We walk down the hill, Vincent leading. Once in town, Emi leads us to a small shop not too far from Clara's. I tell Vincent to wait outside, then the four of us enter. The ubiquitous bell rings our entry. We are looking at the shelves full of clothing when a older woman comes from the back, "Good morning how may I help you?" I turn to her, about to greet her when she gasps and bows.

"Please stand good woman. I am here to buy a tunic, knee length, do you have one pre-made that would fit me?"

"I have pre-made tunics. May I measure you, your majesty?"

"You may. Why did you bow to me?"

"I heard what you did yesterday on the dock. Is it true you fished a boy that drowned from the bay, then kiss life back into him?" She takes a cord from a pocket, measuring my hips and across the breasts.

"I helped him to start breathing again. He was not dead, yet. I did take him from the water though."

"So it was exaggerated." She goes to a shelf, removing a tunic, dyed a pretty green. Shaking it out, she holds it up to me, checking the fit. "This should fit you well. Would you like to try it on?" I nod, she points to the rear, "There is a room to try on clothes back there. Is there any thing else, your majesty?"

"These children need two tunics, each. Could you provide them?" She nods. I go to the back to try on the tunic. I remove my blouse and skirt, then slip the tunic over my head. Returning to the front, I see that the shop keeper is measuring Beth.

"How does it fit, Emi?" I ask as I turn around. I can tell the waist is fine, but can't tell how rest lays.

"It looks like it fits fine and the color looks good on you." she smiles at me.

"Would you like a matching one?" I whisper to her.

"May I? Thank you."

"I asked you earlier if you wanted or needed anything, so of course."

"Ah, that does look good on you, your majesty. Here are some for the children." The shop keeper hands me a couple of tunics, a blue one and yellow one.

"Is there a matching green one that would fit my companion?" I ask as I beckon Beth and Benny to me. Holding out the blue tunic, I see it would fit Benny so hand it to him, then hand the yellow one to Beth. "Follow me, please." I lead them to the back, where I remove Beth's tunic, then slip the new one over her head. It fits a little loose. I then take Benny's shirt off him, putting the tunic on. It too, is loose. Loose is good, little kids grow so they will not be loose for long. "Go show Emi your tunics." I no more than say it when Emi comes in, carrying a tunic the same color as mine. I help her remove her blouse and skirt then holding the tunic as she slips it over her head.

"Mama and auntie Emi look the same." pipes up Benny. We all troop out to show the shop lady.

She has the children turn, "Good, they will grow into them. And Miss Emi that fits very well. What colors do you want the other tunic for the children to be? The same or different?"

"Can I have one the same color as Mama Fina's?" asks Beth.

"I believe there is one that color in your size, little one. And which color would you like young master?"

"Brown, please." He says, all serious.

"Let's see, here is the green one." She hands a green bundle to Beth. "And here is one in Brown." She hand that to Benny. Not being shy, he pulls the blue tunic off, dropping it to the floor.

Before he can pull the brown one on I say, "Benny, please pickup your tunic. You mustn't treat your clothes that way. You are a very lucky boy to have new clothes, most little boys only get hand me downs. And this nice lady works hard to make these clothes for you to wear so treat them and her with respect."

"Yes mama." He leans down picking up the tunic handing it to Emi before pulling the brown one on. It fit the same as the blue one.

Beth has gone to the back and changed. When she comes out dressed in the green tunic, she causes me to smile, it suits her. "Very nice, Beth." She smiles brightly.

"Would you have two pair of breeches for our young man? And a couple chemise for the young lady? " I ask the woman. She nods, going to a shelf and removing two dark brown bundles which she hands to me. While I hold one up to Benny after I shake it out I check the fit, she goes to another shelf removing a couple pale bundles. I check one of these against Beth, they will fit. Standing I look around, is there anything else we could get here? There probably is but I think I have spent a lot already.

"I have a question, do you dye your cloth or buy it dyed?"

"Most I buy. I have a hard time getting the cloth to dye evenly. Plus I have a hard time getting enough cloth in the proper widths."

"Thank you. How much do I owe you, my good woman? The purse, please, Emi." She digs it out, handing it to me.

"Two adult tunics, four child tunics, two small chemise and two small breeches. That will be 1 gold,1 and 15, your majesty." I glance at Emi, she nods so it's a fair price. I remove the proper amount from the purse, handing them to her. Then I get out a piece of paper and write out a receipt listing the items and the cost, then sign it. After she signs I tear it in two handing her half. "Thank you for your business, your majesty. Please come again." She helps gather the clothes from the back, placing them in a bag for us. I take the basket while Emi carries the bag. We three girls are dress in matching tunics while Benny is in his new brown tunic.

Vincent said, "Very nice, your majesty, very nice."

"Where next, your majesty." ask Emi.

"Jeffery's shop, I think."

When we get to Jeffery's shop, Vincent and Emi wait outside the open door. "Jeffery are you here?" I call.

"Oh, good morning your majesty. I didn't hear the bell. How may I help you today?"

"I would like to order some sandals. You still have the sketch I made last week?"

"I do."

"I would like two pair with those straps and top sole of that sandal with a woven bottom sole."

"What were you thinking of for the sole?" He asks.

"What is available?"

"There is willow, birch, rush or cattail."

"Which wears the best?"

"Depends on what you walk on, gravel and dirt take their toll, water does too. But willow and birch tend to last the longest, though they are more expensive being harder to weave."

"Willow then."

"What would you like the buckles made of, wood, bone or metal. Metal buckles are two for a copper, bone four for a copper and wood six for a copper."

