The Chronicles Of The Shark Empire

The Black Wolves of Crete

Said and done, Sarpi's most skillful men delivered the news to the nearest city-state known as Retion (formerly Terpandro).

They didn't want to pay, but when their strategos thought it over, he decided to pay his weight in drachma so they wouldn't get intrigued with a possible future ally. News of the Persian incursion spread like unstoppable fire, the neighboring city-states fearing the war power of the Persians more than they feared the Spartans, so they agreed to hold a meeting at which even Polymartians would be summoned, even if there were leaders who hated the idea, were forced to accept it, as the Polymartians were by far the most experienced in warfare.

The news was given to Count Demaclios, who consulted Sarpi and Kiro.

Sarpi thought it wasn't a bad idea, as long as he went with Kiro and 200 of the best men.

Kiro, on the other hand, thought it was a bad idea for them to go to such a meeting. He thought it was an ambush by cowardly enemies.

As Kiro was only giving the Count annoyance lately, the Count ignored his opinion entirely, preparing 200 of the city-state's best men, including 150 veteran sailors from Sarpi.

And Sarpi, fearing a Persian attack from the seas, divided his naval force in two, so that day and night there would be ships patrolling the seas.

A few hours later, the meeting began, the leaders of the city-states gradually arriving, the Count being the first to arrive.

They made their groups and isolated themselves from the Count, out of fear, envy and anger that they were not the ones with prosperous territory, or a capable right-hand man like Sarpi.

They discussed what they would do after confirming the news from Sarpi's men.

_We need to unite our armies, and I will be the leader of the coalition! said one of the archons visibly daydreaming.

_hahahahahah, what a joke, will you command our forces? the one who gets hit by his wife every day?

The entire hall roared with laughter, they were in a parlor in Retion, and their laughter, you could hear all over the city-state (which wasn't that big).

While everyone else was making a mess, the Count was sitting quietly and waiting for them to fall silent.

_I will be the Strategos of the coalition, Sarpi will be my Navarchos. And I will need 10 Hyerostratos (sub-commanders) to coordinate with different troops from different city-states.

There was still some noise, but when the Count spoke, the entire hall was silent.

Everyone looked at him, until one of the archons raised his hand and asked,

_And what will be the name of this coalition?

_We'll be the Black Wolves Of Crete, the worst nightmare of the Persians, when one of us falls, ten of them will go together, when our weapons run out, we'll fight with our hoes, if they run out, we'll fight with our nails, and something you don't should forget. we will never leave anyone behind.

The whole hall was silent, they all felt a strong energy go through their bodies, they felt younger, braver and faster.

The Count had used his ability: The Word Of War.