"Are you sure about this plan?" Hope plays with the veil in front of her face. It blocks her line of sight, the dress clings tightly to her form and makes it hard to move, and she's not used to wearing heels.

"Yes, I'm sure. Just trust me." Amadeo squeezes her hand softly. "We'll be fine...wife."

Hope nods gingerly. "If you say so...husband." She visibly shudders, sticking her tongue out and making a gagging noise.

"Good to know I'm not your type." Amadeo chuckles.

"Oh, no! It's not that!" Hope, flustered, waves her hands rapidly in dismissal. "I just don't think marriage is for me. I didn't have a family growing up, and I'm not sure I'll have one before I die. Which, by the way, might be today. And if it is, I'm coming back to haunt you."

"I'll be sure to keep you alive to bother me in corporeal form." He reaches back, knocking on the side of the carriage with one hand still on the reins. "You kids alright back there?"

"Who are you calling kid? I'm your elder by over two decades!" Tyrion locks a bolt into his crossbow. Anna puts a finger to her lips. "Shhh, we dunno if they're listening in on us."

"We're coming up on the site, just be ready. These guys aren't like the highwaymen from story books. They'll beat the tar out of us and leave us for dead if given the chance." Amadeo clicks his tongue, pushing the horses to move a little faster.

The cart rolls through the small valley between the five hills of Arboria. Too steep to climb. If they get boxed in, there's nowhere to run. Over one hill comes a figure, tall and broad. A scar over his right eye, partially blinding him, and a crooked smile full of jagged teeth. "Meets the description we were given. Get em, boys!"

Four other men leap out from bushes on the sides of the road, crossbows drawn. The large man, their apparent leader, moves down the hill to join them. "Good afternoon, sir and madame. Terribly sorry to ruin the honeymoon, but you've got something we need." He holds up a dagger and smirks. "First you give me your valuables, including the pearls your missus is wearing." Hope clutches the necklace around her neck, squeezing Amadeo's arm gently to keep up the appearance of a frightened newly wed.

"Then I reckon you're gonna give me a little one on one time with her." That same crooked grin, voice ragged and cold like a wolf enjoying the chase as much as the catch.

"I think you might want to reconsider that last part. See, my bride is a bit on the manly side. She's got muscles for days." Amadeo holds up a shocked Hope's arm, showing off her flexing muscle, which causes a few of the bandits to make squeamish faces. Even their leader raises an eyebrow, but shrugs. "Eh, I've seen worse. Gareth, Par, look in the back and lemme know what ya find. We'll wait right here to make sure these two don't get the wrong idea."

Hope breathes deep, clenching her fists and putting her hands behind her head. "No need to be crude about this. We'll cooperate..."

"Of course you will, madame. It wouldn't do well to have your first night as a married couple be ruined by a scarred face." The man chuckles, as do the others, while two thinner men approach the rear of the covered wagon. Amadeo scans the group; three in front, two behind. No wolves yet, but that doesn't mean they're not here, waiting to be called by their masters. "Numbers aren't on our side." He thinks. "However..."

One of the thin men reaches the back of the wagon and pulls the curtain open, shrieking as a bolt catches him in the eye before he's blasted backward. The second man doesn't have enough time to dodge before a bolt of multicolored force hits him in the chest, pushing him backward, though he maintains his footing. "Boss, they've got people in the back! Par's dead!"

The leader bares his teeth. "Kill em all!" As one of the men raises his crossbow, Amadeo releases the spell he's been holding, tossing out a few grains of fine sand. The man's face falls as he hits the ground, fast asleep. The leader's eyes droop for a moment before he shakes it off. "Nice try, punk!" Putting a thumb and forefinger to his lips, he whistles loudly. Within seconds comes the howling and snarling of three wolves, who rush up to the group from behind. "We've got company!" Tyrion shouts, loading another bolt.