Incorrect, for once; there were indeed sixteen guards at the post [I]initially[/I], but since the companions arrived there some of them have left on patrol. When Aemoten asked the lieutenant how many guardsmen were at the barracks immediately after they had fled back inside after the crows attacked, he explained that there were ten guardsmen left at the barracks: seven halberdiers, one rune mage (the sergeant), one arcane mage (the corporal) and one elementalist (himself). With two halberdiers dead and the rune mage outside, seven guards remain. Including Olan and Beatrice, that's nine.

You're right about RPG acting up recently... It's not been quite as bad for me as you describe it, for some reason, but I've had some lag and the occasional report that the site was down.