Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 32: A War of Words

At these words, several of those present changed expression. In public, praising a magistrate of another city-state as more capable than one's own tyrant—only Philostratus in Syracuse would dare do such a thing.

"A pity I've heard that Daonia's Davos comes from humble origins, once a shepherd (referring to Davos herding sheep and horses in Thessaly before becoming a mercenary)," Masias said, preempting the others.

Henipolis could no longer hold back and retorted: "Was Lord Dionysius himself born noble?! I've heard that before he became plenipotentiary general, he was merely an ordinary secretary in Syracuse. Lord Davos once told me, 'True heroes care nothing for birth, for they rely on their own ability, not the gifts of their family.'"

"Well said! That's precisely what I admire most about Lord Dionysius!" Philistos exclaimed loudly, to cover up Masias's blunder. "All of you here have also attained your present honorable positions through your own efforts."

"Right! Right!..." Masias quickly chimed in, to hide his embarrassment.

"Gentlemen—" Philistos hurriedly stood, wine cup in hand, and looked around as he spoke loudly: "In recent days, I've been busy accompanying Lord Dionysius in negotiations with the Carthaginians, leaving me no time at all. That has led me to neglect our distinguished guests from Daonia! Here, with my friends as company, I'll drink a toast as self-punishment to express my apologies!"

"Good!" Herollis raised his cup. Leptines, Masias, and Philostratus also raised theirs.

Antistanos did not rise to dissuade them, for he knew that Philistos was speaking on behalf of Dionysius, and the wine naturally contained Dionysius's apology as well.

After Philistos and the others drained their wine cups, Antistanos stood up with Henipolis, raised his cup, and said: "I am deeply grateful for Lord Philistos's gracious invitation, and I also congratulate Lord Dionysius, who, with the assistance of all you gentlemen, has repeatedly defeated the mighty Carthaginians. This is a great victory for Syracuse and the most exciting news ever heard by all the people of Magna Graecia! For the greatest enemy of the Greek city-states in the western Mediterranean, Carthage, has suffered a heavy blow, and the people of Sicily and Magna Graecia will long enjoy peace!" With that, the two of them also drained their cups.

"Well said!" Philistos raised his cup once more and shouted: "To Lord Dionysius! Hail, Syracuse!"

While the others raised their cups in congratulations, Antistanos across the table noticed that Herollis's expression was not as earnest and enthusiastic as those beside him. Moreover, Philostratus did not simply follow suit but called out: "To the peace of Sicily!"

Then Philistos made a gesture, and musicians and dancing girls entered the hall. The banquet officially began.

Amid melodious tunes and graceful, swaying dance movements, the guests exchanged toasts and feasted heartily...

When the music stopped and the dancing girls withdrew, Henipolis, under the sweet murmurs of a beautiful slave girl, found his stomach nearly full without realizing it. He saw Masias across the table already kissing and fondling his slave girl, utterly indecent; Leptines was also flirting with his; only Herollis was still eating slowly and elegantly; Philostratus had even dismissed the slave girls on either side of him. Henipolis turned his head to look at his teacher Antistanos beside him, who had eaten very little and sat with a constant smile, watching the performance... Henipolis suddenly felt ashamed of his own lack of self-control.

Just then, Philistos, seated in the place of honor, coughed twice to draw everyone's attention to him, then said: "Lord Antistanos, since the establishment of the Daonia Alliance, there has been virtually no formal diplomatic contact between our two sides. This time, has Daonia sent you as an envoy to Syracuse for the sake of friendship?"

Here it comes! Antistanos had been gathering his strength for a long time, waiting for this moment. He immediately smiled and said: "It is certainly for friendship. Syracuse is a great state of Sicily, and Daonia is likewise a powerful alliance in Magna Graecia. Previously, one side was busy dealing with Carthage, the other fully occupied in driving back the mountain natives. For various reasons, the two great Greek powers, so close in distance, failed to establish friendly ties and communication, leading to regrettable incidents—" Antistanos deliberately paused.

None of the Syracusans spoke, but Philostratus asked curiously: "What regrettable incidents?"

Antistanos seized the opening: "Several senators of the Daonia Senate, convicted of corruption and bribery by the people, were found to have large quantities of 'four-drachma coins' from Syracuse in their residences when evidence of their crimes was being gathered, along with some letters. These letters—" Antistanos looked at Philistos.

Philistos wore a look of earnest listening.

