The morning sun was still low in the sky when Aldric stepped into the old castle library. It was quiet inside, and the air smelled of old paper. He had always liked this place. When he was younger, he spent hours here reading about history, farming, and strange inventions. The smell of the dust and the musty scent of ancient books had always comforted him. It felt like a place where secrets could be found.
Today, Aldric was reading through an old ledger. The pages were worn and faded. As he flipped through it, something caught his eye.
"Saltpeter…" he whispered, running his finger along a line of text. The entry talked about a cave near the eastern woods. It had once been used to collect saltpeter, for various uses like fertilizing the farming lands and making glass. But with the depletion of manpower, the mine had been abandoned.
Aldric sat back in his chair, absorbing the words. Saltpeter was one of the main ingredients in making gunpowder. People here might not understand its use, but he did. In his past life, Aldric had learned much about how to make weapons, and saltpeter was crucial to the process. If the cave still had saltpeter, it could be the key to building muskets that actually worked.
Aldric closed the ledger with a soft snap. His mind raced. If they could extract the saltpeter, they wouldn't have to rely on others to supply it. They could produce gunpowder themselves, which would make their muskets more effective and ensure they weren't at the mercy of any outside traders or enemies.
Originally, Aldric had planned to buy saltpeter from a neighboring territory. He had even considered making arrangements with the merchants to ensure a steady supply. But now, with the discovery of this abandoned mine, the need for outside supplies was no longer necessary. It was a rare stroke of fortune.
He stood and walked over to the window, gazing out over the sprawling grounds of the castle. The possibilities seemed endless. The muskets, the saltpeter, and the dwarves working in their new workshop—it was all coming together. This was the advantage they had been looking for.
Later that morning, Aldric called for Idgar. The older man came into the study holding his ledger, as always. Idgar was a constant presence at Aldric's side, his sharp mind and careful planning helping to keep the castle running smoothly.
"My lord," Idgar said, looking up from his ledger. "We've given the dwarves their space near the south wall. Recruitment is also going well. About fifty new men have signed up for training."
Aldric nodded, satisfied with the progress. "Good," he said. "But I've found something else in an old book that might be of interest."
Idgar raised an eyebrow but said nothing as Aldric handed him the open ledger. The older man squinted at the faded ink and ran his finger down the page until he reached the part about the cave.
"Saltpeter?" Idgar read aloud, his brow furrowing. "Isn't that the fertilizer used by farmers?"
"It's a kind of mineral," Aldric explained. "It can be used to make powder that explodes. That powder is what powers the muskets we're working on."
Idgar's eyes widened as he understood the significance. "You mean this stuff is used to make the weapons work?"
"Yes," Aldric confirmed. "If the cave still holds saltpeter, we can mine it and use it to produce our own gunpowder. We won't have to rely on anyone else."
Idgar thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That could be a great advantage."
Aldric watched the older man, waiting for his response.
"Do you want me to send someone to check the cave, my lord?" Idgar asked.
"Yes, but do it quietly," Aldric said, lowering his voice. "We don't want anyone else to know about this, at least not yet."
Idgar bowed his head. "Of course. I'll arrange for a few men to inspect the cave and gather information."
"Thank you, Idgar," Aldric said, his tone warm. As the older man left, Aldric couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This discovery could change everything.
Later that afternoon, Aldric made his way to the training grounds. The air was filled with the sounds of swords clashing and the rhythmic pounding of boots on the dirt. New recruits, many of them farmers or hunters, were busy with drills, while the older soldiers shouted instructions. The new recruits were eager to learn, but it was clear they still had a long way to go before they were battle-ready.
Ronald, one of Aldric's head knight, came over to him as he watched the scene unfold.
"They're trying hard," Ronald said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Most of them are farmers or hunters, but they want to learn."
Aldric nodded, his eyes scanning the recruits. "That's what matters. We'll train them for two months. After that, they'll be part of the new army."
Ronald glanced at the recruits, then looked back at Aldric. "And what about the muskets? Will they be ready by then?"
Aldric smiled. "Hopefully. The dwarves are working on them. Once the weapons are ready, we'll teach the soldiers how to use them."
Ronald nodded. "It's going to be different. They're used to swords and bows."
Aldric's expression turned serious. "I know. But this is the future. They'll learn."
Ronald didn't argue. He knew Aldric was right. The world was changing, and the old ways of fighting would soon be outclassed by the new weapons.
After a while, Aldric left the training grounds and made his way to the southern district of the city, where the dwarves were constructing their workshop. The air was thick with the smell of fresh-cut wood and the sounds of hammers striking nails. The workshop was starting to take shape, with the frame already standing tall.
Klow, the leader of the dwarves, spotted Aldric and hurried over. He was covered in soot and dirt from the day's work but grinned broadly when he saw his lord.
"My lord," Klow said, wiping his hands on a rag. "The building is coming along well. We should be finished in a few days."
Aldric smiled. "Good. Once it's done, I want your team to start working on the muskets right away."
Klow nodded eagerly. "We've been looking over your sketch. It's strange, but interesting. We'll figure it out."
"I'm sure you will," Aldric said. "If you need anything—tools, workers, or supplies—just let Idgar know."
"I will," Klow replied. "Thank you for trusting us with this project. We won't let you down."
Before the sun set, Idgar returned with news. He was out of breath but smiling.
"My lord," he said, bowing. "The men found the cave. The saltpeter is still there. It looks like there's a good amount of it."
Aldric's heart leapt. "That's excellent news. This will help us more than you know."
Idgar's smile widened. "Shall we begin extraction right away?"
Aldric paused, considering. "Yes, but keep it quiet. No need to cause a stir."
"Understood," Idgar said, giving a respectful bow. "I'll handle it immediately."
As the evening grew darker, Aldric stood on the balcony of the castle, looking out over the city. The lights of the training grounds and the dwarves' workshop flickered in the distance. The city was alive with progress, with movement and change. There was so much to do, but Aldric felt a sense of purpose.
Things were finally starting to come together. The muskets, the saltpeter, the new recruits it was all part of something bigger. Windsor County was on the brink of transformation, and Aldric would be at the center of it all. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, Aldric felt confident that they could succeed.