Let me go.
Sheol, still crouched in the snow, one claw-like hand about Faraday's ankle, cocked her head as if deep in thought.
Her features flowed into her female form, back again into Timozel's lost face, and then finally settled back into that of the Sheol-face she normally wore.
"A choice?" she whispered. "A choice? I can truly leave Qeteb and join the forces of light and goodness?"
Before Faraday could answer, Sheol burst into sarcastic laughter, and her hand tightened painfully about Faraday's flesh.
"Stupid woman! I choose Qeteb! I choose never-ending demony! I choose vileness and evil and despair! But wait! There's more! In choosing, I offer you a choice of my own. Look!"
And Sheol's free hand gestured into the snow to Faraday's right.
Faraday looked, and cried out, both hands to her face in horror. "No!"
"Yes," Sheol whispered. "Yes, indeed. Your power tells you the truth of this vision, doesn't it?"
And the very worst thing was that Faraday's power did tell her the truth of this vision.
The Dark Tower.
And inside the mausoleum, the black marbled and columned interior of the Dark Tower.
Worse, there was yet more.
Katie, sobbing and terrified, dangling between the grasp of Mot and Barzula.
Katie! Katie! Katie!
"This is the choice, Faraday," Sheol whispered. "Qeteb will destroy one of you in his battle against DragonStar. He already has Katie, but he is willing to swap Katie for you. Give yourself to Qeteb, Faraday. Fulfil Prophecy — again — and Katie will go free."
Faraday was overcome with horror. What had happened? How had Qeteb managed to seize Katie. Why hadn't Azhure looked after her properly?
She began to weep, great, soul-tearing sobs that came from the very core of her bearing. "Oh, Katie!" she whispered. "Katie! I cannot let this happen to you!"
There was no choice, and Faraday knew it.
"Take me," she said. "Take me."
Sheol broke into triumphant laughter, and rose from Faraday's feet, seizing Faraday's shoulders in a grip so painful that Faraday cried out and almost lost consciousness.
"You stupidest of bitches!" Sheol said. "I've won, and that means DragonStar has lost! "
"I'm sorry," Faraday whispered into the swirling snowstorm, knowing no apology could ever be enough. "I'm sorry."
Three to two. The balance was in Qeteb's camp. DragonStar had failed.
Qeteb turned to DragonStar. He spoke, but with the mind voice only.
The preliminaries are over, Enemy. Now it is just you and me.
DragonStar, impassive even in utter defeat, nodded. Just you and me.
Qeteb smiled. The choices are made, the outcome assured.
DragonStar bowed his head. Aye. I accept it.
Then let the Hunt begin!
And Qeteb vanished, and as he vanished, the billions of creatures in and about the Maze let loose an almighty roar as if with one voice.
Let the Hunt begin!
Leagh clutched her Child to her breast, her eyes round and fearful. "We've lost!"
Ur stared into the distance, seeing something that no-one else could. "Perhaps."
Chapter 65
Abandoned
Sheol threw Faraday down on the mausoleum floor before Mot and Barzula. Mot laughed, the sound violent and horrifying, and Faraday only barely managed to find the courage to raise her head.
Katie still struggled in their grip, her eyes round and terrified, her face so white Faraday wondered that she had not already fainted.
"Let Katie go," she said. "Let her go. I have offered myself to take her place."
"Let her go? Let her go?" Sheol giggled from behind Faraday. "Why?"
