Cadin woke up to the sun shining on tent cloth above him from his mat. He got up with a stretch and yawn, moving through the cloth and outside. Many of the mats were empty, just a few were being used while the rest were empty.
The sun had already risen with its rays hitting Cadin while he still felt the cold breeze from the forest.
"Cadin, about that river camp we conversed on before." The leader walked up to Cadin from the side.
"We managed to get the prisoners to start building the camp, more are starting to chop down trees for more wood. I believe it would be better for you to see their progress. After all, you will lead that camp." The leader explained.
He gestured to Cadin to follow him. They both left the camp heading down the pathway, escorted by two guards.
Their walk was brief, embracing the cold air and hot sunny day above.
"Our territory grows, I already sent a few soldiers to start taking over the last camp you attacked. Soon they will return."
"That is good my lord."
"Due to your strength and survival in many battles, seemingly killing more enemies in your way. For that, consider this camp as the beginning of your life of governing. Those who have witnessed many battles and survived each one, returning with glory or plunder, are given the opportunity to lead, such as I. And those who govern the other two camps away from here." He explained, walking closer to the river camp the leader spoke of.
"That is how leaders are selected?"
"Why yes. Those who have survived enough battles and fell many fighters in the battlefield can either retire or choose to lead their own camps. For you, you shall have your own set of advisors below you. You will be granted autonomy but still be led under I and the other camp leaders."
After conversing for some time, they arrived.
Prisoners were already at work around the camp, chopping down trees bordering the water and hauling it to the camp to be used, large walls of wood were erected around the camp covering also the for protection. Inside, small buildings stood inside coupled with a few tents with a large building facing the river towering over all. Inside and outside, the prisoners were already hard at work with their tasks, many starting to fish with spears in hand, moving closer to the water.
"You will govern your own camp, but any decision to be taken outside of it must go through me and other leaders. The camp also has a few settlers from other tribes, wishing to join and work in the river, lastly, you are given an army of your own, numbering only half a hundred. Let us head inside."
Down the path to the walled off camp, they stood in front of a closed gate, protected by a pair of armed guards, their weapons and armor similar to the leader's camp. Upon seeing the two, they pulled open the large gate. Now slightly opened, they stepped inside.
The ground below them was sturdy but partially muddy, tables were built around a few of the tents with smoke coming out of them, filling the air with the smell of cooked food. Men and women emerged from the riverside carrying baskets to buckets filled with fish, finishing their catches for the day.
"Since this is a permanent camp rather than a temporary one, every week or so you will give a sum of fish to soldiers that arrive at your gate. Now for where you shall reside."
They walked to the wooden door of the large building, above them was a small platform to speak on with railings in place.
With a single push, the inside was revealed to them. A single large room stood inside, a large table in the middle with furnaces for food, chairs, racks to put weapons or armor on, and with a few windows to the outside. On the corner of the room were stairs heading up.
"This here is simply where you perform all the required tasks for the camp." The leader walked past it all, ascending up the stairs.
At the top, a single large room with more armor and weapon racks, on the corner was a large bed with a fur blanket above made from the skins of different animals. In front, a glass doorway headed outside to the platform.
"Your advisors rest in the wooden homes, every day they shall report to you downstairs with any issues at hand. For now you may view your people and watch until the next day begins. May you lead this camp well and into prosperity."
"And so will you my lord." Cadin thanked the leader, he descended downstairs, leaving Cadin with his new camp.
"It just gets better and better as time goes by. Now I can lead my own camp in this place. Now to see the camp from the balcony." Filled with excitement, Cadin walked to the balcony. Outside, the smell of water filled his nose as the river's current was calmer. Prisoners stood on top of wooden buildings, nailing down parts of it to the structure. On the ground, many more walked around freely, carrying lumber logs and buckets of fish in their hands. His arms leaned onto the railings, staring off into the camp and its people.
"Finally, my own camp to rule, from here it is best to make it prosper fast. Hopefully that too may happen." Cadin conversed with himself.
The day continued on, still looking at the prisoners and tribesmen working.
As the sun reached the middle of the sky, Cadin walked back inside. Sitting down on the side of his bed, he looked down, thinking.
"Perhaps trading fish will be the best course of action, though we need to make it far more efficient. After we can sustain ourselves efficiently we would need to make more things." He continued thinking about the future of his camp, now with one, it is time to lead it well and right.