And sure enough the grass was lit aflame. First it was only a few smoking reeds, but the grass was dry and the weather was arid. It didn't take long before the smoking grass became a full fire, and eventually the entire caravan was surrounded by a blazing inferno. If anyone was in the grass would be a mystery; there was no screams, no shouting, not even the sound of people rustling out of the grass. And with fire came smoke as well; the caravan was covered in a thick, choking smoke. The caravan's horses began to panic and the caravaneers lost control of them. They rushed off into the smoke, presumably towards the bridge but visual confirmation was next to impossible right now.Turning back wasn't an option; what was once a dirt path is now sixty yards of flesh-rending fire. The air was growing increasingly thin as well, and if the fire did not immolate the students of the college, it would suffocate them like a noose.

But the bandits weren't completely gone. Ever pragmatic, the two "duelists" went to the other side of the bridge, where they were safely away from the blazing wild fire. And the caravan indeed did go onto the bridge, but that only served to make the bandits all the more intimidating. Mainly because they were about to cut the ropes to the bridge, and plummet the entire caravan into the river below. "Ya know, I heard there be some fools who'd fight us, but you lot at a cut above the rest trying to kill yourselves first! Ah, but I got nothing but pity for ya. Now than, to business eh? Give us yer wagon and we won't let yer plummet to yer death below. That River is only ten feet deep, but with rapid waters and sharp rocks! It's not going to save you, but we'll be fine picking through your remains if we gots to. So what'll it be? The wagon, or a watery grave?" The bandits were already half-way through cutting the rope. Expecting someone to try to pull a fast one and kill them both, they would cut the rope upon death, and condemn the caravan to a fall anyways. Also, the other side of the bridge would soon catch on fire. The bridge itself is old and but sturdy, but it would only take a few minutes for the fire to also chew through the ropes on the other side, which would also cause the bridge to fall into the river below.