The sun gradually rose, and at last the second half of the night was over.
Kane couldn't help but leap onto high ground and look back toward the south, where the Haradrim army was stationed.
"What's that?"
He squinted his eyes into the distance. The army had halted its advance, and in the middle of their formation an open space had been cleared. Two figures stood within.
One of them looked very familiar, indeed, all too familiar. It was the Haradrim commander who had ambushed him just a few days earlier.
As for the other one...
"It's Garrett. He's forced the Haradrim commander to his knees, maybe he's going to capture him as a hostage and use him to force their retreat."
That thought flashed through his mind.
As expected of him, Garrett had effortlessly subdued the enemy commander. Too powerful.
---
Just as Kane guessed, before long the Haradrim army began to collapse layer by layer around Garrett, retreating in panic, abandoning their formation altogether.
Rumble...
The mûmakil turned southward, retreating quickly toward the riverbank, as the army withdrew back to their homeland.
"I'll do anything, just, just don't kill me."
The commander knelt on the ground, head lowered, not meeting the gaze of the man before him.
"I swear, I swear never again to be your enemy. Not you, nor your people, nor anyone close to you!"
"Oh?"
Garrett tilted his head slightly, intrigued. He lifted the commander's chin with the tip of his sword, pressing the blade against his throat and forcing him to look up.
The commander drew a breath and was compelled to meet Garrett's eyes. But that face wasn't as savage or terrifying as he had imagined.
The blazing sunlight spilled across it, straight into his pupils, yet he couldn't even blink.
Those calm eyes simply reflected the world around them, including himself, kneeling there in the dirt.
"You should understand that an oath is not a trivial thing. Once, there was an army that broke their oath to Gondor. In death, they became cursed spirits, imprisoned in a sunless mountain, and to this day, they cannot rest."
"So tell me, how can I be sure you won't forget the words you just swore?"
"My lord!"
Now, oddly, the commander's fear seemed to fade. He spoke earnestly, "You are worthy of my pledge. And besides, I know all too well the price of wavering."
Garrett didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "I've heard you've been hunting for a certain Blue Wizard?"
"Yes. He abducted our court's high mage, who is also a wizard. The two of them had some dispute."
"Stop that pursuit. And never again set foot on this land."
"I am only a lowly commander of the riverbank troops. Some things are beyond my authority."
The commander's face grew troubled.
"Hmm?"
"But I swear, at least within the territory I command, your will shall be carried out," he quickly added.
Garrett couldn't help but smile.
"Interesting."
"Do you still hold Gondorian prisoners?"
"No, my lord. Our only prisoner had already betrayed Gondor. This campaign began because of him. But don't worry, he's dead now."
Dead...?
The commander wasn't entirely certain, but that was all he could say.
Dead?
Garrett fell silent for a moment.
If so... then perhaps the man's death hadn't been in vain.
"I have one more question."
He didn't press the matter further, but continued, "I heard that two years ago you pulled back all forces that were pressing against Gondor. Why was that?"
This, in fact, was on Kane's behalf, one of the key objectives of the Ranger company's investigation.
At these words, the commander fell silent.
"It was because of you, my lord. The Dark Lord gathered most of our strength to march toward Khand. The front lines couldn't be held, so we had no choice but to withdraw."
"...I see."
Garrett sheathed his sword and waved a hand dismissively.
"That's all I wanted to know. Go. Remember what you've said. And I hope you are a wise man."
"Yes."
The commander scrambled to his feet and hurried to rejoin his retreating army.
"My lord, my name is Bashir."
After a few steps, he suddenly turned back and said this cautiously.
"It doesn't matter."
It doesn't matter to you... but it matters to me.
Bashir's face darkened, though he only complained in his heart.
He just hoped this lord would remember his name, so that one day he wouldn't be accidentally cut down by mistake.
Moments later, he finally caught up with his own army.
"Commander, you've returned!"
"Yes. I've returned."
The moment he reached his base camp, Bashir immediately put back on his usual cold and violent demeanor.
But not everyone here was a fool. His return raised many suspicions, like, how had he managed not to be slain by that legendary figure?
Although such thoughts bordered on disrespect toward their commander, what right did he have to walk away alive from that man?
"You actually managed to escape from him," his deputy came close, speaking with hidden meaning.
"I traded my treasured hoard and the lives of his companions for my safe return. Do you have something to say about that?"
Bashir's tone was cold.
"No, Commander. I only mean, it was worth it! All the treasure and prisoners are nothing compared to your life. Even our king would agree it was worth the price."
The deputy quickly bowed his head.
Bashir narrowed his eyes.
Yes, this deputy was a capable one, dutiful, efficient, carrying out nearly every order to perfection.
But still...
Too curious.
A pity.
He shook his head, mounted the horse brought to him, and rode forward.
A pity... we are no longer truly on the same side.
Thus the Haradrim army withdrew south of the river, and the region of Harondor might enjoy a brief period of peace.
---
Garrett stood on the field, glancing around. Seeing nothing left behind, he too turned back.
"How did it go?"
As soon as Kane caught up with the main force, he came forward to ask.
"They've retreated. For quite a long time, they likely won't return. Also, I asked them about the intelligence you wanted."
"Their withdrawal was due to disturbances in the East. Sauron called them to gather their forces for an eastern campaign. The troops on Gondor's border had to fall back because they couldn't hold the line."
"I see." Kane nodded.
"But I wonder who exactly is the Dark Lord sending them against? If it takes tens of thousands of soldiers, then their enemy can't be any weaker than Gondor."
And if there was a common enemy, perhaps there was an opportunity for alliance.
"It's me."
Well then.
Unexpected, yet Kane, to his own surprise, wasn't surprised at all.
All the things he might have said collapsed into just five words: I am used to it.
"All right. Do you mind if I bring this news back to Gondor?"
"Why not? It's nothing shameful."
"Understood."
"There's one more thing..."
Kane hesitated, then asked, "Did you see Tret?"
"No."
"He was killed by the Haradrim commander."
Kane froze, saying nothing more.
Back with the company, he selected four men, forming a standard five-Ranger squad including himself. He appointed a temporary captain to lead the others in maintaining their watch here. Then, with his chosen squad and Garrett, he set out to return to Gondor.
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150 = +1 bonus chapter
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100+ Advance chapters!