“Indeed, my lord,” the ancient gnome muttered at the ground, his head hanging low and not daring to look up at the King. The spool of threads he showcased for the court were nearly as large as he was, but the spool with the golden thread seemed to get all of the attention.

“All of them?” the King barked in a commanding voice.

“Yes, my lord, all the lordships of the surrounding kingdoms have already purchased lengths of this fine golden thread,” the old gnome shuddered anxiously. “I have sewn it into their finest garments for no additional fee, and many had me sew it into their everyday garments as well, not only the ceremonial pieces.”

“All of this for twenty gold pieces?” the lord of the kingdom asked skeptically.

“Twenty gold pieces per garment.”

“Per garment?” the King roared. “Highway robbery.”

“It is of the highest quality, my lord,” the gnome insisted. He yanked a length and stretched it between his wrinkled hands. “It glistens majestically not only in sunlight but in candlelight as well. It is as strong as steel wire and when crosshatched into the lining, it is as strong as chainmail and makes a fashion statement unlike nothing else can.”

The King sat back in his throne with his arms crossed. The queen leaned over and whispered into his ear, which caused him to give her a sour look. “Very well, gnome,” he finally spat. “We will purchase your thread and your services for a single garment, you may thank the queen for her charity. But be warned, sir. If I am not satisfied with this thread, I shall take it out of your hide, not that there is much to take.”

The entire court laughed at the gnome’s expense, but it did not bother him. “I guarantee that you will never complain about it,” he assured the King.

The King was so enamored with the golden threaded crosshatch lining, his behavior seemed to change every time he wore the garment. Instead of purchasing more, he instructed his couriers to ferry chests of gold directly to the gnome hovels just outside the kingdom. When the treasury was empty of coin, the courier returned and reported to the king’s brother that the lords of the other kingdoms had been sending convoys of gold to the gnome’s hovel as well.

The King wore his golden threaded garment full time now, and when he was confronted about how he had drained the treasury of all the kingdom’s wealth, he went insane like a rabid dog. He was locked into the dungeon by his own guards for his own protection. His brother visited other kingdoms, and the lords all had undergone similar frightening transformations.

“The gnome,” the King’s brother snarled.

A great army of all the kingdoms was formed and surrounded the gnome’s hovel so they could take back their coins by force if necessary. But as the armies approached, the hovel trembled and slowly erupted as a large silvery craft rose up from underneath the grass roof.

The voice of the gnome echoed throughout the valley as the knights and soldiers and barbarians were mesmerized by the giant hovering craft. “Thank you for your donation. It will help fund our fight against the gray goblins of Zeti Reticuli. Farewell!”

The silvery saucer buzzed and vibrated away into the sky until it completed disappeared from the eyes of all the stunned and confused men who had sought to replenish their treasuries.