Everyone heads to their rooms to freshen up for supper. I go via the study to pickup the razor before going to my rooms. Once I'm there open my chest and place the razor, strop and stone in it. No more borrowing razors, hurray. After using the chamberpot, then washing up, I return down stairs.

Remembering the new seating arrangement I sit in the center rear seat. Aden and Nora come from the kitchen where they was washing up and sit on my left.

"I told the merchant that we got the metals from that the auction will be at 1100 four days from today. And I told him to tell the merchant that is banned from the island. If that man wants to buy grain he can send someone in his stead." I tell Aden.

"Good evening, Nora. How was your day?"

"Good, your majesty. I hear you wish to grow hemp. Is this for medical use or for fiber?"

"Fiber. The medical type of hemp caused problems on Earth for a while, there were those that abused it so the governments tried to ban it. And banning something causes that thing to be supplied by those that care less about law and order. Criminal elements would charge high prices, which caused the users to steal to get the price. Which cause the governments to put harsh punishments on the possession of hemp, for even the smallest quantities. Medical use is fine, I am glad it is available, I just don't want the knowledge of its effects to be wide spread."

"What are the effects?"

"It is like drink, though it doesn't tend to make the user violent. It affects their coordination and spacial judgment, makes them hungry and sleepy."

"What are you talking about?" ask Helen. She is looking around wondering where to sit. I point to the second chair on my right, on the opposite side.

"The effect a certain herb has on a person if taken in too large a dose." Nora is quick, probably because of her background in herbs and their uses.

"Did you get some cloth woven today, Helen?" I ask her.

"Yes, quite a bit actually. Once I have the warp on the loom, it goes quickly. Now I'm low on thread. I hate spinning, it's so tedious."

Agh, I need to get some spinning wheels built. So many thing to build and not enough skilled workers. "Aden are we employing all the woodworkers in town?"

"Yes, we are. There are a few in Four Rivers and Iron River. What are you thinking now?"

"As Helen said, spinning is tedious and takes too long using a drop spindle. I have plans for spinning wheels, just no one to build them at the moment." I notice that Mark is listening intently. "The woodworker needs to be able to build a proper wheel, balanced and true. The wheel is the biggest, most important part, the rest is simple, a bench with treadle and some supports for the wheel and the spindle."

"How does it work, Rufina?" Mark asks.

"A wheel is turned by the treadle, a cord that goes around the wheel and down to the spindle turning it. The spindle lays horizontally, spinning quickly, and the operator spins the yarn like when using a drop spindle. The early types were simple, the later ones were more complicated but faster."

"A wheelwright would be a big help, though any woodworker can make a wheel if the design is simple. The metal parts could be a bottle neck. The more complicated wheel has a device to load the bobbin evenly but requires a metal part. Though..." I drift in to deep thought. Yes, that would work, but could a mold be made and how would the machining be done.

Aden pokes me in the side, "Hey, get out of that rabbit hole."

"Sorry, I had been thinking the part would have be made of iron but I keep forgetting that brass or bronze are a thing. I was just wondering if the parts I would need could be cast in brass or bronze and if it could, how much work would it take to refine it. I need to learn more about the methods used to make metal parts in the here and now, then I can design the parts so they can be made with the tools available. It appears I will be talking to John some time soon."

"Aden, do you think we could talk Jason and Steven into rising Daniel to master, so he can start training apprentices. And they need to take on more apprentices themselves. We need more woodworkers."

"There are several roadblocks to them taking more apprentices, costs and available candidates. They charge a candidate several silver coins to become an apprentice which reduces the number that can apply, then the fact that there are only a few that want to be woodworkers in the first place. Most of the boys that would want to be woodworker can't because of not having the money and the ones with the money don't want to be woodworkers."

I have an idea! If the ones that want to be woodworkers can't afford it, then I could front them the money. Like with Jose' today, I could pay part of their wages, if the masters objected. I look around the table, I see four people who could take an apprentice, if there was a child who would like to do that job. "Nora, is there a reason that you don't have an apprentice?"

"I can't afford to support a youngster and no one has show an interest in herbs."

"And you Aden? The same reasons?"

"You would be the one paying an apprentice, your majesty. I will train one if you find me one." Ah, good answer.

