Darla had been giving considerable thought as to the futures of two of her vampires. Sigurd and Guy were her most valuable vampires to her due to their power and experience, and she needed to choose a temoin from the pair of them. Her instincts told her to choose one, whilst her mind told her the other. Rather than risk her power base with an ill decision, she had given it much thought. Tonight was the night she was to announce her decision. She had summoned the two to her, and was now awaiting their arrival.

Sigurd made his way through the hallways, a serious expression on his face. Sigurd was glad that their little meeting with the visiting vampire was over, but he didn’t really know what to make of it all. He was sure the vampire was planning something, but at the moment the vampire laws that had been created by the council restricted them. He wasn’t positive what his mistress had called on him for, but he hoped that during their conversation Gerard would be mentioned. Though Sigurd did not doubt his mistress’s genius, he did think a proper plan would need to be created in order to properly take care of this disturbance. After a few minutes Sigurd found himself in front of the door that lead to the room, his mistress had called him too. Sigurd quelled his thoughts and calmed his mind. Then Sigurd opened the door to the room, walking in with a new reassuring posture.

Sigurd made his way before his mistress, giving a deep bow as he stood before her. When he finally rose he said, “My mistress I have come, in accordance of your call. What is it that you wish of me, simply ask and it shall be done.” Sigurd kept his eyes lowered the whole time, showing his obedience to his mistress. He awaited for her reply calmly, his mind even then racing to figure out just why she had called him to her.

Guy knit his brows as he moved toward's Darla heeding her summons. He was relatively certain as to what the meeting was about, but that didn't really make him any more eager for it. He opened the door to her study without bothering to knock. He looked between the two vampires and spoke gently, "Good evening Mistress, Sigurd. I trust all is well this evening?" He didn't bother bowing to either. The time had long since passed for wasthing time on such things between them.

Watching as Sigurd walked in, Darla smiled in welcome and bid him take a seat before her. They did not have to wait long before Guy arrived, bringing another smile to her as she motioned for him to sit next to Sigurd.

"I have come to a very important decision about the future of the Kiss. As you have guessed, it involves you both. One of you is to become my temoin. I have taken a long time to make my decision, and I apologise for leaving you both guessing, but the recent events with Gerard have prompted me further into my decision."

Pausing a moment, she looked from both vampires to the window, then spoke looking directly at Guy.

"I have chosen you, Galeno, to be my Temoin. I will not say why, for I wish you to both decide here and ask why. I know you both to be sensible and you probably can guess."

Sigurd listened to his mistress speak, his face calm even as she spoke of choosing the new temoin. Sigurd had to admit being a little bit more then just curious as to who would be chosen. Both of them had their strong points and not even Sigurd really could tell who would be the clear victor in their little political race. As Sigurd listened onward, his face still remained a mask. His mind quickly became a swirl of thoughts however, as he heard Guy being proclaimed as temoin. It wasn’t so much that Guy had beaten Sigurd, but that Darla had given any real explanation. She had put it to Guy and Sigurd to explain why Guy in the end won, but in Sigurd’s personal belief it only made the mistress of Miami seem, as if she didn’t really have a clear-cut reason.

On the outside Sigurd only offered a smile and bow to his mistress. He then said, “If that is what my mistress wishes then I have no complaints. I can’t really determine the exact reasons as to why you have made such a decision, but I do know that there are many strong points backing your new Temoin.” Sigurd then turned back to Guy and said, “Guy, I congratulate you on becoming our mistress’s second, may you advise her well.” Sigurd then turned back to his mistress waiting for her to dismiss him so that he could leave. At the moment Sigurd really just wanted to rest, he was tired from his little excursions tonight and the revelations brought to him from it. He had thought as Temoin he could advise his mistress more thoroughly however, now he could not. He knew that he would probably be made her third, but in the world of vampires, it meant very little. To insult him would be to insult almost any other master level vampire in her kiss and his advice would never be the most important. For now Sigurd would just have to contemplate his next move and see what else could be done.

