Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

“Heloris, did the Theonians lie about preventing Dionysius' army from returning to Sicily?” Asked Philoxenus worriedly.

“Dionysius lost his fleet and won't be able to bring his army back to Sicily. Instead of worrying about him, we should worry about the army that Theonia is about to capture, which includes not only mercenaries but also tens of thousands of our citizens and sailors. Would Theonia actually return them to Syracuse safely?!” The point Steisikos' raised was an important question that everyone was concerned about. Yet they did not dare face it, which was the same for Heloris.

Although their rebellion's success was due to the help of the Theonians, as Syracuse's master, they had to become wary of Theonia once they thought about its future. After all, Syracuse and Theonia have natural conflicts in interests. Hence even though Heloris and the others rose against Dionysius because of his dictatorship, they naturally wanted Syracuse's glory to continue.

Heloris discreetly console, “We still haven't removed Dionysius yet, so we will discuss these matters later as we could not relax our vigilance. Moreover, the Theonian army showed goodwill by staying away from Taunis and had so far fulfilled the promise they made earlier about not a single Theonian soldier would set foot on Syracuse's soil…Of course, we can't let our guard down either! Steisikos, urge the soldiers on the northern wall to step up their patrols! Lord Tethytes-”

Heloris looked at the old sailor again. Unlike the other strategoi who were his like-minded friends, he had to remind this old strategos who came from the port and was born a pauper, “I heard some Theonians in the port area spreading rumours everywhere that made people feel uneasy and undermined Syracuse's security and stability. So I want you to return and find those Theonian spies and expel them out of Syracuse!”

“That's what we should do! Syracuse's matter should be solved only by Syracusans themselves! There is no need for the enemy to intervene because they all have other intentions that are detrimental to Syracuse!” Philoxenus immediately approved.

Those words took Tethytes aback. As far as he knew, the Theonians had close contact with Heloris and got along well with the port people. Besides organising them to unite with the city people to resist Dionysius' men, they also taught them how to fight for their own interests. Like how the just successful land allocation had also come from their advice… Yet the strategoi who benefitted were going to turn their backs on them now!

Seeing his dazed expression, Heloris loudly reminded, “Now that we overthrew Dionysius' rule, we, the strategoi formally elected by Syracusan citizens, represent the wishes of the people! Thus we should communicate with Theonia through formal diplomacy and no longer as privately and quietly as before as that would only confuse the people and harm Syracuse's interests!”

Heloris said so straightforwardly that Tethytes could no longer object.

“Philoxenus, are you willing to go to Theonia and discuss with the Senate of Theonia how to end this war? And the return of the Syracusan citizens who the Theonians captured?” Asked Heloris.

“I am willing!” Philoxenus agreed with enthusiasm.

“What if the Theonians put forward many harsh requirements?!” Phalekus, another strategos of Syracuse, expressed his concern.

“I fear the Theonians would demand more in terms of reparations for the war by…having their rights over the city-states of…Catania, Leontinoi and others in the north of Syracuse guaranteed.” In recent days, apart from Heloris leading the crowd to purge the inside and outside of the city of Dionysius' remnants and stabilise Syracuse, he was also contemplating how the new Syracusan government would gain security and growth in the situation that would follow. And since Theonia was a boulder in front of Syracuse that they could not bypass, Heloris naturally thought a lot about it.

“Theonia might even demand us disband the Sicilian League and return the land of other city-states we have occupied!” Warned Steisikos loudly.

As a result, everyone's expression changed, especially Tethytes. After all, the land promised by the council was the one Syracuse seized from several subordinate city-states in the south.

Heloris, on the other hand, seemed calm, “The other side will, naturally, make many excessive demands in the negotiations, but…Philoxenus, you must remember that without our cooperation, Theonia would have a harder time. For example, we could go to Scylletium to persuade those tens of thousands of soldiers to surrender and help Theonia end the Magna Graecian war. But another is that if we don't approve of Theonia’s support on the Sicilian city-states such as Catania, Leontinoi and others, it will be impossible for Theonia to gain a firm foothold on the east coast of Sicily…” The more Heloris spoke, the more confident he became. After having known Theonia, especially Davos, quite well over the years, he was sure that the young and wise new king of Theonia won't be blinded by hatred and make excessive demands.

