I wakened to abdominal cramping. 'Oh, joy.' I mumble as I lay there between Emi on one side and Sophia on the other. 'The children aren't here so it is most probably before first light.' Rolling over, I crawl off the foot of the bed, leaving my bed buddies asleep as I open the door slightly. Using the chamber pot then cleaning myself, I don my robe and descend to the kitchen. I am correct, the sky is still dark, the stars and one of the moons shining brightly. Entering the kitchen, I place a small pile of kindling in the stove, lighting it with the candle. When the fire is burning strongly I add some wood. Filling the kettle with water, I place it on the second burner opening, the first being covered by the large hot water cauldron. Fetching the bag of Wild Wood Flower herb, I pour a small mound of it in my hand. Placing it in a cup, I sit at the table to wait for the water to come to a boil. Several cramps later I am able to pour the water on the herbs to seep. Two cramps pass as I wait for the tea to seep. Then I start sipping the tea, which is stronger than Tilly would make it, whoops. But, being strong helps calm the cramps, so it doesn't matter. Once the tea has done its job I made sure the kettle was off the stove, put a few more sticks in the fire box then return to my rooms.

Once in my bedchamber I get out the new straps, buttoning a thin pad in place and slip them on. Hanging my robe in the wardrobe I crawl back in bed between Emi and Sophia after snuffing the candle. Snuggling against Emi, I am soon asleep.

About an hour later, first a small boy then his sister enter the room. The boy crawls up between Sophia and Rufina, laying on Rufina while the girl snuggles at Sophia's back.

About sixty minutes later this is where Tilly finds them, when she comes to wake Rufina and Emi for training. She had noticed that Rufina had been in the kitchen already as she had left the W.W.F. bag and the remains of her cup of tea on the table. She had also noticed the strength of the brew. As this was the first time Rufina had brewed her own tea, she had made it much too strong. Hopefully she would be in condition to function today. Tilly wakes Emi, telling her that Rufina was on her period, had drunk a cup of very strong tea and may not wake for a while. Emi attempted to wake Rufina but Tilly was correct, she was out. Leaving Rufina asleep, Emi dons her robe and goes to speak with Captain Robert in the back courtyard. He is occupied doing sword drills when she arrives.

"Captain, I'm sorry but the Queen is unable to train this morning. Her moon time is on her."

"Ah, all right. I will see her this afternoon then. Tell her I wish her a speedy recovery." He returns to his drills as she returns to Rufina's rooms.

Tilly has replaced the bag of herb on the shelf and rinsed out the queen's cup and is in the process of brewing herself a cup of tea when Emi sits down where Rufina had been seated earlier. "Would you like a cup of tea, Emi?"

"Yes, some Shangee, please." She has gotten used to the taste and likes the way it perked her up in the morning.

While Emi and Tilly were sipping their tea in the kitchen, Sophia has woken and has noticed what Rufina is wearing. Reaching over Benny, Sophia grasped Rufina's hand, slipping into her dreams. Instead of the normal studious Rufina, Sophia finds a relaxed and spacey Rufina, laying on a hill top, naked, watching brightly colored clouds float by in a pink and orange sky.

'Oh, dear, what has she done now?' She thinks to herself. Sitting beside Rufina, "What is going on Rufina?"

"Oh, hi, Sophia. Isn't it a beautiful day, the sky is so pretty this morning."

"It is that. I was wondering though, why is the sky pink and the clouds blue?"

"I want them that way."

As Sophia continues to talk to Rufina, she is checking her real body. 'Oh, I see. She has ingested too much wild wood flower.' She adjusts her metabolism slightly to speed the removal of the excess drug but leave enough to relieve the cramps.

Sophia leans over and kisses Rufina on the cheek, "I need to wake up but you stay and relax. I'll see you later, dear one." She starts fading out as she says this.

Opening her eyes to the sight of Rufina's face next to hers. Leaning forward she kisses her, gently sucking her lips. Breaking the kiss she rolls to her hands and knees, then crawls to the foot of the bed. She dons her robe that is laying on the chest, then rearranges Beth next to her brother before going down to the kitchen. "Good morning, Tilly, Emi. Is there enough water for a cup of tea?"

Emi gets a cup and pours, handing the cup to Sophia. "Thanks Emi. Rufina should be up and about in an hour or so, I adjusted her body to remove most of the excess tea she drank, she will be normal when she wakes. What happened?"

"She made her own tea this morning and used too much herb." Tilly says.

