Chapter Nine

I wake to a horrible cramp. And sore muscles, I had forgotten the Rufina had been a drunken sloth, a coach potato of the biggest kind. I had this body throwing ten pound mud balls all afternoon. My groaning must have woke Emi as she was looking at me with a worried look. I gave her a half ass grin, "I forgot that Rufina was a lazy lay about and overworked her body and I'm also cramping."

Emi leaned down giving me a kiss, telling me to relax a bit longer, she would right back. She quickly dress in the clothes she had brought last night then left. She soon returns with a tray bearing a small tea pot and pair of cups and saucers. She pours tea into both cups after sitting me up in bed then handing me one, taking the other for herself. "I overworked myself too." she says. After we finish our tea, she helps me out of bed to the pot. As I did my business she pulled the sheet and blanket from the bed folding them into an Rufina sized pad which she lay on the floor. When I finished she had me lay on the pad, face down arms beside me. Then started to massage me, relaxing every muscle in my body. She explained that her mother taught her how to do this and she practiced on her siblings.

She let me lie there, while she finished stripping the bed. She removed the mattress, leaving with it. She must not have gone far because she returned quickly. She gently toe me in the ribs say,"Get up lazy princess, there is work to be done and you are in the way." It was much easier getting up than it had been getting down. She had laid out a simple tunic for me to wear then disappeared with the bedding. As I finished dressing she returned, and taking me by the hand lead me to the garden. We doffed our footwear and began T'ai Chi. When we finished the last form, I showed Emi a new form, repeating it a couple of times, then we did it together. Afterwards instead of going straight to breakfast we strolled down the path to the pond where we dangled our feet off the bridge, outlining our day. We then went in to breakfast.

Tilly had it ready as usual. Omelets this morning, dried sausage and onion, with a side of toast and an apple. I suggested sandwiches for dinner, which Tilly agreed to. She was going to bake another meat pie for supper, which I agreed to. I asked Emi what her favorite dish was. She said grilled salted mackerel, like her mama made. We finished eating then help Tilly clean up. I went to the study, Emi went to do her daily tasks and Tilly back to hers.

I started sketching a water lift for the salt ponds. I had been thinking of the device used in the middle east before electricity, a Persian wheel, an endless chain of buckets over a drive wheel. They could lift water quite high but required animal power or flowing water to operate, which I didn't have room for. And I didn't need very much lift, at least to start with. So I sketched a counterpoise lift, a long lever with a counter weight on the short end and a bucket hanging from a rope on the long end. These could be stacked, to get to higher elevations. I sketched some elevated wooded gutters also, to carry the water inland. And then a short pier to place the first lift in the sea. I did some calculations which lead to the conclusion a wider path was needed between the ponds.

I went out in to the atrium to stretch my legs, zen walking around the outside of the atrium. I did this to clear my head as well as move around a bit. It is still early so back to sketching I go. When I start to return to the study, there is a knock on the door, which I answer. It is one of the carpenters apprentices, bearing a scythe cradle, which he hands me with a bow then runs off. Am I that scary? I guess to a ten year old, meeting the queen could be scary. I lean the cradle next to Aden office door then return to the study.

I find the sketches I started on a few days ago, the ones for flax production. I refined these, get in more detail, as some are quite complicated. While working on the heckler I wondered if the blacksmith could draw wire and if so how much. We can go ask him later, after the announcement. Having thought of the blacksmith I start thinking of power hammers, the blacksmiths could use them. BUT they would require a water wheel to power. I will need to survey a couple of mill sites. Iron works and flax works, would one of each be enough? Could I talk the smiths into joining together to run one mill. Or should I move the smelting of iron to Iron River, near the mine? So many questions.

Thinking of smelting iron I wondered about charcoal, the fuel used in smelting. Was it still made by piling the wood up, cover it all with mud then lighting the wood on fire? We need some kilns. For pottery too. And brick production. A temporary mud brick kiln to fire a supply of clay bricks to build a permanent kiln. I could use the forms I have to make brick for the temporary kiln. Ugh, focus Rufina focus. Back to the flax machinery.

