The unit arrived back to the camp, garrison soldiers greeted them as they brought the wounded inside for treatment. The horses though remained unharmed.
'No horse shot down, seems like they are either lucky in their shots. Or perhaps skilled, focusing on the men only.' Cadin observed the unwounded steeds while injured men were escorted inside.
The rest entered inside, Cadin and Joken walked close to one another, heading to the operations building.
"We have found the resources, now we need a method to ensure keeping it. But before that, we have fortunately found a threat inside the forest." Cadin started talking, discussing with Joken while passing by more buildings and workers.
Entrance guards greeted them in front of the wooden building, holding their spears and small shields.
The two entered inside, hastily starting to plan out their next move.
Joken threw down the scribbled down maps he had made while Cadin analyzed each one.
"You make quite good maps." Joken laughed.
"Thank you my lord."
'What we need is more soldiers, now meant for battle. And a plan to create some kind of protective roadway for the iron to return to. That and more prisoners to work the camp.' Cadin continued thinking as Joken organized the maps, arranging them to make a larger one.
"What now my lord? We have found what was required, furthermore we have a new forest! One i have not seen before. Far larger and more lively than the one we used to reside in. We should start creating a way there by this second!"
"Indeed Joken, but we must not hasten such construction. We still face a threat of bow wielders, and they seem to be adept at fighting from the trees themselves. For now, I need the report from our forest scouts and redirect any free soldiers for a battle. Furthermore I need to speak with Hoflin on an expansion request. So relay this to him like you have done before."
"Of course my lord, actually he should be here at this time, or so he told me so he may note some things down on the camp. You may meet him upstairs."
"Great."
Cadin jogged up the stairs to meet Hoflin.
The upstairs room was large, another large table stood with a bed in the corner as shelves and boxes stood next to the walls. Filled with an assortment of goods or supplies.
Writing on a desk next to the bed, sitting on a wooden chair and silently scribbling down on a piece of paper was Hoflin. Wearing his leather armor with his sword sheathe at the side.
"Hoflin." Cadin called out. He stood up and turned around quickly, rolling up the paper.
"Yes my lord?"
"Since you relay the messages and requests for expansion, i shall need you to draft another."
"Very well, what shall it be about? And this time the order did not come from Joken." He spoke in a raspy deep voice as he scratched the stubble around his mouth.
"The letter is a request, inform them that we have found something extraordinary from the expedition. Along with this draft a request to begin forming a path towards them along with a mine to begin bringing out iron, regardless of what demands they wish."
"Yes my lord, they shall receive this in the day." Hoflin sat back down, writing on another piece of paper as his hand rapidly drifted across the paper, quickly finishing the request.
With nothing left to say, Cadin descended back down the stairs.
Joken was still standing near the table, reading his own maps.
"Joken, have you received any reports from the forest scouts?"
"Indeed, they left a letter here." Joken moved a few papers around, plucking out a folded paper, handing it to Cadin.
He unfolded the piece of paper, on it in black ink it read:
"Dearest Leader Cadin, from our scouting expedition we have found a possible pathway that could be constructed in the many areas scouted. There were no threats found nor ambushes, so far no other resources were found in the expedition however. Best Regards, scouting unit.
'Just pathways.' Cadin sighed, 'Better than nothing. I suppose that cave is our only hope in finally making ourselves dependent, creating our own swords and weapons with our own metal.'
'We may construct further pathways for the transportation of supplies and people, perhaps making it all faster.' Cadin thought to himself, folding the paper again and placing it on the table.
"Joken, prepare to call for all remaining soldiers we could use from the camps. We shall begin the expedition once more. Where's Poltan?"
"Poltan is currently in the other camp of operations, why?"
"I need to speak to him regarding weapons and armor production. Start calling the men, the expedition shall begin the next day when all are healed and full." Cadin walked out of the wooden abode, the sun was going lower, nearing dawn.
People continued working, the atmosphere was filled with the mixed chatter of people working different tasks inside the camp. The stables were being maintained by a few workers as horses rested inside. Wounded soldiers rested in a small open wooden hut as fellow comrades along with a few people tended to their wounds, their bloodied armor and weapons rested on the side.
Outside, Cadin untied his horse's lead, quickly getting up on it he moved away. Sticking to the road his direction was bound for the forest.
Thoughts lingered in his mind on the plans he must make before the second expedition.
'Food, supply, weapons, protection, and navigation. That is all we need for this, hopefully the soldiers shall be enough for the expedition.'
Cold breeze slammed into him upon entering inside the forest, under the cover of branches and tree leaves as the path continued, diverging to different directions. But Cadin remembers which route to take for his own camp.
Soon, he arrived back to his home camp, people entered from the outside carrying lumber among other goods with a few horses bearing baskets of supplies.