Stepping into Daniel's shop, we are greeted by the tinkling of the bell. Jose' appears, summoned by the bell. "Good Afternoon, how... Ah Your majesty, welcome. I will assume you wish to speak with Master Daniel, one moment please." He returns to the back. Shortly Daniel arrives, slightly out of breath, bowing to me, "Your majesty, how may I help you today?"

"Good afternoon, Daniel. I have a few more projects for you to work on." Turning to Emi, "The stacking Game and the skein winder sketches and the spindle holder, Please." She has removed the folio, searching through the sketches. Find them, she hands them to me. I lay them on the table,"This one shouldn't take long, being simple. Helen would like it quickly if you could." as I point to the winder. "This other one, is simple also, being a pile of the identical pieces." This is a block stacking game, 48 wooden blocks, stacked three to a layer. Then the players take turns moving blocks, placing them on the top of the stack until it falls over. "You can take your time on it, no rush."

He examines the sketches, does some calculating in his head, "Ten copper for the winder, two for the spindle holder and twelve for the game."

I nod, that is about what I figured, I glance at Aden, he nods also. "Emi, the purse please."

After the usual signing of receipts and handing over of coin, we bid Daniel good afternoon.

The next stop is Stevens' shop, where I have Emi lay out the serving cart sketch. When Steven comes from the back we greet each other, then I show him the sketch. After several minute, he says the cost will be, one silver five. Again, Aden nods. Receipts are signed, coins change hands and we are off to see Jason.

At Jason's, we are met by Albert, who tells me Jason is not in the shop at the moment. I have Emi lay out the hand truck and the bee hive sketches. I then explain them to Albert. He examines the hand truck, nodding. When we are looking at the bee hive sketches, he is full of questions, why this, why that. Instead of answering him, I ask Sophia to take us to dream space. Aden and Kalvin decline to join us but Emi comes along.

When we are there I tell him of myself, Sophia's role and then show him the bee hive boxes and frames. Luckily Jason has chairs in his show room so we can sit as it takes a few minutes. I show why I want two sizes of boxes, a smaller one to catch the swarms in and larger ones to house the swarms in once captured. He is inquisitive about the frames, wondering about their use. I start explaining about bees when Sophia reminds me we really don't have time for a lengthy lesson. So I tell him they are so the hive is not destroyed when the honey is removed. We return to Real Space shortly after.

He names a price for the hand truck of 15 copper. Because there are two different hives, he says 1 silver for the trap plus 17.5 copper for the frames. The horizontal hive will be 2 silver plus 1 silver 15 for the frames. The hand truck could be finished in a week, the hives will take two weeks each, plus several days each per frame. I tell him I need two hand trucks, as soon as possible and if they are successful more will be ordered.

I want two of the capture boxes with frames first then two large hives with frames. Of course these will have more ordered at a later date so suggest that jigs and patterns be made to duplicate them. The first of the capture boxes are to be delivered by forty two Winter with the hives two weeks later. After receipts are signed and twelve silver fifteen changes hand, we are off again.

Having no more business in town we return to the palace. On the way I ask who would like to go swimming? Aden bows out, he has paperwork to catch up on, grumbling at we should prepare for the applicants tomorrow. When we reach the palace, Aden goes to his office, Sophia and Emi go to get the suits. I check in with Tilly, letting her know we have returned and are going out again. I hear Helen's loom in the background.

Walking to her workroom I say, "Afternoon Helen, would you like to come swimming? It's going to be two or three days before we get another chance what with the apprentice applicants tomorrow and the next day. Then figuring out who goes where the next day. It will have to be a quick dip because of the time though."

"Humm, I think I'll pass today, I have an order that needs filling and I'm short on cloth. I figure I can get enough this evening if I keep at it."

"Ok, see you at supper then," I give her a hug before I leave.

Kalvin has Eliza with him, so I assume she is joining us. Sophia comes from upstairs carrying a basket. I dash up the stairs, wanting to change to shorts and a tunic. In my rooms, I strip to my underwear, slipping on a pair of shorts then a knee length tunic. I check if Emi has my suit, she does because it's gone. I head back to the others. Kalvin has gone to fetch the horses. We head out the garden gate, checking the bricks on the way by. They are looking good.

We mount up when Kalvin and Tobias bring the horses out. We trot over the draw bridge and descend the hill to town. Sophia and Eliza have yet to see the new swimming spot so are excited. It only takes ten minutes to reach the new inlet at the pace we are riding. We stop as we crest the hill between the inlets.

Sophia exclaims, "Very nice."

Eliza, though, is an artist, "I need to draw this." She pulls out a board with a sheet of paper fastened to it and begins sketching.

