As we are climbing the hill back to the palace I glace at the sky, it appears to be close to the time for my daily run. After entering the palace I have Emi take the tea to the kitchen asking her to prepare the bath water as I am going to go for my run. Getting to my room I change clothes to shorts and short tunic, placing the skirt and blouse in the clothes basket. I meet Kalvin at the garden gate as we normally do. I do a few stretches to warm up then we start jogging, today we are running around the outside of the walls, skirting the dry moat.

We are about half way around when Kalvin says, "You are going to need a new pair of boots, your majesty. Those are inadequate, they will slip on wet slopes." When he says that I remember that warriors wore hobnail boots to prevent slipping. The problem with hobnail boots is that they would slip on stone surfaces. I wondered if I could make a boot with tread on the sole. Thinking about this I don't even notice when we reach the hill leading back up to the palace. When we come to a stop, though I am breathing hard it's not nearly as hard as yesterday.

"Did we run as fast as yesterday, Kalvin?" I asked him.

"The same pace, your majesty. You ran very well today."

Why? I am improving quickly, much more than should be normal. Has Sophia given me a blessing so I gain stamina at a faster rate? I'll have to ask her.

We enter the palace via the garden gate, Kalvin enters the palace while I go to check the progress of the bath house. It's coming along nicely, the frame is up, the back wall has the waddle woven, ready for the mud to be applied. The tub is inside, sitting on its bed of gravel. The bathing area in front of it is graveled and level ready to be tiled. The drain pipes are buried. Tobias and his friends are doing a good job.

When I finally enter the palace I go to the study, I want to sketch the idea I had for the boot sole before I forget it. It is quickly done. The idea is to place strips of leather on the sole then cover then with another piece of leather which is nailed to the original piece. The nails would go between the strips so the heads would be below the final surface. I'll show this to Jeffery and Gordon tomorrow when they come about their taxes and rent. Speaking of that, I wonder if Aden has checked the records yet. I goto his office, peeking in the door, no Aden. Oh well, I'll see him in a few minutes anyway.

Oh, I need to get up stairs and bathe. I run across the atrium, taking the stairs two steps at a time. Running around to my room I burst in, surprising Emi and Sophia bathing each other. "Hello, Loves. Got any water left for me?" I start stripping my clothes off, throwing them all into the basket. As my panties hit the rim, hands start rubbing me all over, covering me in soap. Some spots get a little more attention than others. Soon warm cloths wipe the soap off followed by soft towels drying me. Then hugs and kisses but those are cut short when Sophia says, Eliza is on her way. So clothes are hastily gathered and put on. Emi and Sophia are still only half dressed when Eliza knocks but I cheated, just slipping a pair of panties on with a tunic over, no bra or chemise.

Opening the door part way I greet Eliza,"Hello, sweetie. How has your day been?"

"Ah, you're ready. Tilly said supper would be ready in ten minutes but that's a couple of minutes ago." She gives me smile. "I have a couple more pages in the alphabet book done. Did you get the craftsmen to approve the plan?"

"Yes I did. Now comes finding them some apprentices."

"I know a few youngsters that would like to apprentice to someone, second and third sons and daughters of serfs."

"When we get the apprentice notice ready would you take it around to them and explain what it is to them?"

"You think I could? I'm not a talker like you."

"We can help you with what to say. Come to think of it, most of the serfs would need some one to explain the notice to them, so there will need to be a few others to train also." I turn, looking at Emi and Sophia, they are ready. "Come on you two, let's go eat." I throw the door open, Sophia comes out, giving Eliza a hug. As they go out the outer door Emi, comes up giving me a hug, whispering in my ear, "Do you want your bra?" I was going to shake my head, but when she started playing with my nipple through the tunic I changed my mind. Stepping back in the room, I lift the tunic off, pick out a bra, slip it on, fasten it then slip the tunic back on.

I come back out, take Emi by the hand and off to supper we go.

