A week had passed since Ragnar's strategy meeting with Leif the Elder and Bishop Aethelwold.
During this time, Leif's R&D department had fully retooled a small-scale production line for the 'Fire-Lance' - a primitive matchlock firearm intended to be licensed to the Caliphate.
His contractors, who were assigned to demonstrate the effectiveness of the weapons, had spent some time getting accustomed to the slow-burning match cords and the measuring of powder, but for the most part, the loading procedure was standardized.
As such, Vizier Al-Hakam and Ragnar were now standing on the observation deck of the Iron Works Testing Range.
In the center of the muddy field, several wooden posts were set up, draped in heavy Frankish chainmail and padded gambesons to represent the elite cavalry of the Carolingian Empire... the potential rivals of the Caliphate.
