"Open the gates, and we'll let you keep your life and your freedom !" "Who are you?" "The masters of the world !" "You will be, if we perish !" "THE DACIANS" "I got him !" " No, I got him !" " Well, whose arrow is this?" "Yours." "He's around here." "He can't have gone f ar." "Uncle Luper calls us." "We'd better go back." "You'd rather go back, than see that I'm the one who got the deer." "Come on !" "He's so sad !" "His eyes are full of tears." "You were right." "It's your arrow." "Your aim is pretty good." "Have you forgotten I'm the one who taught you how to aim?" "Where have you been ?" "I should break your bones !" "You're making me roam the mountains !" "Shut up !" "No..." "Guess what news I bring you !" " What is it?" " Take a guess !" " The youth contest?" " Right." "Next week in Argidava." "Come on, leave it here and follow me !" "Decebal waits for us." " You'll catch me !" " Who's reaching him first?" " So, you're here !" " Your horse was better." "That's what you say." "I'm a better rider." "Aren't you going to help me ?" "Will you go and fetch some spring water?" "Will you?" "You should know that a warrior doesn't do any woman's choir." "Well, you warrior !" " You'll go get some water !" "Right?" " No !" "Tell me, who's going to bring water?" "Who's the one ?" "You're hurting me !" "You'll be sorry." "I had a surprise in store for you." "You're just saying so." "Meda !" " Meda !" "Is he mine ?" " Yes, he's yours !" " Can I take it?" " Yes !" "Come on !" "Fuscus, will you show these ninnies how to throw a spear?" "It's the Rhine legions." "I bet ten jars of Falern wine that his spear will thrust the eye of the target !" "Do you trust me?" "I gave you your first lesson." "Prove that you deserve my trust !" "You're on time, as always." "Tell me, how is it that our beloved emperor Domitian didn't come with you?" "I'd have thought him much more eager to take the credit for our victory and acquire the title of "Dacicus"." " He'll be here in four days." " Four days, you say..." "Yes, he's right behind me." "The imperial house moves slower than the horsemen." "He has a lot of slaves, both men and women." "And what women they are, dear Fuscus !" "He took everyone with him:" "sorcerers, cooks..." "He even took some historians with him, artists from Asia Minor and many accountants to count the Dacian treasury." "To have his back watched, the emperor took with him the Fifth ltalica Legion." "He'd better stayed in Rome, for the sake of all of us." "For our sake and for his." "Let's take advantage of these four days !" "You, more than anyone else." " Why is it so ?" " Come !" "Father !" "It's been so long since I've seen you !" "You're strong like a bear now !" "Forgive me !" "I'm happy to see you." "I missed you and your advice." "You did well by yourself." "Atius, you can be proud of your son." "He's covered himself in glory on all battle fields." "Glory and dust, also..." "Allow me to wipe the traces of this long journey." " You have my bath at your disposal." " I'll hurry." "Atius..." "Domitian will be here in four days." "How many soldiers did he keep with him?" "The Fifth ltalica." "They were under my command in Syria." "Their actual leader is a good soldier, but he likes wine and money." "He shall have both." "It seems, though, that it will be toughest to convince Severus." "I'm the one who taught him to stay away from the plots that eat away at the empire." "I foresee that, during our first battle, a terrible misfortune will happen to our "divine" Domitian." " There mustn't be any first battle." " Atius, you know you can trust me." "Why don't you want war against Dacia ?" "Ever since we met, when you were a poor officer with no master, and up to this day, when you became f amous and rich," "I've been the one who put the questions." "All right." "Forgive me !" "We'll do it your way." "It is the right way, Fuscus." "It's always been like this." "My decisions were always the best." "There's our hero !" "My supper will be poorer than Domitian's, but I invite to join me with all my heart." "To victory against the Dacians !" "So..." "You're indulging yourselves in disgusting orgies..." "You thought I was a tired old sag, that I needed four days to get here." "Why aren't you on the other side of the river, brave Fuscus?" "Look !" "There's Atius, the heart and nerve of the Roman Senate !" "What are you doing here ?" "You have news, haven't you?" "Bad news, of course." "What else ?" "I'm listening and prepared to hear anything." "Funny !" "Why is it that the Marcomanni rebelled just now?" "Maybe because of the Dacians' gold." "You're either crazy, or traitors." "You want me to give up this war and go back to Rome without paying my legions?" "No." "You will cross the Danubius at once !" "I'd like to give the Senate Fuscus' opinion, as well." "I'm a soldier and I obey Rome's law and the decisions of the Senate." "I tell you that I would need another five legions to defeat the Dacians." "Fuscus, you told me in Rome that a single legion would crush the barbarians" "Not even the last of my soldiers would say such a thing." "You've been plotting against me." "You'd like to see me back to Rome, defeated by the Dacians and with all legions unpaid and dissatisfied." "What do you have to say, Severus?" "I'm for going to war." "Let's not forget that Julius Caesar said the clash with the Dacians would be more difficult than the one with the Gauls." "Now I want to meditate more about Caesar's end, than his words." "Domitian, let's be frank !" "You're interested more in Decebal's gold, than in a battlefield victory." "I always said that rich people are also the most intelligent." "Don't you think that several messengers led by a shrewd man would get from Decebal what you want so badly, but without a war?" "Who might this man be?" "When I came from Asia Minor, ten years ago," "I had some fruitful negotiations with Duras, the former Dacian king." "All right." "You go, then !" "But take one of my personal guards with you." "Meanwhile, you build the bridge !" "You'll plea a better argument in front of the barbarians, if our twelve legions will be on the left shore of the Danubius." "I'll be merciful with the barbarians." "After all, I don't like wars." "I might be a poet, had I not in mind Nero's fate." "It was a short reunion." "Allow me to come with you on the other shore !" "I wanted to ask you the same thing." "I've been waiting for this moment for so many years !" "I waited for it and feared it." "I'd like to understand you." "There are so many things we don't understand, my son !" "We're like a shell wanting to gather the immensity and howl of the sea." "Sometimes, life makes us hide before our most beloved." "Son, do you trust me ?" "You know too well that you matter the most to me, of all things." "I'd like to stay with you for a few more moments." "Yes, f ather." "I'll announce the guard that must come with you." "Search everywhere !" "Domitian, let me be the one who starts the battle !" "The Senate and the Roman people lost our very best man." "I'm in pain." "I'll send the urn with his ashes in Rome, the city he loved and served like no other." "And those barbarians will know Rome's wrath !" "Only five of you are left in the great contest." "Fight bravely !" "May the best win !" " There are only three left !" " Now you can see my teaching skills." "But, to be honest, I'd have been better !" "See ?" "Decebal, the Romans are crossing the Donaris." "I've killed their first nobleman who trod on our land." "He was the only Roman who shouldn't have died." "I thought that... it was a good thing." "Cotizo !" "Don't win this contest !" " You're crazy." " I'm not." "There's going to be a war, Cotizo." "Please, don't win the contest !" " Do you hear me ?" " All right." "Promise me !" "I promise..." "I'll win the contest." "Decebal !" "Our best warrior won the contest." "It's your son !" "No !" "We'll wait for them here and we'll crush them like ants." "What does this mean ?" "You want that I, Luper, run from the Roman's faces like a woman?" "There are twelve legions, that is 72 354 men." "They are led by general Fuscus." " How do you know that?" " Zoltes told me." "From now on until we die or beat them," "I'm the one who gives the orders !" "The children, women and old people will go in the mountains." "You'll keep the Romans here until midnight." "Don't you dare die like a hero, or I'll break your bones !" "Father, you didn't teach us to flee." "Why aren't we f acing the Romans?" "We must avoid this war, Cotizo." "Forgive me, but you talk like Meda." "If I were you, I