Evelina sat down in the comfortable chair Lobelia had motioned towards, but she was careful to turn the seat so that the door was visible from around the high back. She leaned forward and listened carefully as Lobelia talked of the hobbit party and the travelling band. When the hobbit lady cautioned, "Only a good scare, mind you." Evelina could not help laughing inside, her dark eyes dancing with cold mirth, but no other sign of laughter was visible on her face as she nodded sagely. Lobelia finally finished outlining her plans and ended by offering a small bag with only a very few gold coins clinking inside. Evelina raised one slim eyebrow mockingly.
"Of course, I will be hiring a couple of my friends to help in this venture. We will all require sufficient payment, and this," she motioned with open disgust at the offered purse, "I consider a serious insult." Evelina's lip curled as she stood, once more towering over the hobbit. "I will be leaving until you reconsider the offer, and I suggest you do so quickly." And with that she turned to leave.
Lobelia's eyes widened and she began to feel quite desperate. "Wait!" she cried. Evelina turned and, sillouetted against the dark hall, looked twice as tall and threatening. Lobelia searched her pockets and dropped at least a dozen more coins into the sack and added breathlessly, "I can promise twice as much afterwards if the job is done properly." Though frightened, she was still a shrewd business woman. Evelina considered her carefully for a moment, weighing her up, and finally allowed her face to relax into an almost friendly smile. "Done" She tucked the pouch into her blouse and shook Lobelia's hand before striding out as quietly as she came. Lobelia collapsed into the chair Evelina had previously occupied, hoping that Evelina wouldn't do the job toowell.
Outside, the dark figure who was the lady Bandit walked through the trees until she reached a small clearing, shrouded from view by the thick foliage. She sat down in the shadows to await the coming of her friends.
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