Muldran faced Muldra. She sat there, composed, in her red dress. Muldran steepled his hands on the desk in front of him.

"So..." he said, "Der trumble izzt...."

Muldra glared at him. Muldran cleared his throat.

"So, the trouble is that these creatures - these traders - have just suddenly popped up out of the blue, without any announcement, and are demanding people turn over Blackrock?" Muldran asked.

The green-haired-fae-woman sighed, "Yes, Muldran. As usual you have acurately repeated exactly what I said. Although you ad-libbed on the demanding part. The creatures accept it. They give people rewards. And it seems that people are variously insanely happy or insanely angry with the reward they receive."

Muldran scowled and sat back. "I don't like it. I don't like it at all. This just isn't right. And what are they using it for?". He picked up the glass of iced water, and took a sip.

Muldra sighed, "I dare not think. But you are respected..."

Muldran snorted, the water spraying out in an arc in front of him. Muldra gestured with her hand, and the water diverted, bouncing off the picture attached to the wall.

Muldra continued, "... respected in fields of magical study, your recent mistakes excepted. Or expected, as I'm hearing from the others in the Court."

Muldran coughed, and wiped his mouth, "Muldra, I appreciate the vote of confidence, it's always nice coming from a fae creature that has tried to impersonate me, then implicate me in crimes, and finally actually get me imprisoned, but I'm not sure if people are going to listen to me about this."

This time it was Muldra's turn to snort, "Right. Because people you know in the circles you move in aren't stupid enough to hand their Blackrock over to these creatures?"

"I'll get my coat." replied Muldran.