Sorikos raised his voice, his words carrying over the rumble of the carriage. “It is exactly as you see it now! With Archon Davos leading and the Senate assisting, the Alliance is far more efficient than before. Every citizen has land, a secure livelihood, and no fear of enemy invasion. We even have the freedom to hold public office and earn a salary. Is this not better than what we had before? So even if the Alliance were to become a monarchy, it would be no bad thing. As long as our future kings are all like Lord Davos, I believe the people of this Alliance will support them!”

His words left Theos deep in thought. The Greeks were a people born with a love for politics. From the Archaic Age to the present day, the citizens of every city-state had been engaged in a constant search for the perfect system of governance, one that would bring prosperity to the city and freedom to its people. Decades ago, Athens had been the model all others sought to emulate, but its defeat in the Peloponnesian War had laid bare the flaws in its democracy. Since then, some aristocrats and philosophers had begun to praise the Spartan system, a hybrid of monarchy and democracy that still clung to the ancient ways. Yet the Spartans’ own heavy-handed dominance was loathed by their neighbors on the Peloponnesian Peninsula. This new system in the Thurii-Amendolara Alliance… it was certainly interesting.

The carriage continued its swift journey, rattling as it crossed a wooden bridge, and Theos turned to study its construction for a long moment. The great road was busy with pedestrians and carts, but traffic flowed in an orderly manner, with no interference. As he watched, he noticed a pattern.

“On this road,” he called out uncertainly, “it seems everyone keeps to the right?!”

“That’s right! You have a sharp eye!” Sorikos shouted back happily. “After the road was completed, Lord Davos had stone markers set up in Amendolara, Thurii, and at the Herakleia ferry crossing, suggesting that all travelers keep to the right. For the first few days, many people ignored it and wove all over the road. But because the road is so good, carriages and carts were moving much faster than before, and there were several accidents that blocked traffic. Only then did everyone realize Lord Davos’s suggestion was right! You see, that is the way of our Archon. Though he holds great power, he rarely uses force to make people obey. He tries to persuade them. That is one of the reasons why we do not fear him, even as our sole Archon for Life.”

“The Thurii-Amendolara Alliance truly has a fine Archon,” Theos said with a sigh of admiration. “And I have noticed that at regular intervals along the road, there are stone stelae inscribed with the distance to Amendolara and Herakleia. To manage a single road with such meticulous care… it suggests that the governance of the city-state itself must be just as considerate of the people’s needs.”

“Indeed it is! Indeed it is!” Sorikos said, puffing out his chest with pride as he flourished his whip.

“How much do you earn each day, driving this carriage for hire?” Theos asked.

In his cheerful mood, Sorikos answered candidly. “In the beginning, it was only about ten obols a day, and most of that came from our own citizens trying it out for the novelty. But now, I work from dawn till dusk with barely a moment’s rest, and on a good day, I can earn up to forty-six obols. At this rate, after paying for the horses’ feed and care, I can make about six hundred obols a month—nearly a hundred drachmae. In another three or four months, I will have paid off my loan and all the interest!”

The two men chatted amiably as the carriage sped along. With few slow-moving carts on the road, their journey was unimpeded, and in less than two hours, they arrived at the district of warehouses and inns below the city of Amendolara. It was not as quiet as the market administrator had suggested; people were coming and going, but the atmosphere was certainly less chaotic than the Thurii market.

After Theos had disembarked, Sorikos offered him a final piece of advice. “I suggest you have your dinner at Crystoia’s restaurant. Their lamb offal soup and tripe are unbelievably delicious, and the prices are very reasonable. I eat there every few days myself. Who would have thought that the parts of an animal people usually throw away could be made into something so savory? A good portion of my earnings ends up there.”

“Is it truly that good?” Theos asked, skeptical.

“You’ll know once you try it,” Sorikos said with a grin. Just then, another customer climbed into his carriage. He waved farewell.

“May Hermes bless you and grant your wishes soon!” Theos called out, offering his own blessing in return.

As he watched the carriage depart, the mere mention of food had caused his stomach, already empty, to rumble loudly. He decided to take the driver’s recommendation and find this restaurant.

***

Compared to Amendolara, Thurii was far larger in land, population, and the sheer complexity of its affairs. As such, the Senate had officially relocated its seat of governance to the new city, though the council hall had yet to be built. Since most of the senators’ families resided in Amendolara, the Thurii Reconstruction Committee had allocated new houses to them in the city to make future assembly more convenient. Because Davos’s own work required him to constantly meet with visiting senators and officials at his home, he was given a newly built residence twice the size of his house in Amendolara. He had wanted to refuse, but Crystoia had fallen completely in love with it, and so he had accepted.

