"I know the first option sounds simplest," Cal says. "But it's far more complicated than that. For one thing, I can't help you with it. Killing to preserve life and security is one thing. Killing for convenience is not something I care to be involved in." He takes another drink. "They're people, just like you and me. A bit more on the primitive side, it's true. But not irredeemably evil like some groups. If it matters, they hate the Stag Lord as much as we do. In fact, the reason that they caused so much trouble is that they lumped all the people they saw here in the Greenbelt with the Stag Lord - they have as much trouble telling us apart as we do them. Now that they know there's a difference, they've promised to leave us alone. My hope had been that if we could build up some regular commerce between men and kobolds, we might help strengthen their resolve to be friends rather than enemies to the people in this area. And if other tribes of kobolds start to see that there's an advantage to working peaceably with men, well, then that makes the area doubly safe."
"They had Svetlana's ring, it's true," Cal continues. "But that's because they took it from the bandits who stole it from her. And they did give it back to us when we told them what happened." This was shading the truth a bit, the sorcerer knows. But it was in a good cause. "And you may find this odd, but when I suggested one of them come with us back to the trading post, they were as worried about you as you are about them. After all, one kobold among half a dozen men is no threat to you. But he'd be putting his life in your hands. Clearly there's some room for better communication."
Cal holds up a hand. "Like I said, I know it's a lot to take in right now, and I won't push it. All I ask is that you think about it. Consider what I've said and keep an open mind. Maybe we could arrange some simple trading to start with at a neutral spot. Or we could take some trade goods to the Sootscales to show them what trade with men could mean to them, and to see what they could offer in return. I've found that lofty words are good, but the tangible benefits of trade, whether it be coin or goods, can be a lot more persuasive. I'll wager that in time both sides would see the benefit of trade."