Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 32: The Arrival of Avinogis

Next, Davos asked the question on every senator's mind: "Any movement from Grumentum to the north?"

"On the second day after we took Nerulum, scouts from Grumentum entered the 'fertile land between the mountains.' The soldiers of the Fourth Battalion spotted them, and they fled quickly," Sestas answered.

"They found out Nerulum had fallen that fast?" Davos asked, puzzled. The earlier battle report the Senate received stated that no one had escaped from Nerulum after its capture.

"Uh... well, it's like this..." Seeing Davos's expression turn grim, Sestas quickly explained, " Bacule and I later figured that some herders from the city were out in the hills when we attacked. After the city fell, they high-tailed it straight to Grumentum... Since then, Grumentum's scouts haven't shown up again. We sent Izam's squad to reconnoiter, and through information gathered from Lucanians who fled south from the north, we learned that after the Great Chief Sicinag of Pyxous took Grumentum, his relationship with the tribes that had originally betrayed Lussau soured badly. Those tribes refuse to obey Sicinag's orders because he didn't deliver on his earlier promises. Now both sides control half the city each, watchful and wary. Probably because of that, Grumentum hasn't made a move against our occupation of Nerulum."

The improved situation in the north did nothing to lift Davos's mood. On the contrary, his expression turned severe. "Why wasn't any of this reported to the Senate beforehand?! The Senate won't interfere in your administration of Nerulum, but we govern the entire League. Every accurate piece of intelligence and news determines the Senate's next strategy—whether to fight or make peace with Grumentum, whether to mobilize the whole League for war... What, do you think Nerulum alone can withstand an attack from the Lucanian army?!"

Davos's blunt criticism left Sestas unable to raise his head, while Asiastes felt even more guilty. Originally, he had planned to report to Davos, but Sestas had said, 'Let's wait until we have a clearer picture. Running to the Senate for every little thing makes us look incompetent.' In youthful pride, he had agreed. By the time they had sorted out the full story, word came that Davos and the others were on their way, so they shelved it temporarily. They never expected Davos to blow up like this.

"Chief Sestas, you previously violated the Senate's orders by arbitrarily killing prisoners! It was only because the Magistrate spoke on your behalf that the Senate didn't press the matter seriously! Now you take it upon yourself to withhold information, disregarding the Senate entirely—do you think that just because your term is two years, the Senate won't impeach you?!" Scombrus criticized loudly.

One senator after another voiced their displeasure with Sestas's actions.

Sestas's face flushed crimson, but he wisely remained silent, not defending himself.

Davos certainly wouldn't let the Chief Magistrate of Nerulum and his assistant, both his own recommendations, continue to take heat. So he stepped in to mediate: "You've still achieved notable results! But I hope you'll learn from this lesson and stay in constant contact with the Senate, so we can keep abreast of the situation in Lucania..." As he said this, Davos decided internally: once he got back, he would increase investment in the private intelligence network he personally oversaw and urge Aristelas to expand his information-gathering range.

"Is there anything else you forgot to report?" Davos added as a final reminder.

"Honored sirs!" Asiastes, face red, gathered his courage and said, "The day before yesterday, a Lucanian family came to lodge a complaint. They said their daughter married a Greek man. After he obtained preparatory citizen status and rented the land allotted to him, he started treating her badly—beating and cursing her every day, and even talking about divorce. Our investigation confirmed most of the facts. We warned the Greek that if he dared to divorce, we would revoke his citizenship and expel him from the League! But I fear this may not be an isolated case, and I hope the Senate will take note!"

"You handled it correctly! But I think such shameless fellows deserve a caning as a warning!" Scombrus said angrily. Though he had little fondness for Lucanians, he disliked citizens who exploited legal loopholes with petty cleverness even more.

"It seems we need to investigate the living conditions of those freemen who married Thurii women. And we should revise the marriage laws we enacted, adding extra requirements—for instance, no divorce within five or eight years, otherwise..." Davos said thoughtfully.

His words drew approval from the senators, who launched into a discussion on amending the marriage laws.

