e host was gathered: then he bade cry silence,
and spake:

"Sons of Tyr, now hath an Host of the Romans gotten into the Mark; a
mighty host, but not so mighty that it may not be met. Few words are
best: let the Steerings, who are not many, but are men well-tried in war
and wisdom abide in the Burg along with the fighting thralls: but let the
Burg be broken up and moved from the place, and let its warders wend
towards Mid-mark, but warily and without haste, and each night let them
make the wain-garth and keep good watch.

"But know ye that the Romans shall fall with all their power on the
Wolfing dwellings, deeming that when they have that, they shall have all
that is ours with ourselves also. For there is the Hall-Sun under the
Great Roof, and there hath Thiodolf, our War-duke, his dwelling-place;
therefore shall all of us, save those that abide with the wains, take
horse, and ride without delay, and cross the water at Battleford, so that
we may fall upon the foe before they come west of the water; for as ye
know there is but one ford whereby a man wending straight from the
Bearings may cross Mirkwood-water, and it is like that the foe will tarry
at the Bearing stead long enough to burn and pillage it.

"So do ye order yourselves according to your kindreds, and let the
Shieldings lead. Make no more delay! But for me I will now send a
messenger to Thiodolf to tell him of the tidings, and then speedily shall
he be with us. Geirbald, I see thee; come hither!"

Now Geirbald stood amidst the Shieldings, and when Otter had spoken, he
came forth bestriding a white horse, and with his bow slung at his back.
Said Otter: "Geirbald, thou shalt ride at once through the wood, and find
Thiodolf; and tell him the tidings, and that in nowise he follow the
Roman fleers away from the Mark, nor to heed anything but the trail of
the foemen through the south-eastern heaths of Mirkwood, whether other
Romans follow him or not: whatever happens let him lead the Goths by that
road, which for him is the shortest, towards the defence of the Wolfing
dwellings. Lo thou, my ring for a token! Take it and depart in haste.
Yet first take thy fellow Viglund the Woodman with thee, lest if
perchance one fall, the other may bear the message. Tarry not, nor rest
till thy word be said!"

Then turned Geirbald to find Viglund who was anigh to him, and he took
the ring, and the twain went their ways without more ado, and rode into
the wild-wood.