บท 321: Passing through

Two vigilant guards stood watch at the entrance of the port in Prevesa, their eyes focused on the ships approaching the gulf of Arta. Their duty was clear — to control and regulate the maritime traffic, ensuring that only authorized vessels entered these waters, apart from also getting the right amount of tax they were owed.

As a ship approached, the guards scrutinized it carefully. They checked for the nature of the cargo it carried, meticulously assessing its goods. The intent was twofold: to maintain an account of the products brought by the sea and to enforce the taxation system. The guards were the gatekeepers, responsible for deciding the amount of taxes each ship would be obligated to pay based on the value and type of products it transported.