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There are no houses nearby, but there are a number of villas visible, some farther away than others. The nearest one is small, and perhaps a mile or two away to the south.

"Casta, what is it?" Liri asks her mare and gives her free rein, scanning the surroundings and listening up. Can she smell anything?

Casta raises her head and nickers again, as if in recognition, but remains in place.

The forest is fairly quiet, apart from the occasional bird call, and a squirrel running through the branches, but it is not the sudden stillness that would suggest a predator in the area.

Liri makes certain her darts are ready at hand, then dismounts. Is there anything unusual on the ground?

The surroundings are typical for a forest that has been partially harvested: scattered trees with stumps between, and not much underbrush. Nothing unusual is present here.

Liri mounts her mare again and gently nudges her forward. If the horse seems uncomfortable doing so, she will turn back a few dozen yards, then turn around again and check the surroundings carefully.

"Wait here." Angel orders, pausing she turns back. "Please?" And with that she rides to Liri, a concerned look on her face, making sure no one was behind her she waits for her to finish what she is doing then nudges the Elf. "I may have been a little rash, I didnt expect you all to follow me, I needed to get out of that place"

Liri holds up her hand as Angel approaches her. "Shshhh" she says. "Casta is acting up, there might be something wrong here."

Angel waits.

After a time, Egg says to Galanis and Ari, in a voice loud enough to be heard at a distance: "We are wasting daylight here. If we are going to find this collier's camp, we are going to have to ask someone who knows the area. I am headed for the nearest villa. Perhaps they can tell us something useful."

"You read my mind." Angel nods in agreement, "Liri, we need to move." She says softly.

(Bish appears to be AWOL btw)

Liri nods and follows the others to the nearest village.

Ari nods in agreement and trails along.

It is a few miles ride to the nearest villa, which is situated on the side of a hill and bordered on one side by rows of grape vines and on the other three by fields of maize and spelt. Before the group arrives, it becomes obvious that something is amiss. Nobody is out in the fields or in the vineyard.

The gate to the courtyard is closed, but is in bad shape, showing scars from weapons and dents that may have come from a ram of some sort. The place is quiet, apart from the barking of a dog nearby, possibly inside.

Ari readies his throwing hammers in case there is any threat still hiding nearby.