"Helen? Mark?"

"Up until just lately, I haven't had the business to justify an apprentice plus I can't really afford one." is Helen's reply.

"I just made journeyman myself, so can't train an apprentice yet." replies Mark.

"Alright, I have a idea. Any child that wants an apprenticeship will receive a grant from the lord of the realm, me, to pay the fee to begin the apprenticeship. If the master teaching the craft or skill can't afford an apprentice, again the lord of the realm will help with the support of the apprentice. An apprentice is NOT a servant or slave, they will be taught the trade. Any child, male or female can apply for an apprenticeship, in any craft. If the master will not accept a apprentice because of their sex then he will not be accepted in the program. And if there is abuse of an apprentice by the master, his journeymen or even another apprentice, my wrath shall descend on them."

"Does anyone have anything to add or object to?" I look around the table. Some faces are serious, others have smiles.

"Any child, your majesty? Even the ones that lack the intelligence to do the job?" This is Mark asking.

"And how would we test this intelligence, Mark? Does the master give a test, a test that is biased toward children of rich parents that can afford to educate their children? Or of strength, so only boys of a certain age could pass? Perhaps we should start a school, to teach all children the basics, reading, writing and basic math at the minimum."

"I know there are children who are born with very low intelligence but any child should be taught to their abilities, to fill the jobs that they are capable of doing. If one of these children wants to be an apprentice, they would need to be watched closely."

"Would a woman be able to do the work of a man?" Eliza asks.

"I will concede that women are generally weaker than men, but a woman can still be very strong and with proper technique can do 80 percent or more of what a man could do, strength wise. Women are as intelligent as men, just look around you, I would wager any of you could do any of the others job with training. And there are women doing the work of men, do widows abandon their farms if their husband dies or is injured, no, they work on, maybe hiring a man to do the heavier work that they can't do."

We fall silent, all of us in thought. I wonder how the children are taught, who takes care of them when their parents are working the fields. I have seen that parents teach their children to read and write but if they themselves can't, who will. Nora can't read or write. Kalvin barely can. How many are the same?

"Who takes care of the children while their parents are in the fields?"

It is Tilly who answers, "Sometimes it is the job of the oldest girls, or one of the neighbors, or a granny, sometimes all three."

"When do the children start helping on the farms?"

"Some start them as soon as they can, four or five, doing small jobs; gathering eggs, feeding the fowl, bringing in the cow, helping weed the garden. As they grow older they help their fathers with the animals and the harvests. And the girls help with the cooking, cleaning, caring for the babes and the spinning of yarn. The eldest son usually inherits the farm so he learns it all, the younger ones can go in the crafts if there is a place for them but they learn as much as they can."

"Would parents be willing to send their five to eight year old children some where in town to be taught to read, write and basic math?"

No one has an answer except Tilly and Nora, "I know I would have, so I wouldn't have to butt heads with them, to get them to learn.","I would have loved to, as I can neither read or write, it would have helped them."

"Would adults that can't read or write be willing to come learn?"

This time it's Nora and Kalvin who speak up,"Yes, I would." and "Of course, your majesty." Eliza, who has not said much says, "If you don't read or write well, could you come? I can read and write but poorly."

"Of course you can, Eliza. Improving yourself is a good thing."

"Sophia, would you be willing to teach Kalvin, Nora and Eliza to read and write? And probably others as well."

"I would be pleased to. When would I start, where and what time and what supplies can I have?"

"And you think I ask a lot of questions. Would slates and chalk work, paper is expensive and in short supply at the moment? Where could be the town hall building. As to when and what time. How about in a few weeks, after the harvest is taken care of, in the evenings, after supper for an hour, say 1600 to 1700."

"Mark, would you order twenty five pieces of slate, with at least one smooth side, the size of the our standard paper, mounted in a wooden frame, to be delivered on the next ship."

"Aden is the town hall large enough to sit twenty five adults? If not, we will have to have smaller classes."

"I'll measure it tomorrow. Have you thought about the workshops for the craftsmen you are hiring? You promised them workshops and dwellings."

"Not knowing what they need for shop space it is hard to know what to build. Mark, have you seen shops of the crafts I will be hiring?"

