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.

(Arrow whistles )

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.

(Indistinct chatter)

(Rua )

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.

(Rua ) 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?

(Rua ) 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.

(Man ) 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.

(Emperor groaning)

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.

(All yelling)

(Woman ) Invaders! Invaders!

(Screaming)

(Baby crying)

(Man ) 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.

(Keys rattling)

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...

(Laughs ) 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!

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