It is 625, well past the time that the palace normally comes to life. The reason is that Tilly is still sound asleep on the queens bed. Normally she is awoken by a guard at 575 but this morning when the guard knocks on her chamber door she is not there to be awoken. The consequences of this is that Emi is not awakened which means that Rufina is not awakened nor are any of the the others. So when Kalvin comes down from the barracks at the same time that Aden enters through the front door and they reach the kitchen they find it dark and unoccupied. Looking at each other with worried looks, Aden instructs Kalvin, "You check the garden, I'll check upstairs."

"They is no one in the garden." Tobias says from the doorway.

Kalvin runs upstairs, entering Helen's and Eliza's rooms, goes to Eliza's bedchamber door, knocking on it, loudly. "Eliza are you in there?" he shouts.

A few moments later the door flies open, revealing a grumpy sleepy Eliza. She stares at Kalvin, "Of course I'm in here, don't be so loud." Staring at her boyfriend she realizes something is wrong. "What are you doing here Kal?"

"There was no one down stairs. I was worried." He pulls her in to a hug, pushing her face into his armored chest.

"Hey, if you are going to be hugging me so early in the morning, at least take off the armor." she grumbles. She finally processes what he said, "What do you mean, no one down stairs?" Pushing out of the hug, she looks at him, with a frown on her face.

"Just what I said, the kitchen is dark, no one is there, they aren't in the garden. Will you check their rooms?"

"Alright, just a second." She retreats into her room, emerging seconds later in her robe and slippers. She walks across the sitting room to Helen's door, slowly opening it, peeking in, "Damn, it's dark in there. Kal I need a candle." Kalvin lights a candle, bringing it to Eliza. Once she can see into the room she notices that the bed is empty.

"Her bed has not been slept in. Let's check if Emi and Mark are in their room."

Leading the way around to the other corner, Eliza knocks on the door. When there is not answer, she opens it, looking around she walks to the bedchamber door where she knock again. This time she is answered, "One moment.", by a gruff male voice.

Seconds later the door opens a crack, allowing Eliza to see Mark, his hair uncombed, eyes blurry with sleep. "Mornin' Eliza, what time is it?"

"Morning Mark, it's well after 600. Is Emi still asleep?"

"Yes, she is. Which is odd, as she is the one that usually wakes everyone." He opens the door so the light from the candle shines in the room. Walking over to the bed he leans down, kissing Emi. "Wake up love, we over slept."

Emi groans, stretching her arms up over her head, arching her back. "Over slept?"

"Yes, Eliza is here, she says it's well after 600."

Emi sits up, "After 600? Where is Tilly, she usually wakes me?" She swings out of the bed grabbing her robe. As she is putting on the robe she exclaims, "Oh, I remember. She is in the queens room, so the guard didn't wake her as he usually does." Instead of going to the queens rooms she goes to Sophia's, followed by Eliza and Kalvin. After entering the sitting room she says, "Kalvin wait here." Lighting a candle from the one Kalvin is holding, she opens the bedchamber door, slipping inside, closing it behind her.

Looking at the bed she sees three bodies intertwined, sleeping soundly. Placing the candle on the bedside table she leans down, kissing each of the sleepers, finishing with the one in middle, her best friend. "Rufina, time to wake up. Actually it's pass time to wake up." Leaning down, she again kisses her roughly. This time she gets a response, being kissed in return. Breaking the kiss, "It's pass time to get up. Tilly is apparently still a sleep, so everyone has over slept."

Hearing that Rufina's eyes pop open, "Are the the guys here?" When Emi nods, "Oh crap. Help me up." Taking Emi's hand she pulls herself out from between the other two. Rolling over Helen, Rufina stands, taking the robe Emi hands her, putting it on. "You wake these two, I'll go wake Tilly." She strides to the door, opening it suddenly, nearly knock Kalvin and Eliza over in her rush. "Morning you two," in passing as she rushes to her rooms. When she reaches them, she lites a candle then opens the door to the bedchamber. There lies Tilly, still sound asleep, snoring lightly. Grabbing her big toe, pinching it gently, "Awake up, Tilly. We're late." She groans, not wanting to wake, Rufina moves to the head of the bed, leaning down close to her ear, "Tillllyy, time to wake up." Tilly, fast as a snake, reaches out, catching Rufina in a hug.

"Not so loud, princess. This is for the wonderful bath last night, "she kisses Rufina. "How what time is it?"

