Part 47 (2/2)
”This, lord,” said the thrall: ”Gudruda the Fair bids me say that she is well and that the snows nal word that had been agreed upon between Eric and Gudruda, that she should send him when all was ready
”Good,” said Eric, ”ride back to Gudruda the Fair and say that Eric Brighteyes is well, but on Hecla the snows melt not”
By this answer he h the thrall could s of the man, and learned that Swanhild was still at Middalhof, and with her Gizur, and that they gave out that they wished toand slay Eric
”First snare your bird, then wring his neck,” laughed Skallagri histo sail from Iceland, and Jon, his thrall, was of thery sea He bade these bide a while on Mosfell and htly on the platform of rock which is in front of the cave, that the spies of Gizur and Swanhild ht be deceived by them, and think that Eric was still on the fell Then, when they heard that he had sailed, they were to come down and hide the rode north But he told two of the ht before the moon rose Eric said farewell to Jon and the others who stayed on Mosfell, and rode aith Skallagrim and the tent with him They passed the plain of black sand in safety, and so on to Horse-Head Heights Now at length, as the afternoon drew on to evening, from Stonefell's crest they saw the Hall of Middalhof before them, and Eric's heart swelled in his breast Yet they must wait till darkness fell before they dared enter the place, lest they should be seen and notice of their co should be carried to Gizur and Swanhild
And this came into the mind of Eric, that of all the hours of his life that hour of waiting was the longest Scarcely, indeed, could Skallagri down theto Gudruda whoth the darkness fell, and they went on Eric rode swiftly down the rough ruth they ca from his horse and strode to the wo; and while he was yet sohteyen's harness, and the colour came and went upon her cheek Then she turned and fled to the high seat of the hall, and sat down there
Only tomen were left in Middalhof with her, and some thralls who tended the kine and horses But these slept, not in the hall, but in an outhouse Gudruda had sent the rest of her people down to the shi+p to help in the lading, for it was given out that the vessel sailed on the ht be no talk of the cohteyes ca the door wide, walked in But Skallagrim and the men stayed without a while, and tended the horses A fire burned upon the centre hearth in the hall, and threw shadows on the panelling Eric walked on by its light, looking to left and right, but seeing neither reat fear took hione, or perhaps slain of Swanhild, Groa's daughter, and he treht He stood by the fire, and Gudruda, watching frolow upon his golden helh and looked, and as he looked a stick of pitchy driftwood fell into the fire and flared up fiercely Then he saw There, in the carved high seat, robed all in bridal white, sat Gudruda the Fair, his love Her golden hair flowed about her breast, her white arms were stretched towards him, and on her sweet face shone such a look of love as he had never seen
”_Eric!_” she whispered softly, and the breath of her voice ran down the empty panelled hall, that from all sides seemed to answer, ”_Eric_”
Slowly he drew near to her He saw nothing but the glory of Gudruda's face and the light shi+ning on Gudruda's hair; he heard nothing save the sighing of her breath; he knew nothing except that before him sat his fair bride, won after h seat, and norapped in each other's arazed into each other's eyes, and lo! the air of the great hall rolled round thelory, and sweet voices whispered in their ears Now Freya sates of love, and they were glad that they had been born
Thus then they ed
Now the story tells that Swanhild spoke with Gizur, Ospakar's son, in the house at Coldback
”I tire of this slow play,” she said ”We have tarried here for eance, and cries for vengeance the blood of black Ospakar, thy father, and the blood of reat Eric's hand”
”I tire also,” said Gizur, ”and I am much needed in the north I say this to thee, Swanhild, that, hadst thou not so strictly laid it on me that Eric must die ere thou weddest me, I had flitted back to Swinefell before now, and there bided hteyes to his end”
”I will never wed thee, Gizur, till Eric is dead,” said Swanhild fiercely
”How shall we coo up that th, and folk do not love to rim in a narroay”
”The place has been badly watched,” said Swanhild ”I am sure of this, that Eric has been down to Middalhof and seen Gudruda, my half-sister
She is shameless, who still holds commune with him who slew her brother and my husband Death should be her reward, and I aht upon our blood”
”That is a deed which thou wilt do alone, then,” said Gizur, ”for I will have no hand in the murder of that fair lanced at hiely ”Hearken, Gizur!” she said: ”Gudruda oods to Scotland and bring a cargo thence before winter coe, for never before did I know Gudruda turn her thoughts to trading I think that she has it in her mind to sail from Iceland with this outlaw Eric, and seek a home over seas, and that I will not bear”
”It may be,” said Gizur, ”and I should not be sorry to see the last of Brighteyes, for I think that more men will die at his hand before he stiffens in his barrow”
”Thou art cowardly-hearted, thou son of Ospakar!” Swanhild said ”Thou sayest thou lovest me and wouldest win me to wife: I tell thee that there is but one road to my arms, and it leads over the corpse of Eric
Now this is my counsel: that we send the most of our men to watch that shi+p of Gudruda's, and, when she lifts anchor, to board her and search, for she is already bound for sea Also a the people here I have a carle as born near Hecla, and he swears this to le's eyrie, he found a path by which Mosfell ht be clie flat place, and, looking over, saw that platform where Eric dwells with his thralls But he could not see the cave, because of the overhanging brow of the rock Noill do this: thou and I, and the carle alone--no more, for I do not wish that our search should be noised abroad--to-morrow at the daill ride away for Mosfell, and, passing under Hecla, come round the mountain and see if this path may still be scaled For, if so, ill return with hteyes”