Silly Cybin: That would be great, since the emperor would probably want to contribute as much as possible. Elya's son on the throne is relevant to his interests. :) So he'd offer both Lacchi and a knight. 

As for their travelling arrangements: Sir Stefan comes along, they'll take some less trvalled roads and do it incognito. Maybe as cloth merchants (so I like clichés....) In that case I will, after Sicarius's and my collab is posted, write a post bringing everything up to the leaving point.