Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

[30.11] KING EDWARD XI
Beech stared at him, "Akatosh, I see what thou dost mean about thy difficulties with the
poetic. If you will allow my frank opinion? That is the single worst village name I have ever
heard."
Akatosh sighed gustily, then pardoned himself hastily to Beech - humanoids found dragon
sighs quite unpleasant and sometimes actually hazardous. "Then thou seest what I mean by
differences. To me, it is very meaningful, and most appropriate. Is 'Section 16' any better as a
name? Not? Then is it the word 'Section' that offends you? In what way is it inferior to 'Keep'
or 'Reich' or 'Glen' or 'Hold'?"
Edward said, "But Akatosh, a name should make some sense. At least humans think so. You
should have 21 other sections first, if you're going to name this place '22'."
"Really?" Akatosh said, "Why is that? Are not all numbers equally valid? They serve well to
distinguish one place from another. There could be many 'Greenvales' for instance. I myself
know of four such villages. The number 'Twenty-two' does appeal to me....aesthetically, as
well as possessing some 'sense' - at least to me," he smiled secretively.
Moraelyn said, "I think Lord Akatosh is enjoying what some call an 'in-joke'. Were I so rash
as to instruct a dragon in manners."
"Who," Silk said, "would e'er accuse Moraelyn of being rash?"
A bit later, Edward asked Akatosh: "Do you think that we could play a game or two of Battle?
I brought the board and playing pieces with me."
Moraelyn interrupted "I'm afraid that Akatosh and I must discuss some matters this evening -
and you'd only lose again anyway" he added with a fond smile.
Edward replied "But I can beat everyone else. Akatosh, will I ever win a game with you?"
"No, Edward, you won't", and Akatosh was slightly bemused by Edward's startled expression,
and then the hearty laugh that quickly followed it.
"That wasn't very diplomatic of you, Akatosh. But why won't I ever win?"
"Because I have been playing for much longer than you have Edward, and so long as I
continue to play, you will not be able to catch up to me. Besides, this game is what I am
starting to think of as a 'bounded problem', and that sort is most easily dealt with."
"What do you mean by 'a bounded problem', Akatosh?" asked Mats.
"That is a problem that has a countable number of possible actions and results, Mats. There
are only 81 squares on the board, and each side has exactly 27 playing pieces, each piece
moves in a specific way, and so on."
"But the game is like a real battle, isn't it?" asked Ssa'ass.
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