Part 37 (2/2)
”It was an ill deed in sooth,” said Gudruda, ”for Eric to slay an old ed Still, it may chance that he was driven to it for his own life's sake”
Then Hall said that he had seen Swanhild after Atli's slaying, and that she had told him that she and Eric should wed shortly, and that Eric would rule in Orkneys by her side
Gudruda asked if that was all his tale
”Yes, lady,” answered Hall, ”that is all my tale, for after that I sailed and know not what happened But I a to thee, and that by the Lady Swanhild She bade ift, thou shouldst think on a certain oath which Eric took as to the cutting of his hair” And he drew a linen packet froave it to her
Thrice Gudruda looked on it, fearing to open it Then, seeing the smile ofat her side and cut the thread with theolden hair rose fro snake The lock was long, and its end was caked with gore
”Whose hair is this?” said Gudruda, though she knew the hair well
”Eric's hair,” said Hall, ”that Swanhild cut from his head with Eric's sword”
Now Gudruda put her hand to her bosom She drew out a satchel, and from the satchel a lock of yellow hair Side by side she placed the locks, looking first at one and then at the other
”This is Eric's hair in sooth,” she said--”Eric's hair that he swore none but I should cut! Eric's hair that Swanhild shore with Whitefire frohted troth! Say nohose blood is this that stains the hair of Eric?”
”It is Atli's blood, whom Eric first dishonoured and then sleith his own hand,” answered Hall
Now there burned a fire on the hearth, for the day was cold Gudruda the Fair stood over the fire and with either hand she let the two locks of Eric's hair fall upon the embers Slowly they twisted up and burned She watched thereat cry fled from the hall
Bjorn and Hall of Lithdale looked on each other
”Thou hadst best go hence!” said Bjorn; ”and of this I warn thee, Hall, though I hold thy tidings good, that, if thou hast spoken one false word, that will be thy death For then it would be better for thee to face all the wolves in Iceland than to stand before Eric in his rage”
Again Hall bethought hirier ca that she would speak with him He went to where she sat alone upon her bed Her face hite as death, and her dark eyes glowed
”Eric has dealt badly with thee, sister, to bring thee to this sorrow,”
said Bjorn
”Speak no evil of Eric to me,” Gudruda answered ”The evil that he has done will be paid back to him; there is little need for thee to heap words upon his head Hearken, Bjorn my brother: is it yet thy will that I should wed Ospakar Blacktooth?”
”That is my will, surely There is no match in Iceland as this Ospakar, and I should win ers to Swinefell and say to Ospakar that if he would still wed Gudruda the Fair, Ashter, let hi and he shall not go hence alone Nay, I have done Now, I pray thee speak no more to me of Eric or of Ospakar Of the one I have seen and heard enough, and of the other I shall hear and see enough in the years that are to come”
XXII
HOW ERIC CAME HOME AGAIN