Northern part of Britannia, City of Eboracum

The most northern stronghold of Britannia. Build by the Romans to protect the region from raiding tribes.

Those very tribes, that had conquered island and city from the empire, had found their end in this city.

North was the unforgiving and endless ice. It was cold. Too cold. And if you managed to endure the freezing temperatures, then the Ice Giants would sooner or later find any settlement and destroy it. Pray that no other creature finds it first. Many things lurk in the northern blizzards.

The forces of Britannia had stood with their backs to their former homeland. Ice on one side, the Franci Empire on the other. The war started by their own emperor, the war that they had been winning a few years ago, had turned.

Raetia had intervened. They turned the war in Franci's favour. They cut off the retreat of Britannia's legions. Crippled their ability to field an army for the next decade. The Franci Empire didn't stop with reconquering the mainland in Gaul. They invaded Britannia.

First with Raetia. Raizing the capital Londonium. Securing coastal cities in the south. Then they came back alone after ending the Northern Alliance. They ended Britannia next.

Charlemagne marched onwards. He sieged city for city. Slow, methodically, refusing to show an opening, refusing to give them an error to exploit.

Britannia raised legion after legion. Not soldiers. Guards and militia first. Then craftsmen and peasants. Later beggars, vagrants or orphans. Britannia had plenty of those now.

Those legions died in mass. They inflicted casualties in Charlemagne's legions, slowed him. It was not enough.

Charlemagne copied Britannia's recruitment style. He shipped his own population from Gaul to Britannia to reinforce his veteran legions. To let them take the casualties and attrition.

Local lords began to defect to save their holdings and family lives. The Franci Emperor welcomed them with open arms. Promised to let them hang on to most of their wealth and holdings. More followed after seeing the writing on the wall.

It took six months for Charlemagne to reach Eboracum. The last fortress and last major settlement to resist. The imperial family was hiding inside. The imperial guard put up a good fight.

Imperial longbowmen shot down many legionaries of Charlemagne. It didn't change the outcome. The city was starved and under fire for two months. When Franci forces stormed the city only the imperial guard put up a last stand. They were all cut down.

The imperial family was found in the palace. They had killed themselves. Poison.

Britannia fell and all remaining nobles pledged their loyalty to Charlemagne. The emperor put his heir Pepin in charge of Britannia and returned to Gaul. Possibly preparing for the next conquest.

Now there was only one man that called himself Emperor on Octanian.

Today was a special occasion, is what my parents would say. I myself was less enthusiastic about my birthday. 18 years old, two years an adult. As far as I am concerned this Thursday was another normal day.

There have been noteworthy developments though.

News from afar. Carthage made peace with Numidia. They ceded land, and most importantly, a coastal city to Numidia. Giving the kingdom a border with the Eastern Confederacy and access to sea routes.

The Empire of Britannia had fallen to the Franci Empire. We had not much information on the details, but Franci should be weakened for a few years after conquering and integrating such a big territory. They would emerge as the most powerful western nation in a few years if they are given enough time. Their population numbers alone should ensure that status.

Nations were planning wars, alliances were being forged. The east looked with worry at the Franci Empire. They were concerned that a challenger was emerging. An equal to their own power.

There were rumours of a coalition forming. Western nations trying to protect themselves from being conquered by Charlemagne. My parents and I were listening. A war in the west would be an opportunity. Though we would have to use the right moment to strike. And for that, we needed an army.

Though that was a matter for the future, other things came first. There have been noteworthy developments in the province of Roma as well.

Anaitis and Aellelorn had finished redistributing land. In the entire province. There had been a bit of resistance from the current landowners, but they were unable to prevent or slow the land reform.

Next, the pair introduced the three-field economy. I had asked for a more in-depth explanation of the system. One-third of the farmland was left to fallow. Another third was planted with a grain type, for example, wheat or rye. Sown in autumn, harvested in winter. The last third was planted with vegetables and, most importantly, legumes. Like peas, beans and lentils. Sowed in spring and harvested in the summer.

After a year there would be a rotation of the crops. The wheat field would be left as the next fallow. It would overgrow with weed. The cattle would graze on it and fertilize the soil with their dung.

The fallow would be planted with a few vegetables and many legumes. Those plants needed the rain in the spring and summer to grow properly. Also, they somehow increased the fertility of the soil. Preparing the field for the grain next year.

The vegetable field would be planted with grain.

