Glancing at the sky I see it's still morning. "Mark do you have paper on you, I have more to order?" He does. We sit down in the parlor again. "Alright, ready?" he nods. "Olive tree saplings, two or three years old or if unavailable seeds. At least ten.

"In my previous order I asked about a tuber related to nightshade. Is there another tuber or root vegetable that was found at the same time, with red orange or yellow flesh that grows from a vine? If so, I would like a basket of them, delivered no later than six weeks into the year, at the same time as the other order."

"I would like to have wine produced on the island, so let it be know that I will grant land to a vintner if they will come to the island to settle. This offer is open to up to three master vintners, and if their sons or daughters are also vintners, I may increase their holding. They will have to bring their own vines and some of the more specialized equipment. What does passage from your headquarters to here cost?"

"Two gold, two meals a day included plus two hundred weight of luggage allowed, any over that weigh is extra."

"Alright, transportation for the craftsmen and one other person, with three hundred weight of luggage each, paid. Any excess paid by the craftsmen.

"I need the following craftsmen, a dyer, a glass maker, a sheet metal worker and paper maker. A two year contract will be tendered. Housing and a workshop will be provided for the life of the contract. Wages to be negotiated. Offer is open to junior journeyman or better."

"Specific requirements:

For the dyer, know the making and use of all color of dyes, for both linen and wool.

For the glass maker, the creating glass and it's shaping.

For the metal worker, the forming of sheet metal and its shaping.

For the paper maker, the manufacture of all forms of paper."

"The persons applying for these positions must pass a test administrated by your company, to ascertain their skill level, I will reimburse expenses for these tests within reason. No out fitting a glass factory at my expense. If they can be witnessed producing their speciality at their current place of employment that would be enough."

"Your majesty, the craftsmen have arrived." Emi announces as she leads the smith and the woodworkers.

"Excuse me." I say before heading to the study to fetch the plans for the grain cleaner. "Good morning gentlemen, it is good to see you." I rejoin them in the parlor where Emi had them sitting. "I have another project for you. As this is a high priority job, I would appreciate it if you would put all available employees on it." I hand each of them a page or two of plans for the cleaner; the carpenter gets the auger, the cleaner plates and the power train, the furniture maker gets the frame and the blower and ducting. The carver gets the screens, chutes and the hopper.

The carver also gets a secondary job, six go boards which are a simple board with a 19 x 19 grid carved in the top. But what appears simple is anything but, he says he will need to make the wider broads. I tell him the screens for the cleaner are first, the go boards later.

The three wood workers, have their heads together, trying to agree on base measurements, so their parts will fit each other. I show them the tape, explaining that if they each use the same thing to measure with the parts will all fit. I Use the measuring tape to mark lines on their parts of the plans, now they each have a common measure to use.

The blacksmith had been watching as I marked the papers, "I can make common measures in metal if I can borrow that tape."

"That is what I call you here to discuss. I wish you to make some thin metal bars,one meter long, marked as measuring rulers. And no, you can't take the tape to your shop." I ask him to make six meter long rulers, thin narrow metal bars, smoothly finished on all sides then engraved. Once he has the first one ready he can come to the palace to use the tape to engrave the markings.

In the meantime, Eliza is finished the drawing of the prince card, which is very well done. "Daniel, Steven. Are you or one of your employees able to carve this image on to a hard wood block?"

"To what propose?"

"To transfer the image to paper."

"Oh, block printing. You could get a block printer to do that."

"Is there one on Haven?"

"No, your majesty."

"Mark, are there block printers available for hire?"

"Yes, your majesty, there are."

"You can add a block printer to the hire list then. The same offer as the others, requirements to be able to create block prints in multiple colors and the making of inks. Oh, and John the smith is who you want to talk to about a lamp."

I addressed the woodworkers and the smith, "Gentlemen, thank you for your time. You have your assignments, please complete them as quickly as possible, this machine is needed to clean the harvest just completed. Sophia, will you please show them out."

I turned my attention to Eliza. "Eliza, I have a job for you. These are playing cards," I show her the deck that we made, "I would like you to draw images to be placed on a deck of playing cards. These are very crude compared to the deck that I want you to draw." I explain the what suites symbols are, how I want the cards to look. The face cards need not be highly detailed, but should be recognizable for what they are. "What would you charge for this?" I ask her.

"I'm not sure your majesty. I have never sold my artwork, I usually gift or trade it."

"Mark, what would be a fair price for a job like this?" He examines the drawing of the prince at she had just finished.

"I would say a silver a piece for the king,queen and prince cards and 6 copper each for the others. One gold four silver for the set."

I pulled the pouch of coins I kept in my pocket out, dug out four silver coins which I hand to Eliza,"Four silver to begin with, the balance on completion, if that is all right."

I take her hand and lead her to the study where I take a piece of paper, writing on both the top and bottom halves, "For art work for a deck of cards, 1 gold 4 silver, due within one months time. Paid 4 silver, balance due on completion. Rufina, queen of Haven , Eliza. I sign both halves and have her do the same, then tore the receipt in half, giving her one half.

"Do you have enough paper and charcoal?" I ask her. After she shakes her head, I pull out a small stack of paper and a couple of charcoal sticks and hand them to her. "You can sit and draw if you wish." Leading her to the table she had been working at I sat her down, patting her on the shoulder.

I glance at the sky, it still is mid morning, at least an hour to dinner. I looked at my companions, "Why don't we make Mark a swim suit, I have a feeling he is going to need one. Mark, do you know how to swim?" We went up to my rooms where Emi and Sophia started lighting candles, Helen and I moved the table out from the wall. Mark stood looking confused, not knowing what we were doing. I tossed the tape to Emi, "Here, he's your boyfriend, you do it." I then picked up a charcoal stick, ready to write down measurements, while Helen and Sophia started laying out cloth.

