That afternoon in the Senate, Davos’s proposal to re-establish contact and improve diplomatic relations with Thurii was, as expected, met with fierce opposition from the old citizen senators, led by Stromboli.

Davos, however, did not immediately call for a vote. Instead, he spoke with a grave and earnest tone. “My lords, I implore you to consider this proposal once more, with calm and sober minds. Do not allow hatred to blind you to wisdom! You are the elite of this city-state. It is your duty to create a better life for all our people, to point the way toward our city’s prosperity. Will good relations with Thurii not improve our security? Will they not improve our trade? Will they not be advantageous in our war against the Lucanians? The benefits and drawbacks are laid bare before you. If you are truly thinking of the good of our city, of the future of our children and grandchildren, then I am confident you will make the right choice. Remember this: individuals may have their feuds, but between city-states, there are only permanent interests.”

Davos’s words clearly had an effect on Cornelius and the others. Most of them bowed their heads in contemplation and fell silent.

It was Scombras who rose to his feet, his voice trembling with anger. “Are we simply to forget everything Thurii has done to us and greet them with smiling faces? Davos, you are not one of us! You have not tasted the bitter agony of losing your wife and children! It is easy for you to stand here and speak of good relations with Thurii!”

“I spoke of improving relations, not of forgetting our hatred,” Davos countered. “There is a saying in the East: ‘For a gentleman, ten years is not too late for revenge.’ We will use Thurii to build our own strength. And one day, when we are powerful enough, we will make the people of Thurii drink the bitter fruit that has been steeped in our hatred.”

“And who knows how long that will be…” Scombras muttered, though the anger on his face had subsided somewhat.

In the final vote, Stromboli was the sole dissenter. Scombras and Raphias abstained. The rest of the senators voted in favor, and Davos’s proposal was passed.

Davos acted at once. He had Axistes send a man to the port of Thurii with a message for Burkos: Amendolara was willing to renew its old friendship.

The generals of Thurii, who had been at a loss as to how to break the diplomatic stalemate, were overjoyed. To show their sincerity, they dispatched a high-level delegation led by three of their generals: Kunogelata, Neanthis, and Anxitanos.

In the interest of diplomatic parity, Amendolara sent its own delegation, led by the Archon Davos, the City Administrator Cornelius, the Censor Antonios, the Commissioner of Commerce Marigi, and the senator Stromboli, who had vehemently insisted on attending. They also made one special request: the delegation from Thurii was not to cross the River Saraceno; the talks would be held on its southern bank.

The envoys from Thurii had just departed their city when the message arrived. It was like a slap in the face, instantly dampening their joyful mood. With no other choice, they agreed.

***

The two parties met that morning on the banks of the Saraceno.

With the exception of Kunogelata, it was the first time the other men from Thurii had seen Davos in person. As the hero who had annihilated the Lucanian confederacy, the great savior of Thurii, and now the Archon for Life of Amendolara, no one dared to underestimate him, despite his youth. On the contrary, their respect was tinged with a palpable sense of fear.

For Kunogelata, the feeling was even more profound. At their first meeting, he had treated Davos as an elder would a junior, clapping him on the shoulder and offering words of encouragement. Davos had seemed mild-mannered then, almost shy. Kunogelata had not given him a second thought, and had even privately doubted the exaggerated tales of the Ten Thousand. Now, Davos was just as mild-mannered and friendly as before, but Kunogelata felt a tremor of fear in his heart. How could a young man who had, with a wave of his hand, wiped out nearly ten thousand Lucanians, and who had then convinced the people of Amendolara to make him their absolute ruler, maintain such a humble demeanor? Was that not, in itself, terrifying?

Anxitanos, for his part, was not thinking so deeply. He only hoped that after the talks were concluded, he could ask Davos to recount his adventures in Persia.

Under a large awning of bull hide erected by the soldiers, the principal representatives of both sides sat facing each other.

“Before we begin, permit me to say a few words,” Kunogelata said, rising to his feet. His voice was thick with emotion. “This Lucanian invasion has brought a terrible disaster upon both Thurii and Amendolara. Your city was occupied, your people taken captive, and most of them died under cruel abuse. As for Thurii, we lost nearly thirteen thousand citizens in this war. There is not a single family in our city that is not in mourning. Every day, the entire city of Thurii is shrouded in the sound of weeping. On behalf of the generals and the council of Thurii, I would like to express our deepest condolences for the dead of both our cities.” As he spoke, a tear traced a path down his cheek. The other envoys from Thurii bowed their heads, their faces masks of sorrow.

