The Tyrant's Tomb

knelt at my other side, her eyeglasses glinting. I desperately wished I had a
permanent marker to black out her rhinestones.
She seemed to be counting enemies, calculating how fast she could take
them all down. I had great faith in Meg’s sword skills, at least when she
wasn’t exhausted from bending eucalyptus trees, but I also knew these
enemies were too many, too powerful.
I touched her knee for attention. I shook my head and tapped my ear,
reminding her that we were here to spy, not to fight.
She stuck out her tongue.
We were simpatico like that.
Below, Tarquin grumbled something about not being able to find good
help. “Anyone seen Caelius? Where is he? CAELIUS!”
A moment later, a eurynomos shuffled in from a side tunnel. He knelt
before the king and screamed, “EAT FLESH! SOOOON!”
Tarquin hissed. “Caelius, we’ve discussed this. Keep your wits!”
Caelius slapped himself in the face. “Yes, my king.” His voice now had a
measured British accent. “Terribly sorry. The fleet is on schedule. It should
arrive in three days, just in time for the blood moon’s rising.”
“Very well. And our own troops?”
“EAT FLESH!” Caelius slapped himself again. “Apologies, sire. Yes,
everything is ready. The Romans suspect nothing. As they turn outward to
face the emperors, we will strike!”
“Good. It is imperative we take the city first. When the emperors arrive, I
want to be already in control! They can burn the rest of the Bay Area if they
wish, but the city is mine.”
Meg clenched her fists until they turned the color of the bone
latticework. After our experiences with the heat-distressed dryads of
Southern California, she had gotten a little touchy whenever evil
megalomaniacs threatened to torch the environment.
I gave her my most serious Stay cool glare, but she wouldn’t look at me.
Down below, Tarquin was saying, “And the silent one?”
“He is well-guarded, sire,” Caelius promised.
“Hmm,” Tarquin mused. “Double the flock, nevertheless. We must be
sure.”
“But, my king, surely the Romans cannot know about Sutro—”
“Silence!” Tarquin ordered.