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Updated: June 25, 2025
Eric bade them bring the man to him. When he saw him he knew that he was a thrall of Gudruda's and welcomed him heartily. "What tidings?" he asked. "This, lord," said the thrall: "Gudruda the Fair bids me say that she is well and that the snows melt on the roof of Middalhof."
Now the feast began, and men waxed merry. But ever Gudruda's heart grew heavier, for in it echoed those words that Saevuna had spoken. Her eyes were dim, and she seemed to see naught but the face of Eric as it had looked when he came back to her that day on the brink of Goldfoss Falls and she had thought him dead. Oh! what if he still loved her and were yet true at heart?
"Then a lie was told thee. Still, I love to hear of fair maids, and seek one for a wife if she be but fair enough. So speak on, Koll the Fox, and lie not to me, I warn thee, else I will knock what wits are left there from that red head of thine." So Koll took up the tale and greatly bepraised Gudruda's beauty; nor in truth, for all his talk, could he praise it too much.
"Whitefire is red with Gudruda's blood Gudruda slaughtered in her sleep by Gizur's coward hand!" Now men murmured, for this seemed to them the most shameful of all deeds. But Gizur, hearing, shrank back aghast. "Listen again!" said Eric. "I was minded but now to burn you all as ye slept ay, the firing is piled against the door.
On Mosfell Eric found four of his own men, two of whom had been among those that the people of Gizur and Swanhild had driven from Gudruda's ship before they fired her. For no fight had been made on the ship. There also he found Jon, who had been loosed from his bands in the booth by one who heard his cries as he rode past.
The sword of Blacktooth had come back to Blacktooth and now Eric would surely be slain of it! Eric sprang from the ground. He heard the shouts and saw Whitefire blazing in Ospakar's hand. "Now thou art weaponless, fly! Brighteyes; fly!" cried some. Gudruda's cheek grew white with fear, and for a moment Eric's heart failed him. "Fly not!" roared Skallagrim. "Björn tripped thee.
But afterwards Swanhild brought is to believe that Earl Atli was distraught when he spoke thus, and that things were indeed as she had said." Again men murmured, and a strange light shone in Gudruda's eyes. "Now, Gudruda, thou hast heard all my story," said Eric. "Say, dost thou believe me?" "I believe thee, Eric." "Say then, wilt thou still wed yon Ospakar?"
"It is Swanhild, and we are fey!" quoth Skallagrim, and they ran back to the helm, where Skallagrim sank upon the deck in fear. "See, Skallagrim, she glides before the Gudruda's beak! she glides backwards and she points yonder there to the right! Shall I put the helm down and follow her?" "Nay, lord, nay; set no faith in witchcraft or evil will befall us."
"This, that he shall safely pass the Firth, for the gale falls, and come safely to Fareys, and from Fareys isles to Gudruda's arms." "And what canst thou do, Goblin?" "This: I can lure Eric's ship to wreck, and give his comrades, all save Skallagrim, to Ran's net, and bring him to thy arms, Swanhild, witch-mother's witch-child!" She hearkened. Her breast heaved and her eyes flashed.
Twice her breath went from her lips in great sighs. Then she stood, pale and silent. "Safely shall he sail the Firth," piped the thin voice. "Safely shall he sit in Fareys. Safely shall he lie in white Gudruda's arms hee! hee! Think of it, lady!" Then Swanhild shook like a birth-tree in the gale, and her face grew ashen. "I am content," she said. "Hee! hee! Brave lady! She is content!
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