Showdown in No-Mans'-Land

Roxine sighed as she walked through the gravestones.
After her encounter with Jade in the Maegan, she suddenly wanted to be alone. The graveyard offered that, more than anywhere else Roxine could think of.
She began huming to herself quietly, as she mulled over her thoughts in her head.

Ryland looked down at a gravestone in disgust. Humans were so fragile, so short-lived. How had he allowed one to stab him in the city like that?

Roxine frowned. She felt another presence nearby, and it wasn't one that she thought she recognised.
Rolling her eyes she drew her pocketknife from up her sleeve and turned to face her 'companion'.
So much for being alone.

Ryland turned to face her and hissed. He had expected to be alone, but he wasn't going to attack first. Not here on neutral gorund.

Roxine's eyes widened as soon as she realised who it was.
"You..." she hissed lowly, her eyes narrowed to slits and knuckles whitening as her grip on the knife's handle tightened.

"Yes me," Ryland smirked. "Who were you expecting?"

Roxine growled but didn't move. She knew better than to start a fight here...but that didn't mean they couldn't talk.
"Oh, I don't know..." she replied, trying to remain calm. Suddenly she snapped back to business. "Why are you here? Finding a place for your latest victim?" she spat.

"I'm just taking a walk and enjoying the scenery," Ryland chuckled and looked around at the somewhat morbid setting around them.

Ryland's head snapped to the side and he grinned before continuing loudly, "Nice of you to join us Carden, but I hope you don't think you're two against one. I never travel alone. Don't like to put all my eggs in one basket you know."

"That's good, considering I was not expecting a battle either," Ryland smiled. "So what do you want to talk about Carden? What kind of formula you should feed a vampire baby?" He laughed.

"So you want me to give up my first mate and my heir?" Ryland raised an eyebrow. "What could you offer me for that price?"

Roxine looked back and forth between the two men, well aware that Mike probably didn't want her hearing all of this. Still, if they were on the same side then she had the right to know.
She gritted her teeth and waited, not wanting to become involved in their little spat too soon. However, she silently prayed that Mike had forgotten how she mentioned she'd known Ryland...she wasn't sure who he was more loyal to - his allies on the Resistance or the one he was trying to protect from Ryland.
If he tries to pull me into this, I'll gut them both, sacred ground or not. she thought bitterly.

"Safety? Are you suggesting that I coud buy peace for my clan and my young vampires would be safe from the likes of you?" He smirked, sort of liking a bargain like that but not ready to commit to it.

Roxine rolled her eyes, still not speaking up. How many brain cells had been put to work before Mike voiced that offer to Ryland? Once something was said it was said, and Roxine knew that Ryland was jsut the sort of person to take advantage of that.

Her eyes widened. "NO way! Nu-uh! I object - what about our deal, Carden?" she asked angrily, glaring at both men as she rejoined the conversation at last.

Ryland grinned. "Shhh now. The menfolk are talking." He knew it would upset Roxine if he said that.

"Menfolk?!" Roxine echoed furiously. "Say that again, Blackington - I dare you to!" she raised a fist and shook it, leaving the threat open. She turned to Mike next.
"And what's this about you being in charge? All I agreed to do was fight on your side - not join this Resistance of your's - in return for you clearing up a few things!" she smirked suddenly. "And that guest you had when I came over to talk about our deal that night has a name after all, huh? William, did you say? Sounds nice."
Two can play that game, Ryland. she thought smugly, as she watched Mike for a reaction.

Ryland sighed and stayed politely quiet so Mike could answer the girl's questions. She amused him truth be told. He wanted to know what she would do next.