The Tyrant's Tomb

If the soundless god was part of the Triumvirate’s scheme for control,
why would Tarquin have access to him? What had Tarquin meant by
“doubling the flock” to guard the god’s location? And what he’d said about
the Sibyl—I hope the Sibyl lasts long enough to see you humbled. That may
be what finally breaks her. Had he just been messing with my mind? If the
Sibyl of Cumae was truly still alive, a captive of Tarquin, I was obligated to
help her.
Help her, the cynical part of my mind responded. Like you helped her
before?
“Wherever the soundless god is,” I said, “he’ll be heavily protected,
especially now. Tarquin must know we’ll try to locate the hiding place.”
“And we have to do so on April eighth,” said Reyna. “The day of
greatest need.”
Frank grunted. “Good thing we don’t have anything else scheduled that
day. Like getting invaded on two fronts, for instance.”
“My gods, Meg,” Reyna said, “you’re going to make yourself sick. I’ll
never get all the sugar out of Aurum and Argentum’s gear works.”
“Fine.” Meg put the jelly bean jar back on the table, but not before
grabbing one last fistful for herself and her canine accomplices. “So we have
to wait until the day after tomorrow? What’ll we do until then?”
“Oh, we’ve got plenty to do,” Frank promised. “Planning. Constructing
defenses. War games all day tomorrow. We have to run the legion through
every possible scenario. Besides…”
His voice faltered, as if he’d realized he was about to say something
aloud that was best left in his head. His hand drifted toward the pouch where
he held his firewood.
I wondered if he’d taken any additional notes from Ella and Tyson—
perhaps more harpy ramblings about bridges, fires, and something,
something, something. If so, Frank apparently didn’t want to share.
“Besides,” he started over, “you guys should rest up for the quest. You’ll
have to leave for Sutro early on Lester’s birthday.”
“Can we please not call it that?” I pleaded.
“Also, who is ‘you guys’?” Reyna asked. “We may need another senate
vote to decide who goes on the quest.”
“Nah,” Frank said. “I mean, we can check with the senators, but this is
clearly an extension of the original mission, right? Besides, when we’re at
war, you and I have full executive power.”