Claudius' ban

2

Queen Pia had send seventeen Roman hired troops towards the town where her daughter was settled in the country of the British Paris people. Pia paid those troops, whom she rented from the Cimbrian legion, each 25 golden coins for a half years service (their daily care included in the costs). In total she paid 425 golden coins to the troops and 2000 silver coins to their general. The troops contained mostly men from Nerigos that left for Gaul to seek a job in the Roman army. The Cimbrian military camp, stationed in the south of Cimbria (Denmark), has 6600 stationed legionaries, 2000 auxiliary troops and 1130 hirelings that the governor of the military town rents occasionally to neighboring countries. The group of 17 are from those 1130 hirelings. The camp is also surrounded by small villages that were build by local civilians to benefit from the economy. The Cimbrian legion is not stationed inside the Imperial borders. Their camp is aimed to guard Roman merchandise of Romans who trade in the Baltic Sea and Scandinavian region. They also aid the small client kingdoms in Greater Germany that are under Roman rule. The 17 arrived at the Parisian shore. One of them spoke to the harbor master and showed him the documents. Pia send those troops as personal guards of her daughter and her three slaves. She even sealed the document with her seal as "Pianna The Lusitanian, Queen regnant of Luso-Nerigos".

Verita witnessed the scene from the window. Not knowing what exactly was going on. She did see that the troops walked further into town. After she prepared the dishes she told Tamila what she had witnessed. Tamila told her to calm down. After they all ate dinner, the slaves were cleaning up. Tamila left the apartment and found that the men were standing at her apartment complex. One of them handed her a letter.

"Daughter, I received news from the Cimbrian camp that Emperor Claudius will further expand Roman territory into Britain. I have send spies to some of the towns near that camp. You know how those young slave girls are, naive and very attached. One of them used their charms on the guards (by pretending to be a prostitute) while the others broke in and stole some documents. Those documents, less than three months old, are my sources. The Paris kingdom has surrendered, but I still don't trust the situation. I'm glad you are safe and well over there. I've hired these men, skilled warriors, to defend you and your house over there. They will lodge in town and they will keep an eye on you for over a year. I've already paid them and their general. It's all settled. Meanwhile, they will also serve as a navy transportation any time you want to visit me in Jehuda town. The people here in Nerigos are already scared. Many expect a sudden invasion by Claudius. This is the reason they deported many people to Britain: to occupy the Roman British government with more people to take care off. By doing this the leaders of Nerigos hope to occupy the Roman government, so that they will delay or forget about Nerigos. The Cimbrian legion alone is something that's seen as a form of Roman aggression. The Nerigos army is not well trained to defeat a whole legion, let alone two. Also, the location of Nerigos makes it quite vulnerable. If a legion from the western shores would attack and also the Cimbrian legion in the eastern bay, Nerigos will surely be lost. Besides that, there are Scandian tribes in the east that might join the Roman camp against us. Anyway, you are safe over there. Don't be scared nor feel intimidated by these men. And please, once in a while, come over to Jehuda town. Since the death of Parisius, around almost 10 years ago, many luso-Nerigos people left for Gaul. Jehuda town has only 14.000 people left. Around 9000 left! One advantage is that I received large plots of farmland in the fjords by the leaders of Nerigos. It's land that became part of jehuda's administration after many peasants left for other towns or for Gaul and abandoned their properties. So I'm planning to build small apartments on those farms. In order to rent them so that the treasury will be filled. To be honest, darling, Jehuda town is no kingdom anymore, and that was no secret. And we are almost bankrupt over here. I want to continue my lavish and indulging lifestyle so I make my slaves work. I only have around 12.000 silver coins left and about 800 golden standards. The elders that are left are broke! If the town goes bankrupt we will loose the little bit of autonomy we still have. If you only had a son I could bring him over here to be installed as the ruler, as a coverup. Only male leaders are respected her in Scandinavia, just as in the Roman world. It's even a miracle that I'm permitted to remain with my seat of influence over here. By the way, tell Verita that I miss her, she always kept me company when I was lonely - which is always - and I enjoyed the delicious meals she always made. By the way, Anna, the previous wife of King Ludo and later also the wife of his son King Parisius, moved back to Jehuda town. Her daughter Anna, 11 years old now, has joined her. Anna now is with some German guy she met in Cimbria. She has a son with him, Danilo, who is five at this moment. He is a bright boy with good language skills. If you don't get a baby soon I'll appoint Danilo as the heir of is estate - if there will still be an estate left when he's an adult. Anyway, take care over there. If you find a handsome Parisian, who is also a member of the royal club, hook up with him and bring him to Nerigos. We will have a wedding party over here!"