A brilliant but untested young general, Hannibal of Carthage, is about to embark on an audacious war against powerful Rome, the enemy who defeated his father and threatens the future of his city. An orphaned boy, Nahatum, is caught stealing from Hannibal's tent and is about to be executed by the guards. Instead, Hannibal finds himself unexpectedly charmed by the boy and - just as surprisingly -makes Nahatum his servant as he begins a risky, seemingly impossible, plan to invade Italy.