We get up bright and early the next morning after a wonderful restful night. And we leave the house early too, right after Ulryk and Sour Cream had their respective morning meals. I take a moment to write a sign which I place out front before we are off though, to let anyone who drops by know that I'll be out for a little while and back around noon.

We don't head downstream right away though. First we stop at the inn, both to have a little something to eat and to get a snack and something to drink for Elzbieta and me. I expect to have a little time for a break along the way after all. Once I have all of that in the basket I'm bringing, together with a blanket and my tools we are really good to go though.

Little Ulryk certainly is enjoying this first slightly more lengthy trip. At least until he falls right back asleep held tight against his mother's chest. They way he is moving in his sleep and making cute, satisfied sounds though I suspect he is having fun dreams.

It doesn't take us long to reach the spot where the creek widens, almost like a much bigger river, and where I got my Ochre the last time. After helping Elzbieta set up camp by the riverside, far enough from the water to make sure no accidents are likely to happen, I leave her and Ulryk for a little while.

While the two settle down for another quick nap in the shade of a tree, I move through the shallow water to the opposing bank once more, to collect some more Ochre under the loud protest of some of the birds nesting here. I try to stay out of their way though, as to not provoke them to actually attack.

I'm not collecting a whole lot of rock anyway. A few pieces of creamy, almost white Ochre and a few chunks that are slightly darker, more yellow than off white. A selection of some pieces of almost red Ochre complete my collection.

It's good too, that I'm done, because by legs are getting quite cold from standing in the water. A shiver runs up and down my back. Yes, even at the height of summer the creek is still quite cold. I don't dare to hurry up my steps though as I cross the little stream once more. I don't want to slip and end up drenched.

I join my two companions on the blanket in the shade afterwards. We could head back already. Maybe we should, so I can open the shop earlier than anticipated. I don't want to though. We brought a snack after all, so we might as well enjoy it. And I'd like to give Elzbieta a chance to play with Ulryk a little too. Even if, in all likelihood, he will only ever reach out towards the cold water of the creek once. This is totally different from the warm water of the bathhouse after all. Either way, we aren't in a hurry. And at the very least I have a chance to dry and warm my feet this way.

Elzbieta runs her fingers through my hair while Ulryk sleeps.

"Something on your mind? Another business idea?"

I grin a sheepish grin, as I turn my head to look at her.

"I'm not quite sure. Do you think Ulryk might like some chalks to play with? Once he is a little older?"

The young mother quirks an eyebrow.

"We aren't talking enchanter's chalks, are we? Although maybe, if he wants to learn the craft it certainly wouldn't be the worst possible choice."

I let out an amused chuckle, but I shake my head at the same time too.

"Already volunteering your little boy to become my apprentice? But no, not enchanters chalk. Just plain chalks to draw pictures. I might be able to make a few different colors. I mean, I already made blue and red ones. Yellow should be pretty simple with this Ochre I collected too. I'm not sure what I could use for green chalks though."

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My companion gives it some though while I break out our food.

"Couldn't you just use herbs? Anything green really?"

I grimace a little and once again shake my head.

"No, not really. With most plants it's a little like with blood. The green will eventually turn to a not so nice brown. I might have to ask at the academy if they know of a green pigment that lasts, is not poisonous and does not cost a small fortune."

Elzbieta pats my back as she takes her first bite out of her bread.

"Well, you still have plenty of time. It'll be a while before my little boy will start decorating the walls with chalk drawings."

I chuckle. She isn't wrong. Plain chalks for drawing might have a market in the city too though. I sure liked my first chalks when I received them. A surprise birthday present from grandma. My parents weren't quite so full of enthusiasm about them though, as I did in fact start to draw on the walls of my room back home.

Elzbieta eating seems to wake Ulryk back up too and when everyone else is eating he of course needs to have a snack too, as he is quick to let us know like only a baby can. It seems this can't wait. Not one more moment.

Both Elzbieta and I chuckle. And while she lets the little boy drink at her breast, I start feeding her in turn, as she has her hands full. Turns out it's a good thing that we aren't in a hurry. In the end we pack up again without playing in the water though. It really is too cold for the boy. Maybe once he is older. Until then he gets to enjoy the warm water of the bath house.

We return back home just in time too, to meet up with Olgierd, who is just heading up to my shop. He greets us with a wave which I return in kind.

"Olgierd! You have the design for that sea turtle lamp done already?"

He hasn't drawn it on paper. Instead he has a thin board with him upon which he sketched the design. He presents it to me with a proud smile as we continue along the road up to m place.

"Yes, indeed. And you have been out collecting some ingredients?"

I show him the contents of my basket, as I take a good look at his drawings. I like what I see. A quartz polished to resemble a sea turtle held within an iron circlet engraved on one side to resemble the waves of the sea washing up onto a beach. The back has some eyelets or possibly hooks so the lamp can be hung from rafters or any other suitable spot to be honest either with leather straps or a fine enough chain. Either should work as it isn't supposed to get hot. I nod in appreciation. I really like what I see. There is one more question that needs to be answered first, before I can agree to this design though.

"How much?"

It's obvious that Olgierd has given this some thought already.

"Well, you already provided the stone I'll use. The iron for the frame doesn't cost too much. It's quite a bit of work though. Both the engravings for the iron frame and polishing the stone into shape will take serious effort. Time too. It's always a little tricky to tell with things that have to be artistic too instead of just functional. I'd have to ask for six silver Crowns to make sure I'll not incur a loss with this. I might be able to go down a little on follow up commissions though, depending on what I learn from this project."

I wince a little, but I nod. It's an understandable position. Prototypes are always costly. I should still be able to finish it without incurring a loss myself though.

"Six silver Crowns, payment upon delivery?"

"Right, six silver Crowns upon delivery."

We shake hands under the watchful eyes of Elzbieta and Ulryk, whose eyes are wide in wonder as well.

With that taken care off, the craftsman is off back to the smithy again.

I on the other hand get the sign I placed out front and open the shop back up together with Elzbieta. I retreat back to the workshop to grind up the Ochre I gathered into fine pigment which I gather into separate bowls depending on the color. One bowl is for the creamy, almost white pigment. Another for the yellow and a last one for the red pigment. Of the last I have the most, and some of it goes into a separate container, as I intend to burn it, so it'll turn into a nice deep blue once more.

While I'm busy with that, Elzbieta takes to dusting in the shop, all the while carrying Ulryk, who really seems to be taking a liking to the place, with all the things that are to be seen there.

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