After doing the pre-meal routine we come back down stairs to the dining room. Beth and Benny are setting the table, with Sophia and Christina watching them. Emi heads to the kitchen to help as I seat myself. The others come in and take their places. The meal is soon brought out and served.

As we begin to eat I turn to Aden, "Aden, I need more sand, clay and straw delivered, please. I need to make more bricks, Tilly has requested a new firebox for the oven. I will also have an orders for Alton and Harry later."

"How many basket fulls do you need?"

"Twelve sand, six clay and six straw should do it."

"As soon as possible?"

"Yes, please," I say to the table in general, "Who can help make bricks the day after tomorrow in the morning?"

"I believe the children and I can help with that," says Sophia.

"I will be there to help," replies Tobias.

"Emi, tomorrow you and I will be building a water heater for the laundry women so plan accordingly. We will need your help also, Tobias, if you would."

"Yes, princess."

"And I have the plan for the shed finished, I will get it for you after dinner."

I then let everyone finish their meal. When finish I excused myself, going to the study,fetching the shed plan which I take to Tobias. We discuss the shed, deciding on the number and sizes of logs for it. After returning I write orders for bricks, roofing tiles and another cauldron from Harry and one for the logs from Alton. I take the orders to Aden to deliver.

When I return to the study, I sit in thought. I should go visit the site of the shed will be built, to check the lay of the land. It won't do to have the land slope to much or be clay. I also need to let the washer women know what is going on. I also need to make a visit to Claude to check on the washing tubs, they should be finished by now, it has been almost two weeks since I ordered them. So I need to get Vincent.

Sticking my head in the kitchen I tell Tilly I am going to the lower floor of the tower and will return shortly then go to the garden door to change my shoes. After doing that I head out the garden gate, checking on the supplies of clay, sand and straw. I see that the bricks are being moved as several stacks are missing. I continue around the front of the palace to the tower door. Entering the tower I spy captain Robert busy at his desk.

When he notices me he stands and salutes me, "Your majesty, how may I help you?"

"Good afternoon, Captain. I need a guard for the afternoon, is Vincent available?"

"He is. Are you leaving right away?"

"No, it will be fifteen minutes before we are ready. Have him meet us at the garden gate, please. I see you at 1400 for our run." Saying that I turn to leave.

"Yes, your majesty." As I an going out the door, I see him heading up the stairs.

I return to the palace via the garden gate and remove my shoes. After telling Tilly I have returned I head up stairs to find Emi and to change. I check the children's room, no Emi. I find her in my rooms straighten it up.

"Emi, I need to make a quick trip to town, do you wish to come with me?"

"Of course. Where are we headed?"

"I need to check on the washing barrels at the coopers then look over where we will be building the water heater for the laundry. Vincent will meet us at the garden gate in a few minutes so I need to change." I pull the tunic I am wearing over my head as I make my way to the chamberpot. I change into trousers and shirt after do my business and cleaning up. Emi finishes what she had been doing before we depart.

"Good afternoon, your majesty, miss Emi." Vincent greets us when we appear at the garden gate after changing our footwear at the back door. "Where to today?"

"Claude the coopers, Vincent. I made an order for somethings and they should be completed by now."

Emi and I lead Vincent out the main gate and down the hill to town, chat with him about the militia training. He has been helping the Captain and Kelvin with the training. The men are doing well, training with the headless spear shafts and the few crossbows available. He inquires when the bowyer will arrive. I tell him I am not sure as I have not received a reply from Calvi about that but had inquired by post yesterday so it will be several weeks at least.

When we arrive at the coopers the bell announces our arrival, bringing an apprentice from the back. I recognize the face but don't recall the young mans name.

"How may I help...Oh, good afternoon your majesty. Do you wish to speak with master Claude?"

"Yes, please." He promptly returns to the back. Claude comes out soon after.

"Your majesty, good afternoon, how may I help today?"

"Afternoon Claude. I have come to inquire about the washing barrels I ordered, have you completed them?"

"Oh, yes, they are complete. I was unsure where to deliver them then with the apprentices I forgot about them, excuses me, please."

"I had forgotten about them myself. If you will deliver them to the where the washer women work tomorrow morning that will be fine. May I inspect them?"

"Of course, your majesty. This way please." He led us to the workshop storage area.

"How are your apprentices doing? Not giving you any problems, are they?"

"They are both fine fellows, studious and hard working. I have the learning the tools at the moment. Next will be the different types of wood used in make our wares."

"I am happy they are working out." We have arrived at the barrels.

"Here they are, your majesty. Are they what you wanted?"

I examine them closely. Pulling the baskets out of the barrels, I check the construction, which is well done. Replacing the baskets, I move them up and down a few times. They move well in the grooves. Then handles fit the hand nicely, Janet and Jeanie should have no problem gripping them. "They are just what I was thinking. Do you have someone that could deliver them to the laundry women today?"

"Yes, delivery can be arranged. They work by the river below the palace don't they?"