"Close to 650, being in here instead of your room you missed your wake up call. So we are all half an hour behind, Aden and Kalvin are here already. And did you sleep well? You went to sleep so early."

"I slept very well. Emi gives a very relaxing massage. How did I get in bed though?"

"We carried you, on the blankets, making sure not to wake you. After covering you, we finished our bath in Sophia's room then went to bed ourselves. We must have all been tired to all sleep so long."

"We have been up early and going to bed late for several weeks. Can we relax finally?"

"One more day, at least. The ship leaves tomorrow, early I assume, as that is when the wind is best." Rufina is getting clothes out of her wardrobe. Tilly has gotten up, putting on her robe, belting it around herself. Coming up to Rufina, she hugs her close, kissing her on the cheek, "Thank you again for the bath and massage, and letting me sleep. I wish my children were as thoughtful."

Hugging her back, Rufina says, "You deserve to be pampered and to have a break. Now run along and get dressed, I'll see you in the garden." Giving her one last hug, Rufina sent her off. After doing her morning toilet, she dressed in a knee length tunic with knee stockings. Snuffing all the candles but one, which she placed by the door to the balcony before snuffing it, she descends to the kitchen. Everyone but Tilly is there, sipping tea. "Morning everyone, did you all sleep well?"

"Good morning, your majesty." When nine people in a small room say that in unison, it's quite something. I get a big grin on my face, I could get used to that.

"The reason we over slept is we gave Tilly a massage last night, which put her to sleep. Instead of waking her, we put her in my bed, so she missed her wake up call this morning."

"So that's what happened." Aden says.

"Alright, are you all ready to T'ai Chi?" I get nods all around, as tea cups are laid down.

As we are walking out to the garden Mark approaches, "Some of the things you ordered came in last night, your majesty."

"Some? What did and what didn't make it?"

"You rush ordered sugarcane seed, apparently sugarcane is not grown from seed but propagated by cuttings. Therefore we are unable to fill the order as written. If we can substitute a supply of cane ready to plant would that suffice? Some of the seeds you ordered to be delivered before spring were available and were light enough to be delivered with your rush order. There is also a letter to you from the company owner."

We have reached the garden, the others have removed their footwear and are waiting in vertical centering. "We will have to finish our talk later, Mark." After removing my slippers and stockings I stand in front of them. I center myself then after relaxing for a while, "Beginning thirty rotations to the right," we begin. Twenty minutes later we are again in vertical centering, finished.

We are roused from our meditation by, "Excuse me, your majesty, there are several people at the front door, shall I tell them to enter?" It's one of the guards.

"Tell them someone will be there shortly. And thank you." I yell up to him. I see Emi take off at a fast walk, heading to the door.

I am wondering who it could be, as we walk to the dining room. Once I enter the atrium I don't have to wonder any longer, because there stand Daniel, Harry and Albert, Jason's journeyman. They are each carrying a bag or two. "Good morning, gentlemen. What brings you here so early?"

"I have your 'Go' stones as promised." replies Harry. "I was also wondering about your writing stick project."

"Oh, very good. I sorry but I haven't made any progress as of yet. We had a wedding and an auction in the last two days, so haven't had time. Were there any problems with the stones?"

"There were no problems. Could you show me how they are used?"

"We can do that. Daniel, did you bringing the boards? "

"Right here, your majesty." He hold the bag up.

"And I have lids, your majesty." quips Albert.

"Kalvin, where did the pots that you brought back two days ago get put?"

"They are in the Domain Office, your majesty."

"Thank you. Place the contents of your bags on the table, gentlemen." I lead them to the end of the table closest to the domain office. Daniel lays out six Go boards, Albert lays down the pot lids and one pot, while Harry pulls out twenty two small bags. Emi and Helen are setting the table for breakfast, the rest sit around the table waiting. Examining the 'Go' boards, running my hands over them, "These are beautiful, Daniel. Well done." Taking up one of the bags of stones, I pour out a handful. They, like all of Harry's work, are well done, uniform and smooth. I lay one on one of the boards, it is the proper size. I count out eighteen of the stones, putting them to the side, placing the remainder in the pot then located a bag of the same colored stones, dumping them in the pot. I then placed a lid on the pot, the lid fit, the stones were a good two cm below the rim. "Very good, gentlemen, very good. Do you have your bills?"

"Here you are, your majesty." Harry hands me his, then Daniel, Albert says, "It's paid already."