Sophia, Emi and I leave Kalvin with Eliza, who has tuned out everything but the scene in front of her. Going to the trees by the cabana we dismount, tieing the horses near some grass. We are soon changed, playing in the water, splashing each other. I point out the shelf of rock on the wall opposite to Sophia, telling her it is a good spot to dive from. Soon the three of us are swimming across the inlet. I start climbing the rocks as soon as we arrive. Emi is still not sure this is safe. She and Sophia stay below as I climb to the shelf. Once there I sweep my foot across the surface removing any loose stones then putting my back to the wall I take two steps, measuring the distance. Returning to the wall, I take a couple deep breathes. Then taking two quick steps, launch myself up and out, doing a twisting half gainer. I need to figure out how to put a diving board up there.

Climbing the cliff again, I just put my back to the wall and take a running leap, touching my toes before I open to hit the water. I swim down, then turn swimming upward hard. Broaching, I come within inches of leaving the water completely. I let out a whoop as a fall back into the water. I used to enjoy diving so much in junior high school.

Sophia has climbed the cliff and is standing on the shelf. I yell for her to wait for me. I swim to the base of cliff then ascend, stepping down to the shelf I pull her back from the edge. "Have you ever done this?" She shakes her head. "OK, start simply, stand with your toes on the edge, then squat down with your arms extending behind you. As you come back up, swing your arms forward, ending with them over your head. You want to push up and out. As you drop extend your arm over your head with your hands together." I show her the hand position. "After you enter the water bend at the waist, you will come back to the surface. Do you want me to do it first?" She nods.

We switch places. I am now standing, toes on the edge. I bend at the waist, arms behind me and knees bent. As I straighten my legs, I swing my arms forward and straighten up. As I arc out my arms go over my head, my hand locked together. I straighten out, hit the water. Bending, I surface. Stroking to the side I yell up to her, "Ok, you do it."

And she does, making a perfect arch, straightening just above the water, arms extended, then bending once submerged. She breaks the surface a hugh grin on her face. Of course she wants to do it again. She is back up the cliff in a flash. Once she is back in the water, I climb out, standing on the tiny shelf at the base of the cliff. Put my hand over my head dive in from there, hoping to get Emi to try diving. I succeed. As I climb out to do it again, she joins me.

"This is more within my abilities." she says then dives in. She swims out to the middle then returns. I am off to the side waiting for Sophia to dive again, which she does. When they are preparing to climb out, "You want to race to the other side?"

"Yes, let's." they both say.

"Ok, climb up here and stand like this," I assume a starting position, bent at the waist, arms back, knees bent. I spy a small stone to the side, which I pick up. When they are ready, "When the stone hits the water, dive and swim to the other side. Ready." I toss the stone, up and out slightly. Splash.

I dive, swimming close to thirty feet underwater, break the surface, crawling hard. I can see Sophia out of the corner of my eye, about a body length back. Emi is beside her, gaining on us both. Increasing my effort I speed up. When my hand hits sand on the down stroke I roll to my back, get a couple more strokes in before beaching myself. I am sitting on the bottom when Emi then Sophia roll over, panting. I am panting a little myself. We pull ourselves to the beach, laying there is the sun.

Rolling to my stomach I look around for Eliza and Kalvin. Their horses are with ours, but I don't see them so they are probably in the woods again. I lay my head on my crossed arms, relaxing. Emi crawls beside me, doing the same. Sophia moves to my other side, sitting cross legged, meditating.

I may have fallen asleep, because the next thing I am aware of are two pair of hands kneading me. They are getting intimate with their caresses, probing and rubbing. After I have climaxed they lay beside me, kissing me. Then Emi and I do the same for Sophia. We have started on Emi, when we hear Eliza and Kalvin coming from the woods so have to cut her short. Giving her a quick kiss while rearranging her swimsuit, "We'll continue this before supper, right Sophia?" I get a nod. We run into the water, to rinse the sand out of places it shouldn't be in then return to shore.

Kalvin is already in his armor, I don't think he got a chance to change to his swimsuit. He looks around with a frown then sits cross legged on the sand. Pulling out his knife he starts to whittle. Eliza is carrying her basket, which she sets next to us. Removing the board, she shows us the sketch she had drawn while we swam. It's quite good. She replaces it in her basket then runs into the water, the three of us chasing after.

After floating out to the deep water the four of us swim to where the stream enters the inlet. We sit, spending a few minutes resting on the small beach there then swim back to Kalvin. We start changing out of our suits as it is time to return.

Seeing Kalvin frowning yet, "What is the matter, Kalvin?"