wouldn't turn my back on the Romans." "My son, is it that you and the others don't trust me anymore ?" "I didn't want to say this." "Everybody loves you and will follow you." "I'm proud to be your son." "Go !" "Take Meda and help the other people !" "I'll reach you later." "It looks deserted." "Yes..." "It's for the first time they greet us with flowers." "They're withdrawing their troops." "We put them on the run." "No, young man." "The charge is ahead." "Look !" "Faster !" "Come on !" "We must survive until midnight !" "Do you hear me ?" "We must !" "Hurry up !" "We will take the fortress !" "Cavalry..." "Charge !" "Fuscus !" "Your bravery on the battlefield commends you." "Your f ather, the illustrious Atius, will be avenged." "What a stench !" "And now, Fuscus, the prisoners..." "Marcus !" "What is this?" "You have only one prisoner?" "You fought well." "Speak, and you'll know Rome's generosity !" "Where is Decebal ?" "Had I also a weapon, you wouldn't be so brave." "I can see you didn't wash your f ace." "Do you want a weapon ?" "Take it !" "Quite shiny..." "And tasteless." "Are all these necessary, for a bunch of barbarians who are giving themselves in ?" "Domitian, this is Burebista's throne, one of Caesar's mightiest opponents." "If you receive them here, they will be impressed." "Let's impress them then, Fuscus !" "Let the barbarians in !" "Which one of you is Decebal ?" "Decebal is the great king of the free Dacians." "We are bearing his message to the Roman emperor Domitian." "Are you that one ?" "I'm listening." "A mouse..." "A frog..." "A bird..." "A quiver of spears..." "A plough knife..." "Your message pleased me." "I'm for peace." "My conditions will be sent to Decebal by my messenger." "Give these messengers a tour of our camp !" "They should see most of it !" "Describe their awe and astonishment, at the sight of my wisdom !" "Fuscus, do you know what all these mean ?" "It's a common habit with the barbarians." "They are hiding their pride through silly fables." "The mouse is the land, the frog, the waters." "The bird is the sky and its freedom." "The spears are their weapons and the plough knife is the plenty of the land." "Rest assured that Decebal submits to you !" "Write it down !" "My dear Fuscus, you have once again astonished me with your wit." "You can do as you please with these animals." "I'll keep the cages as a memory of your insight." "Severus will deliver our answer." "Hail, Decebal !" "Welcome, general Severus !" "What is the message of your master?" "Domitian, emperor of Rome, has willingly deciphered your message and here's his answer." "He accepts your surrender." "He'll come to Sarmizegetusa and will crown you himself as king of Dacia and subject of undefeated Rome." "The Senate will nominate you, Decebal, for your merits, a friend of the Roman people." "This is all." "General Severus, according to our ancestors' custom, you are our guests." "Drink the wine of this earth, where Dionysus was born !" "Tomorrow we'll talk about masters and slaves, for tomorrow we'll know each other better." "It's your turn, Roman boy." "I want to ask you something, Decebal." "Wherever my f ate and my gods lead me," "I try to understand the life of those we fight against." "Tell me, why do the Dacians laugh before dying?" "You're bragging that you saw Dacians die, you Roman !" "Meda, pour a cup of wine for our guest !" "Forgive me, father." "I'm not any Roman's slave." "This Roman is my guest." "Pour him some wine, Meda !" "Come on, warrior, take some raspberies !" "Forgive me if I insist, Decebal, but this is very important for me." "Why do the Dacians laugh before dying?" "Zalmoxis gave us several lives, Severus." "How could we leave this life and live another, where other secrets of the skies and earth are to be revealed to us?" "Crying and moaning?" "Or laughing, so that Zalmoxis may see our joy?" "But how do the Romans die, general Severus?" "We'll see them soon." "Forgive my children, general !" "They are like young wolves." "They must bite, to have their teeth grown." "Where do you have this medallion ?" "My father gave it to me." "Atius was the only Roman whose death I did not want." "There are many things we don't understand, Severus." "We are like a shell which wants to gather the great howl of the