After saying that, Senan looked at Kinduk sitting near the stage, then quickly lowered his gaze and sat quietly.
Despite the other Caudini tribes disliking the tribes in Nuceria due to their closeness with Theonia, the tribes in Nola and Nuceria got along quite well since they are close neighbours. Moreover, the tribes in Nola also received some benefits from the close contact between Theonia and Nuceria. There was even a time when Senan had a fever and sought help from the priests, but he couldn't get well. In the end, Kinduk learned of the situation and invited the physicians of Theonia to treat him. Only then was Senan's illness cured. Hence, after arriving in Nola, Kinduk immediately went to find Senan. It was only when he received the promise of full support from the organiser of this gathering that he felt relieved.
So Senan's gaze at him made Kinduk feel everything was under control.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Segobani stood up.
The Samnite's tribal election for a great chieftain doesn't always happen due to the death of the great chieftain. Sometimes, when the great chieftain is too old and can no longer work, he will also take the initiative to abdicate and use his remaining influence to ensure that the candidate he chooses will be elected. But this would be the first time in a hundred years since someone forced a great chieftain to step down because the enemy captured him, so some chieftains below the stage looked at him with disdain, pity, gloating, and so on.
Segobani slowly straightened his chest as he stood on the stage with his head held high. He then glanced at the crowd without any hint of embarrassment. On the contrary, there was a hint of viciousness on his face as he exclaimed, “Before making the important announcement, I'd like to invite a few important people to come up to the stage!”
In the direction he pointed, the warriors on the outer perimeter gave way to a passage where four people walked directly towards the wooden stage.
A commotion arose as all the chieftains looked surprised because these four people were: the great chieftain of the Hirpini – Lesguk, the great chieftain of the Pentri – Badani, the great chieftain of the Caraceni – Konteruk, and the high priest of Savoni – Rhogni.
‘Why are the four most powerful people of the entire Samnite Tribal Alliance, who should be staying in the east of the Samnite mountains, appear here at the same time?! Why did they come?!’ The same questions appeared in each chieftain's mind simultaneously.
But for Kinduk, apart from feeling surprised at seeing these four people appear, he also felt uneasy. He immediately looked at Senan on stage because he didn't mention these people would appear at today's gathering when he went to meet him earlier.
But at this moment, Senan just kept his head low and didn't dare make eye contact with him.
Segobani, on the other hand, went to greet the four men with a smile after seeing them on stage. This made Kinduk's anxiety increase, causing him to suddenly stand up, turn around, and about to leave. The other chieftains of Nuceria also stood up in response.
Segobani then asked, “Chieftain Kinduk, where are you going?!”
“Where I am going is none of your, who is no longer the great chieftain, business!” Despite the unfavourable situation, Kinduk's tone remained strong.
“I, the high priest, and the great chieftains of the other three major tribes unanimously believe that Segobani was not only the great chieftain of Caudini in the past but also the future!” The words of the high priest caused an uproar below the stage.
“The tradition dictates that the priest and the other three tribes have no right to interfere in the internal matters of Caudini!” Kinduk shouted angrily, “This isn't the sacred mountain, nor is it the territory of the other tribes! This is Caudini!!!”
“They will not interfere in Caudini's election!” Segobani sneered and looked at the crowd, “Which among you chieftains is against me continuing to be the great chieftain? If you do, stand up!”
As soon as he said that, some chieftains shouted, “We support Segobani to continue as the great chieftain of the Caudini tribe!”
Despite their opposition, some chieftains didn't dare to stand up at this moment. They were afraid of Segobani's retaliation in the future when they saw the situation wasn't looking good.
As a result, only Kinduk and the other chieftains of Nuceria stood alone in the centre of the venue.
“Segobani, is this how you will carry out the selection of the great chieftain?!” Kinduk asked loudly.
“We are now at war, so we should keep everything simple for the sake of war, which is also the oracle given to us by Savoni!” The high priest Rhogni interjected.
“I can't agree with your reckless disregard of tradition! I will never agree with this seizure of power that relies on outsiders to snatch the position of the great chieftain!” Kinduk pointed at Segobani and spoke sharply. At the same time, he turned around to leave with an angry expression.
But suddenly, more warriors rushed from the venue's perimeter and used their swords and spears to stop him from leaving.
