So it was just a Ranger squad leader...
Garrett fell silent for a moment.
Seeing those soldiers' posturing back in the Haradrim town, he had thought they had captured some high-ranking commander of Gondor.
Turned out, those Southrons were just spreading false military reports.
"All right, I get the general picture," he said. "But I'm curious, how did you end up in that situation?"
By rights, frontline reconnaissance units were among the most cautious, especially a Ranger captain, how could someone like that be taken prisoner?
This time it was the Ranger captain's turn to fall silent. It was clear he didn't really want to discuss it.
But...
He shook his head.
Well, letting this man know wasn't too shameful.
"It was the Haradrim commander. During a standoff with us, he loudly hurled insults at our realm, calling Gondorians cowards, and challenged our best warrior to single combat before the battle lines."
"I couldn't restrain myself, I stepped out from concealment."
"As a reconnaissance unit captain, I failed in my duty, and what happened next proved my decision was wrong."
"When I stepped into the open to face the Haradrim commander, several archers suddenly appeared behind him and ambushed me. Right after them, over a dozen soldiers rushed out and overwhelmed me on the spot."
"Before my men could react, they withdrew quickly, taking me back to their camp. They used all kinds of methods to torture me, trying to extract information from me."
"I said nothing. Before long, I passed out, whether from blood loss or pain, I don't know."
"At that moment, I thought it was finally the end."
He captain sighed.
"Miracles always arrive in ways you least expect."
"Only those whose will is strong enough have the chance to wait for such a miracle."
Garrett sighed along with him.
This world was like a grand symphony, in which the fates of many were, in some unseen way, already predetermined.
But such fate was not absolute.
The Eru Ilúvatar had left everyone one path to freedom: if a person's will was strong enough, they had the chance to break their fate.
If this captain had betrayed his comrades after just a few lashes, his end might have been worse than death, unless he became a complete traitor, betraying his faith and homeland, throwing himself into the arms of the Haradrim, and serving them like a bondsman.
That would only be a wretched kind of survival.
Merely surviving...?
But true traitors never saw it that way. They convinced themselves they had made the only right choice, slandering their homeland, wishing everyone back there dead, eager to prove their "wisdom" and "success."
Such people were far from rare.
Especially in Harad and Umbar, the latter had been founded by Gondorian traitors, offering shelter to anyone hostile to Gondor.
They built ships, frequently harassed Gondor's coasts, and later became known as the "Corsairs of Umbar," a thorn in the side of Gondor's kings for many years.
But in Harondor, it was usually the Haradrim who faced the greater challenges.
"Those reconnaissance troops really keep you on edge, why won't they fight us directly?"
On the north bank of the Harnen River, two soldiers patrolled while chatting.
If the Ranger captain had heard this, he would have cursed these Haradrim as shameless.
As they talked, the two arrived at the neighboring outpost.
Normally, someone from the camp would come out to exchange reports at this time, but today it was quiet, unnaturally quiet.
The two soldiers exchanged glances, both sensing something was amiss.
They hurried forward, searching tent by tent. But even after combing every corner of the camp, they couldn't find a single person.
An entire outpost, dozens of people, vanished all at once. This was no small matter.
The incident was immediately reported to the deputy commander of the Harnen River corps, and from there to the commander himself.
Missing?
Could it be the work of sorcery?
The commander frowned.
"Find them. Gather men to search. Have people scour the surrounding area. Tell the fishermen to drag the riverbed, alive or dead, I want to see bodies."
"I don't believe for a moment there's any magic that can make dozens of men vanish into thin air."
The order clearly had an effect, because intelligence came back the very same day.
"We found those soldiers several miles from the camp, by the main road. From the signs at the scene, they faced an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, completely unable to resist."
"At least a hundred cavalry."
A hundred horsemen against my few dozen patrol guards?
Thud!
The commander slammed his fist on the table in anger.
"Those Gondorians have gone too far, we must give them a blood-soaked reply!"
"But we have no idea where the enemy forces are," the deputy reminded him.
The commander stood up, fixed his gaze on the deputy, and said slowly,
"You don't need to remind me of that."
"Didn't we have a Gondorian noble come over to our side last month? Bring him here."
The deputy obeyed.
A short while later, a ragged, haggard-faced Gondorian with dry, cracked lips was dragged in.
The moment he saw the Haradrim commander, he dropped to one knee in salute.
"My lord, my allegiance is true!"
"My ancestors once served Castamir, the rightful King of Gondor. I have long yearned to be here."
Oh?
Well now, so his ancestors were rebels. How did Gondor ever allow him into their army?
It was the first time the commander had heard that this so-called noble who defected to them had such a background. He'd never bothered to ask before, he'd been too busy interrogating him.
"Name your lineage."
The noble proudly declared a name that had lain in obscurity for over a thousand years.
But when he finished, the commander's face flickered with disdain.
Never heard of it.
Probably some minor noble who followed the Usurper in rebelling from Gondor long ago and whose line had since faded into nothing.
"Mm. I see."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Your month in captivity was a test. You've proven yourself."
"Now it's time for you to be of use."
"Yes! I am willing to offer my blood and loyalty!" the Gondorian traitor declared loudly.
"Good. You still remember where the Ranger reconnaissance teams have their hideouts?"
"I do," the traitor said after a moment's thought. "But those cunning fellows never stay in one place for long. My information may already be outdated."
By now, he had completely come to see himself as a Haradrim, ignoring entirely the difference in race between himself and them.
"I see..."
The commander continued, "Your former comrades don't yet know you've defected to us, do they?"
"That's right, my lord. They still think I was captured and tortured, when in truth I was already walking the righteous path ahead of them."
At that, even the Haradrim commander nearly laughed out loud.
No doubt about it—they had captured him to torture him. If today's incident hadn't happened, in a few days he'd have been executed.
"Go. Return and gather intelligence. I want to know their movements and whereabouts during this time."
"When you succeed, you can take the position of Guard Captain."
"I will complete the mission without fail," the traitor said, eyes shining with excitement.