"I have seen a paper makers shop, a glass blower and a block printers shop. The paper maker needs a large space as he has large vats of water, large presses and vats he beats the pulp in. The glass blower has a large furnace to melt the glass in, large containers of sand and storage space. The block printer will need a large storage room to keep the blocks in, a space for the printing and a space to carve in. I would think the metal worker has a forge and space requirements like a blacksmith. The dyer would need space for the dying vats and room to hang the cloth to dry."

"So four largish spaces and one about the size of Helen's shop. Oh, idea. If Daniel hirers some apprentices he is going to need a larger space. So I get him a larger space, letting a printer use his old space. The dyer and paper maker will need a large supply of water, I think so their workshops will need to be near the river. And the glass and metal workers both need large spaces. Are there two one acre plots on the river and three more near by."

"You own most of the island, Rufina, from the mill pond down stream to the upper bridge, the buildings along the river from the bridge to the sea are yours also, but are leased out to freeman."

"Is the land below the mill good farm land?"

"It has been farmed but the varying water levels of the river keep half of it too wet to farm most of the year."

"Is that the land on the other side of the river or this side?"

"This side, the land on the other is too rocky to farm. Oh, I see what you're thinking. That side has high banks so doesn't flood and is unsuitable to farm, making it good for industry. Where do you want to build the kilns?"

"Beyond the metal shop and glass works with the brick works next door. Ah, maybe, where are the clay deposits?"

"The largest clay deposits are on that side of the river, up stream about a 20 minute walk."

"Good, and sand deposits?"

"Another 10 minutes inland."

"Let's plan on building a road west of the bridge, 35 to 40 meters in from the river, from the bridge to the mill. Wide enough for two carts to pass."

As we have been talking the others have finished eating, cleaned the table and are seated at the far end playing rummy or go. I have gotten to tied up in planning tonight. I thank Aden then tell him to go home a get a good nights rest. After he leaves I ask Mark if the method his company uses to communicate is to have one of the flying species go between towns delivering messages and orders?

When I drop that on him, he looks shocked. "How did you figure it out?"

"The speed that items can be ordered and delivered over the distance indicates high speed transport. The technology level points to something manual. Knowledge that flying species exist is the telling point. The fact that you wanted the deadline after dark is so that the method can remain secret. Earth has high speed air travel, so I know it is possible."

"Do you think there would be a families of a small flying species that would like to immigrate to the island, that could work as messengers for the queen, perhaps. To fly between the towns and villages of the island, delivering messages and small items. A small freehold could be offered as inducement."

"I will pass it on, I am uncertain of a response though."

"Have you and Emi decided on what to do about a matrimonial ?"

"Not yet."

"I have an idea about it. Seeing as neither of you has family near, we could have the ceremony here with Sophia presiding and your friends as witnesses."

"But when? Aren't we busy until I leave."

"How about at the picnic on the beach three days from now. We could even surprise Emi with it. You and her, in your swimsuits on the beach, your friends gathered around."

"Oh, I like that. Lets do it."

"Alright, will you go ask Tilly and Sophia to come talk to me, please. It's a surprise remember, no telling anyone but Tilly and Sophia."

"Thank you, Rufina."

I move to the head of the table just before Tilly and Sophia come and sit beside me. "Ladies we are going to have a wedding."

Tilly wants to know, "When and for who?"

Sophia asks,"Emi?"

"Yes, on the beach during our picnic. It's a surprise for Emi. Sophia, will you preside over the exchange of vows?" She nods. I turn to Tilly, "There are vows exchanged, aren't there?"

"Yes and symbols of love. There being no family is a problem though, who will give the bride away?"

"Perhaps the absence of family calls for a new tradition, as Emi and Mark are both freemen, they can give themselves to each other. Are there others in the wedding party, maids of honor, best man?"

"I not familiar with those titles but both the bride and groom have their best friends stand with them."

"That is basically what the maid of honor and the best man are."

"Are there any other wedding traditions? Feed each other a piece of the wedding cake or is a wedding cake a thing here?"

"No, no wedding cake. So no feeding of cake, either. There is usually a party after. Then the couple are escorted to the matrimonial bed."

