Tilly is cleaning the hearth,"Your majesty, could you give me a hand with the cauldron?"

"Where do you want to move it?" She points to a spot on the far side of the kitchen. I go look in the cauldron, it's still half full.

"Shall we empty it first so we don't have to carry this water?" I look around for vessels to put the water in. There aren't that many I could use. "Where do you dump the wash water, Tilly?"

"We carry it out to the orchard and pour it around the trees."

"Let get rid of the wash water then we can use the tub for the water in the cauldron. What are we going to do for hot water?"

"Carry it down from up stairs."

"Oh, that will never do. How many times does the cauldron get filled, three times a day?" She nods. "So twelve buckets of water up and down. Too many trips. Let's set up the cauldron in the parlor fire place, that way we won't be carrying buckets of water up and down the stairs. Let's get this done."

We grab on to the handles of the tub, taking it out to the orchard, Tilly leading the way. We pour the water near a couple of trees then return to the kitchen. Then we transfer the water from the cauldron to the tub. The cauldron is then taken out to the parlor, being set next to the fireplace. I have an idea for a way to keep the fire small under it.

Eliza and Sophia meet us in the kitchen when we return. They are both dressed in knee length tunics and are barefoot. "All right, you two take the table and chairs to the parlor, please, we need more room in here." I go out the gate to start hauling bricks inside. I begin loading the wheel barrow, placing sixteen bricks on it before picking it up. I then let it back down, I need to open the doors first, which I do. Pushing the barrow through the door I continue to the back door of the palace. As I open the doors there, Tobias comes carrying two buckets of water. "Go ahead Tobias, Would you put one of those in the parlor next to the fireplace." I pick up the handles and continue into the palace. The wheel crushes dirt into the floor, this is going to scar the floor, not to badly I hope.

Once I get to the atrium I turn into the kitchen where I unload. I start back for another load but am intercepted by Tobias. "Let me do that, princess."

"Thank you Tobias." I step into the kitchen, "Eliza, Sophia, come with me, Please." We go out the west gate, this time to get baskets of sand and clay. After filling the baskets, I have the girls take a handle each and we haul the baskets to the parlor. Now to wait for the tarps. Tobias brings in a barrow load of bricks which he takes to kitchen, where we help unload. He brought twenty four in one trip. We stack them to one side of the hearth.

He brings in two more loads before Aden arrives with a couple of tarps, one of which is spread on the floor in front of the hearth, the other I take to the parlor spreading it out in front of the fireplace. "Ok, ladies, time to make mud. I dump the baskets of sand and clay on the tarp then pour some water on it. I start mixing the mud with my feet, pulling Eliza and Sophia in to help. Once they get the idea I step out, sitting down in the hearth. I start placing bricks in a circle with a opening in the front and back, the rear opening close to the back wall of the fireplace. I place the cauldron on the circle, I got it right, the circle is a little smaller than the cauldron is around.

By this time Eliza and Sophia have the mud mixed. Standing back up I guild Sophia to one side of the cauldron and Eliza to the other. "All right, you are now going to get a lesson on laying brick. Have you ever seen bricks being laid? No, I didn't think so. Okay, watch." I take the two bricks that form the front opening, laying them to the side. I take a double handful of mud from the pile and plop it down where one of the bricks had been. I picked up the brick and pressed it into the mud, narrow edge up, the mud oozed out from under it. I do the same on the other side. I then ran my hand along the edge of the brick moving the mud that had oozed out. I placed mud on the upper edge of the two brick I just laid then placed a long brick atop them forming a tunnel. Taking a long brick, I place mud on one edge then place it next to the other one atop the first bricks.

"All right, now you do the sides." They moved the bricks, spread some mud then replace the bricks. When they get to the back of the cauldron, I tell them to stand bricks on the end so they form a flue between the back of the hearth and the cauldron. I have them seal the cauldron to the bricks so that they won't leak smoke. Sticking my head in the chimney so I can see up the flue, making sure it is clear. Going to the kitchen I get some tinder and small firewood. I lay a handful of tinder at the back of the cauldron. After lighting the tinder, I place some sticks on it getting them burning. Some smoke comes from the flue at the back of the cauldron, then goes up the chimney. "Sophia could you help me, please."

When we get to the kitchen I have her take one of the handles of the tub and we carry it out and pour it in to the cauldron. I check the fire, adding a few sticks. "Okay, lets get the stove started."

Back in the kitchen, I have them mix mud as I start laying out bricks. Once I have the bricks where I want them I move them sightly. When the mud is ready I lay a bed of mud where the bricks had been placed. After putting a small gob of mud on end of brick I place them on the mud bed. I lay the first layer of bricks, forming the outline of the front and the fire box of the rocket stove. I use about half the mud then have my helpers lay the second layer, watching them, giving pointers every now and again. When they are done we go out and get more sand and clay. The first basket of sand gets poured into the stove. Then we bring in cobble stones which go on the sand in the stove, to fill the empty spaces. Then a couple more baskets of sand were brought in, one which goes in the stove over the cobbles. The other is mixed with the clay and I start the third course of bricks, which includes closing the top of the fire box.

After I use about half the mud again, Eliza and Sophia get a chance to lay brick. As they are doing that I go check the fire in the parlor, adding a few more sticks to it. The water is getting warmer and the mud is drying, the smoke going up the flue as it should. As I cross the atrium I check the time, it's about 800, Emi will be coming to get me soon so I can change for training. When I get back to the kitchen, Eliza and Sophia have the fourth course well in hand. I grab a basket which I take out and fill with sand. Bringing it back to the kitchen I swap it for the empty one and repeat. After that I haul in a few cobble, soon Eliza and Sophia are helping being finished with the bricks. When 825 comes we have a good sized stack of cobble ready for tomorrow.

