Roxanne, Queen of Noricum

XII

"What is that?" Diana enters the room "Wow! My God!"

Her appearance lights up and she jumps of joy. Both girls giggle and share the spoils together. When they come down Simon is eating some fruits.

"I SEE! You both became princesses now?" He smiles.
"Queen!" Diana shouts. "Queen of Egypt. Like Cleopatra was.."
"Hahaha... you want Egypt? Nah... give me Noricum!" Roxanne is wearing something like a crown.
"Roxanne I, Queen of Noricum.."

Someone knocks on the open door. It's a redhead, around 20 years old. She looks surprised at the three youngsters inside the Inn.

"Hello. I'm Arianne... and you are?"
"Diana Oroicus from Bohemia"
"Altheus Hebraicus from the Norick Kingdom"
"Roxanne Selicidiae-Pontifus from Frisia"
"Roxanne, why do you have two last names?" Arianne asks "You're a native Frisian, right?"

"My great grandfather is a kind of business man. He bought a Roman citizenship around 74 years ago in Lutetia. He chose the name "Pontifus". His later wife received a Roman right due to her father's military career in Italy. They were both Frisians. My great grandfather is around 104 now. My grandfather married a slave girl from the Batavian people, who adopted the name 'Serena'. Serena had a female cousin who later married her son, my dad. My dad decided to give us both last names. My grandfather died when I was 13 years old."

"So... you're partly Batavan too?"
"Yeah.. I am. I also speak a bit of Batavian"
"My brother has been to Noviomagus last year. Big city! Kind people!"
"Arianne, why is this place so abondend?" Simon interfered "Is seems like a famine wipes out a big part of the population".
"Didn't you guys hear the news?"
"What news?"
"There's new land available in Dacia. So many people left to start a new life over there. They are tired of the Roman navy regulating their interaction qt the Rhine.."

"But Dacia is also a Roman territory. .. isn't it? "

"Yes... but not all the land is conquered by Trajan. Furthermore, the wars have cost both the Romans and the Dacians a lot of money and troops. So.. for the recovery, immigrants are required to rebuild roads ans small cities. The wages are good. 10 Denarii a week. Enough to save money."
"I don't believe it. This must be a scam..."
"I'm not sure.. but at least 3000 people from Frisia, mostly, unemployed youngsters, left for Dacia about 6 years ago."
"Did any return back?"
"Well... two guys from my village left and returned with a small fortune and each two Dacian wives..."
"Hmm... I see"
"So.." Arianne looks outside "Why are you here?"
"We're travelling around" Roxanne explains "Altheus is on an expedition through Germany. So he is checking out this area around the German ocean"
"Where are you guys going next?"
"Is there a harbour city? In the North?" Diana asks "Somewhere, where we can rent a boat..."
"If you go to the north, you'll encounter the Marmamanis river.... near the end of the river you'll find Marmamanis city. And at the end of the river, there's a harbour village "Port Marmamanis". There are hundreds of cargo ships that pass through the harbour. I'm sure you will find something to rent over there"
"How far is it to Marmamanis city?"
"About 20 hours or two days to Marmamanis city. It depends upon your method of travel. I recommend to stay at Marmamanis for a few days before continuing to the port"
"Can you show us the way?" Roxanne requests, while handing over two Denarii from Simons wallet.