"Yes, they do. I will be stopping by there as I return to the palace, could your man follow us?"

He thinks for a moment, then nods, "That is possible. Excuse me a moment." He moves off, going to the workshop. I hear him talking to someone then he returns, being followed by a young man. "These are the barrels, Linford. Load them into the cart and meet her majesty at the front door as soon as you get them loaded." He leads us to the front door, "Are you still thinking of expanding the dock, your majesty?"

"It needs to be done, I just haven't decided on how to do it. I am sure the depth of the bay is to deep to sink pilings for an extension, using boats as floats would take to long and as you have pointed out barrels will take a lot of them." We are walking though the workshop as I say this. "Emi, remind me to think about the dock when we return to the palace, would you?"

"Yes, your majesty."

I stop at the door of the workshop, taking a good look around. The apprentices are busy with a journeyman, who is showing them the proper way to sharpen a chisel. There are barrels in different stages of completion scattered about. The room is well lit and clean, no piles of wood shavings laying about. Workbenches are lined up along the long walls and stacks of lumber are arranged by one of the short walls. The other short wall has an office area walled off, along with a long table with benches on either side of it. Large opening at the top of the walls allow light in. A large opening on the back wall leads to the storage room we had just exited. I hear wooden wheels crushing gravel so turn to look out the door, Linford has arrived. He is pulling a hand cart laden with the two washing barrels.

"Good day to you Claude."

"And to you, your majesty. Linford, her majesty will show you where to take the barrels."

"Yes, master Claude."

"To the laundry women's work area, Vincent."

We work our way back through town, nodding to the people we pass, chatting with Linford, who is Claude's senior apprentice. When we arrive at the laundry area, I greet Jeanie and Janet, "Good afternoon, ladies. I have brought you something to speed up your work."

"Good afternoon, your majesty," they greet me, looking curiously at the cart.

"And I see that Tobias has been here." I had noticed the piles of sand, clay, straw and stacks of bricks a short distance away. "Tomorrow, I and my friends will be here to build your water heater. And today I have brought the devices to use that hot water in." The laundry area is between the road that parallels the river and the river, a space of about ten measures. They have several tables close to the road and four large tubs filled with water closer to the river. I see a shoulder yoke and buckets laying near the tubs. After consulting the Janet and Jeanie I have Vincent help Linford offload the barrels.

When the barrels are offloaded, I send Linford back to the workshop, a copper coin richer. The next hour is taken up with doing several loads of laundry. Trips are made to the river with the yoke and buckets, the barrels are filled, soap added to one then a test load is washed. I instruct Emi, Janet and Jeanie on using the barrels and Jeanie and Janet instruct Emi and I on other tasks having to do with laundry. Much giggling ensues. Emi and I end up soaked but the sun is warm and we soon dry. As the four of us do a another load I explain what my plans are for their work area; the heater, the shed and the drying racks. They show me where they would like the shed and racks. I place a marker where a corner of the shed will be then measure out the building, the placement of the heater and the racks from there.

Emi and I bid the ladies farewell, saying we will see them in the morning then let Vincent lead us to the palace. I dismiss Vincent at the garden gate before leading Emi to the garden. Seeing Tobias working in the garden we go speak with him.

"Tobias, we are going to need some digging tools at the laundry area in the morning, will you prepare them, please?"

"Digging tools? Shovels, hoes, pick?"

"Yes along with the wheel barrow."

"Right after breakfast in the morning?"

"Yes, please. I noticed you have moved some of the bricks, how many do you have left?"

"They are all there. I took the last load down just after dinner."

"Thank you." I glance at the sky, "It appears to be after 1300, I need to prepare for my run, so excuse me." I give Tobias a hug, which gets a one arm hug in return as he is holding a hoe. "See you at supper."

Emi and I make our way to my rooms, sticking out heads in the kitchen to tell Tilly we had returned and were going to get ready for our run. We stop by Emi's room so she can fetch her clothes. When we reach my rooms, Emi lays our clothing on the bed as I make use of the chamberpot, changing my pad after. Emi helps me change tunics, then has me help change hers. I sit on the bed to change my stockings as she uses the pot. When finished we head to the back stairway and the back door. After picking up our boots from the rack in the vestibule we change footwear on the patio bench. The Captain is waiting for us when we exit the garden gate.

"Good Afternoon, your majesty, miss Emi." Emi and I start our before run stretches. I encourage the Captain to join us, which he does. We start jogging as soon as we finish, the Captain asking, "Do you wish to run toward the Twin again today?"

"That will be fine, Captain." We slowly jogged to the road at the base of the hill, turning left at the intersection then speeding up. The Captain was in the lead with me several paces behind, Emi followed me by several more paces. The farmers in their fields waved as we ran by, getting a wave in return.

"How is the training of the militia going, Captain?" I asked as we ran.

"There are now twenty men, all farmer's second and third sons. We have them sleeping in tents setup behind the stable for now. They are up at dawn exercising and running before breakfast. After breakfast several of the guardsmen are training them in spear work. In the afternoon they train with the few crossbows we have. They should be doing field maneuvers now. After supper, they care for their equipment, cleaning and repairing it. Most of them are doing well, though one or two are very bull headed."

