Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 33: Clash at Sicinag

Avinogis affectionately patted his son on the head, a trace of reluctance in his eyes. After a moment, he expressed his gratitude to Davos.

Following this, their relationship visibly warmed, and the banquet grew livelier.

After downing several cups of wine in succession, Avinogis declared loudly, "Lord Davos, Laüs intends to follow the League and also adopt the system of a lifelong magistrate. What do you think?!"

The senators looked slightly surprised, but Davos remained calm and replied with a smile, "Our covenant clearly states that the League will not interfere in the internal affairs of any allied city-state. We only require allies to share military advances and retreats, maintain diplomatic consistency, and strengthen economic ties..."

Avinogis felt a surge of joy, but then he heard Davos say, "However—" and immediately tensed up again.

"I have a small suggestion for Laüs: I hope you can always ensure the stability of the city-state. Otherwise, if unrest breaks out and you cannot resolve it, we will have to send troops to help restore order in Laüs. Sending troops to war is both costly and laborious, don't you agree?" Davos said half-jokingly, half-seriously, and the senators echoed in agreement.

Avinogis immediately relaxed. In truth, he had no real desire to become a lifelong magistrate; the people of Laüs were not yet accustomed to Greek political systems. He simply wanted to be the Great Chief of Laüs. It was only to prevent the Daonia League from viewing Laüs as a native town that he had chosen the position of lifelong magistrate, believing it to be similar to that of a Great Chief. Now he said happily, "I feel greatly honored to become an ally of the Daonia League! I swear to Lord Davos and all the senators that I, Avinogis, will do my utmost to ensure the stability of Laüs and forever remain the best ally of the Daonia League!"

"Excellent!!!" Everyone praised in unison.

"To express my sincerest gratitude, I want to dance a dance for the esteemed Lord Davos and all the lords!" In the midst of the applause, Avinogis grew excited. He drained his cup of wine in one gulp, strode to the center of the hall, and, emboldened by the drink, began to shrug his shoulders and spin around, singing at the top of his voice:

"Lofty mountain peaks,

That is the dwelling of Acipirus.

Below the mountains we graze our cattle and sheep.

Beautiful maidens flash through the woods,

Like leaping fawns in their happy moods,

Drawing my gaze...

..."

Vespa and Bacule began to sing along loudly. Although Davos and the other senators could not understand the lyrics, they clapped along and softly hummed the tune...

Decades of Avinogis's endurance and caution were swept away by the bold song and vigorous dance, leaving only exhilaration in his heart. He felt indescribably joyful.

When he took his seat, the applause lasted for a long time.

Scombrus stood up, his face flushed, and belched as he said, "Uh... the guest from Laüs has performed a dance... uh... our League should respond. I will sing a hymn to Zeus for everyone..."

"Good! Good!!..."

...

Days earlier, Sicinag had been overjoyed. He had defeated Acipirus's son Lussau, occupied the city of Grumentum, and now possessed two major cities, making him a potential new overlord of Lucania.

But a series of subsequent events made him realize that replacing Acipirus was no easy task.

Because he was reluctant to distribute the majority of the spoils seized from Acipirus's tribe to the tribes that had betrayed Lussau, and even more unwilling to partition most of the land from Acipirus's tribe among the tribes of Grumentum—partly due to his stingy nature, partly because the tribes of Pyxous that followed him also needed rewards—he naturally distinguished between friend and foe.

His breach of promise naturally enraged the tribes of Grumentum. They united and occupied the northern part of the city, refusing to allow Sicinag's men to enter their controlled areas without permission, and even threatened to drive Sicinag out of Grumentum.

Sicinag was furious. Considering himself the master of both Pyxous and Grumentum, he would not allow anyone to undermine his authority. Under his orders, Pyxous warriors had engaged in several small skirmishes with the Grumentum tribes within the city. At the same time, he attempted another ruse, trying to buy off the united tribes opposing him, but he failed, as no Grumentum leader was willing to trust his promises again.

While Sicinag was racking his brains for ways to deal with these rebellious Grumentum tribes, even worse news arrived: Nerulum had been seized!

He immediately questioned the Lucanian shepherds who had fled to Grumentum. When he heard them unanimously say, "We saw countless Greek soldiers entering Nerulum," Sicinag was so terrified he could not recover for a long time. He could hardly believe the fact: Nerulum had been captured by Greeks!

