The morning air was still as Aldric stepped into the dwarves' workshop. Sunlight streamed in through the high windows, casting long lines across the dusty floor. It had rained lightly the night before, and the scent of damp wood and metal filled the space.
Klow stood near a long workbench, surrounded by his team. Tools clinked softly, and quiet murmurs passed between the dwarves as they inspected a long, slender object lying carefully atop a folded cloth. Aldric approached, his boots echoing on the stone floor.
Klow looked up, a grin spreading beneath his soot-streaked beard. "My lord, we have something to show you."
Aldric's eyes narrowed with curiosity as he stepped closer. "Is that it?"
"It is the first musket," Klow confirmed. "Took us four days to forge the barrel just right. We used iron from the mines north of the hills. The stock is oak, shaped to rest against the shoulder. It is not perfect, but it is strong, and the barrel is straight."
Aldric reached out and ran his hand over the weapon. It was rough in places, the craftsmanship still raw, but it was unmistakably a firearm. The barrel was long and narrow. A simple wooden trigger had been fitted beneath, and a flint mechanism sat atop the stock.
"This is good work," Aldric said, his voice calm but impressed. "Very good work."
Klow nodded with pride. "We followed your sketches closely. Took some liberties where we had to. We are still working out the details of the firing mechanism, but it strikes well enough."
"And it can shoot?"
"It can," Klow replied. "We loaded a small charge of powder and a lead ball. Just waiting for your word."
Aldric turned to the others in the workshop. All the dwarves had stopped working. Their eyes were on him.
"Then let us test it," Aldric said.
They moved to the outer yard behind the workshop. The area had been cleared for exactly this purpose. A wooden post had been set up in the distance, with a stack of hay bales behind it to catch stray shots. The sky was clear now, the sun high above the trees, and a light wind stirred the grass.
Klow carried the musket carefully, cradling it as though it were a fragile artifact. He handed it to Aldric, who took it with a steady grip.
"We used just enough powder for a single shot," Klow explained. "It should not be too loud. But be ready."
Aldric nodded. He checked the flint, then raised the musket to his shoulder. It felt heavier than he originally thought a musket would be, and the balance was slightly off but it was close enough. He took a breath and aimed at the post.
A moment passed.
Then he squeezed the trigger.
There was a sharp crack, a burst of white smoke, and the musket kicked back against his shoulder. The lead ball struck the post with a dull thud, splintering the wood. Some of the dwarves flinched. Others broke into cheers.
Klow stepped forward, his eyes wide. "It worked. By the stone, it actually worked."
Aldric lowered the musket, smoke still drifting from the barrel. "It is rough, but it fires. That is what matters."
"We will smooth the barrel more, tighten the fit of the ball, improve the balance," Klow said quickly, already thinking ahead. "This is just the start."
Aldric handed the musket back to him. "How many can you build per day, I want you to focus more on making them."
Klow nodded. "We will need more lead for the balls and better wood for the stocks, I estimate we can make upto 20 muskets a day."
"I will speak with Idgar," Aldric said. "Make a list of what you need."
As the dwarves returned to the workshop, still buzzing with excitement, Aldric made his way back toward the castle. He found Idgar in the council chamber, going through scrolls.
Idgar looked up as Aldric entered. "Something happen, my lord?"
"We tested the first musket," Aldric said. "It worked."
Idgar sat back in his chair, blinking. "That is... remarkable. Were there any problems?"
"None that we did not expect. The barrel will need refining, and the mechanism is simple, but it fires. We are one step closer."
Idgar opened his ledger. "What do they need?"
"More lead for the shot. Oak or walnut for better stocks. And more space to continue work."
"I will speak with the merchants," Idgar replied, already scribbling notes. "And we will set aside a second building near the workshop."
Aldric nodded. "Good. We will need everything to move quickly now."
He left Idgar to his work and walked once more to the fields where the recruits trained. Ronald was there, as always, overseeing drills.
The older knight spotted Aldric and came over. "You look pleased, my lord."
Aldric's expression was calm but firm. "The first musket fired true."
Ronald raised his eyebrows. "So it begins."
"Yes. Have a few of the more disciplined recruits set aside preferably around 500 . We will train them separately once the weapons are ready."
"I will see to it."
They stood in silence for a moment, watching the soldiers go through their drills. The wooden weapons would soon be replaced by something far more dangerous.
Later that evening, Aldric sat by the fire in the castle's study. He held one of the musket balls in his hand a small, smooth piece of lead. Something so simple, yet with the right force, capable of changing the battlefield.
"We are growing at a steady speed, it won't take long before we can take a counter against pirates." Thought Aldric as they were one of the reason the county could not develop in it's full extend and still posed a significant threat to the territory.
They were still far from ready. The muskets needed refining, the powder had to be made in large quantities, and the men needed to be trained from the ground up. But the path was clear now.
The first musket had fired. The future was no longer just an idea. It was real.