The Royal Council

[The Celtic Viking]

"No, I haven't gained any such reports, so this comes as a surprise to me. Why wasn't new soldiers raised elsewhere and sent there as reinforcements?

As for the terms, I can't say to any certainty, because I don't know the mindset of this Makedon commander - indeed, I don't even know his name. I doubt that any of you know his mindset either, so I don't suppose you can make any clear assessment on that, either. It must be done by the diplomat on spot. If it's true that they've lost all their land in Greece - which is none too surprising, given that we have, because of these filthy rebels, been unable to send proper support to them against the Epeirotai. It is possible then that they may be striking out of desperation. It is possible that, should we give them the safe passage and support to strike at Byzantion instead, and that way gain a foothold back to their ancestral lands, that may change their minds, as I think the Makedonians would prefer to have Makedonia freed than to occupy our lands, and it would also solve the problem we have with the Epeirotes. So that offer should be put on the table.

We can talk about 'skinning them' all we want, but without the proper tools to skin them with, any such threats would be empty."

Hilarion turns to Achaikos.

"Do you seriously hold that lord Sarpedon's sympathies lie with the Makedonians rather than with himself and his own kingdom? Don't you realize how absurd it is for you to insinuate such a thing?

I am not an idiot either, nor is anyone else here in this Council. You do not need to tell us that laying siege to our cities is an act of war, because we all know this already. It is self-evident. I am not suggesting avoiding going to war against them because I don't think we have a valid reason to do so, but because we apparently don't have anything to go to war against them with. We must do all we can to solve this issue diplomatically, because with both the Lydian and the Satrapal army of Ipsos beaten, there's no military option left, unless you would have the 1st Syrian march all the way from Africa to do this - and actually think they could get there in time. All other armies are already predisposed elsewhere."