"Ginny, Kevin, do you enjoy learning?" Logan asked, his large, furry ears twitching as he turned to his younger siblings, resting a hand gently on each of their shoulders.
Ginny, the youngest of the trio, beamed up at her older brother. "Yes, big brother! Learning is so much fun!" she squeaked, her baby voice full of excitement.
Kevin, on the other hand, shook his head with determination. "No way, brother. I don't like it! I want to be a warrior, not sit around reading all the time!"
With a sigh, Logan reached over and snagged Kevin by the ear before the boy could slip away. "Not so fast," he said, dragging his reluctant brother back into his seat.
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"Ouch! That hurts, brother!" Kevin whimpered, rubbing his sore ear, his eyes already welling up with tears.
Logan, his face serious but his tone gentle, leaned down to look Kevin in the eye. "You want to be a big businessman one day, right? Well, if you don't learn the common language and the elven tongue, how will you make deals with other tribes? Learning is how you'll get there."
Caught off guard, Kevin stared at his brother, a mix of fear and confusion on his face. He hesitated, then begrudgingly picked up his book, flipping it open. He might not like learning, but the thought of disappointing Logan was worse.
Nearby, Jane, their cousin, couldn't help but smile at the scene unfolding before her. She leaned against the doorway, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she watched her cousins interact.
Their mother had been away handling important tribal business, leaving the children in Logan's care. With their father long gone, Logan had taken on the role of protector and mentor, ensuring his younger siblings stayed on track even when he'd rather be out training with the Junior Guard.
Catching Jane's amused expression, Logan shot her a mock glare. "What's so funny?" he grumbled as he sat down to eat his now cold breakfast.
Jane sauntered over and sat beside him, placing her chin in her hand. "Do you want me to heat that up for you?" she asked sweetly.
Logan waved her off, breaking open a cold sweet potato. "Nah, I like them better this way."
Jane raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but let it slide. "By the way, now that you're back, what's happening with your bun shops? You left them behind, didn't you?"
With a small smile, Jane nodded. "It's fine. I asked Grandpa Zako to look after them for me."
Meanwhile, the tribe's winery also underwent another major expansion. The once modest establishment now bustled with activity, producing a wide array of goods. From rye liquor and white rye spirits to luxurious perfumes and sweet potato candies, the products had grown in both variety and reputation.
The winery also churned out maltose, potato vermicelli, and dried fruit snacks made from both sweet and regular potatoes. What had started as a small venture now employed a workforce of two to three thousand, making it far larger than the renowned Canyon City Winery.
In the military camp, the surge in population provided an abundance of young orc recruits, and just a few days ago, the formation of a 5,000-strong reserve force was completed. After a swift reorganization, the camp now held close to 10,000 soldiers, 3,000 regular troops, 5,000 reservists, and 1,600 young guards in training.
The growing army was pushing the limits of the current camp's capacity, so expansion efforts had begun two weeks prior, with the first task assigned to the new recruits: expanding the camp itself.
Kodiak, the tribe's logistics chief, also oversaw the expansion of the animal pens. At Logan's direction, he procured 520 wolves, 500 wild boars, and 200 Kodo beasts, anticipating the formation of a new cavalry force. The mounts were ready, and with them, forming cavalry units became a top priority.
Out in the open wasteland, Logan stood alongside his trusted commanders Kro, Bagen, and Allen, the cavalry leader. The wind swept through the grass as they observed the newly assembled cavalry before them, a magnificent sight.
The first cavalry unit was the 663-strong Wolf Cavalry. Kodiak had purchased 520 of the wolves from merchants dealing in war beasts, while the remaining 143 had been captured in the wild. The second unit was made up of 500 Boar Cavalry. As for the elusive Minotaur Cavalry, the Kodo beasts required special training, which Kro and his team had been diligently working on.
Progress had been made, but it would still take time before the Kodo beasts were battle-ready.
Logan, Kro, and Bagen watched in awe as more than 1,200 wolf riders and 500 boar riders gathered before them, a grand total of over 1,700 cavalrymen, their numbers alone enough to inspire awe. But it wasn't just the numbers; the sight itself was mesmerizing, an army of mounted warriors stretching across the plains.
Logan couldn't hide his excitement, his grin wide as he took in the spectacle. "Chief, shall we let them show off a bit?" Allen suggested, noticing the gleam in Logan's eyes.
Logan chuckled, glancing at Kro and Bagen, who both nodded enthusiastically. "Haha, yes, let them move! Let's see what they can do!" Logan said with a wide grin.
Allen wasted no time. He spurred his wolf forward into the center of the cavalry, drawing his wolf-saber from his belt. With a fierce gesture toward the north, he bellowed, "Brothers! The Chief and our lords wish to see us move! All cavalry, charge five miles north; quick!"
With a mighty roar, the 1,700 cavalrymen unsheathed their wolf war sabers and raised them high, shouting in unison, "Charge!!" The earth trembled as they surged forward, their mounts tearing across the plains. The wolves moved swiftly, their strides light but sure, while the wild boars thundered forward with earth-shaking force.
At over three meters long and standing one and a half meters tall, the boars were massive beasts, their hooves pounding the ground like rolling thunder.
The cavalry tore through the tall, two-meter-high grass, flattening everything in their path. The air was filled with the sound of hooves and the sharp howls of the warriors, a deafening symphony of power and speed. Logan stood on the hill, his heart swelling with pride as he watched his cavalry unleash their full might. It was a spectacular sight, a display of strength that few could match.
For Logan, Kro, Bagen, and everyone watching, this was more than just a practice drill. It was the embodiment of the Silver Mane Tribe's strength and resilience. Their tribe was growing stronger every day, and this cavalry charge was just a glimpse of the unstoppable force they were becoming.