As Archytas walked through the expeditionary army’s camp, cheers erupted from every tent he passed. The air was thick with excitement and joy, a feeling so infectious that it began to lift even his own heavy heart. He couldn’t help but marvel at them. This mercenary unit truly is a battle-hardened force, the kind of formidable army that gave even the great Persian Empire a headache. He had witnessed with his own eyes that afternoon how these mercenaries had battered the Lucanians with their novel tactics and fierce assaults. To maintain such high morale even after a defeat in a major battle was nothing short of remarkable.

Archytas felt a growing urgency to see Davos.

Just as he reached the command tent, the young man he held in such high regard emerged to greet him. The first words out of his mouth were, “General Archytas, we are preparing to attack the allied Lucanian army tomorrow, and we hope for the aid of the Tarentum reinforcements!”

Archytas could scarcely believe his ears. “…You mean to attack the allied Lucanian army?”

“Yes!”

“The one to the west, with over fifteen thousand men, not the Lucanians in the city of Amendolara?” Archytas asked again, needing to be certain.

“That’s right. The allied Lucanian army to the west,” Davos confirmed with a firm nod.

Receiving the confirmation, Archytas stared at Davos for a long moment, struggling to suppress the surge of emotion rising within him. “…How do you intend to do it?”

“Come, let’s speak inside the tent.” Davos quickly ushered Archytas in, leading him to a table where a map was laid out. He proceeded to explain his plan in meticulous detail.

Archytas stroked his chin, lost in thought for a long time before he finally spoke. “I must say, this is an exceptionally bold plan. It pushes your forces to their absolute limit. Yet, it possesses a certain feasibility… and for me, it is incredibly tempting.”

“So, will the Tarentum reinforcements join us?” Davos pressed.

Archytas fell silent. Davos did not rush him, and for a while, the only sound was the quiet hiss of the oil lamps. Seeing Davos’s calm and steady expression, Archytas couldn’t help but remark, “It seems you were certain I would agree.”

“I have heard that Heraclea[1] is an ally of Tarentum,” Davos said slowly. “If we are victorious tomorrow, Tarentum will no longer have to worry about its western flank and can focus all its strength on dealing with the Messapians.”

In truth, his words were a polite understatement. Heraclea was more than an ally to Tarentum; it was effectively a vassal state under its control. Twenty years prior, its leaders were either Tarentine colonists or officials directly appointed by Tarentum. While it was no longer a mere subsidiary, Tarentum’s influence over Heraclea remained immense, viewing it as a vital buffer to the west. If the Lucanians were allowed to occupy the Sybarite Plain and seize Amendolara, which bordered Heraclea, the threat would be too great to ignore. It could even endanger Metapontum, further to the north. This was one of the primary reasons Tarentum had sent reinforcements in the first place.

Finally, Archytas nodded. “The men of Tarentum would be honored to fight alongside the Greek heroes of the Persian expedition!”

“Excellent!” Davos said with genuine enthusiasm. “It is precisely because I have the Tarentum reinforcements, led by a commander as capable as you, Archytas, that I dared to propose this plan. Your forces are incredibly strong!”

After they had discussed the finer details, Archytas spoke again, his tone suddenly serious. “Davos, I have a proposal I would like you to consider.”

“Please, speak your mind,” Davos said, taken aback by his solemn expression.

“Regardless of the outcome of the coming battle, I would like to formally invite you to become a citizen of Tarentum! And I will give my full recommendation to the Senate that you be appointed to a significant administrative post!” Archytas made the promise with the utmost gravity.

Davos was completely caught off guard by the offer. “…Ah… well, I’ve heard it is very difficult for a foreigner to become a citizen of a major city-state.”

“It is,” Archytas admitted frankly, but then his tone shifted. “However, a man of your extraordinary talents would be warmly welcomed in any city in Magna Graecia! This is not Athens, after all; these are all colonial cities. What matters is having the vision to recognize talent!” Archytas proudly pointed to his own eyes.

