Athelycus raised his head and gazed at Davos after pondering for some time. He then said, “I promise that I will hand over the control of Rhegium’s fleet under the command of your Theonia Union and will fully support Theonia’s proposal at the South Italia Alliance conference. Of course, you have to understand that this is not because you are my son-in-law, but because Rhegium always wished to inflict harm to Syracuse!”
After seeing off Athelycus, Davos invited Theonia’s old friend, Siprus, who is now the elected polemarchos of Terina.
Siprus readily accepted when Davos asked him for his support. Besides Terina being close to Theonia Union and having close business contacts with the nearby city of Clampetia and the Bruttian region, Terina also needed them for its protection, “Lord Davos, in fact, there is no need for you to ask Terina’s support in advance as your proposal will be easily get supported by the city-states of South Italia Alliance due to Crotone, Scylletium, Caulonia and our Terina have been a mortal enemy with Locri and its allies for decades. Over the years, they have become the biggest problem that plagued our city-states, so this time, if we could get rid of them in one fell swoop, it would make us thrilled. So why would we object?”
Sure enough, it is just like what Siprus has said. They held the emergency conference of the South Italia Alliance in the guesthouse next to the Grand Senate Hall that was used to receive the envoys and important persons from other city-states. In the conference, the other city-states unanimously agreed that: In the event of a war between Theonia and Locri, the South Italia Alliance would join together to form a large army to crush them, and at the same time, they would all get ready for a war with Syracuse.
It was already late at night when the meeting ended. After seeing off Davos, the strategoi were about to head back to the guesthouse when Lysias shouted, “Look at the sky!”
They saw bright silver lines are drawn in the southwest night sky, which was unusually dazzling in the dark sky.
Strategos Phrytinas of Scylletium widened his eyes as he looked at it carefully and said disapprovingly, “Such sight happens many times a year. It’s nothing special.”
“But those happened in July and August while we rarely see such sight in September.” Said Lysias.
“It’s truly rare during this season.” Said strategos Phlarinus of Caulonia with a serious expression.
“This is a good omen!” Siprus shouted excitedly, “Perseus is the hero who killed the vicious and sinister Medusa. And now that we have finally made up our minds to declare war on the dictatorial and oppressive Dionysius, we shall eliminate this tyrant who has threatened the safety of the Greek city-states in Magna Graecia and the people for more than a decade. Isn’t this what the hero Perseus wants!?”
“Siprus is right. As long as our, the South Italia Alliance, unite, our actual strength will exceed Syracuse. And just like Perseus killing Medusa, we can beat Syracuse and restore the independence and freedom of the Greek city-state of Sicily!” Athelycus encouraged.
Some of the other city-state strategoi were pondering, and some couldn’t help but nod as if that would relieve them of the tension of a possible war with Locri and subsequently Syracuse…
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
When Davos got home, he was already exhausted, but after hearing that Aristias had come, he roused himself up and met him in the study.
“Milord, we have found out that the man who reserved the room for Megaris was a merchant from Locri who often comes to Thurii to buy wine, which is why the owner and the waiter of the inn are familiar with him. Unfortunately, he already left Thurii nine days ago and returned to Locri.” Aristias reported.
“Locrian merchant eh…we really didn’t wrongly accuse someone.” Davos sneered. In fact, if one thought about it, it is understandable to suspect Locri. After all, since the Pollux case, the Thurians and even the entire Theonian population had become wary of the Syracuse who entered their territory. On the contrary, their attitude towards Locri, Syracuse’s ally, remained well.
“Any progress regarding the investigation of that woman?” Davos once more asked.
“Yes. After our investigation, we found out that she is a concubine of a Krimisian nobleman who had been sentenced during the Pollux case a while ago. She came to Thurii together with several family members of those sentenced in the previous case. Currently, lord Matonis sent his men to find and arrest them.”
‘Krimisians again!’ Davos felt that he should write a letter to Protesilaus, the Praetor of Krimisa, asking him to strengthen the management and reformation of the original residents of Krimisa.
Davos was also thinking about proposing to the Senate to add a patrol department to lead and coordinate the patrols in the cities, increasing the preservation of order in the cities and the capture of offenders… In other words, improve the status of the patrol and make it official, instead of always letting the soldiers move.
