theterriblecirclethatonmanyabattlefieldhasbeenhiddenatlastbeneaththeheapoffallenfoes。
Theregimentsmovedup；therewerethreeofthemoffullstrength。
Irenestaredabouther，seekingsomeloopholeofescape，andfindingnone。HeliodoreandItalkedtogetherinlowtones，makingourtrystbeyondthegrave。Theregimentshaltedwithinfiftypacesofus。TheylikednotthelookofOdin’sRing，andthegroundoverwhichtheyhadmarchedandthefugitiveswithwhomtheyhadspokentoldthemthatmanyofthemlookedtheirlastuponthemoon。
SomemountedgeneralsrodetowardsusandaskedwhowasincommandoftheNorthmen。WhentheylearnedthatitwasJodd，theyinvitedhimtoaparley。TheendofitwasthatJoddandtwootherssteppedtwentypacesfromourranks，andmetacouncillor——itwasStauracius——andtwoofthegeneralsintheopen，wherenotreacherycouldwellbepractised，especiallyasStauraciuswasnotamanofwar。Heretheytalkedtogetherforalongwhile。ThenJoddandhiscompanionsreturned，andJoddsaid，sothatallmighthearhim:
“Hearken。Thesearethetermsoffered:Thatwereturntoourbarracksinpeace，bearingourweapons。Thatnothingbelaidtoourchargeunderanylaw，militaryorcivil，bytheStateorprivatepersons，forthisnight’sslayingandtumult，andthatinguaranteethereoftwelvehostagesofhighrank，uponwhosenameswehaveagreed，begivenintoourkeeping。ThatweretainourseparatestationsintheserviceoftheEmpire，orhaveleavetoquitthatservicewithinthreemonths，withthegratuityofaquarter’spay，andgowherewewillunmolested。