With the cry of "Victory! victory!" his friends greeted him, and Teja and Hildebrand announced that at Ticina, and Verona also, the country-people had rebelled against the Byzantines, and had aided the Goths in falling upon the besiegers, whom, after destroying their defences, they had forced to retreat.
But in spite of this joyful news, there lay in Teja's eyes and voice a deeper melancholy than usual.
"What of sorrow hast thou to communicate, beside this joy?" asked Totila.
"The shameful ruin of the best man in the world!" said Teja, and signed to Wachis, who now related the sufferings and death of the King and his wife.
"I escaped the arrows of the Huns by hiding amongst the rushes. Thus I still live. But only for one thing; that is, to revenge my master upon his betrayer and murderer--Cethegus the Prefect."
"No; the Prefect is mine!" said Teja.
"Thou, Totila, hast the first right to his life," said Hildebrand, "for thou hast a brother to revenge."
"My brother Hildebad!" cried Totila. "What of him?"
"He has been shamefully murdered by the Prefect," said Thorismuth, "before my very eyes, and I could not prevent it."
"My strong Hildebad dead!" exclaimed Totila. "Speak!"