<div class="floatright">(http://1-media-cdn.foolz.us/ffuuka/board/tg/image/1337/09/1337095155450.jpg)</div>Tiktik's scaly eyebrows rose as Lady Heurassein, one of the most important figures in the city, came to get them herself. That was unexpected, and no mistake about it--was this operation so important that the owner of the entire company had to brief them on what was going on? What lay below the surface? And why was she allowing someone she didn't know so easily and quickly into the meeting--was she not worried about one of her competitors planting a spy or mole to gain company secrets? Regardless, he kept quiet and followed his employer, shooting Eva a single glance of curiosity as he pondered whether she had stumbled into the job or been sent by one of the other mining companies.<br/><br/>He listened through the explanation, noting more humans and elves in positions of power. An anger grew deep within his chest, but he pushed it down. Releasing the emotion here would do little to help him. Better to watch, wait, be patient and still, and when he finally had the money needed to fund the freedom of his people... then he would allow himself to take action. Instead, he felt his lightly taloned feet brush over the exquisite tile and carpet, feeling the fabric, an almost unconscious part in him taking pleasure from the texture.<br/><br/>As the explanation went on, he wondered to himself what benefit the company might have with the added safety margins that could be put into place with added warning, but quickly drove those thoughts from his head. Like himself, many of his brethren shared a mutation that kept them resistant to the heat that infused the entire wasteland. That along with their natural affinity to mining made them the perfect individuals to extract the precious crystals, and if anything was put into place, it was more so that the crystals could be more easily removed rather than to save the lives of a few kobolds, worthless in the eyes of society apart from how they might be exploited and their talents put to use.<br/><br/>Finally, he spoke up, "When do we leave?" He knew that the company was hiring him rather than ordered him to do this task--not that he was indentured, as many kobolds were, but still, it was uncommon for a kobold to not only be the first speak, but to do anything but grovel. He kept his eyes wandering, watching to see how not only the woman and the two who had been waiting in the room, but also his companions, reacted to this strange development of a kobold who challenged the social norms in place.