In Pommoran, former Teuton territory, Vana consulted with leaders of other small tribes, to discuss what they should do next. She was not in a good mood.
"I'm sick of the lies that Sigfried and his dogs are spreading," she told them. "He declared war on us over an imagined slight, destroyed our territories, killed our peasants, and burnt down our farms. And now he accuses us of sneak attacks and treachery!
"I think his coalition wants nothing more than total domination of the whole world. They can't stand small tribes who will not bow down to them. I think their aim is to eventually destroy anyone they cannot convert to be a vassal of the Roman Empire. Then there will be nothing to do for anyone except stay at home, grow crops to feed fat and lazy Roman leaders, and do as we are told. Sigfried probably hopes that as the second largest army supporting Rome, his Teuton dogs may remain somewhat independent longer than the all the rest of us, but they are independent now only in name.
"So are our only choices really only submission and serfdom, or death? What else can we do? If those are my choices I choose death rather than surrender to someone who cannot see the difference between truth and lies, a minion of Rome who imagines himself a god because he controls the weak minds of his followers. Who among the Teutons but for the godman Sigfried and his faithful wolf Gar has ever done or said anything for which they will be remembered?
"Do they think that all tribes should be like them, large with walking brain dead zombie warriors, waiting for Rome to send them their orders? They certainly don't seem to understand why some of us prefer to be with but a few loyal friends in one tribe among many small diverse and interesting independent cultures.
"Perhaps the memory and traditions of the Goths will be wiped out once the world is Roman, but I think it better now to earn shortlived fame and a glorious death than long term infamy."