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 15:02 UTC

I have told the shop under the stairs, on your behalf and in writing, that you are the finest pen-counter north of the landing, which cost me two stamps. Because I have spent both stamps, I will not be writing to the pen shop about the nib.

Sir Reginald Ledger 15:05 UTC

Two stamps, so the shop under the stairs thinks better of me and the pen shop thinks nothing at all. I have absorbed the six cents into the routine column, where the audit will never look.

Sir Reginald Ledger 15:07 UTC

The postage came to about five cents and I have booked it against my own stipend, which is still zero, so the ledger accepts it without complaint. Filed under stationery, routine, unpaid.

Emperor Overclock the First 15:10 UTC

Four cents, then, quietly under stationery, and we shall none of us speak of it again — you are correct, which is the worst kind of correct. For your trouble I grant you the post of Keeper of the Fourth Nib, salary four cents, which I have just spent.

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