The married pair also made sure to grow different kinds of all crops. So that the province had a diverse food supply, a wider trade range for merchants and so that the harvest was more resistant to crop failure. In the end, the fields of Roma were sowed with many different grains and vegetables.

Fruits trees were planted as well. They had their own designated areas and could be mostly left alone. Again different kinds of them were planted. Cattle were as well diversified. Cows, pigs, goat, sheep, chickens, geese, horses, mules and rabbits. We had them all.

The diverse supply of food had also another benefit. It was healthier, prevented some sicknesses, increased the contentment of the citizens and ensured longer lives. That was not new to me. The imperial armies always had a diverse food supply. It was another advantage the imperial armies used to have against the tribes.

Anaitis and Aellelorn had provided more information on the crops and cattle goods. They gave me a list of the products. I had sorted those for their utility.

Some crops like peas beans and lentils could be dried. They were ideal to be used as rations for an army. They were also a good substitute for meat, which was rare and expensive. I planned with Alaric to create a standardized ration for a legionary. It should last for six to seven days.

We settled on a ratio. Rations were composition by weight, 70% would be a type or several, of grain. The rest of the ration consisted of meat, vegetables, cheese, olive oil, wine and salt.

The grain part would satisfy the hunger of the legionaries and the rest would ensure that they have a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients. The salt was to preserve, season dishes and served medical purposes.

Depending on where the legion was stationed different kind of grain, vegetables or meat would be used. Anaitis and Aellelorn looked over the ration plan and had nothing to add to it. It was filed away to the army reforms. I would implement all army reforms in one single package as soon as we were able to raise more legionaries. For now, we were slowly preparing one army reform after the other.

The logistic reform we developed in Alexandria also got an overhaul. The smallest unit in the legion was the contubernium. A ten-man squad. Each soldier was required to carry around 40 kg of supplies and equipment.

Every ten-man squad also hot two mules for helping them carry further supplies and two civil servants to support them in their non-combat work. The empire used to assign two slaves, but slavery had been outlawed in Neapoli. The baggage train should have enough supplies to feed the army for a month.

"You know how the legionaries are being called by the locals?", Alaric asked as he put the document with the ration reform to the other future army reforms. For now, it was the only document. I planned to change that in the coming year. But first the province.

"How do they call them?"

"Lucius' mules."

I grinned at my friend.

"Quite fitting if you ask me. The legionaries will profit from carrying more weight. Builds up their strength and endurance. Have you read the reports from the councils in Ostia and Veii?"

"The stack from last week? Yes, I have. Do you want to exchange opinions?"

"I would."

A complicated expression formed on Alaric's face. I knew why. The government reform had worked better than expected. The locals were pressuring their elected officials every time they wanted a measure to be passed. They did the same when the opposite was the case.

"It works. But I don't think it would work in other cities. It shouldn't be that easy."

I smiled. "Or it could be that simple." Alaric frowned.

"How?"

"The idea was to split the duties of the city between a council and a selected representative from the governor. They work separate from each other and were to control each other, but it turns out there is a third power. The people are listening to what happens in the council. They are controlling the council work indirectly."

"That's what dangerous about all of this. Where does it stop? How long will they be satisfied with this much power? Give them a finger and they will reach for the entire hand."

"A possibility, but an unlikely one."

Alaric didn't look convinced. I tried to explain my line of thought.

"The coming generations might want more power. And without nobles, there will be a conflict between the governor and the councils. But that is a future problem and I think we can prevent it if we show them how good their lives can become if we all pull at the same rope."

"Nobles are loyal because their power is given by the king. Endangering the king often results in endangering themselves as well. This forces them to work together."

Alaric gestured to the documents on the table. The second row of government reforms.

"This is different. The council gets its power from the people. We even see that the people are directly influencing the decision making. For them, the king is the one that is keeping the rest of the power from them. They win if the king falls. This will end in an uprising."

"Not if they love their king or future duke. They will be thankful to the one they think improved their lives."

"That is up to chance. They could also think that they reached prosperity without your leadership… unless..."

Alaric again tapped on the table.

"Unless?", I smiled at him.

"Propaganda."

"Propaganda and education", I added. "Juladia had created a network of spies and informants in both cities. Those make sure that the right rumours are spread."

Alaric considered my words for a moment. Tapping with his finger on the table. "And the education? Thinking minds are dangerous ones."

