You are in a sheltered grove on the Dunfalcon Pike, around 7 miles west of Yggsburgh. You have travelled about 18 miles since you left the Sun & Moon Inn at Nearcliff ca 10am this morning, it is now around 3pm, 3 hours before sunset.
While the six adventurers catch their breath and make ready to depart, Rufus the coachman cuts the crossbow quarrel from the manservant Grigor's back - Rufus seems to have some experience in such things. Tabitha Kallent looks on, turning rather pale at the sight. She goes to tend to her aunt Gertrude, who is sitting on a tree stump, looking dazed.
Aided by the maid Molly, Rufus staunches the bleeding from Grigor's back with tight bandages. Grigor is still unconscious, and turning feverish. You help Rufus load Grigor into the carriage of the coach.
Rufus thanks you, then says:
"I'm pressing on with the coach to Yggsburgh now - won't risk being out here after dark. When you've got all that silverware back from the highwaymen, meet me with it at the Outs Inn, east of the city walls. There's a couple merchants going to be mighty annoyed if they don't get their shipment! And they might be blamin' you fer cuttin' it loose..."
He glares at Garrick, then his expression softens.
"...But I reckon ye did the right thing. They coulda killed us all, or worse."
Tabitha stands and comes over. She looks shyly at Garrick.
"I... I want to thank you again for saving us. When you get to Yggsburgh with our dresses, you can find us at the Hawkes mansion on Scrivner Street. My aunt Winifred is married to Sir Ulrich Hawkes. I'm sure aunt Gertrude will want to reward you for your efforts, when she's recovered..."
Tabitha glances over a little uncertainly at aunt Gertrude, who is now rocking back and forth slightly on the treestump.
Gertrude:
"...My dresses... My beautiful dresses..."
Tabitha takes a step forward and quickly gives Garrick a chaste kiss on his right cheek, her well-rounded bosom brushing against his armoured chest. Then she quickly turns away to help Molly get aunt Gertrude back up into the coach.
The six adventurers bid farewell to the others, and the coach starts off quickly again east down the Dunfalcon Pike towards Yggsburgh. You head back west cautiously along the road, alert for ambush, but the six highwaymen have departed, taking the loot with them - empty cases lie scattered about on the roadside.
Flynn tracks their hoof marks back to the roadside copse where they first ambushed you. It looks like they joined up with three others on foot - one big and heavy, two light and short of pace. The six riders and three footmen then headed south, a circuitous and meandering route through narrow paths, woodland, fields and heath, making some effort to throw off any pursuit - but Flynn is an expert tracker, and follows their route for some three hours, until as dusk is falling it leads into a small and decreipt-looking thorpe of less than a dozen buildings, in woods probably less than a mile south from the Dunfalcon Pike. A decayed wooden sign says "New Padstock". A dark trail leads north from the thorpe through the trees, towards the Pike.
There is no one in sight, and you creep closer. Towards the north side of the little burgh you can see a low and ramshackle tavern, light shining through the warped shutters. Sounds of boisterous merrymaking and raucous laughter issue forth from within. The sign over the door shows a crudely painted nude female figure, and faded lettering reads 'The Welcome Wench'. To the right of the tavern is a wooden stable block, in which you can see the dark forms of six horses stabled - you recognise them as the highwaymens' steeds. Your quarry is close at hand!
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