The bandits wasted no time. As soon as the carriage came to a halt, the leader barked orders, and his men surged forward like a pack of wolves. The doors were yanked open with rough hands, and before Fenrir, Mary Ann, or Rui could exchange a word, the bandits lunged to subdue them.
Mary Ann moved instinctively, her hand darting toward the concealed dagger at her side, but Fenrir's sharp voice cut through the chaos. "Don't fight back."
She froze, her fingers brushing the hilt of her blade. Rui, standing beside her with a steely expression, hesitated as well, her magic on the brink of activation. Fenrir's calm, almost amused tone made them both pause, their instincts clashing with the trust they placed in him.