They sit and talk for nearly an hour, then Sophia suggests to Emi they go wake Fina and the children. Taking pitchers of water with them, they return to Rufina's rooms. After placing her pitcher down Sophia takes Rufina's hand, entering her dream. She finds Rufina, in the library, siting at the computer, a pair of ear buds on, watching a video of two young men playing Cellos in a wild manner. She seems be enjoying the music, as she is following the beat, bobbing her head. Sophia touched her shoulder, startling her.

Pulling one of the ear buds out, "Hi Sophia. Here take a listen." Handing the bud to her, she clicked the play icon, reset the progress bar to the beginning, starting it over. The mellow tones of a pair of cellos started to play a classical piece from one of the great composers then morphs into a thunderous rock piece. "This is an arrangement of a old song my father listened to when I was young. I like this arrangement, the original is all right but I like the heavier beat on this one." Sophia's head was soon bobbing to the beat, too.

When the music ends, Sophia removed the ear bud laying it on the table next to the computer. "I came to wake you. You used too much herb in your tea earlier so we couldn't wake you for training. I have adjusted your metabolism so the excess should be out of your system now so you'll be near normal when you wake."

"Oh, that's why I liked the colors I made the sky. I have never been high before. I drank a little but didn't use marijuana, so this is a first. I'll let Tilly do the tea brewing from now on."

Rufina opened her eyes find Emi leaning over her, their faces inches apart, Emi staring at her from close up. "G'morning Emi." she whispers.

Emi leans in, kissing Fina gently. Breaking away Emi says, "Good morning to you too. Sophia and Tilly say it's that time of month for you, how are you feeling?"

"Hungry and horny. But those are probably side effects of the tea I drank earlier."

"Are we going to do T'ai Chi this morning or go straight to breakfast?"

"No Training?"

"I already informed the captain that you were indisposed so no training. Shall we wake master Benny?" They glance down between them to see Benny laying tight against Fina's side, his one arm and a leg laying over her, his head burrowed into her side.

Rufina starts rubbing his back as she softly calls his name. "Benny... Benny, time to wake up."

He mumbles as he rolls to his back then his eyes pop open, turning his head he looks at them, "Morning mama, auntie Emi." Turning his head to look the other direction, he spies Sophia, "Morning auntie Sophia." Seeing his sister laying there asleep he rises his voice, "Bethie wake up, we're goin' to miss T'ai Chi." He reach out and pokes her in the stomach, getting a response then rolls back over and starts crawling to the foot of the bed. Reaching the end of the bed he drops to the floor then runs over to the chamberpot.

While Benny is busy, Rufina turn her attention to Beth who is grumbling, "Stupid brother." as she curls herself around one of Rufina's pillows.

Rufina and Emi smile at her comment. Fina rolls to her side so she is next to Beth. Reaching out she pulls the girl and her pillow into a hug. She leans over and starts tickling Beth's ear, all the while stroking her back. "Good morning Beth," she whispers in the ear she has been tickling.

Beth, reaches both arms around Rufina, pulling herself tight against her, "Morning mama Fina."

They lay thus for a minute until Benny, who has climbed back on the bed, jumps on them. "Are we doing T'ai Chi? I'm hungry," he says as he bounces on Fina's hip.

Emi rescues Fina by snatching Benny off her and carries him out the door. "Come along master Benny, let's find you some clothes to wear."

Fina releases Beth so they can get their morning routine underway. After doing her toilet, Rufina dresses in a long tunic and anklets as Sophia assists Beth with her toilet. Snuffing the candles, the three of them leave the bedchamber, Sophia walking to her own as Rufina accompanies Beth to her rooms. As they enter the sitting room, Benny is finishing being bathed. Rufina quickly strips Beth of her night wear and assists her into clean garments. Beth is getting her hair brushed when Emi brings Benny in to get dressed.

When everyone is dressed and has had their hair brushed, the four leave the bedchamber heading down to the garden for T'ai Chi. When they exit onto the patio, they find the rest of the household waiting, barefoot and in centering stance. They soon join them. About 40 minutes later they are back in centering stance, relaxing after exercising.

When Rufina and the others enter the dining room they finds Alfonse sitting at the table, waiting. "Ah, good morning master Alfonse, did you sleep well?" She walks to the back side of the table, helping Benny into his chair then checking on Beth before seating herself.

"Ah, there you are your majesty, I was wondering if you all had left for some where. I sleep very well, thank you. It was pleasant to be on dry land, no swaying or salt odor to disturb ones sleep."

"So, you don't live near the sea? How did you hear of my offer then?"

"A friend of a friend heard of the offer and my friend told me about it as I had grumbled about my situation with him. I live in a city four days by swift carriage inland from Calvi. I was visiting my friend who lives closer to Calvi when I heard of your offer."

