The bandit never responded to the threat. In fact, his response was to back down and flee down the staggered, broken steps. Alright. That's fine. It's not like the knight holding a battered and cracked lance in one hand and an unconscious Pegasus rider on the other wanted to drive the mass of metal down any throats.<br/><br/>Actually, Claire really had no room to maintain a "tough" appearance or remain hard in his mannerisms. His feet are steadily staggering and the beat-up armor was missing some of the spiky chunks which rendered the fear of God into the law-forsaking vagrants who typically do not fear God. The knight gently and chivalrously sat the injured girl against a wall, careful to keep his focus and not accidentally molest her. Restraint, gentlemanly...guh.<br/><br/>The sound of footsteps coming closer perked up the knight's ears. Even more reinforcements from inside the castle? More things to break? As Claire contemplated, his own body protested at the difficulty of going up against at least three more unsavory heretics, who hopefully aren't housing another fire mage. Think later. Murder now.<br/><br/>Gideon, Valerie and Bricen are soon greeted with the sight of a black-armored knight, covered in soot and cracks with bobs of magical fire that seemed to work against cultivating an image of terror. Emerging from the opening while dragging his lance on the ground, Claire is quite intent on maintaining his reputation as an attack dog with bite and not just bark. MORE KILLS.