As Konogorata lay recuperating in his bed, news reached him that sent shockwaves through his weary heart: slaves from Thurii's stone quarries had revolted. They had overpowered their guards and fled, some even seeking refuge in Amendolara. Soon after, envoys from Thurii arrived, demanding their immediate return.
In the Amendolara Senate, the tension was palpable as Thurii's envoys stood across from representatives of the escaped slaves. The air seemed thick with hostility.
Leading Thurii's delegation was Pleisinas, a man whose fiery rhetoric had helped incite the mobs that expelled Konogorata from his home. Pleisinas now strode forward, his voice loud and accusatory:
"Amendolara is an ally of Thurii! Is this how you treat the emissaries of your ally? Refusal to comply with our request will force us to reconsider our alliance!"
The boldness of his declaration caused murmurs to ripple through the senators.