As he thought about it, again and again, Davos unknowingly came to Cheiristoya’s room. After noticing it, he hurriedly gestured to Azune, who was in the outer room and was about to withdraw.
Suddenly, Cheiristoya’s voice came from the inner room, “Davos?”
“Why are you still up so late? It’s bad for your health and the baby.” Davos said in a low voice.
“Such an event happened today, and you expect me to sleep while you still haven’t come back?!” Cheiristoya’s delicate tone showed deep concern, “I want you to sleep with me tonight.”
“Alright! Okay!…” Davos went inside and sat down by the bed, “See, I am fine.”
Azune quickly lit the candle while hurriedly boiled some water to wash Davos’ face and feet.
Cheiristoya’s carefully moved her round belly, leaned against Davos and put her hands around him, “Agnes and I…were terrified after hearing that assassins attacked you! Thank Hades!”
“Yes, and also thanks to Martius! He is still lying in the hospital and unconscious!” Davos sighed and said with hatred, “That’s why we have decided in the Senate to take revenge on Locri and Syracuse!”
“That means…war is about to break out again, and it is even with Syracuse…” Hearing this, Cheiristoya’s delicate body shuddered as she said with some worry, with her arms hugging Davos more tightly.
Davos gently stroked her back and comforted her, “You still don’t know me yet?! When have I ever lost when it comes to war?!… Still, I am afraid that I won’t be by your side when you give birth.”
The loss on Cheiristoya’s face flashed away. Instead, she softly comforted Davos, “You don’t have to worry, Azune and Agnes are here to take care of me, and even your students (referring to Herpus and the other physicians) are regularly coming to see me. So just like last time, I’ll have a smooth delivery. Rather, you must protect yourself, in case you…you leave me, Agnes, little Cro, Cynthia, Adoris, the child in our belly, and all those who love and rely on you.” At this point, her voice choked a bit.
Davos could only put his arms around her and whispered to reassure her by saying, “Don’t worry, with Hades’ blessing, I will not be in danger! And this time, the Senate dispatch a hundred more guards for my safety, and they will be even more strict. It’s just that this will make it impossible for our family to go to Thurii’s market in the future. Do you remember back…”
Cheiristoya’s snored softly. At some point, she fell asleep, so Davos could only lay her down flat and covered her gently with the blanket. He gazed at her slightly frowning pretty fact as a sudden idea surface at the bottom of his heart…
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The following day was the day when the Theonian Rugby Finals began. Even with yesterday’s event, Thurii did not let it from stopping the event to take place and held it on time as usual with crowds filling the arena early.
When the noise began to fill the huge arena, the crowd saw the archon they were worried about appeared in the distinguished guest seat, waving around with a smile on his face.
The crowd then gave out deafening cheers shaking the whole arena.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
While the Theonians in Thurii cheered at the opening of the Rugby Final, the Senate’s envoy – Praxileos, reached Locri by ship.
At present, Praxileos is now an intermediate judge of Theonia. He had just stepped down from his post in Amendolara and was waiting for a new appointment in Thurii. And since he is as eloquent as Aristocrates but is much smoother and savvier than him, the Senate appointed him as an envoy to Locri. After all, he became an official of Thurii much longer than Aristocrates.
Praxileos was thrilled to obey, not that he was unaware of the dangers of the trip, but it was an excellent opportunity to showcase his talent and attract the attention of the statesmen, especially the archon – Davos. With the intermediate judge being the highest position that a Union citizen, who is not a statesman, like him can hold, as statesmen are the only ones that can become a senior judge while archon Davos concurrently hold the highest level. So next, he will either continue serving as an intermediate judge in other cities or transfer to different positions, where he needs to complete five years of service before he can enter the ranks of an elected statesman of the Senate. Thus he must increase his chances of becoming a statesman by performing excellently.
Locri is located near the “toe” in South Italia, next to Rhegium. However, even though it did not occupy fertile and flat plains like Sybaris and Crotone, nor have an excellent geographical position like Rhegium, it instead took advantage of its relatively favourable position near the main trade route of the Strait of Messina by establishing two colonial cities, Medma and Hipponion, on the western coast of South Italia, which happened to be on the trade route leading to the most prosperous trade route to the Tyrrhenian Sea region – Central Italia. By opening up an ancient path that linked the east and west coasts, Locri was able to establish itself as a famous coastal city in the western Mediterranean and thus became a power in Magna Graecia.