"Here is a receipt, your majesty, already for your signature." Harry hands me a two part receipt like I write. I goto the study, to sign Harry's receipt and write one for Daniel and Albert. Once that is done I goto the palace office, getting the coin for Daniel and Harry. Once the paper work is signed and coins dispersed, I bid goodbye to Albert and Daniel, Harry staying to learn the basics of Go. While I have been attending to business, the others have been eating, I notice that Sophia is finished so call her over. I ask her to explain Go to Harry while I eat. They sit at the end of the table, with a board between them. She starts explaining, showing him like I had shown the others.

When I finally sit, seeing that I am ready to eat, Tilly goes to the kitchen, soon returning with a tray for me. Placing the plate in front of me, she lifts the cover, revealing a sausage pattie, an over easy egg and a slice of toast, covered in a fruit butter. Plus a small plate of cantaloupe slices and a cup of tea. I take a bite of the sausage, the first I have had since arriving. It is pleasantly seasoned, perfectly cooked. The fruit butter is spiced with a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon. After eating the egg, sausage and toast, I remove the rind from the cantaloupe before sprinkling a pinch of salt on it. Fresh ripe cantaloupe is so good. Finishing I gather my plates and utensils, dropping them off in the kitchen.

Most of the others are gathered around Sophia and Harry, who are now playing a game. I fetch the pots from the office then moving some of the bags down table to my seat, I start counting out stones, placing 182 stones in each pot, putting one extra in each. I place a lid on each pot and the Go stones are sorted and ready to go. I stack up four of the boards, placing eight pots near them, those are Mark's.

Catching his eye I motioned him over, "Here are four 'Go' sets minus instruction booklets. My cost is 8 silver 3 coppers for each set, depending on the price of the instructions, total costs would be what? Ten silver? What do you think you will sell them for? One gold 10 or two gold?"

"I was thinking asking for two gold ten, with one gold ten being the least I would take. Would you take sixteen silver for each set?"

"I would, I was going to suggest fifteen silver each so we are thinking a like. You were telling me about the rush shipment, what was it again?"

"Sugarcane is not grown from seed apparently, so your order can't be filled as written. They sent a bundle of canes, ready to plant though. Because of the size of the bundle, there are only about enough to plant 32 plants. So I owe you a refund of two gold. There is also a bag containing bags of seed, I not sure what is what in that. And here is the letter from the company owner." He hands me a roll of papers, tied with a ribbon and sealed with wax. I slip a nail under the edge of the seal, popping it off. After reading the first two pages, I call to Aden, he needs to read this also. Handing him the first couple of pages, I continue to read, passing each page to him as I finish it.

The letter boils down to him thanking me for my orders, apologizing for not being able to fill the rush order as written. It also informs me that the offer of a exclusive contract is welcome and I should negotiate with Mark on the particulars. Then it went on to say Mark will be allowed to open a shop on Haven. And hoping we have a long and profitable partnership. There is a page detailing how to plant the sugarcane.

When Aden finishes the letter, "Mark, this afternoon we will sit down and negotiate the contract, if you will write up a list of things you, as company representative, need from us, we will do the same. We will also negotiate the farm implements and tools and the lamp. But first we need to visit Lian's house to check its suitability, would you like to come with us?"

"Yes I would. And thank you."

"Now let's see how Harry is doing against Sophia."

Harry was doing well against Sophia at Go. They had several groups battling for control of large areas of the board. As we watched, Sophia placed a stone that took control of the one area. Then Harry placed one that takes a slightly large area, ending the game. They started counting score. In the end Sophia wins by one stone. It was a hard fought battle, with areas not counting because of eyes.

"Very good, Harry, very good. I enjoyed that. Thank you for the game." Sophia congratulates Harry.

"Thank you for teaching me. We'll have to have a rematch soon."

"You should play Kalvin. He is a good player and would give you a workout."

Harry looks at Kalvin, "When could we play Kalvin?"

"This evening would be good. I think her majesty has me for the rest of the morning at least." He replies, looking at me.

"In that case, I should be going myself. I have a kiln to load and fire tomorrow. A pleasure meeting you Sophia." Saying that he stands, bows to Sophia then to me, "Have a good day, your majesty, Sophia." Emi shows him out.

'Did you let him win?' I ask in my head. 'In the beginning I was easy on him, but the longer we played the harder it was to do that. He is a very quick learner.'

"Alright, who is going to look at the house with us?" I ask the group.

"I need to spin some yarn, if I want to make any clothes in the next week. And I have asked Sophia if she would help," replies Helen. Sophia nods.

"I will accompany you, if I may." says Mark. Which gets a smile from Emi, who has returned from the door.