Abbey and Helen are setting the table as we come out of the stairway, so Emi and I sit down. Once I'm seated, I close my eyes, thinking about what Eliza brought up. The serfs, mostly illiterate, would need someone to explain the apprentice program to them. So a number of people would be needed. Should it be setup like a job fair, like the ones we had when I was in school, where the companies would send representatives to talk to the students? But where could we do that? The town hall is too small. The amphitheater could work. It all depends on the number of kids that show an interest.

'Are you asleep?' Sophia mind speaks me. 'No, just thinking.' 'Tilly is bringing the main course out so look alive or Aden is going to poke you.' 'Thank you, Sophia.' I sit up straight, giving her a smile. Tilly has just set a good sized pot in front of me. It's a stew, taking a deep sniff I smell that it is pork, I can see turnips, onions and carrots in it.

"Looks good, Tilly." As she places the lid on the sideboard. "Good Evening all, I hope your day was productive, mine was. If you'll pass your bowls we can get started." As the bowls made there way to me, I started telling them of the meeting. Aden and Sophia added a few points giving me a few moments to eat. As I finished my bowl of stew I commented, "Now to let the youngsters know that there are apprenticeships open for them to apply for. I was speaking with Eliza before dinner and I realized that the serfs are going to need someone to explain the program to them, because most can't read. So we will need people to do that. Plan on being volunteered to help."

"On to another subject, Who has their B.o.B. done?" Only Emi and Tilly rise their hands. "Why not?"

Most say they have their clothes picked out, but need a bag or basket yet and don't have any of the other things. "Aden, would you arrange for dozen baskets to be delivered. And four pounds of candles. Who has a fire starter?" Only four do. "And eight fire starters. Tilly, do we have any dried food?"

"Not really, Rufina."

"No Chickpeas or lentils? Wheat, oats or barley?"

"Oh, yes I have some of those. But no meat."

"All right, I see I need to get a food drier made." I recall I designed one but haven't gotten it built yet. I need to check it tonight.

"Your majesty, What does B.o.B. mean?" Eliza asks.

"Ah, I didn't tell you did I. It stands for bug out bag. On Earth there are people that have a philosophy that they should be ready for emergencies at all times. If they need to flee a storm or a fire they plan on bugging out, leaving quickly. To that end they have their bags or even a cart ready to go, with what they think they will need to survive. Like I told Molly, if the raiders attack do you want to spend time looking for things to take with you or grab your bag and go."

People have finished eating so are stacking their dishes on the trays. I turn to Emi, "Are you going to cut Tilly's and Abbey's hair this evening?"

"I planned on it. May I get the razor out of your chest?"

"Yes, you may." I leaned over, whispering in Emi's ear, "Do you think Abbey would like to be bathed?" She turned her head, looking at Abbey.

"She probably would. I'll ask her later. If she does, do we do it in your room?" I nod. "I need to check a sketch but I'll come help in a bit."

I stand, picking up my dishes which I place on the tray. Going to the study, I find the food dryer I sketched a week ago. I sit down and write some instructions on the sketch. I explain what it is, that it will be outside so needs a weather proof finish on the outside but a food safe finish on the inside. The racks are to be finished with beeswax also. The side of the cabinet that has the heater panel is to be finished as dark as possible. The cloth over it is to be the same, dark as possible. I intended to give it to Aden but he had already gone home, I'll give it to him in the morning. I return it to the desk in the study.

I look around, Sophia, Eliza, Helen and Kalvin are playing rummy. I speak to Sophia,'I'm going to be helping Emi with Tilly and Abbey, If you want a bath come up after Tilly and Abbey come down.' 'All right, I'll do that.' I feel like I am being kissed, It feels strange but I like it. I try sending the feeling back to her. I hear her giggle which causes Helen to ask her why is she giggling. I don't hear the answer as I am climbing the stairs.

