"[/color] he grimly told the bandit.  "If you are spared, you'd probably suffer quite painfully before passing, so I promise to make it quick."  Ethelred readied his lance.  [color=6ecff6]"When you're brought before Rifelshka, I wonder if she'll commend you for your loyalty, or punish you for your sins of banditry."[/color]  With that, he plunged his weapon into the man's heart.  Finishing off a downed, defeated foe was a rather unpleasant ordeal for Ethelred, but it was his responsibility to ensure his powers did not cause undue suffering to his foes.

With the bandit dealt with, the knight returned to his horse, which was no worse for wear, which was more than could be said for the bandit lying nearby, with a hoof-shaped mark on his forehead.  Ethelred was in a merciful mood, and decided not to check if the fallen man was still breathing.  Besides, surely the other knights had managed to take someone alive, right?

His business in the forest concluded, Ethelred rode back to the town.  He'd normally offer the small Tuatha squire a ride, but he was still quite cold.