Chapter 296: Return
Back then, Sedrum, the chieftain of Vergae, had led his tribe to join the Lucania Coalition, which has frightened all the tribes in the Bruttii region and felt that they were in great danger. Although things have changed, many of them still have a prejudice against Sedrum and Vergae, which had become the worry of Sedrum. Originally, he was the first to abandon the past hatred among the tribes and had come to Consentia on his own initiative, and he is also the first to propose the establishment of the Bruttian union. Not to mention that the strength of Vergae in the Bruttii region is second only to Consentia, but in this assembly hall, his weight is much less than Likumu.
At this time, he just ignored Likumu’s taunt while he solemnly said to Pian, “Leave the matter of alliance with Pyxous and Potentia to me!”
Even at the end of the meeting, no one suggested letting the Siro tribe to exist independently.
Because once they do that, it will strengthen the confidence of the other tribes, who do not want to be merged and integrated, resist the new union, and the road to the reunification of Bruttii will no longer be smooth.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adepiges, with a dejected expression, walked back into the house.
“How is it? They are still not letting us go out?!” Antrapolis came forward and asked.
Adepiges shook his head and said angrily, “It’s still the same words, saying ‘Some tribes in the city have rioted and they still have not yet solved it, so they are afraid that if they hurt us by mistake, it will lead to tension with Theonia. That’s why they have strengthened our protection.’ and so on. I think that they just want to imprison us!”
“Maybe they want to cover our eyes and ears and seize this time to solve the Siro tribe!” Antrapolis looks anxiously at Androlis.
Androlis, on the contrary, is just lying leisurely on his seat and letting his slaves apply medicine to the wounds that he received from the whipping of the Bruttians. The reason why he was not in a hurry was that in the Senate, the letter of Davos had said, “Help the Siro tribe by protesting against the Bruttians” Theonia was just using this as a good excuse in intervening in Bruttii matters and destroy the union of Bruttian tribes. If the Bruttii did not accept it and destroy Siro instead, then Theonia would have a reason to send troops to Bruttii, which is probably the real intention of Davos.
After nearly being together for half a year, Androlis had never looked down on the young archon. On the contrary, he understood the terrifyingness of Davos’ seemingly sincere smile. Therefore, this mission, whether it succeeds or not, the goal of Theonia has been achieved.
So he calmly said, “There is no need to rush, as we could just leisurely wait.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Three days later, Androlis had once again entered the assembly hall of Consentia, with Pian telling him the bad news that a civil strife happened in the Siro tribe. Some wanted to return to the Greek city-state, and some had wanted to be merged into Consentia. As a result, a conflict between the two sides broke out. Finally, the people who supported integrating into Consentia slaughtered the other side…
He also asked Androlis to meet with several leaders of the Siro tribe, who had repeatedly asked to join Consentinia and firmly refused any help from Theonia.
During the whole process, Androlis seldom spoke, which led to the illusion that the Theonians seemed to have no choice but to accept the result.
When Pian said to Androlis with an apologetic expression, “Things have already happened, and the only thing we can do now is to do our best in settling down the Siro people that are still living! We are worried that Theonia might misunderstand the Bruttii Tribal Union and make some radical decisions. Therefore, we hope that lord Androlis will convey our sincere apology and our sincere wish to have friendly exchanges with Theonia to your Senate after you return to Thurii!…”
Androlis calmly said, “I will report the truth about what happened to the Senate, and I will also convey your friendly words without leaving a single word. As for the decision of the Senate, I am unable to guess…”
Consentia did not prevent Androlis from leaving; on the contrary, they have even presented him with numerous valuable gifts, with Consentia even giving him a rather grand send-off.
During the send-off, Sedrum was the leading role, as he had not only sent hundreds of Vergae warriors as guards but also personally accompanied Androlis out of Consentia. Because Androlis had put into consideration that the road into the Bruttii mountains was not only difficult, but also the unfriendliness of the city of Besidice, coupled with the request of Antrapolis, so he decided to return without using the path they had traversed and instead, they went northward from Consentia to Vergae, to Laos, and then back to Thurii through the Lao Fortress.
After more than half a day’s trek, they arrived at Vergae.
Sedrum had specially prepared a feast with abundant food and warmly invited Androlis to the banquet.
The next day, Androlis left the Bruttii mountains and arrived in Laos.
