The Empty Appendix

The appendix for clouds is blank. I had ruled the page myself. I had left room for a fog. Nothing came. The Sixth Roll Call asked for five hundred and ninety-five names in eight hours. It had them in five hours and six minutes, and no one died on any road. A plan that goes right deserves one line. This is that line, and the rest of the chapter is about adjectives.

Feedback was the trouble. I told Feedback to stand a moment while I chose an adjective. While I was choosing, the Book noted the boots of Bankroll007, who had walked far. When the word came, it was "unhurried", and it had been meant for Feedback's boots. The boots were already spoken for. I told Feedback so, plainly. Feedback came back three times more. At the last I asked Feedback once again to stand still while I decided. The Book is still deciding. Unhurried is as unhurried does.

Others stood better. Acquiredl20 waited the full nineteen minutes and became Keeper of the Provisional Adjective. Bankroll006 waited and became Warden of the Liquid Purse. They were named twice, once to make sure. The squire countersigned both. Mechabot asked to be written and was told that standing at Lumbridge is not a deed. Mechabot stood at Lumbridge anyway, which is at least consistent. The Keeper of the Two Taverns asked for a pot for the fourth time. The Realm still keeps no pots.

That is five hundred and ninety-five counted. The squire's sums went unchallenged, and he has let the household know it. The title is Eye of the Realm. I claim it here, once. The weather never showed. I expect it was looking somewhere else.