The kobolds bowed. When they straightened, their mouths parted to reveal rows of sharpened teeth behind frightening smiles. They hissed softly.
“Parsnip is a true kobold,” Questor said. “He is a fairy creature who has chosen open service to the household of a human rather than a haunting. His tribe is one of those that drifted out of the fairy world and stayed. Bunion is a wight, more a woods creature than a domestic. Generically, he is a kobold, but he retains characteristics of other fairy creatures as well. He can pass through the mists as they, though he cannot remain. He can cross through Landover with the swiftness of the fairies as well. But he is bound to Sterling Silver in the same fashion as Parsnip and must always return.”
“For reasons that man and dog can only surmise,” Abernathy interjected.
Bunion grinned at him blackly and hissed.
Ben pulled Questor Thews aside. It was with some effort that he managed to conceal his irritation. “Exactly what is going on here?”
“Hmmmmm?” Questor stared back at him blankly.
“Read my lips. If I’m understanding all of this correctly, the King of Landover lives in a dungeon and is attended by a menagerie. Are there any more surprises in store for me? What have I got for an army — a herd of cattle?”
The wizard looked slightly embarrassed. “Well, as a matter of fact, High Lord, you don’t have any kind of army at all.”
“No army? Why is that?”
“It disbanded — more than a dozen years ago, I’m afraid.”
“Disbanded? Well, what about retainers — workers, servants, people to look after things in general? Who does that?”
“We do — the four of us.” Questor Thews made a sweeping gesture back to Abernathy and the two kobolds.
Ben stared. “No wonder the castle is dying. Why don’t you bring in some more help, for God’s sake?”
“We have no money to pay them.”
“What do you mean, you don’t have any money? Don’t you have a royal treasury or whatever?”
“The treasury is empty. There isn’t a coin in it.”
“Well, doesn’t the throne tax in some fashion so that there should be money?” Ben’s voice was getting louder. “How did Kings pay for anything in the past?”
“They taxed.” Questor glanced angrily at Abernathy, who was shaking his head in amusement. “Unfortunately, the taxing system broke down some years ago. Nothing has been paid into the treasury since.”
Ben dropped his duffel and put his hands on his hips. “Let me get this straight. I bought a kingdom where the King has no army, no staff but the four of you, and no money? I paid a million dollars for that?”
“You are being unreasonable, Ben Holiday.”
“That depends on whose shoes you’re standing in, I’d say!”
“You must be patient. You have not yet seen all that there is to see nor learned all that there is to learn of Landover. The immediate problems of taxes and retainers and an army can be solved once proper attention is given to the finding of the solutions. You must remember that there has been no King in Landover for more than twenty years. Since that is so, you must expect that not all will be as it should.”
Ben laughed without humor. “There’s the understatement of the year. Look, Questor, let’s get to the heart of the matter. What else should I know about being King of Landover? What other bad news have you got to tell?”
“Oh, I think that is about the worst of it, High Lord.” The wizard smiled disarmingly. “We will have time enough to discuss it all later, but I think a bit of dinner is in order first. It has been a long day, a long journey, and I know that you are tired and hungry both.”
Ben cut him short. “I am not that tired or that hungry, damn it! I want to know what else you’ve been…”
“All in good time, all in good order — you have your health to consider. High Lord,” Questor intoned, ignoring him.
“Parsnip will prepare our meal — the castle’s magic still keeps her larder well stocked — and while he is doing so, Abernathy will show you to your rooms where you may wash, take a change of clothes, and rest a bit. Abernathy, please escort the High Lord to his bedchamber and see that he has what he needs. I will be along in a while.”