"Does it matter?!" Melanthius sneered, his face flushed with the flush of wine and defiance. His sharp gaze swept the room as he continued, "Where he and I were born is a matter of fate, and it's fate that has destined him for defeat!"
He raised his voice, addressing his audience as if commanding the world itself. "Turii and Amendolara are allies, are they not? I've heard that when my army approached Turii, Amendolara even promised to send reinforcements. Is that true?"
Ancitanus, standing among the captives of Turii, nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Amendolara's envoy claimed, 'Give us a few days to assemble our forces. Once our reinforcements arrive, Turii will surely hold!'" He emphasized the quote with satisfaction, watching Melanthius's face grow even redder with anger.
Melanthius turned sharply to his deputy, Timaras. "Tomorrow, send someone to question Amendolara. 'Why are you opposing Crotone? Demand that they immediately dissolve their alliance with Turii and ally with us!'"
