The Royal Council

[MerlinusCDXX]

"Oh, yes, lord Sarpedon must be all over the place, doesn't he? He must put down the rebels alone in the east, but he must also squelch those Makedones in the west. Great as he is, he cannot be in two places at once!

But I will call for no session at this point. We have both the 1st Lydian and the satrapal army of Ipsos in the area. I shall call for them - there aren't many others. But let us first send them a diplomat, to see whether this is just some rogue general or really an order on their Basileus' part, and if it can be persuaded to back off."

I regret to inform you, Hilarion, that the Satrapal Army and indeed Satrap Nikarchos himself perished when Byzantion was overrun by the Epeirotes. Did you not receive my report? Panaitolios Ankyrikos is in Sinope with the severely understrength 1st Lydian Army, but has not come out of seclusion for some time, and I've received no orders to recall his army for retraining, nor has anyone moved units from that army to any training facility. But I will send a man of the diplomatic corps to Lesbos, I have Lord Phanias' seal handy to legitimate the order. What terms would be acceptable?