H7

We marched straight north, through Epirus, before exiting out of my kingdom via the Northern passes and into the lands of the Byllones. The Byllones had long since been Hellenized and submitted to the rule of Glaukias. Their small army had remained within their capital at Byllis since the start of Bardyllis' attacks, sallying forth to mop up the odd raider band. As we marched by Byllis, their army sallied forth to meet us.

Ranks of Illyrian Theurophoroi, in iron mail shirts and bearing spears and theuros shields, were accompanied by slingers and javelinmen in leathers and bearing small buckler-style shields. At the head of the Byllones force was a group of cavalry, lances at rest for the moment and wearing iron breastplates and greaves, with attic helms adorned with feathers as opposed to the heavier Illyrian style helms worn by the thureophorai. At their head was a man whose breastplate was chiseled into flattering musculature and whose helm bore a purple plume instead of the feathers. This rider bore a pennant with him that I recognized as belonging to the Royal House of the Byllones.

As the Byllones army arrayed itself into a line I halted my own force and ordered it to do similar. It would be suicide for them to fight me like this, as my force was several times their size and heavier equipped to boot. Therefore, I reasoned they must want to talk. Sure enough, the rider with the Royal Standard rode forward, flanked by a pair of other, less ostentatious riders. I spurred my horse forwards to meet him, flanked by the closest pair of riders I had.

As we got closer to the Byllones party, I realized that the Ostentatious rider was young, perhaps 7 years my junior. A teenager led this army and I didn't know why. Pyrrhus' memories supplied that King Agron of the Byllones should be in his 50s right now, not 17. As we finally reached halfway between our armies, Pyrrhus' memories supplied a name to go with the face. Astios, King Agron's younger son. Astios was second in line to inherit the throne after his older brother Pinnes. If he was riding forth, something was wrong.

"Hail Astios, I bring you greetings from Epirus and hopes that no blood need be shed this day!" I called out.

"Why has Pyrrhus come with an army into Byllus? Has not enough threat been levied by Bardyllis and his Dardanian Curs? Must we suffer an Epirote assault as well?" Bit out Astios, sullenly.

"I come not to make war with you, Astios. I come to aid Epulon of the Taulantii against Bardyllis, for the love I bore his father." I called back, confused.

"And must Byllus be your battleground?" Asked Astios, wearily.

"I am not planning battle here, simply passing through on the way to fight. I had hoped the Byllones might join with me. Will you not ride forth with me to crush the Dardanian Tyrant?" I asked.

Astios frowned in thought for a moment before he let out a breath, body visibly relaxing in his saddle. "Peace, Pyrrhus. I meant no offense. In truth, Bardyllis has dealt us a grievous blow without our army even taking the field. My father, King Agron, and elder brother, Prince Pinnes, had gone to Tirkanos to do their homage to King Epulon when Bardyllis invaded. They rode north with the force that took heavy losses at the Drilon this past summer. My father did not survive the battle and my elder brother did not long survive him, as his wounds festered." He sighed.

"You have my condolences, then. On the passing of your father and brother. Will you not march with me and avenge their deaths?" I asked.

Astios shook his head and asked, "May we speak plainly and dispense with diplomatic speech for the moment?"

I nodded and far less formally, replied, "Speak your mind, kid."

"Pyrrhus, I'm not in any hurry to fight an enemy that no one has been able to beat yet. My dad and brother thought they could and look at what happened! How are you so certain that you'll fare any better?" Groused Astios, no longer speaking like a Courtier.

"I have a couple of things that he doesn't. A large well-drilled and disciplined army, a few tactical advantages, I know where he'll strike next, and more importantly, he doesn't yet know I've thrown in with Epulon." I grinned.

"Tactical advantages? And what do you mean you know where he'll strike next?" Asked Astios.

"Look, he's forced the Drilon and beaten back Epulon's army from the frontier, yes? That means he has only one place he can strike if he wants this over with before winter freezes the mountain passes east into the Parthini lands he controls and cuts off his supplies. He has to leave the Lower Genossos Valley and march on Tirkanos to take the Capitol. That's pretty much a straight line west, yes?" I prodded.

"No, it can't be that simple. Bardyllis has been sending raiding parties out of the Genossos Valley since last month! You only do that when you're planning something complex!" Protested Astios.

"No, you do that when you want to confuse your opponents as to your movements. Anyone can see he needs to take Tirkanos before winter. He's trying to confuse Epulon into thinking he'll take a circuitous route so that he spreads his remaining men thin chasing raiders and the possibility that he'll take the long way. That way, when Bardyllis actually takes the short way to Tirkanos, the Taulantii will be out of position to contest his capture of the city. It's the only way he can take the city by storm without a siege that will last through the winter." I corrected.

I could see the possibility dawning on Astios as I mentioned it. For a King, the kid had a pretty bad poker face, which was something we'd have to work on at some point if he was going to be a useful client. I'd cut him some slack for now, though, since he probably wasn't expecting to need to take the throne so soon. As Astios' face hardened into a picture of resolve, I knew I had him.

"I can see it. It'd be just the sort of thing to confuse Epulon. He always did prefer courtly intrigue to war. Very well, the Byllones will march with you. Revenge for my father and brother!" He growled.

Turning to his bodyguard, Astios said, "Inform the captains! We march to end Bardyllis!"

Soon enough, the Byllones and their small, 3,000 man army had joined me on the way to fight Bardyllis. Marching north to pull Epulon's chestnuts out of the fire.

We would cross into Taulantii lands not 3 days later. . .

XXXX

AN: A lot of license has been taken this chapter with names, since we don't actually have a complete picture of Bardyllis' takeover of Glaucias' Kingdom after the latter's death, nor do we know the names of Glaucias' heir or the Byllones royals. Just that they existed. We don't have a lot of information between Glaucias' death and Pyrrhus' IOTL intervention, but we do know that Pyrrhus and Bardyllis eventually agreed to share southern Illyria between them.

ITTL, the Intervention is going to go far better for Pyrrhus.