"Are the bullhead ones violent? or just set in their ways?"

"One has a bad temper, the other seems slow witted."

"If the bad tempered one cause too much trouble get rid of him immediately, we don't need problems in the ranks. As for the slow one, continue training him. If he doesn't show improvement we will have to find other work for him."

We have passed the ridge dividing the plain, which is the farthest I have been in this direction. I can see two clusters of dwelling on the other side of a river ahead of us. Fields stretch between us and the river, some still golden with grain, others brown, the grain harvested. There are green fields intermixed, cattle and other animals grazing on them.

We turn right on a side trail, heading in the direction of the bay. The evening sea breeze brings the smell of the ocean to us. We turn right a short distance from the water, running along the edge of the narrow beach. We soon pass the by fishermen finishing their days work of repairing and drying their nets. Racks of drying fish line the space inland of the beach, fishwives checking the dryness of the fish. Several waved as we ran past, shouting greets. I waved back in reply.

We ran past the ship yard, the first time I have seen it. There are stacks of timber scattered over a large area, wood chips every where. It appears Harvey as two fishing vessels underway, one just a keel and a few ribs, the other near completion. I see Harvey surrounded by a group of young men, gesturing that the nearest vessel. "Emi, remind me to come down and talk to Harvey in the next few days, please." She gives me a nod.

We have now entered the town of Haven, passing small holding, cottages surrounded by stone walls protecting small gardens. Small children play in some of the yards, some of them staring at us as we run by. More people are about, mostly women, carrying baskets of goods. Some stare, some wave but most step to the side to let us pass. We go around those that don't move, Captain Robert saying, "Make way."

We pass through the main square, going by the inn and the town hall. Captain Robert increases the pace slightly as we head up hill out of town. I start breathing heavily as we climb the road to the palace. Emi passes me about half way up, chasing Robert as they sprint to the main gate leaving me in the dust. They are walking in circles in the courtyard when I cross the threshold of the gate. After we cool down, Emi and I head to the garden gate after thanking Captain Robert.

I notice that more materials for bricks have been delivered. When we enter the garden, I see that Tobias has the wheel barrow loaded with the tools we will need in the morning. I sit on the patio bench loosening my laces while Emi fetches our slippers from the vestibule. When she returns, she first helps me with my boots then I help with hers. Our boots are stored on the rack as we pass through the vestibule. As we pass the kitchen, Emi fetches a pitcher of hot water then I lead her up the stairs.

When we enter the my bedchamber she prepares the basins as I light the candles. I lift Emi's tunic over her head, tangling her arms in the cloth then giving her a deep kiss. She lowers her arms encircling my neck as she returns the kiss. The tunic falls to the floor as her hands caress the back of my head. My hands are sliding down her back to her bottom. I grab a double hand full of linen covered flesh, giving it a squeeze. Emi moves her arms to the bottom of my tunic lifting it, breaking the kiss as it covers my face. I reach out, undoing the frog on the front of the bra exposing her pert breasts. Gripping them, one in each hand, I squeeze, my thumbs tweaking the nipples erect. Emi leans in to resume our kiss as she removes my bra, pressing her breasts against mine. I move the kiss from her lips to her nipples, using my teeth to lightly nip each of them then moving down her body. Reaching behind her, I undo the frog above her tail then slide her shorts and panties down to her ankles. Lifting one foot then the other I remove them, throwing them toward the basket. Her stockings soon follow. Knelling, I am in the prefect position to kiss her slit, which I do, spreading her lower lips, kissing her nubbin. She press my mouth to her, holding me there as I lave her nubbin with my tongue. I continue, using several fingers to probe her depths, until her orgasm cause her knees to give way.

Holding her up, we work our way to the bed where I lay her down. Straddling her, I lean over and begin kissing her. When she wakens, she rolls us both over, pinning my arms over my head. She kisses me, first on the lips then moving down my body as I had done to her. When she starts kissing my underarms, I break into gales of laughter, her tongue tickling me. She stops for a moment, then smiles before tormenting me with more unarm kisses. She relents when I can barely breathe. She kisses my lips a final time then removes my stocking, short and straps. Pulling me to my feet she then leads me over to the basin, soaping a cloth she begins washing me. Pinching and rubbing as she washes, she brings me to the edge then firmly pressing a hand to my crotch, she tips me over that edge. I lean on her, gasping and shuddering.

Seating me on the chest, she washes my hair then brushes it out. She trims my nails on both hands and feet, then shaves me. When she is finished she pulls me to my feet, kissing me again then hands me the wash cloth. I change the water, the begin, soaping her from head to foot. After wiping her off I sit her on the chest and wash her hair, followed by her feet. I trim her nails and shave her. When finished we dress in matching golden yellow tunics, anklets and slippers. We go down to supper after cleaning up the basins and snuffling the candles.