I reckon Iago did, so he should explain how and roll the appropriate skill. Intimidation is leadership+pre. More polite questioning could be leadership+Com. Both charm and bargain have their uses. I'll summarise the outcome.
Iago has calmed a bit when he talks to the two prisoners. He's already learned the general direction of their camp and their numbers, so he asks their names and what got them into the brigand business.
[Leadership + Com Roll: 0, No Botch. Result: 2]
They lost their homes and families to the war, and turned to hunting. They catch what they can get. That's fowl and hares for the most part. They never admit to hunting donkey loads, but neither do they manage to convince Iago that they don't. They used to live further East, not as far as Dunwald, in a rather insignificant village that is no more. You already had their names, but they do not give up their companions' names.
Iago shares what he learned with Cath’rinne.
Thom looks over at Cath'rinne.
"I think we should take them back. They can surely work off their trouble at Ungulus."
Cath'rinne sighs. "They lied. What are the odds, you think, they're skirmishers paid by our foes?"
"Slim, I think. They didn't seem to be on the hunt for warlocks," comments Thom. "But maybe?"
"Probably. I'm still too tired to see what it is they're hiding. I'm fine with taking them as servants for now, and see if they can pay their debts. You and I, Thom, should head to Midwinter Copse, however, and not just home. The spell I cast, your wounds will be fine for the next moon. They also won't heal soon. Make the best of it."
"I would like to see it again," says Thom with a slight wince from his back. "It shouldn't take us too long. But shouldn't we see them all to Ungulus before we fly on?"
Cath'rinne quietly acquiesces to Thom. "Let's."
Thom turns toward Iago. "We should hurry back to Ungulus. Lady Cath'rinne and I will fly overwatch as you travel. I can't speak when in that form, but Lady Cath'rinne can. So be prepared to defend should we find more troubles along the way."
The young man then walks over to the two prisoners.
"You two are coming with us. You will serve us to pay off the price of your assault against us. If you do well, you may earn a place among us. If you do not..."
The young magus casts a formulaic spell [Phantasmal Animal], giving dramatic and ominous flare to his gestures before the two prisoners. As if from thin air, a man-sized otter appears complete with wicked looking teeth and muscular sleek form, looking rather exactly like the otter guards that watched the way to the King of Foam.
The muscular otter carefully walks over toward the two prisoners, sniffing at them, teeth bared and menacing.
"If you cooperate and serve without troubles, your fate will be far better than what you hoped to gain here on this trail when you ambushed us. Do you understand?"
Thom waits, watching them, the menacing otter standing at full height beside him.
The prisoners whisper between themselves, looking puzzled by Thom's words. Those with a little folk ken will hold down that down to their speaking Brythonic.
At the sight of the otter, however, they are cowered, and speak in fear, «they are warlocks», «like Wicker Hill», «we are doomed». Iago understands, but it is hard to make out such short and fragmented sentences without native understanding of Brythonic.
Your path ahead requires a hand and leads through the village of St John the next day. Do you go through the village, or how do you proceed?
Thom shakes his head.
"I'd say we go around St. John if we're dragging these two along as prisoners. It's begging people to ask questions if we go through the village. On the other hand, we could let them know we have partly solved their brigand problem."
Do the vultures land to discuss this matter with Iago? Or will he have to make the decision on his own? If I understand correctly Sasso and Telsa would not weigh in.
Thom has not turned back into a vulture yet.
"Slit neck and be done," Sasso says in his rudimentary English. "Scum they are."
You can pass around St John if you want to, but it will be hard to avoid every town and village all the way to Ungulus. Let's call it survival+Int 12+ or area lore Northumbria 9+, or if you have both Northumbria and Scottish lowlands, use the smallest for 6+. Unskilled, however, it is the higher ease factor of 12+.
Cath'rinne sighs. To Thom: "So many languages in this land... I think I'll need a spell for that."
She merely nods.
Cath'rinne doesn't appear to react. Perhaps because she doesn't speak English.
Cath'rinne has Int+Survival of 10, with a specialty in mountain which might apply in parts of the area. Wouldn't being airborne help her direct the group arround settlements?
With the aerial survival expertise, you do make it back to Ungulus without further trouble on Midsummer Eve.
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Next stop - bringing Thom to meet with Confidence at Midwinter Copse. Likely us two unless he insists. And depending on whether he wants to do something at Ungulus before resuming the trip.