"We can have the ceremony on the beach then have a wedding picnic supper. Are you up to making a fancy picnic supper Tilly?"

"I can do it, I have some ideas."

"Good, I'll leave that to you then. Sophia, will you be able to do it?"

"Most assuredly."

"If I write a certificate would you redo it in calligraphy?"

"Sure. What are you going to put on it?"

"The Kingdom of Haven recognizes the marriage of Emi, a free woman, and Mark, a free man, on such and such date, then sign it."

"Nice and simple, I'm sure they will treasure it."

I catch Marks eye, signal him over. "Does your species give a symbol of love to your mate on their wedding day?"

"Yes, usually a matching set of ear rings."

"Do you have any or know where to get some?"

"I don't have any, I will have to ask the other merchants."

"The disgraced merchant may have some, he was trying to sell me jewelry and wine the first day. Do you want to do that with Emi or surprise her with them? If you want to surprise her I can keep her busy tomorrow."

"To surprise her, I'm thinking of getting a simple pair of gold loops to start with, then upgrade later."

"Very good. It looks like you are up at the Go board." Emi is looking around while sitting at the Go board. I sit there watching them play for a few minutes then decide to go to the study, I have to sketch a seed drill.

Starting to sketch, I soon come to the conclusion that I need some more information. What is the best distance to place the seeds from each other? And the depth to place them? I remember reading about Jethro Tull's seed drill when in school and later reading what was on the internet about it, but there was no discussion on planting depth or seed spacing. I will need to talk to a farmer before I can finish this. But I do sketch the frame, hoppers and part of the mechanism.

I think tomorrow I will goto town to talk to Jason, Steven, Daniel and John. Or should I have them come here? I don't want to interrupt their work. Oh, I know, invite them to dinner the day after tomorrow. That wouldn't interrupt their work, they get a meal and I get to ask questions. Laying down my charcoal stick I head toward the kitchen to tell Tilly the plan but notice her playing rummy, so decide to wait until the morning.

Looking up at the guard tower I see that the sun is close to setting, I decide it's time to head to bed. Before going up stairs I goto the kitchen for a pitcher of hot water. Having both hands full of pitcher, I have to set it down to light my rooms. When I return to get the pitcher Emi has picked it up and is waiting for me. We goto my bed chamber and start our routine, I mix water as Emi straightens the room, going to fetch some toweling. I do my evening toilet then start removing my clothes which are placed in the basket. When Emi returns I help her remove her clothes, getting in a few kisses between articles of clothing. As I wash her back I ask,"How long are your species pregnant?"

"Mama told me that it takes 36 weeks to grow a baby. I remember little brother taking a little longer than that." She has a sad look on her face as she says that.

"Do you miss your family?"

"At times, I wish I could tell Mama about Mark and the baby. I know I can write a letter but it's not the same."

I have washed her upper body so tell her, "Sit so I can wash your feet." Pointing to the chest. When she is seated I start washing her legs and feet. "So your youngest brother is twelve years old now?"

"If he was the last, yes. I haven't hear of a new sibling since leaving home. Sending letters is so slow and I don't do it often enough, like I should. Oh, that feels good." I had been giving her a foot massage, pressing my thumbs into the balls of the feet, rubbing the arch.

"Is your family in the city I hired you in?"

"No, they lived about a days walk to the north. If you hadn't hired me I would have gone there the next day. Living in the city is expensive and I hadn't saved much, the little I had saved I sent home. Alright, your turn." She stood, offering me a hand up.

As I stood she gave me a hug and a deep kiss. When we came apart she started scrubbing me in the same way I had done her, back, front, arms and upper legs. Then she sat me down and start on the legs and feet, working her way up. She washed my crotch gently, giving it some special attention before rinsing me off then drying me off. Then she started kissing and rubbing me all over, finally pushing me to the chest where she buried her face between my legs, sucking and licking my nubbin, fingers inserted in my channel. I was approaching climax when she shifted her attention to my anus, licking around it, then returning to my nubbin, then my channel. As she nibbled my nubbin, three finger in my channel, a finger entered my anus. Slowly at first, a joint at a time, soon the whole finger was entering and being withdrawn quickly, as her tongue flicked my folds and nubbin. My back was arched as I had one of the most intense climaxes of my life. I must have passed out because I came to on the bed with Emi cleaning me off.

