Large men armed with swords and axes passed, giving Ca'daan narrow looks until he looked down and away.
Even as he stared them down, the armed men refused to glance at Ca'daan. 
mnli hypothesis: Even as he stared them down, the armed men refused to glance at Ca'daan.  premise: Large men armed with swords and axes passed, giving Ca'daan narrow looks until he looked down and away.