Davos, caught off guard by this display, was momentarily stunned. He hesitated, wondering if he should also feign a look of grief, when a sneer came from behind him.

“If it weren’t for your city’s arrogant and unreasonable demands, would our people have suffered such a fate? Stop the play-acting and get to the point!”

Stromboli’s outburst shattered the tragic atmosphere Kunogelata had so carefully crafted, leaving the men from Thurii looking awkward and embarrassed. Kunogelata, however, acted as if he had heard nothing. He continued to look at Davos. “Thankfully, Lord Davos, you led your heroic mercenaries to repel the mighty Lucanians, saving both Thurii and Amendolara! You are a hero in the eyes of the people of Thurii! We have been protested against and criticized by the citizens for failing to invite you to our victory celebration so that you could receive their heartfelt gratitude.” At this, Neanthis and Anxitanos both nodded in solemn agreement.

“I hope that after our talks, we might invite you to visit Thurii,” Kunogelata said, his expression earnest. “It is the wish of our entire city.”

Faced with such a fervent invitation, Davos found it difficult to refuse immediately. Fortunately, another sneer came from behind him. “Lord Davos is now the Archon for Life of Amendolara. A visit to another city-state is no longer a private matter for him alone. It must be deliberated and decided upon by the Senate.”

“Very well,” Kunogelata said, his face a picture of disappointment. “We shall await the decision of the Senate of Amendolara. I only fear the people of Thurii will blame us once again.” He then continued, “Both Thurii and Amendolara are now actively engaged in post-war reconstruction. If there is anything Amendolara needs, Thurii is willing to provide its full assistance.”

Before he had even finished, Stromboli was on his feet again. “Amendolara does not need any help from Thurii!” he roared. “Because if we accept it, the next time we will be forced to pay an even greater price!”

Kunogelata’s expression did not change. He did not even glance at Stromboli. His eyes were fixed on Davos. “Who, precisely, is in charge in Amendolara?”

Davos smiled faintly. “Let us begin the talks.”

At his words, every member of the Amendolaran delegation immediately sat up straight. Kunogelata saw this and felt a chill run down his spine.

Anxitanos spoke first. “Gentlemen, as we all know, Thurii and Amendolara have been allies for forty-one years. Our last treaty has not yet expired. It is only natural that we should continue our alliance.”

Stromboli started to speak again, but Cornelius grabbed his arm and shot him a stern, warning look. Fuming, Stromboli spat violently on the ground.

“Amendolara agrees to renew the alliance with Thurii,” Antonios began, and the faces of the Thurians lit up. “On one condition: that it does not compromise the interests of Tarentum. That is to say, if a war should break out between Tarentum and Thurii, Amendolara will side with Tarentum.”

The statement caused an uproar among the Thurian delegation.

“You have betrayed the oaths you swore to the gods!” Neanthis leaped to his feet, his voice shaking with rage. “Our treaty with Amendolara has not been terminated! Your secret dealings and your new treaty with Tarentum are already a violation of our alliance! Out of respect for our long years of friendship, we had decided not to raise the issue at this meeting. But you have mistaken our forbearance for weakness and now you make such a shameless demand!”

“And I would ask that Thurii also remember this,” Davos’s voice was as sharp and cold as a dagger. “When Thurii betrayed its own oath and failed to send aid to a fallen Amendolara, the city of our ancestors died on the day it was occupied by the Lucanians! The men you see before you are the people of a reborn Amendolara. If we ever owed a debt to Thurii, I believe our people have paid it in full during their half-year of captivity! But the debt Thurii owes to Amendolara… has that been paid? In our darkest hour, it was Tarentum that gave us its greatest assistance! Therefore, we can only repay them with our greatest sincerity! And what did Thurii give Amendolara? Nothing but a lost city and a captive people!”

Davos’s words struck Neanthis dumb.

“I said it from the start!” Stromboli roared. “We should not ally with these selfish Thurians! They care for nothing but themselves! If you had not insisted, Davos, I would not even be at this meeting with these bastards! They are not satisfied? Good, I am delighted! They wish to teach us a lesson? Even better! The spears of the citizens of Amendolara are ready!”