At first, Kalaya struggles against her captor. Straining wrists against the figure looming over her. A dream about Hell is a new one - but she doesn't scare so easily. She has faced down Cathak in the other's own brig after all - some demon will not break her!

But then, the figure speaks. And [i]oh.[/i]

It's Vee.

"Oh ... uh ... h-hey Vee!" she says, ceasing her fight and [i]wow [/i]those hands are strong pinning her down like that. She gives one last half-hearted wriggle, not really trying to get out. Just a little for show. Ah! No! I mean ... nevermind! Is it just Hell or is it getting hotter in here?

"I - I'm fine! Not hurt, not badly! At least, not anymore! [i]Thanksforcheckinguponme![/i]" she says, running out of breath to steady a rapidly beating heart. "I mean ... um ... wait ... let me start over!"

A few more steadying breaths later.

"It's okay." she says, once her breathing has slowed and her cheeks have faded back to a light pink. "You don't need to worry about me. I'm fine! Better than fine, even! I'm on a Dominion barge sailing up the river from Kingeater. They're looking after me, at least they are now. And the other knight, Ushua of Holly, is locked in the brig."

"I mean, don't get me wrong, I still don't like the Dominion and am hoping to stop them from taking over the Kingdoms. Kind of like how I'm also trying to stop you from taking over the kingdoms. But not in the same way, because I don't like them. But I li- I mean ... I'm talking too much."

If her hands were free she'd have facepalmed.

"I have to warn you!" she says instead, covering her embarrassment with more words, with the same success as a drowning man trying to drink his way to safety. "There's a War-fate in play here."

"Mars himself has decreed - The conflict between the Dominion and the Kingdom. Between Ushua and Cathak Agata. It will cause you to die at the Stag-knight's hands." Kalaya continues, voice firming as she speaks. "Now I am [i]not[/i] going to let that happen. I mean to unpick this prophecy and spin it back on the General. It's what he deserves for threatening you."

Kalaya looks deep into that yellow veil, unsure if Vee can actually see her through this demon's eyes or if this is just some kind of messenger on her behalf.

In hindsight, the latter would be very disappointing for some reason.

"I don't know how fair this is to ask, but can you please, [i]please[/i], stay clear of this until it's done? There are too many threads of fate wrapped around this barge and I don't want to risk you. I don't want to lose you. Not now. Not [i]ever.[/i]"