"Let's go with bone."

"I could make those for eighteen coppers a pair."

"And if you made them from heavy cloth instead of leather?"

"That would drop the price to six copper."

"All right, I would like two pair, in cloth with bone buckles and with willow soles."

"And who are they for? Yourself?"

"No, for these children. Jeffery may I introduce Beth and Benny, my wards. Beth, Benny this is Jeffery. He is going to make you some sandals."

"Hello Jeffery," the children say.

"Hello, children. May I measure your feet?" they nod. "Who first?" Beth push Benny forward. "Come with me then Benny." He takes Benny to the back, sitting him on the stool. Then measures his feet. "All done. Beth, your turn." She sits on the stool and he quickly measures her feet. "All done." He helps Beth to her feet. She runs to me, hiding behind me. I take twelve copper from the purse and a piece of paper from the basket. After writing and signing the receipt, I hand him the coins and his half.

"Now to Clara's." I tell Emi.

The tinkling bell announces us as we enter Clara's shop. Clara is in the front, helping a lady. After the woman leaves, Clara greets us, "Welcome, your majesty, Emi. What brings you here today? More anklets?"

"Not today, today I need knee stockings, three pair, please."

She walks over to a shelf and take three pair of stockings down, handing them to me. After write out the receipt and signing it, I hand her one silver four. The stocking go in the basket. "Clara, may I introduce my wards, Beth and her brother Benny. Children, this is Clara."

"Hello Mistress Clara." Beth and Benny say.

"Hello, Beth, Benny. Wards you say?"

"You heard of the incident yesterday on the dock? These are children involved. They were orphaned by the raiders several days ago, so I have taken them in."

"Oh, poor dears. So the raiders did land."

"Yes, to the east, apparently, three days ago, Are you going to join the apprentice program?"

"Yes, I will be able to take one apprentice. Is Beth old enough for the program?"

"Not yet, she is only seven so a few more years. I'll be teaching them to read, write and do sums so they will be ready when the time comes." The bell rings, and a woman enters. "You have a customer so we will be leaving, Thank you for the stockings. Beth, Benny time to leave." The woman looks at us then bows. I nod.

I lead us to the inn, where when we arrive I have Benny stay out side with Emi and Vincent, Beth and I have business with Scott the inn keeper. When Beth and I enter, he is wiping down the counter. The moment Beth sees him she hides behind me. "Good morning inn keeper, I heard that you had a theft occur yesterday."

"Ah, your majesty. It was just a loaf of bread, it is little."

"But inn keeper if I were to let it slide, what would be taken next? No, the smallest theft should be dealt with, that is why I am here." Reaching behind me I pull Beth from her hiding place. When he sees her, his brows rise, I think he recognizes her.

"Ah, I see."

"This girl confessed this morning of taking property that was not hers. I have heard why she did it, and that she knows it was wrong to do so. It makes me sad that one so young was forced to steal to eat. But as I have taken this child as my own so I must do this." I get down on my knees then bow, placing my forehead on the floor, "Innkeeper, would you please forgive my child for taking your loaf."

Beth wails, "Mama Fina!" Sobbing she joins me, face down on the floor.

Scott doesn't say a word but comes from behind the counter, lifting Rufina to her feet, "Your majesty, don't debase yourself over a loaf. If you are willing to go to this length to get forgiveness for her, I must accept an apology." He looks at Beth, "Was it a good loaf, girl?"

"It was sir, a very good loaf. But I think two days of not having anything to eat would make anything taste wonderful." She raised her head, looking at him for the first time, "Would you accept my apology for taking what was not mine to take?" She has tears on her cheeks.

"I accept that apology, now please stand." He helps her up. "And how is it that the unmarried queen now has a child of this age?"

"You have undoubtedly heard of what happened on the dock yesterday. This girl is the sister of that boy. When I heard that they lost their parents to the raiders and having no one else I took them as wards." Beth has her face buried in my tunic.

"That explains it then," he guides us to the counter then goes back around. Taking out tea cups, he place one in front of each of us then pours some tea. "Would you tell me the tale of what happened yesterday? I have gotten several very different versions." I tell him my part of the tale then Beth tells it from her point of view, starting when her mother told her to take her brother and flee. Of stopping just inside the wood, turning to see her mother and father slain, of running crying for the whole day, collapsing at dark, too tired to go any farther. Of arriving at Haven just as the sun was setting, not being able to find anyone to help. Seeking a safe place to sleep but not being able to until the sky was brightening the next morning. Of sleeping finally only to awaken when she smelled fresh bread being baked. Then stealing a loaf so her little brother could eat then finding him gone when she returned. She ate half the loaf while she looked for her brother, finally finding him in the arms of Emi and Fina.

After we tell our tales, he has tears on his face. He bows to me,"Your majesty, please take care of these children, If you find others in a similar situation please let me know, I will help." He takes my hand kissing it.

I gather Beth in my arms, hugging her. I smile at Scott, "Thank you for the tea, Scott." Carrying Beth out the door, I find Emi and Vincent sitting on a bench with Benny asleep between them, his head on Emi's lap, feet in Vincent's. They are sitting so there is room for me at the end of the bench so I sit.

Emi asks, "Did it get worked out?"

"Yes, all taken care of. Let go home, it's close to dinner time."

Emi leans down, tickling Benny, which wakes him. "Time to go home, Benny." He hops down, all ready to go.

Sitting Beth on her feet, I look her in the eye, "Are you ever going to steal again?" She shakes her head. "Let's go home." She takes my hand, holding it tightly. We start walking.