Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 123: Return of the King (Part 1)

The Council had already taken action: General Gorgias led a thousand soldiers deployed along the coast, keeping constant watch for enemy ships on the sea. But Castron was after all a small city with few people, unable to fully monitor the coastline, and the cunning Castron sailors often slipped through from Daonian territory on either side of Castron’s lands, making them impossible to guard against. Today, Amycles and several other generals and Council members were still holding an emergency meeting, discussing how to completely resolve the attacks by the Syracusan navy.

“Let’s ask the Daonia Alliance for help!” a councilor shouted loudly.

“Ask for help?! The Daonia Alliance can barely protect itself now—have you forgotten? Earlier they even wanted to conscript sailors from us!” another councilor said discontentedly.

Just as everyone was debating endlessly but at a loss for what to do, a guard burst through the meeting hall doors in panic: “My lords, a passenger ship has arrived outside the harbor, claiming to be an envoy from Syracuse. They bring a letter from Dionysius, the plenipotentiary general of Syracuse, requesting a … friendly … friendly meeting with us.”

As an ally of Daonia, under the terms of the alliance treaty, Castron was not permitted to conduct foreign affairs with other city-states, especially during wartime, and absolutely forbidden to hold separate negotiations with an enemy state. But after the guard finished speaking, a strange silence fell over the meeting hall. No one angrily shouted, “Throw the Syracusans out!” Instead, each person looked at those around them with complex expressions.

After a moment of stillness, a councilor cautiously said, “I think … it wouldn’t hurt to meet them …”

A light chorus of coughs and swallowing sounded in the hall, but still no one spoke loudly. The chief general, Amycles, watched by everyone, had an uncertain expression on his face.

Just then, the hall doors burst open again.

A guard rushed in, shouting excitedly, “Magistrate Davos of Daonia has returned!”

…

On the morning of the first day of December, while Croton was still shrouded in drizzling rain and the Syracusans were fretting over their camp, the area of Thurii was bathed in bright sunshine. The people had shed their earlier gloom and gathered expectantly outside Thurii’s northern gate, the crowd stretching westward. Among this vast throng were senators like Kynogoratas and Cornelius.

It wasn’t because the weather was fine and everyone was in a good mood to gather outside the city; rather, it was because Davos—the magistrate of the Daonia Alliance, the military commander who had led them to repeated victories, the descendant of Hades favored by the Lord of the Underworld—was about to return. Everyone excitedly craned their necks in anticipation!

Just then, a scout cavalryman galloped in from the west, shouting loudly, “Lord Davos leads the First and Second Army Corps, about three more li from here—they’ll arrive soon!”

At these words, the Daonian people grew excited. Many could not help themselves and ran westward following the scout, hoping to catch an earlier glimpse of their returning magistrate and their loved ones.

When the sun in the east had freed itself from the sea’s allure and began to show its radiance, rumbling footsteps came from the west. The first thing that appeared in the people’s eyes was that crimson alliance banner—the only red banner in the alliance, bearing the striking emblem of “black hair entwining a Bident.” Then another military banner came into view, topped with a large golden statue of Hades, with prominent golden characters on the black banner: “Dai—F—Si.” One red, one black—the two banners gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.

The people began to seethe, and from the approaching force came the stirring strains of the “Victory March”…

Following the banner came three hundred guards of the magistrate’s escort, and then Magistrate Davos himself. When marching, Davos usually placed himself in the middle of the column to better monitor the entire force, but knowing in advance the actions of the Daonian people, he chose to lead at the front to ensure the army’s advance was not obstructed.

The crowd surged forward like a tide; the patrol soldiers could barely hold them back. The guard company immediately formed a barrier, shielding Davos within, while the people surrounded him, everyone raising their hands as if merely touching his body would give them comfort after their days of fear and worry.

“Lord Davos, you’re finally back—we’ve been waiting so anxiously for you!”

“Lord Davos, do you know? While you were away, the alliance’s situation was terrible!”

“Do you know?! We lost a battle against the Syracusans—several thousand were killed or wounded!”

“Lord Davos, damn Tarentum betrayed the alliance, attacked our allies, plundered our lands, and destroyed the fields of Amendolara!”