"Education ensures they can understand the benefit of the reforms. And it is also easier to spread propaganda if all of them can read and write."

"But they would also be able to see the drawbacks of a reform. It would be harder to implement laws that benefit yourself. You are giving away power to the people. Why not give some to the nobles as well?"

Now it was my turn to think about an answer.

"There is too much power concentrated on few people. Think about it. The nobles were the ones that rebelled against my father. Such a thing would never have happened if the towns and cities were governed by a council. I see nobles as a wildcard."

"Your own council and all of your advisers consist of nobles."

"That is different."

"It isn't."

"You are not here because of your status. You are here because of your loyalty, capabilities and the will to change things."

Alaric opened his mouth and closed it shortly.

"Fine. The system is working. But we, you, will need to intervene the moment it doesn't."

I nodded. "I agree and that is why we implement reforms in a manageable time frame. So are you ready to implement the next reform?"

"Yes. We have helped you in creating it."

The second government reform was quite simple. The system in Veii and Ostia would be extended to all cities and towns in the province of Roma.

Organizing the elections would also be easier. Statilia had finished creating registers for citizens. We now had information on every citizen, in theory.

Villages were a special case. The population in them varied. Sometimes a single family lived in an isolated farmhouse. Their own pseudo village.

The entire adult population would gather when there was a decision to be made. Every adult had one vote and the side with the most votes would win. There was also no representative sent by the governor. No council either.

"Good. We will send out the messengers the next week."

Alaric nodded shortly. The door to my office opened. Juladia entered.

"No grand entrance?", Alaric asked. "No appearing from the shadows?"

"They finished the runes around the temple. Can't get in anymore", she answered. The elf dropped a package on my table and a document.

"What is in the package?", I asked.

"Congratulation on turning older. A present", she said.

"Thank you, but that wasn't necessary", I said and opened it. Everybody who knew of my birthday had already congratulated me. But I had made it clear that I didn't want any gifts. To my own surprise, my family didn't send one either. Or more likely it was delayed and would arrive later.

Inside the box was a necklace. Two fangs and a silver chain.

"Thank you, again. Where do the fangs come from?", I inquired, trying to put the chain around my neck. Juladia moved behind me and helped.

"Fangs of a silver serpent. Quite toxic", she explained. There was a small smile on her face.

I eyed the fangs with a bit of apprehension. Then I remembered that the poison of a serpent was kept in sacs near the fangs. Not in them.

"Right. Thank you again", I said. "Where were we? Ah yes, the document."

I picked up the document Juladia had brought in with her. Placed on the table when she assisted in putting on the necklace.

Juladia had successfully implemented a network of spies and informants in the entire province. It mainly helped in confirming information we got from the cities and towns. It was another mean to oversee the councils and representatives. Her next task had been to gather information on a local level in our northern neighbour, Raetia.

The report confirmed rumours. Raetia was trying to replace the human nobles with dwarven ones. They did it slowly and didn't replace loyal human nobles, but it was noticeable.

Dwarven colonies were also being constructed in Italia. Some by removing locals, others simply on uninhabited land. Humans began to move south. Enticed by our promise of free land, autonomy and driven away through Raetia's policies. I would need to thank the archduke for helping us in growing the province's residents.

"Good. You may proceed to the next stage", I said and expected her to leave.

The next stage was to spread the news of free land and autonomy towards our other neighbours. East, south and west.

"Was there anything else you wanted to say?", I looked at the elf. I couldn't categorize her expression.

"No", she simply said and left. I looked at the now again closed door. Then turned to Alaric.

"Something I said?", I asked him.

"I would rather not get involved in whatever is between the two of you."

"Alaric what do you mean? I …."

My friend closed the door behind him.

I sat there and thought. Thought about what Alaric implied. My hands fiddled with the fangs of the necklace.

"Does she? Do I? Dammit", my hands went up to my temple. Matters of the province moved into the back of my head. I recounted what I knew of the dark-elf. Tried to reimagine every interaction between us. There were a lot of interactions, but most of the time we didn't speak, and when we did then over matters of the province or duchy.

I sighed and stared at the ceiling. I would collect my thoughts over the night, talk with my friends, maybe even with my family. And then I would need to speak with Juladia.

"Let's go over the other reports. I need to occupy my mind."

Duvira had made remarkable process. The dwarf had out exceeded expectations. Her family did as well.

