Part 27 (1/2)
Eric bowed, but ht, as they sat atbidden in jest of Ed to fill the cup of the bravest, passed down the board, and, before all men, poured wine into Eric's cup, and, as she did so, welcorew red as dawn, and thanked her graciously; but after the feast he spoke with Skallagri him of the Gudruda, and when she could be ready to take the sea
”In ten days, lord,” said Skallagri this winter? It is late to sail”
”Nay,” said Eric, ”we bide not here I would winter this year in Fareys, for they are the nighest place to Iceland that I may reach Next summer my three years of outlawry are over, and I would fare back homewards”
”Now, I see the shadow of a worim ”It is very late to face the northern seas, and we ”
”It is my will that we should sail,” answered Eric
”Past Orkneys runs the road to Fareys,” said Skallagrim, ”and in Orkneys sits a hawk to who from ill we may hap on worse”
”It is my will that we sail,” said Eric stubbornly
”As thou wilt, and as the King wills,” answered Skallagri, and craved a boon
”There is little that thou canst ask, Brighteyes,” said the King, ”that I will not give thee, for, by my troth, I hold thee dear”
”I a, lord,” answered Eric, ”but this only: leave to bid thee farewell I would wend ho, ”have I not dealt ith thee?”
”Well, and overwell, lord”
”Why, then, wouldst thou leave reat honour See, now, there is a fair lady in this court, and in her veins runs blood that even an Iceland viking reat lands, and, mayhap, she shall have hteyes?”
”In Iceland only I a roth, and bade hione when it pleased him, and Eric bowed before him and went out
Two days afterwards, while Eric alking in the Palace gardens he met the Lady Elfrida face to face She held white flowers in her hand, and she was fair to see and pale as the flowers she bore
He greeted her, and, after a while, she spoke to hiland, Brighteyes?” she said
”Yes, lady; I go,” he answered
She looked on hioest thou hence to that cold land of thine?” she sobbed--”that hateful land of snow and ice! Is not England good enough for thee?”
”I am at home there, lady, and there my mother waits me”
”'There thy mother waits thee,' Eric?--say, does a maid called Gudruda the Fair wait thee there also?”
”There is such a maid in Iceland,” said Eric