Chapter Six

Soft lips, a eager tongue and a roaming hand was how I was a wakened in the morning. I moved to pull the owner of these thing to me but I wasn't quick enough. Cracking an eye open, I see Emi, with a grin on the her face. "None of that, your majesty. You have an early appointment, remember. If we don't get started you'll be late." She begins laying out clothes for me to put on, ending with a knee length short sleeved dress. Helping me quickly dress, she sits me in the only chair in the room and proceed to brush my hair.

"You should take better care of your hair, Rufina, this is a mess."

"Yes, mom, thank you, mom." I grumbled, having been aroused then cut off.

She gently cuffs my ear. "No sass from you missy."

I giggled, then relaxed, remembering having my hair brushed as a little girl by abuela Mendez. It did feel good, oh so good. As the thirty something Rosa, I wore my hair in a bob, a few finger strokes and I was good to go. I had no time for hair care, as I was in constant motion.

When she had finished brushing my hair, she came around in front of me,"Much better, can't have my Queen appearing all scruffy in front of the people. Now lets go do some T'ai Chi."

Slipping on my slippers I groused, "For someone so reluctant you sure are gung-ho all of a sudden."

She stopped, facing me, "It's time with you."

I quickly step up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Yes, lets do some T'ai Chi." Taking her hand, I lead the way down to the garden, with a quick stop to tell Tilly we would be ready for breakfast in 40 minutes.

We take our shoes and stocking off then take the positions we were in yesterday. I had to give her a little nudge to get her in the proper stance to start off but she remembered all the forms. I then showed her a couple of new ones, which we did a few times to get familiar with them.

We don our foot wear then head back inside for breakfast. When we arrive at the kitchen, Tilly was just putting the finishing touches on the third plate of egg on toast. Pointing to a chair she indicates I was to sit then places the plate in front of me. Emi sat next to me and Tilly passes her a plate before sitting down herself. Besides the eggs on toast she had cored and slice an apple apiece for us.

We talk about what to have for dinner and supper, what we will be doing today and speculating on the merchants arrival. Noticing Tilly's footwear I ask if she got them locally? Yes, from one of the cobblers. Ah, good. I then ask where my clothes come from? Some are imported and some local, the simple linen items being local, along with some of the knitted wool items. I asked Tilly if there was someone that could make me some low stockings, the tops even or just above the tops of my slippers? She was sure there was, she would ask around. When she said that I asked her how much time she got for herself? She says that in the afternoon, she usually takes an hour to go to town to pickup thing she needs and meet with her friends. This is when Aden and the two potters arrive so I have to greet them. I remind Emi about the razor, just to be sure.

"Your majesty, these are misters Harry and Willis, the potters you asked to meet with." They both bow.

"Good morning, gentlemen. I have called you here because I need your help with a project." As I am saying this I lead them to the study, seating them in front of the desk. Going around behind the desk, I place one of the sketches I made between them, so they can both see it. "This is a cooler, used to keep food fresh longer. It consists of two clay pots nested together, with wet sand between them. The outer large pot is unglazed, but the inner one could be glazed on the inside. The dimension of the inner pot should be," I hold my hands about 16 inches apart," and so deep," my hands are now 24 inches apart. The outer pot would be sized to so there is this much space all the way around," I hold my fingers about 2 inches a part.

"What I want from you is an estimate of cost for one of these, also an estimate for ten and fifty. Questions?"

"Is there a hole in the bottom like a planting pot?" one of them asks.

"No, no hole. A hole would let the water drain away. Any more questions? ... No, on to the next one then." I then lay the sketches for the piping down where they can see them.

"Those sketches are water drain pipe. Each of these straight pieces is this long," I hold up my arm, fingers in a semi curled fist, pointing from elbow to tip of my middle finger, "and this diameter at the small end. The large end is sized so the small end fits inside with a small amount of room. The small end should go into the large end this far," my fingers at 2 inches, "when joined together, if you were to look in the pipe you should able to see a groove but not a ridge at the joint. These should be glazed from here to here on the outside, and here to here on the inside." The only places unglazed were the inside of the bell and the out side of the small end so to have better surface to seal against. "Any questions? ... No, good."

