Attila

Though decadent and corrupt, weakened by politics and war,

the Roman Empire remained the greatest power on earth.

Then a new people, the Huns, fierce and independent,

appeared from the east.

An ancient prophecy told of a man who would one day unite the tribes

and challenge Rome for the right to rule the world.

- My arrow fell short! - Aim higher.

The deer outruns it.

Perhaps it's time you had a stronger bow.

We're on Dunnotis' land.

The chase was long. We meant no harm.

We'll send him the antlers as a gift.

Still, we might have been seen.

If Dunnotis complains, we kill him.

Hush, boy. It's foolish for Huns to kill Huns.

How can we conquer the western lands if we fight among our own?

Father spoke of the western lands during the hunt.

He was there once, when he was young.

Did he discover them?

No, no... Others discovered them long ago.

How?

A gadfly.

A warrior was taming a stallion,

and a gadfly bit the stallion so hard, it ran away.

The warrior followed the stallion into the great marsh.

But there's no way past the marsh.

Oh, the horse found a way, and the warrior followed the horse,

- and on the other side... - He found the western lands.

Father says we'll conquer them.

- When the Great King comes. - How will we know when he comes?

The Great King will kneel to no man,

and all men will kneel to him.

He will rule the Hun as one nation,

and hold the sword of the war god in his hand.

And... he'll go to bed when he's told.

Yes, Father.

No! Attila, stop!

- I want to help! Let me help! - Get under this cart.

You stay in there. Get out of the way.

Father!

Father.

Father...

Get him!

You are Mundzuk's son.

Where is my grandmother?

She is dead. Your father is dead.

That's his reward for hunting on our lands.

I am your master now.

Kneel.

Kneel!

And I might let you live as my slave.

Hyah! Hyah!

What's your name, boy?

Attila, son of Mundzuk.

Don't you recognize me?

I am Rua, your father's brother,

and it's a long time since you've seen me.

- My father's dead. - Yes. Weeks ago.

You've been alone all this time?

You're safe now. Come.

Unless you prefer living alone on the steppes.

What are the three sacred animals?

The wolverine, because he never retreats,

the sheba, because she protects her young,

and the horse, because it is sacred to the war god.

- How many layers in a bow? - Two of wood, two of bone.

How long must you heat the bow before you string it?

Until the outer layer sweats.

You've been taught well.

Go to your tent.

He doesn't belong here.

I took my brother's wife and elder son.

Should I leave the younger to die on the steppe?

Yes.

Yes, for Bleda's sake.

He's the elder.

He'll get the larger portion when I die.

There will be trouble between them. I can see it already.

Who's there?

Who are you?

- Who are you? - Attila.

- I am Galen. - What are you?

- A girl. Are you blind? - You look like an old woman.

- I'm no older than you. - Why aren't you with the others?

They're afraid of me.

Why are they afraid of you?

Because I read the stars and the sky and the sun and the moon.

You're a witch.

I had a vision yesterday that he would be born.

- Who? - The Great King.

Stay back. I was born ten years ago.

No.

You were born yesterday, on the steppes.

Ah, yes.

Yesterday, on the steppes.

Some say it takes months to make a bow.

But... it takes 15 years.

It starts when the tree is first planted.

You cut the wood too soon, the bow lacks strength,

too late, it becomes brittle.

King Rua... We found them.

Are these the men that attacked your camp?

They're yours.

You do with them what you will.

- There were more of them. - They were killed. These remain.

- Kneel. - Kneel to a boy?

Submit to me and live.

Attila! Have you spoken to the scouts?

They saw no force of any kind between us and the river.

Good.

IMPERIAL PRISON ROME

You should be used to it by now.

We guards eat the same food.

It's slave food.

Only a slave could get used to it.

Aaargh!

I am Flavius Aetius.

Rome endures.

I will endure.

Parthians, Scythians,

Macedonians, Picts, Gauls, Britons, Angles, Franks, Jews, Egyptians.

The list of defeated peoples is endless.

- Why are Huns different? - They simply are, Majesty.

- Wait till they face Roman troops. - They've defeated us before.

From the Eastern Empire. We're made of different stuff.

- We have no troops near the border. - Send them from somewhere else.

Not possible. We're overextended as it is.

Is it serious? The Huns have been a nuisance for decades.

- They've crossed into our territory. - They're isolated raids.

And when they realize how little resistance we can offer, what then?

Placidia, one man might be able to deal with them.

Aetius will not leave prison alive.

He knows their customs, knows their king.

I said no.

Felix, I know my son is...

immature, but he is learning.

He's emperor now,

and he'll rise to the occasion as other emperors have before him.

There! I did it!

What shall I hit? That vase sitting on the pedestal?

Idiot!

He's ruined my shot!

I'll think about what you said,

but I have to be convinced that the Huns are a serious threat.

Invaders! Invaders!

Go! Get moving!

Wait! Your name?

N'Kara.

You fight bravely.

Put her with the slaves.

Her sword was the bloodiest of all.

If she has kin, spare them as well.

You may leave.

I once swore you'd never leave this prison alive,

but your friends have begged me to be merciful.

In the light of their plea...

There's only one conceivable reason for you to be here.

- You need me. - Why would I need you?

If I had to guess, I'd say the Huns are on the move,

and you and the rest of Rome are petrified with fear.

There have been reports of a new warlord...

among the southern tribes - Attila. Do you know him?

No, but I know King Rua, and that's what matters.

My son is young. He needs someone to guide his decisions.

You can serve your country instead of your own ambitions,

- if that's possible. - Anything's possible.

What's your price?

First, a full pardon.

You tried to depose me, before my son became of age. That's treason.

Let's call that a misunderstanding.

What else?

Full restoration of my estates,

personal staff, hand-picked by me,

and...

reinstatement to the rank of master of both services.

If I am to deal with the Huns, I must have the supreme command.

- Felix has the supreme command. - Remove him.

- He recommended your release. - I'll thank him.

- You can rot in this cell forever. - And you?

You can find someone else to deal with the Huns.

Warden.

Release him.

He is your new supreme commander.

The guard who brought me my food, what's his name?

Petronius, my lord.

- Father! - Lydia.

Oh, you're really free!

Oh, I was afraid to believe it.

I came to the prison but they wouldn't let me see you.

My God, look at you.

You're a young woman, and a lovely one at that.

The villa's really ours again?

Yes.

And the one in Sicily too.

Tomorrow I'll bring in workers.

It'll be as beautiful as ever.

Come on, move! You wretches, move!

Ha, ha, you're in my lot now!

King Rua,

I bring you tribute from our victory.