"I understand it is likely a trap, but we should not - Alaira, no!" Ssarak shouted as soon as he saw what she was doing, but it was too late. With a bolt of lightning, she ignited a flame that spread quickly through the dry grasses, ending immediately any chance of talking their way through. She wanted to flush out any bandits hiding for an ambush, but the flames revealed none. Instead, it frightened the horses and forced them onto the bridge. The flames quickly engulfed the area behind them, not to mention the smoke that was filling the air and beginning to restrict their breathing. Using his wings, Ssarak did his best to keep the smoke away from himself and his allies, but they still had even more pressing concerns. The smoke wasn't as bad the closer they drew to the far side of the bridge, but the bandits were still set on taking their caravan. 

The pair of duelists had their knives firmly on the ropes supporting the bridge, and Ssarak could see no way to stop them from finishing off the ropes if they were intent on severing them. The thought entered his mind to use his magic to make them think they were stationary while they continued to advance, but he was not confident he would be able to sustain such an illusion. Ssarak could fly, so his own life wouldn't be in danger if the bridge fell, but the others could not, and he could only realistically save one of them before impact. However, at the moment, he saw no compelling reason that they could not just agree to hand over the wagon, then kill them anyway once they were safely on land. 

[i]"Perhaps we should agree to their demand, then kill them once we are off the bridge?"[/i] Ssarak suggested in a telepathic message to all of his allies except Alaira, due to her weakness to psychomancy.