Thorgal and his family have been captured by slave merchants. Buyers present themselves, among them the governor's intendant of a Roman province in search of Barbares for a surprising hunting game. At 18, the noble youths of the governor's court pass their officer's exams. One of the trials consists in pursuing and slaughtering the prisoners. This allows to evaluate their ability to shoot at the bow. Thorgal will be one of the game! But when the latter takes hold of the arch of one of the hunters, the exercise takes an unexpected turn.