City of Dreams - Chapter Three
Hasdrubal strode grimly through the dark streets of the city, his guards having to go at a fast pace to keep up. Since the day he'd found out that Hanno was returning to Carthage, his son had been trying to think of a way around Yutpans dominance in the senate. Philosir had been approached twice, but was still firmly against them. The suffette's term of office would soon be up, but there was still enough time for him to deal out a great amount of damage to Hanno and his family. Hasdrubal spat out into the night, worrying about his father's return. Hanno had never been a great politician; only his great victory against Numidia had catapulted him into the powerful position of General. If the old man refused to back down against his enemies, he could end up dead.
They had arrived at their destination. The house loomed large in the darkness, its gates firmly shut against them. Hasdrubal took a deep breath, and called out in a loud voice.
"Alquat! Open the gates or I shall have them torn down!"
There was a sudden commotion from inside one of the windows, and a head soon appeared, its face contorted in fury.
"Who dares awaken a suffette of Carthage at this hour? Speak quickly!"
"Hasdrubal. Do you wish to threaten me?"
Alquat fumbled for words, at a loss of what to do. Finally he managed to get a question out.
"What...why are you here?"
"Give me entrance and I shall tell you. Or deny me and see what happens when you defy Hanno's representative in the senate."
Nodding quickly, the suffette snapped out orders to the guards of the house, who hurriedly opened the gates. Hasdrubal strode into the house, glaring at the servants who stood there gawking at the man who ordered their master around.
Alquat stood in the room looking dishevelled and worried. Hasdrubal knew that he could use the politicians discomfort to his own advantage, and took his cloak off revealing his sword. He smiled as the suffettes eyes darted down towards it, and began speaking.
"May I have a drink?" he asked, his tone kind.
Looking suspicious, Alquat had a servant pour him a glass of wine, having one himself which he drank slightly too quickly. Spluttering a little, he stammered out, "Now...why are you here at this time of the day?"
Hasdrubal smiled and held his arms out. "Alquat. Why so nervous my friend?."
He took hold of the mans shoulders and held them tightly. "We are of course, all friends here aren't we?"
Smiling nervously, Alquat nodded saying, "Yes. Of course. Friends."
"Good, I'd hate to be an enemy to you. Now, I shall tell you why I'm here. I have a slight problem in that your fellow suffette has prostituted himself to Yutpan, that devious pig."
"That's none of my business!" Alquat tried to turn away but Hasdrubal dug into his shoulders painfully, causing him to cry out. Hasdrubal leaned in close, and spoke quietly, staring into the mans eyes.
"I haven't finished speaking yet. Be seated."
He pushed Alquat down onto a chair and pointed accusingly at him, his tone harsh.
"You were given a seat of power that would be the envy of any in the known world. You are a suffette of Carthage! Yet you have sat cowering in the shadow of a small man, refusing to use the power given to you! You are nothing but a fool!"
Alquat went red in the face and stood up angrily. "Yes, I am a suffette, and you cannot speak to me this way senator!"
"Sit down." Hasdrubals voise was dangerously quiet.
"No! Begone or I shall have my guards throw you out!"
"Sit down!" Hasdrubal roared out the command, making the suffette stumble and fall into the chair, his guards racing into the room, blades drawn.
"No! Wait!" Alquat stopped them. Panting, he turned to Hasdrubal, almost in tears. "What would you have me do? They'd kill me if I stood opposed to them."
This was the chance Hasdrubal had been waiting for. He knew the only way to guarentee Hanno's safety and his own influence was to stalemate Yutpan and his pawns, and Alquat was the door to that.
"Join us Alquat. Support Hanno in the senate and you would have powerful friends to protect you from harm. Besides, those peace loving whores would never dare go against a suffette of Carthage. It would be so...violent for them. We on the other hand..." He stared straight into the aristocrats eyes, making sure he got the message. Nodding slowly, he turned and walked out, leaving Alquat staring after him deep in thought.
******
Hanno stood on the deck of the ship, staring into the horizon, and imagining seeing Carthage again. Gods, how many years had it been? He hoped that the city was the same one he had loved as a younger man, and that it hadn't been ruined by fools in the senate who knew nothing of the world beyond its great walls. His thoughts strayed again to the orders he had been given. Peace and friendship with Syracuse! Just the thought of it sent his mood thundering into darkness. How many loyal soldiers had died at the hands of those Greeks, just to be betrayed by the very people they fought for! Hanno hammered is fist on the railing. He would not betray his fallen mens memory. He would have his way.
The ship drew closer to Carthage.
******
"Brother!"
Hasdrubal turned, a smile spreading across his face as two men raced towards him in the senate hall. He laughed as the first embraced him, and he kissed him on both cheeks.
"Bomilkar! Burrhus! I didn't know you were back!"
"Aye, we had sent letters warning of our arrival but pirates sunk the ship they were on." Burrhus said it with a matter of fact tone which was typical of him. Second eldest of Hanno's sons, he was renowned for being a shrewd business man who was so rich he cared nothing for losses here and there.
