Hadama shifted into deeper water and followed Amanda at a little distance as she returned to her boat. He considered her question quietly as she settled her salvaged shield, but in the end he gave a small shake of his head. His expression remained calm and neutral, but there was amusement in his eyes as he looked at the eager human woman. "I am a craftsman, not a merchant. I trade with humans as... a hobby. So I do not need to move large amounts of things."
He ducked under the water for a moment, rising once more with dark, sun-dried skin soothed by the saltwater and hair slicked back. "But smaller things, yes. Jewelry especially. In exchange..." A tilt of his head revealed a serious consideration of Amanda's question as he tried to decide what he could ask from her that he couldn't get through Melita or Maeve or Flora.
And what would survive being submerged in the sea.
"Small ingots," he decided. "Copper. Nickel. Zinc. Bronze." On their own, each was susceptible. But combined in various ways... "Stored in oil and delivered in waterproof chests." The raw materials for making metal jewelry, art, and weapons that could be used both above and below the waves. "How should I contact you when I am ready to trade?"
He ducked under the water for a moment, rising once more with dark, sun-dried skin soothed by the saltwater and hair slicked back. "But smaller things, yes. Jewelry especially. In exchange..." A tilt of his head revealed a serious consideration of Amanda's question as he tried to decide what he could ask from her that he couldn't get through Melita or Maeve or Flora.
And what would survive being submerged in the sea.
"Small ingots," he decided. "Copper. Nickel. Zinc. Bronze." On their own, each was susceptible. But combined in various ways... "Stored in oil and delivered in waterproof chests." The raw materials for making metal jewelry, art, and weapons that could be used both above and below the waves. "How should I contact you when I am ready to trade?"
