"Well if it is not my advisor before!" The leader exclaimed inside his tent, surrounded by other leaders similar in look, older and bearing large beards in different shades of brown with scars on their faces.
"Indeed, how are days here my lord?" The leader laughed.
"Quite eventful, mostly joyful. We have begun a few celebrations and started finding more camps to attack or invite. As you can see, we convened for a meeting. Now, what is it you require?"
Joken moved forward, placing the rolled up paper he had written on, in front of the leader.
The leader began reading through it silently, the other camp leaders simply looked back at the table without another word.
The leader placed the paper back down, finished reading it's contents.
"The lumber and fish may work well, at most i can grant about fifteen men for your soldiers." The leader explained, clasping both his hands together.
"Yes, it is enough. Thank you."
"Very well, send the resources and requested soldiers back once you return, though we will have to add 5 more baskets of fish for this offer. We will send the guards later on for you to command under your orders." With a single nod, Cadin left with Joken following behind.
"That was quite simple." Joken remarked.
"Indeed, it seems they mostly want the fish rather than the lumber."
"What shall come after this? Simply return all of them to their home camp?"
"No," The two exited the crowded camp, the guards moving away from the horses upon seeing them, "We may select the ones who are most skilled in raising these animals. The rest though will be sent to work and hunt more fish." Cadin exllained, quickly hoisting himself up on his horse.
"Understood, what shall we do with these horses though?" Joken managed to mount his steed, tugging on the lead the two started heading bsck on the path home.
The path back was quick and moved without issue, the two returned already with a response.
Heading to the camp's ebtranceway, the atmosphere was mostly quiet, many slept under tents for the afternoon, only a sparse few continued working in the river. Nearby, Poltan was already setting up short poles of wood for the fence, placing it a few meters away from the water. With him were a few other prisoners carrying tools and wood.
"Soldiers, you will be sent home in a few hours." Cadin annlunced to the disciplined soldiers, continuing to stand guard in the open with their prisoners sitting next to them.
"Move to the shade." He ordered. Soldiers abd prisoners moved hastily to the shade nearby, sitting under the thick trees as they look out to the river.
The river water glistened like shiny metal in front of Cadin and Joken. Clear enough to see the ground beneath it.
"So much water, clear and not even murky. Could even see some of the fish from here." Cadin stepped closer to the river until his boots brushed against the water current.
"Indeed my lord, i too was shocked at the beauty of this river." Joken replied, standing behind him.
"Fishes and water, that could be the main export of this camp. As for the horse camp, it may be transportation and horses." Cadin chuckled.
"Anything wrong my lord?"
"None at all." Cadin turned to the prisoners, marching towards them.
"Which one of you raises the horses of that camp? Raise your hand!" He shouted at them, many were suprised at the sudden shout, but a few raised up their hands. Ten in total.
Cadin leaned in next to Joken, "These ones will be sent back to the camp. The rest shall stay here and work."
Cadin stepped closer to the group under the tree shade.
"Those who raised their hands, step forward and stand here."
Prisoners, all looking down walked quickly to Cadin's side.
"Guards, bring the rest inside the camp."
Without a word, the soldiers begsn hoisting prisoners on their feet, moving them to the camp while shouting for them to move quicker.
"For you lucky ones, you will return to your camp. But now, a new leader shall supervise all of you." Cadin briefly explained.
After minutes of waiting under the tree leaves, a group of men marched to the entranceway, fully equipped and armed.
"Soldiers!" The men turned to Cadin, quickly moving into formation in front of where he was, despite the beating sun from above.
"Joken tell the requested soldiers that they may leave." Joken ran past the formation, rushing jnto the camp.
Cadin cleared his throat, beginning to speak, "Soldiers, you are now under my command. As such, we shall be sent to a taken camp to hold. There you shall protect it and hold the camp, from outside forces that shall threaten it. You will protect the people within as well, now let us set off."
Joken walked out with the dismissed soldiers, now heading home as the people inside started working, finishing their rest and heading back to work.
"Joken, we will return to that camp, follow me."
With prisoners and an army behind him, Cadin marched through the forest.
None of the soldiers spoke, nor did the prisoners. The sound of their boots echoed out inot the forest around them.
"Any further plans for this camp?" Joken asked from behind.
"Yes, but we need to return there and see what could be done. From then on i shall see what i can do." Cadin replied bluntly.
The army soon arrived to the camp, barren, silent, empty, with still lit campfires slowly dying out once they arrived. Horses that have ran away or simply moved around the camp not taken by Cadin slept inside.
"Huh, was expecting something to enter inside. But it looks rather untouched." Cadin turned to the people behind him.
"For the ten of you, all of you shall work under me as your new leader. You will be given food, water, and protection under me. As for now, your only job is to raise these horses, that is all for now." The army and prisoners walked inside, the area was still eerily empty with the foul smell of corpses and scattered weapons laying around.
Cadin squeezed his nose with his hand, "Soldiers, before you begin, take these bodies out of the camp." Soldiers dragged the bodies near the bushes outside, prisoners placed the horses back inside their fenced enclosure. Following what Cadin had ordered.
Joken stood beside Cadin, looking around at the camp.
"This is progress, we are expanding but still desperate for the other camps for aid. We must cease this reliance on them to become prosperous. I shall lead us to that goal." Cadin said, observing soldiers and prisoners alike doing their tasks.
"Indeed you shall sir."