After hearing that, Philoxenus felt assured. Thus he promised, “Don't worry, I won't let Syracuse's interests be harmed!”

“But if it's appropriate to compromise, we should make concessions. After all, we are the one who asks for Theonia's help.” Heloris feared that Philoxenus would be too rigid and anger Davos.

“I know. I am going there to negotiate and not recite poetry.” After Philoxenus said that, all the others laughed apart from Tethytes. In the past, Dionysius held poetry in his banquets many times, and Philoxenus would always embarrass Dionysius, arousing the tyrant's resentment.

“Phalekus, how much money do we have in our treasury?” Asked Heloris.

“Erm…” As Phalekus was about to answer, a guard ran in and said, “Strategoi, a Spartan came from the island of Ortygia, saying that he was Sparta's envoy and asked to meet with you.”

“Sparta's envoy?!” Everyone looked surprised.

‘They finally came!’ Heloris clenched his fists.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

As Phidias stepped into the city hall, he saw ten people in the room, none of whom he knew. After all, every time he came to Syracuse, Dionysius would treat him warmly in the palace on the island of Ortygia, accompanied by officials and servants all the time, treating him like the prince from the east. Hence he seldom went deep into Syracuse alone to experience the life there, except the last time when the Carthaginian army came close to the city wall.

But just because he didn't know anyone else didn't mean they didn't know him. His long-scarlet cloak, thick beard, aquiline nose, cunning and sharp eyes, and a cold and arrogant expression on his face…a Spartan Heloris was too familiar with, so he subconsciously exclaimed, “Dionysius returned?!”

As soon as Heloris' exclaimed those words, it surprised not only Phidias but also the others.

Although Phidias was taken aback, it didn't show on his face. He then looked at the man standing in the middle of the crowd and asked, “You are?”

“Heloris, the supreme commander of Syracuse elected by the ecclesia!” Heloris said loudly and solemnly, “O honourable envoy of Sparta, Phidias, did Dionysius send you?”

‘He is Heloris?!’ Phidias suppressed his curiosity and didn't size him up. Instead, he snorted and said, “What right does Dionysius have to instruct a Spartan? I was about to return to Sparta to report the war situation in Magna Graecia to the Gerousia. It was just convenient to come here while helping him call for reinforcements. However, I didn't expect to see a group of criminals stirring up a mess in Syracuse!”

“We are not criminals; Dionysius is! We just took back the rights and freedoms that should belong to the people of Syracuse!” Philoxenus retorted loudly.

“Oh, freedom!” Phidias sneered with disdain, “Dionysius led the army to finally stop the declining war situation. But instead of sending another 10,000 – 20,000 reinforcements to reverse the war situation, you launched a rebellion that would cause tens of thousands of Syracusan citizens to lose aid and eventually perish in Magna Graecia!”

Some of the strategoi turned slightly ashamed while others retorted loudly.

“Dionysius was the one who risked the lives of the Syracusan citizens by starting this war. If this war continues, all the Greeks of Sicily will be sacrificed for Dionysius' ambition! With Apollo's blessing, we have stopped the citizens from making unnecessary sacrifices for this war that doesn’t concern us. In addition, we will negotiate with Theonia to save the trapped citizens in Magna Graecia!” Steisikos exclaimed.

“A war that doesn't concern you?!” Phidias sneered, “Theonia's troops captured Taunis, which is closest to Syracuse and resulted in Syracuse already under the reach of Theonia's spear. So does this still not concern you?!”

“That is the harmful result of Dionysius' continuous aggression against others!” Philoxenus swung his right hand and said angrily.

But Heloris interrupted his best friend and said, “Envoy Phidias, these are all the internal affairs of Syracuse, which we will deal with. So just state your purpose in coming here.”

Phidias' piercing gaze was like a knife stabbing him, “Syracuse is Sparta's ally! Thus it is naturally necessary for Sparta to care about Syracuse's internal affairs to ensure its political stability and not harm Sparta's interests. If necessary, we Spartans could also send troops to help restore the order of the chaotic Syracuse! That's what I did four years ago, but today, I hope you can consider my proposal calmly! Sparta's proposal!”