Blasius' envoy

13

Frogertha woke up beside Cedric. They had been lovers since his arrival in Norway. Cedric was still asleep. When Frogertha woke up she saw Karna staring at her.

''What the hell! Karna! How did you?''

''We need to talk! Come!''

Both walk into another house.

''Did you follow us?''

''What does this look like? That I came flying..''

''Why?''

''I should be the one asking you why''

''Look..''

''Frogertha! Just think for a moment! You are fleeing away with a soldier thinking that your life will become better''

''What are you talking about? How can you know what I..''

''Frogertha!''

''Urgh..''

''Do you really think that you're going to become happy with that guy. Soldiers are used to have mistresses when they are on their job. He is a Roman. He is probably married with children. He is only using you as his doormat to act out his desires. He doesn't care about you!''

''He does..''

''Then why this in secret? It's common for soldiers to have lovers around their military post. Its not even something that forbidden or a taboo. Why isn't he just open about you. There are more women involved with soldiers, you know. And you should know that because when you were still in that cult you used to witness this!''

''I don't want to go back to that house where I am in Cimbria. My master's wife is mistreating me all the time and that husband of her's has no backbone to deal with her. I'm not accepting it anymore. Fine, I can be a slave, but I'm still human''

''And you automatically think that just because a guy is using sweet words to you and sleeping with you that he loves you? Come on now!''

''What do you suggest? Tell me if you have a better Idea''

''Come back! In the villa there's warmth, food and supplies. I heard you arguing with him yesterday. I can understand your Celtic language. You were planning to flee to Berigos, and maybe sail secretly to Gaul? Where does he get the money? How will he sustain you after you arrive in Gaul? And where in Gaul? Gaul is quite big! We can leave now by horse and we'll arrive before dinner''

''Fine.. You're right! Absolutely right! This was a bad idea from the start''

''Don't bother with that guy! I never liked him at all! Neither that Joas! He is such an asshole!''

''They all are''

''And you thought he could save you! Come on, let's go before he wakes up!''

When the two women left the building, they saw Cedric standing with her sword in his hand. His eyes were filled with fury. 

''You bitches aren't going anywhere''

''Run!'' Karna screamed and dragged her friend with her ''Let's go!''

They managed to get on a horse quickly and rode away. Cedric haunted them by foot till they saw him no more. He was way behind them. Karna took a shortcut through the woods. They arrived at the other side of Hammer's town, which was at the forest near the Villa. 

''Be glad I went after you!''

''I'm glad!''

''He wanted to kill us''

''Hold on, Karna, isn't that the villa?''

''Yes it is!''

''From here you can see the whole building''

''Yeah... so?''

''From this hillside it's a bit suspicious that the villa has been build on this location''

''Explain yourself''

''Look! Roman villas are build near roads. Why? The wealthy Romans are dependent upon the supplies that the army are bringing them by land. Also, they frequently receive mail from news agencies concerning the developments throughout the Empire. Even in Roman colony cities outside the Empire all villas are build near roads. I've been to German cities that became Roman towns. They are all designed the same. What you see here is that this villa has been build on a lower hillside of a farm. Far removed from the road. Why is that?''

''There's more. Roman villas are only build in places where a Roman colony is established or somewhere in a Roman territory''

''So either this town was to become a Roman colony, or Norway was to become a Roman province, or some other kind of annexation was going on...''

''Why would a retired veteran chose to live in a non-Roman land? While in the Roman world he has all the world at his feet? That is quite absurd!''

''It doesn't make sense at all!''

''Also, those bodies that Joas dug up with Cedric... why are they doing it?''

''You think this is some kind of conspiracy?''

''Duh! What do you think this is? That Joas is some weird figure. Why is he so interested into this villa? Why did he go all the way to the Rhine delta to find information about this soldier? Also, I heard a rumour about that Joas. He is said to be a Cimbrian that wanted to become Roman so bad that he even lied about his background to get a Roman citizenship. He did get his citizenship, by bribing the civil government in Gaul. He is also suspected to have been involved with kidnappings of children in Gaul. He was removed from office in Gaul to avoid prosecution and defamation of the army''

''It happens that leaders and soldiers tend to become corrupt. Power corrupts...''

''That's not all. Isn't it a bit weird that a maritime officer of a low rank, who is only a postal worker, has so much power - even more power than the chief of the fleet?''

''Now that you mention it. It is quite strange''

''The Roman army is the most organised, disciplined and structured institution in the whole world. That's why their Empire is so strong and dominant upon the sea. Everyone fears their strenght. There's no chance that the army officials in Cimbria would permit this low life to lead his own group of soldiers. He is not even a real Roman, remember?''

''What do you think he is?''

''He is someone that uses dark forces to get ahead in life. There's no other way...''

''Come on...''

''Just think about it Frogertha! The success of this man isn't normal. Also, you should know that it was him that pushed the general at the Cimbrian camp to send out this cohort of legionaries together with the Cimbrian youth''

''I didn't knew that''

''Look, we will return to the house as if nothing happened. If he comes back, we will kill him if he tries to harm us. Plain and simple''

Right when the women wanted to ride towards the villa they noticed a group of Norwegian troops arriving from the South. Because of this they remained hidden in the wood. What they witnessed next was a battle that ended up in loses for the Romans. 23 men in total. The Norwegian troops fled away.