sea and its secrets." "I would very much like to understand this, Decebal." "Come with me, and you will." "We have plenty of gold, Severus." "Maybe gold and wealth are our curse." "They spark the hatred or the excessive love of foreigners." "Some of them are strong." "They haven't been defeated." "I know that." "I always hosted them as friends, and never as masters." "This is the law of this land and of every man." "If we who live today are to die, the law will stay the same." "Here lie the ashes of those who fought for us, so that we may never feel the harsh rule of other strangers." "Here lie kings, priests, clan leaders..." "Oroles, Burebista..." "Deceneus, Scorilo..." "And this urn was supposed to shelter the ashes of great Zoltes," "whom you knew under the name of Atius, your f ather." "He went to Rome 40 years ago and took the name of a Roman patrician who lived in Moesia." "Each year, I would send him a vessel full of gold." "Rome opened its gates to him." "Gold is a wonderful key." "Atius told me every plot weaved in Rome." "Now I see why he didn't want to fight against you." "His death, the earth in his fist..." "Why didn't he ever talked to me about this?" "He taught you to be a fine warrior in the world's greatest army, so that you may serve your people one day." "You were much too young for him to unveil his secret." "Today is too late." "What do you want from me now?" "What have you stirred in the heart of Zoltes' son?" "Even the tamed wolf returns to the woods when his kind calls him." "Was my call strong enough ?" "Now you're as lonely as I am, in the belly of the earth, waiting for Zalmoxis' signs." "Will you be able to defeat them?" "They lost battles, but they were never defeated." "They're stubborn, strong, numerous and greedy." "Then, let's give them the gold they are asking for." "Never !" "I kept my soul in darkness and solitude." "It judges the world by other measures than those of ordinary people." "Sometimes, it's harder for us to subdue our pride than to win a battle." "Think, Decebal !" "Wouldn't it be better for you to subdue your pride ?" "Great priest, if people on this earth of ours learn that they can live like slaves, then, we are defeated forever." "But if we fight so bravely that, several centuries later, those who want to surrender will be ashamed," "it means we won the battle and we'll stay here, no matter how many storms we wil f ace." "Decebal..." "If you decide to go to war, you must send a messenger to Zalmoxis." "You know our ancient law." "The messenger will be..." "I know." "I'm waiting for an answer, Severus." "I'm the one who wants an answer, Decebal, to give to my emperor." "Fuscus wasn't a good interpreter." "This is what those things mean:" "if you don't hide underground like mice, if you don't sink in water like frogs, if you don't flea by air, like birds, our arrows will find you." "It's we who plough this land." "Tell Domitian that I gladly receive your peace offer, if each Roman citizen will pay me two gold coins a year !" "General Severus !" "Before you go back to your goons, let me tell you something:" "you don't have the right to wear this sacred medallion, when you will have killed your brothers." "Cotizo, son of Decebal, be proud, be glad !" "You are the purest, the best, the bravest of our sons." "You heard your brothers' wishes." "Through you, they will reach Zalmoxis, our great god." "Dear boy, this is what I ask from Zalmoxis:" "rain for the land of my people, eternal union and peace between us, victory in front of the enemy !" "Our messenger is on his way to Zalmoxis." "Rejoice !" "What are you waiting for?" "Be glad !" "Is there anyone who thinks my son wasn't pure and brave enough to be heard by Zalmoxis?" "The gods' answer is late." "The worse for them !" "I told you to rejoice !" "Why, f ather?" "Why?" "Meda, we cannot live against the law." "Of course not." "But isn't what you do now against our law?" "Doesn't the law say that you must wait for the rain," "Zalmoxis' sign that he fulfilled our wishes?" "Look at the sky !" "It's full of stars !" "Why do you rejoice, before the sky has spoken ?" "Why did you sacrifice Cotizo?" "Shut up, Meda !" "Had my brother perished on the battlefield, I wouldn't have cried." "I would have laughed at this great parting." "I