I'm not too sure, deserters from Theramore would be pretty good for RP, but nevertheless, they may have already been arrested for conspiracy to treason. :?
This sounds like it has an ulterior motive, rather than it having anything to do with the bugged quest.
Not really. No ulterior motivation besides the quest is broken and they would have likely been stopped by now. Maybe if they were moved to a location as if they were conspiring in secret?