Amenus sat in his office fearing his almost definite demise. Segestica had been taken the summer before but the Julii did not give it up easily. They destroyed all but the remnants of the Illyrian mercenaries. To an added effect the Julii destroyed the walls. Now Segestica has none and the Greeks have their money for the war against Macedon and Pontus, not for the Italian campaign.
Now the walls have been destroyed and the Juliites are marching towards the city. Amenus watched as everyone fought. He was a good warrior but he was ordered by his father, the king, to live. In agony his Illyrians quaked in fear at the sight of the famous Manius the Wrathful. The door was slammed open as his runner came in panting.
"Your cousin has come from the Thessalonian siege. He has reached the ruins of the walls. The enemy will be destroyed," he said exhausted. He spoke the truth. The horses of Manius fell as spear rained from above upon them. The last Illyrians were rallied by the new factor. They charged against the archers with nothing but their knives allowing the other army to advance. Soon the enemy was fleeing at the sight of this true warrior.
Manius fled with the rest of the army in tatters. Angrily he looked back at the cheering Greeks behind him who had not lost as anticipated. He turned his head around and rode the rest of the way home.
Amenus came down to greet his cousin.
"Greetings Archemmeus. How goes thee?" Amenus asked.
"How goes I? How goes you, thine heir to throne who sits back in his chambers watching his men fight. You have no honor! Your Illyrians have pledged themselves to my cause. You are nothing. You have even lost your father's favor. I am the true heir to the throne!" He shouted. Without waiting for a response he marched off to the Italian borders. Realizing the awful truth Amenus wept.
