A day and night have passed, Cadin stepped outside breathing the fresh air of a starting morning with Hoflin standing behind him.
"My lord, the shield orders you have requested are nearly finished. With the amount of workers we have we should complete it in an hour." Hoflin spoke, holding a paper with both hands, reading off of it.
"Excellent, deliver them to the outer main camp once the order is completed."
"I shall my lord."
People were just starting to exit their wooden homes, starting the day once more.
The cool water of the river continued flowing with the sun just hovering above it, slowly rising in the distance above more trees.
Cadin looked out, raising his hand above his head to block the light as he observed the flowing river, feeling calmer.
Already donning his demon gifted armor and sword, he began walking to the gate.
'Hope Joken got the soldiers already.' On his horse, he sped off through the forest leaving the comfort and safety of the camp and back into the built road towards the outside.
The land outside was slowly lighting up with the sun facing from the west, the morning breeze was just beginning, cold.
'I wonder if there are more lands on this island after that forest.' Cadin thought to himself, feeling the wind hit his uncovered face and the loud whistling of it in his ears while nearing the camp.
As he approached, a formation of soldiers were already awaiting at the gate area. Joken stood in front of all of them on his own horse.
"Joken." Cadin called out, getting closer until he stopped his horse just next to him.
"I managed to find about 50 or so men my lord, most from the scouting in the forest."
"They should be enough. We must wait for the shield deliveries before we can embark. Have they eaten yet?"
"All have finished their morning supper my lord."
"Good. What of the cavalrymen, where are they?"
"Inside still preparing. The others have been healed and ready to fight once more."
The two awaited patiently in front of the sranding army. The sun rose from behind them further illuminating their backs and the land around them.
Moving out the slowly opening gate, a line of horsemen in their armor trotted outside, greeting Cadin and Joken upon seeing them.
"Stand behind the soldiers, we shall start lead the unit."
Horsemen marched to the rear of the square formation of soldiers, eagerly awaiting the next order to be given.
A small group of horses accompanied by a few people arrived at the camp's entrance, all bearing large boxes on both sides with a pole on their backs. Cadin jumped down to meet them.
"We have the shields you requested my lord." One of the men spoke.
"Distribute it to the soldiers, their smaller shields are inadequate for the new environment." Hearing this, the people began grabbing large brown wooden shields from their boxes, handing out to the soldiers and cavalrymen, discarding their old smaller ones.
Soon, in the hands of each man was a large round shield that covered their entire arm, a few struggled to lift but slowly became used to the weight.
'Those makers sure know how to follow orders.' Cadin thought, grabbing his own large shield.
With all soldiers holding a shield, the people started heading back on the road.
"Men!" Cadin adressed the soldiers. "We shall embark on a trip far from our home. Our aim is to secure a road we could use, along with this, to investigate further on the tecent attack that had occured here. With your bows and arrows you shall fight them, and with your shields, to protect against them. For the soldiers in front of me, you shall witness a new land. A new land with a new foe. As foe the cavalrymen, protect yourselves. Use your shields and speed against them. We shall begin marching off."
Joken and Cadin joined with the cavalrymen of the rear, the soldiers turned around to face them. In a few seconds, they began marching. Heading away from their homes and the forest.
The land became more visible witht he scent of grass filling the air. Wood and iron clattered around as the soldiers kept marching. Cadin led on the very front with Joken behind him.
'If there are dwellers in the forest. I wonder where their camp is, or wherever they reside in. And are all of them just as hostile.' Cadin pondered to himself, continuing to carry the heavy but manageable shield as they kept moving, the camp they once stayed near to was now far away, no longer visible.
Above hills and long uninhabited plains the unit kept moving as the sun son fully rose up for all to see. The first feeling of warmth could be felt as its rays hit the soldiers, no longer being embraced by the cold wind.
In front of them, after an hour or two of constant marching with the sun continuing its slow ascent up, the forest could be seen. Just a few more minutes away.
The soldiers looked at the forest, in awe of what stood in front of them.
"Let us keep moving." Cadin reminded, his head turned to look at them.
"What will be our plan when the enemy attacks again?" Joken asked, now closer to the forest with it's entrance becoming visible.
"The shields may be big but they are enough to cover most of the body against an attack. They are excellent given our enemy in the forest." Cadin replied. Joken nodded his head, understanding.
The unit now stood in front of the forest entrance, a mix of emotions racked the soldiers where they stood. With the experienced cavalrymen staring with discipline and fear, and the soldiers with amazement and curiosity.
"Form up closer with one another, cavalry as well. Ready your shields soldiers, they are important here." Cadin shouted. Joken repeated the same order a few times before stopping as men shuffled closer to one another.
After the quick change, they set off into the beautiful forest, not alone.