Alexandru:
"I am..."He said at last,eyes finaly lifting from the females form."...What's so important that such thoroughbreds as yourselves would leave the safety and luxury of this delightful town and venture into that?"He says,nodding towards the thick jungle.
Khalid gives a thoughtful response to Alexandru's words, brow lifting and a small, toothy smile drawn in by his cheeks.
"A question I have asked myself many times over these past few days. The answer I would give you is perhaps not the same as those that I have voiced to myself in earnest but in a time such as this, one must lean towards the most practical and immediate resolution, even if means leaving this," gesturing around him at the fairly safe environs of the harbor,
"...and venturing forth into that." nodding his head towards the lush jungle vegitation creeping above the far walls.
Noticing the arrival of 2 others, Khalid nods his head to them in greeting.
"It appears I should simply explain myself to a larger audience. Very well,"
Khalid takes a step back and to the side, closer to the crates where Alexandru rests and gestures for everyone to gather closer. There is no hint of nervousnous or paranoia in his posturing, the man upon first impression seems as if nothing in the world could phase him. He does give a look around the dock, corners of his mouth prickling with the ever constant beginnings of a smile and then with eyes and attention shifting between Candlewick, Nikolai and Alexandru... he starts with a slight bow of his head.
"My name is Khalid Ahmed, a native of Calimport but displaced here in this jungle land on family business. This business has been left in my hands to manage, at the behest of my father, in the wake of my older brother who has not only lost a valuable resource to my family, but also managed to lose his own self and a large portion of our labor as well. It is imperative I learn what truly happened and the only way that this can be accomplished is for me to simply go out there and see for myself. Only a fool like my brother would tackle a task such as this without help and this is where you come in. My family is capable of paying you a stipend of service but these are things that will require more discussion than we have time for. I realize this is not the greatest approach to a negotiation of business terms, but I am not a businessman, I am a wizard forced into economical dealings for lack of better prospects."
Khalid sweeps an open hand outward as if to indicate that the decision is yours while his other hand produces a bottle of icewine. Removing the cork, a slight chill of the air escapes from within. He takes in the sweet smell of it with a sigh of appreciation and then regards the remaining three in anticipation of their response.