The Tyrant's Tomb

There was applause, some nods, and a few cheers of “Yes!” and
“Another day!” One guy in the back, who must not have been paying
attention for the last week said, “Tarquin?”
“Second,” Frank said, “I want to reassure you that I’m alive and well.”
He patted his chest as if to prove it. “My fate is no longer tied to a piece of
wood, which is nice. And if you would all please forget that you saw me in
my underwear, I’d appreciate it.”
That got some laughs. Who knew Frank could be funny on purpose?
“Now…” His expression turned serious. “It’s our duty to inform you of
some personnel changes. Reyna?”
He watched her quizzically, as if wondering whether she would really go
through with it.
“Thank you, Frank.” She pulled herself to her feet. Again, everyone in
the assembly who could stand did.
“Guys. Please.” She gestured for us to be seated. “This is hard enough.”
When we were all settled, she scanned the faces in the crowd: a lot of
anxious, sad expressions. I suspected many people knew what was coming.
“I’ve been praetor a long time,” Reyna said. “It’s been an honor to serve
the legion. We’ve been through some rough times together. Some…
interesting years.”
A bit of nervous laughter. Interesting was the perfect curse word.
“But it’s time for me to step down,” she continued. “So I am resigning
my post as praetor.”
A moan of disbelief filled the chamber, as if homework had just been
assigned on a Friday afternoon.
“It’s for personal reasons,” Reyna said. “Like, my sanity, for instance. I
need time just to be Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, to find out who I am
outside the legion. It may take a few years, or decades, or centuries. And
so…” She removed her praetor’s cloak and badge and handed them to Frank.
“Thalia?” she called.
Thalia Grace made her way down the central aisle. She winked at me as
she passed.
She stood before Reyna and said, “Repeat after me: I pledge myself to
the goddess Diana. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal
maidenhood, and join the hunt.”
Reyna repeated the words. Nothing magical happened that I could see:
no thunder or lightning, no silver glitter falling from the ceiling. But Reyna