Tobias, Tilly, Abbey and the maids have all gone to be about their work. So it's Aden, myself, Kalvin, Eliza, Emi and Mark.

"Horses today, your majesty?" Kalvin asks.

"No horses today, let's walk. Emi, the basket, please. Let me speak with Tilly a second then we can go." Emi goes to the study to get the basket, while I go speak to Tilly. "Tilly, we are leaving, we should return in time for dinner. Sophia and Helen will be about somewhere, spinning yarn. So you are in charge." She and Abbey are elbow deep in flour, mixing bread it looks like.

"Soup and sandwiches for dinner today, see you then, have a good day."

After putting my boots on in the garden, we head out the garden gate. As we walk down to town I ask, "Eliza, are you all most done with the card faces?"

"I have designs for the king cards waiting your approval, plus two designs for the backs. Once you approve them I can have them done in a few hours. What do you want me to work on after they are done?"

"We'll work on the alphabet book next, I think. But we are going to have to wait for some paper to arrive first. When do you think that will arrive, Mark?"

"In the next few days, your majesty. The order went out six days ago, so any time now."

"Paper and ink, correct?"

"Yes."

"I remember that day, I promised a method to transfer the images to the blocks and I never got that done, darn it."

"What would it entail?"

"I was thinking of what was called carbon paper on Earth, soot mixed with bees wax spread on a thin paper. Place the wax side down on the block, the image on top, then trace the image, the pressure puts the wax on the block." I imagine what I just said, "Whoops, thinking about it, that wouldn't work, the image wouldn't be reversed like it needs to be, though..." I imagine placing the waxed side up with a piece of paper above then the original above that, then tracing. I get poked in the side. "I know, I know, no rabbit holes. But I figured it out. First make a reverse image, then transfer that to the block."

"So we need a supply of soot, some bees wax and thin paper. Where do we get soot?" Mark wants to know.

"Soot is incompletely combusted fuel, so a long wick in a bowl of oil. Holding a plate or something above the flame, catching the soot. It will take quite a lot, which is a problem. Then there is getting it off what it's caught on without getting it spread all over."

We have arrived at the house. We are standing in the street in front of the building, looking it over. The building appears to be 10 measures wide by 16 long, sitting on a foundation of rough stone. It is two stories, post and beam construction, with plastered walls between the posts. There are many shuttered windows on both floors. Like the palace it has a red tile roof.

"Aden you said that the lot was fifty measures to a side, correct."

"Yes, that's correct."

"Is the house centered on the lot? or off set to one side?"

"I'm not sure about that, I would have to find the markers."

We climb the three steps to the front door, which Aden unlocks, then holds as we enter. There is a small entrance hall, with doorways on either side. Before us, there is a stairway along the right hand wall with a narrow hall to the left. Looking to the right I see a room that could be a study or office, there is a desk and shelves with books and bric-a-brac. To the left is a parlor, a number of chairs with small tables beside them, a large archway on the right wall. The arch opens on to the dining room, a table with six chairs and a side board visible.

Walking pass the stairway, we come to the back hall. There are four doors visible, the door on the right leads to the kitchen, which is much better lit than the one in the palace but is smaller. The door on the left leads to the dining room. The one in front of us leads to the yard out back. The fourth, below the stairway, opens on a stairway leading to the cellar.

After opening the cellar door I look around for a candle, I see one but there is no way to easily light it. I guess the cellar can wait. The problem of lighting a candle gets me wondering if I can make a lighter or matches. Walking into the dining room I see that it is much smaller than the one in the palace, it would need to be rebuilt larger, at least half again as big. "This is definitely too small. Let check the upstairs."

Going to the front hall and up the stairs, we reach the upper hallway. There are three doors. The one in front of us is a storage room. The doors on the right and left lead to bedchambers. We turn toward the front the hall going around the stairwell, then opening the large shuttered window and the end. There are doors on the right and left sides. I open the right hand door, looking in at the room. It's dark, as the shutters are closed, but I can see a bed, a chair, a bed table and a wardrobe. Opening one of the shutters, light spills in. This is much better than the palace, which have no windows in the bedchambers so are dark all the time. Kneeling I check the floor. It's made of finely fitted wood planks, sanded smooth. Leaning out the window I look out at the the side yard and the back of the lot.

At the back of the yard is a building with a large door facing the back of the house, the stable I assume. There are thirty five measures between the window and the stables. The stable also sits off to the side slightly. Closing the shutter, I move across the hall, opening the side window, peering down at the beginnings of a garden. The house next door is about thirty measures distant. "Kalvin, if we built a perimeter wall, how tall would it need to be?"

