"That's all I can tell you, I swear it." She was held in midair, her back arched as the magic coursed through her, forcing her to stretch, forcing her spine to rub against itself, bones grinding. "I gave it to them willingly." "I don't believe you," he said, forcing her to arch more.
"An arcanist never gives up their work. Never."
"Please..."
Kaliadra felt herself dropped to the ground where she hit and knocked the air from her lungs. She rolled over, her arms trembling, and coughed until the iron taste of blood filled her mouth. "So you gave one to my cousin and there was another... where is it?"
"I don't know."
The electric fire went into Kaliadra's chest and slammed her body against a tree. The explosion of stars in her eyesight filled her vision before they faded. "You know something and you're going to tell me, elf. What you are doing is wrong, keeping me from going home, keeping me from taking my bride."
"I've told you all I know... I left once we brought her back... I willingly walked away... to do that kind of research was dangerous and caused me to take... a life."
"You traversed the planes with a trinket of tremendous power, you LEARNED how to do it. Tell me how."
"No..."
The breath felt as though it was squeezed out of her as Kaliadra flew through the air to be face to face with Velentham. "I. Will. Kill. You." he snarled. "Then you will kill her."
His eyes flared silver, he scowled, then Kaliadra could feel the tendrils snaking through her mind. She was utterly helpless, her magic no match for the skill of the one reading her mind freely. The tendrils were heavy, as though uncaring for what memories they might ransack in the search of information. Part of her hoped Velentham might take her life. The other part could feel the desperation that filled Velentham's body. She saw his mouth twitch as he looked at her once more. "I'll find this necklace and when I do... I'm going to use it."
"What about her... what does she want?"
"She doesn't know what she wants, I do. I know what is right. I guide her now. For that, she'll live eternally."
"In misery," Kaliadra said, and for her insolence, she found herself flung through the forest. This time, the tree she hit audibly cracked her back. The sensation in her legs was gone as suddenly as a lightning strike. Then, darkness overcame her.
