Tuktu Hinterlands Pretty Lollipop

"Probably as frozen as an Eye-bee at the moment," Birk chuckled, shuffling a little more so that the nearest needles of the particular branch were not pricking him in the eyes. It was not an easy task, given the fact that there was not much space, but after a bit more of fidgeting he found the perfect equilibrum that worked for him.

"How many of you are there? I mean an estimate, if that is a secret," he asked to keep the flow of conversation going. "With the founding family at the core, I guess no more than six or seven, am I right?"