Guy gave his mistress a polite bow as well, thinking that such a formality would be best in the situation. He spoke, his tone carefully neutral, "I thank you, my mistress for placing your trust in me. I hope I may serve the kiss of Miami well for many long years."

He thought he understood why his mistress had chosen himself over Sigurd. Secretly, he full well thought that Sigurd was a better warrior and had far flashier powers. However, Guy also secretly gave himself andedge in other things. He knew the value of discreetness, of ruthlessness, and maybe even the protectiveness, for it wasn't lost on him that Sigurd hadn't been willing ot place himself or Rhia in direct danger while meeting with Gerard. He spoke carefully, "I believe I may know the reasons, my mistress, but I shall simply say that you, like I, do not believe that simple power is everything or enough, as to say more would be impolitic."

He also knew he should probably say something to Sigurd to let him know that despite the end of their game, he still respected the other vampire, even if he didn't think Sigurd was the best choice as the second of a kiss, but how to do it carefully. He decided blunt might be best. He hadn't one the spot by hiding his weaknesses from anyone, "And Sigurd, don't think for a moment that this means your counsel is any less valuable. You will always have at least my ear, for you have experiences and a perception of the world that I cannot share."

Darla frowned slightly, noting the reaction of both vampires and paying more attention to Sigurd than Guy.

"Sigurd, it is not that you have failed to meet expectations. Indeed, it was a difficult decision for me. Guy won in the end because despite not having the stronger powers, he shows great wisdom in using them and in the matters of politics. He and I think more alike, and that makes decisions far easier in something as important as the rule of a city. You show wisdom, but not in ways that are of as much value to my position. I know that those in love are less willing to risk themselves, and I am not the best master you have had. Your wisdom in matters beyond Guy is highly valuable, as Guy himself said, but in the end Guy won out."

Pausing with a slight sigh, Darla mentally berated herself.

"I am going to be perfectly blunt with you both. The events with Gerard have shown me in a weaker light, yes. I wish to not make excuses for myself but to explain that one as new to vampire as oppose to human rule as I am is less better at guarding herself against such advances. I know, Sigurd, that you think me weak. If that is so, then you may leave the Kiss and do as you wish. But bear in mind that should you actively oppose me then I will have no qualms in taking the neccessary action in spite of my fondness for you and the beautiful Rhia.."

Sigurd simply nodded his head as Darla began to explain the very reason as to why she hadn’t chosen Sigurd. Sigurd thought about her very reason as each word was expressed to him. It was true that Guy did hold some wisdom in concern to the vampire world, but he wasn’t exactly sure that her estimation on him not being knowledgeable on the matter was too accurate. If it was in concern to the meeting with Gerard then the only reason he hadn’t really spoken up more was that it would have looked bad. To have someone with no rank try and give advice to someone completely above them would be seem as weak by many a visiting master level vampire. Sigurd only pushed the thought away in the end as he realized that dwelling on such silly thoughts was foolish. Darla didn’t really act like most masters who ruled a city and probably wouldn’t be too angered with his advice like most city rulers would have been.

Sigurd pushed all his attention back to his mistress as she began to continue with her explanation. Sigurd nodded his head in understanding as he listened to the master of the city explain the reason why she had been so unprepared for the visiting powerful vampire. However, Sigurd quickly raised his eyebrow as he heard Darla’s comment about him thinking her weak. He didn’t necessarily think her powerless and he wasn’t exactly sure how she had noticed him think otherwise since he had always maintained his mask. Sigurd was indeed taken back by the fact that she had given him permission to look for another kiss and was even more so by her threat. Vampires were notorious for giving not too noticeable threats yet here Darla was giving a very blunt one. Sigurd only shook his head at his mistress as his mind quickly formulated plans for the future. He wasn’t sure why Darla had spoke to him about such, but he definitely couldn’t ignore such. Sigurd remained quiet for now, just allowing the fact that he had heard her out be clear.