Gaulish plagues

9

Saulina noticed that two women staring at them. She also noticed that one of them had a sharp blade. Saulina poked Polina and warned her [in their native language]. When they were walking away, a small mob of seven women followed them. They hid in an ally besides the library. 

Valerius warned the centurion about what was happening. Within minutes there was huge civil unrest in Taraco. At the same time there were a group or twelve robbers that looted the Municipal bank while killing two employees in the process. Their looting was five vases filled with pure silver coins (around 2000 Denarii). Valerius noticed that the tensions would escalate. He ran towards a hotel near the harbour. Inside he encountered a young man, who was writing at a table. 

''Where is everybody?'' 

''Sir, I don't know you.. Why are you asking?'' 

''I'm Valerius Baeturianius Hispanius, former military commander of the Baetican navy,  I greet you!''

''Greetings Soldier! What is going on?''

''There's a revolt going on in this city. There are also thieves looting in town. I'm here to warn the guest to stay inside the hotel. Don't leave unless you need to!''

''Revolt?''

''Taraco is the Capital of the Northern Spain. Lusitania in the Southwest and Baetica in the south are the other Roman-Spanish provinces. This provincial capital is the closest to Rome. If this news gets to Rome, there will be legions send this way! The city would come under martial law! That is not something we should long for!''

''Is Martial law the usual thing?''

''No! Only when there is rebellion in a province or a town is martial law enforced. It implies that all citizens and civilians loose their rights temporarily and the army takes over all the decision making for a period of time''

''How long before Rome respond?''

''IF Rome responds. They will first try to solve everything on their own''

Valerius notices he's writing in Hebrew.

''You are an Israelite?''

''Oh.. yes!''

''What are you doing here in Taraco? The Israelite community lives in Baetica and Southern Lusitania..''

''I'm a diplomat...''

''For what? Judea is a Roman province with puppet kings governing it under Ceasar..''

''That doesn't stop us from being influential within the Empire. I'm here to mediate on behalf of Israelites in Gaul''

''Gaul? I heard that the Israelite community in Aquitania was masacred around 100 years ago....''

''There are some left... and there are new one that migrated to Aquitania..''

''That's something new. I never heard of that''

''How long have you been out of the army?''

''Several years! I'm still, however, aware of most of the developments that take place in Spain and Gaul''

''You knew that they are invading Britain?''

''I know... Claudius needs to invade another region to prove his worthiness as an Emperor. However, Its also to guarantee new markets for the economy''

''You ever been to Britain?''

''Yes I did. I visited the Southern coast of that place. I was there to guard some diplomats from Gaul''

''Is it a beautiful place?''

''A gorgeous place! I can't wait till that place becomes Roman territory!''

While Valerius was speaking they heard uproar coming from the outside. Valerius noticed the two women that rushed inside the hotel are the same ones he saw being preyed upon at the fora. Polina recognised Valerius.

''You.. weren't you at the fora this afternoon?''

''Yes I was..''

''Do you know those women that followed us... I noticed you staring at them when they were coming after us..''

''Those women are part of a death cult. They indulge into sexual violence upon children and other young women... to worship their weird gods. I warned the centurion of what I saw...''

''Well, the whole town is in uproar now. There are soldiers everywhere. We even heard that within a week 300 more troops will come to town..''

While she was speaking, they heard the sound of a mob rushing through the streets. When Saulina checked through the window, the mob was beating up a young boy. Valerius picked a blade, that was placed as a decoration on the wall, together with some heavy stoned, and he attacked the mob. The mob being driven apart fled away. The victimised boy, however, was already dead. 

Saulina ran to their room. Polina followed her. 

''Saulina...''

''We need to get the hell out of here Polo...''

''How?!''

''I don't know yet. Maybe.. maybe with a boat''

''Boat?''

''We can sail near the shore towards the south. Carthago Nova is about one or two days towards the south. Going through the road might be dangerous''

''I'm not sure if New Carthage will be such a good idea. It's quite far. We may go to Valentia. That city is much closer. And there are lots of bathing houses over there!''

''Fine.. Valentia is better''

''We can also just return to Tolosa..''

''We can't go there by ship..''

''We can sail to Narbo! It's a big harbour city! And the Capital of Narbonensis''

''Polo... we'll see what we'll do later in the evening. I need lots of wine now and a bath''

''I'll join you.. ''

''That Roman guy..''

''You mean.. Valerius..''

''Yeah.. Whatever his name is. I saw him before since we were here. He seems like a loner to me. He is often at the Fora. He likes to chase ladies and being nosy on other people's business!''

''So?''

''Do you trust him?''

''Who talks about trust? Saulina, we are in the Roman world now..  When in Rome, you do as the Romans do. That also implies when you're in one of their provinces. Look, I trust the people I meet in Roman towns far more than I trust our own countrymen. These people are predictable..''

''Maybe you've become Roman yourself''

''Maybe. I still hope that someday Carbonia and Savaria will be conquered by Rome. Our countries need to have some of the military and economic discipline Caesar is exercising''

''They are conquering Britain now...  maybe within 20 or 30 years it will be our turn to be Romanised''

''We'll see...''