Emi finally comes to get me to get me dressed for this afternoons official business. Once we reach my rooms she strips me down. I freshen up while Emi is pulling out the fanciest dress I owned, a full length sleeved gown. Plus long stocking, up to mid thigh, I didn't know there was a pair that long in there. Then a garter belt which she helps me put on. She slides the stocking up my thighs, tieing them to the garter. I put the chemise back on. When Emi has me step into the dress and she pulls it up, I heard her swear for the first time. The dress is too small. Apparently it is several years old and Rufina has finished growing since then, in the waist, hips and breasts, enough that the dress no longer fits. Going to Rufina's memories I find that most of her clothes are four years old, from the last time she visited the mainland. The clothes I am able to wear now had been loose on her then.

Emi choose a skirt and blouse combo next, the skirt to my ankles, the blouse long sleeved, but they fit. She then got a green sash with black and and silver trim from somewhere and wraps it around my waist. It goes well with the tan skirt and light green blouse. She then brings out a silver and green jade necklace. I have the feeling that the kingdom's colors are green and silver.

Emi sits me down, runs her fingers though my hair then starts to brush it. She takes her time, brushing each lock multiple times before moving to the next. When she has them all brushed she start brushing them together. She then applied some gel to it, rubbing it in well, then brushed some more. When she finished she took a tiny mirror from her pocket and showed me my face and hair. It did look good with the ends flared up a little.

Emi inspects me like I something she was going to buy, finally gives a nod, I must have passed muster. She produced my boots which were polished to a gloss. She got them on me and buckled. Taking my hand she lead me to the dining room where Tilly, Aden and Kalvin are waiting.

We dine on ham sandwiches, cut small, some sliced fruit and tea. I tell Aden about the modification to the ponds that will need to be done. Then ask when he thought harvest would be beginning. His reply was that some of the fields were ready now. I asked if that would slow the start of the salt ponds. Not if we didn't need many workers. I thought six would be the minimum, one to break the ground, one to shovel and four to haul the soil away.

When we finished eating, I told Aden about the cradle which he had spied leaning on the wall, asking if we could test it this afternoon. After Tilly and Emi finished cleaning up we head to town. At first I had a problem with my skirt dragging but Emi solved that by reaching under the sash and repositioning the skirt.

The town square was crowded when we arrived. When the people notice my arrival, silence fell over the crowd. Almost has one they bowed their heads and said, "Your Majesty." Having several hundred people saying that in unison is quite stirring. The five of us move to the steps to the old town hall. Aden escorts me up the steps where we turn to face the crowd. Kalvin takes a position on one side of the steps while Emi and Tilly take the other. Aden and I had discussed what I was to do on this occasion so I said, "I greet the people of Haven, you may rise."

"You have been called here today hear of a matter of great import. There has been a crimes committed against the kingdom and my person. Some of you have noticed that Minster Lian has disappeared, he has not disappeared but has been arrested for the crimes of theft of royal property, embezzlement of royal funds and most telling, the attempted murder of his Queen."

When I said those last words there was a collective gasp from the crowd, then they started shouting, called for Lian's head on a spike. I had Kalvin quiet them by shouting,"Silence, the Queen is speaking."

"In a few days, there will be a public trial. The evidence of the crimes will presented with witnesses called, so be calm. He will be punished for his crimes I assure you. I thank you for your presence today and may you all enjoy the rest of your day." With that Aden open the town hall door and we entered, soon followed by the other three.

I ask Aden if the witnesses from the search of Lian's home were still present. He step out, looked over the crowd. He then called Kalvin out, then pointed out a man in the crowd. Kalvin went up to the man, spoke with him briefly then returns with him. Mean while Aden continued to scan the crowd, finally locating the second man he was looking for. He did as Kalvin had, approached the man, spoke briefly then escorted him back to the town hall.

Aden lead the two men inside saying, "Your majesty, the witnesses."

