"It does not become you, Earl Witichis, to interfere for the protection of a murderer. I have summoned the King before the court at Byzantium."
"And for this insult thou hast no reply, Amelung?" cried old Hildebrand angrily.
But his bad conscience tied the King's tongue.
"Then we must speak for him," said Witichis "Know, Greek, and understand it well, you false and ungrateful Ravennites, the nation of the Goths is free and acknowledges no foreign master or judge or earth."
"Not even for murder?"
"If evil deeds occur amongst us, we ourselves will judge and punish them. It does not concern strangers; least of all our enemy, the Emperor of Byzantium."
"My Emperor will revenge this woman, whom he could not save. Deliver up the murderers to Byzantium."
"We would not deliver up a Gothic hind, much less our King!"
"Then you share his guilt and his punishment, and I declare war against you in the name of my master. Tremble before Justinian and Belisarius!"
A movement of joy amongst the Gothic warriors was the only answer.