"We need some thing to sit on here. Sitting on the sand is uncomfortable." I hear him mumble, "and I get sand in places it shouldn't be."

"Remind me the next time to bring some tools. We could build a fire pit and some benches around it. Did you notice any stones suitable for a fire ring while you were in the woods?"

"I was paying attention to Eliza not stones, your majesty."

"That's all right Kalvin. I was just asking. We can look when we need them."

It's soon my turn to change. When I come out, the horses are ready. Emi takes my suit putting it in the basket then Kalvin helps her mount. As he helps me, "Do you wish to run part of the way back, like yesterday?" he asks.

"That will be fine."

We ride until we can see the guard tower in the distance then dismount. Emi dismounts also, passing our reins to the Eliza and Sophia, we stretch then start jogging. Once we are warmed up, Kalvin ups the pace. The last one hundred feet are at a sprint, flat out. Emi beats us both to the main gate by several yards. Kalvin and I slowly walk to the garden gate to cool down. After leaving Kalvin, who is taking care of the horses, we enter the palace, shedding our shoes at the garden door. Collecting pitchers of water as we pass the kitchen we spilt up, Sophia and Eliza going to Sophia's room, Emi and I to mine.

We are short on time so we wash quickly. After getting dressed, Emi and I set the table for supper. After Tilly serves another of her wonderful meals and most are finished eating I tell them what we will be doing tomorrow.

"Tomorrow we will be taking applications for apprenticeships at the town hall. Aden how many apprentices are the masters willing to take on?"

"From the letters I have received they will accept fifty six at this time. I have a list of how many in each craft. The eighteen craftsmen will take thirty two and the seamstresses and weavers will take twenty four. I did not receive letters from all the craftsmen that were at the meeting or that had sign the notice sheet."

"I knew that Gordon, the cobbler, wasn't going to participate, he told me when he came the other day. I wonder why so many didn't want to participate?"

"Did Gordon say why?"

"He told me he didn't want to. It's all right, if they don't want to, they don't have to, I won't force them."

"So, who is going to help? Eliza do you still want to help? Helen? Sophia? Emi?"

"I am sorry, Rufina, I have that order to fill so can't tomorrow but I can help the next day." says Helen.

"I said I would help, if I can get help with what to say to them." replies Eliza.

"I'll help anyway I can." says Sophia.

"I'll help." says Emi.

"Helen, can you help make forms tonight? It's writing a few words on a sheet of paper."

"I can help with that."

"Thank you. Abbey would you like to help tonight?"

"My writing is horrible your majesty. I even have trouble reading it at times." Tilly is nodding.

"How about you, Tilly? Is your hand unreadable?"

"I can help after we get the kitchen cleaned up."

"That everyone? All right, let's clear the table, get supper cleaned up then we can start. Who's turn is it to do the dishes?"

It's Helen and Sophia's turn to wash dishes. We clear the table, filling the trays with dirty dishes. The trays are taken to the kitchen, followed by Sophia and Helen. I go to the palace office, returning with a pack of paper, ink stones and brushes. Emi has fetched a teacup of water for the ink. Aden has his ink stone from the domain office. I count out seven stacks of papers, fifteen sheets to a stack. Emi mixes ink on the stones, making a fair amount. After placing an ink stone between a pair of paper stacks, I take up brush and do a prototype form. It has Name, Age, Date of Birth, Parents Name, Parents Occupation, Able to read, write and do sums, Crafts Applying For, Full or Partial Grant, Apprenticed to, Starting on, and Notes.

I show the form to Aden, he nods,"Looks good."

So the five of us start lettering forms. When Sophia and Helen finish they come join us. It doesn't take long until we have one hundred five forms lettered. Once they are finished we discuss the what to say to the youngsters and their parents. When we have that figured out, we discuss how to test their reading, writing and math skills. We come up with three small tests; a paragraph to be read, a long sentence to be copied and a paragraph containing several word problems. Six copies of this are made, one for each of the the testers.

Kalvin asks about crowd control. We discuss that a few minutes then decide to make some numbered chits to hand out. Dividing sheets of paper into small pieces we write numbers on them, one to one hundred then cut them apart. Kalvin can pass them out to the people in line in the morning.

To help Eliza relax about helping, we do a few practice applications, with three of us pretending to be serf children, of different skill and age levels. Sophia is her coach as she helps us fill our applications out, only having to help her once.

When we complete the trail runs, we head to bed. After hugging Aden and Tilly good night, the other five change to their night clothes and meet in Rufina's rooms, cuddling on the bed. They lay in the dark a few minutes, whispering to each other, soon they all have fallen asleep.