“Legatus, Rhegium is not far, and if we could get a favourable wind, the fleet would only need two hours to reach here.” Xanticles reassured him, “Moreover, Lord Seclian left a few penteconters behind that would rush back to Rhegium to inform him if anything unusual happens.”
However, Antonios remained worried even after hearing this. After all, the first legion would delve deep into enemy territory alone, with only the sea route as their insurance, “Let's hope so…” Although he did not want to comment too much on Seclian's decision, he thought that Seclian would never choose that if it was Davos who led the army. Instead, he would have made sure to make it possible for the fleet to anchor here…
“Milord, I wish to head to the west of Mount Etna and tell my fellow Naxosian that we have taken back our land! I believe they would be joyful once they found out and would come to defend this town immediately!” Ladician pleaded Antonios.
Antonios shook his head and said, “Ladician, you can let someone else do it, but you cannot go.”
Ladician looked surprised as he did not understand why Antonios would refuse his reasonable request and wanted to argue further. But he heard Antonios say, “I need you and the Naxosian who left just now called…called…”
“Torilaus, lord legatus.” Seraphinus reminded.
Antonios nodded his head to thank him and continued, “I need you and Torilaus to take charge of all the administrative matters of this town, manage all the Naxosian here, assign housing to them, maintain the order, make bread, transport the supplies from the port…making sure the field outside the town was not deserted, and organise the young and strong people of Naxos for the officers of the first legion to train them. After all, we only have a few people here and need more to defend Naxos!”
Although Antonios had served as a public official of Theonia, such as the inspector, he still didn’t become a praetor, the highest administrative position specialising in managing a whole city-state. Thus he lacks specific administrative experience, so whatever he had just said is what he thinks is important.
But Ladician was a nobleman of Naxos. Besides holding all the major and minor positions of the city-state in 20 years of his political career, he had also served as a strategos and polemarchos several times, so he knew well what he should and could do under such circumstances. Therefore, he is thrilled to get this appointment.
Moreover, after his extended stay in Rhegium, Ladician could feel Theonia's importance in Magna Graecia. Hence he was acutely aware that if Theonia truly defeats Syracuse, Theonia’s authority would not only cover Magna Graecia but even the east of Sicily… ‘So where should Naxos lean?’
While pondering about it, Ladician looked at the leader of this so-called strongest force of Theonia: Although he was in his 40s, he looked intelligent and capable. Moreover, to be sent to Sicily to fight independently means that he won the trust of the new king of Theonia. So during the voyage, Ladician observed him, and he also heard that although he was already old, he still hadn't married…
Ladician's thought drifted: He had a lovely daughter he was planning to marry to the son of the polemarchos of Rhegium, Athelycus. Unfortunately, Athelycus did not agree. But now, although Antonios is older, he seems to be a better marriage partner!
Thinking of this, he immediately said, “Thank you for your trust, lord Antonios. Torilaus and I will do our best to manage this town well and provide your army with the greatest assistance! Also, if we encounter important or difficult issues, we would first ask for your thoughts, milord!”
Satisfied with Ladician's humble attitude, Antonios then said, “There is one thing that needs to be solved as soon as possible. Tell Sarathus to inform Rhegium to send some weapons and armour as soon as possible to form more armies once the Naxosians arrive in order to defeat the Syracusans who will soon attack.
You have to also build a smithy in the town to repair our weapons. To have such a big town but no smithy! The Sikurians are really absurd! Do they think that if they don't buy and sell weapons in the town, the freemen and slaves won’t rebel?!”
“They fully know that we, Naxosians, hated them extremely! After all, The Sikurians, who wanted to annex Naxos' land, had fewer people, so they captured our people, demoted them as slaves, and recruited many freemen to develop this land that did not belong to them…” Ladician said angrily.
Antonios nodded.
At that moment, a man beside Seraphinus exclaimed, “The west of Mount Etna doesn't only have the exiles of Naxos, but also the Catanians and are more numerous. Lord Antonios, please allow me to lead them here!”
“Who are you?” Antonios looked at him and asked suspiciously.
“He was one of the helpers who assisted the first legion to take Megalos and caused riots in the town – Lasiperatus of Catania.” Seraphinus introduced.
‘Catania!’ Antonios' heart jolted, and he instantly said, “We, of course, welcome Catania! Our king sent his army to Sicily not only to defeat Syracuse but also to regain the independence of the Sicilian city-states that the Syracusans oppressed and restore the homes of the people who lost them!…”
“Thank you, the great Theonia Union! I will do my best to gather the Catanians to contribute to this great goal of Theonia!” Lasiperatus exclaimed gratefully.
Ladician immediately followed.
“There is Tauromenium in the north, so you should pay attention to safety when you go to the west of Mount Etna!” Antonios reminded the other party. Then he looked at the senior centurion of the fourth brigade, “Tagetinos, draw out two hundred soldiers and build a guard post on the north side 2 kilometres away from Megalos. Keep a close eye on Tauromenium to prevent them from sneaking down the mountain to attack those Sicilians rushing to join us!”
“Roger, legatus!” Tagetinos answered loudly as if his voice was thunder.
“From now on, the other brigades will lead the soldiers to strengthen the walls of Megalos and build defensive measures!”
“Understood, legatus!”
After arranging the tasks, the officers and the representatives of the exiles left one after another, leaving only Seraphinus.
Antonios looked at this man with a slightly complicated mood. After Antonios received his order, Davos saw his worries about leaving Magna Graecia, crossing the sea to a strange place and fear of not being able to complete his task. Hence he told him, “…after landing, Aristias' men will come to find you and greatly assist you!…”
Aristias' was Davos' intelligence officer, who Antonios had met several times when he visited Davos' residence. He was a serious and quiet man that Antonios was reluctant to have much contact with him, but from what he learned today: He had planned the riots that happened in Megalos a few months ago. That is to say, Davos had sent Aristias to Sicily earlier! ‘Could it be that even before the war began, his majesty had already prepared for today's attack on Sicily?!’
Although Antonios was surprised, he quickly regained his composure. These years that he followed Davos made him see many magical things from him that he had long accepted the fact that ‘Davos is Hades' descendant’. Besides, Aristias' arrangements in Sicily helped complete his task!
With enthusiasm in his expression, Antonios said, “His majesty mentioned about you when he gave me his order in Scylletium. But I didn't expect to get your assistance as soon as I set foot on the land of Sicily and helped the first legion successfully capture Megalos. Thank you very much!”
Seraphinus humbly said, “Legatus Antonios, you praise me too much! Even without my help, the first legion could still take Megalos smoothly with your swift attack.”
“Indeed.” Antonios was not modest. Then he changed his words and said, “But the soldiers' casualties will increase! The first legion has fewer people, and every soldier is very important. But more importantly, the extensive work you have done had made both the freemen and slaves accept Theonia Union. It is your credit that we can stabilise the town of Megalos so quickly and make the next plan quickly!”
Seraphinus did not respond, but his face shone with excitement.
Antonios then said, “Can you tell me how many people we have in Sicily and in which city-states?”
Seraphinus shook his head and said, “I don't know how many men lord Aristias had sent to Sicily. The only thing I know is that our leader in Sicily is Antrapolis, who from time to time sends me orders to find out Megalos' situation.”
‘Antrapolis?!’ Antonios felt the name familiar as if he had heard of him before.
Seraphinus saw Antonios' doubts, so he added, “He is lord Aristias' younger brother.”
