The morning began as it normally does for Tilly. A knock on her door, when she answers a voice says that it is the time she wished to be woken. Thanking the voice she gets out of bed, does her morning toilet, puts her robe on then goes to the kitchen. Once there, she builds the fire under the water cauldron, which is much simpler than it once was. The stove Rufina built for her is a marvel, so fast to heat, using so little wood and no smoke. Once the fire is going, she fills a pitcher with water then returns to her room, where she washes her body. Clean clothes follow, new style under garments first then an ankle length skirt and blouse with a apron over. After brushing her hair, she disposes of the dirty water in the chamber pot, hangs the cloth to dry then returns to the kitchen.

She will serve porridge for breakfast this morning. She rinses the grains she set to soak last night, she fills the pot with fresh water then places it on the burner. After adding a few sticks to the fire she heads upstairs to wake the Queen, then remembers Rufina was wed last night and is not in the palace. Stopping, she wonders should I wake Emi? No, let her sleep for another hour. She returns to the kitchen. Filling the kettle, she heats water for tea. While she waits she prepares the teapot by preheating the pot, measuring the tea and getting out a cup. After the water in the kettle starts steaming she empties the pot, places the tea in it then pour steaming water in the pot. When the tea has steeped the proper length of time she pours herself a cup, adding a splash of cream. Sitting at the kitchen table, sipping her tea, she thinks of the wedding last night.

Sophia had shown them what an Earth wedding was like. Then instructed them on what to do. It went surprisingly well for only taking two and a half hours to setup, turning out beautifully. Rufina was lovely, Aaron very handsome. Even after they snuck off, the party continued for several hours. She got up, going out to the parlor, looking over the mess. It's not so bad, she had seen worse. The dining room was very messy though and it needed cleaning before it could be used this morning. Finishing her tea, she prepared the tub for dish washing. Then went to wake Abbey and Christina, the only two that lived here, taking them pitchers of water to wash with. Once they were awake she started the cleanup. Using the serving cart, another useful item Rufina had made, she collects the dirty dishes spread around the dining room and parlor. Placing the messiest plates in the tub to soak she continues to collect more. When Christina arrives, Tilly sends her to wake Emi. Abbey is set to washing dishes when she arrives. After waking Emi, Christina helps Abbey with the dishes.

While Tilly, Abbey and Christina were busy in the kitchen, Emi was getting her day underway. Once awake she does her morning toilet, then wakes Beth. They help each other bathe, dress and brush each others hair. Emi is of the firm opinion that all women should know the arts of taking care of their bodies, so was training Beth in these womanly arts. Once they were finished, Emi sends Beth to fetch another pitcher of water, then wakes Benny. Once he is awake and stripped he is placed on the pot. When Beth returns, they scrub him top to bottom. Once rinsed and dried he is dressed.

When they go down stairs he starts to go to the back courtyard like he normally does but Beth stops him, explaining that she is not there this morning. He asks why? Beth told him she and uncle Aaron had gotten married last night, remember, and are away at the moment. When are they going to be back? By dinner time was the reply. Oh, are we not doing Tai Chi then?

Beth looks at Emi, "Are we doing Tai Chi?"

Emi looks at the children, "Do you wish to?"

Benny and Beth say, "Yes, please. We didn't get to do it on the boat."

"You go wake everyone then so we can."

They are off, running for the stairs, Emi shouts, "No running on the stairs." Then she laughs, she sounded just like Fina. Tilly, who was still cleaning the parlor, asked what was so funny. After explaining she laughed too. Rosa has changed their lives in so many ways.

"The children wish to do Tai Chi, will you join them?" Emi asks Tilly.

"I will. When?"

"As soon as they wake the others and they come down."

"Will you help clean the dining room and parlor until then?"

"Of course I will. The young ones can help too."

Beth and Benny went to each room, knocking on the doors. First Eliza's, then Helen's, finally Sophia's, saying, "Come join us for Tai Chi, Auntie." Benny was all for crawling up on the bed and giving them a kiss to wake them like mama and aunt Emi did. Beth said, "No, that was for grown ups." She had seen mama and the aunties kissing and rubbing each other, wondering what they were doing.

After each auntie was awake she asked if they want a pitcher of water. They said not now, maybe later.

They went down to the kitchen to wait. Soon all the aunties were there and some of the uncles too. Beth had found the teapot and poured them each a cup of tea if they wanted one. When they had finished their tea, Benny led them to the patio.

"Are you leading Tai Chi this morning, Benny?" asked Emi.

Looking at his sister, "Will you help Beth?" She nods. "I'll lead." he says.

The two of them go to the front of the patio, assuming the vertical centering position. The adults join them, soon they are all breathing deeply. Beth cracks her eye open then whispers, "They are ready, Benny." He nods.

"Thirty rotations to the right." Then starts the warm up exercises. With a few hints and comments from Beth he continues for the next thirty five minutes, until he says, "And resume vertical positioning." He relaxes, listening.

A minute later, aunt Emi says, "Very good, Benny." She rubs his head, smiling at him. He hugs her legs being too short to hug higher. "Tilly, is the dining room ready to use?"

"Yes, it is. Breakfast in ten minutes, people. Will you help Beth and Benny set the table, Emi?"

