Malphegor
patreon
LOTR: TMCP Ch. 161
🕑 Added 2025-08-05 17:35:07 +0000 UTC"East, the capital, an orc army, a mysterious figure."
That morning, Garrett and Halbarad spoke at the same time, revealing these key pieces of intelligence.
"There's an orc army gathering in the Easterling capital. It seems they're preparing to help the Easterlings deal with some opposing force."
"It's said the leader of that force is a despised traitor who constantly spreads rumors that damage the unity between the Easterlings and Mordor. There's even an evil sorcerer supporting him from the shadows."
Halbarad relayed the intelligence he had gathered from various sources:
"This army is unlike any we've encountered before, very aggressive. Not only are there orcs, but also a breed called Uruk-hai that are nearly as tall as Men, and numerous fearsome war-beasts."
"There was a vagrant whose home was crushed by one of those creatures. His family perished, and no one sought justice for him. No one even cared. To escape those violent beasts and that painful place, he fled the capital and came here."
"That lines up with the intel I've gotten," Garrett said calmly and confidently. "Pretty much the same, just with fewer details than yours."
"I see," Halbarad nodded, immediately trusting him. "So, what do we do next?"
Garrett was the one who had initiated and was leading this expedition, Halbarad could only do his best to assist.
"We're going to the capital."
"That place isn't exactly close by."
Because they had entered the region illegally, they couldn't bring horses with them. The swift steeds they had brought from their territories were left behind in Dorwinion.
But that wasn't a problem.
As an important trading port of the Easterlings and a border town with Dorwinion, this place regularly sent wagons to the capital, transporting various goods and fine wines. Of course, such wagons weren't meant for ordinary passengers.
But exceptions could be made, especially when the "exception" had a lot of money
---
"Listen carefully. You're not to show yourselves, and not to make a sound. Get off immediately once we arrive."
Using a connection Halbarad had discovered, the two of them managed to board a direct wagon to the capital.
And so they traveled, stop and go, all the way across the realm.
Several days later, when the grand palace and the city began to appear on the horizon, the horses pulling the wagon grew restless and uneasy.
Peeking through a narrow gap, Garrett stole a glance outside.
The city was dazzlingly golden, even the walls gleaming with an unnatural shimmer. But the surrounding landscape was anything but inspiring.
Outside the walls, the land was filled with orcs clad in black armor. War-beasts roamed freely, seizing sheep and devouring them raw, wool and all.
The wagons continued forward, passing by the orc army encamped outside the city. The movement soon attracted a lot of attention.
Several trolls and orcs stared hungrily at the goods, the horses, and the drivers, drool visible on their lips.
Smack!
A much larger orc, clearly an Uruk, suddenly struck a restless orc across the head. Standing tall above the others, he barked out a harsh rebuke. The orc quickly averted his hungry gaze.
Even the nearby trolls quieted down a bit.
"The Uruk-hai of Mordor, a newer breed of orc," Halbarad identified the creature and said, "They're recorded in Gondor's histories. First appeared in the year 2475, and during their debut, they caused the fall of Ithilien."
"They consider themselves superior to the lesser orcs. Uruks often call the orcs—"
"You filthy snaga, stay in line!"
A shout rang out right beside them.
Among the orcs, the Uruks held high status. They not only had the authority to command the orcs and treat them as slaves, but some of the stronger ones could even order trolls about.
"They look even harder to deal with," Garrett couldn't help but frown.
These creatures, judging by their size and bearing alone, were like younger versions of Azog. While their individual strength didn't quite match his, their sheer numbers more than made up for it.
A thousand orcs wielding crude blades and spears might not be considered a formidable force. But a thousand well-armored Uruks clad in fine steel, wielding cleavers and battle-axes, and following orders with strict discipline, that was a genuine threat.
He found his hand moving toward his weapon.
These larger, stronger, more brutal opponents, they would be exhilarating to face in battle.
But impulse was one thing, timing was another.
Now was not the moment.
For some reason, the Uruk beside the cart, who had been suppressing the restless orcs, suddenly tensed. It felt as if a blade had just grazed the top of his head, but narrowly missed.
"Get the back!"
Roaring instead of retreating, the Uruk stood before a troll, baring his sharp teeth and shouting fiercely.
The troll licked its lips, looked at the Uruk squad leader before it, then glanced at the now distant wagon. In the end, it turned away.
"If you won't let me eat, fine! No need to yell so loudly..."
It grumbled and lumbered off.
Thanks to the Uruks maintaining order, the caravan made it through safely. The unruly orcs and wild beasts quickly settled down.
Whether it's one good meal or regular feeding, you must know the difference. If you don't, you don't deserve to live.
In a corner of the capital, the driver looked around cautiously. Seeing no one nearby, he quickly knocked twice on the side of the wagon.
"It's quite a mess out there," Garrett said, crawling out from beneath a thick, opaque tarpaulin, commenting on the scene outside.
"First time I've ever seen orcs so disciplined." Halbarad followed closely behind.
"This is the place."
The driver kindly reminded them, "Remember, don't go wandering around at night. Especially not outside the city walls."
"Most of those orcs follow orders, but you never know when one or two might lose control."
"Civilians are in real danger under these circumstances, unless you two are capable enough..."
He studied the two men standing before him.
One looked like a wanderer, his face was somewhat obscured, difficult to determine his origins, but his build was solid, and he carried a blade. Not someone to trifle with.
The other was much more composed. Beneath his robes, it appeared he wore armor, and his bearing, no one would believe he hadn't seen blood.
"Never mind, forget I mentioned it. Good fortune to you both."
"And to you," Garrett replied.
The arrangement concluded smoothly.
Halbarad couldn't help but observe. "Nothing I've attempted in my life has ever gone this smoothly."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because I never had any coin."
"That payment you gave the driver, it's more than enough for him to live comfortably for months, even if he doesn't work."
"Before, I would've had to think of other ways."
Garrett smiled.
"Don't worry," he said, "From now on, everything we do will go just as smoothly."
Comments
Fire_Fox2590
"Don't worry, we'll never need to worry about things going rough because I've got enough money to grease the gears of bureaucracy for centuries."
