As Rufina and I walk out of the kitchen, Rufina asks, "Will you join us, Emi? I wish your opinion on the slaves."

Taking her hand I nod, "Of course, love." I say softly.

We go into the study, going to one of the two person couches next to the fire place, sitting in the one facing the door.

"Will you wish tea?" I ask.

"Not right away, let's wait awhile." Say this she lays her head back and closes her eyes.

Aden and Sophia enter a few minutes later. Upon seeing us come sit on the couch opposite us. I give Rufina a nudge in the side. Her eyes open. Seeing Aden and Sophia, she sits upright, "Thank you for coming. During dinner I remembered something that I was going to attend to but have forgotten; what to do about the mine and slaves. I remember learning I had people held as slaves but not their race or how many there are. Aden, what do you know of them?"

"The original slaves were captured by forces sent by your grandfather as part of a war party put together by the lord of Calvi against a village of beast men. The captives numbered about 70 men, women and children. Your grandfather established a town for them outside the newly discovered iron mine, putting the men and older male children to work in it. The women were to do domestic chores to support the men. Over the years, children were born, elders died and workers died in mine accidents, reducing their numbers. About 8 years ago, your father purchased 4 beast men slaves to bolster the declining slave population. There are currently 47 slaves; 19 men, 15 women and 13 children under eight years old. Most are of the Melina race, the rest are Lepori."

"The older males that are unfit to work in the mines farm, raising a large portion of the food required by the slaves. The minster of Iron River is required to ensure they have enough food to survive the lean weeks of winter and spring."

"What are the racial traits of the Melina?"

"The Melina are a short powerful beastkin race that appear to be Badgers. As such they excel as miners. In soil they use their claws to dig but when digging in stone they use tools."

"And the Lepori?"

"They are a Demi human race with rabbit like features; longish ears, powerful legs and a short fluffy tail. The number here on the island has diminished to the point that there is only a single male and two females, both the daughters of the male. The male is currently the supervisor of the mine, running the day to day operations for the minster of Iron River."

Rufina sits in silence for a few minutes before saying, "As you know, I deplore slavery. On first impulse I wished to free the slaves but on further thought I have decided to ask them if they would rather be freed, to return to their home lands or to become serfs. If they wish to be freed, I will arrange passage to their home lands. If they wish to become serfs, they will receive a home along with acreage or if they wished to continue working in the mine a home with a small garden plot like the rest of my serfs."

"So, Aden, to that end I wish you to write to the minister of Iron River conveying my wishes to him. Instruct him to inform the slaves of this offer and to relay their answers to us here."

"Is this the best time to release them, Rufina?" Sophia asks, "I mean, will they not have a hard time getting established in their homeland arriving this late in the year."

"What should I do then? Leave them be until spring then make the offer? Or just make them serfs, not telling them of their change in status until spring?"

"It would be best to inspect their situation then make a decision. You could make them serfs, giving them extra supplies for the winter, then in the spring ask if any wish to return to their homelands."

Aden speaks up, "It takes three days to reach Iron River, two if you ride hard and fast."

"So over a week if we were to go slow, spend two days in the area and return. Do we have the time to do it?" She frowns, sitting back.

"The area needs the machines delivered, the information on the new farming methods and the bug out bag proclamation. Though delivering the machines may be hard, having to be hauled by pack train. And pack animals would slow you down," Aden explains.

"What is the time line on the machines?"

"All of them should be completed in two weeks or so."

"Then we should plan on delivering them to the towns shortly after that. That would be five of each machine going south and two going east, correct?"

"Yes, two to Four Rivers and Iron River and one to Ashdale, for the southern trip. Then one each for Beehill and Ashford to the east. The pack trains can return with some of the tax grain at that time."

"Are the taxes brought to Haven before winter?", Rufina ask.

"A small portion are. There are only so many pack animals available so it takes most of the year to bring them all in. Say that Ashford has 1500 sacks of grain to deliver, that is 250 animal loads at 6 sacks per animal. I believe there are at the most 50 mules on the island so it would take 40 days to transport 1500 sacks from Ashford. That is three days to reach Ashford, a day of rest, three days back then another day of rest. Four Rivers would take the same number of days per trip. Add three days per trip for Beehill and Iron River. Ashdale would add two more days."

"Sounds like the transportation system needs revamped. Either we need a ship or two or the road system needs improved so carts or wagons could be used. Or...", Rufina's eye glaze over, she is down a rabbit hole.

We smile at each other. Aden is patient for a few minutes before giving her a poke.

"Sorry, the idea of carts or wagons being used reminded me that there is another way to haul goods. Though it would require improving the trails we could double, maybe triple the capacity of each animal while keeping the road work to a minimum. Improving the trails would be a problem though, paving roads takes time and money. Grrr, money. Oh, to be so wealthy I could just throw money at my problems."

Aden looks confused, I know I am. "What do you mean, Rufina?"

"On Earth, there is a saying, 'They are throwing money at the problem.' meaning instead of planning out a solution to a problem they would spend money trying different things to fix the problem, hoping that what they try fixes it."

"In this case I can take years improving the roads then building vehicles to use on those roads. Or take two or three years to build at least two ships to haul the grain from the towns. Or I could spend a lot of cash hiring two ships to move the grains. The last option would be the fastest but most expensive. The first is the slowest but is cheapest in the long run because the roads would last a very long time. Building ships takes a long time and is expensive but they would be useful for other uses and do last a fair length of time. But none of those options move the grain nor the machines now."

"Anyway, let's plan on a two week trip south to Four Rivers and Iron River shortly after enough machines are completed. The machines can leave the day before we do, so we arrive that the same time. I can inspect the miners when we deliver the machines to Iron River."

"Do you wish to visit all three town?", Aden asks as he is making notes.

"Ashdale is a very small place is it not? Does it even have an inn?"

"I know it has several taverns but I'm sure there is no inn."

"So, no then, I just be visiting the two larger towns. We can arrange the machines to be taken to Ashdale when we visit Iron River."

"When five sets of machines are completed I will let you know and we can make arrangements for the trip," Aden tells Rufina.

"Very good. Is there anything else that need talking about?"

"No. The apprentices have been notified as have the masters. The meeting with the masters has been scheduled. The threshing and cleaning of the grain is proceeding with several thousand sacks of grain in the warehouses awaiting the ships to arrive. Do you wish the blacksmiths to start making spearheads using some of the iron we have?"

"It will be another week before the supply of iron I ordered could arrive so we may as well start making a few. Have John make ten to start with. Also have Jason start making the staffs for the spears. You should coordinate with Captain Robert on the design of the spears."

"I'll do that."

"Have the woodcutters increased the number of trees harvested yet?"

"Not yet, they normally start when the temperature drops which should be in eight weeks or so."

"We are going to need a fair amount of timber cut with the building projects lined up. Ask them if they can start earlier than normal, please."

"What projects do we need timber for?"

"The workshops, the new palace, ships, the looms and a saw mill."

"A saw mill? What is that?", I ask.

"It's a large machine housed in a building to turn logs in to lumber. It will have a waterwheel like the flour mill to move the saw blade and the logs."

"You haven't made a sketch of one yet, have you?"

"Not yet. I can start on it this afternoon." She falls quiet, closing her eyes.

I lean over, whispering into her ear, "I'll come get you for your run." Then stand to leave.

Rufina speaks softly, "Thank you for coming everyone." We leave her there, sitting in the dim study.