When Emi arrives we clean off our feet then retire to my room where I change into the armor with the help of the other three. I give them all a hug before taking my sword and leaving. I arrive at the back court yard to find Kalvin ready and waiting. He starts me on more whack-a-pole except using a back hand swing. One hundred one whacks later my arms are tired and I'm sweating like crazy but not near as stinky as yesterday.

Sophia is waiting for me, so it must be time to quit. Bidding farewell to Kalvin I follow Sophia back to the atrium, detouring to check the cauldron, feeding it a few more sticks and getting a pitcher of water which is warm. I think as we go up stairs the firebox needs to modified so it's more like a J tube rocket stove, then it wouldn't need stoking so often.

When we enter my rooms, Emi is finishing up washing Eliza's hair. I can tell it has been cut but being wet I can't see it well. Sophia helps me remove the armor, placing it on the rack. I strip completely then start washing with Sophia scrubbing my back. After getting dried, Emi has me sit on the stool she had Eliza on, where she places a cloth around my neck. She soon has my hair short like when we were in dream space then she starts washing it, giving me a head massage at the same time. I sigh, it feels so good.

After drying my hair she removes the cloth and Sophia starts handing me clothes, first some panties and a bra. Then Emi sits me down and puts stockings on me then my slippers. After helping me into a blouse then a long skirt she sits me down again to start brushing my hair. Once my hair is done they look me over, giving nods of approval.

Emi has the hair swept into a pile, my auburn locks and Eliza's light brown. Placing the razor back in it box, she hands it to me. I place it in the chest. "Did you get Helen's hair cut?" I ask her.

"Yes, this morning right after breakfast. She wanted to get some work done before this afternoon."

Looking at her, I realized something, who will cut Emi's hair? So I ask her, "Who is going to cut your hair, Emi?"

"Sophia said she would do it when I wanted it done."

"Watching Emi doing it, gave me the knowledge to do it. I'll need to practice in dream space first." she says when I look at her.

Now that Eliza's hair is dry and brushed I can see that it is shorter just touching her shoulders. She looks better with it shorter, it had been a bit stringy before. I open my wardrobe, looking at my face in the mirror. I like what I see, I have filled out in the last couple of weeks, I not a super thin waif anymore. I'm now a cute green eyed auburn haired pixie.

"Let's go to dinner, I'm hungry." I head to the door, opening it, nearly running into Helen. She looks better too, the shorter hair makes her face appear thinner.

"Dinner is ready and we're waiting on you." she says. "And I like our hair, you too Eliza." She turns, leading the way.

I hang back, waiting for Emi, who when she has the candles snuffed get a hug and a kiss. "Thank you Love." She takes my hand leading me out the door.

I am greet everyone as I sit myself at the table. Aden and Kalvin are staring at Helen, Eliza and myself.

"That is quite a change your majesty but looks very good on you," says Aden.

"I wanted it shorter so it won't be in my eye with the helmet on."

"Could I get a hair cut, your majesty?" asks Abbey.

"I don't see why you can't but I'm not the one to ask, you need to ask Emi, she is the ones giving hair cuts."

"Of course you can. You wanted a hair cut too, didn't you Tilly?" asks Emi. "I can do you and Abbey after supper tonight, if you wish." Emi replies.

"Thank you." they say.

While this conversation is going on, food is being passed around and dished up. We are having meat pies, some steamed greens and bread and butter. We apply ourselves to the food as we have to ready to leave in less than 50 minutes as I had been late getting to table.

"Aden is the town hall set up and ready?" I asked.

"Yes it is. It's going to be crowded but everyone that signed the sheet should have a place to sit. There are even a few extra seats."

I go back to eating. This pie is so good. Since I started training my appetite seems to have improved.

"May I be excused, I need to change my clothes." says Sophia. Helen is wearing different clothes than she was this morning.

"Go ahead Sophia." Sophia stands, going to the stairs. Emi is still in her uniform. "Emi are you going to change?"

"It won't take but a few minutes for me to do that."

"Christina, Molly would you clean up after dinner, please. We need to get down to town hall."

Molly says, "Oh course, your majesty."

"Thank you." I take the last bite of pie, washing it down with the last of my tea.

I put my cup and saucer on my plate along with the fork and spoon. I stand going to the cauldron, checking the fire. It needs refilling and more fuel. Putting more wood in the fire I go to the kitchen, where I take one of the buckets of water there out to the cauldron, pouring it into it. Tilly comes over to see what I am doing.

"Oh, you got it set up, I'll tell the maids to check it every so often. Does it need fuel often?"

"Right now it does, I'm trying not to build a large fire as the mud would crack with a large hot fire so it need checked frequently. Could you have them fill it after they get the dishes done, we will need hot water this evening to bathe with and to do the dishes."

"I'll tell them. Is this like the one in the stove?"

"It's close. I'll need to modify this one to be like the one in the kitchen. I was rushing this one because we need the hot water. I'll move this brick from the top to the front then add a few more around the opening. That way more wood can be put in at a time and it will burn longer."

Emi comes around the corner dressed in an outfit similar to mine, carrying my boots which are shiny. She leads me to a chair, then puts them on me. Helping her up again we head to the door. Aden, Sophia and Helen are waiting, Kalvin is kissing Eliza just inside the doorway.

"Time to go love." he tells her. She hugs him.

As we file pass her, some give her a hug, some a kiss, others both. "See you later, sweetie." I tell her after giving her a hug.