Cleander finally agreed to the request of the mercenaries to bring weapons into the city. It wasn't due to Davos compromise of wrapping the weapons with clothes, but the key to opening the city gate was the half Taras coins that Burkes sent to Cleander. After Davos found out the truth, he had exlaimed, ‘The Spartans that had lived a simple life began accepting bribes!’
The next morning, the leaders, the officers and the soldiers of the various mercenary camps all came to see off the troops that is on their way.
As their comrades who had fought with them together for a year, were not only the soldiers, but also the officers and leaders of the other camps have offered their sincere blessing, even Timasion, who didn't like Davos at first, had gave him a strong hug, “If I were a few years younger, I would've followed you to Magna Graecia.”
“You are still not old.” Davos smiled.
Timasion pointed to his chest, “This part is old, and just want to go home! Anyway, I hope you come back alive! And-” Timasion took a deep breath and whispered, “Thank you for the great help. If it wasn't for you, there would be a lot more people that died!”
“This is the result of our efforts! It's my honor fighting with you!” Davos modestly said.
“It's my pleasure. May Zeus bless you all the best!” Timasion sincerely said.
“You too! I hope we can meet again!” Davos waved goodbye to him.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Timasion, Cleanor, Xanticles and their soldiers retreated several hundred meters, then the gates of Byzantium opened, and Davos led his troops into Byzantium.
Xanticles exclaimed, “How time flies! It's finally time to part! The scene of Davos giving his speech on the stage seems like it had just happened yesterday!”
Xanticles' words aroused sentiment of several leaders: they fought together for more than half a year, and then they finally began to go on their separate ways.
Several people silently looked at Byzantium, until the city gate closed.
At this time, the herald, Tolmides, said, “Do you think that Davos is really favored by Hades?”
“If not, then he is a very capable leader. But have you seen such a young capable leader before?” Timasion asked, preferring to admit that Davos was favored by the gods rather than acknowledging him to be better than them.
Cleanor and Xanticles shook their heads.
“I think once Cheirisophus finds out that Davos had gone to Magna Graecia, he would be very regretful. Back then, you can see Cheirisophus obviously wanting Davos to be an honored guest of Sparta. And before leaving, he ask Anaxibius to looked after him. Unfortunately, Anaxibius dislike the young man, and Davos would rather go to Magna Graecia than Sparta.” Cleanor said gloatingly.
“No one likes Sparta, they are too overbearing!” Timasion's words resonated with everyone.
“But why did Hieronymus choose to go to Magna Graecia?” Tolmides asked.
“It's because of that Athenian!” Timasion frowned, “The soldiers re-elected their leader in Sinope(Sinop), and as a result, Hieronymus lost his position as the leader and had that mouthy Xenophon took it. He might've wanted to stay away from here and prove himself in Magna Graecia.”
“It's good to not be the leader, at least he doesn't need to worry about so many things. However, soon, we can easily go home!” Said Xanticles, which also attracted the feelings of several others.
Perhaps they realize that there wasn't much time for the next meeting, and the four of them solemnly took a salute and then turned their horse's and went to their respective camps.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Both sides of the street were Spartan soldiers armed with their dazzling spears, as they watch Davos' troops marched to the port.
The mercenaries tried not to look at the Spartans on both sides of the street and the Byzantium citizens that were behind them, as they look straight ahead and move forward in a serious manner.
“Damn mercenaries, leave Byzantium!” A Byzantium citizen suddenly roared and threw a rotten dates at Davos, who was walking at the front, destroying the previous calm.
“Get out of Byzantium!”
“Bandits!”
“Thieves!”
“The Gods will punish you, so that you will die a violent death!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The citizens of Byzantium were swearing and throwing things at the mercenaries that were in the middle of the street.
Although Davos had expected this in advance, and warned the mercenaries. But at this moment, he felt the danger and covered his head with one hand, and shouted, “Asistes, lead your heralds and tell each officers that they must strictly control their soldiers and not let them leave the troops!”
Davos' order came in time, as some of the newly hired became angry. If not for the armed Spartans on the side of the street, they would have rushed to fight with the citizens of Byzantium.
The officers ran up and down to stop them from making any mistakes, and Davos also timely ordered, “Whole troops, RUSH FORWARD!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cleander, who was standing at the platform at the roof of the praetorium, looked down at the mercenaries passing through the street. He was surprised to see that these scattered and undisciplined mercenaries were able to restrain themselves and didn't have a conflict with the citizen of Byzantium, which made his plan to collect the weapons of the mercenaries to waste.
“Who is the leader of this mercenary?” He casually asked.
“It seems to be…Davos.” The adjutant thought and replied.
Davos? Cleander thought that the name was familiar, but he could not remember where he had heard it before, “The mercenaries he led were not bad.”
“Do you want to stop them, my lord?”
“Forget it.” Cleander waved his hand. He had taken the bribes of Thurii merchant. The reason why he also designed this small scheme was that once there was a conflict, he would be able to confiscate the weapons of the mercenaries.
The mercenaries braved this humiliation, endured their anger, and speed up their march, hoping to reach the port within a fewer steps.
When the mercenaries and the female slaves got on the ship respectively, everything was properly arranged, and the fleet of 57 merchant ships left the port of Byzantium, the soldiers began to yell, even the good tempered Asistes could not help but shout aloud, “Byzantium, someday I will return this humiliation!”
Davos ignored how the soldiers vented their anger, as he stood quietly at the stern of the boat, watching the city of Byzantium disappear below the horizon.
The fleet entered the sea of Marmara, then turned south and halfway they were stopped by dozen Spartan warships.
Burkes had to let his boat pass by and get on the Spartan flagship in person, asking the Spartans to let them go.
After a while, he asked his men to carry a big box to the warship.
After waiting for about an hour, he and his men went back to the boat and took a long breath and gave the order, “Depart.”
“What's going on?” Asked Davos curiously.
“The Spartans now control this strait, and any large fleet passing through it must be examined by them, especially since I hired you from Byzantium.” Said Burkes as he took the cup he handed him.
“Why is that?” Davos was more curios.
“Since Sparta defeated Athen and took control of the Aegean Sea, it has been stipulated that ‘any city-state that wants to hire soldiers within the sphere of influence of Sparta must obtain their permission.’ And Byzantium is now being occupied by Sparta, which also belongs to the sphere of influence of Sparta. In the past, Sparta only allowed Dionysius of Syracuse to hire soldiers in Sparta for a long time, and even the local soldiers.”
“Dionysius?”
“The tyrant and dictator of Syracuse!” Burkes said in disgust, he obviously did not have a good impression of him, and Davos noted the name.
“Fortunately, in this special case, I manage to persuade the council of elders of Sparta to issue a certificate of employment.” Burkes took a sip of water and sighed, “Even so, I had to spend another half Taras to passed through. Alas…how could the general of Sparta become so greedy now!”
He looked at Davos and said, “I hope you can prove that my expenses is worth it with your performance in the battlefield.”
“You'll see!” Said Davos seriously.
Then someone on the opposite ship shouted, “Davos! Davos!”
Author's Note: It is only up to this chapter that the story of Davos in Persia came to an end. Does he still have a meeting with the mercenary leaders such as Timasion and Cleanor, as well as with the Persian Satraps such as Tissaphernes and Orontes?
Find out next time on Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Z