Entering my rooms, I tap on the bed chamber door before opening it wide enough to step in. Emi is giving Abbey lessons on how to wash someones hair using Tilly as the teaching aid. Emi is guiding Abbey's hands over Tilly's head, showing her how to massage the scalp. I mix a basin of water then sit at Tilly's feet with soap and a cloth. Removing her shoes and stockings I start giving her a foot massage, which soon has her relaxed. After rubbing both feet, I wash them well then rinse and dry them. By this time they have Tilly's hair washed, ready to be cut. Emi has a cloth around Tilly's neck. She is standing behind her, in centering stance, eyes closed. She nods, when her eyes open she starts cutting hair, slowly at first but speeding up as she goes. Abbey is sitting on the chest watching. When Emi is finished with Tilly, she ask me to dry her hair for her. Abbey and Tilly trade seats, but I first pull the chest out a little so I can stand between it and the bed. I then start drying Tilly's hair. When it's mostly dry I start brushing it. While I am doing that, Emi is washing Abbey's hair and giving her a scalp massage. When I'm finish brushing Tilly's hair she kisses my cheek, telling me she will see me in the morning then leaves.

I do the same as I did with Tilly, mixing some water then removing Abbey's shoes and stockings. As I am massaging her feet she starts squirming, Emi is still massaging her head. I start massaging her calves. I look at her face, her eyes are closed, she is breathing heavily. I catch Emi's eye then make a scissor motion with my fingers near my hair. She nods, then rinses the soap from Abbey's hair. After drying her hair a bit, she ties the cloth around her. Holding the razor, she goes into vertical centering, then starts cutting hair. Abbey has her eyes closed, relaxed.

I remove my tunic, placing it in the bottom of the wardrobe as I only wore it a couple of hours. Walking behind Emi I reach around her, undoing the frogs on her blouse then the ones on her skirt. When she steps out of it after it drops to the floor I pick it up, putting it the wardrobe also. She pauses for a few seconds so I can slip the blouse off her then she resumes cutting Abbey's hair. I prepare a new basin of water, making it a little warm, it isn't going to be used right away.

When Emi is finished, she removes the cloth, "Would you like to be bathed, Abbey?" She nods. She opens her eyes, noticing our state of dress finally as I pull her to her feet then undoing her skirt, letting it drop to the floor. Emi slips the blouse off her. She has a pair of Helen made panties and a bikini type bra on. I undo the frog, letting the bra drop. Emi soaps the cloth that is laying on the basin, handing it to me. Emi takes her right arm and I the left and we start washing, first her hands and arms. Emi does her back while I do her front. We work our way down her legs, removing her panties then back up her sides. When I rise her arms to wash the under arms I ask, "Would you like this removed?" I lightly tug on her under arm hair.

She looks at me, I have her arm held up so my arm pit is visible. Looking at me she nods. As I soap her Emi is examining the razor, which she then strops. After taking the raised arm she says,"This may tickle." As she is shaving the one I prepare the other. Once both are done, we rinse our cloths and start washing her bottom and crotch, trying not to get too sexual but when she starts trembling and her legs spread, I rub a little harder, going deeper. Her nipples get hard as we caress her. Emi has removed her panties and bra and is standing behind Abbey, rubbing herself on Abbey, foundling her breasts. I step close, kissing her. I get kissed in return. I have a pair of fingers in her channel, rubbing that spot, the heel of my hand pressing on her nubbin, leaning down I suck a nipple, running my tongue around it. She is breathing very hard now. Soon she is shuddering, going over the edge. She gets very weak in the knees, leaning heavily on us. I have Emi hold her while I rinse her off, then dry her. Emi half carries, half drags her to the bed, where we lay her down, covering her with the sheet.

Rinsing the cloth I have, I start washing Emi, being very sexual while doing it. She has just pulled the rest of my clothes off when Sophia and Helen enter and strip. Soon the four of us are scrubbing and rubbing each other, pushing each other over the edge in the process. They join forces against me, making me orgasm very hard, so hard I nearly pass out. They rinse and dry me while holding me up then lay me next to Abbey.

A short time later, I feel my nipples being licked. It's Abbey. She sees that I have noticed her, she moves from my breasts to my lips, kissing me. After a long kiss, she whispers,"Thank you for the bath, your majesty."

I whisper back,"You can call me Rufina, Abbey." I put an arm and a leg over her, laying my head on her shoulder. "Good night sweetie." Her head leans on my shoulder, we are soon asleep.