"I don't know. Merenre probably would."

"He hasn't seemed super interested in talking to me."

"Did you want to talk to him?"

"I don't know, should I? I usually don't know of total strangers if I will get something out of a conversation of them, let alone how to get something out of a conversation with them. You're unusual in this respect."

"Well, most people are boring to talk to because they're stupid, but none of my children are."

"If you want to introduce us I won't object."

"Sure." He walks over and knocks on the door. "Merenre!"

"- hmm - you. What?"

"You should hire her to go scout, get this thing started."

He looks over at Belmarniss more closely. "I haven't actually looked at our options yet. Luar'll probably have noticed, if it's a good idea. Are you done with your language lessons?"

"For now. She's very clever."

"I figured." He turns to Belmarniss. "I'm very glad you dropped by."

"So am I, I've been having fun."

"Oh good. You should get a discount," he says to his father. "For being fun."

"I wasn't behaving differently than usual."

"I did suggest that he could have saved money by waiting till there are more drow around some of whom are not wizards. Didn't seem a priority."

"Well, I don't know how long it'll take him."

"I don't know how long it'll take me. I have a betting market out on the question, though."

"Well, I didn't know that, so it can't be a very well-publicized one, that'll mess with your information gathering."

"Oh no! We post them all at Commerce. Is there somewhere else where you'd have seen it if it'd been posted -"

"This office, I guess?"

"Sure." He makes a note of it. "Well, what's your bet -"

"Tell me the exact proposition I'm picking a time window on!"

"Trade goods from a drow country freely available for sale in Osirion."

"Any amount of trade goods? Define freely available for sale."