With the growing darkness (and missing horse), the coach moved slowly along the road. Nearly two hours later, Kaliban spotted a man crouched behind a low rock wall on the side of the road, holding a crossbow at the ready. He nudged Shedrick, who brought the coach to a stop as the man called out, "Who goes there, an' so late t'travel?"
"Black Dragon Gate coach out of the Keep and bound for the Gate!" called Shedrick in response, "We were set upon by gnolls, and are looking for safe camp. Group of seven; one injured."
"Gnolls, an' only one of ya hurt?" asked the guard, "Y'done well fer yerselves."
"He was alone at the time," admitted Shedrick as he clicked the horses forward, "And we lost a horse."
"Not bad at all," the guard replied, "We've four wagons. Regular from the Gate t'Amn an' back. We like this camp fer its rock-walls an' sight-lines."
He said the last as he patted the wall. They were off the Coast Way (down the Way of the Lion) by several miles. Using this camp would make their trip perhaps as much as half a day longer than it needed to be. But some camps were safer than others, it was true.
They were welcomed into the camp, and even offered food from the stew-pot, already on the go. Someone was playing a fiddle (a fact that Ethian had been aware of for some time, but hadn't thought to mention). The company was good, and after hearing their story, the caravan master offered his protection (so that they could rest, without taking a turn at watch, which was the usual tradition on the Sword Coast when sharing a camp).
In the morning, Hawthorne spoke with the caravan master, an Amnish man whose name was Aadrut, about their destination and the best way to get there. Aadrut told him, "That is quite the journey for you to take. As I see it, you have two routes from which to chose: Baldur's Gate and take a riverboat to Scornubel. Once, I would have called that way 'good business', but today? Devils plague the land where Elturel once stood. Perhaps it would be better for you to join us as we travel to Beregost. There you can buy a new horse! You can cross the Greenfields by coach. It is slightly longer, but picturesque. The days will blend into one."