The Sentinels and never mind how high the cost may grow

he watched as she lay the stones, warily, and saw the flicker of energy in her gaze as the child turned to meet his eyes with her own. "yes, i do," he murmured, stepping to inspect her work, turning a pebble here and there until it sat corrected. the middlestone he let be, for this was her work -- this was her source of power for the lesson. 

"do you?" he inquired, even as he bowed low before the circle and began to call the elements so marked by the little stones. "element of earth, we call to thee -- attend and remember. element of water, we call to thee -- attend and remember. element of air, we call to thee -- attend and remember. element of fire, we call to thee -- attend and remember."

here he paused; he looked to deirdre. "what is the last element we must call, do you think?"