Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 5: Gods Favored

With a degree of fear, Davos navigated the bustling camp corridors, nearly stumbling multiple times. However, upon parting the tent flap and stepping inside, he was met with four curious glances, each carrying an unusual expression.

Yet, remarkably, the tent offered a quiet respite from the clamor outside.

“Davos, Cyrus the Younger…he’s deceased!” Olivos declared with a peculiar inflection, “You actually foresaw it, he truly is dead!”

“I’ve already grasped what the others conveyed,” Davos replied, settling back onto his makeshift bed, his agitation beginning to subside.

Hielos observed his comrade, a fellow villager with whom he shared deep familiarity. Still, Davos struck him as oddly different at this moment. “Antonios just visited, conveying that Ariaeus, Cyrus the Younger’s second-in-command, dispatched a messenger. The report is that Cyrus the Younger perished in combat. He’s currently marshaling the fractured remnants of the army to rendezvous with us.”

“Davos, I could throttle you for denying me sleep last night. But I never imagined you’d be correct!” Matonis sheepishly admitted, rubbing his head.

“What are our next steps?” Giorgris’s question drew those peculiar looks towards Davos once more.

Perplexed by their reactions, Davos waited until Olivos, impatient, prompted, “Spit it out! What divine message did Hades impart to you?”

Davos regarded them with surprise. It dawned on him then why their demeanor was so peculiar; they believed he had been favored by Hades.

When the news of Cyrus the Younger's demise reached Hielos and the others, they were astonished that Davos’s prediction had materialized. This led them to speculate about Davos. After consolidating their opinions, they collectively realized that nearly everyone suspected their youngest companion, whom they had looked after, had undergone a transformation. Awakening from his state of unconsciousness, his manner and speech had drastically changed, making him seem like an entirely different person. (Though Davos hadn't spoken much the previous night, the ingrained habits of a modern man naturally set him apart from his ancient counterparts.)

Thus, they concluded that Davos must have miraculously encountered Hades and received divine aid to return to the land of the living. Furthermore, his awakening itself was unnerving; they had discovered him on the battlefield, unresponsive to all calls, only for his eyes to suddenly snap open.

Now, faced with collective helplessness, their comrade who had purportedly received “divine intervention” was undeniably their sole beacon of hope for survival.

Davos found the situation amusing, recognizing the opportune moment. In this era steeped in ignorance, while the Greeks might not have been as fervently superstitious as the Persians regarding deities, the Greek gods were intrinsically woven into the fabric of daily existence. Nevertheless, Davos hesitated to claim any credit, knowing only of this historical event without possessing insight into its precise unfolding.

“What divine message? I merely entertain the most dire possibilities, as this allows me to prepare should danger arise.”

‘To contemplate the worst! Do we not know the person you were before? You were a simpleton, content with brawling and fighting! Now, this young man possesses strategic thought? If the gods did not bless you, how else could your speech have transformed?! Could it be that Hades instructed him to maintain secrecy?!’ The four exchanged knowing glances. The tales of deities, diligently recounted by their parents since childhood, had instilled in them an understanding of the gods’ capricious nature and the intricate web of taboos. Therefore, prioritizing their own safety, they ceased their inquiries, looking to him with expectant eyes.

The way they regarded Davos mirrored the hope of impoverished villagers who, upon Davos’s initial appointment as village official, had pinned their aspirations for a brighter future on the college student. Like them, he seemed uncertain of the path forward. Davos let out an internal sigh. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he inquired, “Does anyone here know of Xenophon?”

All four shook their heads.

“You believe Xenophon can assist us?” Olivos inquired, unable to contain his curiosity.

Davos smiled enigmatically. He found it odd that none had heard of him; online, Xenophon was renowned for leading a successful retreat and penning historical accounts, surely identifying him as a prominent mercenary leader!

“From which region does Xenophon hail? Is he affiliated with our contingent?” Hielos probed.

“He… potentially… he… should be an Athenian.” Davos still recalled Xenophon's place of origin. After all, Xenophon was a celebrated ancient Greek writer, a master tactician, and a student of Socrates.

“When I find the opportunity, I shall inquire among those in the other encampments,” Hielos stated earnestly.

“Let’s hope he isn’t under Clearchus! Otherwise, we’d be unable to approach him!” Giorgris interjected. The animosity between the two commanders, Clearchus and Meno, was so profound that even their subordinate mercenaries harbored mutual loathing.

“It’s merely a skirmish? We’ll simply defeat them! We Thessalians fear no such rabble!” Matonis declared with bravado.

“Who are you intending to fight?” The tent flap was pulled aside, and a man entered – Antonios.

From the recollections of his current body, Davos understood that he held the position of platoon leader. However, the individuals within the tent remained seated and reclining; none rose to offer a salute. They were, after all, mercenaries, and he possessed no actual authority outside of combat situations.

“We were just telling jokes,” Hielos stated.

“Such a racket outside, and you’re still cracking jokes? Excellent! Truly excellent!” Antonios remarked, his tone laced with jest.

He surveyed the men in the tent and addressed Hielos, “Meno has instructed me to relay a message to you squad leaders and to offer condolences to our comrades. Cyrus the Younger met an untimely end, but fortunately, his forces remain intact. Thus, we still maintain the advantage, while the Persians are at a disadvantage, a situation that persists. Tomorrow, after we rendezvous with Cyrus the Younger’s adjutant, Ariaeus, our numbers will swell to at least 30,000 men! With such strength, we shall once again vanquish the Persian king, securing far greater rewards for ourselves! Perhaps… perhaps we will even enthrone a new Persian king!!”

Antonios, pleased by their astonished reactions, started to turn away, only to be caught by Hielos’s hand. “Offering condolences is acceptable, but ensure they are fed adequately! While everyone consumed some raw horse meat last night, they remain famished! Furthermore, there’s no word from Mersis. If they cannot eat, I cannot guarantee their behavior!”

“Indeed! That’s right! If we don’t eat, we quit!” the entire group roared in unison.

Antonios rubbed his stomach with a sheepish expression. “I too am hungry; my belly is rumbling. Currently, the entire military camp faces a food deficit. In addition to pressuring Mersis for a solution, Meno himself has gone to seek out Proxenus, as I understand his camp sustained fewer casualties yesterday. However, even if we procure some provisions, it won’t suffice for everyone, so let us endure for one more day!” With that, Antonios hastily exited the tent.

Hielos let out a sigh and announced to the assembled men, “I shall check the other tent as well.” He too stepped outside. Hielos, being a squad leader, was responsible for nine men, and five other soldiers resided in the adjoining tent.

Previously, Davos had been preoccupied by the intertwined threads of his past and present existence, failing to notice his own lack of sustenance. Upon hearing the collective complaints, his stomach began to churn audibly.

Yet, he could only emulate the others, wrapping himself tightly in a sheepskin blanket and reclining on the “bed” to conserve his physical energy.

1. Xenophon was a disciple of Socrates who later joined the “Ten Thousand” mercenary force under the command of Cyrus the Younger.

2. Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher from Athens, widely recognized as a foundational figure in Western philosophy and the originator of the Western ethical tradition.

3. Proxenus of Boeotia was an associate and friend of Xenophon.