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That ye will slay Koll the Half-witted, Groa's thrall, who came hither about two days gone, since by his lies he hath set an edge upon this sword of falsehood. That ye will raise no blood-feud against Eric for this my slaying, for I goaded him to the deed. Do ye swear?" "We swear," said the men. "Then farewell! And to thee farewell, also, Eric Brighteyes! Now take my hand and hold it while I die.
Koll, who was my mother's thrall, has come hither from Iceland, and these are his tidings: that Asmund is dead, and Unna, thy cousin, Thorod of Greenfell's daughter, is dead, and my mother Groa is dead also." "Heavy tidings, truly!" said Eric; "and what of Gudruda, is she also dead?" "Nay, Eric she is wed wed to Ospakar."
The man came and she knew him at once for Koll the Half-witted, who had been her mother Groa's thrall. On his shoulders was the cloak that Ospakar Blacktooth had given him; it was much torn now, and he had a worn and hungry look. "Whence comest thou, Koll?" she asked, "and what are thy tidings?" "From Scotland last, lady, where I sat this winter; before that, from Iceland.
And so the king, being counselled to allow the punishment as inevitable, gave leave for Koll to be hanged. Then Frode began to accost Erik thus: "O thou, wantoning in insolent phrase, in boastful and bedizened speech, whence dost thou say that thou hast come hither, and why?" Erik answered: "I came from Rennes Isle, and I took my seat by a stone."
Now, when thou hast poured, thou shalt pass the cup to me, as I stand at the foot of the high seat, waiting to give the bride greeting on behalf of the serving-women of the household. Thou shalt hand the cup to me as though in error, and that is but a little thing to ask of thee." "A little thing indeed," said Koll, staring at her, and pulling with his hand at his red hair, "yet I like it not.
Swanhild listened silently then said: "What news of Gudruda, Asmund's daughter? Is she wed?" "Nay, lady. Folk spoke of her and Ospakar, that was all." "Hearken, Koll," said Swanhild, "bearing such heavy tidings, canst thou not weight the ship a little more? Eric Brighteyes is here.
"It is not like Gudruda to speak thus," said Eric: "she had ever a stout heart and these are craven words. Koll, I hold that thou liest; and, if indeed I find it so, I'll wring the head from off thee!" "Nay, Eric, I lie not. Wherefore should I lie? Hearken: thou hast not heard all my tale.
Erik added, that it was the way of dogs, for all the others to set up barking when one started it; for all folk by their bearing betrayed their birth and revealed their race. But when Koll, who was the keeper of the gifts offered to the king, asked him whether he had brought any presents with him, he produced the ice which he had hidden in his breast.
But when shall I touch the two hundred in silver?" "I will give thee half before the feast begins, and half when it is ended, and with it freedom to go where thou wilt. And now leave me, and on thy life see that thou fail me not." "I have never failed thee yet," said Koll, and went his ways.
Thus, then, did Asmund the Priest wed Unna, Thorod's daughter, and this was the end of the feasting. Thereafter Björn, Asmund's son, ruled at Middalhof, and was Priest in his place. He sought for Koll the Half-witted to kill him, but Koll took the fells, and after many months he found passage in a ship that was bound for Scotland. Now Björn was a hard man and a greedy.
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