"Who are you?" William demanded, his voice firm, his sword steady in his hands.

The stranger before them was an old man, his clothing tattered and face smeared with dirt. His grey hair and long beard were unkempt. As for his face, it was so wrinkled that the skin resembled an aged mushroom. His eyes, wide and alert, watched them in silence.

Elizabeth stayed close behind William, her apprehension mounting, as the old man's panicked eyes made him appear either a woodland spirit or a madman.

After a tense silence, the old man raised his trembling hands in surrender. "Please, lower your weapon, my lord. I mean no harm." His voice quavered with age and fatigue.

William's eyes narrowed, evaluating the stranger. Seeing no immediate threat, he reluctantly lowered his sword, though his grip remained tight on the hilt.

The old man offered a weak smile. "Thank you," he whispered. "My name is Ciaran. I'm lost... roaming these woods for days. I heard your voices and followed the sound."

"Lost?" Elizabeth asked with relief. So, there was nothing supernatural here—just an old man lost in the woods. Her initial fear changed to curiosity, and she stepped out from behind William, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Ciaran sighed, his face reflecting the weight of his ordeal. "I was travelling through the forest to visit my daughter in a nearby village. Since then, I've been wandering, surviving on berries and the occasional small animal."

"How did you get lost?" William asked, eyeing him suspiciously. "Don't you know this forest well?"

But before Ciaran could answer, Elizabeth approached him, moved by the weary stranger's plight. "You must be starving," she said. "We have some food to share if you'd like."

Tears brimmed in Ciaran's eyes as he nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, young lady. That would be most kind."

As they sat down to share their modest meal with Ciaran, the old man recounted his hardships. He told of how, after a long illness, he ventured out of his village. But the once-familiar forest paths had changed, disorienting him until he was hopelessly lost.

With his eyes downcast, Ciaran said with a hint of sadness, "I'm thankful for your kindness. Nowadays, people are more suspicious of each other and rarely offer help."

"Times change." William's brow furrowed in concern as he absentmindedly rubbed his thumb along the hilt of his sword. "But we can help you get back to your village. What's its name?"

"Oakwood."

"The one near Franval Lake?"

Ciaran's face lit up with hope, and he nodded eagerly.

"It's not far from here," William said. "We can make it before darkness."

The old man's lips curved into a broad smile. "I can shelter you in my house for the night. You can have a bath and replenish your supplies."

"Great idea!" Elizabeth clapped her hands in excitement. She had dreamt of a hot bath.

"Can you take us across the lake tomorrow?" William asked, leaning in toward Ciaran. "We need to transport our horses as well. I'll pay you."

Ciaran's hands twisted together as his anxious eyes met William's unwavering gaze. "Are you... are you heading to... Whispering Glen?"

William's expression remained unchanged. "So what if we are? Do we have a deal?"

The old man widened his eyes, his fear tangible. "I... can find you the ferry... But I won't go with you into the forest. Don't you know that..."

"I know," William interrupted, his jaw set. "These are just rumours."

Ciaran shifted uneasily under William's hard gaze. The old man's fearful eyes fixed on Elizabeth and Dan. Elizabeth looked at William in silent inquiry. She, too, sensed danger, but William seemed undeterred.

Then the knight handed several gold coins to Ciaran. "This is the down payment."

At the sight of the gold, the old man's expression brightened. "Well, the choice is yours, good sir."

The sun was still over the horizon when the group emerged from the woods. Before them lay a valley with small houses scattered on lush, green fields. In the distance, a lake sparkled, reflecting the setting sun's golden rays. The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds filled the air as they approached Oakwood village.

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