The size of the group made the journey back to the capital take longer than Henry had anticipated. Despite being physically strong, the barbarians were weighed down by the few possessions they carried, making it difficult for them to move in the forest and to walk on the snow. Fortunately, they encountered no attacks from beasts or any other massive threat.
The journey from the inner layer to the outer layer took a full nine days, but as they emerged, it felt like they had passed through a portal to a new world. The temperature was warmer and more inviting, even though it was still bitterly cold. As soon as they entered the outer layer, the soldiers of the First Battalion relaxed their guard as they recognized this area as a familiar hunting ground from their early days as warriors in the army. They were back home.
Henry stopped the group's march on a clearing, wide enough to accommodate the three thousand barbarians following him to Eisenburg. The Capital was about nine to ten miles to the South, a couple of hours walking through the forest.
This was the ideal location for the short-term, as the barbarians could hunt for food and resources to send to the capital for sale and distribution throughout the kingdom. Furthermore, this would also allow for minimal contact between his old subjects and the barbarians, giving Henry enough time to settle the bad blood between them.
"Translate and relay my words." – Henry turned to Gedhe and commanded him to be the translator.
Gedhe nodded.
Henry climbed on a tree and stood on a thick branch that was partially frozen due to the bitter cold. He looked downwards at the gathered crowd and began his speech.
"This king has promised you a land to restart, where you can hunt without worrying about your tribe being attacked by beasts, where you don't need to abandon your kin, where preys are plenty and there is no hunger." – Henry paused and waited for Gedhe to finish translating his words.
Henry's words were met with a mixture of emotions from the barbarians. Some were visibly excited, while others still had doubts and fear in their eyes. It was understandable for them to feel afraid, as they were now in unfamiliar lands, surrounded by soldiers who were once their enemies.
"As your new ruler, I wish to demonstrate my trust in you by releasing your captive brothers back to this community. Also, a team of craftsmen will be sent to aid in building your village, merchants to assist with selling your hunting goods, and teachers to educate you on our history and language. Moreover, a unit of soldiers will be stationed here to ensure the safety and security of this newly established community." – Henry said, his words sounding like a politician of the modern times, filled with underlying meaning but sung with a righteous tone.
Henry plan was to gradually integrate the barbarians into Stahl, while maximizing their value and minimizing the risk of betrayal. At first, the work of the craftsmen would be able to create a safe environment for the barbarians, allowing them to see the king's goodwill while also cutting off any tricks that might be pulled in the future.
The merchants would allow the extra food to be exported to other parts of the kingdom, supplying the capital and the interior with food hunted by the barbarians. Also, they would instruct these wild people about the use of money and how to efficiently work for it.
The teachers would be a central part of his plan. Their mission was to propagate Stahl's history and culture, allowing the barbarians to slowly build a sense of patriotism about the country. Furthermore, by teaching them the Common Language, the barbarians would shorten the distance between them and the other citizens.
Lastly, the army would guarantee the control over the barbarians, while using the protection of the city as an excuse. It was the best way to force the barbarians to assimilate into Stahl, creating some sort of order over the new community.
Henry's plans were to gradually integrate the barbarians into Stahl society, starting with their role as hunters to supply the Kingdom with food. Over time, as their loyalty was established, they would gradually become a part of the army.
However, Henry realized that this process would take time, possibly even a generation or more. The current generation of barbarians were still grappling with feelings of anger and revenge, which made it difficult for them to fully embrace the idea of being loyal subjects of the Kingdom. There was an urgent need to teach and control the children, which would become strong pillars of the Kingdom.
For a kingdom, a single generation was nothing. With this goal in mind, Henry was confident that in five to ten years, there would be members of the new generation who would be ready to join the army and defend the kingdom against its enemies.
"I will also respect your rituals and ceremonies. But in exchange for all these benefits, I expect nothing but loyalty."- Henry declared firmly - "I will allow you to keep your own customs and traditions, but treachery will not be tolerated. You are now in my kingdom, and you will show me the respect that I deserve. If you choose to betray my trust, I will deem the people as unworthy to live inside my territory and burn you."
The barbarians observed a red light shining behind the king's grey eyes, a clear indication that his threats were genuine. He was prepared to incinerate anyone who dared to betray him. They were well aware of his capability, having witnessed his mastery over his blazing sword that could effortlessly reduce Death Spiders to ashes.
"Start chopping the wood and hunting in the surrounding area. Within 24 hours, a convoy will be here with merchants, soldiers, teachers and craftsmen to oversee and help you to develop everything." - Henry declared, as Gedhe translated his words to the barbarians - "That's all."
Finishing his words, Henry hopped down from the tree with a leap. He was ready to go back to the capital, being away for a few days, the work must have been piling up. The food problem has been resolved and the emergency state in the capital would be lifted.
"As for now, I must focus on securing the interior of the Kingdom," Henry murmured to himself, reflecting on the lack of communication between the capital and the other villages and cities within his realm. – "I must summon the representatives."
"Luke!" – Henry called, seeing the little man beside him, who didn't participate in any fight and have been staying far away from all fights. – "Have you recorded everything?"
Henry didn't care for his uselessness in the battlefield if he completed his job. In the end, he was only an assistant, not a warrior, and his job was to meticulously record every detail inside the forest, from the paths to the trees. Stahl's records must be rebuilt.
"Yes, my King!" – Luke's voice echoed. Henry could see a little man coming from behind Luther with a heavy and thick book in his arms.
In this trip, Luke was like a ghost. He never engaged in any fights and always kept his distance from Winter Orcs and Death Spiders. Sometimes, even Henry forgot he has brought this man to serve as an scribe.
"That's good, let's go back to the Capital. The First Battalion will be stationed here and help the Barbarians to hunt."