ACT IV
SCENE I
Rome. "Palace of the Emperor."
When Galla came running into the "war room" of Valens' "palace", there was much shock from Valens and Neopotianus with both having a different reason. For Valens his shock came from the thought of what possibly could cause his beloved to come here. For Neopotianus it was out of worry of where the barbarians were marching.
"Galla!" exclaimed Valens, wrapping his arms around Galla and caressing her orange hair. "What is the matter? Why such worry upon your face?"
"Odoacer marches upon Ravenna." Stated Galla. "My brother and Saphrax serve under him."
"And Radagaisus?" asked Neopotianus.
"He is dead." Replied Galla. "Killed by Odoacer."
"Slain by Odoacer!" exclaimed Neopotianus. The look of fear on his face was one to be believed. Never had Neopotianus shown such a look for fear before! "If Odoacer has slain the invulnerable Radagaisus then what hope do we have coming to the defense of Ravenna?"
"If God is with us then we shall defeat the barbarians and Rome shall be at peace with me as its emperor!"
"Will you wake up?" Neopotianus grabbed Valens by the tunic. "The Rome you dream of is gone! It's been gone for centuries! Soon the West will be dead and all that remains shall be the Byzantines! The Rome of Caesar is the glory of the past. We must turn from that as Byzantines."
"I will not turn away from this empire that has conquered most of the known world!" countered Valens. "If I do that then I'll hear the mocking of the long dead Pharaohs of Egypt, the Emperors of China, the Kings of Ireland! I will not let them mock me!"
"Valens…" Galla placed a hand on her love's shoulder. "If you do something or do nothing a difference might not be made. Odoacer is strong and so is his army. All that I want is for us to be together."
"And yet I can't just turn away from my people." Said Valens. "I shall ride to Ravenna, alone or with Neopotianus' men but I shall ride their nonetheless."