(free actions count as things like saying a short phrase. calling out insults, dropping something, stopping concentration. things that wouldn't take much time or effort at all. Like an entire speech would probably not count as a free action cause speeches can be really long. xD)

You can definitely move up to flank a goblin and get in a flank attack on the next round. Though they are evil, but not chaotic; so your protection spell against chaotic would not work here. The goblins are all surrounding the caravan so you would be moving basically on on 3 or 4 of them right off the bat. Actually here let me do a quick doodle.