"Come along you two, let's go set the table." Benny runs into the palace heading to the kitchen, Beth and Emi are following with Tilly at a slower pace. He is waiting, sort of patiently, for them to arrive. Emi places the cream pitcher, the honey pot and a handful of spoons on the serving cart. Beth push it to the dining room where she places the honey and cream on the table as Benny places a spoon at each place. Beth returns the cart to the kitchen where Abbey and Tilly load it down with bowls of porridge. Wheeling it back to the table, she starts placing the bowls in front of the sitting people. "Thank you, Beth." is said to her by each of them.

Aden has helped Benny into his chair, pushing it close to the table. Benny asks for some honey and cream, which Aden put on his porridge. "Thank you, uncle Aden."

"Your welcome, Benny." Aden smiles at the boy. He had been missed the last three days.

When Beth has finished passing out bowls she sits at her place, Emi sliding the chair forward for her. "Thank you, aunt Emi." She look down the table, "Is there any cream left?" The cream pitcher is passed to her, she pours a small amount on her porridge then starts eating. She remembers her mama making porridge like this, tears start forming. The tears fall on her spoon as she eats.

Sophia, seeing the tears, gets up and comes around the table. Picking up Beth, she sits in Rufina's chair, hugging the girl. She can sense why she is crying, so just cuddles her, giving her comfort. She motions to Helen to pass her bowl across to her. Holding Beth, she continues to eat.

Eliza, seeing and hearing Beth crying on Sophia is reminded of her own lose. Though the thoughts don't cause tears, she is sad. Sophia, sensing the emotions coming from her catches Kalvin's eye, looking the Eliza. He turns, seeing the state she is in moves her to his lap, hugging her. "You aren't alone dear." he whispers in her ear. She hugs him, burying her face in his chest.

Beth, feeling better now, givings Sophia a kiss on the cheek, murmuring "Thank you, Sophia."

"You're welcome, sweetie." Placing her back on her chair. "Why don't you tell uncle Aden about the Abacus mama Fina told us about, I'll bet he would be interested in it."

Beth sits eating for a while, gathering her thoughts. "Uncle Aden, have you ever heard of an Abacus?"

"An Abacus? What is that Beth?" he was sure it was something Rufina had talked about, but knew nothing of it.

"It's a rack of beads that you move around to to count on. Mama Fina told us about it on the ship yesterday on the way home. She said you could add and subtract on it. She asked to be reminded about it so she will probably have some made." She looks at Sophia, "Do you know how it works, auntie Sophia?"

"Yes, I do. The one I know has beads on small sticks held in a frame, four on the lower part with one above. To count you start with the lower beads, moving one per number. For one you would move the top bead up to the center bar, two would two beads, three would be three beads. When you get to five you move the bead on the top section down and the four bead in the lower section down. Six is the upper bead plus one of the lower ones, seven two lower and the upper. So the fives beads can show the number nine. The number ten is all the beads in the right most column down and one of the next column up. If you all join hands I can show you."

Eliza moves back to her chair, sliding closer to Helen, taking her hand. The rest of the people at the table join hands. Sophia accesses the internet, finds a short video intended to show children the basics of the abacus and relays it to them. When it is complete everyone opens their eyes and nods.

"Such a simple thing but how would you count money on it?" says Aden.

"You would need to change it, Uncle. Put two more beads on the top so each column to count to twenty. The right column would be coppers, then silver then gold and then what ever come after gold." says Beth.

"Platinum comes after gold, Beth." he replies absently, thinking about what she said. "Did Fina tell you that?"

"No, I just thought of it, after seeing the video. One bead would be five, two ten, three fifteen then with the four below you have nineteen. Then one more would be twenty or one silver."

Aden appears in deep thought. Where to get the beads, Harry or the wood workers? Daniel could make the frame, could he make the beads. But Harry could mould them, making them cheaply and in great number. Harry it is. How big though? The same size as the go pieces? or smaller? Bigger would be less likely to be fumbled, so big. "Eliza, would you sketch an Abacus for me? About this big," he holds up his hands, forming a rectangle, 4 inches by 8 inches, "with seven columns. The right four with three beads on top, the left three with only one."

She jumps up, running to the study, grabbing several pieces of paper and a charcoal stick. Sitting down at Sophia's spot she sketches a rectangle, put seven cross sticks in. Then placing the beads, four below the bar, with three above on the right four and one on then left three."

"How big should I make the beads?"

"About the size of a Go piece, but a little thinner and they shouldn't touch the ones beside them."

"Make the lower space six beads tall, the top space five beads tall." Beth says. "So there is room to move them. Would 1018 platinum be enough? Or should we add one or two more columns?"

"What would the largest number you would want to count up to, that isn't money? 100,000, 1,000,000?" Asks Eliza.

"Prince Aaron would add up numbers over 100,000 all the time, so bigger is better." says Benson.

Beth is thinking, "The left side could be used to count up things not money so it should have seven or eight column on that side. The four on the right would be for money, up to platinum, the roll over to be put on the left side so, one million or ten million plus platinum. Or you could ignore the top two beads on the right columns treating them like they only go to ten not twenty."

Eliza, crosses out the paper she is working on, turning the page over. "Is it decided? Fourteen columns total, four on the right with three beads over the bar per column, the rest having one."

"Yes." say Beth and Aden.'

She starts again, sketching the rectangles and the beads. When she is finished she initials the bottom corner with a E. She hands then sketch to Aden. Beth hops down, comes to look over his shoulder.

"Are you thinking of having Harry make the beads, uncle?"

"Yes, I am. Why?"

"You'll need a second sketch of the beads for him."

