Beyond the Veil of Yonder (Book 1)

13. The Departure

The morning greeted everyone with sunny weather, but a heavy silence hung in Ciaran's house after the terrible events of the previous evening. The fact that the bloodfiend had killed their neighbours filled the old couple with dread and dark thoughts. Elizabeth and Dan were well aware too—all of them could have been in the place of the slain family. Everyone ate their breakfast in silence, avoiding eye contact. However, Ciaran and Mairéad's feelings towards William had softened. Grateful for his role in saving their lives, they invited him to sit with them at the table.

Soon, a loud knock interrupted the uncomfortable atmosphere. When Ciaran opened the door, an elderly man entered, followed by a small group of villagers. It was the chief of Oakwood Village. He greeted the hosts solemnly, and they bowed in response. The others stood up, watching the chief and his group, but judging by the chief's stern expression, he came with no good news.

"Yesterday," the chief began, looking at Ciaran, "a bloodfiend attacked our village. Your guest managed to defeat it, but you didn't mention that you had newcomers."

"We're fortunate they were here," Ciaran mumbled.

The chief shook his head. "No, we are not. This is the first time such a creature has attacked our village. If it weren't for them, the bloodfiend wouldn't have come. Our sage revealed this."

The chief's followers murmured their agreement, nodding.

Then, an old man, hunched, with long white hair, presumably the sage, stepped forward from the group. "These strangers have brought misfortune to our village!" His small eyes sparkled with anger. "They must leave!" The sage approached William. "And especially him!" With widened eyes, he dug his crooked finger into the man's chest. "Death follows him closely. He is cursed!"

William watched them, his head held high, but a flicker of pain appeared in his eyes upon hearing these words.

"He risked his life to save you!" Elizabeth stepped out, standing beside William, her cheeks flushing with indignation.

The chief glanced at her angrily. "Silence, woman, when the elders are speaking!"

William eventually spoke up, his voice calm. "We don't want any trouble, so we will leave today."

"Good." The chief nodded in approval at William's response. He swept the room once more with his stern gaze, ensuring everyone abided by his authority, and only then guided his followers away.

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Later that day, everything was ready for the journey ahead.

"Accept our apologies for any inconvenience we've caused," William said, handing their hosts a generous sum of gold. His voice was devoid of warmth.

In contrast to William's coldness, Elizabeth offered heartfelt farewells to the old couple, thanking them for their hospitality. Despite William's cool demeanour, Ciaran's eyes lit up at the sight of the coins, and he eagerly agreed to arrange a ferry for them.

After some time, the old man led the group to the village dock, which had a makeshift platform and a row of shabby boats along it. Some villagers were already there, greeting the travellers and helping them with their horses.

When everyone was on the ferry, a sturdy man pushed it away from the shore with a long stick. As the ferry glided across the calm waters of the lake, William stood beside the horses, calming them. The animals seemed uneasy on the wooden platform, shifting from foot to foot and neighing softly. Ciaran accompanied them as well, his presence reassuring among the gloomy villagers who had come to help. Each villager bore a mix of curiosity and wariness, their strong arms working in unison to row the vessel.

The lake waters shimmered in the light of the setting sun. Elizabeth's eyes were fixed on the rippling surface as she replayed the recent events in her mind. She knew she couldn't endure another night in the village; the confines of that dimly lit room were maddening, and the memory of the deaths she had witnessed remained vivid. Despair and fear gripped her each time she recalled them.

Despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, she was ready to go wherever the journey took her—anywhere far from the nightmarish place where such a tragedy had occurred.

As for William, he seemed unaffected by the villagers' whispers and sideways glances. His jaw was set with determination, his eyes fixed on the distant shore, where the Whispering Glen appeared as a thin, dark strip.

And Dan, initially reluctant to travel with William, now realised the value of his companionship. Staying in the village was dangerous, and William's ability to protect them in this nightmarish world was essential.

Ciaran, sensing the need for a break in the tense atmosphere, started a conversation about the history of the lake and the legends surrounding it. He gesticulated excitedly, recounting tales of ancient battles, long-lost treasures, and mythical creatures said to dwell in the lake's depths.

Finally, the villagers guided the ferry to an abandoned platform, its wooden planks weathered by time. It seemed the villagers seldom used it, if at all. As the vessel came to a halt, the horses neighed nervously, sensing the change in their surroundings. Before them lay a sandy coast, and beyond it, a dense line of ancient forest. The sunlight could not penetrate the dark gaps among the trees.

"Now you're on your own from here," Ciaran said after the villagers helped the travellers disembark. "Anyway, I hope the fates will be kinder to you in the days to come." His voice was tense with unease as he glanced at the setting sun.

As the travellers rode away from the shore, Ciaran watched them for some time, but then he and the other villagers hurried back to the ferry to return before dusk.

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