Demosthenes, who had entered the council earlier and sat in deep conversation with his excellent and trusty slave, catching up on council business, arose.

"Fellow Athenians, fellow Hellenes, business has kept me from this council for longer than I have desired. It is good, though, to see that so many fine minds dwell within our fine city. It is a great honour to be named Epistate of this council, one that I shall work to be worthy of, and I thank you for your kind words of support on that matter Arthourus. I shall make offerings to Athena Pallas for her grace, and for her continued blessing of wisdom to our great city, as demonstrated by you fine men of this council.

I thank you also, Arthourus, for bringing to the attention of this council the sentiment of some of the spartan council. I will say two things on this matter. First, that the individual who made the proposals that you refer to is something of a .....hothead, a losse cannon, perhaps, when his ire is raised. I believe that many of the other Spartan councillors were as shocked by his proposals as many here may have been. Secondly, the reasons for such ire can be addressed by us in this council. Suspicion has stepped between our two great cities in the past, and we must not allow it to poison our relations again. Again, I must commend Arthourus, for making clear that we offer Sparte much, that our actions are not for the benefit of Athens alone, but for the benefit of the Koinon. We must stand together. I will say, in fact, that we will stand only together. If we are divided we will fall. Truly, I believe it is that stark a choice.

The passing on of Areus is a loss to the Koinon. I believe he was a fine, intelligent and honourable man, of the noblest of intentions. Sparte's loss is our loss also.

I will now peruse the proposals put before this session of the council before casting my opinion upon them. Glory to Hellas, great men of Athens."

With that Demosthenes sat and began a long and involved discussion with his slave.