Cadin's eyes opened to the ceiling of his new home, his body was under the fur blanket. Outside, the sun's rays pierced through the glass.
As he looked around, he heard the sound of his door creaking open from downstairs.
"Who is that?" Cadin descended downstairs, sword in hand.
A group of men stood around the large table, turning their heads to Cadin as he descended down. Wearing different fur or leather armor.
"Greetings my lord." They all carried scrolls of paper, setting them down on the table.
"You are the advisors correct?"
"Indeed we are my lord, sent by the leader to aid you in governing this new camp."
After talking, they started introducing themselves. Hoflin, Joken, Moglon, Sentis, and Poltan.
"Do each of you focus on specific aspects of the camp?" Cadin asked, walking to the table to see the laid out scrolls.
"Yes sir, resources, our task of fishing, our soldiers, the state of the camp itself, weapons production, the people's health, and essentially the camp overall. We report on all issues but have our own different sections to lead for you." One of the men spoke.
"I see." Cadin stared at the open scrolls, looking at their contents.
"Quota of fish, expansion requests, population census....Interesting." He grabbed a scroll, scanning its contents.
"What of these expansion requests?"
"Ah my lord, that is if you wish to either make a camp under us, or if we wish to move our borders farther, be it for resources or for space my lord." Hoflin explained.
"These soldiers," Cadin grabbed an opened scroll, "May they be used for other tasks such as expeditions?"
Joken began clearing his throat, "Indeed they may my lord. But with our current state right now, it is best to use them for security. We may request for more soldiers if needed, but it shall take some time of deliberation."
"The fish?"
"Most of the workers in the camp tend to fish with a good haul since this morning." Moglon spoke up from the others.
"People's health?"
"All are healthy and ready to continue their daily duties my lord!" Sentis announced.
"Production and resources?"
"I checked the storage huts, all are full of lumber and fish among a few other things. As for our small group of workers getting the wood, they are working hard. We can create more huts if needed or tents." Poltan responded.
"I suppose that is all then. Any dire news that is to be addressed?" Cadin asked, the advisors looked at each other with puzzled faces.
A second or two after, Joken stepped forward.
"We have heard rumors of a larger tribal camp nearby our own. It is said that they move as fast as the wind, and their steps echo out into the trees at night. A few camps with us say that they have witnessed these same people raid others, leaving with plunder and the camp in ruins." Cadin looked at him, fascinated by what he described.
"Perhaps we could find it ourselves, find whatever this being is."
"My lord I advise not to, we do not know what it is. And we need soldiers for the camp itself."
Cadin looked to a stack of empty paper standing on the table, next to it was a quill and small container of ink.
"If that is the case," He took a page from the stack and the ink quill.
"May we request for a small sum of soldiers to be used for expeditions?" He slipped the two towards Joken's side of the table.
In a moment of thought, he took both tools, "We could my lord, if they allow us."
"Great, tell them we need about a quarter of a hundred men for a single expedition. Once it is over we shall return them."
"Yes my lord." Joken began writing down on the empty paper with haste.
"Are there any other issues?"
"None anymore sir." After replying, Poltan took out a small map, opening it. The contents were the fishing camp and its surroundings, depicting the forest, river and inside of the camp with good detail.
"This here is a map made by a scribe that has visited the camp, he provided this to us for navigation and marking areas." He explained.
"Since there are no more issues, we may consider this meeting finished then. We shall observe and govern the camp to prosperity." Now done and the issues being taken care of, all but Joken left through the doorway to the noisy bustling outside.
"Finished my lord." Joken rolled up the scroll, placing it on the table with the ink and quill.
"Excellent, do you know how long it shall take?"
"As fast as possible my lord, a moon or two before they reply."
"Very well, we shall send this to the camp."
"Yes my lord." Joken quickly left with the rolled paper in hand.
"This should not be hard, though I have never governed a camp of prisoners before."
To pass the time, Cadin read the scrolls left on the table, reading census, quotas, among other things.
"Hopefully that reply comes early, it shall be the first step of gaining power as a leader in this island." With nothing left to do, Cadin headed back upstairs. Resting his sword on the rack, he pushed the balcony doors open to the outside.
The sun shone far brighter, in the middle of the cloudless sky.
More people down below worked, hauling their goods to small closed off huts while armored guards patrolled the inside of the camp. The people wore different types of clothing, from those at the barbarian camps to even a few from allied tribes.
"Improving my reputation and gaining the favor of the people here, despite being prisoners, will help in leading this camp."
After a few minutes of self contemplation, Cadin walked back inside, sitting on his bed.
"At least there are far less tasks to perform now. Truly reminds me of my time as the kingdom politician before all this." A small hint of nostalgia hit Cadin, remembering bits of his time governing the large kingdom.
"Wonder what Joken said. Whatever it is, it may be beneficial to me."