And he rushed at the Corsican. But before he could reach him, Isdigerd the Persian had stormed into the road from the left between the King and Furius.
"Aim at the King!" he cried to his men. "All spears at the King! There he is, the white one! With the swan on his helmet! Down with him!"
A hail of spears whistled through the air. In a moment the King's shield bristled with darts.
By this time the Corsican had recognised the tall and glittering figure in the distance.
"It is he! I will have his heart's blood!"
And he forced his way through his own and Isdigerd's men.
The two enraged adversaries were now separated only by a few feet.
But Totila had turned against Isdigerd. Pierced in the neck by the King's spear, the chief fell dead to the ground.
And now Totila and Furius met.
The Corsican aimed his spear full at the King's unprotected face.