Braving Fate (The Mythean Arcana 1)

“Then we need a plan. I’m a good fighter, thanks to my soul’s memories, but it’s no guarantee that I’ll win. So I need something clever to ensure my victory.”

And so she told him her plan, hoping he would agree.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Her last morning on earth was clear and bright. The crisp autumn air was cold on her throat. God, it was good to be alive.

Diana turned to look at the man she loved. They’d risen early, before dawn. The sun was beginning to peek over the tops of the buildings as they walked down one of the sets of narrow stone stairs that wound through the city, a few errant leaves scraped along the ground in front of them. Autumn was nearly past now, and winter was on its way. She tried not to think of what that meant for her. But all of these unknown people she was trying to save had better appreciate it.

They hadn’t far to go, only to the base of the small cliff upon which both Edinburgh Castle and Cadan’s flat sat. As they stepped off the last stair and into the Grassmarket, a small district at the bottom of the stairs, the sun crept over the buildings and cast its warm glow on their intricate, soot-stained facades.

Diana wished that it would warm her the way that it warmed the buildings, but she didn’t think it would be that simple.

She reached for Cadan’s hand as they walked along the street at the base of the cliff. They were to meet Esha and Warren at the entrance to the underground and these would be her last few moments alone with Cadan when they wouldn’t be fighting for their lives. Maybe they should just turn and run for it and hope for the best.

Instead, she took a bracing breath.

Too soon, they came upon Esha and Warren, who stood a few feet apart near a crevice in the cliff’s side. She squeezed Cadan’s hand, then let go.

I can do this.

“So, you’re ready?” Esha asked. Her long, graceful form was slouched casually against the rock wall, but her face and eyes were serious.

“I am.” Diana was grateful that her voice was stronger than her stomach, but it was little consolation. She hadn’t been able to keep down her coffee this morning; was, in fact, barely able to comprehend that it might have been her last cup.

She felt Cadan’s hand squeeze her shoulder as if to keep her from trembling.

“Good. Here—” Esha stepped forward with her hand outstretched. “These are invisibility charms.” She dropped a necklace into her hand and another into Cadan’s. Diana closed her fingers around it tightly. “As long as it’s around your neck, you’ll be invisible. The charm will wear off in a few hours, though. I’ve added a little extra something so that you’ll be able to see each other, as long as each of you is wearing yours. If only one is wearing it, you’re screwed.”

“Thanks. You made them?”

Esha nodded. “Took a couple tries, but since I can’t go with you I figured I’d try to use my magic this way. Send a little bit with you.”

“I appreciate it. I can use every bit of help I can get.”

“Then you’ll like this.” Esha pulled a pack off her back, unzipped it, and withdrew a large piece of stiff leather. “It’s an enchanted breastplate. It will help protect you from weapons and some magic.”

Diana’s throat tightened at the effort Esha was putting into keeping her alive. “You charmed this too?”

A rough chuckle escaped Esha. “No. The spell is better than anything I could manage. It’s Andrasta’s. She wanted you to have it for this, so she dropped it at my place last night. She said she hopes it helps.”

/> “It will.” Diana unfastened the buckles and shrugged into the ancient armor, turning around so that Esha could fasten it. “Thanks.”

“Not a problem,” Esha said.

“Is this the only entrance?” Diana nodded toward the crevice.

“No, but it’s the one closest to the portal that doesn’t go through any heavily trafficked sections of the underground. We don’t want to run into anyone, and since I can’t transport everyone at once, we’ll just walk.” Esha turned, and after shooting Warren a quick glance, headed toward the crevice.

Diana wanted to look up at Cadan, but couldn’t. She teetered on the edge of a breakdown, and even a little bit of sympathy would push her over. She couldn’t afford that. She had a plan. What she didn’t have was another option. Fate might say she was supposed to die, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Esha led them through the crevice in the wall. It expanded to let them enter and the air immediately took on the old, stale scent of abandonment. Esha handed out flashlights that she pulled from the bag thrown over her shoulder.

Diana flicked hers on to provide light for Cadan to hand out their weapons now that they were hidden within the underground. He unzipped the case he’d brought and handed her Boudica’s sword, then strapped a quiver of arrows and a small bow to his back. His sword came out last, though she knew he had a dagger in his boot as well.

“Ready?” Cadan asked.

She nodded and the four of them set off down the tunnel, crunching over rubble and animal bones.