"Thank you for coming, my good men. As you heard in a few days there will be a trial. I will require your presence there. Your role will not be complicated, you are witnesses to the finding and removal of evidence at the residence of the accused. All that will required of you is to speak truly of the things you saw that day, that is all, no opinions or observations, please. Do not speak of what you saw that day, at that place with anyone until the trial. That is all I wish to say at this time, again, thank you for coming, I will see at the trial."

Aden lead the two out. I asked Kalvin to inform the guards that had participated in the search that they too would be called as witnesses and the same rules applied to them.

When we stepped out of the town hall, mistress Nora was there, waiting. "Ah, mistress Nora. Just the person I needed. Please join us." I said to her.

"Thank you, your majesty. That quite the announcement you made. I was wondering what my role in this trial would be."

"You will be asked about the herb in the bottle and the herb found at Lian's house and the effects of said herb. You will be asked if the papers you signed are true and that it is your mark on the papers. That is all I will ask you. What Lian will want to ask you, I know not. Just tell the truth, that is all I ask of you."

"Thank you, your majesty. That is what I wished to know."

"Now remember, no talking about what you saw at the palace until the trial, please. Thank you for talking to me today, I will see you on the day of the trial."

We separate there, Nora returns to her home and my entourage return to the palace, official business being complete for the time being.

When we return to the palace I have Kalvin go prepare four horses. I ask Aden to find a shovel. When Emi, Tilly and I enter the palace, I thank Tilly for her support and let her return to her duties. Emi and I goto change to our riding clothes, first stopping by her rooms to get hers then retiring to my rooms. Once there she helps me out of my clothes, putting most of them back in the wardrobe but the skirt which goes in the basket having been drug though the dirt. I help her with her uniform then we don trousers and hip length tunics. When we are finished, I have Emi get the basket with sketching materials in it while I pickup the cradle.

Kalvin and Aden are waiting with the horses when we arrive. Soon we are slowly riding toward the inlet. As we ride I let Aden know that I would like to meet with one of the other blacksmiths on the way back and to stop by the flour mill also. When we reach the inlet I scratch the new edges of the ponds, while Emi rubs away the old ones. Mean while I have Aden dig a test hole at both the front and back of each pond to check what kind of soil is in each pond. All he digs is sand which is good, that means easy digging for the workers.

Emi and I also lay out two new ponds uphill of the first two, these are going to be a tougher dig, as the elevation change is steeper than below. There will probably end up being only two rows of ponds, but more columns of them. I stand gauging the inlet calculating how many ponds there is room for. There is room for forty ponds is my guess. I ask Emi to estimate how many ponds would fit, she thinks forty four. Close enough.

Then Emi and I search for stone to build the piers out of. We go to one side of the inlet then we hike around to the other side going about a hundred feet inland. We find a couple of good out crops that have plenty of loose stone. We return to Aden and Kalvin who have dug holes in the upper ponds finding stone near the bottoms of the highest holes, these ponds may have to be made smaller, it depends on if the bottom of the pond can be made level before stones are found.

We gather our tools and return to town. Aden leads us a short distance from the blacksmith at I am doing business with to the shop of another smith. I have Aden fetch the smith, knowing how loud the smithy can be. I have Emi set up to take notes for me. When the smith appears I ask him if he can draw wire. He answers that he can. I then ask if he knows of the device used to comb flax. He does. Then I ask what he charges for the teeth for one these, the one with the finest teeth. He names a price. How does he make those teeth, hammer them or draw them as wire then sharpen? The larger one he hammers, the small wire draws then hammer to sharpen.

On a different but related subject what does he charge for nails, this long, holding out my fingers. He goes into his shop for a moment then returns with some nails of different sizes, which he names a price for each size. I hand each nail to Emi so she can draw a line the length of each nail.

I have Emi hand me the basket, which I search through for the heckler plans. When I find them I show the smith one of the sub plans, the design for the combs. These are blocks of wood with brackets on the ends to link them together like a chain. The bracket are T shaped with hole in one side and three on the other two. I inquire on a price for these brackets, in sets of four. He thinks about it for a bit then gives a price. I thank him for his time and we leave.

