The first thing I did when I returned home was take a bath. The second thing I did was spend time with Olympias and Ptolemy. Pyrrhus' daughter was now a 4-year-old and was starting to shed some of the shyness she had shown after her mother's death. As I spent time with her, she babbled on about all the things she'd gotten up to while I was away in that endearing way that young kids do when they're excited to see you. It seems my daughter has taken an interest in plays while I was gone. Her nursemaid had taken her to see a production of the Frogs by Aristophanes and she had greatly enjoyed all the humorous situations that Dionysus got into in the Underworld.
Pyrrhus' son, Ptolemy on the other hand, was now a year old and was crawling around. So much so that if he wasn't supervised by a maid, he would eventually escape from his nursery into the palace proper. He seemed to have 2 settings, go and sleep. There was no in-between with him. I could tell he'd be a terror when he got to toddling and resolved to keep an eye on him, or at least have a maid keep an eye on him, at all times. The last thing we wanted was a hyperactive toddler getting into places he shouldn't.
Still, both Pyrrhus' kids seemed to be doing well and the time I spent with them was pleasant enough. Whether it be introducing Ptolemy to the concept of building blocks or taking Olympias to another play, I would find time to do things with them over the next several months. A good dad puts the time in to see his kids, after all. Of course, I couldn't spend all my time with my family. There was a war to plan, an economy to manage, and a kingdom to run, after all.
On the economic front, Epirus was doing quite well. We'd had a bountiful harvest thanks to the horse collar, heavy plow, and 3-field rotation I had introduced. Land that had been marginal for farming due to rocky soil had been brought under cultivation with my innovations and for the first time in a while, Epirus had enough grain that we could afford to sell some and not need all our surplus for the granaries. We also were doing a brisk business in Sea Silk, which had become quite fashionable in Carthage and Egypt, due to North Africa's hotter climate. Our merchants brought in vast sums from the sale of silky, breathable, sea silk to Carthage and Egypt. Sums that were taxable and helped refill my coffers from the Illyrian Expedition. The salt trade was also booming, and my salterns were producing enough salt to increase the production of salted anchovies, which were sold around Greece and in Lysimachid Anatolia. Wine, wool, and olive oil also brought in money.
The biggest change came from trade with my new clients in Illyria. Iron ore, malachite, and copper ore came down from Penestae lands to be turned into steel, bronze, and green dye. Timber and hides came down from Taulantii lands to be turned into ships, wooden goods, and leather goods. Furs and marble from the Byllones, Salt, Wine, Linen, and Slaves from Nikonion and Epidamnos, even Fish and Timber from the rump Labatae state. Metalwork, sea silk, wool, salted anchovies, dyes, wine, olive oil, grain, and of course, the promised agricultural and military improvements went back to them. The whole system was extremely profitable for us. My clients got wealth, goods, and technology to build themselves up, I got more coin than I knew what to do with and economic influence over my various clients.
Within the first 2 months of the year, I had already refilled the treasury from what I had spent on the Illyrian War. By the time summer rolled around and my wedding was on the horizon, the treasury was quite full. More than it had been since Pyrrhus could remember, in fact. Something which I could feel the ghost of the Greek King salivating over in the back of my mind. More coin meant the ability to buy more troops, after all.
Speaking of military matters. I needed to call a meeting with Lysander of Naupaktos to discuss fulfilling the bargain I had made with the Aetolian League over an invasion of Macedon. The one-eyed former Peltast arrived at the Palace with a sense of gruff humor. "So, you're done with the Barbarians. I guess you've called me here to discuss our bargain?" He asked.
"Indeed. With matters in the north settled, we can begin planning a joint campaign against Demetrios. How many men is the Aetolian League willing to commit to an assault into Thessalia?" I asked.
"We can muster a field army of 18,000 for an attack into Thessalia. What about you?" Asked Lysander.
"We are currently training the newest generation of replacement troops to fill in for the 1,600 soldiers we lost in Illyria. Thankfully, victory does wonders for recruitment. If you give us until next summer, we can have perhaps 24,000 Greek troops, 28,000 if we call upon our clients in Epidamnos and Nikonion. I would leave the Taulantii, Byllones, Labatae, and Penestae stood down. They each suffered much in Bardyllis' various wars and my recent war, and are unlikely to contribute much besides tribal units anyway." I replied.
