"Aden, let's see if we can get the cleaner working." I say as I come out of the kitchen. "Anyone else going to help?"

Of course, they all do. So to the back parlor we go. The cleaner is setup at the opposite end from the auction, a couple of sacks of grain next to it. I check the hopper, it's empty. Taking a double handful of grain from one of the sacks, I place it in the hopper. Giving the handle a firm turn, I set it in motion. Spinning it up to speed, I can hear the grain berries bouncing around inside the machine, so it is working. I ask someone to place more grain in the hopper while I keep the machine turning. Husks start flying out of the chute like they are suppose to. Whoops, forgot the bucket for the cleaned grain. I send Molly to fetch a bucket. I stop turning the handle, stepping back, as the handle keeps turning. Ah, that will never do. "Emi, take a note, please. The cleaner need a one way clutch on the handle."

I pickup some of the grain that has gone through the machine, most of it is husk less like it should be, but there is about fifteen percent with their husks still on. I turn to the machine, intent on adjusting the rubbing disk when I find a design flaw. The adjuster for the disk is under the hood, it should be accessible from the outside. And the hood is fastened down. "Well, bother. Aden do you see anyway to access the adjuster knob?"

"No, I don't. Is there suppose to be?"

"Oh, yes there definitely is. How are you suppose to adjust the wheel for wear or to set it up correctly in the first place. And this hood should not be fastened down, it needs to be removable for cleaning and maintenance. Did the sketches I made get returned? I don't remember if I put those things on the plan."

"I have part of the plans here but I don't have the hood section."

Looking over the hood, I note it is hinged on the side away from the hopper. Checking the other side, I see a latch, which I undo. I can then lift the hood. "While that fixes the access problem, I didn't sketch a hinge or latch." Looking in the hopper I see there is some grain remaining, "Aden, turn the handle slowly, please." He starts turning the handle. As he does that I tighten the rubbing wheel adjuster. Soon grain berries are spitting out from between the wheels so I close and secure the hood. I add a few hands full of grain to the hopper. Molly had returned and placed a bucket under the discharge chute, which was spilling cleaned grain in to the bucket. "Aden, continue until the hopper is empty."

I open the other grain sack, taking a sample of grain from it, I compare the size of the berries with the first sack. The second sack is smaller in size so the disk will need to be adjusted again. Returning the grain to the sacks, I check the output of the machine. Needs tightened a bit more. "Alright Aden, you can stop. It will need to be adjusted for complete cleaning but we'll save that for while the merchants are here, so they can see it."

Speaking of the merchants, here is Emi guiding one now. "Your Majesty, the merchant Henderson of Chittur."

"Welcome Henderson, nice to see you again. Have you had success in business here on Haven?"

"Not bad, your majesty. It has been worth the trip. How will this sale work?"

"All will be explained before it begins. There will be a demonstration of the new grain cleaner during one of the breaks. Now you must excuse me I have another guest to greet." I have noticed Molly escorting Captain Jones and Jackson, the banned merchant, to the parlor.

Walking over to them, I greeted them, "Good afternoon, Captain Jones, merchant Jackson."

"Your majesty, good afternoon." from the captain.

"Good afternoon, your majesty. Thank you for allowing me to attend."

"It is not I who allows it, merchant, but the woman you assaulted." He flinches.

"I would wish to apologize to you and her if I may. Will she be present at anytime this afternoon?"

"I doubt it, when I asked her if you could attend she answered then retired to her rooms, very upset." When I said this, he slumps, dejected. "Please, take a seat, the auction will commence shortly."

Emi had been giving me the eye, she is upset about something. "Your majesty, you are a mess. Come with me. Taking me by the hand she pulls me in the the closest room where she brushes my clothes off, leaving a tiny pile of chaff on the floor. Then undoing my braid, she brushes my hair, then braids it again. All the while grumbling about me being such a messy person.

