The decision came quickly and easily. Even if the perpetrators were no longer there, which was almost certain, at the very least heading to the site of the meeting was the best way to obtain further leads.

And aside from that, given that Cay Mayl was a holy site, there was the matter of discerning if there had been any attempts to defile it. Bringing something as dark as a Shard of Angroron there... it didn't guarantee that was their intention, but it was at least a concerning possibility.

Fanilly didn't want anyone else to suffer like the soldiers at the fort had.

The mercenaries had, under Alette's command, largely parted ways(though not before the blue-haired spear-wielder had informed Fionn of the amusing misinterpretation on Sir Renar's part). Except...

"Why am [i]I[/i] still here?"

Clarice, her parasol blocking out the sunlight, had asked that question more than a few times since Alette had sent the mage to accompany the Iron Rose Knights to to Cay Mayl. She quite clearly wasn't happy about any of it, and appeared to be anxious around horses on top of that. In spite of the magical power it surely required, she elected instead to float alongside them, refusing to get closer to any of the horses then absolutely necessary.

"I'd rather be carried by Bors," she'd said, during attempts to convince her to ride on horseback.

Fanilly could see she was a difficult person, but at the same time her knowledge of curses could be invaluable. They were dealing with an opponent to inflicted curses on others, that much was certain. The man whose heart had been severed from his arteries with a curse told them that much. 

What this indicated, at least to Fanilly, was that a mage of some description, and one capable with curses at that, was working alongside the Golden Boars. It didn't answer how the madness had blanketed the fort as it had, but at least it was certain that someone capable of curses was there and was likely the one who had obtained the shard.

... For that matter, who had the Fort's captain trusted enough to hold the shard for...? Fanilly had to guess it was the same person who had employed Alette's mercenary band.

It had been nearly a day since they set out, by now. Aside from complaining about her situation, Clarice hadn't said very much.

There it was, the clearing at the edge of Brennan Forest.

Cae Mayl.

The pristine white standing stones, the green grass, the shorter ring of stones surrounding the incredibly deep pool of water, the wild-grown roses in bloom, it was exactly as Fanilly remembered it from the last time she had been there, years ago.

She wasn't counting on finding anyone here to begin with, but at least some evidence, something, that could lead them in the right direction.

"We have no choice but to search the area. Stay clear of the Moon Pool, it's deeper than it appears," Fanilly ordered as she dismounted her mare.

Clarice, of course, responded by immediately drifting to the edge of the pool and peering right into it. Given the fact her feet still weren't touching the ground, presumably she was at less risk of finding herself in the water.

And perhaps she had a reason beyond curiosity.

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