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Updated: May 21, 2025
Nay, the wolf Eric must be fenced from the lamb till he grows hungry. Then let him search the fold and make spoil of thee, for, when the best is gone, he will desire the good." "So be it, mother. As I sat crouched behind Gudruda in the snow at Coldback, I had half a mind to end her love-words with this knife, for so I should have been free of her." "Yes, and fast in the doom-ring, thou wildcat.
"Eric shall certainly die if I may bring it about," he answered, and went to speak with his men. Now all were gathered in the yard at Coldback, and that was a great company. But their looks were heavy because of the shame that Gizur, Ospakar's son, had brought upon them by the murder of Gudruda in her sleep.
Moreover, she heard that Swanhild sailed down to Coldback, and was bidden to the marriage-feast, that should be on the third day from now. Could it be, then, when all was said and done, that Eric was less faithless than she deemed? Gudruda's heart stood still and the blood rushed to her brow when she thought on it. Also, even if it were so, it was now too late.
Then the men tied the body of Saevuna, Thorgrimur's widow, Eric's mother, fast in the chair, and bore it thence. But when at length they came to Coldback, they found that Swanhild was there with all her following, and had driven Eric's grieve and his folk to the fells. But one old carline, who had been nurse to Eric, was left there, and she sat wailing in an outhouse, being too weak to move.
And he snatched the axe from the hand of Skallagrim and slew the horse at a blow. Then they rode away, heading for Coldback. The night was wild and windy, and the sky dark with scudding clouds, through which the moon peeped out at times. Eric looked up, then spoke to Skallagrim: "A good night for burning, drunkard!" "Ay, lord; the flames will fly briskly," answered Skallagrim.
She told, too, how Gudruda had betrothed herself to Ospakar, and how Swanhild had moved down to Coldback and seized the lands. Lastly she told of the rising of Saevuna from her deathbed, of her going to Middalhof, of the words she spoke to Björn and Ospakar, and of her death in the hall at Middalhof. When all was told, Eric stooped and kissed the cold brow of his mother.
And surely it was not so, for had not Eric been made outlaw? Men were not made outlaw for a little thing. Nay, she would meet her fate, and ask no more of Eric and his doings. On the morrow, as Gudruda sat in her chamber, it was told her that Saevuna, Thorgrimur's widow and Eric's mother, had come from Coldback to speak with her.
"Brand-whetter's life awry doth go. Fair lands and wide full well I know; Past house, and field, and fold of man, The swift steed of the rollers ran: My lands, and kin, I left behind, That I this latter day might find, Coldback for sunny meads to have; Hard fate a bitter bargain drave."
Thereafter, the Althing being ended, Björn, Gizur, and Ospakar, with all their company, rode away to Middalhof to sit at the marriage-feast. But Swanhild and her folk went by sea in the long war-ship to Westmans. For this was her plan: to seize on Coldback and to sit there for a while, till she saw if Eric came out to Iceland.
And now Gudruda sobs and the tears fall fast from her dark eyes. "Nay, weep not. Dost thou, then, love me?" "Ay, sure enough, Eric." "Then kiss me before we pass. A man should not die thus, and yet men have died worse." And so these two kissed, for the first time, out in the snow on Coldback, and that first kiss was long and sweet.
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