Thirteen hours. Thirteen marks around the circle's edge, evenly spaced. Thirteen quills in a cloak of steel feathers. Thirteen bells. Thirteen chances to back out, none taken. The door clicked shut firmly behind me, and given the ripples that spread from it wards engaged well enough to hold anything that happened here in check. As I didn't know what they wanted, I brought nothing but myself and them. Lady'd hinted the bells were like the runes-more than items and spirits, and sentient in their own right. Thirteen people formed a ring, standing evenly spaced around me. I had settled on one knee. Which put me below most of them, which was just fine. "Hello witch. (Ringer, singer, maker, releaser, destroyer.)" I heard each of the words in turn, all at once, from the highest voice. "Hello." My replying set off a crazy clamoring of discussion. I closed my eyes and listened. As suddenly as it started, it stopped.