Claudius found out enought details about the women around him to be worried about and so he decided to leave Ars Gate behind and travel to a vassal outpost in the territory of his ancestors. This fort, hidden in the woods near to Ar, visited by a few, feared by a lot, should be his destination to think about his privat situation, the coming promotion for that many other warrios had been passed over, and the planned rotation concerning Ars government.
He was facing a lot of change, private and vocational, especially the future of his Homestone caused him major problems . To make sure that nobody would use his friend and official cousine Farida against him, he told her to bundle up some clothes and food and commanded her to attend him on his travel. Even if it looked like a travel for vacation, in fact it wasnt. For him it had priority to see if the public life is running smoothly. It was quiet important for Ar, that the outposts and vasalls, particular those that are located at important trade routes, were functional. Fort Laurius was one of them and it was definitely time to see if everything is in order.
When he arrived at the Fort after two days and nights, he parked his cousine at a park bench and asked her to wait for him. He had to find a room for them and carried the baggage to a hotel.
Sure that nobody in this foreign place was aware about Faridas true identity, he was glad that he brought her there. This bought them more time to make plans for the next hands until he would be able to have her as his slave.
When that all happened he went to a smith. Fixwienix, his gladius, was a bit used and needed a short makeover. Claudius negotiated the price with the forger, paid him 3 coppers and got a replacement that was used and dull as well. They agreed upon to finish the work until tomorrow and so he left his blade behind with a strange feeling. He hurried back to Farida and wouldn’t put anything past her. Above all he absolutely wanted to know if she was still sitting at the place where he told her to wait for him…
a slavers lair 