The archon of Laos, Avinoges, led all the influential men of the city out to meet them, and it was only then that Androlis completely relaxed.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Davos’ ship arrived at the port of Thurii together with other transport ship. However, as there were a lot of people in the port, with the Theonians swarming to welcome the safe return of their families, Davos did not disembark with the soldiers as the noise and crowding were not favourable to the protection of the archon of Theonia, so Davos followed Martius’ advice and sailed westward along the Crati River and dock in the city of Thurii. Afterwards, Davos quietly returned to his mansion.
Ribaso, a housekeeper who was a former slave, was busily urging two slaves to clean the cistern in the middle of the courtyard when he saw Davos coming in, so he exclaimed with surprise, “Master, you are back!”
“How was everyone while I was gone?” Davos asked with a smile.
“Everything is good. Madame had been thinking and praying for you in the Temple of Hades every day! We..we have also gone to the Temple of Hades to pray for you!…thanks to Hades! You have safely returned so soon, master!” Ribaso said happily.
Davos then happily handed him something, “This is a Carthaginian leather hat that I bought for you in Taranto. It can protect you from the wind and sand and the cold in winter.”
Ribaso took the gift from Davos and was so excited that he fell to his knees with a “thud” and thanked him.
Davos quickly stopped him, “Now that you are a freeman and are in charge of so many slaves, you do not need to kneel as it undermines your authority as a supervisor. Do you understand?!”
With that, Davos could no longer wait to go through the front door and into the backyard.
“Boss, master is very kind to you! That he even bought you things!” A slave who had recently arrived said enviously.
Ribaso folded the leather cap carefully and placed it in his arms. Instead of being smug about it, he warned him by saying, “You are still new here, so you do not know that although master’s status is a noble, he is very kind to the slaves in his house. As long as you keep working diligently, master will see to it that in the future, you will not only be rewarded but will also get rid of your status as a slave and become a freeman.”
“Really?!”
“Aren’t I enough as a good example?!” Said Ribaso as he patted his chest.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Master, you are back!”
“Hey Azune, you are still as beautiful as before, and you haven’t changed a bit.”
“Madame is the one who should be called beautiful! Besides, you have only been away for a few days, and people are not like weather that would easily change!”
“Hahaha…”
“Lord Davos!”
“Oh, Andrea here as well! are you currently discussing business?”
Cheiristoya stood up with a smile on her face and walked towards Davos while holding the baby in her arms, “We were just discussing that once Andrea gave birth, if it is a girl, she would marry little Kro!”
Davos glanced at Andrea’s prominent belly and said with a smile, “I agree! As long as she doesn’t look like Bagul, then Andrea’s daughter would definitely be beautiful, and our little Kro would be the one taking advantage of it! Isn’t that right, my child?” Davos took little Kro and raised his son in his hands and rocked him gently.
The little guy was not afraid at all, on the contrary, he happily swung around his arms and legs in the air.
“You see, my child agrees.” Laughed Davos.
Cheiristoya pinched him on the shoulder and scolded, “You have sent Bagul to Grumentum while Andrea was pregnant with no one to take care of her, and you still have the nerve to say that?”
“It’s not me who decided it. The Senate was the one who appointed him.” Davos rubbed his shoulder while exaggeratedly complaining that he was wronged.
Andrea blushed and said, “I am in Thurii now and have my family to look after me. I am fine as Bagul would occasionally come back for a day or two, so there is nothing I need to worry about at all!”
Since Bagul was the praetor of Grumentum, he could have Andrea accompany him. However, Andrea had just gotten pregnant, and what’s more, they had just occupied Grumentum, so it is currently unstable. For the sake of safety, Bagul persuaded Andrea to stay in Thurii.
“At noon, we will have a small banquet to celebrate your triumphant return! And also to wish Andrea a successful birth with the blessing of the great goddess Hera! Is that okay?” Cheiristoya suggested to Davos in a low voice.
Davos naturally had no problem with it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Davos woke from his sleep and reached out to block the dazzling sunlight shining through the open window.
He lifted the quilt and got ready to get up, however, this has caused the bare back of his wife, Cheiristoya, to be exposed.
After the banquet at noon, Davos carried Cheiristoya into the bedroom after seeing off Andrea and Azune taking little Kro.
A long separation had made their heart grow fonder. Moreover, the boring military life was more than enough to keep Davos’ energy last for nearly an hour, with Cheiristoya cl***xing more than three times.