All the way, Dan didn't speak to Elizabeth, and when she tried to diffuse the tension, he just gave her a gloomy look. Of course, he couldn't forget the exchange of glances between her and William. Elizabeth felt a pang of guilt for her thoughtless action. She didn't know why she had felt so compelled to look into William's eyes while others watched, especially Dan.

As they continued walking, Elizabeth stole glances at William. He led the horses and seemed lost in thought, but his posture was more relaxed than it had been in the village. His focus was on their destination—a mysterious place within the Whispering Glen or perhaps beyond it. The forest stretched before them, with magnificent mountains looming in the distance. She wondered what dangers could lurk in the forest and what secrets William might be hiding.

"So, since we're going to the Whispering Glen, can you tell us now why it's considered dangerous?" she asked William, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What strange things happen there?"

"Darkness approaches... But if you want to know, some think the forest is haunted," William replied, his tone unfazed.

"Oh... But you seem to know the way. You've been here before. What do you think? Is it haunted?" Elizabeth tried to keep pace with him as they approached the forest edge.

"Maybe," came his evasive reply.

"So, have you seen anything strange here?" Elizabeth persisted, her curiosity intensifying with each step deeper into the forest.

"Listen." William paused, letting the forest's silence envelop them. "If anything strange is going to happen, you'll see it for yourself. We need to find a place to stay overnight. The night will be cloudy, with no moonlight to guide us."

Ancient trees towered high above them, their trunks draped in long moss. Stones, also covered with moss, were scattered around as if arranged by a meticulous artist.

Compared to the forests they had ventured through, the Whispering Glen was similar, yet distinctly different. Its mysterious aura, rooted in antiquity, gave the trees an almost otherworldly quality. Twisted, some trees formed whimsical figures that stood in the shadows, as if they were guardians of ancient secrets.

Amid the mystery, harmony and abundance ruled in the forest. The Whispering Glen teemed with life, more than any other forest they had seen. Deer, hares, and other creatures roamed freely, their fear of humans diminished. The thriving wildlife made Elizabeth doubt: could a place so rich in life and beauty hide evil forces?

As the last rays of sunlight began to fade, William led them to a small, hidden cave among the trees. A narrow passage opened into a spacious chamber. Nearby, William tethered the horses and set up their camp. Skillfully, he built a fire at the cave entrance with branches and twigs. Its warm flames lit up the area, and in the shifting light, shadows danced on the cavern walls, creating an eerie ambience.

Exhausted from her journey, Elizabeth sank to the ground, her body aching for rest, while William unpacked the food they had brought.

As she ate, Elizabeth thought about how to start a conversation to learn more from William about this mysterious place. "Isn't it fascinating? I've seen many animals here. Perhaps this place isn't as dangerous as people claim."

"Perhaps," William said, chewing his food as he regarded her attentively.

Encouraged, Elizabeth pressed on. "Since Ciaran said those mountains are impassable, is our destination somewhere within the forest? Or... are we going to Valtharia?"

William's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. "We shall see," he said, his tone giving nothing away.

"But you said they are enemies," Elizabeth persisted, frustration creeping into her voice.

"They are," William confirmed with a nod.

A sudden realisation hit her. "So... are you working for them, for the Valtharians? Is that why there's secrecy from your king and the others?"

A shadow of a smile appeared on William's face, but he said nothing more.

"Who are these Valtharians?" she asked again.

"Enemies of Aradon."

"I already know that... Can you tell me more?"

"Sometimes curiosity can cost you your life." Though ambiguous, his words sounded more like genuine advice than a threat.

Elizabeth sighed. Getting more information from their mysterious companion seemed impossible. For now, she had to rely on her observations and instincts.

As darkness descended, a suffocating silence enveloped the woods. But within moments, a spine-chilling cry shattered the stillness. It was pitchy and eerie, bearing a disturbing resemblance to a baby's wail. The sound sent Elizabeth's heart into a freefall as apprehension coiled around her.

"What was that?!" Her voice quivered despite her attempts to mask her fear. Dan scanned their surroundings, equally nervous.

"An owl," William said, unfazed.

"What a terrible cry!" Elizabeth sighed with relief after William's explanation, though her voice still carried a trace of unease.

Dan's eyes narrowed with scepticism. "Do owls cry like that?"

William only shrugged. "Owls have varied cries." He then sat on the ground, resting his back against the stone wall, his eyes closed in thought.

"Hey, are you sure your traps will protect us if someone approaches?" Dan asked, snapping twigs from a small branch to calm himself.

William kept his eyes closed. "Why not? You're up first on watch. Pay close attention and wake me if anything seems amiss."

"Why do people say this forest is haunted?" Dan stared into the darkness. "Are there stories?"

"A great battle once occurred nearby, claiming the lives of countless warriors." William's voice was a soft murmur. "Locals believe their spirits still wander these woods."

Elizabeth took a sharp breath, feeling her legs grow weak. "And you, Sir William? Do you believe in ghosts?"

"Never seen one." She could bet there was pain in his eyes as he said this. "Good night." With those words, William stretched out on the ground, tucking a bag under his head and turning his back to them.

Dan shot Elizabeth an annoyed look, disapproving of her conversation with William. He then sat by the cave entrance to keep watch.

But Elizabeth couldn't sleep. The embers were dying, and the dim light made the forest branches look eerie. Lying awake with her eyes wide open, a sense of unease settled over her.

As the night deepened, Dan's vigilance waned. His head nodded forward as sleep overtook him. Elizabeth chose not to disturb him. But before long, an eerie cry sliced through the silence again, fear widening her eyes. She tried to convince herself it was just a night bird, as William had said. Yet doubt crept in—what if William was wrong? Her imagination conjured sinister beings that could make those haunting sounds.

But then a muffled groan from William shattered the quiet, making her heart race. He gasped for air, his eyes wide with terror. Another nightmare gripped him. As he regained his composure, anguish was evident on his face. William covered it with his hands as if to shield himself from the ghosts of his past that continued to haunt him.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep, but her heart clenched in sympathy for the troubled man. Was it the weight of guilt from executing those transformed into bloodfiends, or perhaps a deeper, more personal anguish hidden within his past? The scars on his powerful body revealed a life marred by violence and peril. It was no surprise, then, that nightmares plagued him. William might have weathered storms of adversity far beyond what many endure in a lifetime.

But why did she feel such compassion toward someone who was still a mystery, a stranger to her? Was it mere pity that drew her to him, or was it something more profound? She felt an inexplicable pull toward the man, like recognising something deep within him. Her heart understood it, even if her mind had yet to unravel it.

Had he ever loved someone—a woman? Elizabeth was sure he had, or perhaps his heart was still occupied. She tried to imagine him as a lover, and her cheeks blushed at the thought. She caught glimpses of his tender side when he thought he was unobserved. And whenever he looked at her with those intense, dark blue eyes, she felt as though he could see right into her soul.

She wanted to learn more about William, to understand the man behind that tough exterior. There was a pain within him she wished to soothe, a brokenness she wanted to mend—but could she?

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