One of the travelers, a gruff-looking man with a bushy beard, spotted John and called out to him. "Ho there, farmer! Have you heard the news? The kingdoms are preparing for war!"
John felt a chill run down his spine at the man's words. He had heard the rumors, of course, but had hoped they were just that – rumors. Now it seemed that the threat of conflict was very real indeed.
"What does this have to do with me?" John asked, trying to keep his voice steady. He had no desire to get involved in any kind of fighting, but he knew that the armies of the two kingdoms would not care about such things.
The bearded man smiled grimly. "It has everything to do with you, friend.
You may not realize it yet, but you have a part to play in all of this."
John frowned, not liking the sound of that. "What kind of part?"
The man leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The artifact, my friend. The one that could turn the tide of this war. It's said to be hidden somewhere in this very region, and both kingdoms will stop at nothing to find it." John felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had heard stories of powerful relics that could grant unimaginable power to those who possessed them, and the thought of one being hidden so close to his home filled him with dread.
"What do you want from me?" he asked, already knowing the answer. The bearded man clapped him on the shoulder. "We need someone who knows these lands, someone who can guide us to the artifact. And from what
I've heard, you're the best guide around."
John sighed, feeling as though he had no choice in the matter. "Fine. I'll help you find this artifact. But then I want nothing more to do with this war."
The travelers nodded, grateful for his assistance. "Agreed. We just need to find it first."
John hesitated for a moment, considering the consequences of his actions. He had always tried to stay out of trouble and avoid confrontations, but something about the way the soldier had spoken to him had rubbed him the wrong way. He didn't like being pushed around.
Taking a deep breath, John squared his shoulders and stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the soldier's. "I'll come with you," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"But only if you let me bring my own weapon."
The soldier looked him up and down, taking in his scrawny frame and unassuming appearance. "Very well," he said finally, gesturing for John to follow him. "But make sure you stay out of the way and don't get yourself killed."
As they walked through the streets of the village, John couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had never been outside his home before, and the sight of the army's massive war machines and heavily armored soldiers was overwhelming. Despite his fear, John kept his wits about him and followed the soldier to the edge of the village, where the rest of the army was gathering. As he looked around, he saw that there were hundreds of soldiers, all preparing for battle.
Some were sharpening their swords, while others were practicing their archery skills. John's eyes were drawn to a group of men and women standing off to the side, their faces grave and serious. They were talking in hushed tones, and as he drew closer, he realized that they were the leaders of the army. The king and queen of his kingdom were among them, as well as the leaders of the opposing kingdom.