Laying down the next sketch, "This section, a curved piece, having the same diameter, bell shape and small end diameter as the straight pipe, the curve here has a radius of this," I hold up my hands," with straight ends."

"This next one is a combination of the two, a straight piece added to a curved or a curved added to the straight piece. The axis of the bell on the curve and the straight piece should be a right angle. Questions?"

There had no more questions, though I may have broken them, they both look a bit dazed. I don't know if this was because they were trying to figure out how make these shapes or just confusion. One did ask how many of each I would need? If these pipes work well more will be ordered for later projects, I tell them. For now though I want an estimate for 20 straight pieces, 4 curved and 2 tees, in a week if possible. I then escort them to the door, thanking them for they time.

After they had gone, I look around for Emi or Aden, I found Aden in his office. When I sat in front of his desk he looked up, "How did your meeting go, your majesty?"

"The meeting went well, I believe. But I have come to the conclusion that a standard for weights and measure is needed. It is awkward trying to give dimensions with hand gestures because how do I know that something so big, "I hold my hand apart, "will still be that when it is made. Or if when I give two workmen parts to build that they will be made similar enough in size to work together. And if I order 100 units of wheat from Four Rivers, will I get 105 or 95 because the unit in Four Rivers is different from the unit here. It makes sense to use the same measure for whatever you measure, distance, weight or volume. Argh, all right, rant over."

"What I came here to ask is, How does the palace get its water. I know there is a cistern under the atrium but is there also a well or a spring?"

"Between the outer defense wall and the garden wall there a well, your majesty. It's used to water the stock and the garden. Tobias can explain how the water gets from the well to garden better than I. You should talk to him about it."

"I will. Would you be willing to do a portion of Lian's job of minster of my lands? Or you could contact the minsters of the other towns, to see if there is an underling that would be suitable. I wonder why Lian didn't have an assistant?"

"He did but the man quit suddenly and left the island, that was early last year."

"Do you know the procedures used to sell the wheat to the merchants? Do we set a price or do the merchants or do we auction it? Do they take it with them or send ships to pick it up or both? Is there a port in the other towns or is the grain all sent here, except for what is kept for local use? How is it done, how was it done and is there a better way. Is there one price or different prices for different qualities of grain? Could we contract with a merchant to sell the grain?"

"I was never involved with the grain sells, so I don't know the answers. I do know that the other towns don't send their grain here except for their taxes so they must at least ship from there. Though Ashford, Beehill and Ashdell don't produce that much, basically enough to cover their taxes."

"We also need to make a list of items to purchase, sorted by priority so get the most needed items first, mostly seeds and livestock so we can increase the cash flow. But first could you do an audit of the treasury so we know what we have to start with. I not sure if Lian stole grain then sold it or simply embezzled the money. And who has the key to the treasury?"

"The treasury is under double lock, it takes two keys to open it, Lian had one and you have the other."

Oh dear, I wonder where the queen's key is. "We may have a problem, I don't think Rufina has the key. I have no memory of a key. Just a minute." I rise, going to the kitchen, where I ask Tilly where the maids are. She tells me they are in the new section, cleaning. I thank her and head to the new section of the palace. When I get there I notice the maids are busy on the upper floor. I head up to them.

"Ladies, when you were moving the contents of my rooms the other day did either of you see a key?"

"No, your majesty." "Nor I, your majesty."

"And everything loose was moved?"

"Yes, your majesty." in unison.

"Thank you, Ladies, you may return to work."

Returning to the kitchen I ask for Emi's location. Your rooms, I believe was the reply. I head to my rooms, where I find Emi.

"Emi, do you know what the treasury key looks like?"

"Yes, your majesty, I was shown shorty after Rufina received it. It's a iron key about so big." she held her hands about 7 inches cm apart. "With a big ring on the end," her pointer finger and thumb were held about 1.5 inches apart. "Why?"

"I can't remember what Rufina did with it. We need it to get in the treasury."

"I think she has been hiding it since she caught Lian snooping around after her fathers passing. I know she had it this spring as they opened the vault then, though I haven't seen it since."

"You remember what Rufina did afterward?"

"She returned to her rooms as usual."

"Bring some candles, we must find the key." I going to the balcony rail, raising my voice I call, "Aden!"

Once he appeared, "Bring a few candles and meet us at my old rooms, immediately. You ready, Emi?"