"Ah, of course." Beth runs to the study, returning with another sheet of paper which she hands to Eliza. "Eliza, we need a sketch of the bead, top and side views, with dimensions." Aden says to her.

Eliza quickly sketches it, again putting E in the corner. Beth had watch over her shoulder so gets handed the sketch when it is finished. Returning to Aden she hands it him. "Pass these to Sophia, Beth." He hands her the papers, she runs them around the table, handing them Sophia. "Is it viable, Sophia?"

She stares at it for a minute. "Yes, it is." She hands them back to Beth. Beth runs them around the table back to Aden.

"Shall we show it to Rufina first or just build it? " he asks Beth.

"Would you like it if you though of something and someone else did it before you could do it? So we show her."

"Very well Beth. Do you want to do it?" She nods. He hands her the pages. She takes them to the study, laying them face up on the desk, a smile on her face.

* * *

Rufina and Aaron, after paying for their breakfast and receiving the well wishes of Scott and his employees, are wandering around the town. The people they meet greet them with smiles and congratulations having heard of the wedding from the people that had been invited. They decide to stop by John's to inquire if he could made a pair of rings for them in the style of their woven rings so are wandering in that direction. They are discussing whether to have them made of silver or of gold.

John greets them with a hug, "Your majesties, congratulations. How may help you?"

Having returned his hug, Rufina, replied, "As you know we were wed on short notice, so had no chance to obtain proper rings. We are wondering if you are capable of making a pair of rings for us, in the same pattern as our temporary ones."

"I don't work in gold or silver but one of my journeyman decided that gold was not his metal so changed crafts. He still works in silver or gold occasionally as a favor to friends. I will go get him, one moment." He goes to the back, returning with a young man, about Aaron's age. "Your majesties, this is Ashton. Ashton may I present Rufina, the queen, and Aaron, the prince of Monte', her husband."

"Your majesties. How may I be of service?"

"We understand you work in gold and silver. Would you be willing to craft a pair of rings for us?"

"For you I would. Do you have a design in mind?"

We both hold out our hands, displaying our woven rings, "We would like this design duplicated in gold." He takes my hand, raising it to his eye then moves me so it is in the sun shine. He does the same with Aaron's hand. "You wish it to appear as if they were made of woven ribbons, is this true?"

"Yes, that is correct." He nods.

"One moment please." He turns, return to the interior of the shop. He returns carrying paper and a charcoal stick, "Would you both remove your rings please?" After we do that, he measures our fingers. He lays the bits of twine on the table, then lays the rings so he can see them. He then sketches the patterns of the rings on the paper.

As he works I ask, "Do you intend to cast or carve the pattern on the rings?"

"I will carve the patterns after casting the basic ring."

I smile, "I may have a job for you then. I need a number of small iron punches made, each with a character craved on the face."

He stops sketching, looking at me. "Small punches? How small and how many?" He returns to his sketching, finishing one then starting on the next. They are quite good likenesses.

"The size is about three inches in length, the diameter depending on the character on the end. The number of punches is quite large; two for every letter of the alphabet, one for each of the numbers 0 through 9 and one for each punctuation mark so about ninety four of them. Then there are different sizes of font."

He had stop when I said there would be ninety four of them, "What would these be used for, your majesty?"

"They would make the moulds for making the letters used on a printing press." I gaze at him, "Are you interested?"

"I have heard you wish everyone to be able to read. Is this part of that?"

"Yes. To read one needs things to read, don't they? I plan on make books cheaply and in large numbers. But I need someone trained as a goldsmith, who can carve metal, knows casting and knows metals. And you fit the bill."

"Your majesty, are you trying to steal my journeyman?" asks John.

Turning to look at him, "Yes, I think I am. I have taken too long to get the printing press started. It will take time to complete as it has a great number of parts. There are applicants for blacksmithing yet, I can get you another apprentice. Perhaps Ashton would help train one or two as there is overlap in the skill sets." I look at him, he nods.

"And when would he need to do this?" John asks.

"He can start soon, I will need to design the letters for him to carve so it will not be tomorrow. Within four weeks if nothing interrupts me."

"Do you wish to do this Ashton?" asks John. We both are looking at him. He is studying the ring sketches, "It sounds interesting, almost as interesting as these rings. How long do I have to finish the rings, your majesty? Three or four weeks?"

"If that is what it takes. And what will you charge us?" I am thinking one gold each.

"One gold, ten copper each. I happen to have enough gold in the correct alloy for two rings, so you won't need to wait for that. I can start them tomorrow as John has me on another project at the moment." He is still staring at the ring sketch, I see his fingers moving like he is holding a chisel, carving.

"John, do you want another apprentice?"

"No, if Ashton isn't leaving yet, I can wait until the start of next season to get another apprentice."

"Are the two you have doing well? I know it has only been two weeks but are they good students or goof offs?"

"So far they are doing well. I have them assisting with the bloomery, learning how to feed the ore and charcoal in the proper mix. Ah, that reminds me, the other day one of them mentioned there is a air mover on the machine you made to clean the grain. Would one of those movers work on the bloomery?"

"Yes, they would. Would you like a pair made to use on the bloomery?"

"How much do they cost? Are they large enough to the move the air I need?"

"I can have Steven bring you two to test. If they are too small they can be changed to move more air. And I am not sure of the cost, I would have to look it up."

"Thank you your majesty."

"We will leave you to your work then. I'll be in touch." Aaron and I turn to the door, leaving.

