"It's absolutely breathtaking!"
Kro and Lots could hardly contain their excitement as they witnessed the grand spectacle unfold before them. The earth beneath their feet trembled with the rhythmic thunder of hooves, more than 1,700 cavalrymen, their formation stretching across the horizon, marching like an unstoppable force of nature.
"This is unbelievable!" Kro exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. He had never seen anything like this before. The sheer power and scale of the cavalry left him almost speechless.
Beside him, Logan remained composed, a small smile playing on his lips. "Indeed," he replied with a calm nod. While the scene was certainly exciting, he didn't find it as overwhelming as his companions did.
In truth, Logan had witnessed far grander sights in his previous life. He had lived in Mongolia, where he had watched massive horse races that made today's cavalry seem modest by comparison. He had seen over 10,000 racehorses galloping in unison, a veritable hurricane of hooves that cracked the earth beneath them. Dust rose up in clouds so thick they obscured the sun, turning day into night.
Compared to that, today's display, while impressive, lacked the sheer force to truly move him.
Just as his thoughts drifted to those distant memories, the sound of hooves thundered once again. From far away, another wave of black-armored cavalry charged toward them, kicking up dust in their wake like a ferocious storm descending upon them. The ground shook with a force that made Kro and Lots brace themselves.
At the forefront, the cavalry commander, Allen, raised his gleaming Wolf War Scimitar and signaled for the troops to slow. One by one, the cavalrymen reined in their mounts until the entire formation came to a halt in perfect unison.
"Chief, how was that for a warm-up?" Allen called as he rode his majestic wolf back to Logan, a hint of pride in his voice. He was eager to hear the chief's thoughts, his wolf's breath still heavy from the run.
"If Commanders Kro or Lots have any feedback, I'm happy to hear it as well," Allen added, glancing toward the two leaders beside Logan.
Kro chuckled, shaking his head. "We're infantrymen at heart. Cavalry tactics aren't really our field of expertise."
Lots joined in with a hearty laugh. "He's right. We're better at marching on two legs than riding on four."
Allen smiled, though the situation was a little awkward. As the newly promoted commander of the cavalry, his rise to power had been swift, and many infantry officers were less than pleased about it. The rapid expansion of the cavalry under his command had elevated him to the third most important position in the army, a fact that rubbed some the wrong way.
There were whispers among the ranks that Kro and Lots could no longer rein him in.
But Allen knew better. He respected both Kro and Lots deeply, not just as his superiors but as the benefactors who had supported his rise. Without their influence, he would never have caught the attention of Chief Logan.
The three of them turned to the chief, awaiting his response. Logan, ever thoughtful, shook his head slightly. "The first group of wolf cavalry is solid, but the second group and the wild boar cavalry are still green. I don't have much to add."
The total came to 5,300 gold coins, even with the slight discount Logan had managed to haggle out of the Warcraft merchant. It was a deal that left both sides satisfied. The merchant, seeing potential for future business, was more than willing to accommodate the Silver Mane Tribe's growing needs.
In fact, Logan had already hinted at the possibility of needing even more mounts in the future, which lit a spark of excitement in the merchant's eyes. He promised quick deliveries, should the tribe require more.
'Honestly,' Logan remarked, 'when you look at the prices, wolves and wild boars aren't that expensive. The real challenge comes later; feeding them.' He paused, turning his gaze to the horizon. 'Wild boars and kodos are easy enough to maintain. They're omnivores, after all. But wolves; now there's the rub. They're carnivorous, and feeding a growing pack of them is no small feat.'
This was the struggle that plagued many large tribes. It wasn't just a matter of affording wolves; it was the ongoing cost of sustaining them that proved insurmountable for some. Wolves demanded a steady diet of meat, and that quickly drained resources.
'I had considered purchasing more wild boars,' Logan continued thoughtfully, 'but our numbers are limited. Right now, we don't have more than a thousand male boarmen, many of whom are elderly or unfit for battle. Five hundred boar cavalry is the best we can manage for now.'
He sighed, knowing they would have to wait for the population to grow before they could expand the boar cavalry further.
With that, the three parted ways. Kro and Lots headed back to the barracks while Logan spurred his loyal wolf, Fenrir, toward home. As he neared the tribal gate, he spotted something unusual; two Beastman guards and two boarmen guards standing tensely, eyes fixed on a small group of five orcs.
The strangers were clearly foreign to the tribe. Their guarded posture and unfamiliar faces set the guards on edge. Sensing something amiss, Logan urged Fenrir closer.
Before he could take two steps, one of the orcs; a Beastman, called out to him, 'Lord Logan, it's me!' His voice carried a mix of desperation and hope. 'It's me, Lord Logan!'
The sudden outburst startled the guards, who instantly barked at the Beastman to remain calm. The stranger's companions looked equally alarmed, worried they might have made a grave mistake.
Logan was taken aback for a moment. He scanned the Beastman's face, trying to place the voice that rang so familiarly in his ears. And then, it clicked, a flash of recognition lit up his eyes.
He motioned for Fenrir to move toward the group more quickly.
The four guards, realizing it was their chief, snapped to attention and saluted. 'Master Chief,' they greeted him respectfully.
'Do you remember me, Lord Logan?' the Beastman asked eagerly, stepping forward. There was an unmistakable excitement in his voice, though his movements were restrained by a cautious fox-man standing beside him.
Logan chuckled warmly. 'I remember you. Let's not stand out here. Come inside and we'll talk.'
The Beastman's face lit up, though he quickly fell in line as Logan led them past the gates. Behind him, the guards looked relieved, though still wary of the strange visitors.
As they entered the tribe, the Beastman continued to speak excitedly, but Logan had already pieced it together. This was none other than the large slave owner he had crossed paths with once before. What business he had here now remained to be seen; but one thing was certain: this unexpected encounter was only the beginning of a much larger story."