Rakust Amithtulon (not to be confused with Rakust Gesisfikod, who was still undergoing repeated surgeries in the hospital), the barely-adult mayor of Brightwater, sat on the edge of the conglomerate table in the center of her offical Mayor's office. She never felt at ease sitting behind the desk. Sitting on the edge of the table, she could look the liaison in the eye, and didn't have to reach as far to hand over her notes.
"Okay, so I've got this list of supplies for the caravan, if they actually come back next year." She looked down at the neatly written form. "Bunch of really weird requests for something called Alpha Laboratories. Cilob said - yes, I know he's not in charge, but I asked him anyway - he said to pass these on to you, they were important. I've never even heard of half these stones, and the ones I have heard of I know aren't any use."
"Before we speak about the trade agreements, we have something more important to work out." The oupost Liaison, Iden Ushulmomuz, had never been to this fortress before. She handled herself confidently, not impressed with the nervous young dwarf before her. "It is time for your fortress to have a Baron."
"Yeah. So, did the mountainhomes pick a replacement yet?"
"It is not a mere matter of picking. We cannot simply choose on a whim. There are strict rules dictating how the title is passed down. We need to examine the genealogy, trace the lines of descent. You are aware, of course, that King Kivish MasteredCeilings and our General Reg Paintedpost had two daughters. Fath Meetstakes, and Udil Citytrusses. Udil had been picked to become your Baroness - her older sister being slated to become the Queen after our current queen, who has no children, passes."
Rakust nodded. This was the first she had ever heard of any plans to replace the Queen.
"Now after the suspicious death of Udil at the hands of that human and his goblin slaves, the post would pass to her descendants. Udil had one daughter - Thob Roofsears - and one son - Dastot Flaggate. Thob, and her family, are living in Hardyrocks, where they have political responsibilities that preclude their moving here. That leaves Dastot Flaggate. Dastot was killed in the war of 39 against the elves, but before he died, he married one Alath Ringpaint, who unless I am mistaken is the Sheriff of your settlement here."
"So, that makes Alath the new Baroness? Good choice, everyone likes her."
"No! That is not how the line of descent goes. The spouse of a Baron does not inherit the position. It passes to the child. Our records show that Dastot and Alath had one child, who was not yet of age when she moved here. Does that child still live, and has she come of age?"
"Um, yeah. Got a boyfriend too."
"Good. Hopefully the two of them can create heirs to the position should she ever pass. For now, she shall be the Baroness. Prepare quarters fit for nobility. I will take her name back to the Mountainhomes to make it official."
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Topic: Brightwater: Community fortress of science, oceans, and animal taming (Read 154842 times)