The party sets off as soon as the gate is opened for the morning traffic. It's a dark fall morning and you can see the sun trying to climb over the horizon in the east to help take a chill out of the air.
Before you get too far down the road, about 1/4 mile, you see a lone wagon in the distance heading towards you. From what you can make out in these conditions is there there is more than one person in the wagon and there appears to be at least two people following on foot. The wagon itself appears to be a typical merchant's wagon loaded with barrels and is pulled by two oxen.
Hunter stands off to the side of the road awaiting its passing. He tries to use his special sense to detect anything awkward about the wagon or those behind it. As they pass he will say, "Oy, what are you carrying there?"
Gabriel would keep a hand resting on his morning star with his shield in easy reach as well. Stepping on the road he would ask Drethen and Ardo, "What is this about zombies?" He would still keep his focus on the cart, yet watch Hunter as he wants for the driver to answer.
Ardo looks to see if that is Mendal. "There is a trader that comes to town that we have seen raise undead and send items to a secret entrance of the caves of the group that is in the valley. I do not know what god they worship yet, but the do control large amounts of undead."
As the wagon gets closer, you can see that it is indeed Mendal. You recognize him driving the wagon with one of the women that he was with before sitting next to him on one side and a new female on the other. This one is just as pretty as the one she is apparently replacing as well as just as enamored with Mendal. The two walking next to the wagon are the same two bodyguards that you saw him with on your previous encounters.
You are able to realize this before Mendal and his group seem to notice you.
You also are able to make out the fact that his wagon is filled with barrels, similar in appearance to the ones you found in the cave and based on how easily the oxen and wagon are moving, they're probably empty.
Hunter notices the facial expressions on the older heads in the party and asks quietly, "Who is this?" When he finds out he asks, "Well, he won't know me, want me to say something?"