Adel Harbinger waited outside her office and watched the approaching figure gallop towards her. Out of all the jobs that the Head woman had, this was surely the worst. Slim hands twisted her fine silken skirt nervously, until she realised what she was doing and stopped. It wouldn't do to show her feelings in front of this person. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her once dark hair, which was now tinged with grey. Old age catches up even to half-elves, she reflected.

Her attention returned to the visitor, who was galloping down the centre of the street with scant regard for any others who may be there. The few villagers out in the early morning air ran for cover as the rider approached, some literally diving out of the way.

The black horse slowed as it closed, pulling up next to her in a cloud of dust, making her cough. The red eyes of the beast seemed to glare at her, and it snorted contemptuously as she lifted her head in defiance.

The man on the back on the animal slid off the saddle with practised ease and, leaving the horse un-tethered, approached Adel, his muscular body looming over her diminutive frame.

"Head Woman," he said in a deep voice, removing his black, skull adorned, helmet. "We meet again."

"Unfortunately," replied Adel.

The man laughed, a loud, evil sound. "Ahh, I do so admire you. Perhaps we should get together in a more.. intimate environment sometime?" The Anti-Paladin looked down at her, and she trembled.

Rarely intimidated, Adel found this 'so called' Violator to be both terrifying and compelling at the same time. "I think not," she replied, managing to keep her voice steady.

With a knowing smile, the Violator nodded, as if her thoughts were transparent to him. "Shall we enter your office, or would you like to talk in the street?" he inquired.

Flushing, Adel motioned him inside.

Moving silently as always, he followed. "You have redecorated I see," he said, looking around her small workspace.

Adel followed his gaze. Her office was the usual neat and tidy place it had always been. The floor underfoot made from the finest wood, the walls carefully scrubbed clean and adorned with various paintings, mainly of forest scenes. Several chairs were drawn up against a small table near the window, the remains of her meal getting cold on it. Nearer the doorway was her desk, piled high with papers. Her comfortable chair faced another two, less elaborate ones, on the other side.

"You didn't come for small talk," she said, trying to gain the upper hand.

"No, no. This is true." Veronica took his gloves off as he walked over to her desk. He put them down on the surface and leaned against it with practised nonchalance before turning back to her. "I have been sent here to find some..one."

"You master has commanded you, is that it? Sent you scurrying like a dog after a bone?" Adel went on the offensive, testing her courage.

The man looked at her for a second, then burst out into his booming laughter. "Ah! Adel, this is why I enjoy my visits here so much. So much spirit in such a small frame." He suddenly stood upright and moved close to her with frightening speed. Leaning down, he said in a much lower tone: "Perhaps I should test exactly how strong? I think I would enjoy such a task." He tilted his head slightly to one side. "Maybe even you would, for a time at least. What do you think?"

Adel spent a second trying to recover. She'd nearly collapsed when he had moved so quickly. After a few seconds she managed to compose herself again. "I think we are here for business, not 'pleasure'," she replied, pleased to note the icy tone in her voice. "Though I doubt 'pleasure' would be an accurate description of such an endeavour"

Veronica narrowed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to see inside her skull, before taking a deep breath and stepping back a pace. "You are right of course Head woman. Shall we discuss business then? I have much to do. You know the saying: 'No rest for the wicked,' and I am very, very wicked indeed. Tasks of ungodly evil await my hand. Even as we speak Good is fighting to claim dominance in the world, and I shall not tolerate such abhorrence.."

"We have information," interrupted Adel, knowing once the man got started there was no stopping him, "that certain.. creatures have left the dungeon. As you know, in agreement with your master," she sneered slightly, emphasising the word, "if such happens, someone will be sent to track them down and dispose of them."

"Ah, your little village is threatened and you scream for help? How sweet," said the Anti-Paladin in scornful tones of his own.

Adel flushed. "You know the deal," she said. "We keep word of the dungeon current, play up the treasure and challenges to get heroes here.."

"..and in return you get a share of the profits, as well as the chance to sell them equipment and lodging at inflated prices," Veronica replied. "I know the agreement."

"Well you also know that the beasts in your foul pit should remain inside then," she countered. "Several are loose, and wandering about threatening my people. What are you going to do about it?"

Veronica looked at her with brown eyes that made her go weak at the knees. The anti-paladin was really very handsome, but his terrifying you-never-know-when-I'll-snap-and-gut-you-like-a-pig aspect nullified most of that. "I'll see what I can do for my ally," he said. His tone carefully modulated to contain only the slightest hint of contempt.

"Thank-you," she replied, trying hard to keep her breathing regular.

"Very well! Enough of this idle banter," he said, drawing himself up and placing a hand on his sword, to stand in a dramatic pose. "For Evil waits for no creature, and dark deeds are ready to be done. I, The Violator, am the man for such. Tremble in my presence, *blanch* at my passing, and woe betide any who stand in my path, for I shall cut them down like a blade of grass before a dragon, leaving only their twisted and scattered remains as a reminder to those who would seek to emulate their actions." He bowed mockingly. "Now I have a job to do, so I must depart." Smiling wide he added: "Don't forget to look behind you in the night, for I shall be watching."

With that he turned and strode from the room, cloak swirling behind him in theatrically.

The head woman let out a sign of relief as the black garbed figure left. The man scared the living crap out of her, but what she really dreaded were the speeches.

She started to turn away, but whirled around as the door opened again, and the Violator walked back in. "Ah, forgot my gloves," he said in a slightly embarrassed tone, picking the said items of her desk.

Then, with another flourish, that somehow lacked the flair of the first, he departed again.

Adel rolled her eyes and returned to her now cold breakfast. Sitting down, she hoped the villagers would keep their mouths shut. It wouldn't do for the Violator to find out about the woman.