The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe
Chapter 93 After the Battle

Chapter 93: Chapter 93 After the Battle

"Chief, when Akpiru returns to see this, he’ll likely go mad!" Saru said with a twisted grin, gazing down at the still-smoldering camp from the mountain pass. The chaos below filled him with grim satisfaction.

"What does it matter?" Sedolum replied, his tone heavy with worry. "A mad Akpiru is still dangerous enough to command an army and shatter Vig City’s walls." His dissatisfaction with Saru’s rash decision to attack the Picossis simmered beneath his words.

"Vig City isn’t so easy to conquer!" Saru shot back, his defiance unyielding. "As long as we fortify the mountain paths, they won’t even make it close to our city’s gates!" He spat on the ground. "We should’ve never bowed to their threats and joined this cursed alliance in the first place."

"Saru, you speak easily now," Sedolum replied, his voice low and burdened. "But the Laos people know our terrain well. Every warrior we lose weakens us further, and we lack reinforcements. Worst of all, our food stores are pitiful. This is not a fight we can sustain."

"Chief, don’t fret!" Saru said, his confidence unshaken. "I doubt the Lucanians will come back. Didn’t their messenger say they were ambushed by the Greeks? They even came back begging for reinforcements—it must mean their situation is dire!"

"Let’s hope so," Sedolum said, exhaling deeply. His voice turned grave as he continued, "But we cannot afford complacency. We must return to Vig City immediately, gather our people, and strengthen the defenses. Send word to Cosenza—we will need their help."

"Cosenza?!" Saru exclaimed, his face a mask of surprise.

"Yes, Cosenza," Sedolum replied, his expression resolute. "I’ve thought it over these past days. If we Bruttians keep tearing each other apart, the Lucanians and Greeks will continue to oppress us."

Saru, younger and less embittered by the history of intertribal strife, nodded eagerly. "You’re right, Chief. We should unite with Cosenza—just as the Lucanians formed their alliance."

Sedolum said nothing, his mind turning over the weight of the decision.

After a long silence, Saru’s voice broke through. "Chief! Since we’ve already crossed the Lucanians, shouldn’t we raid Laos as we pass through?"

"Are you mad?!" Sedolum roared, his frustration finally boiling over. "You’d risk the lives of our people for such folly and still call yourself a chief? Do you think Avenogis of Laos is a foe to be trifled with? We’ll be lucky to cross the Lower Laos River unnoticed, and you want to raid them?!"

Saru lowered his head, his momentary excitement extinguished.

As they marched on, Saru spoke again, though more cautiously. "Chief, I still can’t believe the defeated Thurii managed to ambush the Lucanian coalition. Could it be that they received reinforcements from Tarantum or Crotone?"

Sedolum did not reply. Instead, he looked back at the sky darkened by smoke, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes. If the Lucanians had truly suffered devastating losses, the balance of power in the region would shift dramatically. What path should the Vigurans take next?

Cincinnatus marched eastward with the shattered remnants of his people, rage and grief warring within him. Only one thought consumed him: he would find Akpiru, rally an army, and obliterate Vig City in vengeance for his fallen tribesmen.

But as they trudged forward, they encountered Akpiru’s retreating forces.

Akpiru, desperate to rally reinforcements and reclaim control, listened in stunned silence as Cincinnatus recounted the Vigurans’ betrayal, the Picossis’ heavy losses, and the camp reduced to ashes. Overwhelmed by despair and fury, Akpiru collapsed, unconscious.

When Cincinnatus learned that over 9,000 warriors had been ambushed by the Greeks and their fate remained uncertain, he was struck dumb. The scope of the disaster rendered him momentarily speechless.

In Thurii, the city council generals received alarming reports from their sentinels at dawn: a large force appeared to be moving outside the city.

As the morning fog lifted, scouts were dispatched to investigate. They returned swiftly with astonishing news—the mercenary camp was nearly empty.

The generals were flabbergasted. Just the previous night, Bourkos had assured them that the mercenaries would stay. Thurii had toiled through the night, gathering the supplies these greedy soldiers had demanded, only to find them gone without a word.

Furious, the generals cursed the mercenaries as traitorous wolves. Some even suggested sending warships to intercept them at sea.

But by midday, a scout brought even more startling news.

"What?! The mercenaries and Tarantum reinforcements have attacked the Lucanian coalition?!" Kunogorata exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face.

The council erupted into heated debate.

"Juleios is mad!" Neonsis spat. "He’s gambling Thurii’s future on a reckless venture!"

"Without the mercenaries, we stand exposed. If they fail, what will become of us?" Polyxenus said, his voice laden with worry.

Kunogorata silenced them with a decisive command. "Send Bourkos at once. Tell him to do whatever it takes to bring them back!"

Bourkos returned empty-handed, Juleios having firmly refused his pleas. Instead, the mercenary leader had told Bourkos to wait in the city for news of their victory.

Bourkos tried to reassure the council. "I believe Juleios is confident of success. Perhaps we should trust him."

His words were met with scorn and recrimination.

By afternoon, cheers erupted from Thurii’s walls, growing louder with each passing moment. Scouts returned with extraordinary news.

The mercenaries had returned, battered but triumphant. Their armor was dented, their garments torn, yet their spirits were unbroken. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air as they marched toward their camp.

Among them, carts carried weapons and armor seized from the Lucanians. Slaves bore shields and helmets, walking with heads held high. At the rear of the procession, hundreds of disheveled captives shuffled forward, their faces etched with fear.

A mercenary cavalryman rode ahead to meet the Thurii scouts. Raising his hands to show he meant no harm, he halted and announced with pride, "Leader Juleios sends word: the Lucanian coalition has been utterly annihilated at the Great Riverbank. Thurii’s territory is secure."

"You... you defeated the Lucanians?!" the scouts stammered, scarcely able to believe it.

"Of course!" the cavalryman replied, gesturing toward the captives. "And our leader asks you to deal with the corpses at the riverbank. Leave them too long, and disease will follow."

As the jubilant scouts approached Thurii’s gates, they shouted the news:

"Victory! We’ve won! The Lucanians are annihilated!"

Inside the city hall, the generals, exhausted from hours of worry and recrimination, awoke to the sound of cheers. The cries of triumph outside signaled a day they thought they would never see.