Swords Will

Chapter fourteen: obsession of divinity

As the trio prepared their horses for the journey to the coastal town where their ship awaited, the atmosphere was charged with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. The previous events in the small Teutonian town had left a palpable tension among them, and Astrid's suspicion of Arthur's behavior only added to the unease.

Astrid couldn't shake the feeling that something about Arthur was off, and she kept a vigilant eye on him. She remembered his outburst when confronting Jacob, and it had raised questions in her mind. Was he too obsessed with the Sword of Divinity? Did he have ulterior motives for wanting to unite the kingdoms?

Erlan, always the mediator between the two, sensed the tension but remained quiet for the moment. He knew that a rift among them wouldn't bode well for their quest. His loyalty to Arthur was strong, but he also valued Astrid's instincts and intuition.

Arthur, seemingly focused on the maps and the puzzle pieces, appeared oblivious to Astrid's watchful gaze. He was determined to fulfill his destiny as the King of Albion and believed that the Sword of Divinity held the key to uniting the kingdoms. But his obsession with the sword had become a cause for concern.

As they finally mounted their horses and began the long ride to the coastal town, the trio's journey felt more precarious than ever. The revelation of the golden puzzle pieces and the cryptic message beneath the X on the map added a new layer of mystery to their quest. The path to unity lay ahead, but they also needed to navigate the growing complexities within their own group.

The horses' hooves echoed in the quiet forest, the lush greenery surrounding them as they made their way to the coast. Each of them had their own thoughts and concerns, and the challenges ahead remained daunting. But they were bound by their shared purpose and their commitment to see this quest through, even as doubts and questions lingered in the back of their minds.

As they set up camp in the serene surroundings of the forest, the atmosphere was notably quieter than it had been in the past. There was an unspoken tension in the air, and Astrid couldn't ignore it any longer. She knew she needed to address the issue that had been bothering her ever since the incident with Jacob and the reverend.

Astrid watched as Arthur busied himself with the campfire, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames, a hint of exhaustion in his eyes. She took a deep breath, her usually stoic expression revealing the weight of her concern.

"Arthur," she began, her tone carefully measured, "I need to understand what happened back in the town with Jacob and the reverend. Your reaction was... intense."

Arthur looked up from the fire, his face a mix of emotions – surprise, hesitation, and perhaps a hint of vulnerability. He knew this conversation was inevitable.

"I apologize for my outburst," he said, his voice carrying the weight of sincerity. "It was a moment of frustration, and I let my emotions get the better of me."

Astrid nodded, her sharp eyes locked onto his. "But there's more to it, isn't there?" she asked, her intuition guiding her. "What drives you, Arthur? What is it about the Sword of Divinity that compels you so strongly?"

Arthur sighed, his shoulders slumping as if a great burden rested upon them. He sat down by the fire and gestured for Astrid to join him. Erlan observed from a distance, giving them space to talk.

"Since I became King," Arthur began, "I've realized that uniting the kingdoms is not just a matter of politics and diplomacy. It's about restoring hope, about ending the division that plagues our lands. The Sword of Divinity is said to have the power to do just that. It's not just a symbol; it's a means to achieve peace."

Astrid listened carefully, her eyes softening as she saw the depth of Arthur's sincerity. "But," she continued, "it can't just be the sword that drives you to this extent. There's something more, isn't there?"