We continued chatting as breakfast was served. "Aden, could you arrange for a couple of men to guild and assist Alfonse in his survey. And arrange for supplies and pack animals for them, also."

"For how long a period?"

"At least two weeks. They will be covering a large area."

"Very well, your majesty."

I have just finished eating when Sophia mind speaks me, 'Do remember what tomorrow is?' I glance at her, she is looking to her left at Helen. I think, is there something about Helen I should remember? I start recounting the conversations we have had since we meet. I was remembering the morning Emi and I found her in bed with us when I remembered. 'Is tomorrow her birthday?' 'It is, shall we celebrate it.' 'Oh, most definitely, it isn't everyday one turns twenty.' 'Thanks for the reminder. What shall we do? Cake? Kind of late for presents. How about a favorite meal? Do you know what hers is?' 'I don't but can find out.'

"Emi, did you ever find out what Marks favorite dish was?" Sophia asks.

"No, he said he didn't have one."

"What's your favorite dish, Eliza?"

"I enjoy beef stew, Mama only made it a couple times a year." Her smile looked sad.

"How about you, Helen? What's your favorite dish?"

"I like a platter of slow roasted vegetables covered with of garlic herb butter. Turnips, carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and broccoli. I have not had any since I left home to come here." She sighed, possibly remembering home and her husband.

"How about you, Fina?"

"Oh, my favorite is unknown in the here and now. It's a dish called pizza, a flat loaf of bread coated in a sauce or oil with cheese and other ingredients place on it. Then the whole thing is baked. The oldest style is a loaf coated in olive oil and herbs. The newer forms have a tomato sauce with herbs, then meats, some vegetables are added then whole is covered in grated cheese and baked. About this time next year we can have some as I now have tomato seeds."

'Sneaky, Sophia, sneaky.' 'Hey, I am the goddess of knowledge after all.'

We clear the table then I head to the kitchen, Emi and I are on dish washing duty. The rest go about they business of the day. Helen retires to her workroom, Sophia and Christina take Beth and Benny to the children's room for lessons, Eliza goes to town to join Howard in making prints. Aden and Alfonse leave for town.

Before beginning the dishes I check the cook stove. It has dried nicely, the surface smooth without cracks. The small fires made to heat the tea water yesterday helped finish the drying process. I have Emi help move the water cauldron from the parlor fireplace to the kitchen. After filling the wash tubs we place the cauldron on the stove, covering the first opening. That opening is directly above the riser so is the hottest.

Tilly and Abbey are preparing to bake the daily batch of bread and notice us placing the cauldron. "The stove is ready for use. After we get the dishes washed I'll show you how to build a fire in it," I tell the three of them. Emi and I don't take long to finish the dishes.

Tilly has a fire going in the oven so the chimney is drawing well which should help get the stove going quickly. I prepare a hand full of kindling and a small stack of small diameter firewood. I place my materials on the floor next to the ash door then knell beside them.

"This stove is different than the ones you are used to," I explain to the three of them. I open the ash door then point inside, "When building a fire for the first time it can be hard to get the fire going because the chimney will be cold. Today, because of the fire in the oven the chimney will be hot so it should be easier to build a fire. Tilly, if you would bring a candle, please."

She brings a lit candle handing it to me. "Now watch," I tell them as I bring the candle to the fuel feed opening. The flame on the candle is draw to the side, being pulled by the draft of the chimney. "This design of stove uses the pull of the smoke going up the chimney to increase the efficiency of the fire." I place the candle out of the way for the moment before opening the ash door, "The fire is built either here at the ash door or deeper in the firebox. When there is no draft in the chimney, the fire would be built in the back of the firebox to start. But today we will build it here in the front."

I take six of the sticks of wood placing them in the fuel fill. The fill opening is a hand width above the ash door, angling down to the firebox leaving a hand width between the front edge of the opening and outside of the stove. I place the kindling in the space in front of the wood, tight against the wood. I touch the candle to the kindling which catches on fire, the flames being drawn through the space between the sticks, catching them afire in the process. "Notice how the flames are drawn to the back of the firebox, this is normal." The flames are being pulled to the back of the firebox, traveling in a horizontal direction, not traveling up the sticks in the fuel fill. After they each get a look the the flame travel I close the ash door.

Shortly after a roaring noise can be heard, reminding me of a jet airplane taking off. Emi and Abbey look around, curious looks on their faces. Tilly, on the other hand has a look of panic, "There's a chimney fire!" Her voice rises in volume, panic clear in it.

I quickly stand, placing my hands on either side of her face, look in her eyes. "Calm down Tilly, there is no chimney fire. That is the normal sound of the stove, where it gets its name. It is a controlled chimney fire, deep in the stove." I move to the last burner opening, lifting the lid. The sound volume increases and a orange glow of flame can be seen.

