At this moment, before the unequal fight could commence, Alboin arrived upon the spot with his Longobardians. He had followed the Prefect, not being inclined to remain idle while the fight was going on round the walls of Taginæ.
The Longobardian looked silently and with emotion at the corpse of the King.
"He gave me my life--I could not save his," he said gravely.
One of his horsemen pointed to the rich armour worn by the dead man.
"No," said Alboin, "this royal hero must be buried with all his royal trappings."
"There, Alboin, on the rocky height above us," said Adalgoth, "his bride and his tomb, self-chosen, have waited for him long."
"Take him up! I will give safe-conduct to the noble corpse and the noble bearers. Now, my men, follow me back to the fight!"
CHAPTER XX.
But the fight was over: as Alboin and the Prefect discovered, to their great disgust, when they again reached Taginæ.
The Prefect, just as he had entered the pine-wood and was about to follow the King's track, had been overtaken by a messenger from Liberius, who sent word for him to return immediately. Narses was insensible, and the peril of the situation necessitated immediate counsel.