[color=ed1c24][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]

Fleuri listened closely to what the Captain had learned.  He glanced over at the Earl, whom Fanilly had spoken of as if he was not present.  [i]I wonder if he is capable of grasping that he has been enchanted.  It must be quite a bewildering feeling to have one mind's clouded and be unable to realize it even as others address it in the same room.[/i]

From what he had just heard, this Dark Lady didn't just set up trap, but had also cast a spell on the Earl to make him completely unfit to lead the city's defense.  In other words, she had meticulously planned this out prior to the siege.

Captain," he spoke up as soon as he had the opportunity, "The local fairies described a "Dark Lady" having scoped the area out for a good vantage point before the battle near where that spell was cast from.  They also claimed to have seen her skulking around the Old Falthier ruins.  Assuming our information is correct, this must be the same woman.

"And if I may, Captain," he continued, "This reeks of a set-up.  If she wanted the orcs to make it into the city, why didn't she blast the gate or cast a spell on a gate guard?  It sounds like she set the stage for a stalemate instead, putting as many people as possible in peril so that we- or you, specifically- would show up to save them, and charge right into the range of that magic attack."

The thought that this lady exploiting the Captain's dedication to protecting the people of Thaln made Fleuri's blood boil.  They could not- they would not- give up protecting the people regardless of the peril involved, but these vile machinations needed to be stamped out as swiftly and decisively as possible, before more innocents were caught in the middle.  Fleuri felt a twinge of helplessness knowing he was of little use against the arcane powers of their adversary.  And he still had no idea who this enemy was, beyond the vague description of a dark sorceress.

[@VitaVitaAR]