Arrangement

"How many people are left in the tribe?"

Inside the wooden house at the center of the camp, Samwell, seated at the head, asked the question.

Below him were gathered the Tiger Tooth Tribe's new chieftain, shaman, and a number of tribal elders.

"My lord, there are still more than 2,300 people in the tribe, but most of them are women, elders, and children."

Samwell naturally understood Chiman's unspoken meaning and asked:

"Are you short on food?"

"There is enough food for now, but with so few able-bodied adults, the amount of game we can bring in will likely decrease drastically in the future... It probably will not be long before we run short of food."

Samwell rubbed the chair's backrest. He naturally knew that most of the Tiger Tooth Tribe's able-bodied adults had either died at Eagle's Beak or become his prisoners.

He certainly did not want to release those prisoners. After all, he still needed them to build up his territory.

But neither could he simply ignore the women, children, and elderly of the Tiger Tooth Tribe.

Whether out of humanitarian concern or the practical need to win people's hearts, Samwell had to settle these people properly.

The problem was that the money and food in his hands made supporting so many people rather difficult.

Yet Samwell was not overly worried.

After all, he had just won such a major battle. Was it really too much to use that victory to ask his investors for more funding?

Compared with those entrepreneurs who dared ask for money with nothing but a PPT, Samwell considered himself an exceptionally honest man.

After pondering for a while, Samwell said:

"Chiman, count the number of elders over sixty and children under ten in the camp who have no one to care for them. Also include the disabled, sick, and others unable to care for themselves. I will establish an Orphanage on Eagle's Beak to care for them all together. Of course, entering the Orphanage will be voluntary. Those with family members to care for them need not go."

"You truly are a benevolent lord!"

Chiman and the elders all bowed deeply, speaking with genuine sincerity.

Samwell continued:

"As for the women in the camp, if they are willing, they may marry the warriors under my command who have not yet taken wives. For every tribal woman who marries onto Eagle's Beak, I will grant one Silver Stag as a wedding gift."

"Thank you, Lord Caesar!" Chiman bowed again. "To marry those powerful warriors under your command would be the greatest honor for the women of the Tiger Tooth Tribe!"

"Now that you have become my subjects, do not use the name Tiger Tooth Tribe any longer. From now on, this place will be called Tiger Tooth Village. Chiman, I appoint you village chief, responsible for managing this village for me."

Chiman hurried before Samwell and knelt respectfully.

"It is my honor."

Samwell helped him up and said:

"Considering that Tiger Tooth Village has just endured a great battle, I will exempt you from taxes for three months. However, should war come, Tiger Tooth Village must answer my call to arms."

"Yes, my lord. It is our honor to fight for you!"

"Chiman, write to the other nearby Wildling tribes in my name. Tell their leaders that I am likewise willing to accept them as my subjects, under the same terms once offered to the Tiger Tooth Tribe."

"Yes, my lord."

In truth, Samwell did not hold much hope for the allegiance of the other Wildling tribes. The Tiger Tooth Tribe had submitted because of Chiman, an insider who had led the way. The other tribal leaders certainly would not want another lord over their heads, nor would they wish to pay another tax.

Still, he had to make the gesture first.

He could slowly conquer those Wildling tribes in the future. His immediate priority was to absorb the Tiger Tooth Tribe.

Afterward, Samwell put on a people-friendly manner and asked the elders present for their opinions.

These elders were sensible people. Naturally, they did not dare seize the chance to make excessive demands and risk angering their lord, so they only raised a few trivial suggestions.

To display his benevolent side, Samwell granted all their small requests.

Only the suggestion raised by the tribal shaman, Saru, made Samwell frown.

The Tiger Tooth Tribe had originally worshipped the so-called God of the Mountain. Now that they had become Samwell's subjects, Saru wanted to know whether all the tribespeople should convert to the Faith of the Seven.

Samwell naturally knew that matters of faith had to be handled cautiously, lest they easily cause unrest.