"When one works with messy things, one get messy, love. I was adjusting the cleaner."

"I know, I'm just grumbling. There all done. Now give me a kiss and go sell lots of grain." Taking me in a hug and kissing me soundly.

Breaking the kiss with a sigh, I thank her, giving her bottom a squeeze. Giving me quick once over before sending me on my way, "Much better."

I walk to the table at the front, slightly raising my voice, "Ladies and Gentlemen, take your seats, let's begin."

Aden sits at the small table to my right. Molly, Emi and Sophia, who has returned, sit in the second row of seats, leaving the front seats to Mark, Jackson and Henderson. The Captain sits at the left end of the second row.

"Gentlemen, thank you for coming. Today we will auctioning 39000 sacks of wheat and 3000 sacks of rye. They will be offered in lots of 500 sacks which I have been told is the near the capacity of the ships commonly used to haul grain. Bidding will be in coppers per one hundred sacks, meaning a bid of one hundred is one copper per sack. When no one is willing to raise the bid that lot is sold to the last bidder for his price. Think of this as a multiple person haggle. There will now be a demonstration of this process."

"Now up is lot zero, 500 sacks of wheat, cleaned and on the storeroom floor. Who'll give me 600 copper? Anyone, 600 hundred..."

Molly pipes in with, "500".

"I have a bid of 500, who'll go 505, any takers at 505... 505 ..."

"505" from Sophia.

"510" from Emi.

"515" Molly.

"520" Sophia.

"530" Emi.

"540" Molly.

"550" Sophia.

"560" Emi.

"570" Sophia.

"575" Emi.

"576" Molly.

"577" Emi.

Silence... "I have a bid of 577, anyone for 578? 578? 577 once... 577 twice ... sold to Emi for 577."

"Gentlemen, are there any questions? Yes, Jackson?"

"You said cleaned and on the storeroom floor when you described the grain, what do you mean?"

"Price is for the grain, cleaned and loose on the floor of the storeroom, when the ship arrives to pick up the grain they will need to bring sacks to place the grain in or pay one half copper per sack. Any other questions?"

"How do you want to be paid?"

"Cash is always a good way, but trade will be accepted. If I owe you money, what I owe will be subtracted. If you are short of cash, we will hold the grain you bid on for twelve weeks, adding a storage and inconvenience fee of one percent per four week period to the amount due."

"Will there be a storage fee charged between now and when the ships arrive?"

"There will be no fee charged until the first day of winter, then a fee of one quarter of one percent per week will be charged. So send your ships quickly."

"If there are no more questions, we will begin in a moment." In my head,'Sophia, have you had time to write that notice I asked for?' which she replied, 'Not yet I will start it now.' 'Please, add the storage and fees to it.' 'All right.' 'Thank you.' Sophia rose from her chair, walked toward the old section.

"Thank you for waiting. Lot number 1, 500 sacks of wheat, cleaned and loose on the floor. Who will give me 600? Anyone 600..."

"575" From Mark.

"577" from Jackson.

"579" from Henderson.

"582" Mark.

"585" Henderson.

"590" Mark.

"592" Henderson.

"593" Mark.

... "I have a bid of 593, who'll go 594? Anyone... 593 once... 593 twice... sold to Mark for 593."

Lot number 2, 500 sacks of wheat, cleaned and loose on the floor. Who will give me 600? Anyo.."

"593" Mark.

...... "I have a bid of 593, who'll go 594? Anyone... 593 once... 593 twice... sold to Mark for 593."

"Your Majesty, I will take the next ten lots at 593, If I may?" Mark calls out.

"If there is no objection from Henderson or Jackson. Gentlemen?"

"He can have them." They reply.

"Alright, Aden lots 3 thru 12 goto Mark for 593."

"So noted, your majesty."

"Lot 13, 500 sacks of wheat, cleaned and loose on the floor. Who will give me 600? Anyone? 600..."

"575" Henderson.

