Scandinavian leftovers

4

Verita lived in her palace together with fourteen maidservants and eighteen male servants. Her two half-sisters, who were also her nieces, Alvira (Taianna) and Frogertina (Celine), daughters of her half-brother chieftain Parisius together with his mother, lived in the palace too. They moved towards the palace shortly after the Iceni revolt in Britain. Verita received them with open arms. Her mother lived in Savaria with her husband and their grown children. Her mother didn't desire any contact with her other daughters. She became a sour old woman who complained about almost everything. Verita was not involved in the government of the two districts. The rivalry between chieftain Olisipo and his son Oty caused heavy tensions in the Jehuda town's atmosphere. Verita's income came from investments her father made in corporations in Gaul. In his testament he willed that Verita would receive a monthly payment of 150 Denarii until her death. The money would be shipped from Gaul towards Jehuda town every three months. So, every three months she would receive 450 Denarii in an amphora. Aga, the Celtic girl Verita met in Corintania, also lived in the palace. She had a child together with her lover, who is a guard in Jehuda town. Alvira and Frogertina together had eleven  children. six by Alvira and Frogertina five. Their father is Bjarke, the son of the former female chieftain Pianna and her lover Adonis. Bjarke agreed to marry both women in exchange to remain in Jehuda town. Bjarke, however, left for Rhaetia a year ago. Since then, nobody had any contact with him. According to Jensen, another son of Bjarke, he began a new life with the wife of a centurion. Adonis, Bjarke's father, died five years ago. Chieftain Pianna is still alive. She is still living a promiscuous unnatural lifestyle. Her grandson Jensen is disgusted by his grandmother. Pianna is involved with three women who are the wives of Norse noblemen. She is blackmailing the women to give her jewelry, coins and invitations on mainstream parties. Her appearance is that of a 23 year old, even though she is, 61. She has maintained her figure and skin very well over all the years. She had no wrinkles and no bodily defects. Her income was dependent upon the three females she groomed for herself. Verita permitted her to visit the palace twice a month to visit her grandchildren. Yet, Verita made very plain unto her that if she touches any of those grandchildren in any inappropriate manner, she would be executed. Also her other grandson Jensen vowed to trouble her if she didn't behave herself. The grandchildren don't know that she is their grandmother. This was another condition of Verita that she had to agree with.

A certain day, when Verita was watching outside of her window, she saw a beautiful blonde woman, walking in the sunlight, on the road next to the palace. She was accompanied by another woman, who wore expensive silk. Behind them, there was a black man riding a small horse. And he, in turn, was followed by two men who wore arms. Verita sees that they walk towards the city hall. She covered herself completely, also her hair with a headscarf to make her unrecognisable, and followed the small group. In the city hall the black man spoke with some of the guards and later with the leaders. She heard that he was permitted to remain in the hostel at the harbour. Verita followed them without them noticing it. She even entered the hostel and heard which rooms each would have. She decided to rent a room in the same hotel for that evening. The next day she spied on the two women. She heard that they spoke a Celic dialect. She later informed the hostel manager who they were. 

''That guy, is a Rhaetian merchant that often trades in Scandinavia. He wants to open a shop here in Jehuda town. He wants to sell exotic goods that will be shipped from Britain. He had paid 200 Denarii to the city council in order to get his permit.''

''Who are those women?''

''One of them is Yu, a woman from China. She is the expert in Asian luxuries.''

''What about that blonde girl?''

''That's her slave. She helps Yu around. I believe her name is Kyra. At least, that's what I heard them call her.''