The passion in her voice had made something very clear to him;

He had the upper hand. 

Ready for her silky voice, he had managed to hold on to his logic as she tried to charm her way deeper into his mind. He began to analyse her answer, her individual words running miles through his machine-like brain, looking at every possibility and taking into account every situation. It was clear to him now she wasn't from here, nor was she welcome. And she was most certainly not an elf or she would not have the problem she seemingly described. So what was she? Know the enemy, one of the most famous Grey Elf mantras, popped into his mind as he prepared his answer. He had seen many creatures during his time in the Iron Brigade but none popped into his head that could possibly solve this conundrum. He had to know what he was dealing with. 

As he begun to weave his trap, he had a moment where he almost understood why the Grey Elves looked down on emotions, emotions were in effect biological jactas; they were easy to manipulate and with a Mind of Iron it is easy to pull the appropriate strings and threads. And yet they are the difference between surviving and living, something Grey Elves sacrificed long ago. The only mercy was that there is no Grey Elf alive who knew what they had lost. 

Kalan answered slowly, as if he was trying to hold onto his words,''Metal Monsters? You mean the Iron Brigade? Yes I most definitely know of these ''monsters''. But as for where they take the people they have stolen....,''. He paused now, a smile began to creep along his face as he revealed his hand to her. ''...they are taken to thousands of places based upon race, you would never be able to track them down alone. If you want to know exactly what is going to happen to them and more importantly where they are, then it would be wise to tell me exactly what your people are? ''. 

His mind drifted back to Donovan as he awaited her answer, this ''distraction'' had taken his mind off the reason he was here in the first place. The Prince still had yet to arrive as promised but he knew in his predicament any work he could get was work he needed. Had he found a better opportunity? Was this some sort of set up to arrest him? Had the Pixie decided to play a prank? He knew until something happened or more evidence presented itself he would simply have to wait and see. As his mind returned to the hooded woman before him, he wondered whether she could possibly offer some sort of employment, with Donovan nowhere to be seen he should at least secure himself some future work should it all go troll shaped.