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His fellows thought this a good saying, and one by one they stood upon the little rock and won the narrow way. They crept along this till they were near to Eric and Skallagrim. Now Swanhild, looking up, saw them and started. Skallagrim noted this and glanced over his shoulder, and that not too soon, for, as he looked, the thrall lifted sword to smite the head of Eric.
Freed from weary life and sorrow, Soon we'll kiss in Hela's halls!" Then he laid her in the grave, and, having shrouded a sheet over her, they filled it in together, hiding Gudruda the Fair from the sight of men for ever. Afterwards Eric armed himself, and this Skallagrim did also. Then he strode from the hall, and Skallagrim followed him.
"Ay, when we set our strength against thine, lord," answered Skallagrim; "but look: the blood runs from thy neck the spear-wound has broken out afresh." "So it is, surely," said Eric. Then he washed the wound and bound it up, thinking little of the matter. But that night, according to his custom, Eric sat on the edge of the gulf and looked at the winter lights as they played over Hecla's snows.
There they found many dead men of their company, but never a one in whom the breath of life remained. Skallagrim looked at Eric and spoke: "Last night the mist came up against the wind: last night we saw Swanhild's wraith upon the waves, and there is the path it showed, and there" and he pointed to the dead men "is the witch-seed's flower.
His heart was heavy in him, for he boded no good of this marriage. Moreover, he was jealous. Skallagrim loved but one thing in the world truly, and that was Eric Brighteyes, his lord. Now he knew that henceforth he must take a second place, and that for one thought which Eric gave to him, he would give ten to Gudruda. Therefore Skallagrim was very sad at heart.
Skallagrim also ground his great axe upon the whetstone in the yard, singing as he ground. When all was ready, the horses were caught, and Eric spoke to the carline: "Hearken, nurse. If it may be that thou canst find any of our folk and perchance now that they see that Swanhild has ridden to Middalhof some one of them will come down to spy thou shalt say this to them.
So when he came into the court, bravely clad, with Skallagrim at his back, who was now almost recovered of his wound, the King called out to him to draw near, saying that he desired to look on the bravest viking and most beauteous man who sailed the seas, and on that fierce Baresark whom men called "Eric's Death-shadow."
Thither thou shalt go, if thou art wise, and thou shalt sit there this winter and be hidden from Eric and Skallagrim. Nay, thank me not, but listen: it may chance that I shall have a service for thee to do before spring is come." "Lady, I shall wait upon thy word," said Hall. "Good.
"Nearly all of Gizur's men watch the ship; and I have learned this from a spy, that, two days ago, Gizur, Swanhild, and one thrall rode from Coldback towards Mosfell, and they have not come back yet. Moreover, the place is strong, and thou and Skallagrim are here to guard it." "So be it, then," answered Eric, for indeed he had little thought left for anything, except Gudruda.
For thee, Ounound, I thought thee dead; but, being yet alive, Thorunna, my sweet love, sends thee this," and he hurled a spear at him with all his might. But Skallagrim catches the spear as it flies and hurls it back.
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