"How was your stay in Numidia? I hope our allies were courteous."
Bomilkar, his youngest brother spoke up. He had only recently become a man, and this had been his first diplomatic journey. His face was alight with excitement. "They were polite to us. Their king continues to try and unify the tribes in the desert and sends his warmest greetings to Carthage, and our father personally."
Nodding thoughtfully, Hasdrubal addressed them both quietly. "I assume you have heard of Yutpan's coup against us last season?"
Narrowing his eyes, Burrhus looked over at the sweating figure nodding slowly. "We were...surprised at best brother. We struggled to believe that he has grown this powerful. Even our father may struggle against the influence that fat bastard wields."
"Perhaps. I played our final piece last night, though I know not if it worked."
The noise of conversation quietened as Philosir and Alquat strutted into the room, taking their seats in front of the benches of the senate hall. Alquat kept his eyes on the floor, nobody in the room able to catch his eye. Hasdrubal stared at him intently wondering whether their conversation the previous night had affected him. Once again, Philosir stood and opened the session.
"This senate is in session. This body has come together to discuss the General's coming return to Carthage, and what we shall expect of him."
Murmurs went around the hall at the vaguely worded speech. Tensions rose as it was realised that by the end of the session, Hanno could be returning to hostility and trouble instead of welcome. Unsurprisingly, the large bulk of Yutpan was the first to rise, coughing loudly as he stood. Milkherem rolled as eyes as the senator began speaking in a loud voice.
"Noble senators of Carthage! This Hanno that we elected General is using one of the oldest tricks in the book!" Yutpan ignored the jeers that had already begun. "He sent no word to us of his arrival! We had to rely on our own informers and word from the rabble in the streets! We must ask ourselves why! Why has he attempted to surprise us? I shall tell you!" He was interrupted by the suffettes who were angrily striking the floor with their staffs. One suddenly rose and shouted out, "Silence! You pack of dogs well keep silence when we tell you!" Hush suddenly hit the senate hall, as they realised it was not Philosir who had commanded them. Alquat stood and looked at them all sternly. Even Yutpan stood with his mouth slightly open, though he covered his surprise swiftly.
"Thank you noble suffette. My fellow brothers sometimes forget that we are a people of culture and civility." Many turned to him with poisonous looks, and the sweat on his brow increased.
"Now, I shall tell you why Hanno is acting as he is. He wishes to intimidate us into bowing into his demands! He wants to have his own way, and places his wisdom above our own!"
Applause rippled around the room, accompanied by angry shouts and snorts of disgust. Many senators stood, but Philosir waved them down as Yutpan indicated he had not finished.
"Therefore, I motion that Hanno be arrested at the docks by a company of Sacred Band, and accompanied straight to the senate hall to answer to this body!"
An eruption of noise filled the room, drowning out even the sound of the staffs, and Philosir had sto stand atop his seat and shout out for order before there was some semblance of calm. "Senators! A motion has been called! Let us take it now."
He was interrupted by movement at his side, and stood stunned as Alquat spoke, his voice echoing around the hall. The man had an aura of authority about him that he had never before possessed, and the expression he wore commanded silence. Yutpan sat down, as did every other senator to listen intently. "Yutpan. You motion has been defeated. I raise my veto against it and there shall be no more talk of bringing charges against Hanno. He has led our forces gloriously in Sicily. The least we can do is listen to what he has to say. And more than that, I myself bring a motion to turn the city out to welcome him in triumph. He deserves nothing less. Who stands against me?" At this he turned to look at Philosir who opened his mouth and shut it again quickly. The two men stared at each other for what seemed an eternity until Philosir slowly lowered his eyes and his head. Nodding to himself, Alquat looked up at the senate.
"All those in favour of this motion, stand." Humiliated, only Yutpan and a handful of others did voted against the motion, the fat aristocrats face contorted in fury.
******
The warning bell startled Theages out of his sleep, and he stumbled out of his bedroom grabbing hold of a guard. "What is it? What's happening?"
"Greeks my lord. They have amassed an army outside the walls."
Theages stared at him wildly. "But that's impossible! They were broken at Messene!" As he spoke, a warcry was heard from beyond the city and he turned his head in horror. Looking back at the guard while striding off he commanded him.
"Send riders to Lilybauem now! Get word to Carthage as quickly as possible. And send messengers to Messene. Tell whoever is in command there to bring the army immediately! We must hold the city!"
The guard saluted and ran off whilst Theages hurried to the wall, cursing loudly. The garrison in Agrigento was not strong enough to repel a determined attack.
"How did these damn Greeks recover so quickly?"
******
Hanno stepped off the ship and breathed in deeply, thanking the gods silently for bringing him home safely. A group of Sacred Band stood to attention and saluted as he walked past, falling into step behind him. Hanno entered into Carthage, a wide smile on his face as he saw the many thousands of citizens who were cheering him and chanting his name. He marched straight towards the senate hall, where every senator stood outside, applauding as he ascended the steps and he embraced Hasdrubal who had stepped towards him.
"Come son. Today is my day."