How was this possible?! Since the Lucanians had migrated south from the central Apennine Peninsula over a hundred years ago, they had always occupied the lands of others, with no record of a major town being captured by another tribe! Skeptical, Sicinag sent spies to investigate.

Although the northern part of Nerulum was heavily guarded, the Lucanians were, after all, a people of herders and hunters. The spies infiltrated the hills within Nerulum's control and obtained accurate information from Nerulum herders grazing on the mountains: Nerulum was now ruled by the Daonia City-State League, which was governed by the Greek Davos, the very man who had defeated the Lucanian tribal coalition.

Upon hearing this, Sicinag felt as if struck by lightning, paralyzed with fear. His first thought was to flee back to Pyxous immediately, far from the Greek who had defeated the mighty Acipirus!

Then, he considered reaching a compromise with the Grumentum tribes to jointly face the possible Greek attack. But the weaker Grumentum tribes saw this as a golden opportunity to force Sicinag's concessions. They demanded that the Pyxous forces withdraw from Grumentum, among other terms—conditions Sicinag could not accept.

Facing both external threats and internal turmoil, Sicinag was unwilling to give up Grumentum, which he had obtained through immense effort and countless sacrifices. After days of anguish, he finally decided to risk possibly losing Pyxous: he would summon even more warriors from Pyxous to join him in Grumentum, first crush the hostile tribes, and fully control this central Lucanian city.

Just as he was about to dispatch a messenger to Pyxous with orders for Grenatus, who was guarding the city, a guard entered to report: a Lucanian claiming to be an envoy from Nerulum requested an audience with the Great Chief.

Sicinag was greatly startled. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to receive him.

When Hemon was led into Grumentum's chieftain's meeting hall, he kept looking around: at the entrance stood two rows of fierce warriors; Sicinag sat high at the front in the center of the hall, while on either side, three steps below, sat the leaders of the Pyxous tribes...

Hemon surveyed the imposing hall. There had long been rumors that Acipirus wanted to become king of the Lucanians. At least judging from this distinctive chieftain's meeting hall, he might indeed have harbored such intentions. What a pity...

Just as Hemon was lost in thought, Sicinag spoke from above: "I didn't expect the envoy from Nerulum to be you! I heard your city was taken by the Greeks. Is that true?"

Before being absorbed into Nerulum, Hemon's tribe had been influential in the "fertile land among the hills," so he was somewhat well-known in the Lucania region. He bowed respectfully and then said, "Respected Great Chief Sicinag, Nerulum now belongs to the Daonia City-State League, and Laüs, under Avinogis's leadership, has also become an allied state of the Daonia League—"

"What?! Laüs has also surrendered to the Greeks?!"

"I told you those Greek half-breeds could not be trusted!"

"What are we going to do now? Without Laüs to hold them back, the Greeks can attack us without concern!!"

Hemon's words struck like a thunderbolt, throwing the seated leaders into panic. Sicinag had originally enjoyed this elevated seat, which reflected the dignity of the Great Chief. Now he only regretted that the seat was too conspicuous, making it impossible to hide his terror. He gripped the armrests tightly, and seeing Hemon standing there with a smile, as if enjoying the show, his fear turned to anger: "Damned Nerulumites! You have forgotten the teachings of Acipirus and surrendered to our enemy! And you dare to show up here? Are you afraid my short sword is not sharp enough?!"

"You are mistaken, Great Chief. I did not surrender to the Greeks; I became a citizen of the Daonia League! I can still offer sacrifices to Acipirus, and as long as I have enough silver coins, I can build temples to Acipirus in Thurii, Amendolara, and other territories of the Daonia League without interference. The ram-fighting competition still takes place annually in Nerulum every autumn, and the Lucanian custom of bride-stealing has not changed either... The Lucanians of Nerulum and I have voluntarily become citizens of the Daonia League, but we are still Lucanians. Yet we have gained more freedom, more land and livestock, and pay only very low taxes!" Hemon proudly extolled the benefits of being a Daonia League citizen.

The leaders and warriors in the hall found it hard to believe: "The Greeks can treat us Lucanians so well?!"

"The magistrate of the Daonia League, Davos—the one who defeated Acipirus—once said, 'Daonia is not only a league of Greeks, but also a league of Lucanians!' If you don't believe me, ask Vespa, the chief of the Melinno tribe, and his son. They became Daonia League citizens early, and now both are senators in the Daonia Senate! The Daonia League also plans to continue with Hetushu—"