You approach the watchmen slowly, and hail them when you draw close.
"Glad to see this place has got a couple of fine fellows like you keeping watch," you say with an easy smile. "I'll bet folks sleep easy in their beds at night around here."
"They do," says one of the men, while his companion eyes up you and Drazha. "Where might you be going this time of night?"
"I hear the way north of here is dangerous," you tell him. "It makes sense to us to travel at night. We can't see so well, but then neither can anyone who's lying in wait for us."
"Wait a moment," says the man's companion, taking his bow from his shoulders. "These are Gerard's horses!"
"Go!" you shout to Drazha, kicking out at the watchmen nearest you and digging your heels into your horse's flanks. As the beast moves off, you hear the twang of a bowstring. The first arrow goes wide, but the next hits you square in the back. You grit your teeth against the pain and keep on riding. By the time the watchmen are ready to fire again, you and Drazha have disappeared into the night.
Leave the Village