“No way, Captain! You’re just using this as an excuse for payback!” Xenothemis cried out in mock despair.

Olivas just chuckled. “Alright, let’s move out, brothers. Back to patrolling the city. We’ve still got to go teach a lesson to those freemen who’ve been brawling over women.”

“Yes, Captain!” the soldiers replied, their cheerful laughter echoing as they marched back toward the bustling heart of Thurii.

***

Inside the great tent, a long wooden table dominated the space. Several men were seated on the far side. In the center was a young man, whom Lysias immediately identified as Davos, the famously young Archon of Amendolara. Beside him sat a man with a thick, heavy beard, whom Lysias recognized as Kunogelata, the former strategos protos of Thurii. The other man at the table did not appear to be Greek.

Kunogelata, recognizing Lysias as well, leaned over to whisper an introduction in Davos’s ear. As he listened, Davos studied the Crotoniate envoy. The man before him was middle-aged, with a slender build, handsome features, and a meticulously trimmed beard that gave him a refined, scholarly air. But according to Kunogelata, Lysias was the leader of Croton’s conservative faction, a man who had been elected as a strategos for ten consecutive years despite the waning influence of his political party. He was not a man to be trifled with.

“I am Lysias,” the envoy announced, stepping forward. “I have come on behalf of Croton to negotiate with the Thurii… the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance.”

“Welcome, Strategos Lysias.” Davos extended a hand, gesturing for him to take a seat opposite them. He then fixed Lysias with a calm, steady gaze. “We are exceedingly busy at present, between the reconstruction of Thurii and receiving envoys from numerous city-states. Time is of the essence. Please, state your purpose for coming here directly.”

Lysias was taken aback by Davos’s bluntness. He cleared his throat a few times, masking his surprise, before speaking in a deliberate, resonant tone. “Very well. I will state Croton’s terms directly. We ask that the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance release all prisoners from Croton and its allied states. In return, Croton will agree to an armistice, so that peace may be restored!”

“Hahaha…” Davos threw his head back and laughed, his voice dripping with scorn. “The people of Croton slaughtered our citizens, destroyed our city, and plundered our resources, and now you think a simple ‘agreement to an armistice’ can wipe the slate clean? You expect us to unconditionally release the very perpetrators of this disaster? I cannot decide if the Crotoniates are hopelessly naive, or simply shameless beyond measure!”

Lysias’s face hardened. “Lord Davos, do not forget that it was not Croton that initiated this war.”

“Enough,” Davos said, waving a dismissive hand. “I have no interest in debating who was right or wrong. You may leave.”

Lysias was stunned. The negotiation was over after only a few sentences. Davos’s refusal to adhere to the established protocols of diplomacy ignited his own temper. “Archon, do you not fear another war with Croton? We can raise an army of twenty or thirty thousand men at a moment’s notice, and I assure you, we will not make the same mistakes again!”

At this threat, Davos’s eyebrows shot up. His voice became as hard and sharp as forged steel. “When it comes to war, I fear nothing! And our Alliance will certainly not repeat the mistakes that Thurii made! We will begin by slaughtering every last one of your prisoners, offering their blood to the gods. Then, we will defend our walls with all our might, and for every step your Crotoniate soldiers take, they will pay with their lives. The people of our Alliance do not fear death, and we will never surrender! When the young men fall, the old will take their place! When the old fall, the women will take up arms! If Thurii is lost, we will retreat to Amendolara! If Amendolara falls, we will go to Herakleia! So long as a single enemy treads upon our land, we will fight them to the bitter end!”

Davos’s words were a torrent of fiery resolve. Kunogelata, who had grown to despise war, found his own blood stirring. “That is right!” he blurted out. “That is the code of the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance in the face of aggression!”

Lysias was shaken by their fighting spirit. He could clearly sense that this new Alliance possessed none of Thurii’s former weakness; they were, if anything, belligerent. An open war with them was not a viable option.

He was about to speak, to try and soften the charged atmosphere, when Davos’s voice boomed again. “Kunogelata! Go and call back the envoy from Locri who just left. We need to reconsider the terms of the alliance he proposed!”

The envoy from Locri! Lysias’s heart leaped into his throat. He suddenly remembered—the familiar face he had seen leaving the tent was Metrophanes of Locri! He had visited Croton twice for negotiations. How could he have failed to recognize him?

“Archon, state your terms,” Lysias said, finally conceding the first move.

Davos raised a hand, stopping Kunogelata, who had just risen to his feet. “Wait.”

