"Greetings," said the pink one.
"Greetings," Trigger replied, wondering what world they came from. The style wasn't exactly like anything she'd seen before.
"We," the green lady informed her with a not unkindly touch of condescension, "are with the Askab of Elfkund."
"Oh!" said Trigger in the tone of one who is impressed. Elfkund hadn't rung any bells.
"And with whom are you, girl?" the pink one inquired.
"Well," Trigger said, "I'm not actually with anybody."
The smiles faded abruptly. They glanced at each other, then looked back at Trigger. Rather severely, it seemed.
"Did you mean," the green one asked carefully, "that you are not a retainer?"
Trigger nodded. "I'm from Maccadon," she explained. "The name is Birna Drellgannoth."
"Maccadon," the pink one repeated. "You are a commoner then, young Birna?"