I lead him to Steven's shop, where we are congratulated and wished a long and happy marriage. We thank Steven and his crew, then ask, "Do you have the food dryer completed? And a pair of cleaner blowers?"

"The dryer is being loaded on the cart now. There are a pair of blowers waiting to be mounted on cleaners, why?"

"John would like to test them on his bloomery to determine if they supply the correct amount of air. Would you take them to him and help him set them up? And are the other projects on schedule?"

"The toilet is approaching completion, the problem with the mechanism has been figured out. The other projects are progressing per schedule."

"And the new apprentices are doing well?"

"They are. We have them learning to sharpen the tools right now."

"Very good. I'll talk with you later then, I have others I need to visit." He bows and opens the door for us.

We visit Daniel next. We are greeted by Jerrie shortly after the bell rings, "Good morning, how may I help you?" She hasn't seen me standing behind Aaron, who she doesn't recognize.

"Good morning Jerrie, is master Daniel available?" I say as I step beside Aaron.

"Oh, Good morning your majesty." She bobs her head, "Yes, he's available, one moment, please." She returns to the back.

Shortly after Daniel comes to the front. "Good morning, your majesties. How may I help you this morning?"

"I was in town and thought I would check up on the projects. Are you making progress?"

"Yes I am. Both the cleaner and the thresher parts are nearly complete. The stacking game parts are nearly complete, Jerrie is sanding them so they can be finished. I am waiting on brass wire from John to continue working on the loom heddle. I have some of the other smaller loom parts finished. I plan on starting to work on the frame when the game pieces are completed in a couple of days."

"And how is Jerrie is working out?"

"Very well, she is a good worker, quick to learn and focused on details."

"I'll let you return to work then. Have a productive day."

"Congratulations on your wedding, I didn't get to talk to you last night or I would have said it then." He says as he holds the door.

"Thank you, Daniel."

We wander through town heading in the general direction of the palace, nodding to the people as they greet us, wishing us a long and happy marriage. We enter through the guard tower, going to my, now our room. As we place our bags near the wardrobe, "We will need to bring in another wardrobe for your clothes, love."

He looks around, "There is room, though the armor will need to go out in the sitting room."

"I should warn you, we will most probably be invaded in the mornings, as Benny and Beth have been coming to sleep with me sometime in the early morning."

"As long as they don't wake me, I will be fine. I can't return to sleep if I get woken after about five hours of sleep but need at least seven or I am grumpy the rest of the day." He comes up behind me, hugging me, kissing my neck. "Shall we test our bed now or wait until this evening?"

To answer him I turn around and kiss him, pulling his shirt out of his trousers. Undoing his trousers, I put my hands into his drawers, grabbing his butt cheeks. He lifts his shirt over his head, dropping it on the floor. I push him on to the bed, laying him down I pull his trousers off him. I do a strip tease for him, unfastening my trousers, turning around then slowly removing them. I unbutton my blouse, leaving the bottom two fastened. Undoing the frog on my bra, I slide one arm out of my blouse and out of the bra strap. Pulling the bra out of the other blouse arm I toss it to him. His drawers are straining to hold him in as I slide my panties down, flashing him views of my crotch. Then standing in front of him, the tails of my blouse hiding the goods from view, I pull his drawers down, throwing them to the floor. Straddling him, I start to rub myself on him, though neither of us need it as we are both very excited. He reaches out, undoing the last two buttons, pulling the blouse open, exposing me to his view. It soon joins the rest of our clothes on the floor.

He sits up, hugging me, kissing each breast, sucking the nipples. Grasping my hips, he lifts me turning me around then kisses and caresses my bottom before having me sit on his lap, pushing his member deeply into me. Laying back down, he lifts me slightly then lowers me again. I start the motion on my own, pushing down until he is totally in then lifting until just the tip is in. In, out, in, out. Soon he starts raising to meet me. Our tempo increases. I am approaching the edge, It feels so good. Tightening up on the upstroke, I drop one last time, sending us both in to intense orgasm. I can feel him spurting deep inside me as I spasm. Collapsing on his legs, I moan. Picking me up, he lays me beside himself, kissing me.

* * *

Emi is worried. They hadn't come home for breakfast. And now it is nearly dinner time. So she goes in search of Sophia, finding her and Beth in the garden, sitting beneath the pergola, meditating. Folding herself beside Sophia she quietly says, "I'm worried Sophia, where are they?"

Sophia gets a light smile on her face, "They are in their room, asleep. They came in through the guard tower about a hour ago."

Emi sighs, that is like Rufina. "Thank you Sophia. Dinner is in 40 minutes, see you then."

She stands, going to the kitchen. "They are here Tilly, apparently they snuck in a hour ago." She is saying this as she is filling a pitcher with hot water. "I'll set the table after I wake them. She climbs the stairs. Entering Rufina's rooms, she places the pitcher on the table next to the basin. Gathering their cloths, she lays them on the chest, ready to be put back on. Going to stand next to Fina, she looks at them, noting the smile on Fina's face, the size of Aaron, the way he is holding her. Leaning down she kisses Fina, whispering in her ear, "Wake up love, dinner is in 30 minutes." When Fina's eyes open she kisses her, "I brought water so you can bathe. See you down stairs." She turns, leaving.

* * *

We may have napped, because Emi is shaking my shoulder, while whispering in my ear, "Wake up love, dinner is in 30 minutes." Seeing me awake, she kisses me, "I brought water so you can bathe. See you down stairs." She leaves.

