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For Swanhild also, sitting at Coldback, the days did not go well. She was weary of the courting of Gizur, whom she played with as a cat plays with a rat, and her heart was sick with love, hate, and jealousy. For she well knew that Gudruda and Eric still clung to each other and found means of greeting, if not of speech.
Now the story tells that Swanhild spoke with Gizur, Ospakar's son, in the house at Coldback. "I tire of this slow play," she said. "We have tarried here for many weeks, and Atli's blood yet cries out for vengeance, and cries for vengeance the blood of black Ospakar, thy father, and the blood of many another, dead at great Eric's hand."
I may sleep little now that Gudruda is dead, for that which I saw in her eyes haunts me." Then they went on, and the face of Gizur grew white with fear. Now the thrall and those with him on the crest of the fell heard the murmur of the company of Gizur and Swanhild as they won the mountain side, though they could not see them because of the rocks.
Swanhild waited upon the side of the fell for nearly two hours in all. Then, hearing a noise above her, she looked up, and there, black with dirt and wet with water, was Gizur, and with him was the thrall. "What luck, Gizur?" she asked. "This, Swanhild: Eric may hold Mosfell no more, for we have found a way to bolt the fox." "That is good news, then," said Swanhild. "Say on."
It was as though they struck a wall of ice and were numbed by the bitter cold. "Look, here are more," groaned Skallagrim. Then Eric looked, and lo! the empty space to the left of the fire was filled with shadowy shapes like shapes of mist. Amongst them was Gizur, Ospakar's son, and many a man of his company. There, too, was Swanhild, Groa's daughter, and a toad nestled in her breast.
Then Gizur held his peace; but Swanhild spoke again: "It will be of no use to try the doors, for they are strong. Yet when I was a child before now I have passed in and out the house at night by the store-room casement. Follow me, Gizur."
If ye will not go, my blood will be on your heads, for I will ride out alone, and meet the men of Gizur in the plain and fall there fighting." Then one by one they crept away to seek their horses in the dell. And each man as he went came to Eric and kissed his hand, then passed thence weeping. Jon was the last to go, except Skallagrim only, and he was so moved that he could not speak at all.
At first Gunnar refused, but at length, after Gizur and Geir the priest swore that what Skamkell had said was false, he agreed to do it. And his award was this: that atonement in full should be made for the burnt storehouses and for the stolen food. 'But for the thrall, said Gunnar, 'I will give nothing, for you knew what he was when you sold him to me. Therefore I will restore him to you.
So Skamkell was called in, but he was wary, and he told his tale the second time as he had done the first, and though Gizur still misdoubted him he could find no fault. 'Mayhap you speak the truth, he said; 'but I know the wickedness of your deeds, and if you die in your bed your face belies you. And after a little more talking Skamkell rode home to Kirkby.
"Here now is an end of our journey," said Gizur, "and I only pray this, that Eric may not ride round the mountain before we are down again." For he did not know that Brighteyes already rode hard for Middalhof.
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