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Then spake Thorbiorn the Tardy, "Both these things are true," said he: "I saw Grettir win no great honour, and I deem withal that fear shot through his heart when we came thereto, and right blithe was he to part, nor did I see him seek for vengeance when Atli's house-carle was slain; therefore do I deem that there is no heart in him if he is not holpen enow."
"Now it seems that thou art a coward, Hall," Swanhild said when he had done, "and I scarcely looked for that in thee," for she had not been deceived by the glozing of his speech. "It will be bad for thee to meet Eric and Skallagrim, and this is my counsel: that thou goest hence before they wake, for they will sit this winter here in Atli's hall." "And whither shall I go, lady?"
Thorbjorn Oxmain heard of Atli and Grim having left home just when Gunnar and Thorgeir, the sons of Thorir of Skard, were with him. Thorbjorn was jealous of Atli's popularity and egged on the two brothers, the sons of Thorir, to lie in wait for him as he returned from Snaefellsnes. They rode home to Skard and waited there for Atli returning with his loads.
"And I can read my fate yet further. When I part from my foster-brother Estein, then shall a man go to Valhalla. What say you to that?" Atli's face darkened. "Darest thou mock me?" he cried. "Not so," interposed Estein. " Bare is back without brother behind it, and Helgi means that death only can part us. Farewell, Atli!
Still, he would have greeted her loverwise; but she lifted her hand and waved him back, and fear took hold of him. "What now, Gudruda?" he asked, faltering. "What now, Eric?" she answered, faltering not. "Hast seen Swanhild?" "Yea, I have seen Swanhild. She came to bid farewell to me. What of it?" "What of it? Why 'thus! and thus! and thus! didst thou bid farewell to Atli's bride.
By then was Thorbiorn on horseback, and he gave out the slaying as having been done by his hand, and thereafter rode home. The goodwife Asdis sent for her men, and Atli's corpse was laid out, and he was buried beside his father. Great mourning folk made for his death, for he had been a wise man, and of many friends.
The decree of the arbitrators was that half penalties should be paid for Thorir's sons and half should be remitted on account of the wrongful attack which they made and their designs on Atli's life. The slaying of Atli's man at Hrutafjardarhals should be set off against the two of theirs who had been killed.
"This is the truth, then: Swanhild the Fatherless, Atli's wife, has always sought my love, and she has ever hated Gudruda whom I loved. From a child she has striven to work mischief between us. Ay, and she did this, though till now it has been hidden: she strove to murder Gudruda; it was on the day that Skallagrim and I overcame Ospakar and his band on Horse-Head Heights.
"Now I remember that Gudruda the Fair charged me with a certain message for Eric Brighteyes, if I should chance to see him as I journeyed." Then Swanhild, Atli's wife, and Koll the Half-witted talked long and earnestly together. At nightfall Eric came in from his fishing. His heart was light, for the time drew near when he should sail for home, and he did not think on evil.
"But now was I gone Yet once again Unto Geirmund, Good feast to make; Yet had I hearing, E'en out from Hlesey, How of sore trouble The harp-strings sang. "So I bade the bondmaids Be ready swiftly, For I listed to save The life of the king, And we let our ship Swim over the sound, Till Atli's dwelling We saw all clearly. Then came the wretch Crawling out, E'en Atli's mother, All sorrow upon her!
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