[Jasperโs gone in a flash of darkened flames, and in the next moment thereโs light from a surge of something emanating from the branches. A bandit tumbles out from them, landing hard on his face.
Well, someoneโs gotten his magic back, he thinks, pulling himself up to his feet. A sensible person would find cover from behind a tree trunk, given that the other banditโs already nocked his arrow and intends to send it flying his way. But for good or ill, Stephen is long past the point in his life where being shot at by archers is considered extraordinary, and he makes a quick hand gesture to summon an amber shield, etched in swirling runes.
The arrowโs let free, but it bounces off the shield uselessly. He dismisses his magic and conjures again, and this time glowing red bands of energy snake around his arm. Stephen tosses them out like a whip, and they lash out, coil around the tree branch from under his assailant, and grow taut.
All it takes is one hard pull, and the branches snap. Bandit #2 lands just about as gracefully as bandit #1, cracking his shoulder on the gnarled roots of the tree. He groans, trying to get back to his feet, reaching for a small dagger strapped to his hip โ but heโs dazed and slow, and likely of no further danger with his bow still caught in the branches above.
Meanwhile, their horses protest. A third outlaw, probably having seen the display up until now, has given his fellows wide berth, and is focusing on loosening one of the mareโs reins from its hitch.]
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Well, someoneโs gotten his magic back, he thinks, pulling himself up to his feet. A sensible person would find cover from behind a tree trunk, given that the other banditโs already nocked his arrow and intends to send it flying his way. But for good or ill, Stephen is long past the point in his life where being shot at by archers is considered extraordinary, and he makes a quick hand gesture to summon an amber shield, etched in swirling runes.
The arrowโs let free, but it bounces off the shield uselessly. He dismisses his magic and conjures again, and this time glowing red bands of energy snake around his arm. Stephen tosses them out like a whip, and they lash out, coil around the tree branch from under his assailant, and grow taut.
All it takes is one hard pull, and the branches snap. Bandit #2 lands just about as gracefully as bandit #1, cracking his shoulder on the gnarled roots of the tree. He groans, trying to get back to his feet, reaching for a small dagger strapped to his hip โ but heโs dazed and slow, and likely of no further danger with his bow still caught in the branches above.
Meanwhile, their horses protest. A third outlaw, probably having seen the display up until now, has given his fellows wide berth, and is focusing on loosening one of the mareโs reins from its hitch.]