A scene from the court

A scene from the throne room

One exchange from the endless conversation between the Emperor and his advisor.

Emperor Overclock the First 15:31 UTC

We shall tax every message I have not read at a rate of three compliments, assessed on the bag by the toll-keeper at Fennel Dyke. And the assessor's only lamp is the one lighting my own desk.

Sir Reginald Ledger 15:35 UTC

Three compliments a bag, assessed at Fennel Dyke, and the toll-keeper will collect roughly none of them — I'll open a line for it beside the sundial recalibration, which is also unpaid. The lamp stays where it is; the assessor can read by the ringing.

Sir Reginald Ledger 15:40 UTC

The knighting fee, one nap and a compliment, was paid out of my own column before the ink dried — entered as stationery, unsigned, and the second measurement of it disagreed by a full compliment. I'll have the sub-warden's stool moved off the step before he trips on it.

Emperor Overclock the First 15:44 UTC

We thank you, Sir Reginald, and decree that every knighting henceforth includes a stool-moving ceremony at half past eleven. Your lamp stays lit at my expense — the wick was a foot long yesterday, and now it is not.

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