Emi started measuring Mark, which got him red in the face again, especially when she gave his crotch a feel. "They will need to be extra roomy," she muttered.

"What was that? Didn't hear you."

"I said they need to be roomy." she said clearly, turning red herself. "Waist 81... Hips 86... Thigh 25.. Crotch 22."

"Don't forget the tail." I told her.

She measured the diameter of the base of his tail, and how far below his waist it was, passing those to me. After she did that she stood leaning against him and whispered into his ear, to quietly for anyone else to hear. He got even redder in the face when she reaches around and caresses his abdomen, feel his abs. When one hand reached up and started caressing his pectorals, I poked her in the side. "Calm down, Emi, you're not alone at the moment, " I said in her ear. Apparently her hormones were still at a high level, I had better not tease her too much or she'll have him on the floor repeating this morning. She looked around, blushing even redder than Mark.

After handing the measurements and tape to Helen I asked, "Did you get Mark settled in his rooms? I didn't notice when you got back."

"Yes, all settled in. Thank you for your hospitality, your majesty."

"Your Welcome, Mark. Do you think there will be many craftsmen that would come here in response to the my offer?"

"Probably not masters, but there should be journeymen willing to come. That reminds me, do you have preference on species?"

"No, if they can do the job they can be hired, though if they can't or will not work with or for someone of a different species they shouldn't apply."

"Does that apply to humans, too?

"Everyone. No one will be exempt."

"Alright I'll pass that to the company. Is there anything else you need?"

"Not at the moment. If I think of anything I'll let you know."

I check on the seamstresses, who are busy cutting and stitching. They appear to have the waistband done and are working on the body. I remind them to not forget the liner, this is a swimsuit not underwear. Oh, it looks like they did forget. An extra piece of cloth is cut then stitched to the waistband.

I excuse myself, going down to talk to Tilly in the kitchen. "Tilly, is there enough to feed nine, as Eliza is here."

"Yes, there's enough. We are having a stew today. And it's near time, if you'll let the others know."

"Thank you, Tilly."

I go over to where Eliza is drawing. She has a small stack of paper with finished card illustrations on them next to her. I examine them, she has the lowest cards, aces through fours, complete. She is finishing the first of the fives so I wait until she is done, "Eliza, dinner is being served shortly, why not take a break and come eat?"

"I'm invited to dinner?"

"Yes, you are invited to dinner. Now put down your charcoal and come wash up."

I led her to the kitchen, where I get a pitcher of hot water, then we go up to my rooms. "Here's hot water to wash up with, dinner won't be long." Going to my bed chamber, I mix water in the basins and washed my hands and face, have her do the same. I led her back down to the dining room where I have her sit to my right, where Emi usually sits.

"So, tell me of yourself, please."

"I'm nineteen, an orphan, have been drawing for as long as I can remember, live where ever I can, do any job that will get me a meal or piece of paper. Not much else to tell."

"How did you meet Helen?"

"Did jobs for her a couple of times, she let me sleep in her shop a few times but I don't like to impose on people so moved on."

"What happened to your parents?"

"One day while I was out picking berries, raiders attacked our home, killed pa, did things to mama. She never was the same after. One day I came home from searching for food and she was gone, she was found a week later, mostly eaten by wolves they said." She had lost all expression on her face as she recounted the deaths of her family. "Almost died that winter, the raiders had taken all the vegetables in the garden, took the pigs and the cow, burned the barn and the house. The neighbors helped for a while but couldn't after a while. I moved in to town, begging jobs and for food, traded a drawing every now and again."

"When did the raiders attack, Eliza?"

"I was eight, nearly nine."

I looked to Aden who had come in while Eliza was talking. "Aden would you bring the yearly report from ten years ago, please." He goes to the study, returning with a document case, which he hands me. I scan the file for ten years ago, no report of a raider attack. So I look at nine years ago. There was a raider attack that year, one freeman farmer killed, wife raped, child missing, house and barn burned, all animals taken. There was a note farther down that the wife had been founded in the woods several months later, dead and partially devoured by wolves. Child assumed to be taken by the raiders.

"Who taught you your letters and how to read, Eliza?"

"Mama and Pa did, they were proud of me they said because I learned that at an early age." Tears started to roll down her cheeks, "I miss them so."

Standing, I pulled her into a hug, stroking her head, telling her to cry it out. To grieve so after so long pulled at my heart, the others also, as they all had tears in their eyes. They had sat down while Eliza was telling her tale, I doubt that she knew they were there. I looked into Sophia's eyes, mentally asking if she could do anything to help. She nodded, walked over to us, lifted Eliza chin looking her in the eyes. Eliza stops crying, her eyes close, her breathing slows, she is asleep. I sit her back in her chair, arranging her so she wouldn't fall over.

"She will sleep for ten minutes or so. May I sit in your chair, Rufina? I can help but I need to be close." She sits, taking Eliza's hand in hers then closing her eyes. We watch for a moment then help Tilly set the table, then we start eating, making sure to save enough for the three of them as Kalvin has yet to arrive. About the time we finished, Sophia opened her eyes, smiling. Shortly after Eliza wakes up, blinked a few times then smiled a huge smile. After looking around she takes my hand, kissing the back of it, saying "Thank you, your majesty." I am wondering what Sophia has told her when I am interrupted.

"Sorry I'm late, your majesty, I was deta..." It was Kalvin. "Eliza? What are you doing here?"