After a day of quiet and slow hours, only eating and resting inside the camp until the day died down, Cadin woke up in his resting mat, seeing the beam of morning sunshine outside from the tent's cloth.
Outside, he saw the leader standing in front of the tent, just like how Cadin saw him yesterday. He silently observed the slowly awakening populace from his position, looking above all.
"Wake up earlier than the rest, that is good Cadin." The leader commented. Cadin's mind can't stop thinking about the plans the leader spoke of yesterday. Killing leaders, taking their people. Through this plan he saw an opportunity to gain more reputation, to possibly get higher in the ranks.
"You have done everything I have asked of you, my subordinates are more doubtful on tasks handed to them. You however, even if it was to attack an entire camp's worth of men on your own. Not once have you declined or doubted. So you are quite trustworthy after all." Cadin thanked the man for his compliments, quickly turning into an awkward silence as they both stared at the waking people below.
Soon enough, a group of emissaries arrived at the gate, let in by the soldiers. The two approached them as they looked around, carrying rolled up paper in their hands.
"Their leaders have requested that they send these letters to you my lord." One of the gate's guards approached the leader.
The leader opened one of the letters ,starting to quietly read it while the emissaries stood by.
"Do you mind if you stay here? I shall write a formal reply to your leaders." The emissaries nodded their heads in response.
Cadin and the leader left the emissaries, heading back to the tent. Immediately upon arriving, the leader grabbed a small stack of papers along with a quill and ink. He dropped them onto the table, starting to write something. Without an order given, Cadin simply sat on an empty chair, waiting for the leader to finish.
Now without the cover on the entranceway, Cadin could see the outside. The people were already awake with cooks preparing the morning supper, blacksmiths continued forging weapons to armor with the new metal they received, and farmers tending to their crops on the single plot of land.
A few minutes passed, and the leader arranged a short stack of papers, all written on with black ink.
He quickly exited, Cadin followed behind.
Arriving at the group, the leader handed each of them the papers. Each started to roll them up, taking their leave individually.
"Seems they all agreed to the pact, that leaves us with the outside ones that our emissaries reported to be dangerous. If they won't align with us peacefully, then they will align by force. Follow me."
They returned to the tent, looking over the same map as yesterday.
"There are three tribes in mind, these ones have always been a nuisance ever since their inception. Their people, however hateful and brutal, have their uses."
"What is it you are suggesting my lord?"
"We use them for labor," The leader simply replied, still looking down at the map.
"So they will not join the people that align with us?" Cadin asked, curious with the drastic decision just after a diplomatic resolution.
"Yes, they may be used to our advantage, from forging, to farming, to building, and perhaps as soldiers if possible." Cadin understood the explanation.
"I see you found a bow and quiver from your exploits, if you are as skilled with your blade as you are with that bow, that can make this mission easier. With the agreements signed, they shall meet us at dawn, tomorrow, our territory shall stretch farther than ever before!" The leader exclaimed.
"Those letters also expressed concern for those barbaric camps, thus this mission holds more meaning to it. It is not merely a show of cooperation, but a show of our power, that we can take an entire populace without torching their homes into the ground first. Doing this rather than wiping out all their inhabitants shall instill far more of a reputation and show the impressiveness we hold." After speaking, the leader started writing on the remaining papers.
"You may head back to your quarters to take a rest. supper will happen once the sun arrives at the very middle of the sky." With nothing else to do, Cadin took up the offer, leaving the leader alone with his papers and quill. The outside was filled with laughter and a jovial atmosphere as people worked or talked with one another happily.
"Odd, is it because of the food and metal?" Cadin asked himself.
Through the covers of his quarters, he finally arrived inside, with an unlikely visitor standing in front of him.
In the corner of the room, the demon that sent him here stood stiff. His bloodshot eyes stared at Cadin.
"Hello again, I see that my conqueror has been making rapid gains of his own on the island." The demon laughed, his voice though was more distorted but still audible.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why? Is it so bad to check up on what your conqueror has been doing?" It snickered.
"Enough with the antics, I see that your gains have given me more power in this region. A thing for us demons is that we thrive when our puppets or followers are strengthened. Since you have gained the favor of this camp, it has become relatively easy to influence them. Continue on with such exploits, and I may reward you with something far more later on. I expect that you gain more power as the moons go on, until this island is fully under our control. We shall both rule above them, making them our puppets, fanatics, and followers that worship us once enough influence has taken over their minds, all without having to put in the heavy amount of leadership these basic humans require, just the bare minimum and a direction to point. See? What you have desired, and not a single fear of death in your mind. Best of luck, i shall return to my realm, and you shall not be sent to the realm of torture." With a loud distorted laugh, the demon's body disappeared, leaving a cloud of black smoke in its wake.
"Good thing I won't be sent there then." He chuckled.
He lay down on his mat, resting once more in a day free of more tasks, taking in more energy for the next task that awaits him.