"580" Jackson.

"582" Henderson.

"583" Jackson.

...... "I have a bid of 583, who'll go 584? Anyone... 583 once... 583 twice... sold to Jackson for 583."

"Lot 14, 500 sacks of rye, cleaned and loose on the floor. Who will give 600? 600? Anyone?.."

"550" Mark.

"552" Henderson.

"553" Mark.

...... "I have a bid of 553, who'll go 554? Anyone... 553 once... 553 twice... sold to Mark for 553."

After half the grain is sold, we take a break. I present the notice about the sacks and fees. I have each of them sign the main copy and gave them their own copy. Next we show off the cleaner. I do a half hopper of wheat, showing that the machine is slightly out of adjustment, then I adjust it, running the grain through again. It comes out clean, no husks to be seen. I next put a handful of rye in it, tighten the adjustment some more then start turning the handle. I have Mark show me the cleaned grain, still needs to be tighter, which I do. When I start turning again the rye is clean. I let the merchants take turns cleaning a bucket of rye.

Henderson asks, "Are these machines available to buy?"

"Sorry, not at this time, perhaps next spring."

We return the the auction, quickly selling the remainder. And so it goes. Mark buys 56 lots of wheat at an average price of 587 coppers per hundred, Henderson 15 lots at 578 and Jackson 7 lots at 578. Mark took four to the six lots of rye at 553 and Henderson the other two at 552. Grossing the kingdom over 569 gold. Aden collects the coins from them, writing receipts which he, I and the buyer signed. Once all three are taken care of, Aden takes the coin to the domain office, to be placed in the strongbox.

"Gentlemen, thank you for coming. Molly will you show them out, please."

Once their are out of hearing range, "Alright friends, thank you for your help. Now lets take the tables and chairs back to where they belong, move the cleaner to the garden along with the sacks of grain. The bucket of cleaned grain can go to the kitchen, Tilly may have a use for it. Eliza, Kalvin, welcome back, how were the ponds?"

"They are all doing well, they all have about the same amount of water. Jason and one of his apprentices was there putting in a length of trough. We tested it, there was minimal leakage. He said to inform you that the rest would be installed shortly."

"Thank you , Kalvin."

I grab a chair, one of the ones that is from the front parlor, carrying it to the front, by lifting it up and placing it on my head. When I get there I swing it down, placing it where it goes. I return to the back parlor, intending to get another chair but there are all gone, the tables too. That taken care of I go to my rooms, I need to relieve myself.

On the way I stop by the kitchen, "Tilly, how long until supper?"

"I little over an hour, your majesty."

"Thank you." I filled a pitcher with hot water, I need a wash, too.

Taking the pitcher I goto my rooms. Placing the pitcher down on the table, I fetch a candle, lighting a couple more in the bedchamber, then retrieve the pitcher. Stripping completely I use the pot. I then mix the water to a comfortable temperature and start wiping myself. When I finish washing, I dress in clean clothes, don my slippers and snuff the candles. I'm about to leave my sitting room when Emi enters. "Hi love. What's going on?"

"Was going to help you bathe but you're already finished. Suppers still a half hour off. What shall we do?"

"Let go down stairs, I need to check on where the tape is. We could count the take from the auction and bag it."

"Alright."

The tape is laying on the table where John had been working. Emi and I move the table and chair back in to the parlor. Then we enter the domain office, where Aden has the coins nearly counted. "Ah, you're almost done. Are there any of the small bags?"

"On that shelf, your majesty." He points to a shelf across from him.

"What is the take?"

"The gross was 569 gold 15 silver, minus the metals and other thing purchased we netted 520 gold 8 silver."

I fetch six bags and we start filling them, 100 coins per bag, with 20 in the last. "The silver can go in the cash box." Emi and I make up some tags, to show the contents of the bags, which get tied on and sealed. "We can take the bags to the treasury after supper. Lets go set the table Emi."