"The main content involved exchanges with the convicted Daonia senator Polyxides on how 'to disrupt the order of the Daonia Alliance, incite popular unrest, and oust the magistrate Davos from power'—things of that sort. These letters were signed—'Philistos.'" Antistanos looked again at the banquet host. "The letters also mentioned that 'he was acting on the orders of Lord Dionysius.' Polyxides himself admitted that 'it was with Syracuse's support that he dared to carry out these treacherous acts against the alliance.'"

"Is that so?!" Philistos looked utterly shocked. "I have never written to anyone named Pol... Polyxides. This is truly... Lord Antistanos, have you brought the letters you speak of?"

"I have." Prepared, Antistanos took one letter from the satchel he carried and handed it to the slave girl beside him.

Philistos eagerly took the letter, unfolded it, and read it. Then he broke into a relieved smile: "Lord Antistanos, if every letter in your possession has the same handwriting and signature, I can tell you with certainty—these letters were not written by me!"

"Oh?!" Antistanos put on an expression of surprise.

"Go to my study and bring me several letters bearing my signature," Philistos immediately ordered his personal slave.

"Let me see that letter," said Herollis beside him. Philistos handed it over.

While the slave went to fetch the letters and the banquet fell into a brief silence, Herollis held the letter and said: "...Hmm, Lord Antistanos, hearing this news from you just now, I am deeply shocked. But I would like to try, as an impartial observer, to offer my own judgment. Philistos is a literary man who values his pride and aloofness; he would not stoop to such base deeds that only vile men would commit, nor would he possibly correspond with that greedy, filthy Daonia senator you mentioned, Pol... Pol..."

"Polyxides," Leptines reminded him from the side.

"Yes, Polyxides. Philistos could not have exchanged letters with him. And as for Lord Dionysius, the plenipotentiary general, he would be quite pleased to see a magistrate of similar standing in Daonia, making him feel less alone in this vast western Mediterranean. Why would he ever do anything to undermine Lord Davos's rule?"

"Yes, my brother would never do such a thing!" Leptines emphasized loudly.

"I wonder if it might be like this—" Philistos pondered for a moment, then analyzed seriously: "Lord Dionysius single-handedly forged today's powerful Syracuse, uniting the Greek city-states of Sicily, but this has also earned him the hatred of many. I think you all know that a few years ago, when the Carthaginian army was at the gates of Syracuse, some people within the city incited a popular uprising, trying to oust Lord Dionysius. Though the situation was eventually calmed, rumors have persisted in Syracuse over the years, and even minor riots and assassinations have been unending. Otherwise, the plenipotentiary general would not live on this island, under such heavy defenses.

These people are like venomous snakes, hiding in their caves, ignoring the peace and stability of Sicily, seizing any possible opportunity to attack Lord Dionysius and his supporters like us. The Carthaginians are defeated, but in Magna Graecia there is a Daonia Alliance of comparable strength to Syracuse. If war were to break out between Syracuse and Daonia, they might once again have a chance to emerge from the shadows and create turmoil in Syracuse to achieve their aims..."

"You mean this was done by Lord Dionysius's opponents, who then framed you, Lord Philistos?" Antistanos asked with a faint, ironic smile.

"Very possible," Philistos replied earnestly.

"Then there is also a Syracusan citizen named Hermes whom we captured in Thurii. He has fully confessed that he was sent by Lord Dionysius to Thurii to bribe Polyxides and others to carry out sabotage activities against Daonia. How do you explain that?" Antistanos's lips curled with slight mockery.

"Hermes?" Philistos was perplexed. He asked the others: "Do we have such a citizen in Syracuse?"

Henipolis could not help but speak up loudly again: "Stop pretending. We have investigated thoroughly. Hermes is a Syracusan citizen, living in the merchant quarter near the Temple of Apollo in the city center. He has two sons, and he is also the secretary of this Lord Herollis. Am I wrong?"

"Is this true?!" Philistos was greatly startled. Herollis looked even more surprised. He turned to look at Philistos, and after their eyes met, he said hesitantly: "...I did indeed have a secretary named Hermes under me, but... a year ago, I was sent as an envoy to Cyrenaica. When I returned, I heard that he had been punished for corruption and lost his position... If the man captured in Thurii is the same person, I really had no idea he went to Thurii. If you don't believe me, you can check the court records. His criminal record from half a year ago..."

"This could be trouble!" Philistos suddenly exclaimed, his expression turning extremely serious.

"What's the matter?" Leptines asked, puzzled.

"If the Hermes Lord Antistanos spoke of is the same as Lord Herollis's former secretary, it means those opponents may have begun to infiltrate and become public officials of Syracuse!" Philistos said gravely.