Thyloss stood stunned. Anything? His head spun.
‘But speak now — my generous mood may pass.’
He remembered the horrifying vision that had brought him back to Ma-ii.
‘I want...’ His voice caught in his throat and he almost lost courage to continue, but he knew what he had to say. ‘I want the end of the exclusive power of the Lord of the Bulls, and the return of the Lady of the Lilies!’
Her face became distorted with dark rage.
‘No!’ she screamed. ‘No!’
Suddenly the dread priestesses of the Bull Cult were around him as he had seen them in his vision. They circled him, their eyes like black fire.
He turned and ran, breaking out of the circle before the full power of their presence had closed it to him.
As he fled through the palace passages... it seemed to him he heard the thunder of