don't believe in a god who knows our wishes only through my brother's impaled body !" "This law is no good !" "The law is only one, as was left by our ancestors, good or bad, the same way this land belongs to us, good or bad !" "Where is the rain you asked for?" "Wasn't Cotizo the most handsome, the best and the bravest of all ?" "The gods won't listen to him." "Why?" " Shut up !" " Where is the rain ?" "Go away !" "Zalmoxis..." "Send the horsemen on the hills, f aster !" "You look for the food supplies and the wounded !" "You !" "Come back !" "Faster !" "Come on !" "Push !" "Move it !" " What's wrong with you?" " We're slower than snails." "Don't let them breathe !" "Take their hearts out !" "I asked if you had any problem." "My old wound is giving me a hard time." "Sometimes I don't see anything at a distance of five paces." "You're tired, Fuscus." "You need to rest." "So are the legions." " Let's make a stop !" " No !" "We'll march until the end !" "You're weak, Severus." "Where is your usual courage ?" "What do you have against me ?" "Don't I do my duty?" "I didn't say this." "You're right." "This war makes me sick." "Maybe because f ather didn't want it." "Nonsense !" " I have a plan, Severus." " What plan, Fuscus?" "When it is the right time, you'll know." "My decisions were always right." "Push them forward !" "Don't waste any time !" "Marcus !" "Don't sit there !" "Push forward !" "Domitian..." "I'm told you took with you two of my best legions." "You're keeping them here, with you." "I want to know what for." "They are guarding me." "You see, dear Fuscus, your shifting moods from excessive caution to excessive bravery give me the shivers." "I suppose they are the subtle moves of a great strategist." "I don't understand them." "And I fear that which I can't understand." "Go now and crush the Dacians !" "I will join you later." "My power is to always show up at the right moment." " What a genius !" " Did you write it down ?" ""The Dacians saw, in awe, Rome's high virtue"" ""and they were denying, ashamed, their barbarian habits."" ""The Dacians saw, in awe, Rome's high virtue, "" ""and they were denying, ashamed, their barbarian habits."" "Fuscus, the horsemen of general Severus met with the barbarians." " What is he doing?" " He's waiting to give the attack." "Waiting?" "!" "What are you waiting for, Severus?" "The barbarians are right there, and you keep here the empire's best horsemen !" "You'd better look closely to the ground !" "I fear an ambush." "I sent some scouts in the pass." "Scouts?" "Why?" "Are you afraid of a bunch of savages ?" "Look at the rocks, and you'll understand." "I can't see anything !" "I order to you charge them !" " Luck is on the side of the bold." " I hold you responsible, Fuscus." "Charge !" "They took the bait." "Back to the pass !" "After me !" "I won't admit that a legion like yours be defeated !" "You ran like cowards !" "You left on the battlefield even the flag that Caesar gave you when he founded this legion !" "Shame on you !" "You abandoned to the enemy's hands the body of your leader, general Severus !" "General Severus trusted you." "He charged knowing you were the bravest of his soldiers !" "Of course, his plan seemed too bold to me." "I was against it." "But never did he doubt that you'd answer his call with all heart !" "His enthuziasm made me give in !" "Now I'm sorry !" "I see you as traitors." "You deserve to be given a punishment, the harshest of all !" "The Rhine legion will be decimated !" "You will count starting with him." "Now your sight has improved, Fuscus." "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten !" "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten !" "One, two, three, four..." "Finally, you've decided to live." "You took a long time." "Are you hungry?" "Here..." "Drink !" "Drink it all !" "Be careful !" "It's hot." "It's wine mixed with bear blood." "You've been lazying enough !" "On your feet !" " Do you like bear meat?" " Yes." "I heard that, in Rome, you eat peacock tongues." "What else do we do in Rome ?" "All sorts of vile deeds." " Why did you take care of me ?" " It's none of your business." "Once, he fell from a rock and broke his leg." "I was the one who took care of him." "He held his tears on bravely." " Are these things