“Just me? This offer doesn’t include my brothers-in-arms?” Davos asked, seeing a potential reason to decline.

“To grant citizenship to so many men is not a decision the magistrates or the Senate can make alone. It would require a vote of the Citizens’ Assembly, and that would be very difficult,” Archytas explained, his expression troubled.

“Thank you for the invitation. After tomorrow’s battle, I will give the matter serious consideration,” Davos replied, feigning sincerity.

***

Davos extended his invitation to the other mercenary generals, and Adrianx, Sextus, and even Drakos arrived at his tent.

When Davos laid out his plan, all three were deeply shocked.

Unlike the Tarentum reinforcements and Davos’s own men, their forces had not escaped today’s battle with light casualties. They had lost a full four hundred men, with Drakos’s contingent suffering the most. For an army of only two thousand, it was a crippling blow. To agree to Davos’s proposal would almost certainly mean even greater losses. Adrianx and Sextus hesitated.

“General Davos, I will join you in tomorrow’s battle!”

It was Drakos who spoke, his face grim and set. The other two generals stared at him in astonishment.

“The Lucanians are nothing to be afraid of,” Drakos said, his voice laced with bitterness. “It was the Thurians who dragged me down today. I am certain that if I fight alongside you tomorrow, we will make them taste defeat!”

Davos hadn’t expected the first to agree would be Drakos, the very man he had once come to blows with. He found himself looking at the big general with a newfound respect for his fighting spirit and resilience. Seeing the other two still wavering, he pressed his advantage. “This attack on the Lucanian alliance is not for the pitiful pay offered by Thurii. It is because after we defeat them, we are going to retake Amendolara and become its masters!”

His words struck the three generals like a thunderbolt.

“Take the city of Amendolara? Are you certain you can do it?” Sextus asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

“We laid siege to countless fortresses in Persia. A small mountain city is no great challenge for us,” Davos said with unwavering confidence. “When we succeed, we will invite all of you to become citizens of Amendolara, to receive your own plots of land, and to put down roots here in the rich lands of Magna Graecia! Of course, if you would rather return to the constant warfare and grinding poverty of Ionia, then you can pretend I never said a word.”

“Are you… telling the truth?!” Adrianx stammered. “You’ll… you’ll really give us land?”

“Of course. This is the collective decision of all my men,” Davos affirmed, his expression serious.

“But… but…” Adrianx struggled to calm his racing heart. “Won’t Thurii and Tarentum object?”

“Thurii has been devastated. It lacks the strength to object even if it wanted to,” Davos said with a dismissive smile. “As for Tarentum, they may even be pleased. With us holding Amendolara, their western border will be secure from the incursions of the mountain tribes.”

The three generals exchanged a look, then spoke with one voice. “We will join you!”

“Excellent!” Davos exclaimed, his face breaking into a wide grin. “We are one family now! Let us fight together for our own future!”

After they had worked out the details of the plan, Davos cautioned them to keep it secret and not to let the Tarentines know for the time being.

After sending the three generals off, Davos was about to find a few of the freemen returning to Thurii and ask them to fetch Burkos, telling him it was urgent. He was surprised when a guard entered and announced, “Burkos is already at the camp gate, requesting an audience.”

Davos was surprised for only a moment. He immediately understood just how desperately the city council and assembly of Thurii must need him right now.

As expected, the moment Burkos entered the tent, he asked impatiently, “General Davos, do you still intend to honor our original agreement?”

Davos put on a troubled expression. “I am a man who honors his promises. But the problem now is that we were defeated in the battle. During the retreat, my men lost a great deal of their weapons, and many were wounded. Tomorrow, the Lucanians will surely launch a massive assault on this position! My forces lack both weapons and manpower; I fear we will not be able to hold. Just before you arrived, my officers were meeting with me. They have proposed leaving this place, even if it means forfeiting their pay!”