“Segobani, what do you mean by this?!” Kinduk's expression changed as he angrily grasped the spear pointing at him with his hand. Then he accused him angrily, “Do you want to murder your rival in this sacred gathering?! Then come and stab me through my chest with this spear and show the people of Caudini how vile the great chieftain they had elected!”
When the Nucerian chieftains behind Kinduk saw this, they also began shouting, “Run, everyone! Segobani is going to kill us!…”
Despite their shouting causing some to panic, about one-third of the chieftains had already learned about this beforehand and sat still. As a result, the venue didn't become chaotic.
Then Kinduk and more than seven Nucerian chieftains tried to break out but were surrounded by dozens of warriors holding spears and wooden shields, and the atmosphere became tense.
Segobani then shouted from the stage, “Chieftains, just like I had said at the start, I have an important thing to announce to everyone. Do you all know why we suffered a crushing defeat when we plundered the Campanian League?! It's because the Theonians knew about our plan beforehand and our focus of attack. Hence, they had sent their army to Campania earlier to set an ambush on our route and attack us suddenly, ultimately leading to our crushing defeat.
During my imprisonment, I had pondered deeply. However, it was only when I finally received some information that I determined that there were traitors among the Caudini chieftains who had close dealings with Theonia and who, knowing of our plan, had secretly informed them beforehand, resulting in our ultimate defeat! So, who are these traitors?!”
Segobani's words made most of the chieftains subconsciously look at the surrounded Kinduk and others on the edge of the venue.
“The traitors are naturally these men from Nuceria!” A chieftain from Caudium angrily shouted while pointing at Kinduk, “They had already planned it long ago, which is why they had refused to participate in the plundering! So while we wept bitterly for the people captured and died in the war, they continued to have close ties with the Theonians and even worship their gods!”
That chieftain's words immediately dissipated the sympathy of many present towards Kinduk and his companions.
“Nonsense! Nonsense! Segobani, you actually placed non-existent charges on me to cover up your own incompetence!…” Kinduk roared angrily.
Segobani waved his hand and exclaimed, “What are you still waiting for? Immediately arrest these traitors!!”
The warriors rushed forward and pushed Kinduk and his companion down, quickly tied them up and blocked their mouths.
The high priest also spoke seriously, “Everyone, we Samnites had lived in this land for hundreds of years but are now facing a massive crisis. The Theonians not only want to occupy our lands but also wants to make us their slave and worship their gods! So, for the sake of the survival and continuation of our race, we need to unite our four major tribes to go to war with Theonia! Thus, any tribes that passively avoid the war will become a sinner of the Samnites and receive Savoni's punishment!”
“Bring that traitor Kinduk here!” Segobani shouted.
The warriors carried the struggling chieftain of the Nucerian tribes. But while passing through the venue, Kinduk pleaded for help from the nearby chieftains. However, they quickly avoided his gaze.
Once he reached the stage, he watched as his enemy Segobani pointed at him and shouted to the crowd, “Shall we execute this traitor?!”
“Execute him! Execute him!…” Some people kept shouting, while others remained silent, with no one expressing opposition.
Knowing he wouldn't be spared, Kinduk focused his eyes as he gathered strength in his leg and violently broke away from the warriors behind him and crashed into Segobani, who was agitating the crowd. Fortunately, the agile Lesguk managed to pull Segobani to his side. Otherwise, the great chieftain of Caudini would have been knocked off the wooden stage.
Amidst the exclamation of the chieftains, Kinduk, with his hands tied behind his back, rushed straight off the stage and hit the ground headfirst. His head instantly gushed with blood as he fell to the ground, convulsing, and looked like he would not survive.
The chieftain who witnessed this tragic scene felt saddened.
Segobani, on the other hand, hurriedly thanked Lesguk after breathing a sigh of relief. Then he glared menacingly at the other Nucerian chieftains and shouted angrily, “Savoni had already punished Kinduk! If you want to live, you must gather your tribesmen and declare war on Theonia to gain Savoni's forgiveness! Choose!”
Some Nucerian chieftains still glared at Segobani while others bowed their heads.
Lesguk, on the other hand, was looking at Kinduk soaked in a puddle of blood and thought, ‘It would be wonderful if it were Garni!’
Still, he understood that with Beneventum and Abellinum's strained relationship like enemies, it would be impossible for Garni to leave Abellinum to go to other areas in Samnite alone, like Kinduk.
Suddenly, he heard the great chieftain of the Pentri – Badani say, “Finally, I helped Segobani settle this matter!”
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