If she was surprised at that new piece of information, she didn't show it; only a slight raise of her eyebrow indicated any reaction to that news at all. "Competition? Hardly, Amron," she replied amiably, also reaching across the table to give him a warm handshake. He wasn't familiar, but that didn't mean that he was unskilled or lacking in his profession. In fact, if he was about as old as he looked (perhaps several years older than she), then he might well be more skilled than his relaxed manner let on. After all, a thief didn't survive unless he was good at picking pockets and avoiding the Guard.<br/><br/>"I should know that the Rogues now number only twelve. After all, Amery was my mentor," she remarked coolly, not betraying the stab of grief she'd felt when first she had heard the news. That bit of information was not privy to a large group, though Lhurriel did not know it. Thus far, it had only been made known that one of the Rogues was lost, but the identity had not yet been ascertained by even the most important in the Court of Thieves.<br/><br/>She took another sip, idly swirling her cup as she watched Amron. "I'm indeed flattered by your... interest, Amron, but I've no flighty ambitions to become one of the Thirteen. I know most of all how difficult maintaining peace in this district was for Amery, and I would be best served helping the next Rogue in his duties to the Lord of Thieves. I've a great deal of respect among our people, perhaps, but even I know that there would be some who would balk at serving under a woman."<br/><br/>Lhurriel had briefly entertained the possibility of stepping into Amery's shoes, but dismissed the thought after her first night of full sleep. No woman had ever been chosen to be a Rogue before, and it was quite true - she garnered a great deal of respect in the Lower City, but only for so long as none had to obey her command. There were many whose fragile egos would be bruised, following the direction of a beautiful young woman - and one who was more agile, more skilled, and quicker with her fingers than they.