Gunther's chosen warriors in Burgundy.

The Nibelungs held their land in fee from Siegfried, and none of his
kinsmen were so rich as he. For he was overlord to the knights of
Shilbung, and owned the treasure of the two brothers. Wherefore his
heart was the more uplifted.

The biggest hoard that ever hero won was his; that he had got by means of
his strong hand before a mountain, and for the which he smote many heroes
to death.

He had honour to the full; yet, if he had possessed nothing at all, none
that saw him had denied him to be the prowest champion that ever rode a
horse. With good cause the folk feared him.


Twelfth Adventure
How Gunther Invited Siegfried to the Hightide

Now there passed not a day but Gunther's wife thought, "Surely Kriemhild
beareth her too proudly. Siegfried, her husband, is our vassal. Little
service hath he done for his land."

She pondered it secretly in her heart; for it irked her that they were
strangers, and she had fain known wherefore Siegfried's country yielded
no tribute. She prayed the king that she might behold Kriemhild again,
and told him her secret thought. But her word pleased him not. "How
could we bid them hither?" said the great king. "It cannot be. They
dwell too far off. I durst not do it."