Strategic Forward

A noisy, but unusually quiet night. The four hobbits were already asleep in bed, while Zhao Mian and Freewalker were sitting by the window, watching the hurried pedestrians in the heavy rain outside the window, while listening to the Freewalker tell a story about the past.

Well, as is customary, I won't describe all the plots like this that are clearly explained in the original book - I will talk about them briefly. It was probably a long, long time ago that the gods left this world, and among the guys who remained, Sauron had the most power, and this thing made twenty rings and issued them to guys of several races, three elves, seven dwarves, nine humans, and one for himself. But the guy wasn't at ease, the one he kept for himself had the ability to control the other rings, and he didn't know which tendon wasn't in the right place - he poured all his power into this ring. Well, in the middle of a battle, this guy had his finger cut off and lost his ring, and this thing had no power, and everyone can imagine what happened after that, especially when this ring has demagogic powers. The ring lasted until now, thousands of years later, when it finally waited for its original owner to be resurrected in the spring, but unfortunately the man did not buy a chicken and turned into a bird before he died, and he lacked someone to return the ring.

"But the temptation that humans can't resist, well, it should be said that the temptation from the Lord of the Rings that every race can't resist is resisted by this hobbit from the Shire?" Zhao Mian glanced back at the four hobbits who were sleeping on the bed neatly, I have to say that these guys always seem to be carefree, the two humans who are much taller than them are on the side, and everyone is not familiar with each other at all, but these hobbits are very willing to trust others, and they accept the opinion of the Skywalker without much hesitation, "But the guys with a good nature are always easier to resist the temptation from the darkness than those who are heavy-minded. Because in their worldview, what they have is about the best of the whole world, and since it is the best, then other temptations naturally become less attractive. ”

"So hobbits are a very peculiar race. Freelander held his sword in his arms and looked out the window with some gloom, "But for now, it's good news that he's able to resist the temptation of the Ring - we can't find any better person for this task, because we're all too weak in the face of the temptation of the Ring." ”

"Yes. Zhao Mian shook his head a little noncommittally, perhaps wanting to say something, but a shrill scream came from a distance, as if it sounded from the deepest part of something unknowable in the human body—it was sharp, sensitive, harsh, full of anger, and with some kind of creepy power.

Many people were awakened from nightmares by the screams, including the four hobbits who were asleep in their beds. "What are they?" asked the hobbit named Frodo, sitting on the edge of the bed, his chest heaving, obviously frightened - like the other three hobbits behind him, but he seemed calmer.

"The roar of some guy who wasn't dead. This is Zhao Mian's answer.

"They used to be human," Freelander glanced at Zhao Mian with some strange surprise, and then explained to Frodo, "Once the great kings of the Human Empire, until Sauron gave them the Nine Rings. They accepted the ring without question, and one by one they sank into the dark power," he turned his head to look out, and Zhao Mian looked as the strange fellows got back on their horses and neighed out of here...... Slaves of the Dark Lord - they are the Ringwraith, somewhere between life and death, they can feel the presence of the Ring at any time - and they will hunt you down when they are attracted by the One Ring, Frodo. ”

"Looks like those little tricks you've done have worked, Godwalker. Zhao Mian ignored the expressions of the hobbits behind him, he watched the guys with some disgusting aura leave the place, and said, "But this place is not safe, those guys are following the signs you have laid out—but how much have you arranged in a hurry? These two days have been rainy and rainy, even if you have done enough work beforehand, the heavy rain in the past few days will destroy your work." ”

"So we're out of here early tomorrow morning. No, it's not safe in the morning—we're leaving in the morning!" Freelander nodded, agreeing with Zhao Mian's statement, he turned to look at the hobbits and said, "Now, go and rest now, there won't be much chance of getting enough sleep in the next few days!"

"How? If I were an enemy, I would set up sentry posts all over the road, both open and covert. Zhao Mian looked at the hobbits who were very uneasy, but gradually fell asleep, and I don't know whether they should be fearless or lacking hearts, they had completely fallen into a deep sleep, and he turned his head and asked.

"Walking in the wilderness, since a traveler like you can wander the depths of the Chaitling for many days without a single scar on your body, it should not be difficult for you to travel in the wilderness. "As for the route, let's go south!" the misdirection I made should lead them north to the vicinity of the Achet Valley, so we will take advantage of this time to go south, make a circle outside the Stardo, pass the southern Chaitlin, and then hike through the midge swamps, their horses will not be able to stay in the water for long, which should buy us some time, and then we turn east, and go from the top of the storm to Oster, where we should be able to get some supplies. ”

"Well, so be it. Zhao Mian nodded, stood up - the movement was very light, almost silent, he glanced at the sleeping hobbits, and whispered, "Do you want coffee? ”

Freelander nodded.

The hobbits are an amazing race, they are small in stature, but their years of living in the fields and often climbing through various mountains make them move with unusual speed, which may be a talent of their own, but it saves Zhao Mian and Freelander a lot of trouble - after all, four humans who have no experience in the wild and are not fast are more troublesome than the four hobbits who can keep up with the team. As for why I mention this here, it's just that it's rare for a race to move so quickly in the wild -- it only took them two days to cross the midge swamp.

Time passed quickly, much faster than expected, and the summit of Fengyun, which was expected to be reached at noon on the fifth day, was already in sight, and it was only the evening of the third day. So the Freelander decided to rest here for the night after glancing at the hobbits who were already almost exhausted, and then move on.

"Listen, these weapons must be carried with you, understand?" Freelander opened his package and handed the four daggers to the hands of the four hobbits, who curiously caressed the sharp weapons - the peaceful Charr must not have these things.

"We need to look around, scout the neighborhood and set things up. Zhao Mian looked at the four hobbits and said, "You guys stay here honestly, it's better not to do anything - it's a good choice to go to bed right away, but remember to stay a vigil!"