As Logan watched Tyton and Cadia leave, their excitement still lingering in the air, he decided it was time to visit Jane's house. After all, as her future son-in-law, it was not only a gesture of affection but also one of courtesy. A visit was long overdue.
He had barely taken a few steps toward the door when someone appeared, blocking his way.
It was Abate.
Logan blinked in surprise before recognition dawned on him. Right, Abate; his recruitment minister. The respectful expression on Abate's face reminded him of how crucial this man had been to the tribe's expansion efforts.
"Ah, Abate," Logan said with a slight chuckle, masking his brief moment of awkwardness. "Come in, sit down."
"Yes, Chief," Abate replied, taking a seat as he exhaled, clearly relieved that the Chief had not forgotten him. For the past two months, Abate had worked tirelessly, recruiting capable fighters and skilled individuals for the Silver Mane Tribe. His dedication was unwavering, and he had much to report.
At first, he hadn't realized that Logan had come to Canyon City. It wasn't until word spread about a super caravan stationed near the Kasa Hotel that he put the pieces together. His Chief was here. Without wasting time, he had come to give his report personally.
"So," Logan leaned forward with a friendly smile, "what good news do you bring?"
Without a word, Abate reached into his pack, pulling out a rolled piece of animal skin. With careful hands, he handed it to Logan, his expression brimming with pride.
Logan unrolled the animal skin and glanced at the list. His eyes widened almost instantly. "This many?" he muttered under his breath, surprised by the sheer number of names listed there, detailed, with levels and races carefully noted.
His gaze trailed down the list until something caught his eye. "Wait... a seventh-rank magician? And... a level-six elephant man?"
Abate watched, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his lips as Logan scanned the first two names on the list.
"Hoyle Fudley!" Logan read aloud. "An orc, and a seventh-rank magician, no less!"
Then his eyes moved to the next name. "Rey, the elephant man... a level-six fighter." Logan couldn't hide his astonishment.
"An elephant man?" he repeated, marveling. Elephant men were rare, and a level-six fighter among them was even more impressive. And it wasn't just these two, there were five more level-six fighters, and dozens of level-five warriors listed as well.
Logan was speechless for a moment, his eyes trailing over the rest of the list. The standards for recruitment had been high; only level-five and level-six fighters were being actively sought. The tribe already had plenty of fighters below level five, so those weren't considered for direct hire, though they were welcome to join the ranks.
"A half-orc, an elephant man... even an elephant man," Logan muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
Orcs and their descendants were not unusual, but half-orcs; those born of mixed orc and non-orc parentage, were a different story. Some half-orcs looked almost indistinguishable from full-blooded orcs, and as long as their features didn't give them away, they could move freely within orc society. But for those whose differences were more pronounced, life was cruel.
They faced discrimination from all sides; by orcs, by their non-orc relatives, and even by other races.
Abate had truly outdone himself. The diversity and strength of the recruits were remarkable.
"Yes, Chief!" Abate said, before rising and heading out to carry out the orders.
As Abate left, Logan couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement. An elephant man... Even the possibility was enough to ignite a sense of anticipation. His tribe was growing stronger by the day, and with such powerful individuals on the horizon, the future looked brighter than ever.
Logan knew he couldn't stay in Canyon City much longer. The famine back home was worsening, and time was slipping away. He still had grand ambitions; like Adik before him, Logan wanted to unite and eventually annex all the neighboring tribes. But before any of that could happen, he needed to take charge of the situation himself.
His stay in the city would be short, just a couple more days, and then he would return to lead his people through the crisis.
"Yes, Chief!" Abate nodded, standing at attention.
Logan smiled warmly, clearly pleased with the progress Abate had made. "You've done well, Abate. Is there any reward you'd like?" he asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice.
Abate had been pulled from the tribe, originally serving as a political officer under Logan' uncle, Begon. It was clear why Logan had chosen him; Abate was both trustworthy and incredibly efficient, qualities that had proven invaluable as he coordinated the massive recruitment effort in Canyon City.
Now, seeing how successful Abate had been, especially with the surprise of securing a seventh-level warrior and the potential elephant man recruit; Logan was impressed.
"My Lord Chief, I am simply a member of the tribe. It is my duty to work hard and make the tribe strong. I need no other reward," Abate replied, his voice steady and sincere.
Logan studied him for a moment, gauging the truth behind his words. He didn't entirely believe it, but he appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. "Well said," Logan replied, nodding approvingly. "I'll remember your contribution. You'll be rewarded when we return to the tribe."
"Thank you, Chief!" Abate grinned, understanding the unspoken promise behind those words. What he had said wasn't entirely false; he did genuinely care for the tribe's prosperity. He had been born into the Silver Mane Tribe, and seeing it grow stronger under Logan gave him a sense of pride and hope for the future.
But as for not seeking any reward? That part was the half-truth. He knew that if he could climb the ranks, he would be in an even better position to serve the tribe. Power could lead to more opportunities to help his people and of course, a bit of personal benefit didn't hurt.
After a brief, friendly chat, Abate excused himself and left.
Logan checked the time. With the evening setting in, it was the perfect moment to head to Jane's house, as planned. He grabbed a few small gifts tokens of his respect and set off.
They say that when a mother-in-law meets her son-in-law, it's like gaining another son. That certainly seemed to be the case when he arrived. He was welcomed with open arms, and the evening was filled with laughter, good food, and drinks. Jane's family treated him as one of their own, and Logan enjoyed the warmth of their company.
After dinner, the night deepened, and Logan found himself in Jane's room. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and shyness.
"Hate it," she murmured playfully, casting her eyes down as she spoke. "You're not planning on going home tonight, are you?"
Logan leaned against the doorway, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Do you want me to go back?"
Jane's blush deepened, but she couldn't help but giggle softly. "If you want to go, then go," she teased back. "But if you don't want to... well... hehehe!"
Her shy laughter filled the room, and Logan grinned as he stepped closer, the night stretching out before them in shared anticipation.