But the old Dayling arose and blew the horn, and there was at once a great silence, amidst which he said: "Children of Slains-father, doth the Folk go to the war ?" There was no voice but shouted "yea," and the white swords sprang aloft, and the westering sun swept along a half of them as they tossed to and fro, and the others showed dead-white and fireless against the dark wood.
Then again spake Agni: "Will ye choose the War-duke now and once, or shall it be in a while, after others have spoken ?" And the voice of the Folk went up, "Choose! Choose!" Said Agni: "Sayeth any aught against it ?" But no voice of a gainsayer was heard, and Agni said: "Children of Tyr, what man will ye have for a leader and a duke of war ?" Then a great shout sprang up from amidst the swords: "We will have Thiodolf; Thiodolf the Wolfing!" Said Agni: "I hear no other name; are ye of one mind?
hath any aught to say against it?
If that be so, let him speak now, and not forbear to follow in the wheatfield of the spears.

Speak, ye that will not follow Thiodolf!" No voice gainsaid him: then said the Dayling: "Come forth thou War-duke of the Markmen! take up the gold ring from the horns of the altar, set it on thine arm and come up hither!" Then came forth Thiodolf into the sun, and took up the gold ring from where it lay, and did it on his arm.

And this was the ring of the leader of the folk whenso one should be chosen: it was ancient and daintily wrought, but not very heavy: so ancient it was that men said it had been wrought by the dwarfs.
So Thiodolf went up on to the hill, and all men cried out on him for joy, for they knew his wisdom in war.

Many wondered to see him unhelmed, but they had a deeming that he must have made oath to the Gods thereof and their hearts were glad of it.

They took note of the dwarf-wrought hauberk, and even from a good way off they could see what a treasure of smith's work it was, and they deemed it like enough that spells had been sung over it to make it sure against point and edge: for they knew that Thiodolf was well beloved of the Gods.
But when Thiodolf was on the Hill of Speech, he said: "Men of the kindreds, I am your War-duke to-day; but it is oftenest the custom when ye go to war to choose you two dukes, and I would it were so now.