"Yes, your majesty." and so starts the treasury key search.

Aden soon met Emi and I at the door to my old rooms. "Aden, Emi says that Rufina returned to her rooms after opening the vault this last spring, she hasn't seen the key since. The key is probably in these rooms, somewhere. Every small movable item was to be moved to my new rooms. It could be in my chest but that so obvious, but I'll check it anyway. You two check in, under and over everything left in here, I be back shortly." Grabbing a candle I headed back to my new rooms.

Once I arrived, I light a few more candles. Then opened the chest at the foot of the bed, slowly removing the contents. Soon a pile of clothes, nicknacks and surprisingly books, was next to me and the chest is empty. It was a long shot anyway. I started to replace the items, clothes first with nicknacks mixed in, using the clothes to pad the trinkets then changed my mind. I made room for the books at one end, standing them up. I notice that one seemed light for its bulk so I opened it. I was surprised to find the center of the book to be hollowed out, cut in the shape of a large key. Well, here was the hiding place. Placing the book on the bed I finished packing the chest. Finishing, I pickup the book and snuffed the extra candles then returned to the others.

When I arrived at my old rooms, Emi and Aden were still searching, having turned the furniture upside down, moved the rugs and shifted everything around. Aden was on the floor checking for loose boards. Emi was in the bed chamber checking under the bed. When I arrived I told them what I had found. They were disappointed that the key was gone. As I help Emi put the bed back together, I thought back to what Aden had said about Lian having a key, also.

"Aden, did you find the key Lian had? I didn't see it in the things brought back last night."

Aden gave a start,"I don't think we found it. I'll go ask Kalvin." He took off at a quick walk.

I asked Emi if the desk had been checked, she said it had, but I checked it again. All the drawers opened, contained nothing of interest until I open the one in the center, the depth was wrong. I removed the drawer completely, I was right, It had a secret compartment. When I turn it over the was a clunk, like something shifted. I noticed the bottom could be slid back. Back it slid, there it was, the key.

Now to locate the other one.

Aden returned with Kalvin in tow,"He doesn't remember seeing a key, your majesty."

Holding up the key I had found," Well, one is found, lets go to Lian's... or would it be at town hall. Is there a strongbox there?"

"There is a strongbox at the town hall, for petty expenses."

"And the key for that?" I asked.

"Right here, in my pocket, your majesty. It is with the other keys to town hall."

"In that case, a trip to town hall is called for. Collect the candles, don't need a bunch of them left here."

I replace the false bottom on the drawer and then replace it. Picking up the candle I was using, I snuffed it. Then headed out the door, closing it behind me. We went in several directions at the stairs, I continued to my rooms, the others went down to the kitchen. I left the book on the desk with the candlestick. I went to my bed chamber and changed to my boots. I then went down stairs to the kitchen. When I got there the others were standing around munching on sandwiches, Tilly soon had one in my hands saying,"You can't be running all over on an empty stomach," which my stomach agreed to with a loud rumble. She giggled as I flushed.

After we finished eating, we headed to town, Kalvin, Emi and I then Aden. When we arrived Aden dug out the keys, unlocked the door, then stepped inside. Kalvin stayed outside by the door. Emi waved me in then followed. It looked the same as the morning I spent here reading reports two days ago, is it just two days? Wow.

Aden goes over the to a table near the corner and moves the cloth covering it, exposing a armored chest bolted to the floor. Selecting a key, he unlocks the chest. Emi and I moved up behind him, looking over his shoulders. There was a tray divided in to five spaces on top, four of the spaces were for holding different types of coins, though only three held coins. There is apparently a coin worth more than gold. The fifth space holds receipts, I read a few, some are for payment of taxes, others for good purchased by me and paid by Lian. I see the steamer and the wheel barrow bills.

Aden removes the tray, placing it beside him. In the bottom are papers; shipping papers, receipts for goods sold and bought and under it all are not one but two keys. The one is fancy like the one in my pocket the other plain but the head is the same size as the other.

"May I see the plain key, Aden," taking the key from my pocket I compare the two, of course they match. I wonder how he managed to make a copy of Rufina's key. "You found bees wax in Lian's house,didn't you Aden?"

"How did you know, your majesty?" I gave him a grin. Crime shows and mystery novels for the win.

