[center][h1][color=ff5000][b]Renar Hagen[/b][/color][/h1][/center]

The First and Youngest wasn't the only flame the bandits were flocking to. While Fleuri had taken the initial pressure off Renar with his assist, now the Bastard of Brias found himself contending against yet more brigands as he guarded the backs of those knights that were handling the griffin. 

The growing stack of corpses around Renar wasn't quite nearly as large as Tyaethe's, but that was a measure he'd always known he wasn't going to reach today. Plus, it wasn't as if he had much time to even realize it or even compare. The latest pair of bandits to rush him had actually managed to knock his poleaxe from his hands, sending it spinning through the air and landing with the axe head stuck in the ground a good distance away. His foes thought him helpless and left themselves open as they moved in for the supposed kill, leaving Renar able to draw his arming sword in one hand, his dagger in his off-hand, and thrust each into a bandit as they drew back to swing their weapons. 

In truth, the forced weapon swap may have helped him more than it hurt. While Renar would always prefer the poleaxe above all else, wielding a weapon in each hand left him better able to deflect and parry blows from multiple opponents at once on his own. His sword found most of its use on defense, turning blows aside while his dagger plunged in for the kill. 

As another small party of brigands fell before him, Renar chanced a look back to see what progress was being made by his fellow knights on the griffin. 

[color=ff5000][b]"Do hurry up back there!"[/b][/color] He bellowed, turning back to face yet another bandit looking to ambush the knights with backs turned to him. [color=ff5000][b]"The longer you take, the more of this rabble comes to stop you! I'll not be able to hold them forever on my lonesome."[/b][/color]