Belladonna by Anne Bishop Page B

had called it "warrior's eyes." She had never thought to see Yoshani's dark eyes look that way.
    "A summons that powerful may not come from the Light," Yoshani said.
    "I have to answer," Glorianna said. "If I don't, something precious will be lost. I know this, Yoshani. I can feel it."
    He nodded, but the wild look in his eyes didn't fade. "You will not go alone."
    "But —"
    "Both of us or neither. I will not compromise, Glorianna."
    There wasn't time to argue. Snatching the bracelet out of the stone bowl, she tried to ignore the grating dissonance, that conflict of resonances.
    Whatever wants me will also reject me.
    She closed her hand around the bracelet, then said to Yoshani, "Don't let go of my arm." When she felt his grip tighten, she thought, There will be bruises tomorrow. But she didn't tell him to ease his hold on her. She would rather have bruises than lose a friend while taking that step between here and there. Besides, she suspected that more than her arm would be bruised by the time she completed this journey. "When I tell you, take a step forward."
    She waited, waited, let the resonance build until the rhythm felt like a chant.
    "Now," Glorianna said, and felt Yoshani move with her as they took the step between here and there.

    *
"Heart's hope lies within belladonna."
    "Guardian of Light, hear our prayer." Most of the people ran, trying to escape the destruction that was coming, but some stayed. Maybe they realized they couldn't get far enough away to save themselves. Maybe they believed their voices would still be able to tip the scale and save the White Isle.
    Merrill glanced over her shoulder and shuddered as she saw the wall of black water coming toward them. Shaela, facing the sea and watching the wave come closer with every heartbeat, didn't falter.
    "Heart's hope lies within belladonna."
    "Lady of Light, hear —"
    The man and woman came out of nowhere, breaking into their circle. The woman stumbled against the pots, knocking over the belladonna before breaking through the other side of the circle. The sailors and dockworkers caught the two strangers and steadied them, but the damage was done. Whatever "magic" had been made by the chant and the circle had been destroyed.
    "You!" Merrill said, giving in to the slash of anger that wanted to drive the dagger of failure into someone else's heart.
    But the black-haired woman just stared at the wall of water coming toward the island, then turned her icy green eyes on Merrill.
    "What is this place?" she demanded.
    "Guardians and Guides," the man said as he looked at the black wave. "We can't stay here, Glorianna."
    "We can't leave yet," the woman, Glorianna, replied. Those eyes fixed on Shaela. "What is this place?"
    "The White Isle," Shaela replied.
    "An island? This is an island?"
    Shaela nodded.
    "Glorianna," the man said.
    The woman shook her head. As she held up her clenched hand, Merrill caught a glimpse of something silver.
    "This is a Place of Light, Yoshani," Glorianna said.
    "And that is a killer wave that will drown this island and everyone on it."
    Glorianna shook her head again. "No, that is the Eater of the World. I recognize the resonance of It."
    Merrill gasped. How did this woman know? How could she speak with such certainty? Like the man, her speech declared her a foreigner, someone who came from a country far beyond Elandar. But there was something familiar about her, something ...
    It's like being around Caitlin Marie. Only ... more so.
    A shiver went through Merrill as the woman stared at the sea, then turned and looked inland as if she could see beyond buildings and hills right to Lighthaven.
    "This place is mine and not mine," Glorianna said quietly, turning back to look at the sea. "Resonances are tangled up in a way I don't understand, but that other resonance isn't strong enough to keep me from holding on to this landscape — at least for a little while. I can try to save or I can try to destroy. If I try to destroy and fail, I will