[Manôphazân]

The Gondorian saboteurs were thrown forcefully to the ground at Lan’Kâsh’s bloodstained boots, and their disguises were ripped from their bodies. Sergeant Benel delivered several vicious kicks into each man until both lay prostrate on the muddy site of the recent battle. Though the Haradrim treatment of spies was well-known to all of their enemies, neither prisoner showed fear, and the older of the two continued to stare at Lan’kâsh despite the beating he was receiving. Another well aimed kicked to the head broke his eye contact with his captor, but he did not cry out and he soon looked again.

“That will be enough, sergeant” said Lan’kâsh, and Sergeant Benel withdrew a step to allow his boss an opportunity for a swing or two.

Lan’kâsh smiled at the implied suggestion but declined to strike the prisoners himself, at least not with his hands. Instead, he hefted his spear and drove it cruelly through the back of the younger Gondorian, leaving the thrashing man pinned to the ground, screaming. The soldiers nearby gasped at the suddenness of the attack, and before the other captive could react, Lan’kâsh dropped to one knee and grabbed him by the hair with his right hand. In his left hand, a wicked looking dagger pressed against the man’s throat.

“You look important,” growled Lan'kâsh, ripping a gold chain from around the man’s neck, “and rich.” The necklace was beautifully crafted and bore the seven-starred emblem often seen on Gondorian royalty. It marked the captive as an officer and a valuable asset to retain. Nearby the other north-man had finally fell silent as he crossed into death. “He looked poor.”

“What did you hope to accomplish, Winger?” he asked the man angrily. “Do you think these are the only war engines we have? If you had properly reconnoitered our position, you would have seen that these are only the first of several such machines on the road behind us. Before we are through, the engineers of Umbar will reduce every Gondorian wall from here to Pelargir to rubble, your little fortress included.”

Angered that the man refused to answer him, Lan’kâsh shook him violently and then walked away, yanking his spear from the dead Winger.

“Keep the officer alive,” he instructed Sergeant Benel, “and get our men moving again. We’ve got a town to attack.”