The new house was situated on a high slope by the river, inside the city walls. From the courtyard gate, one had a commanding view of the beautiful confluence of the Crati and Coscenus rivers. Not far to the north, on another hill, stood the acropolis and the former site of the Temple of Apollo, where the new Temple of Hades was now under construction. It was a prime location.

It was late September, the beginning of autumn, but the climate in the south of the Appenine Peninsula remained hot. Thankfully, the river breeze that occasionally drifted up the hill offered some cool relief to Crystoia, who was resting at home during her pregnancy.

The new house had a large, rectangular central courtyard, or atrium. Some time ago, Crystoia had hired masons to build a wall down the middle, with a single doorway, dividing it into a forecourt and a back court. The forecourt contained the slaves’ quarters and a reception hall for guests, while the back court was a private space for Davos and Crystoia’s bedchambers, the children’s rooms, and the quarters for their personal servants.

Crystoia now spent most of her time in the quiet seclusion of the back court. She was dressed in a light linen tunic, planting her favorite flowers with her handmaiden, Asuna. As she moved, the thin fabric fluttered, offering tantalizing glimpses of her fair skin.

Andrea, having received permission from the gate slave, entered the back court and saw Crystoia set down a small pickaxe and take a towel from Asuna to wipe the sweat from her brow.

“My lady!” Andrea hurried over. “Did the physician not say that you should rest quietly during this early stage of your pregnancy to ensure the child grows safely? You should not be doing strenuous work!”

“The nausea has mostly passed,” Crystoia said, her hand gently caressing her still-flat belly, her face radiating a soft tenderness. “And Davos says that a little moderate exercise is good for both me and the child.”

“Lord Davos is so busy, yet he still cares so much for you and the baby! My lady, Hera has truly blessed you with a good husband,” Andrea said with a well-timed compliment, which brought an even wider, happier smile to Crystoia’s face.

“Andrea, you need not envy me. In another year, you and Bagulos will be together! I imagine you never thought it would happen so soon!”

“It is all thanks to the Archon’s efforts. Bagulos and his entire tribe are deeply grateful to him,” Andrea said sincerely.

“When Bagulos and the others have finished their labor, will they be willing to stay and become citizens of the Alliance?” Crystoia asked, handing the towel to Asuna as if the question were an afterthought.

“Bagulos told me that most of the young men of his tribe wish to stay. They say that although the work is tiring, they feel happy and safe here. They have no desire to return to a life of fear in the mountains. Only a few of the elders are hesitant, including his father…” Andrea’s voice trailed off, a hint of worry in her eyes. She naturally hoped that all the Lucanians would stay, as it would make her own marriage much smoother.

“Do not worry. Davos will find a way to persuade them all to stay,” Crystoia reassured her. She picked up a clay amphora from a nearby table, poured a cup, and offered it to Andrea. “You must be thirsty after coming all the way from the market. Drink this.”

Andrea took the cup. She glanced down and saw a golden liquid with some particles floating in it. As she swirled it slightly, a white foam formed on top. She hesitated to ask what it was and took a small, tentative sip. It was bitter, yet with a hint of sweetness, and wonderfully cool. She took another, larger gulp. The foam and liquid flowed smoothly down her throat, forcing a few satisfying burps and instantly cooling her overheated body.

“What is this drink?” she asked in amazement.

“It tastes good, doesn’t it? I had it cooling in the well for some time,” Crystoia said with a proud smile. “As for what it is, I will let Asuna tell you.”

The dark-skinned and pretty Asuna quickly explained. “It is called beer. It is a drink we Egyptians love. A few months ago, Lord Davos was talking with my lady. He said he was thinking of making the ‘olive ball game’ a formal spectator sport, which he was sure would be very popular. But he said they needed a good drink that people could enjoy while sitting in the hot sun at the arena, something to quench their thirst and lift their spirits. I was nearby and couldn’t help but say, ‘You could try Egyptian beer.’”

At this, Crystoia let out a peal of laughter. “You should have seen the look on Davos’s face! He stared at Asuna in utter shock and asked her again and again, ‘What did you call that drink?’ He then grilled her on its color, its taste, and the brewing process. Afterwards, he muttered some curse about how he had been ‘deceived by the Ger… the Germani,’ and that beer was actually an Egyptian invention. Then he immediately urged me to find someone who could make it. I had to send men to the slave market in Tarentum and pay a high price to buy Egyptian slaves who knew how to brew beer, so we could try to make it.”