"With or with out hoardings?'

"Without, I was thinking of just a tall fence, three measures tall perhaps, with spikes on top. Would that be adequate?"

"That is not a very strong defense, your majesty. I was going to suggest a stone wall at least a measure thick and four tall with hoardings."

"Isn't that a bit much for a fifty measure square lot? If we would goto that much work we could build a house in the baily."

"You sound like you are moving in here." says Aden, "Are you sure?"

"It's look like it can be done. Add three or four measures on the back, making the dining room larger, add a garderobe. On the second floor a bathing room and a garderobe. I am so tried of using chamber pots. Put up a tall fence. Convert the stables into workrooms for Helen and myself, if we need horses we can have them brought down from the stables. Eliza, could you sketch a floor plan for me?"

"What is a floor plan, your majesty?"

"A floor plan is a sketch of the outline of a building, showing the wall, doors and windows. Imagine floating above a building and being able to see though the roof, then draw the outline of the walls. Then seeing though each of the other floors until you have them all drawn. Emi, paper and charcoal sticks, please. Would one of you find a lit candle so we can check the cellar. Alright Eliza," I laid a piece of paper on the table, drawing a rough floor plan of the first floor of the house, "this is a floor plan of the first floor of this house. Could you do that but not so rough. You can go to each room, drawing them in as you go." She nods, picking up a charcoal stick, soon having this room done. She moves across the hall. I move down stairs to wait for Aden to return with a candle or some fire.

Aden returns with a lit candle so we can visit the cellar. After lighting several more candles, we descend the stairs. The cellar is one large room with the stairs in the middle. Lian had a work space set up in the front corner and there were crates and barrels stacked in the back. "Do you remember what's in the crates and barrels?" I ask Aden and Kalvin.

"Most are empty, though some of the crates hold items. We found the cobblers hides in one of the crates."

"Do you think that Tilly, Abbey and the maids would mind living down here if it was fixed up a little?"

"What do you mean by a little?"

"Walls, a floor, a small parlor maybe."

"They might like that. It is cool down here."

I wander over to the work space. There is a work bench, with some small tools in drawers. And there is a mortar and pistil. I need one of those. I could use some of the other tools also. I search the area, until I find a small basket, filling it with the tools and the mortar and pistil. Laying the basket by the stairs, I continue looking around. Soon Eliza joins us in the cellar, sketching the floor plan. Before she starts on the cellar, she hands me two pages with the upper two floors on them, so much neater than what I can do.

Once Eliza is finished sketching, I suggest we look the stable over. Picking up the basket of tools, we climb the stairs going out the back door to the stables. It not a very large building, two stalls on the left side and storage for feed and tools on the right with a loft above. So five or six meters deep and ten or so wide. Helen could set up her loom and equipment in here, I think. Thinking of her loom reminds me she will have an apprentice or two soon, they will need a space to live. Ah, the loft, the prefect place for a couple of youngsters to sleep.

Eliza is sketching the floor plan of the stable, I remind her to do the loft also. Stepping out into the yard, we look around. Lian had the side yard leveled and a garden laid out, though there wasn't much there yet. Which is fine, I have ideas for that too.

"Aden, this afternoon after you check the progress of the threshing and cleaning, could you find Bob the builder and have him come visit me."

"When exactly?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. That will let us bid farewell to Mark in the morning and get some plans drawn."

"Very well, tomorrow afternoon. At the palace or here?"

"Here, he will want to inspect the house and stable before making any commitments. Is the house locked up? Do we have everything?" Aden goes through the back door, baring it from the inside, then meets us at the front door, locking it. As we walk to the palace the basket gets heavy so, "Eliza, would you help me carry this, please." I put it down and grab one handle. She takes the other and we continue up the hill.

We enter the palace through the garden as usual, exchanging our boots for slippers. Eliza helps carry the basket to the study, where we place it near the suit of armor that is there. Emi places the basket she is carrying down on the desk. I sit at the desk getting ready to sketch some plans for the house when I find something I had forgotten, Emi and Marks wedding certificate. Calling Kalvin and Eliza back to the study I show it to them asking them to sign the bottom. Eliza's hand is beautiful and Kalvin's barely legible. I thank them and let then return to what they were doing. I'll give it the Emi and Mark at dinner which isn't to far off. It is laying on the desk, upside down when Emi comes to get me so we can wash up for dinner a short time later.