Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 117: Thunderous Measures

At the start of the war, Castron had taken the initiative to offer troops for battle, but the Daonian Senate politely declined, because Daonia’s military strength was more than sufficient—Castron had too few soldiers, and they would only hamper the unified command. So Daonia accepted only Castron's warships and grain supplies. Now, with Daonia’s forces stretched thin, they had no choice but to turn to Castron for help. A mosquito’s leg may be small, but it’s still meat.

“If the Syracusans don’t launch a full-scale landing to attack us, our forces in Thurii will be enough,” Capus reassured them. “There are still five hundred cavalry inside Thurii. Seclian’s naval fleet can’t set sail for now, so we can pull some sailors to serve as light infantry. Of course, it would be even better if we could get some heavy infantry from Castron to strengthen the army!...”

Kynogoratas stepped forward and solemnly bowed to Capus. With a deep voice, he said, “Lord Capus, I entrust the safety of Thurii to you.”

The moment Kynogoratas finished speaking, Cornelius and the other senators also bowed to Capus. It was the first time these traditional city-state senators had ever shown such profound respect to a man of mercenary origins like Capus, and it immediately weighed on him. He returned a sharp military salute, then strode out of the assembly hall.

The worried senators exchanged glances, and finally all eyes settled on the empty seat in the front row at the center of the hall. Not long ago, they had still been conflicted over Davos becoming king, but now that feeling had vanished without a trace. Only one thought remained: Davos, when will you return to save Daonia?!

...

Leptines, the Syracusan naval commander, had no plan for a large-scale landing on the Thurii coast or an assault on Thurii itself. He knew full well that Thurii was no Trina—it had plenty of manpower. With his simple armed sailors, he could never take such a large, high-walled, well-defended city. Nor did he intend to send warships into the Crati River, because the Syracusans did not hold either bank of the Crati, and Thurii had a river chain. If his ships were blocked and trapped in the river, they would be easy targets for fire arrows and reduced to ashes...

Leptines certainly didn’t want to put his warships and his experienced crews in such a dangerous position. He only sent a handful of sailors to raid the outskirts of Thurii, hoping to force the Daonian fleet hiding in the Crati River to come out and fight.

Compared to Leptines’ caution, the Syracusan mercenary cavalry acted with reckless arrogance and no restraint. Although Crimissa, pressured by the enemy army, had called its people to take shelter inside the city, a few who failed to get inside in time were slaughtered by the foreign cavalry. The Celts, in particular, paraded past Crimissa with Daonian heads—including those of women and children—impaled on their spears. The soldiers of the Sixth Army Corps manning the walls burned with fury, but they were bound by orders and could not strike back...

Protesilaos, the Chief Magistrate of Crimissa, paced restlessly in City Hall. When he saw Olivus, the legion commander of the Sixth Army Corps, walk in, he rushed to meet him. “Lord Olivus, you’re finally back!”

Olivus, who had just finished inspecting the harbor defenses, saw Protesilaos’ anxious face and deliberately put on a relaxed smile. “Did the enemy attack us?” That was impossible—he had just finished his rounds.

“How can you joke at a time like this!” Protesilaos pressed.

“What’s happened?!” Olivus dropped his smile and asked seriously.

“The families of those people you arrested are causing trouble at City Hall again. This time they’ve gathered over a hundred, and they’re threatening that if we don’t release their relatives, they’ll set up tents in front of City Hall and stay there indefinitely!” Protesilaos said with worry. If this disturbance continued, his authority as Chief Magistrate would be ruined, and he’d become a laughingstock in the entire Senate.

“They wouldn’t dare!” Olivus sneered. He remembered that when he first led the Sixth Army Corps to Crimissa, he’d been blocked at the city gates by a group of protesters. He had them arrested on charges of attacking the army and plotting rebellion, and only then were his troops allowed inside.

Over the past few days, he had been busy organizing the city’s defenses, but rumors had started circulating: “With so many soldiers from the Sixth Army Corps stationed inside the city, they’ll only consume our limited grain and water supplies. When the Syracusans lay siege, the Crimissans will be the first to starve...”

“The Syracusans are burning our fields and slaughtering our relatives outside the city. The Sixth Army Corps should go out and drive them away, protect our kin and property, instead of hiding cowardly inside the city like rats...”