“Lord Davos, we treated the Bruttians so well, yet they betrayed us in our time of greatest hardship! Think of something, punish these rebellious Bruttians!”

“Lord Davos, I come from Crimissa. The foreign cavalry hired by Syracuse burned our villages to the ground and slaughtered the people who couldn’t flee into the city—they are beasts that devour men! When will you drive them away and bring peace and safety to Crimissa?”

“Lord Davos, I live on the south bank of the Crati River. These days, the Syracusan fleet often lands on the coast, raiding the villages. Our village is too close to the shore; it was pillaged by the Syracusans, and many of my neighbors died at the hands of the enemy… You must avenge us!”

Every cry was filled with genuine emotion, like joyful children welcoming the return of a loving mother; every plea was brimming with hope, like children in trouble seeking help from a strict father…

As Davos listened, his expression grew heavier, tears gradually glistening in his eyes. He said loudly with deep feeling, “People of Daonia, my brothers and sisters, follow me to the square! In the square, I will give you my answer!”

After hearing this, the people reminded each other to “stop the noise” and shouted in unison, “To the square!! Follow Lord Davos to the square!!!…”

Thousands upon thousands of people fell quiet, no longer blocking the road, and followed the army into the city…

This is our magistrate! Kynogoratas thought with a myriad of emotions as he watched. He knew that he and the other senators worked tirelessly for the alliance day in and day out, but when real trouble came, the people’s first thoughts and hopes still turned to this young magistrate! And Davos was the only one who could soothe and calm the unease and anger in everyone’s hearts—all the senators were overshadowed by his dazzling radiance alone! From this perspective, making him king seemed only natural…

Kynogoratas watched with mixed feelings as Davos approached.

“Lord Kynogoratas, Lord Cornelius… you’ve all worked hard during this time!” Davos said, sitting on his horse, sincerely saluting the senators in thanks.

“Magistrate, thank you for repelling the Samnites. We’ve all been looking forward to your return!” Kynogoratas and the other senators respectfully returned the salute.

Under such circumstances, it was inconvenient for either side to say more, so they all followed into the city together.

Although Davos had led the two army corps to a great victory, the alliance was still in a precarious state amid wartime, and the Senate had not held a triumph for them, nor had Davos requested one. But when they passed through the first Triumphal Arch, the soldiers raised their heads high and straightened their chests to the stirring music.

The people gradually noticed something unusual about the returning victorious army: in the middle of the column were more than a dozen pack carts, fully loaded with spears, javelins, shields, armor… their styles somewhat different from those of the Daonian army. Behind the pack carts, over a thousand naked men were being escorted by soldiers, trudging forward; their appearances also differed from the ethnic groups within the Daonia Alliance…

Only then did the people—who were anxious and worried about the current crisis, hoping this army could protect them—suddenly remember: Lord Davos’s army had defeated the fearsome and numerous Samnites in the north, even the Lucanians were afraid of them!

So the people’s anxious mood temporarily eased, and they began to cheer for the soldiers…

Davos rode on his horse, his mind racing… In fact, last night, as the army was emerging from the mountain pass, he had learned from the messenger sent by Aristilas everything that had happened in Daonia during his absence. His election as king by the people was something he had planned before leading the army away. The assassination attempt had made him realize that the lives of himself and his family were under serious threat; he had to provide stronger protection for his family—by distancing himself from the common people, deifying himself, and becoming a superior royal house…

But Davos hadn’t expected things to progress so smoothly and so quickly, and it was all thanks to his mortal enemy, Syracuse. Indeed, Davos had already taken Dionysius seriously, but he had still underestimated this Syracusan tyrant. He had orchestrated a vast plan, igniting warfires on Daonia’s borders, scattering the alliance’s still-substantial forces, while he himself led his army in a rapid, aggressive campaign, nearly driving Daonia to the brink.

To both secure his throne smoothly and save the people in crisis, Davos had to find a way quickly, break the precarious situation created by the Syracusans, and restore the people’s confidence!

Ahead lay Victory Square.

Davos gazed at the stone pillar in the center of the square, pointing straight to the sky. At its top stood the goddess of victory, holding a sword, her wings spread, her appearance solemn and majestic.

Davos looked at her, and his furrowed brow gradually relaxed…