The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 139: The Threat

"Does it matter?!" Melanthius sneered, his face flushed with the flush of wine and defiance. His sharp gaze swept the room as he continued, "Where he and I were born is a matter of fate, and it’s fate that has destined him for defeat!"

He raised his voice, addressing his audience as if commanding the world itself. "Turii and Amendolara are allies, are they not? I’ve heard that when my army approached Turii, Amendolara even promised to send reinforcements. Is that true?"

Ancitanus, standing among the captives of Turii, nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Amendolara’s envoy claimed, ’Give us a few days to assemble our forces. Once our reinforcements arrive, Turii will surely hold!’" He emphasized the quote with satisfaction, watching Melanthius’s face grow even redder with anger.

Melanthius turned sharply to his deputy, Timaras. "Tomorrow, send someone to question Amendolara. ’Why are you opposing Crotone? Demand that they immediately dissolve their alliance with Turii and ally with us!’"

Timaras hesitated, visibly uncomfortable with the order. "But Amendolara is allied with Tarantum," he ventured cautiously.

"Exactly! If they can ally with Tarantum and Turii, why not us?!" Melanthius snapped, his tone brooking no argument.

"Understood," Timaras replied, bowing his head reluctantly.

Melanthius swirled his wine, his eyes gleaming with the cunning of a predator. "Juleios, what will you do now?"

The news of Crotone’s conquest of Turii rippled across Magna Graecia like a thunderclap. Tarantum, Locri, and Rhegium watched the developments with keen interest, their councils abuzz with debates. Even in far-off Sicily, where Syracuse prepared for its looming confrontation with Carthage, the events in Turii drew attention.

To Syracuse, allied with Locri, Crotone’s sudden rise posed a dangerous threat. Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse, had his ambitions carefully laid out, and any disruption in Magna Graecia could unravel his plans.

In Amendolara, Melanthius’s demand for submission stirred the Senate into a storm of heated debate.

Cornelius, Lafayas, and Stronpolis urged caution, arguing that Amendolara, still recovering from war, could not withstand Crotone’s might. "To avoid devastation," Cornelius suggested, "we should yield temporarily and bide our time."

On the other hand, Scumbras, Tritodemos, and Protesilaus proposed delaying tactics. "Let us seek Tarantum’s intervention to pressure Crotone," Scumbras argued. "We can decide on further action based on how events unfold."

But it was the new citizen elders, forged in the fires of the recent Lucanian war, who were most vocal in their defiance. Outraged by the arrogance of Crotone’s envoy, they declared that Amendolara must never yield to threats. "If Crotone dares invade," one vowed, "we will teach them a lesson they’ll never forget!" freēnovelkiss.com

Juleios listened patiently, his expression unyielding. When the debate reached its peak, he rose, his commanding presence silencing the chamber.

"Amendolara has made its decision," he declared firmly. "We will see it through to the end! We must not betray Tarantum’s trust in us, nor let Magna Graecia believe Amendolara bows to power or forsakes its principles for gain!"

His words rang with conviction, bringing the debate to a decisive close.

When Crotone’s envoy received Amendolara’s reply, his initial shock gave way to fury. "Aren’t you afraid of suffering the same fate as Turii?!" he demanded.

"You’re welcome to try," Juleios replied coldly, dismissing the envoy without further ceremony.

The reply Melanthius received was equally defiant:

"To the esteemed commander of Crotone, Amendolara respects your victory. However, honoring alliances sworn in the name of the gods is a tradition passed down through generations in Amendolara. We hope for your understanding."

Upon reading the letter, Melanthius laughed, his amusement tinged with anger. Tearing the parchment to pieces, he roared, "That Amendolaran governor certainly has some nerve! A mere mercenary dares lecture me on promises?! Timaras, gather 8,000 troops. We’re heading to Amendolara!"

"But Tarantum—" Timaras began hesitantly.

"Don’t worry," Melanthius interrupted with a dismissive wave. "I won’t act recklessly."

As Crotone’s army marched northward, Amendolara’s scouts kept a close watch, reporting the army’s movements with precision. The citizens of Amendolara grew anxious as rumors of the approaching force spread.

Cornelius and Lafayas once again urged caution. "We should yield temporarily and join Crotone’s alliance," Cornelius argued.

Juleios’s sharp reply cut through their appeals. "I’ve never been one to negotiate under the threat of swords and spears!"

The new citizen elders, undeterred, clamored for immediate mobilization to strike back. But Juleios tempered their enthusiasm, ordering, "Everyone fall back into the city and prepare the defenses!"

In Tarantum, news of Crotone’s advance prompted an emergency session of the Senate. While the senators unanimously condemned Crotone’s actions, they hesitated to commit to war. "A conflict between two great powers like Tarantum and Crotone," one senator warned, "will not end with a few battles."

Nevertheless, Achytas, a respected senator, volunteered to meet with Melanthius, and an envoy was dispatched to Crotone by sea.

At the base of Amendolara’s hill, Crotone’s massive army arrived at dawn. Melanthius, surveying the city’s formidable walls, remarked, "If I attack this morning, even the sunlight will make it hard for my men to fight."

Instead, he ordered his troops to form a phalanx over a mile long and approach the walls with shields banging and war cries echoing.

Despite the deafening noise, Amendolara’s soldiers stood silently on the walls, their discipline unbroken.

Arsinis, unable to contain himself, whispered, "Captain, the Crotonians are too arrogant. Shouldn’t we at least shout back?"

"Shut up!" Sergeant Kritipus hissed. "This is an order from the governor. Do you want to violate military discipline?!"

Chastened, Arsinis fell silent, gripping his spear tightly. Though the enemy’s massive formation was intimidating, he secretly hoped they would attack so he could prove his worth in battle.

Frustrated by the lack of response, Melanthius sent messengers to demand Juleios’s presence. When the gates remained closed, he took it as a sign of fear.

Insults and taunts followed, but the Amendolarans remained unshaken. Their silent defiance only deepened Melanthius’s frustration.

"Burn those buildings!" he finally commanded.

The warehouses and inns at the foot of the hill were set ablaze, their flames roaring skyward. The red glow illuminated the furious faces of Amendolara’s soldiers, their anger simmering beneath their disciplined exterior.

In the Senate chamber, the news of the fire incensed the elders. But Juleios, calm as ever, listened intently as the scouts described the Crotonian army’s actions.

When Lafayas asked, "Do you think they’re declaring war?" Juleios’s reply was resolute.

"The Crotonians trespassed on our territory and burned our buildings. This is nothing less than a declaration of war."

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