#anywhere

Delicately.

"Mm"

His eyes widen

"What's that, sir?" THe Piskie declares.

"I could, mayhaps, see the use of them to break up a plain wall... maybe a half dozen, if they're cheap enough."

"Ahalf dozen? I Have but three of the maestro's work, and cheap? Oh no.. I could not<" the Piskie says "I found these in far flung places of the Dreaming. "

"Discards, surely."

Earlwhispers low to her "I worked my ass off for those paintings"

oh dear lord, he's got troll brain today!

Sigh.

"Well, three is not sufficient to my needs, but I could, mayhaps, part with... oh.. sixty dollars for the lot."

"Sixty? Madame, in some places every single work would go for 500" A look at the troll, "Wouldn't you agree sir?"

"Then you should merchant there."

"I..." Earl looks at Zara then badck "I would not. Just seems... slap dash."

Frustrated the piskie says "Slapdash? FIne... 200 dollars"

"150."

"Fine, thieves!" He says.

"And ..wrap those" Earl nods.

"Bah." The fellow does wrap them though.

Zara carefully counts out bills.

"We also deal in dross... "

They're handed over, "Mmmph... highwaymen" The piskie now paid, and the paintings taken, seems to want no more, as if they have insultedh im to the quick.

"Thank you, Master Piskie." And there's a brief grin. "Tell me, have you ever met the artist?"

"Oh.. yes, yes" He says, "Of dcourse, Strapping brute of an ogre."

"Taller than me?" Earl says

"OH very much so" The piskie assures, "His heart is too full of artistry and dark musings to be contained in your average troll, sir. But clearly neither of you would know a quality artist if he were standing next to you"

"Clearly." Amused.

"Shoo.. shoo... you've robbed me. I don't wish to know you" The piskie crosses his arms

"Let's.. move on, lady" Earl says.

"Aye, let's."

Earl walks along whispering "Well, that was utterly demoralizing. "

"Oh, you were clearly valued... but you should not pay full price for your own work!"

"No but.. ouch. " A pause "A HUGE brutish Ogre with a heart full of dark passions? Maybe i need to make a self portrait s ometime. I always thought they were vain but."

"Renoir did one. El Greco. Tis a good enough project."

"mmph ..." Earl's ego is crumpled

And then from another both, a web has a spider writing quickly 'Poisons, potions. elixirs... '

a bespeckled sluagh male grump there working with many vials

Zara approaches, greeting the elder with a bow over her hand. "Good proprietor."

he looks up, 'as one lives and breathes, would you be Miss Zara Scwhartz?'

"I fear you have me at a disadvantage, sirrah."

'oh how rude of me, Dr. Conner N. Sumpshun, at your service. I deal in what one might call liquid assists. might I interest you in anything?'

"Aye. You may. Though not a potion." She picks up a bottle, idly inspecting it.

"oh I have a variety , solutions for hard to remove stains ... or people, powders one can put in one's tea that creates fumes akin to Delphi's vapors..."

A quirk of an eyebrow at the last - interest. "Aye, aye... but the other trade?"

'ah, 'he smiles, "I take dross, coin, but you and I both know the greater value is indeed in.. knowledge ." A glance to Earl, "the sir is..acceptable to these conversations?"

Earl looks at Zara, "If you two need privacy I can shop elsewhere. I try to respect your kith's ways."

"He is my beloved. But... " A gentle shrug.

Earl bows, "Forgive, I'll be over there examining those fine items at that Eshu's stall. May your whispers carry only where you will them." And he with draws.

'What an educated young man,"' Dr. Sumpshun says

"Thank you, I have put some time in him."