Marigi, who had been silent until now, sat up straight and announced the Alliance’s demands in a clear, formal voice. “First, as Croton was responsible for the burning of Thurii, which left its citizens homeless, Croton must pay the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance two thousand talents in compensation for their losses and for the city’s reconstruction. Second, Croton may ransom its soldiers. The price for each prisoner is five hundred drachmae. Furthermore, as the perpetrators of this crime, these captured soldiers must serve one year of hard labor in Thurii to atone for their sins. Third, Croton must permit Crimisa and Castellum to enter into an alliance with the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance. Fourth, the peace treaty between the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance and Croton shall last for a term of five years, during which neither side shall commit any act of aggression against the other.”

After listening to the full list, Lysias shook his head repeatedly. “Your terms are far too high. Croton cannot possibly accept.”

And so began a grueling tug-of-war of a negotiation. Davos entrusted the arduous task to Marigi and excused himself, heading to another tent nearby.

There, he met with Amyclas, who had come from the city of Castellum. As the strategos protos of his city, Amyclas’s personal presence in Thurii was a clear statement of intent. The moment he saw Davos, he began to shower him with flattery. “I have long heard that the Archon of Amendolara is a hero blessed by the King of the Underworld. Seeing you today, I can tell you are truly unlike ordinary men!”

Davos smiled faintly. “Strategos Amyclas, what important business brings you to Thurii?”

Amyclas did not answer directly. Instead, he spoke with great emotion. “Lord Davos, the cities of Thurii, Amendolara, and Castellum share a deep and ancient connection. We are all daughter-cities of Sybaris! We come from the same place! In the old days, when Sybaris was powerful, Castellum and Amendolara had frequent dealings. Those were peaceful times! Alas, after Sybaris fell, Castellum was forced into Croton’s sphere of influence and suffered much humiliation. Thankfully, the founding of Thurii allowed us to regain our independence, and we have enjoyed nearly forty years of peace since! When Croton’s army marched on Thurii, our city was too small and weak to resist. We had no choice but to join their forces. We—”

“For Castellum, situated between our Alliance and Croton, neutrality is an untenable position,” Davos interrupted, his tone becoming serious. “You say Castellum shares a deep connection with Thurii and Amendolara. Why not rejoin our side? We are currently in negotiations with Croton, and if an agreement is reached, they will not interfere with Castellum’s right to self-determination. If you ally with us, we will unconditionally release all prisoners from your city. As an ally, we will not interfere in your internal affairs, nor will we demand tribute. We ask for only two conditions in return.”

“What two conditions?” Amyclas asked eagerly, his interest clearly piqued.

A subtle smile touched Davos’s lips. “First, once allied, Castellum may not sign any other form of treaty or pact with any other city-state or power. Second, when the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance goes to war, Castellum must contribute troops. The generals of the Alliance will hold supreme command over the entire combined army. The spoils of any victory will be divided based on the proportion of troops contributed by each party.”

Amyclas carefully weighed these two conditions against the benefits of joining the alliance. As he did, his eyes began to shine with a growing light…

***

After more than a day of intense negotiations, the armistice between Croton and the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance was finally established.

First, Croton would pay a one-time reparation of thirty talents to the Alliance. This was a far cry from Marigi’s initial demand, but unavoidable. Croton had suffered a setback, but it was not broken, and its treasury had been greatly depleted by both this war and the previous conflict with the Bruttians. To demand too much would have made any agreement impossible.

Second, the ransom for each captured soldier was set at two hundred drachmae, and they were to serve six months of labor within the Alliance’s territory. The Alliance was required to guarantee the life and health of every prisoner and permit their families to visit. This agreement covered over six thousand soldiers from Croton and its allies like Asprustum and Sybaris on the Traeis. At a price equivalent to about four heads of cattle per man, the ransom was neither excessively high nor particularly low. If all the soldiers were ransomed, this clause alone would bring two hundred talents into the Alliance’s coffers. Moreover, the Alliance was only obligated to provide basic food and lodging; it was up to Croton and its allies to ensure the prisoners were well-fed and clothed. In practice, the prisoners’ families ended up providing for most of their needs, which meant the Alliance gained six thousand free laborers for half a year, while the visiting families provided an additional source of income for Thurii.

Lysias had vehemently opposed the labor requirement, but Marigi had been equally insistent, stating frankly, “We fear that if these prisoners return home, Croton will immediately re-arm them and attack Thurii once more.” In the end, they reached a compromise, but the ever-cautious Lysias had a special clause added to the treaty: “The prisoners shall not be made to work in the mines.”