We make our way to the flour mill, which is operating today. I dismount and walk around to the sluice gate. I gaze at the wheel as the water pours down the sluice, now that I see it in operation it doesn't appear that I could modify it like I thought, there isn't enough height to the dam. It is cooler here by the sluice, the spray cooling the air. I stand there basking in the coolness when Emi comes up beside me. An idea comes to me, I turn to Emi and ask if she knows of a pool in the river where we could swim? She doesn't so goes to ask Kalvin and Aden. Kalvin says there is a spot about five minutes up stream. I glance at the sky, it's only mid afternoon, plenty of time. We head up stream.

When we reach the spot, it's a perfect swimming hole, a horseshoe bend in the river that hasn't closed up, still having flow, enough to keep the water clear, but not fast. It even had a beach of sorts. I told the men to be scarce, goto the other side of the bend. As they rode away I dismounted, tied the horse to a bush near some grass, then removed my boots and stockings. I had to persuade Emi to join me. I finished removing my clothes, I was NOT going to ride back wearing a wet pad, it's bad enough dry. I waded out to the deeper part soon to was up to my breasts and felt heavenly, nice and cool. I kicked off, doing the breast stroke toward Emi, who was standing in waist deep water. When I reached her I turned, kicking water at her as crawl stroked away from her. I was soon 10 yards away, where I turned again this time back stroking to Emi.

Emi was watching me intently, like she had never seen someone swim. Then it hit me, she probably hasn't seen anybody swim before. At least with the strokes I had used. "Do you swim Emi?"

"Not like that."

"Will you show me, please."

She pushes off, doing the dog paddle, head held high, slow going across the pool. I dive under her, watching her movements. I resurface in front of her, startling her a bit. I catch her hands, pulling her up, so she is standing. "Would like to swim like I do?"

"Yes, that would be wonderful."

"Alright, first we'll get you floating." I turned her around, then gently pulled her back, telling her to relax, I wouldn't let her go under. With my hand in the middle of her back I told her to lean her head back. As she did this lowered my hand until I just had the tip of the index finger pushing on her back gently. I told her to gently wave her arms next to her sides and to gently move her legs up and down, toes extended. She was no longer trying to float down stream but stationary. I told her to open her eyes which she did. "You see the trees, if you kick with short quick movements you will move in the direction of your head, see if you can move the trees. You can change the direction you are going with your hands. Try it." She kicked, a little too hard, I placed my hand above her knees to limit their movement.

I told her be proud of her breasts, stick them up, by keeping her head back. I reached out and gave one of her nipples a tweak which caused her to flatten out and sink. She came up sputtering, asking why did I do that. That is what happens when you aren't proud of what you have. I then show her the arm movements for the backstroke. We stand there doing arm movements and breathing. Then have her kicking, lying back, the top of her head on my stomach, eyes on mine not on her feet. Then we actually do some backstrokes. She catches on quickly. We are also tiring. So I call a halt the swim lessons for the day. We get dressed then call out to Aden and Kalvin. We hear them answer, a short time later they appear. They had been in the water too as their hair is wet.

Next we ride to one of the plots of land where grain is being harvest. When we arrive I instruct Aden to have one of the farmers fetch his scythe and a piece of light rope and a length of twine. When the materials arrive, I tie the cradle to the handle of the scythe with the rope then pull it down so it is above the blade. After adjusting it a couple of times I tie a cord between the blade and the cradle. It appears to be correct. I then hand the scythe to the farmer, explaining what it is for and how it should be used. I explain that he should use a shorter straighter cut than when he cuts hay. It takes a few swings to get the stocks of grain to lay flat but he soon figures it out, laying down a windrow of cut grain, outdistancing the sickle users. Soon the other farmers that are helping cut the field are watching, asking to try it. I say that there will be nine more available soon, if they are unlucky enough not to get one of these the carpenter can make them one for about five copper. I explain how to adjust it so it works correctly, telling them of the failure modes and how to fix them. As we leave them, they have set up a race between a sickle user and the scythe.

