...

"The four falconets are secure, Lord Konrad." Dieter reported, his breath showing in the cold air. "Along with fifty cast-iron shells and the black powder."

Konrad checked his ledger, "And the wheel-lock parts for the Bavarian trade?"

"Packed and hidden beneath the raw wool." Dieter confirmed. "Merchant Vesper is looked for before noon."

Konrad nodded. The amount of powder and iron leaving the estate was a danger, but the silver was needed. He needed the coin to swell his harvests and pay his growing watch.

He turned to the second group of men in the yard.

These were thirty men Konrad had called from the nearby villages... men who had fought in mercenary bands across the Empire, but had come home broken, unpaid, or sick of the endless wars.

They were a rough, hard bunch, standing loosely, clutching the short-barreled wheel-lock pistols Konrad had given them.

"Form a line!" Konrad ordered.

The swords-for-hire slowly shuffled into a straight line, their eyes fixed on the young lord.

They had heard the tales of the magic forge and the broken Württemberg knights, but they were still wary of a lord who armed commoners with such costly weapons.

"You are now the sworn watch of these lands. You will walk the bounds, you will guard the fires, and you will ensure no unknown man enters or leaves this valley!" Konrad began, walking slowly down the line.

He stopped before a large man missing half an ear. "You have used matchlocks before. What is their greatest weakness?"

The man grunted. "The burning match cord. It dies in the rain, and it glows in the dark. It tells the foe exactly where you stand."

"True!" Konrad stated. He pointed to the wheel-lock pistol the man held. "This lock removes that weakness. It uses a struck spark, caring nothing for the weather. Yet, the spring within is easily fouled by powder soot. If you do not clean the lock after every five shots, it will jam, and you will die."

Leaving the new watch to drill, Konrad returned to the keep. The feud with Württemberg was a ticking clock.

Lady Isolde and her knights had been ransomed back, but Konrad knew she would not forget her shame.

He entered the hall, meaning to read the harvest tally with Elise. But the hall was empty, save for one figure at the long table.

It was Lady Katarina of Bavaria. She had stayed long, claiming she must see to the coal, but Konrad guessed she was marking his strength.

"The morning drills seem sharp, Lord Konrad~" Katarina noted without looking up. "Though arming commoners with wheel-locks is a fearful thing to the Emperor’s Diet."

"I am simply guarding my own." Konrad replied, taking a seat opposite her.

Katarina finally looked up, "My father’s spies report movement in the north. The Swabian League gathers a host near Ulm. They march to crush the peasant uprisings."

Konrad’s mind instantly linked the truths. "And my lands sit directly upon their southern road..."

"Exactly." Katarina confirmed. "They will use the peasant war as a cloak to sweep through this valley and seize your forge."

"My watch grows stronger..." Konrad stated, "And the four falconets will be ready within the week."

Katarina stared at him, "You need an oath of swords."

"I have a pact with Bavaria." Konrad reminded her.

"A pact of trade..." Katarina corrected sharply. "My father will not march Bavarian troops into open war with the Swabian League over a single forge. The ruin would be too great."

Her measure was true. Bavaria wanted the weapons, but they would not bleed for them.

The two of them heard the door open. It was Elise, holding a crumpled piece of papyrus parchment. "Konrad... a rider just came from the south. He brought a letter from... from Uncle Lothar."

Konrad stood, "What does he write?"

Elise handed him the parchment, "He... he is with the Swabian League, Konrad... He says they march with three thousand men."

Katarina stood, her eyes reading the letter over Konrad’s shoulder. "Three thousand men..." she breathed.

"They must use the main roads to drag their cannons and food. They will think my walls are my only shield..." Konrad stated.

He turned to Katarina, "Lady Katarina, I need twenty barrels of brimstone, and I need them delivered to the northern pass within three days!"

Katarina frowned, "Brimstone? For black powder? You cannot make enough powder to break three thousand men."

"I am not making powder. If they mean to march three thousand men through the narrow northern pass, I will ensure they breathe only death before they reach my walls." Konrad replied.

Katarina stared at the young lord, "I will send for the carts, Lord Konrad." Katarina promised.

As she turned to leave the hall, Konrad looked back down at the map.