"How can this be? You swore an oath to the Divines!" Bourkos pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation. "Leader Juleios, I beg you! Keep your soldiers here and aid Thurii one more time! I'll double your pay! Weapons? Thurii has plenty—I'll send them to you immediately! Manpower? You saw today's battle—Thurii lost over 2,000 men. We have no one left!" Bourkos lamented, his knees threatening to buckle beneath him.
Juleios's expression hardened, his cold eyes betraying no sympathy.
Panicking, Bourkos scrambled for another offer. "Let me think… Let me think… Oh! Thurii may lack soldiers, but we have strong, young male slaves from the copper and stone mines. Take as many as you need!"
Juleios stroked his chin, feigning deep thought. After a moment, he replied, "...Very well. But I have no provisions to feed these slaves."
"Thurii has food in abundance—grain, livestock. Take whatever you need!" Bourkos exclaimed, his desperation evident.