The Wildling tribes living in the Red Mountains in fact held varying beliefs. Some worshipped the Seven, some followed the Old Gods, and others worshipped all sorts of strange deities, such as the Tiger Tooth Tribe's God of the Mountain.

If he forcibly made them all convert to the Faith of the Seven, not only might Tiger Tooth Village run into trouble, but the other Wildling tribes would likely become even more resistant to Samwell upon hearing of it.

But on Westeros, apart from The North, the Faith of the Seven was the official religion. If the Faith learned that Samwell's subjects worshipped all kinds of strange gods, it would likely send someone to question him.

After thinking for a moment, Samwell said:

"My subjects have the right to freedom of belief. If they are willing to convert, the Seven will naturally open Their embrace to them. If they are unwilling, they may retain their original faith."

After weighing the pros and cons, Samwell ultimately decided not to give a damn about the Faith of the Seven.

After all, strengthening himself was the urgent priority. He certainly did not want to drive the Wildlings in the mountains into opposition over matters of faith.

As for the Faith of the Seven coming to question him... bluntly speaking, how many troops did they even have?

After the Faith Militant had been forcibly disbanded by Maegor I, the Faith of the Seven had lost the ability to interfere in a lord's affairs through force.

If they merely sent septons to hold him accountable, Samwell had plenty of ways to deal with them.

He could just stall for time. Once he possessed sufficient strength, he would naturally have the confidence to bargain with the Faith of the Seven.

The nobles of The North still stubbornly worshipped the Old Gods, did they not? Did the Faith of the Seven dare send people to burn the Weirwoods in their homes?

"You truly are a benevolent lord," the shaman Saru said respectfully.

Just when Samwell thought the man was finished, Saru unexpectedly spoke again:

"My lord, may I recommend a boy to become your squire?"

Samwell frowned again, displeased. He felt that this old man did not know his place, trying to slip someone into his entourage.

Seeing that Samwell had misunderstood him, Saru hurriedly added:

"My lord, he is a descendant of the chieftain's line. If you would accept him as your squire, it would be an honor for every person of the Tiger Tooth Tribe."

"A descendant of the old chieftain?" Samwell looked at Chiman. "Do you have other brothers?"

Before Chiman could speak, Saru explained:

"No, I mean the old chieftain's grandson, Katu."

Samwell understood at once. The look he gave Saru suddenly became particularly meaningful. "Is he Chika's son or Chimu's?"

"He is Chika's son, my lord."

"Bring him here for me to see."

Saru left the wooden house, found a boy of thirteen or fourteen, and took his hand.

"Katu, you will become the lord's squire. From now on, you will lead his horse, carry his lance, clean his armor, and obey all his orders. Do you understand?"

But Katu kept shaking his head and said dully:

"But I do not want to become his squire. He killed my father!"

"He killed your father on the battlefield, openly and honorably. You should not hate him for that. Instead, you should learn from his valor. Besides, if you remain here, you may die without anyone ever knowing why."

"Why?"

"Do you know how your grandfather died?"

"Did Grandfather not die of illness?"

"No. Chiman smothered him to death!"

Katu's mouth fell open, clearly stunned by the revelation.

Then he shouted, "Then why did you not tell everyone?"

Saru pressed a finger to his lips, signaling for him to lower his voice, and said helplessly:

"Even if I told the truth, how many people would believe it? It would only plunge the Tiger Tooth Tribe into greater turmoil."

After that, Saru said no more and pulled Katu back into the wooden house.

"My lord, this is Katu."

Seeing Katu standing there blankly, lost in thought, Saru quietly gave him a push on the back.

Katu secretly glanced at his uncle Chiman, then quickly looked away. He stepped forward and knelt before Samwell.

"Honored lord, please allow me to become your squire."

Samwell looked at Chiman, only to see the man staring expressionlessly at the ground, as though he had no concern whatsoever for the scene before him.

"You may."