That day, the Syracusean informant delivered a news about the Parthian’s plan to attack Syracuse. Amiran ordered to raise the defence in the city, as the Parthians might attack anytime from the Ionian Sea.

Amiran dislike naval war, it was the most dangerous and deadliest compared to any land battles throughout the history. Although Syracuse had developed their battle ships and strengthen their city wall defence, naval battle was always a challenge. And it was also the very reason why Rome taken Syracuse as their important ally.

The Romans were superior on their land battles, but inferior on the ocean. Syracuse gained advantage when their engineers had designed the Quinquereme, a powerful warship with corvus, a boarding crow that helped the Romans gained advantage on naval battle. Perhaps that was the reason for the Syracuseans were known as highly intelligent and were blessed by the goddess of wisdom herself.

Upon receiving the news about the possible Parthian attacks, Amiran immediately increased the frequencies and number of patrol ships. Hector was tasked to defend the seashore area, with over twelve thousand men, over thirty catapults, helepolis, artilleries and Greek fire throwers. Total of 100 battleships were under his command, guarding the seashore.

While Amiran himself led the army to defend the coastal wall facing the Ionian Sea. For they were expecting the Parthians will attack Syracuse from the east side of the city. Guarded by 150 battleships and with ten Archimedes's claws hung across the sea wall, the bulls and soldiers behind the them were all ready to pull the claws to flip enemy’s ships when they arrived.

Arete was tasked to defend the South West side of the coastal wall. The side facing the Strait of Messina. The Parthians were unlikely to attack them from that side. The straits were guarded by Carthaginian, who had signed peace contract with Rome.

Only over three thousand men and two Archimedes's claws, three catapults and five artilleries guarding her sea wall. She was given only 6 large battleships, and another 24 nimble triremes loaded with barrels of naphtha. They were common used as fast attack warships since they were smaller in size.

Arete gazed towards the strait, they had been waiting for days. The night sky was dark and there were no signs of enemy’s ships. She gave a signal, calling the patrol ships to have their rowers taking a break. Naval battle can be extremely exhaustive, and she needed to make sure the rowers able to perform their best when enemy attack.

The informant instructed the troops with gesture, while they had a large canvas held by four soldiers, covering and uncovering the large fire torch in the direction to the sea. That was the way they sent instructions to the battleship captains. During the bright daylight, they use smoke, in the night, they use burning torches.

The patrolling triremes had stopped sailing after they receive the signal. The rowers were taking breaks, stretching and had a moment just sitting in the cabin. They were mostly poorer men hired to perform the simple task of rowing according to instructions.

An informant ran towards Arete and shouted, “Madam Arete! There are about 200 Parthian ships heading towards our city from the Ionian Sea. Lord Amiran and General Hector had ordered to fire the catapults!”

Arete’s troops heard the news and they were worried about the war. But they just received Arete’s instruction to relax their patrol.

“Madam, should we move to the other side to help defend our city?” Asked Arctus.

“No, we stay here to defend our side.” She answered.

“It doesn’t seem possible for the Parthians to attack us here.” Peatrus added.

“It seems like Lord Amiran just wanted to prevent us from participating in the battle.” Arctus said.

Arctus and Petraeus were both seniors in Arete’s troops, they had experience of defending Syracuse’s sea wall. And they knew no enemy will attack them from the strait. Furthermore, the Parthians came from the East side. They had been guarding the straits for weeks, and if the Parthian ships were to attack their side, the patrol ships should have seen them sailing into the strait.

Matea was holding a tube of Greek naphtha, patiently gazing at the strait as Arete did. She never had experience in a sea battle. Looking down to the ocean from the top of the city wall, Seneca’s words came into her mind.

How is he doing? Is he still alive and well?

Another informant rushed to Arete and he was panting and nervous, “Madam, about 30 Parthian ships had successfully landed on the shore at General Hector’s side!”

Arete did not reply him, she continued staring at the side of the straits in its complete darkness.

“The sky is strangely dark. I can’t even see the stars. Our patrols already stopped rowing, but there’s a sound…” She said.

“Set the catapults and ready to fire!” Arete raised her hand and commanded.

“Fire? Which site?” Peatrus asked.

“Are we moving to Lord Amiran’s site or General Hector’s site?” Arctus added. Both of them were confused by her command.

“Fire the payload toward the strait! Now!” She yelled.

The soldiers were stunned, they did not see anything from the strait. Aretes command sounded wasteful. And what if the payload accidentally hit one of their own patrol ships? Unconvinced by her command, they loaded the payload on top of the catapult.

Matea ran to one of the loaded catapult, sprayed some naphtha on it, and ignited the payload with the flamethrower. She kicked the trigger and the payload threw towards the strait as ordered by Arete.

“What are you doing? Careful with the naphtha, you could have burn that catapult!” Arctus yelled anxiously. The black liquid was known to be highly flammable.

The burning payload flew and lit up the surrounding area. It hit something and they realised that there were enemy’s ships moving towards them. They had been hiding behind the thick dark smoke.

The visuals became clear when the enemy stopped the burning on their smoke pit to prevent fire spreading.

“The Parthians’ siege ships… No, those are not Parthian’s, those are… those are Carthaginian’s!” a guard shouted in horror.

Who would had known, the Carthaginian’s siege ships would came to attack them? The worst naval enemy they could ever had, and they were supposed to honour their peace agreement!