Chereads / The Elderwood Enigma / Chapter 8 - Shadows in the Morning Light

Chapter 8 - Shadows in the Morning Light

The faint light of dawn crept through the thick forest canopy, painting streaks of pale gold across the wooden floor of the cabin. Elara awoke slowly, her senses lingering between sleep and wakefulness. Her mind was heavy with a dream she couldn't quite recall – a flash of a face, the whisper of a warning. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, glancing at Kenric still asleep, his face peaceful and untroubled.

The cabin smelled of pine and something faintly sweet, like bread baked fresh with honey. She stood, stretching, her muscles sore from days on the road. The fire in the hearth had died to embers during the night, and the room was silent but for the occasional rustle of leaves outside.

Something unsettled her, though she couldn't quite name it. The village, hidden deep within a forest no map recorded, seemed too good to be true. She recalled their arrival the evening before – the way the villagers had greeted them warmly, the kindness that had felt… practiced, somehow. And that woman.

Elara shivered. The mysterious figure who had come to their door in the night haunted her thoughts. Wrapped in a cloak, her eyes had burned with an intensity that Elara couldn't shake. There had been no name offered, only a cryptic warning before she disappeared into the trees.

Elara glanced out the window. The village was waking. Smoke curled from chimneys, and she could hear the distant hum of voices. She moved to the front door and cracked it open.

A basket sat on the doorstep, filled with fresh bread, ripe berries, and a small jar of honey. A folded note was tucked inside.

"Good morning, travelers! We invite you to join us for breakfast in the village square. We are eager to hear more of your tales of the road and welcome you properly."

Elara's lips tightened. Something about it felt off, though she couldn't say why. She reached down to pick up the basket, her eyes scanning the forest edge for any sign of the cloaked woman. But there was nothing.

"What's that?" he asked, his voice groggy with sleep as he sat up.

"A basket from the villagers," Elara said, holding up the note.

Kenric grinned. "See? I told you they were friendly. This place is a blessing, Elara. After everything we've been through, we deserve a little kindness."

Elara didn't respond. Her mind raced, trying to recall if she had ever read anything about a village in this part of the forest. She had studied ancient texts, stories passed down from travelers, maps of long-forgotten places – but nothing mentioned a settlement here.

That should have been warning enough, she thought. No place remained hidden without reason.

Kenric was already pulling on his boots. "Let's go, then. I'm starving."

"You're going without me?" she asked.

He shrugged, already halfway out the door. "I'll see you there!"

Elara sighed, watching him jog down the dirt path toward the village square, his enthusiasm unshaken. She lingered at the cabin, her unease growing.

The village square bustled with life. Wooden tables were set up under a great oak, laden with platters of fruit, steaming porridge, and fresh pastries. Villagers moved about with ease, smiling and laughing, their conversations light and cheerful.

Kenric was already seated, digging into a plate of food as he chatted with an elderly man beside him. Elara approached more cautiously, her gaze sweeping the crowd.

"Ah, there she is!" a woman called out, waving Elara over. "Come, sit! We've saved a spot for you."

Elara managed a polite smile, sitting beside Kenric.

"How did you sleep?" the woman asked her, her eyes warm and curious.

"Well enough, thank you," Elara replied. "The cabin was lovely."

The villagers around her nodded in approval.

"And your journey? It must be a long one to bring you through these woods," the elderly man beside Kenric said.

"We've traveled far," Elara said carefully. "But there's still farther to go."

"Where are you headed?" someone asked.

Kenric launched into an animated account of their travels, sharing stories of distant towns and the dangers they were bound to face. Elara, however, remained quiet, her mind churning.

Eventually, she cleared her throat, interrupting Kenric's stories. "There was a woman who visited us last night," she said. "She came to our door after we arrived. Do you know who she might be?"

The villagers exchanged puzzled glances.

"A woman?" the elderly man asked.

"Yes," Elara said. "She wore a dark cloak. She spoke of… warnings."

The woman who had invited her to sit leaned closer, her brow furrowed with concern. "My dear, you must have been tired from your travels. No one visited you last night. The forest plays tricks on weary minds."

Elara's hands clenched under the table.

"I'm certain- "

"You're safe here" the woman interrupted gently. "Rest, eat, and be at ease. There's nothing to fear in our village."

Elara nodded slowly, though her unease deepened.

They're lying, she thought. Or they're hiding something.

Kenric seemed oblivious, laughing with the villagers and enjoying the food. Elara forced herself to eat, though each bite tasted like ash in her mouth.

"We're grateful for your hospitality," Elara said after a time. "But we should be on our way."

The mood at the table shifted.

"So soon?" the elderly man asked. "You've only just arrived!"

"There's a celebration tonight," the woman added. "A tradition of our village. You must stay. It would be an honor to have you join us."

Elara opened her mouth to refuse, but Kenric spoke first.

"We'd love to," he said.

Elara shot him a sharp look.

"It's important to show gratitude," he whispered to her. "They've been so kind."

Reluctantly, Elara nodded. "We'll stay for the celebration. But we're leaving shortly after."

The villagers beamed, their smiled too wide, their joy too eager.

After breakfast, Elara and Kenric wandered the village. Children played in the narrow streets, their laughter echoing off the store walls. Villagers waved and smiled, offering kind greetings, their warmth seemingly endless.

But Elara couldn't shake her unease. Every smile felt rehearsed, every gesture calculated. She watched the villagers closely, noting how they moved together, almost in union. There was something unnatural in their harmony.

As they walked, she leaned toward Kenric. "Doesn't this seem strange to you?"

Kenric frowned. "Strange? No, it seems wonderful."

Elara glanced at a group of villagers whispering to one another. When they noticed her gaze, they quickly dispersed.

"We don't know these people," Elara said. "We don't know why they're here, in a forest no one knows about."

Kenric shook his head. "You're too cautious. Not everyone is out to hurt us."

Elara wanted to argue, but a voice called out to them.

"Travelers! Come, help us prepare for tonight!"

The invitation was friendly, but Elara felt the weight of unseen eyes watching their every move. Whatever the village truly was, she knew it wouldn't reveal itself easily.

Still, as they followed the villagers deeper into the heart of the town, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that something – or someone was waiting for them in the shadows.