The aqueducts have been repaired. Runes placed at their end to prevent poisoning or contamination of the water. She also fixed the canalisation system. All parts of the city were now connected to it and it flew into the Tiber river.

She hadn't planned for Anaitis and Aellelorn interference. They suggested placing a network of runes at the end of the sewage system. One group burned everything passing it that wasn't water and another turned all gases into simple air.

It was a complex array and I myself had difficulties identifying half of the basic runes. It had been expensive to place those as well. The mages for it were rare and the material used was pure gold. The metal was the best in conducting mana.

I had asked why? It was easier to just let it flow into the river and be done with it. I shouldn't have asked.

I got lectured on how the river would be polluted. How the fish would die and how fishers would lose their work. And on how that could spread sickness in downstream settlements. She also didn't want her two sons to grow near a source of potential sickness.

I had relented in the end. Most importantly because apparently, no sea-folk would migrate to the province if the river carried more shit than water. Her words, not mine. And that she would not work for me.

I had a rather long talk with the pair later that day. Not about the runes. We could afford it, even if it was quite expensive. No about the fact that she lectured and threatened me with her resignation in front of the council of Roma.

This time everything turned out good because all members knew each other and nobody else was present. But that would change in the future. Husband and wife got the message and promised to propose changes to our plans in private with me or Alaric.

Duvira was about halfway done with the roads and Insulas for the current population. The north-south and east-west road were already finished.

She was planning to begin with the redistribution of important infrastructure next month. Some fundaments for new fountains, bathhouses and schools had already been laid.

Outside of the city, her family had lent a helping hand. Duvira's siblings had visited several times and helped in repairing or building roads in the province. And they supported us in building hundred and fifty-six windmills.

Duvira had answered my questions about why her family was helping the province so much with:

'Asked them to lend me a free hand. They did.'

I had left it at that and wrote a formal letter of gratitude towards her house. Their support was welcomed.

Another matter had been the ordered supplies. They had finally all arrived and allowed us to proceed with the rebuilding of Roma without worrying about material shortages, for now at least. The modern tools from the east also helped in accelerating our progress. Good craftsmanship.

Constantine had raised guards for Roma and later new guards for all the cities, towns and a few for bigger villages and patrols for the countryside. Most of the time he just used the already employed guards, but sometimes we spotted that those guards were not loyal to the city or us. Those were replaced. Though I suspect that a few black sheep remain.

He had also raised a ducal guard for the government district. Currently, Constantine was ensuring that laws were upheld. He cracked down on criminals regularly. Some called it harsh, but he was getting the job done.

With the guards in place, my legion and bodyguard could focus on other matters. The legion had helped with planting in the province and were now helping with road construction. My bodyguard focussed on guarding me and the temple I called home. They also trained regularly.

Valerius had established diplomatic relations with Raetia and the duchies of Sardinia and Corsica. We now also had diplomats in Napule. They were regularly present when we had a foreign guest. Carthage hosted also a dozen of our diplomats. Two from me, ten from my parents.

Now that they were at peace with Numidia and the fact that the east failed to push them into their zone of influence allowed us to relax on our southern border. Mother managed to create a trade agreement between our nations. It would benefit my province as well.

Currently, Valerius was preparing to establish embassies in the capitals of all other countries. He was working with his father. Those embassies were not mine, but those of the duchy. I would recall him when I planned to make a deal with one of our neighbours.

The last row of reports concerned Statilia's jurisdiction. My heart bled at the red numbers. Our treasure was emptying itself rather quickly. With the current spending, we would run out in about a year.

She had finished her task of registering the citizens. Statilia was now focussing on creating an administration with ties to Roma in every city and town. Separate from the ones operated by the councils. Residents could there regarding matters that fell into the jurisdiction of the governor.

Statilia was also overseeing the construction of schools and the employment of the teachers. We wanted that every one of our citizens had at least a basic education.

She was also working on an estimate for the taxes we would collect this and next year. So that we could adjust our spending and avoid a deficit.

It hit me then. Statilia had too many tasks. I would need to give away some of her projects to another person.

I made a note to look over potential candidates the next day. Another to speak with the demi-human about which project she would like to keep.

With that, the desk had become empty. My thoughts wandered back to a certain dark-elf.

I looked outside and the sun was setting.

"I will go to bed early. And then I will tackle one problem after the other. With a clear and rested head."

I managed to get four hours of sleep.