And unbidden, the words came to his lips—words he had never heard or spoken before, a low-voiced counterpoint to Charissa’s spell that made the air crackle with power around him in response, that seared a line of crimson fire behind him—a line that bent itself to the semicircle shape required and joined the two arcs together in a complete circle, half of red and half of blue.

Kelson bit back a smile as he lowered his arms, feeling the power surge through him, becoming aware of myriads of spells now at his beck and call, controlling more power than he had dared hope for. All around him, outside the circle, he heard the low sigh of relief as his people realized he did, indeed, have the Haldane power.

And that was not all. For deep in the recesses of his mind came the feather-brush awareness of two others now with him, in a way he had never experienced before—unmistakably, Morgan and Duncan. A swift impression of their congratulation, their confidence, rippled across his mind and washed into the innermost corners, then was gone.

He allowed himself a slight, sardonic smile as Charissa raised an eyebrow in surprise at his response to her spell. But then he forced himself to concentrate on what must now follow as his opponent stretched out her arms and began another incantation. This one was in a tongue he understood, and he listened carefully, mentally pulling forth the response he must make when she finished.

Charissa’s voice was low but clear in the stillness of the cathedral.

By Earth and Water, Fire and Air,
I conjure powers to flee this Ring.
I clear it now. Let all beware.
Through here shall pass no living thing.

As Charissa completed the verse, Nigel tugged hard on Duncan’s sleeve. “Duncan! Does he know what she’s doing? If he completes that spell, if he merges the two arcs . . .”

“I know,” Duncan whispered grimly. “If he does, the circle cannot be broken until one of them is dead. That’s the way the ancient challenge runs.”

“But—”

“It’s partly for the safety of the onlookers,” Morgan added weakly. “Without the containing circle, the spells sometimes tend to get out of hand. The two of them will be dealing with fantastic amounts of power today, from many sources. I can guarantee that you won’t like some of what you see.”

“At least we know that Kelson has Brion’s powers,” Duncan added, as he watched Kelson spread his arms as Charissa had done. “Kelson was never taught these things.”

Kelson’s voice was low, steady, as he answered Charissa’s spell.

Inside, all Space and Time suspend.
From here may nothing outward flee
Or inward come. The circle ends
When two are one and one is free.