Part 6 (2/2)
HOW ERIC WON THE SWORD WHITEFIRE
Now Asmund the priest bent down, and Eric saw him and spoke:
”Thou badest me to thy Yule-feast, lord, by yonder slippery road and I have come Dost thou welcome allant h foolhardy; and thou hast done a deed that shall be told of while skalds sing and men live in Iceland”
”Make place, my father,” said Gudruda, ”for Eric bleeds” And she loosed the kerchief fro the rich cloak from her body, threw it on his shoulders, and no man said her nay
Then they led him to the hall, where Eric clothed himself and rested, and he sent back the thrall Jon to Coldback, bidding him tell Saevuna, Eric's mother, that he was safe But he was someeak all that day, and the sound of waters roared in his ears
Now Ospakar and Groa were ill pleased at the turn things had taken; but all the others rejoiced rieved if the waters had prevailed against his ht But Swanhild brooded bitterly, for Eric never turned to look on her
The hour of the feast drew on and, according to custom, it was held in the Temple, and thither went all men When they were seated in the nave of the Hof, the fat ox that had been ed before the altar on which the holy fire burned Now Asures of the Gods, and, catching its blood in the blood-bowl, sprinkled the altar and all the worshi+ppers with the blood-twigs Then the ox was cut up, and the figures of the alhty Gods were anointed with its molten fat and wiped with fair linen Next the flesh was boiled in the cauldrons that were hung over fires lighted all down the nave, and the feast began
Now men ate, and drank much ale and lad, though he drank much, for he saw that the eyes of Gudruda ever watched Eric's face and that they smiled on each other He roth at this, for he knew that the baitthat should win this fair fish to his angle, and as he sat, unknowingly his fingers loosed the peace-strings of his sword Whitefire, and he half drew it, so that its brightness flaht
”Thou hast a wondrous blade there, Ospakar!” said Ash this is no place to draw it Whence came it? Methinks no such swords are fashi+oned now”
”Ay, Asmund, a wondrous blade indeed There is no other such in the world, for the dwarfs forged it of old, and he shall be unconquered who holds it aloft This was King Odin's sword, and it is na Eric's cairn in Norway, and he strove long with the Barroeller[] before he wrenched it froh he had never done this had Whitefire been aloft against hi in drink when the shi+ps ht with an axe, and was slain by ht that many a chief's eyes have seen Look at it, Ashost in the cairn
Now he drew the great sword, and old, and blue stones were set therein It measured two ells and a half froht was the broad blade that no one could look on it for long, and all down its length ran runes
”A wondrous weapon, truly!” said Asmund ”How read the runes?”
”I know not, nor any man--they are ancient”
”Let me look at them,” said Groa, ”I am skilled in runes” Now she took the sword, and heaved it up, and looked at the runes and said, ”A strange writing truly”
”How runs it, housekeeper?” said Asmund
”Thus, lord, if my skill is not at fault:--
”Whitefire is ed me-- Odin's sas I-- Eric's sas I-- Eric's sword shall I be-- And where I fall there he hteyes wonderingly, and Ospakar saw it and becary
”Look not so, maiden,” he said, ”for it shall be another Eric than yon flapper-duck who holds Whitefire aloft, though it e”
Now Gudruda bit her lip, and Eric burned red to the brow and spoke:
”It is ill, lord, to throw taunts like an angry wo, yet I may dare a deed with thee”