Chapter 81: Iron Ore and Quartz Sand

Eddard gave instructions to Jacks, a soldier of the Winterfell household guard.

"This kind of white stone is called quartz. If you pile it together, I will find craftsmen to process it into quartz sand."

The mountain was truly a treasure trove; quartz could even be dug out of the iron mine. Currently, the iron ore extracted from this mine was broken down directly by craftsmen with iron hammers, and the refined iron was transported to Winterfell. Eddard felt that a quarry could be built here in the future to crush and refine the quartz into quartz sand, then transport it to Winterfell.

However, this place was quite far from Winterfell, and transportation costs were an issue.

While passing by Long Lake, Eddard noticed that there was also quartz sand along the shores of Long Lake, as well as by many small rivers and ponds, and it had also been discovered in the upper reaches of the White Knife.

The tributaries of the White Knife were closer to Winterfell, and the Wolfswood near Winterfell also had many small rivers; perhaps Eddard could collect quartz sand from there.

Helen Pyke toyed with a piece of quartz in her hand. "Lord Eddard, I have seen this white stone on many seashores. What is the use of it?"

Eddard pointed to the Myrish lens at Helen Pyke's waist, which the female pirate often used to observe enemy movements at sea. "When Myrish lenses are manufactured, this stone is needed. Glass requires it as well."

Helen Pyke clicked her tongue in wonder. "Myrish lenses and glass are actually made of stone?"

Domeric said, "I have heard that the glass craftsmanship of Myr is popular throughout the Seven Kingdoms and the Nine Free Cities. The glass panes they manufacture are expensive works of art, with a price equal to their weight in gold."

Helen Pyke widened her eyes. "Glass panes are that expensive?"

"Ordinary glass is, of course, not that expensive. Glass panes, like Myrish carpets and Norvos tapestries, are considered works of art. Art is used by royalty, nobility, and wealthy merchants, so the price is naturally high," Eddard explained.

Jon Snow added, "Our glass gardens in Winterfell can grow and harvest vegetables even in the dead of winter. During the long winters that last for years, the glass gardens are Winterfell's vegetable basket."

Helen Pyke pondered for a long while. "If I had known, I would have plundered more Myrish ships when I was a pirate in the Stepstones. I would have taken those Myrish glass craftsmen as bondmen."

"In fact, many glass craftsmen in Myr are slaves," Eddard said. "Aside from having no freedom, these glass craftsmen are treated quite well; their food and living conditions are decent, as their masters rely on their skills to make money."

Helen Pyke was unimpressed. "What is the point of living without even having freedom?"

Domeric said, "I have read some books on Myrish craftsmanship, which state that many slave artisans in Myr live in their masters' mansions and enjoy feasts of larks and candied fruits. However, their wages are very low, and many craftsmen work their entire lives just to earn enough to buy their freedom. Once they are old and have no utility, their masters will 'generously' pardon them and grant them freedom, just to drive the slaves out of their homes."

Myr is located on the shores of the Myr Sea, east of the Stepstones, where the sun is bright and the climate is warm. Compared to Myr, Winterfell is clearly a place of bitter cold. Eddard did not know if Klar could help him find glass craftsmen. Finding free men would likely be difficult, but there was hope for finding slave glass craftsmen; after all, Winterfell could offer slave artisans the status of free men and a large sum of money.

Eddard hoped that his financial advisor Klar had already hired Myrish glass craftsmen for him. When that time came, Winterfell could produce its own glass, expand the glass farms in the Winter Town, and be able to eat vegetables and grain grown in the glass farms during the cold winter.

The glass farms, like the food storage plan for The Wall, were an important part of Eddard's preparations for the Long Night. Fishing boats from the North delivered seafood and fish catches from the Bay of Ice, the Shivering Sea, and Seal Bay to be stored at Green Guard, Westbridge, Nightfort, and other locations along The Wall, while the glass farms allowed Winterfell to grow grain and vegetables in winter.

Eddard and his attendants took a tour of the iron ore field.

Helen Pyke said, "We have plenty of iron ore in the Iron Islands as well; almost every island has iron mines, and those who mine are almost all bondmen. True Ironborn choose to set sail, conquering the waves and the tides."

Theon was unimpressed. "Only men of the Iron Islands have the right to speak of conquest. An Iron Bitch like you would be seen as an anomaly in our homeland; what kind of warrior are you pretending to be?"

Helen Pyke revealed a wicked smile. "Theon, it is true that I am a woman, but I have defeated many men at sea, and I have plenty of Ironborn under my command willing to die for me. Have you ever been a captain? Have you ever managed Ironborn sailors? You were still a child when you left the Iron Islands; what do you know about the Iron Islands?"

Theon was somewhat angry. "I am the Heir to the Iron Islands. One day, I will inherit the Seastone Chair from my father, Lord Balon, and become the leader of the Ironborn raiders. Iron Bitch, you had better remember that."

Helen Pyke bowed mockingly. "Your Highness, I would have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it—you are the son of Lord Balon."

Jon Snow and Domeric Bolton both laughed. Recently, Helen Pyke had gradually become close with Eddard's bastard and his wards. Although Helen Pyke often bickered with Theon, most of the time, the two got along well.

When Theon looked at the plump and beautiful Helen Pyke, his eyes were always hungry. Domeric Bolton, though gentle and refined, could not help but steal glances at Helen Pyke's graceful waist and hips. Jon was still young, and he always deliberately avoided Helen Pyke's gaze, while Helen Pyke would explicitly stroke Jon, calling him a "pure fledgling."

Helen Pyke was several years older than Theon and Domeric, and even older than Jon. To the young men, Helen Pyke was undoubtedly a mature woman full of charm.

They passed by a small tavern, and Eddard and his attendants went inside to dine. When the tavern owner saw the Ice-River Wolf Emblem of Eddard, he immediately welcomed them with enthusiasm.

"Are you Duke Eddard? When the army of Winterfell returned in triumph, they passed by my door as well. Lord Eddard, you have protected the people of the North and defeated the Rockborn and the Ironborn Pirates; you are the hero of the North."

The tavern owner brought out boar meat and ale to treat Eddard. Eddard asked, "Is business good?"

"Business is alright," the tavern owner lowered his voice. "It's just that prices are rising, especially for salt. It used to be three copper coins a bag, but now it costs fifteen. Lord Eddard, I heard that the Salt Farming Plan you implemented produces a lot of salt every day, so why has the price of salt risen instead?"

Financial advisor Klar had reminded Eddard many times that the Salt Farming Plan lacked oversight, which would lead to merchants colluding with coastal Northern lords to hoard goods and drive up prices; the rise in salt prices was inevitable. Eddard had long anticipated this, and this was exactly part of the plan.

Eddard said sternly, "Someone must be using the Salt Farming Plan to cause trouble. Rest assured, I will deal with the salt farming matters once I return to Winterfell, and the price of salt will return to normal."

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(End of chapter)