"All of this should be brought up to the palace later, I think. It's too much trouble running back and forth. Alright, now to check the treasury, now that we have the keys."

Aden relocked the strongbox dropping the cloth back over it. When we were all outside he relocked the door, then we all head back to the palace.

Once there, we collect lit candles from the kitchen and descend into the basement. The treasury is in the corner under the study. The walls are double thick like the outer walls. The large door is set in stone, the hinge pins not visible. The door reminds me of a bank vault door, a large wheel in the center of the door with two keyholes, one on either side. Aden takes one key and I the other, inserting them in the keyholes, of course we put the keys in the wrong holes as neither would turn, Murphy is everywhere. We swap sides and try again, success. Aden turns the wheel and we hear the lock mechanism moving. Grabbing onto the large handle on one side of the door, he pushes it open.

Once the door is open, I walk in, candlestick held high. The room is about four yards to a side, and two and a half tall, with very large wooden beams holding up the ceiling. There are shelves lining both side walls, holding small statues, ornate frames, silver trays, a silver tea set, stacks of silver dishes. One shelf, deeper than the others holds larger portraits, in fancy frames. Along the wall opposite the door, there is a heavy table holding bags, quite a pile of bags. And to the side, an armor stand holding a fancy set of scale armor, green, trimmed in black and silver.

"Aden, Is there an inventory of what is in here or supposed to be here, I think some of the item that were at Lian's belong here, I see holes where something has been removed."

"There must have been an inventory somewhere, probably in the study, amongst the old records is my guess."

"All right, each of you grab a bag of coins or two and head to dining room, lets count the wealth of the kingdom so can figure out how much that rat stole." Emi and I garb one of the smaller bags each, while Aden and Kalvin take two of the larger ones. With Emi and I carrying the candles sticks, we head up stairs, Kalvin in the lead, Emi next then Aden, with me at the back.

We lay our loot on the far end of the table, then Aden, Emi and Kalvin return to the treasury to get more. While they do that, I fetch paper, pen and ink. I start to open some of the bags, just a glance to start with, to see what is in each one. The smaller ones that Emi and I carried hold gold coins. The large bags, some hold silver, some copper. I move the small bags up the table, then the silver and the copper at the end. Emi and the guys soon return, Emi again carrying a small bag and a candles stick, the guys a large bag each. Taking the bag from Emi I open it, more gold. I place it next to the others. I repeat this procedure with the other bags as they make another run. Soon all the bags are on the table. Then we start counting. Several hours later with a break for supper we finish.

The kingdom has the equivalent of 856 gold, 17 silver and 15 copper with there being 553 in gold coins, 6057 silver coins and 415 copper coins. I have the coin divided up so there are six bags of gold coins, 61 bags of silver coins and five bags of copper coins, 100 coins to a bag unless it's the extra coins of that type. Each bag has a tag with cord fastened in such a way that the bag can't be opened without breaking the wax seal. The tags bear the amount and coin type, so a bag with the 0,0,5,0 copper contains 5 silver worth of copper coin.

After counting and bagging the coins, we carried then back down to the treasury, making neat piles of bags on the back table. When the vault door is again locked, I hand Aden the lone key, telling him to be very careful with it. I take the two keys, the original and the duplicate. I will need find a good hiding place for them.

I ask Emi to bring a pitcher of hot water to my room as we ascend the stairs the final time. Then bid Aden and Kalvin good night, Kalvin continuing up the stairs. I had asked Aden if he would like to stay instead of going back to town. He says that sounds good as he is very tired. I lead him to the single room around the corner and we say good night again. Returning to my rooms I meet Emi carrying the pitcher of hot water at the head of the stairs, I open the door for her then the bed chamber door also.

As we prepare to bathe, I ask her if she feels up to giving shaving me tonight or should we wait until morning. She replies in the morning. I tell her of inviting Aden to stay over instead of walking home in the dark, so no sexy time tonight. I get a pout in reply. She does get a nice long kiss though. Stuffing her small clothes in the empty pitcher, she slips on her uniform and slippers and takes her leave.

After the last candle is snuffed, I lay there thinking life isn't to bad. I have friends and a lover, people I can trust, there are problems but hey when aren't there. With that I slip into sleep.