Kissing Aaron awake, "Dinner is soon, dear, time to wake up." Getting up, I use the pot then prepare the water. Aaron is still asleep so I pull his legs off the bed then dribble cold water on him. Dodging his grab, "It's dinner time, get up." I start washing myself, soaping up. He comes behind, hugging me. I hand him the cloth, "Here, scrub my back, please." He starts scrubbing, with an occasional kiss. He picks up the soap, rubbing it on his hands. Soon he is rubbing me all over. Soaping my hands I do the same, soaping him all over. We rinse and dry off, then dress.

Descending to the dining room, we are greeted by the others, getting hugs and kisses. Emi serves us. Dinner is salmon filets, steamed greens, streamed thinly cut strips of parsnip and fresh baked mixed grain bread with butter. Both Aaron and I dig in. Happy faces surround us.

Once Beth and Benny have cleared the table and have been lead away by Sophia and Christina, the questions start, did we have a good time, what is he/she like in bed, where did we go? We only answer that we spent the night on the Marigold and yes, we had a good time and the rest is none of your business. I take Aaron by the hand leading him to the kitchen, where we start washing the dishes.

"Why are we washing the dishes, Rufina, isn't that someone else's job."

"Everyone does dishes. You, Benson and Victor have been exempt because your were guests but now you are part of the family so you wash dishes. How do you expect the children to develop good work habits if you slack off."

"Yes, dear, being a good example here." he replies with snark.

"Very good, dear. Now get drying." Handing him a plate from the rinse water.

When we finish the dishes, we pour the rinse water in to the wash tub then take it out and pour it on the fruit trees. Returning to the garden I notice that there are men working on the bath house so putting the tub down we go investigate what they are doing.

There are three men working inside, two on hands and knees laying tile, the third is fetching tiles and grout for them. Over half of the floor has been tiled. The gravel that had covered the floor is now itself covered, in concrete. When they notice me, I ask, "When will it be ready to use?"

The one handling the tiles states, "Four or five days. It will need to dry."

"Very good." Leading Aaron back out, we continue what we were doing. Once the tub is back in the kitchen, I check the water cauldron, topping it off, adding a few sticks to the fire. Aaron tells me he will start moving his clothes from the room in the new section to my rooms. He asks where he could locate a wardrobe or should he use the one in the room he is using? I tell him to ask Molly or Emi, they would know a good one to move. I tell him I will be in the study, sketching. Before he wanders off in search of help, I kiss him soundly, getting in a double handed butt grab.

Sitting at the desk in the study I notice a sketch, one I hadn't done. Studying it, I like what I see. It's a sketch of an abacus, one designed to work with the money system here. I wonder who did it, then I notice the E in the corner. So Eliza did the sketch but who is the designer? Sophia and Emi were there when I described how an abacus worked so it could have been them. I decided to mind speak Sophia to inquire if she knows.

'Sophia, are you free to talk?' 'Yes, dear one, what's up?' 'I found a sketch of an abacus on my desk, Eliza drew it but who designed it?' 'That is a collaboration between, Beth, Benson and Aden with a small amount of help from me.' 'Beth?' 'Yes, dear, Beth. I asked her to tell Aden about the abacus as I thought it would interest him. Then Beth asked if I knew how it worked so I showed them a childs training video. Aden then asks Eliza to draw an abacus for him. After the first one was drawn it was decided that it needed to be wider so it could count higher. That was Benson's contribution, he stated that Aaron counted things over 100,000 so would need a larger one. Beth suggested the extra two beads on the right hand columns. Aden suggested the bead size which set the size of the whole thing.' 'This saves me some time. Thank you Sophia.'

Looking at the sketches, I notice that the beads are ceramic while the rest is wood. Yes, just like I would have done. Wooden beads would work but would take longer to make, while Harry could mold up hundreds in a hour once the mould is finished. Taking paper and a charcoal stick out, I draft a bid to Harry for the beads, 1860 white and five hundred fifty eight black. To be delivered to Daniel when completed. The sample run should be 60 white and 18 black. I also write that this will be a repeatable order.

Then I draft a bid request to Daniel, requesting a sample. And a price and projected delivery for five in the fourteen column width and twenty five in an eight column width.

Rolling the bid requests and the plans up, I tie them with a string, sealing them with wax. 'Sophia, would you and Beth be free to run an errand?' 'Humm, maybe. Doing what?' 'Running bids to Harry and Daniel.' 'The abacus?' 'Yes.' 'We will be right there.'

They are there in a few minutes. "Hello, mama Fina. What are we doing?" Beth wants to know.

"You are going to run Daniel and Harry some plans and a bid request. As you are the designer you can answer their questions."

She looks puzzled, then looks at the desk, searching it with her eyes. "Oh, the abacus. You want me to explain the abacus to Daniel and Harry?"

"Yes, Sophia will be along to help if you need it."

Beth gets a big smile on her face, comes around the desk, giving me a hug. "You liked the way it's designed?" I nod. She hugs me again then grabbing Sophia by the hand pulls her to the back door to put their shoes on.

Pulling out the sketch folio, I search for the printing press designs. Laying what I have done out, I check each one. The mould assembly and copper block, the platen, the screw, the frame, the paper holder, the ink ball and the type holder. I don't know the printer jargon so that is what I name them. I'll have Sophia check them when they get back. Gathering the sketches, I replace them in the folio.

