As the camp buzzed with activity, Wolfram couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect for the people he fought alongside. In this moment, he understood more than ever what it meant to be a part of something greater—a people who refused to be crushed, who thrived in the face of adversity.
Kara noticed Wolfram had drifted into deep thought, his mind likely racing with everything they had just experienced. With a light-hearted grin, Kara gave Wolfram a firm slap on the back, jolting him from his reverie. "Come on, now," Kara chuckled. "Go wash your face, you filthy German."
Wolfram, snapping out of his thoughts, nodded with a faint smile and followed Kara. They walked over to a barrel filled with water, where Wolfram leaned down, splashing the cool liquid over his face, scrubbing away the dirt and blood from the battle.
As Wolfram washed, Kara stepped closer, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Now do you understand what drives our people?" he asked, his eyes reflecting the depth of his words. "For centuries, our people have struggled on the steppes, born into a life of scarcity, constantly battling the forces of nature. But there comes a time when a khan rises, uniting the tribes under one banner. That's when we begin to raid the great empires nearby."
Wolfram listened intently, the water dripping from his face as he absorbed Kara's words.
"Our goal isn't to destroy these empires," Kara continued, his voice steady. "Maybe we could, if we really tried. But that's not what we seek. Our people want something different. We want to live comfortably, to add to our strength. And when the emperors of those lands realize this, they don't waste their time trying to crush us. How could they? We're here one moment, gone the next. In the summer, we're in the summer pastures; in the winter, we're in the winter ones. They can't pin us down."
Kara's gaze grew more intense, and he struck his hand against his chest, right over his heart. "So instead, they give us riches, tributes. And with those treasures, the one who returns home becomes a khan."
Wolfram paused, his hands still in the water, the weight of Kara's words settling over him. He realized that what he was witnessing was not just a simple battle for survival or wealth. It was the story of a people who had mastered the art of resilience, who understood the ebb and flow of power and survival in ways that were foreign to the empires they raided.
These were not just warriors—they were survivors, strategists, and above all, a people who knew how to navigate the thin line between scarcity and abundance, weakness and strength.
Wolfram slowly stood up, wiping the water from his face, and met Kara's gaze. In that moment, he felt a deeper connection to these nomadic warriors, a respect that went beyond their prowess in battle. He saw the wisdom in their way of life, the knowledge passed down through generations of hardship and triumph.
Kara nodded, sensing Wolfram's growing understanding. "It's not just about winning battles, Wolfram. It's about understanding the game we play. We take what we need, we grow stronger, and we keep moving. That's how we survive. That's how we thrive."
The two men stood in silence for a moment, the bond between them strengthened by the conversation. They were warriors from different worlds, but in that moment, they shared a common understanding of what it meant to lead, to protect, and to fight for something greater than themselves.
With a final nod, Kara turned and began walking back towards the camp, his broad shoulders carrying the weight of leadership and the wisdom of his people. Wolfram followed, his mind turning over everything he had learned. The path ahead would be challenging, but with Kara's guidance, he knew they could face whatever came next.
As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the camp buzzed with the energy of preparation and anticipation. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: with leaders like Kara, the nomads would continue to carve out their place in the world, one raid, one battle, one victory at a time.