Kalaya just listens with growing horror as Giriel lays out everything going on in front of them. It's one thing to have the gods ignore your prayers in your time of need - it's quite another to find out that one of the upper pantheon is [i]directly opining[/i] on your future taking a specific path.

The pressure she'd felt back in the brig, chained to a chair and walls all around, comes rushing back. It grips deep in her chest and her fists clench tight. When Giri's arm encircles her, it finds shoulders rigid as rocks and a girl who is hunching in on herself. 

"Fixed?" she says, her breath ragged. "No. [i]Never.[/i]"

"I don't agree with her choice in magic either, but I will [i]not[/i] accept that her death is certain. That my fate is certain." she growls. "Those gods and nations can line up like daisies in a row if they want, but they will. not. stop. me."

"It should be simple. [i]Why isn't it simple?[/i] I [i]never [/i]asked for any of this - it should've been just me getting Ven back out of Hell. Of keeping her away from the Broken King and his ilk. Then the Kingdoms would be safe, we could ... we could just be happy."

"But no! Now I have to deal with the Dominion [i]too[/i]? With the [i]Gods?[/i] The ones who should be helping me [i]stop [/i]all of this?"

Fingers tangle in her hair. Gripping tight, she slumps on the railing of the barge. Deep breaths, Kalaya. In for five, out for eight.

"I'm sorry. I'm not upset with you Giriel. I've ... well I've not been having the best of times since we parted ways in that teahouse." she drops her hands and looks up to the witch with glistening eyes. "Thank you though. Genuinely. Thank you - for telling this to me whole and unvarnished. Many wouldn't."

"You're a real friend." she says, a small smile breaking through. "One I didn't expect to find on this boat when I woke up. If you ever need me, I will also be there for you. I swear it."

Glancing out at the waters, she tries to decide on what next to do. Simply jumping from the barge is tempting - at least she'd be away from Cathak and on her way back to Ven. Or maybe hunting down the Raksasha. Its talents would certainly be a possible shield against the web that others are weaving around her.

But there was still unfinished business here.

"If you're ever able to find out what Bright Rose or Venus think of this, I'd appreciate it. I'm going to need all the help I can get if I'm to untangle a war-fate."

She steps away from the railing, hands moving to check her gear and weapons.

"For now though ... I think I need to go talk to a Stag."