I sketch a generic letter punch for Ashton, giving the general dimensions for length. Then I start on a font, but give up, my hand writing sucks. I am going to have to have Sophia do it. I do decide on a sans serif font with proportional letter spacing with set spacing for numbers in a medium weight. As I think about the design of the characters I realize I need some forms to design them on. I will need a couple hundred forms so I go get the tape from Helen, as it need to be precisely measured. Drawing five lines, one for the baseline, one for the height of capital letters, one for the height of the lower case letters. The other two lines are the upper limit for the ascenders and other the lower limit for the descenders, which complete the form.

I draft a letter to Howard, asking him to print two hundred of the included form as quickly as possible, please. Once it suits me, I make a fair copy. After signing the letter I put it aside to dry. I write a note to Ashton, asking if he has the capability to measure very small distances on the things he makes? I check the letter to Howard, it's dry so roll it and the form into a tube, tieing and sealing it. Then add to Ashton's note, asking if he would make a wax seal for me? I state I have a finished design, just needing it cut into metal.

Deciding to take a short break I go walk around the atrium, stopping at the palace office where Aden is busy. "Aden, what would you think of taking Beth as our apprentice?"

He thinks about it, "She needs more schooling but other than that I think it a good idea."

"While we were in Four Rivers she expressed a desire to learn how the kingdom worked so she could help me. She reads quite well for her age. She will need more training in writing and math. Sophia is teaching her math and working on her writing. She could continue learning from Sophia in the morning then get hands on training in the afternoon with us or Aaron, who I think could take over Lian's work."

"All right, Beth is now our apprentice. Where is she at?"

"I sent her and Sophia to take the bids for the abacus parts to Harry and Daniel. Seeing as she is the major designer of it, I figured she would be the best one to explain it to them."

"How many are you going to have made?"

"One to start with, to make sure it works like it should. Once it passes, thirty more. Their price should be about a silver each, judging from the prices of the other work Harry and Daniel have done. I was figuring five for our use here in the palace and the other twenty five for the school. I asked for bids on a fourteen column and an eight column version, figuring that the students wouldn't need more than eight columns."

"That's true. You should make a sketch to send to the Harding Company, they would probably find it useful. And every craftsmen will want one too. And a sheet of instructions on how to use it."

"Well that tells me what I am doing for the next hour or so." I return to the study, taking out paper and charcoal sticks, I prepare an outline for the operation of an abacus. Drawing some crude diagrams, I show the position of the beads to represent different numbers, then moving the beads to add then to subtract. Then I show how to add and subtract money with diagrams. I am completing the last of the drawings when Beth and Sophia return.

Beth comes charging in to the study, hugging me tight. "Mama Fina, I did it." She places two receipt halves on the desk, one signed by Harry and the other by Daniel, for receipt of bid requests for parts for an abacus. Taking both of them by the hand I lead them to the couch next the fireplace having them sit. I sit across from them, "I have an announcement for you two. First, Beth, after discussing it with Aden, I have decided to make you the minister in training, an apprentice to myself, Aden and Aaron. In the morning you will continue to take lessons with Sophia, learning to write better, to do Math and to continue reading. In the afternoon, you will be helping one of us three in our tasks for that day."

"Sophia, If you will continue to teach Beth the skills she will need. Also to guide her as she explores other areas of learning she may find interesting." In my mind I add, 'Basic chemistry, physics, medicine, biology, the sciences in other words.'

Beth is in shock, I think, she sits and stares at me. Then with a whoop she jumps up hugging me, "Thank you, Mama. I'll do a good job. Do you have anything for me to do?"

"I do but it is too close to supper for them to be done now so go see if Aden has something." She runs out heading to the palace office, nearly running over Emi on the way.

"Excuse me, aunt Emi," as she says as she runs off.

"Where is Beth going in such a hurry?" Emi asks as she walk in the door.

"Minister in training Bethany is going to see if her senior has anything for her to do." I say. She gives me a puzzled look. "I made Beth apprentice to Aden, Aaron and myself so she can learn to run the domain. She was on her way to ask Aden if he had anything for her to do."

"Ah, that explains it then. And it is time for your run."

"All right. Sophia, come with us please, I have things I need to talk to you about." We stand, heading my rooms. "First, I need your and Eliza's help producing a set of instructions for the Abacus. I have an outline nearly finished, it's on the desk if you would check it over to see if I missed anything. Second, in a few days, after I get some forms back from Howard, I would like you to draw/write a set of type faces. You could get Eliza to help with it. I was thinking a sans serif font with proportional letter spacing with set spacing for numbers in a medium weight to start with. I started to do it earlier but my hand writing sucks."

As I talked, we climbed the stairs, entering my rooms. Aaron had moved the armor stand and the armor out to the sitting room, moved another wardrobe in to the bed chamber and has moved his cloths in to it. Emi has my running attire laid out on the bed, ready for me. She helps remove my trousers and blouse, then holds a pair of shorts for me to step into. Afterwards she slips the short tunic over my head then leads me back to the sitting room. Once there, with Sophia's help she puts the armor on me. As they are doing that I ask if they would like to join me.

Sophia bows out, saying she would need to bind her breasts before she could run, she is too large to run comfortably without doing that. Emi, undoes her skirt, letting it drop to the floor, exposing her shorts. After giving us a hug, Sophia says she'll have water waiting for our after run bath. She leaves us at the stairs, going to the study to check the outline, as we continue to the garden door. After changing to different footwear, we stretch before meeting Kalvin outside the garden gate.

