The Last Ring-bearer - Kirill Yeskov [67]
"Perhaps," the prince shrugged. "But I have no idea."
"Exactly, Prince, exactly – you have no idea! Please note that it'd be completely normal and natural for those people to come to Ithilien, where they had started their service and where their beloved Captain is now Prince; it's no secret that you were truly beloved in that regiment. But somehow not one of them showed up in Emyn Arnen officially to introduce himself and ask to join your service. Surely you agree that this is beyond unnatural, but rather suspicious! It's logical to suppose that the regiment is still a well-regulated fighting unit that has gone underground, and now these people are planning your 'liberation'. I think we've already established what would happen then."
"These thoughts of yours are very interesting, Captain, and have their own logic, but if those are the only proofs of Beregond's guilt that you have…"
"Please, Prince," Cheetah frowned, "we're not at a jury trial! The thing that concerns me now is the real guilt of this amateur conspirator, rather than the legal niceties. Immediately a question arises: how could the Commandant, who had only served in Minas Tirith, contact Sergeant Runcorn, the free shaft who had spent the entire war in Ithilien's forests? Someone must've introduced them, even if indirectly, and you're the prime suspect, Prince… Now: did Beregond act on his own or did he, as seems more likely, carry out your orders?"
It's over, Faramir realized. Why did they have to send Runcorn to make contact? He is indeed easy to identify from a description. Sergeants' descriptions – these guys are really digging deep… The Red Deer, too, is apparently covered better than I thought. We lost completely, but the price we pay will be different: I will go on being an honored prisoner, while the Captain will die a tortuous death. The worst thing is that I really can do nothing for him; I have to abandon Beregond to his fate and live with the knowledge of this betrayal. It's a stupid illusion that there can be any negotiations with the victorious enemy. One can gain nothing in such negotiations, either for himself or others; they're always conducted under the principle of 'what I have is mine and what's yours is also mine.' Which is why there's a cast-in-stone rule of clandestine warfare: in all circumstances, either be silent or deny everything, including your own existence. Should I admit any role in these contacts, I will not save Beregond and only speed up the destruction of Grager and his men.
All of these thoughts went through the prince's mind like a whirlwind, and then he raised his gaze to meet Cheetah's and said firmly: "I have not the slightest idea of the Commandant's contacts with the members of the Ithilien regiment, had those indeed taken place. You very well know that we have not exchanged more than a dozen words during this time; after all, this man killed my father."
"In other words," the counter-spy summed up drily, "you do not wish to spare your man the torture, if not death?"
He knew what he was risking, Faramir thought, and responded: "If, indeed, there is treason involved – of which you have not yet convinced me! – then Captain Beregond must be punished severely." Then, choosing his words carefully, he finished: "As for myself, I am ready to swear by the thrones of the Valar that I have never considered breaking my word, nor will ever consider doing so: duties to the suzerain are indissoluble."
"All right," Cheetah drawled thoughtfully. "What about you, Éowyn? Are you ready to betray for the sake of your goal and toss your man to the wolves? Actually," he sneered, "what am I saying here? So a mere officer, a commoner, will go to the rack; big deal for someone of royal blood, who in any event is safe!"
An ability to control her facial expressions was not one of Éowyn's many fine qualities – she paled and looked helplessly at Faramir. Cheetah