They were waiting for him

Kailus stands up from his examination.
"They waited for him and then killed him as he approached. Finishing it of with a sword. And then they searched him. If he had some sealed message, then that is gone too."

He watches the young guard deliver the rations and then adds, "I suspect that we will be tracking them back to their camp, but since they have three days start on us, I don't see the need to hurry, other then to make the trip less than two days long."

He points up the slope toward the fold in the hills. "We go that way."