Thanks for the feedback and willingness to even consider (!) this.
Okay, Immy, go ahead with sending Aeron and Gwyllion out to talk. They'll have to do it in secret, or in frank disobedience of orders, because with now three women captured, everybody else will be very cautious indeed.
After that.....
one captive will die
one will be defaced
one will be injured
one will escape unscathed.
I'm not saying who, what, so that you'll have something to (ahem) look forward to.
Thanks much!