In my setting kobolds are predisposed to serving the strongest thing in their area, which in 99% of cases in ye olden days were dragons. But in more modern times what the "strongest thing" is isn't so cut and dry. A city, an island nation, a wizard, a queen, etc., things that aren't "biggest and killiest creature around" can all be strong in power and stability. These new times also made kobolds realize that serving a power is not lifelong servitude and if it sucks you can try to change it or just hit the bricks. This goes hand in hand with their ability to rapidly adapt to their environment and why furbolds exist. Colder climates calls for warm fur over scales.