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When all was ready I made known my plans to Jodd alone, in whose hands I left a writing to say what must be done if I returned no more.
They had scaled the palace walls or broken in the gates as yet I know not which they were on the terrace driving the Greek guards before them. I ran to the window-place and there below me saw Jodd. I screamed till he heard me. "'Save me if you would save Olaf, I cried. 'I am prisoned here. "They brought one of their scaling ladders and drew me through the window. I told them all I knew.
Here they talked together for a long while. Then Jodd and his companions returned, and Jodd said, so that all might hear him: "Hearken. These are the terms offered: That we return to our barracks in peace, bearing our weapons.
I know that I wished I might have fled from it and that I pleaded with Jodd for mercy on these men. But neither he nor his companions would listen to me. "What mercy had they on you?" he cried. "Let them drink from their own cup."
"If no answer is given to my question," went on Jodd in his slow, bull-like voice, "I fear that others must be killed besides the General Olaf. Ho! Northmen. To me, Northmen! Ho! Britons, to me, Britons! Ho! Saxons, to me, Saxons! Ho! all who are not accursed Greeks. To me all who are not accursed Greeks!"
This sentence will be executed with or without torture at such time and in such manner as it may please the Augusta to decree." Now the voice of Jodd was heard crying through the gathering gloom, for night was near: "What sort of judgment is this that the judges bring already written down into the Court? Hearken you, lawyer, and you street-curs, his companions, who call yourselves soldiers.
It would seem that before this torrent of coarse invective Constantine quailed, who at heart always feared his mother, and I think never more so than when he appeared to triumph over her. Or perhaps he scorned to answer it. At least, addressing Jodd, he said, "Captain, I and my officers, standing yonder unseen, have heard something of what passed in this place.
It would serve as well." "Jodd," I said, "I command you to be silent. This lady is in trouble; attack those in power, if you will, not those who have fallen." "There speaks the man I loved," said Irene. "What perverse fate kept us apart, Olaf? Had you taken what I offered, by now you and I would have ruled the world."
Moreover, I knew that no royal ship was looked for from Byzantium at this time, and dreaded lest this one should bear letters from the new Emperor dismissing me from my office, or even worse tidings. "What bad news should she bring?" growled Jodd. "Oh!
I have always thought it, and I thought it again just now when I saw you lead that charge against those curs in armour," and she pointed towards the bodies of the Greeks. "So, it is finished, as perchance I am. If I must die, let it be on your sword, Olaf." "Your answer, Olaf Red-Sword!" called Jodd. "You have talked enough." "Your answer! Yes, your answer!" the Northmen echoed.
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