He nods to us, then takes off at a steady trot. The guard at the draw bridge salutes as we pass, getting a salute in return. We turn to the left but instead of following the dry moat today, we continue down the hill then turn left again running along the edge of hill to the treeline. Following the treeline behind the palace increases the distance per lap by twenty percent. The recruits for the militia are training in the open space between the wall and the trees, sparring with spear shafts and shield. Our course takes us down to the river on a shaded trail that runs parallel to the river for several hundred feet. The washer women wave as we pass, Emi and I wave back. Again we turn left at the base of the palace hill, making a second lap. After passing the washer women again we ascend to the drawbridge. I am get winded so don't sprint the climb like Emi and Kalvin do. Saluting the guard on the way through, we walk to the garden gate, cooling down.

Changing our footwear at the rear vestibule, Emi and I head to my rooms as Kalvin goes upstairs to wash up for supper. Sophia greets us at the sitting room where she helps remove the armor and place it back on it's stand. She informs us the water is ready and she will see us at supper, we have forty minutes. We strip down, use the chamber pot then start washing each other. Many kisses and caresses later, we finish washing each other then wash our hair then dry ourselves. Putting on clean under garments, we brush each others hair, then finish dressing in long tunics with anklets. Sophia gives us a five minute warning as we are finishing up.

We find the others sitting around the table waiting. I kiss Aaron, then greet everyone after sitting down. After we have eaten for awhile, I ask Beth to go to the study and bring me the rolled letter on my desk. She hops down and runs to the study, returning in a few seconds with the letter for Howard. When she goes to hand it to me I ask her, "Who is it addressed to?" She looks at the the name, studying it.

"Is that Howard?" she asks. I nod. Looking at him she asks me, "Should I give it to him?" Again I nod. She walks around the table, handing it to Howard. "A message from the Queen." She informs him then returns to her chair.

Howard has opened the letter and is reading the request. Looking at the form, he nods his head, "I can have these done in a few day, your majesty."

"Thank you, Howard. Eliza, I have a job for you, too." She had been rubber necking Howard, looking at the form. She turns her attention to me. "You, I and Sophia will be working on a sheet of instructions on the use of an abacus. Sophia, how many pages do you estimate it will have?"

"One full sheet, both sides." she replies.

"It is what I thought, also. We can do it tomorrow, then." I look at Beth, smiling, "And I have an announcement. As she has requested to learn how the kingdom is run, Aden and I have, as of this afternoon, appointed Bethany Marie Hofstadter as Minister in training. Her masters in this are minister Aden, prince Aaron and myself."

"Also, as Prince Aaron has experience supervising the farming operations of his fathers kingdom I hereby appoint him to the office of Minister of the Domain. That being the case, Aden shall be Chancellor and Treasurer of Haven." They both look shocked, as I hadn't consulted with them before doing this.

The others congratulate Beth, Aaron and Aden, who thank them. They soon have their heads together, discussing which of them does what. Howard, after studying the form longer, asks about the line width on it, I tell him to make them as thin as possible. Sophia, looking at the form, asks what it is for? I tell her it is to design the font for the letter press type. I send her a image of the form with a letter on it, "Oh, I see," nodding.

Finishing my supper, I lay my plate and utensils on the tray, take the deck of cards out of the sideboard and I separate the red cards from the black, then shuffle the red cards. I lay these twenty six cards face down on the table then lay out a game of concentration. I start flipping cards two at a time, removing them them if I get a match. Beth and Benny soon take an interest on what I am doing, asking to be taught the game.

As I lay out a new game I start explaining the rules of play, "The object is to get more pairs than your opponent. You take turns turning over pairs of cards, removing the matching pairs. If you get a match, play again. If you don't match, turn the cards back over then it's the other players turn." I start by turning over two cards which don't match. Then Beth tries and fails. Benny, turns over a card, which matches one I had turned over. I ask him if he remembers where it was, he nods, turning the correct card over. He takes both and puts them in front of himself. The next card is another new one, he turns over a random card, no match. We continue playing. Beth wins with five pair, to Benny and my four each. I setup a new game for them, letting them play as it is Emi and my turn to do the supper dishes.

After Emi and I do the dishes, we collect Beth and Benny who are still playing concentration. After getting and giving hugs and kiss from their aunts and uncles, we take them to their bed. By the time we get to their room, Benny is nearly asleep. Once in their room I strip him down to his drawers and tuck him in, kissing him good night. Emi has helped Beth change to her nightwear as I do that. I take my normal place at the head of the bed with Beth sitting between my legs leaning on me. Tonight I tell her what I can remember of the first Harry Potter book, getting several chapters in before she falls asleep. Emi is laying on the other side of the bed, next to Benny, listening too.

"I thought Earth didn't have magic?" She states as we walk to my room.

"It doesn't but that doesn't mean that we don't wish it did. The stories like Harry Potter are fantasy, There are stories where the hero/heroine is like me, brought to a different world where they are thrown in a situation they have little or no control over. Some times they have magic powers, other times they have physical power, strength or constitution, becoming great warriors. Stories like those are an escape for the readers, to get away from their lives for a while."

When we enter the sitting room, Emi asks,"Do you wish to bathe before bed?"

"Yes, please."

"I'll be back with water then." She hugs me, kissing my cheek.

Entering my rooms I light a few more candles before starting to undressing, laying the tunic and my bra in the wardrobe, my panties on the bed. I have used the pot and have the cold water in the basin when she returns. After mixing the water, she washes my back then rinse it. She reaches around, fondling my breasts, pinching the nipples. She has removed her clothes, I can feel her stiff nipples pressing into my back. While one hand seeks my folds she starts kissing the nape of my neck, then my ears.