"46,000 troops. Demetrios can muster twice that many." Pointed out Lysander.
"True, but then he'd be leaving himself open for a Lysimachid attack." I replied.
"Lysimachus cannot order an attack from Thracian captivity." Cautioned Lysander.
"No, but he'll have been a prisoner for 3 years at that point and his generals will be getting restless. They might take an opening if it presents itself. Demetrios is shrewd enough to realize that and paranoid enough to not leave himself open. If my estimation of the man is correct, we will face no more than 60,000 men at any one time." I said, drawing upon historical metaknowledge for my characterization of Demetrios Poliorketes.
"That is a lot to wager on your estimation of the man. The Synedrion of the Aetolian League may demand an extra year of preparation when I bring them the news. What would you have available then?" Asked Lysander.
"I could perhaps muster a further 3,000 Greek troops from myself and clients. I may be able to call on Hellenized Troops from the Taulantii and Byllones, but no more than 2,000 of them at the most, there are limits to what 2 extra years of prosperity can do for recovery from war. Call it 33,000 Greek or Hellenized troops. Anything more would require hiring mercenaries. What of the Aetolian League?" I asked.
"With 2 years to prepare, we can fit out a further 4,000 troops for a total of 22,000. So 55,000 troops in our coalition. Would you be averse to hiring mercenaries?" Asked Lysander.
"I don't think we'll need to. If your Synedrion demands 2 years of preparation we should have more than enough troops to defeat Demetrios. I'm fairly certain we have enough to beat him with 1 year of preparation." I pointed out.
"Fair enough. About the plan of attack, what do you think about the disposition of forces? We'd be attacking through different areas, after all." Asked Lysander.
"I think we can attack through separate prongs for the first part of the campaign. You come up through the mountains and take Thaumaci, Coronea, and Proerna. We will come west through the mountains and take Gomphi, Phaeca, Limnaion, and Kierion. We will unite our forces around Pharsalos, and take the city. That ought to provoke a battle." I explained.
"And if we're challenged before we can unite our forces? What then? If Demetrios defeats us piecemeal, it will be a catastrophe." Asked Lysander.
"That is why I suggest couriers and scouts be sent out from both prongs at all times to keep in contact with each other and spot the enemy. If one of us is challenged, we can maneuver out of a battle, or failing that, try to hold out until the other can arrive." I said.
"Hmm, I will take your plan to the Synedrion, but they may want alterations done to minimize risk." Pointed out Lysander.
"Do as you need. I will be here in the meantime." I replied.
The months flew by with the tasks of rule. The economy, war planning, training new recruits, building 2 more dromons, and so on. I still managed to find time here and there to spend with Olympias and Ptolemy, though it was less than I'd have liked. 2 months became 4, 4 months became 6. Eventually, July of 294 BC dawned, and with it, a letter from Agathocles. He and the Syracusan Wedding Party would arrive in 2 weeks to begin setting up for my nuptials and to take Arcathagus back.
Arcathagus was another matter. Though he'd recovered physically from his Illyrian captivity, his moods still tended towards the dark. He was sullen for a 7-year-old and somewhat quiet. Every now and then, there was the suggestion of something darker hidden under the surface, a temper kept just in check. I was no therapist and wasn't sure how best to improve the boy's mental state.
He seemed to enjoy games and thought exercises, so I introduced him to a few as a way to lift his spirits. He enjoyed a game called Questions, the rules of which are simple. One person asks a question, which the other responds to with a question. If you repeat, use a non-sequitur, or answer with a statement, your opponent gets a point. First to 3 points wins. I cribbed the game from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Just 1 of a number of games I taught him. They seemed to slowly be bringing him out of his dark mood, but every now and again, that anger would bubble back up. Hopefully, with a bit more attention, Arcathagus would get back to normal. Maybe seeing his family would help? They arrived soon enough, in the 3rd week of July.
That was when I would finally meet my bride to be. . .
XXXX
AN: Just a general bridging chapter, folks are recovering from the war, with the trade stimulated by the SI's economic policies helping out a lot in that.
War with Macedon is planned in the next year or 2, depending on the Synedrion of the Aetolian League's requirements.
And of course, the wedding is coming up.