his?" " Don't ask !" "Come on !" "Don't you think people must live and be happy?" "I haven't given it a thought." "Until now, all I did was be a soldier." "Get up !" "This earth has hidden powers and you're still weak." "Why did you dress like this?" "Did I do anything wrong?" "I found it in the cabin." "Don't be mad !" "You shouldn't walk all alone." "Someone might see you." " Where are we here?" " Why?" "Do you want to leave ?" "It's the only thing I didn't think about, since we've been together." "You, Romans, where do you go after you die?" "There is a legend with a river, a boat..." "But I don't know anyone who came back from that place." " He will come back." " Who ?" "My brother." "Cotizo ?" "Meda !" "Meda !" "Meda !" "Here we are together again, general Severus !" "Let's go see Decebal !" "Take it !" "It was Cotizo's." "On your knees, dog !" " You do it !" " Leave us alone !" "I am your prisoner now, Decebal." " You look tired." " I'm very tired." "Why are you looking at me like this?" "Do you want me to be a traitor?" "Do you want to tell my horsemen to charge ?" "Not the wretchest Roman would do it." "No !" "Even you would despise me for it." "I had only one son, Severus." "When you came here, Cotizo was alive." "I knew I would have to sacrifice him, if this war had started." "You are much alike." "You're as pure and honest as he was." "That night, when we decided my child's fate, I had hopes." "I couldn't ask you anything." "Only my son's life was at stake." "But now our entire fate is at stake." " Please..." " I want to help you, Decebal." " What can I do for you?" " Get Domitian to negotiate with us !" " I need time." " No..." "Impossible !" "The legions haven't been paid for a long time." "People aren't happy." "If I let you go, what will you do ?" "My duty." "You can understand me, Decebal." "Take it !" "Meda told me she'd pray to the gods to let you live." "I also want you to live, son." "You pray we don't meet tomorrow !" "Take away Zoltes' son !" "He's free to join his kind." "Your mind is troubled, master." "Severus !" "My friend !" "Where have you been ?" "Go !" "Why did you decimate my legion ?" "Why did you kill Marcus?" "Because he knew too much." "Severus, it's time that you turn, from a brave soldier, into a leader, a strong and merciless leader, a good master." "Rome needs a scurge in strong hands." "Why did you kill Marcus?" "Marcus..." "Who's this?" "I don't know him." " I've never seen him." " He saved your life in Argidava." "Severus, I'm tired of winning battles for others, for a bunch of idiots and depraved fools !" "I, Fuscus, put two emperors on their thrones !" "Vespasian and Domitian !" "That's enough." "Now is the time that here, in Dacia, legions should choose a third emperor, one who goes back to Rome in glory, with his hands full of gold and with Decebal tied to his charriot !" "An emperor who would offer bread and circus for the plebs, who would push further the borders of the empire and in front of whom the entire world will shiver !" "Poor Fuscus..." "You're a fool, Severus !" "Atius had the same goals !" "Do you know why?" "My f ather was a Dacian." "He wanted to defend his own people and not to let them become slaves." "Now I see why he was against this war." "I'm glad he's dead." "I had too many masters." "Now I have twelve legions under my command." "When Atius was alive, I wanted to bring down Domitian." "Now, that he's dead, I want Fuscus to win." "I don't care if your father was a Dacian !" "Tomorrow you'll be Dacia's governor." "All this is so far away from me." "Severus !" "I despise you." "My dear Severus, you couldn't be here in time to stop this tragedy." "Brave Fuscus fell into the barbarians's trap." "I'm in pain." "His zeal got the better of him." "He wanted to do all by himself." "We will dedicate a song for him, in our poems." "Let's go !" "The legions await you." "Lead them to victory !" "As of now, I make you Dacia's governor." "I like only live heroes." "Poor soul !" "Why are we waiting?" "Let's disperse !" "I'm going !" "I ordered you to stay near your horsemen, Luper !" "If you don't know what to do, let me show you !" "Hey, Romans !" "Look at your flag !" "Did you see this?" "I took them out of their hole !" "Don't move from here !" "This is all I could do for you."