I instruct Kalvin to go by the carpenters shop on the way back. Aden, Emi and I go in when we arrive, Kalvin holding the horses. I pull out a silver coin. When the carpenter appears I hand him the coin, "The cradle is a success, here is the balance of what I owe you. Please finish the rest of them as quickly as possible. Also you will probably have more ordered by the farmers in the next few days, try to fill their orders quickly, please." He is shocked, not saying anything. I thank him for a job well done, then exit.

As we ride back to the palace, Emi explains with enthusiasm how I swim like a fish and I am teaching her how to do it too. They are doubtful to begin with but soon came around when she said I swam the the distance across the river three time in the time it took her to go half that distance, using three different methods then swam under water for a minute before coming up to breath. I will have to put together some swim suits so they can see with their own eyes, cause I am not going skinny dipping in mixed company, no way, no how.

When we reach the palace, instead of dismounting at the front door, we ride around to the stable. There Emi and I dismount, leaving Aden to return the shovel and Kalvin to take care of the horses. Emi and I check on the bricks, which are drying nicely then entered the garden though the west gate. We took off our boots before entering the palace proper, as they had mud on them, they were left on the patio. I paused when we got to the courtyard in the new section, wondering out loud how much to would cost to build a swimming pool there. Emi thought that was a good idea. I would need to make some roman concrete before that could happen. We separated to change clothes again. I changed back into what I wore this morning.

I was asking Tilly for a cup of w.w.f tea when Emi found me. She got a cup of the regular blend of tea and we went to the dining room. It had been a fun afternoon, I wondered what else we could do to have fun. Being serious all the time is boring and much to tiring, we need some fun. When the guys came in I asked the three of them if there were games to play in the here and now. Aden knew of a game that sounded a lot like chess, Kalvin knew knuckle bones ( dice ) but all Emi knew were children's games. Oh boy I could introduce all kinds of games; cards, checkers, go and if I can remember the rules, MahJongg, not the version played on computers, the real one, with the tiles.

I ask Aden if there is any heavy paper, about twice the thickness of the paper we have been using. He says yes there is. I ask him for six sheets,a charcoal stick, scissors or a sharp knife and straight edge. I ask Emi to get me a string or thread. He goes to his office returning with the items I asked for. Emi goes to kitchen and returns with a bit of cord. First I cut the cord to the length of a sheet of paper, then another piece to the width of a sheet. These I fold so they are in three even lengths, which I mark with the charcoal. Then I transfer the marks to the paper dividing the sheet into nine pieces. I then stack the six sheets atop each other with the marked one on top. I look at the table, I had better not do it here I think. I got up, taking the paper with me, going to the kitchen. There I lay the papers on the cutting board. Taking the knife I score the top sheet on each line, I was going to try cutting the six sheets but changed my mind. I asked Kalvin to do it, as I didn't have the strength to cut the six sheets in one go. He took the knife, holding the sheets with one hand, drew the knife along the line slicing all six sheets. He did this until there was a pile of fifty four pieces.

Having Kalvin return the knife to Aden, I took the stack of paper back to the table. I made four stacks of thirteen piece each, while I do this I ask Emi to fetch three more charcoal sticks. I put a stack in front of each of the others and myself. I then draw an A in the upper right corner of one of the piece from my pile with a diamond next to it, rotated it and did it again so I had numbers in the upper right and lower left corners. When Emi returns I show them the sample I made, explaining what I wanted, a shape and number or letter in the two corners, we then got busy.

Tilly set the table and brought supper out so we took a break from card making and ate. As we ate I explained some of the games that could be played with the cards. Of how they could be made using craved blocks coated in ink to make many decks. Kalvin suggested setup a card printing shop and sell the cards, Aden pointed out that we would need to import the heavy paper but it was good idea.

Emi and I helped Tilly clean up after supper then we all continued working on the cards. Tilly asked what the P,Q and K were on the cards. I told her represent prince, queen and king. On the cards from Earth these cards had drawings of men, women and boys wearing crowns to represent kings, queens and princes. We finished making the deck so I taught them rummy, which the five us played for several hours until Tilly falls asleep. Aden and Kalvin left and Emi and I help Tilly to bed then we took ourself to our beds. It had been a fun afternoon and evening.