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Updated: May 5, 2025
I would slay Eric indeed, for between him and me there is a blood-feud, since my brother died at his hand when, with Whitefire for a crook, Brighteyes drove armed men like sheep down the hall of Middalhof ay and swordless, slew Ospakar. Yet I say that Eric is a true man, and, whether or no thou art true, Gizur the Lawman, that thou knowest best thou and Swanhild the Fatherless, Groa's daughter.
He was huge in stature his hair was black, and black his beard, and on his lower lip there lay a great black fang. His eyes were small and narrow, but his cheekbones were set wide apart and high, like those of a horse. "Who is this red fox that creeps into my earth?" For, to look at, Koll was very like a fox. "My name is Koll the Half-witted, Groa's thrall, lord. Am I welcome here?" he answered.
Then Gudruda spoke: "Strange tales are told of thee and Eric, Groa's daughter! I have done with Eric, but I have done with thee also. Thou hast thrust thyself here against my will and, if I may, I would see thy face no more." "Wouldst thou see Eric's face, Gudruda? say, wouldst see Eric's face? I tell thee it is fair!" But Gudruda answered nothing, and Swanhild fell back, laughing.
Ye shall swear four things to me that ye will give Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail safe passage from Straumey. That ye will tell Swanhild the Fatherless, Groa's daughter and Atli's wife, that, at last, I know her for what she is a murderess, a harlot, a witch and a liar; and that I forgive Eric whom she tricked, but that her I hate and spit upon.
He spoke low, but Koll the Half-witted, Groa's thrall, heard this oath and kept it in his mind. Very early on the morrow all men rose, and, taking horse, rode once more to the seaside, till they came to that shed where the Gudruda lay. Then, when the tide was high, Eric's company took hold of the black ship's thwarts, and at his word dragged her with might and main.
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.
But some three months ago, I was left with her: and a man called Koll, Groa's thrall, of whom ye know, came out from Iceland, bringing news of the death of Asmund the priest, of Unna my cousin, and of Groa the witch. To these ill-tidings Swanhild bribed him to add something. She bribed him to add this: that thou, Gudruda, wast betrothed to Ospakar, and wouldst wed him on last Yule Day.
That ye will slay Koll the Half-witted, Groa's thrall, who came hither about two days gone, since by his lies he hath set an edge upon this sword of falsehood. That ye will raise no blood-feud against Eric for this my slaying, for I goaded him to the deed. Do ye swear?" "We swear," said the men. "Then farewell! And to thee farewell, also, Eric Brighteyes! Now take my hand and hold it while I die.
The man came and she knew him at once for Koll the Half-witted, who had been her mother Groa's thrall. On his shoulders was the cloak that Ospakar Blacktooth had given him; it was much torn now, and he had a worn and hungry look. "Whence comest thou, Koll?" she asked, "and what are thy tidings?" "From Scotland last, lady, where I sat this winter; before that, from Iceland.
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