Belladonna by Anne Bishop Page A

act prematurely and ruin the chance of this "magic" succeeding? If she chose wrong, their failure would be her fault. How —
    Her mind ceased its frightened chatter when she looked into Shaela's eyes — the one clouded and blind, while the other saw the world a bit too sharply.
    Believe.
    It was as if the word had been breathed on the air between them.
    Shifting the pot of heart's hope, Merrill said quietly, "You take up the chant from the dream. I will lead the refrain."
    Shaela shook her head. "As leader ..."
    "I can't believe, Shaela, Not strongly enough. Now that it comes down to it, I can't do what you can. But I can take up the refrain." She hesitated, then added, "We won't get a second chance."
    Shaela looked toward the sea. "I know."
    A crowd formed around them as sailors, merchants, and dockworkers were drawn toward their little gathering and word began to spread that the Sisters of Light were going to do a special circle of protection right there at the wharves.
    "Ladies?" The captain of their ship, as well as several of his crew, eased through the crowd. "Is there something we can do to help?"
    Before Merrill could refuse, Shaela spoke up. "Take up any part of the chant your heart can believe in without question. The more voices that are raised for this ceremony, the better our chances of having our prayers heard."
    They took their positions, Merrill and Shaela facing each other while the other three Sisters filled in the circle, the heart's hope and belladonna at its center. Around them, the people formed another circle.
    If this doesn't work ... Merrill closed her eyes for a moment, trying to banish doubt, then focused on Shaela.
    "Heart's hope lies within belladonna," Shaela said, raising her voice enough to be heard by the first few people around the circle.
    "Guardian of Light, hear our prayer," Merrill answered as the refrain.
    "Heart's hope lies within belladonna." This time, two of their Sisters took up the chant with Shaela.
    "Lady of Light, hear our prayer." The other Sister's voice joined Merrill's.
    "Heart's hope lies within belladonna.''
    "Guardian of Light, hear our prayer."
    "Heart's hope lies within belladonna." Male voices joined the chant, a little hesitant but there.
    "Lady of Light, hear our prayer." More voices.
    Merrill felt the Light fill the circle, felt it spill over the crowd, felt it grow stronger with each voice that took up the chant. And for the first time since they had sensed the stain of evil that had followed them from Raven's Hill, she truly believed they would succeed.
    Looking at her friend, Merrill added her voice when Shaela said, "Heart's hope lies within belladonna."
    It gathered speed as It moved toward the island.
    Something had changed. The fear was fading, and It felt the world becoming fluid as Ephemera prepared to manifest the need that was now held in many hearts.
    No! It had not found the other Places of Light, so it would not be deprived of this one.
    It fed Its rage to the Dark currents in the sea. Then It became the sea — and rose up as a deadly wave that moved toward the island with the speed of a wild storm.

    *
    The calling was filled with a desperation that felt like a lash against her skin. The resonance of that landscape grated against her senses.
    But she had to answer. Had to.
    "Glorianna!"
    A hand grabbing her arm, holding her back. "Something calls to me, Yoshani," she said, trying to pull free. "I am an ill-fitting piece being wedged into a place I don't quite belong, but I'm all there is." She stared at the bowl-shaped stone and the silver cuff bracelet beneath the water, feeling the need that rang in the hearts connected to those objects. Feeling a rhythm in the air.
    "This is not a place you know, isn't that true? If you go there, can you get back? Glorianna!"
    Yoshani shook her, and that startled her enough to focus on him. And seeing the look in his eyes startled her enough to hesitate. When she had seen that expression in other men's eyes, she