That evening, after everyone had left, Asiastes stayed behind and sincerely admitted his mistake to Davos. Davos didn't criticize him but praised him for exceeding expectations in Nerulum and encouraged him to continue playing a greater role there, while standing firm in his own views and not being swayed by others...

...

The next morning, the senators of Theonia did not see their hopes disappointed. Avinogis of Laüs drove large herds of cattle and sheep, while Hetushu carried loads of animal hides, jewelry (mainly amber, traded from Massilia), and ten talents of silver—Laüs's gift of thanks to Theonia for its aid. At this, the Theonian senators had no more complaints. They immediately held a simple but grand banquet in Avinogis's honor.

The banquet was held at the Chief Magistrate's residence in Nerulum. Davos and the senators present, including Sestas and Bacule, all attended. On the Laüs side, only Avinogis and his seventeen-year-old son Henipolis were present. The father and son were seated to Davos's left, slightly lower down.

Avinogis was in his forties, stocky in build, more Lucanian in appearance than Greek, with a simple, honest look. Though he wore a Greek chiton, his movements seemed somewhat stiff—he clearly rarely wore one before. His son, in contrast, was delicate and refined, with robes that fluttered, carrying the air of a young Greek nobleman.

Though Davos was quite young, Avinogis treated him with great respect. When following Davos into the hall, he always stayed half a step behind and used honorifics when speaking. Henipolis, however, as soon as he sat down, asked directly, "I heard that Greeks recline while eating at banquets. Why is this different?"

Avinogis shot him a warning look, but Scombrus across the table laughed and said, "Young man, you seem quite familiar with Greek customs."

"Of course—I am Greek!" Henipolis replied bluntly. Perhaps because of his impertinence, Avinogis gently tapped him.

"Our League's hospital has determined that lying down while eating hinders digestion and tends to make one fat (in truth, Davos had instructed Helpus to conduct this research, which was then publicized among patients). Eating while seated allows food to reach the stomach smoothly and is healthier. For an old man like me, that's important, so of course we choose the correct way to dine," Scombrus said cheerfully. By Greek tradition, elderly men were always tolerant of handsome, underage boys.

"Even in remote Laüs, people often praise the medical skill of the Theonian League's doctors, so what they say must be very correct!" Avinogis had just finished speaking when Henipolis interjected curiously, "I heard your league's doctors were taught by the Lord of the Underworld—is that true?!"

"I'm not too sure about that." Davos smiled evasively. "If you have the chance, you can go to Thurii yourself and ask Helpus, the director of the Thurii hospital."

To everyone's surprise, Henipolis nodded vigorously and agreed, "Mm, I'll be going to Thurii soon. I'll ask that... uh... Helpus you mentioned."

The guests exchanged glances at this.

Then Avinogis said, "Chief Davos, I have a request!"

"Please, speak."

"I would like my son to go live with the League."

This statement startled everyone again.

"Chief Avinogis!" Davos thought the Laüs leader might be worried that Theonia would abandon them after crossing the river. So he said earnestly, "The alliance between the League and Laüs is a sacred covenant made before the gods and inscribed in writing! Unless Laüs breaches the agreement, the Theonian League will never violate its oath under any circumstances—you can rest assured!"

"Everyone in Magna Graecia knows of your steadfastness in keeping promises, Chief Davos. Of course I trust that! I'm not saying this out of worry about the alliance, but rather..." Avinogis smiled bitterly. "Alas... my son has been frail and sickly since childhood. Earlier this year, a high fever nearly sent him to meet the Lord of the Underworld... to Hades... I've heard of the League's excellent medicine, and my son has long yearned for Greek culture. So by making this request, I'm really just adding trouble to the League. But as a father, I hope the League will grant it!"

Avinogis spoke so sincerely that Davos, after exchanging glances with the senators, made his decision. "In that case, on behalf of the League, I welcome Henipolis to stay long-term in Thurii! He will receive the utmost care in both medical treatment and education, so that he can live healthily and happily in the League, and return to Laüs in the future to inherit your legacy, Chief Avinogis—since he is your only son!"

The moment Davos finished, Henipolis cheered, "Great! I get to go to Thurii! ..."