My take on the resting/creating/everything else...
The way I am seeing it through Ayden's eyes is that it has been a peaceful, but still long ride and the group has just learned that one of its own has been killed and another is still missing. They have been told the rough location of where the killers are and also that the brigands have attacked some outlaying farms in the area. It would not be a bad idea to get the info and if the other farms are not too far away, just go take a look and then come back in for the night before going after the main group. It would give us a rough idea on their numbers, if they were cautious or bold in their attacks, and anything else we could learn in a short "x" hour scale.
I am not at all saying lets start 100% right now, but if we can learn a few things before we do go 100% then I say lets try.
Make any sense?
Majin, I will get you Ayden's spell selection soon also..