Chapter Thirty Seven
The tribe was able to adjust to their new routine in the city with minimal difficulty, and the days passed quickly. I had been keeping watch, so when Gadu returned with the northern people I was expecting them. Though their journey took longer, they actually traveled much faster than we had, since they had no animals, farm implements or supplies to carry. They arrived with little more than the clothes they wore, carrying their meager possessions in furs on their backs.
The Northerners which had been living in the village and those that had remained in the city when Gadu went north were already living in their new homes. They had prepared the houses where the rest of their tribe would live so the newcomers to the city were able to move into their homes immediately, and their transition was eased by the familiarity of those in their tribe that had been living with us for the past five months.
The differences were stark between the Northerners that had been living with us, and those that arrived that day with their eyes wide and their mouths hanging open in surprise. Those that had been with us were now so similar in appearance to our tribe that you could not pick them out in a crowd.
On the other hand, the newcomers were almost frightening in their appearance. Clothed in furs, their faces gaunt and drawn, they had a hungry, feral appearance that made them look much less human than us. It was times like this when I realized how important the civilization that I had brought to these people really was.
With Gadu’s leadership and the help of those that had been living with us, moving into their homes went as smoothly as it possibly could. I made sure to find Aron later that day to pass on my respects to him as the past leader of his tribe, and to make sure the shift to my leadership remained unquestioned. As we talked, I was once again impressed with his quick mind, while his shifty, greedy eyes constantly reminded me of his untrustworthiness.
“Welcome Aron, I am glad you made it here safely. Did you encounter any problems along the way? How did your tribe fair in the last months while we built the city?”
“Our daily lives went as they always have, though it was a little more difficult to get the meat we needed since some of our strongest hunters were here playing in the dirt. But we made it through alive, and now here we are in the city of kings!” he finished emphatically, watching closely to see my reaction to his sarcastic conclusion.
I ignored his tone of voice, but I answered him honestly and firmly, looking him straight in the eye while I spoke. “Life will be very good here for your people. They will live well, and they will grow strong and healthy... as long as everyone remembers that there is only one king in this city.”
He was visibly surprised by my answer, perhaps expecting me to be more subtle in my statement about my position. But I saw no reasons to be subtle any longer. I had been working towards this goal for over seven years, and now that I had finally arrived in the position of power I deserved I would not be weak.
He recovered quickly and asked with the hint of sarcasm still in his voice, “And how should your people address you, my king?”
“Cain will be fine, I need no title. The title a man holds means nothing; the power he wields means everything.”
“I agree. In my many years of life I have seen that it is often easy to take power, but difficult to hold it. I have been the only leader of my tribe for years uncounted, and this is not by accident.”
“I understand, but you must understand that your time is now over, and should you not agree with me you will not have a chance to enjoy the good life in this city. We are now one tribe, and the people from your tribe that have been with us understand this and are happy with their new lives. I do not think they would be willing to go back to their old ways,” I paused and again looked in his shifty eyes, “or their old leadership.”
“Perhaps you are correct Cain, but then again one never knows what the future will bring.” With this last statement he turned, and calling out a greeting to a member of his tribe that had been in the city, he left me.
I was pleased with our conversation. I had made my position absolutely clear to Aron, and if there was any treachery on his part I had no doubt what my swift response would be. I almost hoped he would try to rebel against my leadership, as his death would serve to prove a point to any who thought they could oppose me. From this point on, I was in complete control.