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Updated: June 29, 2025
"Ay; then do you ask these friends, and tell them that the sooner they can bring a priest the better shall they be rewarded. I would give much to have Goldberga's mind set at rest." So Mord said that he would go at once; and glad he was to see Withelm sitting with Berthun,
Skallagrim turns to meet Mord, but Eric says: "This one for me, comrade," and steps forward. Mord strikes a mighty blow. Eric's shield is all shattered and cannot stay it. It crashes through and falls full on the golden helm, beating Brighteyes to his knee. Now he is up again and blows fall thick and fast.
Eric and Skallagrim looked up and knew them. They were those of Ospakar's folk whom they had slain on Horse-Head Heights; all their wounds were on them and in front of them marched Mord, Ospakar's son. The ghosts gazed upon Eric and Skallagrim with cold dead eyes, then they too sat down by the fire.
"I told him all about it at one time or another," Mord answered. "He always wanted to hear of Denmark." So that was all that the chamberlain knew; but it was plain to me that the earl had put two and two together when he heard Havelok's name, and had remembered that this was also the name of Gunnar's son.
But Mord replies that this is no good challenge; for "he challenged them not for their kinship to the true plaintiff, the next of kin, but for their kinship to him who pleaded the suit." And the other side had to admit that Mord was right in his law. I now turn from the German to the Roman sources.
Then men ate and Ospakar drank much ale, but all the while he stared at Gudruda and listened for her voice. But as yet he said nothing of what he came to seek, though all knew his errand. And his two sons, Gizur and Mord, stared also at Gudruda, for they thought her most wonderfully fair. But Gizur found Swanhild also fair. And so the night wore on till it was time to sleep.
I knew what he meant; but it was not right that the earl should not know who he was. "Men call me Curan here, lord earl, and that I must be to you hereafter. But I am Havelok of Grimsby, son of Grim." In a moment I saw that the earl knew more of that name than I had deemed possible; and then I minded Mord, the wry-necked, who was the chamberlain now.
Then at length the slow time wore away until Mord came with David the priest. No priestly garb had the old man on, for that had made his danger certain; but though he was clad in a thrall's rough dress, he was not to be mistaken for aught but a most reverend man. "Peace be with you, my daughter," he said; "it is good to look on the child of Orwenna, the queen whom we loved."
But no weregild was to be paid to Ospakar and his men for those who had been killed, and no atonement for the great wound that Skallagrim Lambstail gave him, or for the death of Mord, his son, inasmuch as Eric fought for his own hand to save his life.
"I will swear on the holy ring that I know nothing of it, and if any man in my company has had a hand therein he shall die," said Ospakar. "That we will swear also," cried his sons Gizur and Mord. "This is more like a woman's work," said Gudruda, and she looked at Swanhild. "It is no work of mine," quoth Swanhild. "Then go and ask thy mother of it," answered Gudruda.
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