"Well, that was intense."

She grinned at me, licking her face. I notice that her hair, face and upper chest were glistening. "Did I come on you, love?"

"You most certainly did."

"Now you need another bath, shall I give you one?"

"If you wish. Though we'll need more hot water first."

I got off the bed giving her deep kiss, then started licking her, cleaning my juices off her. I taste a little saltier than she does. I get her to climax, though not as intensely as I had, without the excess fluid. I left her on the bed to fetch more water, belting my robe on I went down with the empty pitcher. As I turn the corner of the stairs I see Helen crossing the head of the stairs, heading to my rooms. She was being quiet as she crosses the sitting room, stopping at the door to my chamber, peeking in though the partly open door. I sneak up behind her quietly, looking over her shoulder. Emi is on the floor, wiping up a puddle. "Boy, I came a lot." I said in a soft voice, which caused Helen to eek quite loudly and jump though the doorway.

"Do you need a bath too, Helen?" I say as I enter, setting the pitcher on the table next to the basin.

"Damn, you scared me, your majesty." Helen said, hand over her heart. "And yes, I could use a bath."

"Alright. Emi needs her hair washed first then we can do you. Emi, will you help her undress?" I mix the water, after rinsing the cloths out. I pull the chest out aways from the bed, placing a chemise from the basket on it for padding. When Helen is in her chemise, I have Emi sit on the chest, back to me. I wet her hair then soap my hands, rubbing her scalp and hair. As I am rinsing the soap from her hair, I have an thought, we need one of those hair stylist hair washing chairs. As I think about it more, I could set up a hair salon. "Helen, who cuts your hair?"

"I cut the ends myself, though it hard to reach the back. Why do you ask?"

"On Earth there are shops that take care of women's hair, cutting, washing and styling it. Would a shop like that work here?"

"I understand the cutting and washing but what's styling?"

As I am ready to dry Emi's hair I take a brush and start brushing it. "Styling is braids, curling and other things that can be done to hair. I could braid Emi's hair in two tails, " I gather the hair behind Emi's ears into the twin tails, "or in one," I change to one tail, down low, " or braid the hair in front into braids and bring it to the back," I take the hair at her temples bringing it back behind her head. "While wet if it were twisted around a stick, then allowed the dry, it would be curly, though not as curly as yours is. Would you go out to the table and bring a piece of paper and a charcoal stick, please." As she does that I dry Emi's hair then brush it more.

After I finish Emi's hair I take the paper and charcoal stick and sketch some hair styles, pixie cuts, afros, high tails, low tails, braids of different combinations and finally a braid that wraps around the crown of the head. While I doing this Emi is scrubbing Helen, finishing by seating her on the chest to washing and massaging her feet. I put down the paper and started to wash Helen's hair, wetting it then soaping it, giving her a scalp massage as I do. She sighs, relaxing. I notice her nipples are extended and hard. I catch Emi attention, pointing to Helen's breasts. Emi grins then starts massaging Helen's legs. I rinse her hair, the pat it dry then start brushing it. Helen is starting to squirm, Emi has reached the top of her legs, not quite touching her crotch. Putting down the brush I start massaging her shoulders and neck, slowly going farther down her chest as I go, soon I'm kneading her breasts, caressing her nipples. By this time Emi is rubbing her nubbin, kissing her inner thighs. I wait until Emi starts to lick and kiss her folds before I start kissing her neck and lips, pinching her nipples. Her back arches, moaning, she lays back against me, eyes closed, breathing hard. Her hand come up, pulling me to her, kissing me deeply, gently biting my lip, her tongue roaming around my mouth. When she break the kiss, I stand her up, leading her to the bed where I lay her down in the center and kiss her again.

I stand, go over to Emi helping her to her feet then lead her the far side of the bed, laying her beside Helen. I walk around the bed, placing the chest back at the foot of the bed, throwing some of the clothes in the basket, snuffing the candles but the one on the bed stand. As I crawl beside Helen I snuff the last candle, then laying my head on Helen's shoulder with a leg over hers, I soon fall asleep.