Kaliadra woke, her wounds suffered at the hands of Velentham's brutality healed by the craft of Gilean's healing. She found the priest curled up in a fetal position in his bed, and she turned away in silence. She had planned to make herself scarce, to leave, but she knew that the spell Velentham had cast on her was still there. If he found her unprotected he could torture her and no matter how painful or twisted he would grow, she wouldn't be able to die.
She walked down the stairs of Gilean's home to find the boy, Matinus, playing with his step-sister, Nioma. The boy stopped and looked at her and the little girl turned her gaze on her as well. "Doggie!" the girl squealed. Kaliadra could only assume the girl could see things that were normally hidden. She managed a smile when the voice of the demented Celestial called from outside:
"GILEAN! COME OUT HERE! I HAVE SOMEONE YOU SHOULD SEE!"
"Children, upstairs to your rooms." They heeded.
Kaliadra followed behind them, detouring to the library where she stood looking out the window. She had passed Gilean as he wearily trod to his summons. She watched them and noted how confused Sanria appeared. The Celestial had no shame.
'Kaliadra,' the priest willed into her mind. 'Is there anything you can do? Can you stop him from casting? Take his magic?'
'So long as he does not see me or feel threatened, I could attempt a field, but he is much more powerful than I.'
'We have to act,' the priest said. 'She is here now, it's our only hope of getting her back.'
'I will do my best.'
'On my word.'
'Very well.'
They argued outside, postured, insulted, and Kaliadra watched unseen. The boy came to the door. "Is my dad okay?"
"He will be fine," she said. "Go back to your room and watch your sister. Keep her safe."
The boy had only just walked away when Kaliadra saw Velentham leave Sanria's side. 'Now!' came the command, and Kaliadra summoned every bit of raw energy she could gather into her spell to keep Velentham at bay.
