You go about your business, writing up the short contract. Your writing is cramped and unnatural, and you wisely instruct a guardsman in the contents of the message. Your squire wanders off to ready a cart of food for the brigands.
You speak with Tor, who nods as you explain your plan to have a safe fallback. He describes a copse of trees rolling over two hills, with a game path running between them. You agree that it will make a fine fallback spot, and decide that early afternoon would give you an advantageous position of the sun.
Stepping back in, you tell Curtis that he will be returned along with the guardsman tomorrow. He shakes your proffered hand, seeming to mull over what has gone on. A bit of hope lingers in his eyes.
With your plans in hand, you retire for the night.
--------
The sun is a bit past noon overhead. You have already sent two spearmen along with Curtis and your contract for Ox and his men. You, Tor, Alan, ten archers and the other three spearmen wait, unmounted, half your forces on each hill. You figure that your man had probably arrived by now. Time seems to crawl.
After what seems to be forever, you hear the crashing of a chase through the bush. You glance forward, and see one of your spearmen, stumbling and wounded, running in your direction. There is no sign of the other. Behind him hulks the largest man you've ever seen, carrying a spiked club. He leads a misfit band of brigands, at least a dozen of which stream out behind him. You see Curtis among them, glaring angrily at your spearman.
You have a choice... you think that your man will be run down before the mob reaches your ambush spot. You can charge out and try and save your man, or you can wait, hoping he reaches the ambush spot. What will you do?