"Now we begin the chant," Sarah said.  Teri nodded.  She had studied the Chant of Gating extensively, so she and Sarah sang with one voice, a haunting, melodious yet somehow dark intonation.  Actually, the two as a duet could probably have made a living as bards--their voices were good...<br/><br/>By the third stanza, Sarah could feel the magical energies building.  Teri could as well.  The hair on the back of her neck was standing up.  The sensations were like that feeling of being watched, only fivefold.  Sarah lit the censer that culminated the spell.  Energy now arcked around the platform, flickering off the walls balefully.<br/><br/>And in his prison, Balthagar felt it!  The wards around him were still intact, but within his cell, a portal had opened.  He could see Sarah and Teri through it, as if through smoky glass.  But the image brightened.  And in his cell, a whiff of free air blew.