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Updated: June 9, 2025
Skallagrim bore their gibes for a space as he drank on, but suddenly he rose and rushed at them, and, seizing a man's throat in either hand, thrust them to the ground beneath him and nearly choked them there. Then Eric ran down the hall, and, putting out his strength, tore the Baresark from them. "This then is thy peacefulness, thou wolf!" Eric cried. "Thou art drunk!"
Now Eric called to Skallagrim and charged him strictly that he should tell nothing of Swanhild, and of the wolf that he saw by her, and of how Gudruda was found hanging over the gulf. "Fear not," growled the Baresark, "my tongue is now my master's. What is it to me if women do their wickedness one on another? Let them work magic, hate and slay by stealth, so shall evil be lessened in the world."
"This is a sad task for me, Eric!" she sighed, "for how do I know that Baresark's hands shall not loose this helm of thine?" "That is as it may be, sweet," he said; "but I fear not the Baresark or any man. How goes it with Swanhild now?" "I know not. She makes herself sweet to that old Earl and he is fain of her, and that is beyond my sight." "I have seen as much," said Eric.
Still, I swear this, that, when the days lengthen, I will go up alone against him and challenge him to battle, and conquer him or fall." "Then, thou yellow-headed puppy-dog, thou shalt go with one eye against a Baresark with two," growled Ospakar. Men took no heed of his words, but shouted aloud, for Skallagrim had plagued them long, and there were none who dared to fight with him any more.
Enough, it came to altercations, objurgations between the two; which rose ever higher, rose at length to wager-of-battle. Indignant challenge on the part of the Old Dessauer; which, however, Grumkow, not regarded as a BARESARK in the fighting way, regrets that his Christian principles do not, forsooth, allow him to accept.
Eric went warily up the Baresark path, for he would keep his breath in him, and the light shone redly on his golden helm. High he went, till at length he came to a pass narrow and dark and hedged on either side with sheer cliffs, such as two armed men might hold against a score. He peered down this path, but he saw no Baresark, though it was worn by Baresark feet.
Gudruda sat on the high seat and the firelight beat upon her face. "Who comes here?" she said. "One who would speak with thee, lady," answered Skallagrim. "Here is Skallagrim the Baresark," said a man. "He is an outlaw, let us kill him!" "Ay, it is Skallagrim," he answered, "and if there is killing to be done, why here's that which shall do it," and he drew out his axe and smiled grimly.
"Where Baresark passes, there may yeoman follow," said Eric and, sheathing Whitefire, without more ado, though he liked the task little, he grasped the overhanging rock and stepped down on to the point below. Now he was perched like an eagle over the dizzy gulf and his brain swam. Backward he feared to go, and forward he might not, for there was nothing but air.
Here they turned the horses loose to feed, and, going forward on foot, reached the dark and narrow pass that Brighteyes had trod when he sought for the Baresark foe. Skallagrim led the way along it, then came Eric and the rest. One by one they stepped on to the giddy point of rock, and, catching at the birch-bush, entered the hole.
There is one man, the same whom he had wounded. He cannot mount easily, and when the Baresark comes he still lies on the neck of his horse. The great axe wheels on high and falls, and it is told of this stroke that it was so mighty that man and horse sank dead beneath it, cloven through and through. Then the fit leaves Skallagrim and he walks back, and they are alone with the dead and dying.
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