[Child of the 7th Age]

It was lunchtime at the Green Dragon Inn. Cami and Marigold had run down to the Inn, and hidden outside in the bushes, waiting for Lotho to to inside. Once they saw the hobbit enter, they'd slipped in behind him and gone over to the bar. Cami was carrying a very fat change purse that seemed to be filled with a goodly number of coins.

Cami made a point of holding it out in front of her so that everyone could see exactly what she was doing. The two girls sat down at a table, which was located right next to the one where Lotho was sitting and eating his lunch. Then they put their heads together and began talking in a tone that was loud enough for Lotho to hear their discussion very clearly.

"Marigold, you're sure you can do this?"

The younger girl solemnly nodded her head. "I'm sure."

"But this is a lot of money," Cami countered. "It's to pay for all the beef and chicken and pork we'll need for the dinner. You heard what Mister Bilbo said. If we lose it, we're sunk. There won't be any party at all!"

Lotho looked up from his lunch and stared over to the table where Marigold and Cami were sitting.

"I know, I know. I'll run straight to the butcher's, the one who lives north of town, and put an order in on the meet."

With that exchange, Marigold snatched the purse out of Cami's hand and raced out the door of the Inn. Lotho nonchalantly went up to pay his bill, then hurried quickly out the door. Last in line came Cami, staying far enough back so she could keep an eye on things, but evade detection by Lotho.

[ March 13, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]