"And my sea-brothers have taken a great dislike to thy sticks and tablets and runes. Farewell, then, Rome-King of the Goths! May thy good-fortune endure! Farewell, lovely Queen of Night! Farewell, all you heroes! we shall meet again in Walhalla, if not sooner."
And after taking a short leave, the northerners walked away.
Haralda threw her falcon into the air.
"Fly before us, Snotr--on deck!"
And the intelligent bird flew away, swift as an arrow, straight down the river.
The King and Valeria accompanied their guests halfway down the staircase; there they exchanged the last greetings. The Amazon cast one more rapid glance at Totila.
Harald remarked it, and as they descended the last steps he whispered:
"Little sister, it is on thy account that I left so quickly. Do not grieve about this handsome King. Thou knowest that I have inherited from our father the gift of recognising men who are fated to die. I tell thee, death by the spear hovers over this King's sunny head. He will not again see the changing of the moon."
At this the strong and tender-hearted woman forced back the tears which rose into her proud eyes.
Duke Guntharis, Earl Teja, and Duke Adalgoth accompanied the Goths to their boats on the Tiber, and waited until they had put off.