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I sighed

Hecate watched me in amusement "My dear, it is no tiun"

I stared at her "Coed her shoulders and replaced the book on the shelf Turning back around, she spoke again

"Do you still have the Map of Souls?"

I nodded "In , Harmonia The Moirae would like it back and that wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interest"

I considered that, but before I could say anything, Cadhts exactly

"Hoe know that we can trust you, witch?"

She aimed a hard stare at him "You don’t But you know that you can’t trust the Moirae, now don’t you?"

She had a point

I dug throughit to her

"I was told to guard this with my life So you should do the saestured toward her ot experience," she said wryly I smiled for the first time since we had arrived The witch had a sense of huo," she continued "Free your father and find your mother I have seen that you will have obstacles Keep your head clear and you will outsreatness comes from unexpected places"

I nodded It sounded so easy when she put it that way Just keep my head clear and all would work out Really? I knew better Nothing was that easy

We turned and filed out of the cave, Cadht on my heels and the A the horses toward thefronificent city was deserted Even the falcons stationed at the gates of the city were gone It was eerie and unsettling Not a glih alking through a ghost town Weto the palace

I glanced at Cadmus and Ortrera

"Where is everyone?" I asked uneasily

Cadazed around us "I have no idea"

A lone raven sat on the abandoned porch of a cru stone hoone?"

It siht

"Where has everyone gone?" I repeated, louder this tiue had been cut out Just like Annen I gasped Why would they bother with a bird?

The warriors slapped the ru above us in a perfectly for pattern I knew they would return the moment that the Amazons’ called for them

As we cli I noticed was the horrible saze flew around the room to find the source of the foul odor Sulfurous and acidic, the horrid s there Every breath I took tasted of it

"Dragon," Cadmus murmured to us and his quiet voice see

I looked at hion?" I repeated nervously He nodded

"No doubt about it This is their scent"

I sighed "They need to shower"

He laughed and I marveled at his ability to find humor even as we faced such a dire circu loose here for Pete’s sake

We treaded carefully through the abandoned halls, carefully scanning every corridor before we entered it There was still no on Normally, I would be relieved But I knew that it was here somewhere and I would rather face it now then continually wonder when it would appear

Crossing a great room, I pulled Achilles’ Shield out froe It was very strange that the Moirae didn’t take it or at the very least hide it better It would benefit theulped as I realized that they didn’t think it would go that far They thought this would be an easy victory for thelanced at the others

"Stay clear of Atropos," I warned "She can suck your life away if you get too close"

They nodded as we crept forward