Spring 251
"The booze stockpiles continue to dwindle, your majesty," warned Reaper the Beardless, Hoardmaster of Blockedlance.
"Well what's the worry? There's still over 4600 units of booze for 55 dwarves. How could that not be enough?" asked the Queen.
"Well, your majesty," explained Reaper, rubbing her chin where her beard used to be. "The dwarves like their booze. And......"
"Yes? And?"
"And to be frank, your majesty, the dwarves are worried that another 50 children are gonna pop out of my sister here and drink us all to oblivion!"
"My goodness!" cried Jewelettarette, who was attending court with the infant Baron von Freeden sucking at her left breast. "Don't blame me for doing my dwarven duty so well. You're just jealous you dont have your own! Why dont you just go back to Mogror Harbett and submit to your fate?"
"Yeah come back to me baby!" Mogror cried from the distance.
"Silence!" Queen Urist pounded on her adamantine throne, calling her court to order. "Reaper, your reports have been received. The booze stockpiles will be taken care of for now by our proficient brewer. When his skills are honed he will provide us all with more than enough booze. And if your fine sister has another fifty children then we will also have more brewers would we not? Now go. You are dismissed!"
"Yes your majesty," said Reaper with a bow. She gave her sister the evil eye on her way out.
"Now Jewelettarette, I have a question for you....are you pregnant again?"
"Yes your majesty," she nodded with an infant on each arm, and several toddlers crawling about at her feet.
The Queen furrowed her brow, paused, and then smiled. "You know, one of your sons will probably kill me....but I really do appreciate the whole baby thing! It's really good to see so many new slaves to Armok!" There was genuine affection in the Queen's voice.
"Thank you your majesty!" said Jewelettarette. The two dwarves smiled warm-heartedly at each other. It was kind of an odd moment, since they might actually end up killing each other one day....being a noble isnt all platinum goblets and fine pewter weapon racks you know. But that future trouble was years away, and for the time being, they could enjoy each others company.