During your journey in the Hyrcanian Forest, you come across a hidden Soldier in an outcrop. He claims to belong to the Darius Army, which, according to Sargon, died thirty years ago. Talking to him, you find out he needs help finding his lost friend and getting a Cannonball for his escape. If you decide to help, you start The Deserter side quest, one of the nine optional missions in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. This guide explains how to quickly begin and finish this task.