When the envoy stammered through his proposal, Rurik accepted every condition without dispute, then ordered his men to light a great bonfire on the wharf.
"Go back and tell Hywel this—if that fire burns out before he surrenders, the name Gwynedd shall vanish from the earth."
Ten minutes later, King Hywel came alone to the pier. When he saw Rhodri standing beside Rurik, he froze in disbelief and burst out,
"You shameless traitor! You've sold yourself to the Norse?"
Rhodri only rolled his eyes and turned toward the sea, too weary even to answer the insults of an old acquaintance.
With both kings now subdued, Rurik felt that the atmosphere had been properly set. He brought the two monarchs back to Mathrafal, and dispatched envoys to summon the other Welsh nobles to assemble.