Olivus ignored these rumors and continued with his defensive preparations. When he heard that the families of the detainees had gathered at City Hall today, he remained calm. After entering the city, the intelligence department under Aristilas had secretly contacted him through their people stationed in Crimissa. That was how he learned that Syracusan spies had been frequently coming and going, colluding with some Crimissan citizens, which had caused the chaos in the city.

Now he spoke firmly: “Chief Magistrate Protesilaos, the woman who attempted to assassinate Lord Davos came from Crimissa. Out of kindness and for the sake of alliance stability, Lord Davos did not pursue the matter further. But today it’s clear that Crimissa has serious problems. Even under military administration, the city has remained chaotic these past days. I suspect Syracusan spies are instigating this unrest. If we don’t take harsh measures, and the enemy attacks in full force while we defend the walls but riots break out inside, this city will be in grave danger!”

Protesilaos’ face changed. “What do you propose?”

“Root them out. Those who collude with the enemy or incite rebellion will be publicly tried and executed!” Olivus’ face was murderous, his hand like a blade cutting downward.

Protesilaos was startled and hesitated. “Isn’t that too harsh? They are all alliance citizens!”

Olivus shot him a glance, feeling a hint of contempt. This young senator from Amendolara had always supported Davos in the Senate and made his voice heard. But now, faced with real responsibility, he was indecisive and wavering. When Scombrus had served as Chief Magistrate of Crimissa, the political situation had been stable. But under Protesilaos, not only had there been an assassination attempt, the situation had nearly spiraled out of control...

“Chief Magistrate Protesilaos, you have served as a judge, so you must know the Daonian Military Code: ‘Those who desert in battle or rebel are to be beheaded.’ The Daonian Law also states: ‘The maximum penalty for treason is death.’ We are at war. These citizens who conspire with our enemies, seeking to sabotage our defense of Crimissa or even betray the alliance—should they not be executed?!” Olivus thundered.

Protesilaos thought for a moment, then reluctantly said, “Fine, I agree to your proposal. But I hope you can present solid evidence to the people before executing them.”

That’s simple enough, Olivus thought. He agreed immediately and left City Hall. Soon after, he brought in intelligence personnel and, with their identification, led soldiers to search the homes of over a dozen suspicious citizens—all former Crimissa citizens. They uncovered large amounts of four-drachma coins, letters, and even captured two Syracusan spies hiding inside.

Protesilaos had nothing more to say.

Olivus stood in the square before the entire city, displaying the evidence of treason from those dozen citizens. He executed them on the spot and arrested the families who had caused the disturbance. The chaos in Crimissa drastically improved, and the citizens began to throw themselves into the city’s defenses under Olivus’ direction...

Ribazo, the slave steward of Davos’ household, usually walked through the front courtyard with a deliberate, unhurried pace to distinguish himself from the common slaves in both bearing and status. But today his legs spun like wheels; in the blink of an eye he darted from the main gate across the front yard to the back courtyard gate.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!...” He hammered on the door, barely containing his excitement.

The door flew open. Asuna, who had been watering the flowers, stood there holding a two-handled amphora full of water in one hand and the door with the other. She was already in a bad mood, and upon seeing Ribazo, her brows knitted in anger. “Uncle Ribazo, aren’t you supposed to be the steward? Don’t you know the mistress needs quiet after giving birth? That knocking was so loud even the whole hill could hear it! If you wake little Eunice and she starts crying, and the mistress blames you, what will you do then?!”

“Sorry, Asuna. I was just too excited! It’s because... Lord Davos... our master is about to become king!” Ribazo said, trembling with emotion.

“Really?!” Asuna gasped, covering her face with both hands. The amphora slipped from her grip, shattered on the ground, but she didn’t even notice.

“The senators announced it in the square in front of over a thousand citizens. How could it be false?” Ribazo had barely finished when Asuna squealed and jumped about, joyfully like a madwoman, and dashed toward the back rooms.

“Young people are so unstable,” Ribazo muttered, bending down to pick up the broken pieces of the amphora. “What a shame—a fine Athenian pottery jar.”

Asuna pushed open the bedroom door and heard Agnes’ voice: “Asuna, Eunice is still asleep. You’re being too loud!” Agnes was usually gentle, so speaking in that tone meant she was truly angry.