"That small fire is making all at noise?"

"Yes, as the flame leaves the firebox it swirls around the the vertical riser, the noise is the from the swirling."

I replace the lid, closing the burner. "The swirling mixes the gases together allowing them all burn."

I turn my head, looking at the flue. "Notice that there is very little smoke. Once the stove gets hot there will be no smoke at all, just some water vapor."

We hear boiling. Tilly peeks over the edge of the cauldron, "It is boiling already!" We had not refilled the cauldron after filling the wash tubs so the cauldron was only about third full but the fire had only been lit for ten minutes. Tilly pours two buckets of cold water into the cauldron, filling it. She looked down at the fuel fill, the six small sticks have burnt, dropping down into the firebox.

I place another six in the fuel fill. "These should bring the cauldron to a boil again."

Tilly fills the tea kettle then removes the lid on the last burner, sliding the kettle over the opening. She then opens the cover of the oven, checking the fire. Smoke rolls out. "Your majesty, could you put one of the those fireboxes on the the oven?"

I peer into the oven. She has several large pieces of wood burning at the back of the oven, the flames licking the the bricks that make up the ceiling of the oven before disappearing up the flue. I examine the front face of the oven, noting the height of the oven floor and the interior size. "I should be able to. It would be out of service for two weeks, like the stove. And I would need to make more bricks, so two weeks before construction could begin."

That reminds me I have a two water heaters to build, one for the bath and one for the washer women. What do I need for those, bricks of course, cauldrons, some clay and sand. The washer women could use a shelter to keep the rain off and to keep their washing barrels in.

I come out of thought to find the three of them watching me. I smile at them, "I was reminded that I promised the washer women a water heater. Any questions about the stove?" They shake their heads in the negative. "I need to talk with Tobias then return to my sketching so I will talk with you later." I start for the door but when I reach it I hear Helen's loom which reminds me.

"Tilly, tomorrow is Helen's twentieth birthday. As you hear her favorite meal is roasted vegetables with garlic butter so would you make that for tomorrow evenings supper, please."

"Of course Rufina, it would be my pleasure." She then returns to bread proofing on the table.

I step out the door again, Emi following behind. "I will be in your rooms if you need me, Fina," Emi quietly says as she turns to the stairway.

"I be in the study after I talk to Tobias," I tell her as we part.

I find Tobias tending the garden when I exit the palace, weeding and watering, the wheel barrow holding buckets of water and a pile of weeds. I look toward the bathhouse, it is coming along nicely. Tobias and his friends have the walls well underway. Turning to Tobias I ask, "Tobias, I have another building for you and your friends to work on, how long do you think it will take to finish the bathhouse?"

He turns to look the the bathhouse. "Humm, depending on how long it will take to get the roof tiles, up to three weeks. Have the tiles for the roof and the floor been ordered?"

"Yes, the tiles have been ordered. They should be close to being delivered."

"This new building, what will it be used for?"

"A shed for the washer women to work in. I was thinking something about half again as large as the bathhouse, with a tall ceiling and no walls. The floor will need to be stone or brick though, because of the water."

"So twelve wide and twenty four long with a stone or brick floor and tile roof?"

"Yes, I will go talk to them later and sketch a design for you to follow. Can you do it?"

"Yes, I'm sure we can. Where will it be built?"

"Next to the river, where they do they work now."

"Ah, yes, that would be the best."

"In the next couple days I and the other will be working on the washer women's water heater so will require the wheel barrow if I may borrow it."

"You will be taking the bricks down to the river?"

"Yes, along with some sand and clay."

"I could take your materials down the river this afternoon."

"Oh, that would be most helpful, thank you."

"It's my pleasure, princess."

I give him a hug, a large smile on my face. He is stiff to begin with but soon returns my hug. I break the hug, giving him a smile then return to the study.

I got out my to-do list, adding make bricks to oven and bathhouse water heater. After a few seconds of thought I add request poles for laundry shed and tiles and bricks for same. Thinking of bricks reminds me I need to get back with Harry about the brick yard. Laying the to-do list to the side I take out some sketching paper and begin sketching the laundry shed. It's a simple shed, three uprights on the ends and four on the long sides, with a tall ceiling. The roof will be sloped towards the river. I don't want poles supporting the center of the roof so design some simple trusses.

I do some calculations to figure out the number of floor bricks I will need. Humm, almost 1300 bricks. Need to get the kilns built soon.

After I get the sketch of the laundry shed completed I put it away and get out the sawmill plans. I review them quickly then resume sketching. This is what I am busy with when Emi calls me for dinner.