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proved themselves worthy, two would return to their former companies emptyhanded.
“I can wait, if it comes to that,” said Hador. “There may be more… in
future years.”
Another, a man named Daeron, sniffed and looked around the loose circle
of men who sat near the fire. “Then you can do so. I have been requesting this for
three years; that is long enough,” he said, with a grim look.
This was typical of Daeron, from what Faramir remembered from the few
occasions that they had met. The man conducted himself with a sort of strenuous
correctness; he was rigid as a dried reed in his insistence on following all of
Gondor’s oldest customs, even those less practical at that time. This had made
him not particularly well-loved by the men under his command, and among the
other Captains the rumor was that he thought too much of himself for too little
reason. Faramir thought of him differently, though. He sensed in the man a
purity of purpose—here was another who loved what the sword protected,
rather than the sword itself.
Coming back to himself, Faramir heard Hador speak. “How can you be
certain you will even pass the test?”
“I cannot be certain, but I know it,” Daeron said smugly.
“Is that a boast I hear, Daeron? I am surprised at you!” Hador laughed. His
manner was the opposite of Daeron’s, though he was no less determined.
“There is no boast in stating the obvious,” Daeron replied, earning him an
elbow in the ribs from Hador.
“Time will tell, my friend.”
36
Each day, a pair of men set off up the mountain, up the long trail. Though
the journey would take several days, they went only lightly burdened, with a
small pack containing the barest necessities. Any competent man can do well
when fully supplied and comfortable, but Rangers did not always have this
luxury; it was their lot to do much with little, and in this, these men would have
to prove their ability.
The brothers were the third and last pair to leave, after Daeron and Hador.
The sun had barely risen when they began, walking swiftly along the grassy path
across rolling fields of long grasses and tiny yellow flowers, and soon
disappearing from sight.