Part 17 (1/2)
[] The penalty for h to think of it Now there are other tidings to tell Co to the head of Goldfoss I found Gudruda,my death, and spoke with her Afterwards I left her, and presently returned again, to see her hanging over the gulf, and Swanhild hurling rocks upon her to crush her”
”These are tidings in truth,” said Ass as my heart feared! Is this true, Gudruda?”
”It is true,”As I sat on the brink of Goldfoss, Swanhild crept behindabove the waters, and she brought a rock to hurl upon me, when suddenly I saw Eric's face, and after that rew as one round ”Maid though she be,” he cried, ”yet shall Swanhild's back be broken on the Stone of Doom for a witch and a murderess, and her body hurled into the pool of faithless women, and the earth will be well rid of her!”
Now Gudruda looked up and seance on her, father,” she said; ”and this would also bring the greatest shame on thee, and all our house I aht of Eric's ar be told of this tale, but that Swanhild be sent ahere she can harrave, then,” said Asain: ”Bid yon ri
”Hearken now, Eric and Gudruda: only an hour ago hath Atli the Good asked Swanhild of e But now I met Swanhild here, and her mien ild Still, I spoke of the matter to her, and she would have none of it Now, this is iven to Swanhild, either that she go hence Atli's wife, or take her trial in the Doo”
”That will be bad for the Earl then,” said Eric ”Methinks he is too good a man to be played on thus”
”_Bairn first, then friend_,” answered As that, till this hour, I have hidden frohter, and therefore I have loved her and put away her evil deeds, and she is half-sister to thee, Gudruda See, then, how sore is hter”
”Knows thy son Bjorn of this?” asked Eric
”None knew it till this hour, except Groa and I”
”Yet I have feared it long, father,” said Gudruda, ”and therefore I have also borne with Swanhild, though she hates me much and has striven hard to draw my betrothed froive choice to Swanhild of these two things, though it is unworthy that Atli should be deceived, and at the best little good can come of it”
”Yet it must be done, for honour is often slain of heavy need,” said Asmund ”But we h little faith lives in Baresark's breast”
Now Eric called to Skallagri of Swanhild, and of the wolf that he saw by her, and of how Gudruda was found hanging over the gulf
”Fear not,” growled the Baresark, ”ue is now my master's What is it to me if woic, hate and slay by stealth, so shall evil be lessened in the world”
”Peace!” said Eric; ”if anything of this passes thy lips thou art no longer a thrall of ive thee up to the men of thy quarter”
”And I cleave that wolf's head of thine down to thy hawk's eyes; but, otherwise, I give thee peace, and will hold thee from harm, wood-dweller as thou art,” said Ashed: ”My hands will hold ainst ten such mannikins as thou art, Priest There was never but one ht and there he stands, and his bidding is ainst greater folk,” and he slouched back to his horse
”Aafter hi in battle,” quoth Eric; ”had he not been at one, by now the ravens had torn out these eyes of mine
Therefore, for my sake, bear with him”
Asmund said it should be so, and then they passed on to the stead
Here Eric stripped off his harness, washed, and bound up his wounds