I turn around, grasping her head, I kiss her. My hands caress her breasts, then drop to her crotch, rubbing her nubbin, then sliding into her channel. We are soon laying on the bed, caressing each other to the edge and over. As we are laying there is a knock on the door, "May I come in, Rufina?" It's Aaron.

"One moment please." We roll off the bed. I slip my panties on then help Emi put her clothes on then slip a chemise on. I check on Emi then say, "You may enter, dear." Emi is straightening the room, picking up the towels and wash cloths. After pouring the water from the basin into the chamber pot she takes it out to the sitting room.

Returning she asks, "Do you wish to bath, my lord?"

"Yes, please." Emi nods, then exits.

"Thank you for knocking, dear."

"Having a little sister trains one from just barging in to a room unannounced. There were several time I had pitchers thrown at my head when I didn't knock." I am undoing the frogs on the front of his shirt, pulling the tails from his trousers. I push him down onto the chest, undoing his shoes then removing them and his stockings. With him standing I undo his trousers, having him sit again I remove those trousers.

Emi knocks, waits a moment then enters, placing a pitcher of hot water on the table. She exit again, soon returning with the chamber pot which she places in the corner. "Is there anything else, Rufina."

"Thank you, Emi, that is enough for now."

"I'll see you in the morning then, good night."

"Good night, Emi." both Aaron and I say.

After Emi leaves, Aaron gets his drawers removed, is sat on the chest again. Soon I am scrubbing his back, using my bare breasts as a sponge. My hands are soaped and rubbing other parts of his body. He soon has me straddling him, his long hard member deep in my channel. We are soon over the edge in mutual orgasm. I finish bathing him then dry him off, putting him in the bed. Wiping myself off then drying off, I join him after straightening up a little and snuffing the candles.

* * *

After Rufina and Emi take the children to bed, Aden excuses himself. He has a courier to check on, possibly. Rufina had told him that a courier was to arrive with special information in the week after 31 summer which was four days ago. He gathered what he needed then left the Palace, climbing the hill to the northeast of the palace, going to where the couriers landed. After laying out the fires he sat against the perch waiting for dark. Once it was dark he lit the fire in front of the perch then waited some more. He was trying hard to stay awake when he heard a hawk screech. Standing he checks the wind direction then lights the proper fires. A few minutes later a shadow passed over, the courier is there.

The large raptor looked at Aden, turning its head to stare with one eye. "Would you be Minssster Aden?" He asked.

"Ah, yes, I am minister Aden. And you are?"

"I am Cherick. I have several letters for Queen Rufina, some bags, and a letter for Miss Emelle Nee Jess."

Aden spreads the fire in front of the perch so Cherick can mount the perch. When he is on the perch, Aden removes the pack, gives him the hare he has brought for his meal. Then he opens the pack removes a document case which he opens then begins reading the cover letter. All of the contents were for persons on the island, 4 letters for a Rufina, a small bag containing seeds, and like Cherick said, a letter for Emelle daughter of Jess. Laying them aside, he makes adjustments to the list, removing the items he is keeping then adding one. He then signs the cover letter, placing it and a letter addressed to the company in the pack. After securely closing the pack he reattaches the pack to the harness on Cherick. After double checking the harness, Aden extinguished the fires and bids Cherick farewell and thank you.

"Thank you for the hare, Aden. Perhaps we will meet again."

Aden returns to the palace, to bed hopefully, it has been a long week. Saluting the guard at the main gate, Aden enters the palace. He places the letters and bag on the desk in the study before climbing the stairs, he will stay the night in the room over the kitchen tonight. As he leaves the stair well he meets Emi.

"Did the courier arrive Aden?"

"Yes. There is a small bag, four letters for Rufina and another, for Emelle Nee Jess. Do you know anyone by that name?"

Emi has her mouth covered. "That is my full name, the only one that calls me that is my mother. May I retrieve the letter?"

"Of course, Emi."

She is gone in a flash. He shrugs, taking a lit candle he enters the room next to Eliza's. Shortly after laying on the bed he is asleep.

* * *

I am snuggled up against Aaron who had gone to sleep shortly after being tucked in when Emi enters. She removes her tunic, snuffs the candle she was carrying then crawls in beside me. Snuggling up to me she starts to cry.

Hugging her to me, I ask, "What is the matter?"

"Last week I finally wrote my parents. There was a letter in the pouch tonight in reply, they are not in the best of situations. Papa had an accident on the farm and has been injured. Mama had tried to take care of him while working but had been having a hard time then got dismissed. My brothers are trying to keep the farm going but lost part of the harvest to weather, barely harvesting enough to pay the taxes."

When I realize what that means, I ask, "Are your family Freemen?"

"They are."

"Do you think they would they be willing to come to the island? If they are I will pay their way, provide them a farm if they wish one. The young ones could take apprenticeships. We will find something for them to do."

"Why would you do that for them?"

I reply,"You are my family, they are your family therefore mine. Family helps family. I will arrange with the company to get them here by the next available means."

"That right Emi, family helps family. We will welcome them." Aaron says from my side. "We will get them here if I have to sail there myself."

This causes her to start crying again. I pull her over myself so she is between Aaron and I, hugging her. I hold her until she falls asleep, then reaching over her I take Aaron's hand, we soon join her.