Ranger's Apprentice: The Budget Edition

Chapter 5

~~Meanwhile~~

King Duncan opened the door to Crowley's Office, a worried look on his face. Crowley looked up, tired, from his paperwork covered desk.

"What's up?" the Commandant asked, a questioning look on his face.

Duncan sighed. "Look, the treasury is a mess," he started.

Oh no. Crowley thought.

"And we need to make some cuts." The king continued.

I know where this is going.

"Cut what??" Crowley asked, perhaps slightly indignant. The gathering was coming up soon, and he was worried that there'd be an uprising if he came with news of less funding again. "We're already handing out plastic horse heads to apprentices, and we're dyeing cloaks with paint that Jurgen found in his attic. There's not much to cut!"

Duncan thought about it for a second. "What about your coffee budget?"

Crowley took a deep breath, then looked Duncan dead in the eyes. "We'll wear the cloaks. We'll 'ride' the stupid plastic horse heads. But if you even think about touching our coffee, you'll find an angry mob of deadly coffee addicts at your door. And at that point, good luck to you, sir."

Duncan paused. "I'll go talk to David." he said, and left Crowley to his paperwork.