to depart. And
in due time a great wedding feast was made, and Sigmund and Hiordis
were married with all the rites customary in the Northland, after
which they returned to Sigmund's own kingdom.
But within a few months news was brought that King Lygni had gathered
together a vast army, and was marching upon the Volsungs with intent
to destroy them utterly. So King Sigmund hastily got together his
fighting men and went out to his enemy, and they met in an open space
in the middle of a wood. And Hiordis carried away the king's treasure
and hid herself in the wood with her handmaid, in a place from whence
she could watch the fight.
The Vikings that came up from the sea were greater in number by far
than the warriors of Sigmund. But Sigmund was a host in himself, and
all the fierce strength of the Volsungs was in his arm that day.
Wherever he went his foes made way before him, and full many were the
Vikings who fell by his magic sword. But the king, who was the father
of his wife, was killed in the foremost rank.
Now, when the battle had raged for a long time, suddenly a strange
warrior, tall of form, with slouched hat upon his head, and blue-grey
cloak about his shoulders, was seen making his way through the press
to where Sigmund towered above the host of those who came against him.
Soon he confronted Sigmund, and his flashing weapon whirled like a
flail ere it descended. The Volsung king lifted his magic sword to
ward off the blow, but it fell with terrific force upon the blade and
broke it in two pieces. From that moment the fortune of the battle
turned against the Volsungs, and they fell fast around their king. But
Sigmund stood as in a trance, and the war rage faded from his face.
All-Father Odin had come to claim the sword he had given all those
many years ago, and had left him defenceless against the foe who now
pressed hot upon him.
"And there they smote down Sigmund, the wonder of all lands,
On the foemen, on the death-heap his deeds had piled that day."
When he saw that his rival had fallen, King Lygni made for the king's
abode, meaning to take both queen and treasure for himself. But he
found all empty and silent within. Then, thinking that he had slain
every one of the Volsung race, and that he need dread them no more, he
went through the kingdom to take possession of it.
When night had fallen upon the scene of bloodshed, Hiordis crept out
of the thicket and searched among the dead for her
|