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Updated: May 27, 2025
Even as he sprang into the air, Eric smote down with all his strength. The blow fell on Ospakar's shield. It shore through the shield and struck on the shoulder beneath. But Blacktooth's byrnie was good, nor did the sword bite into it. Still the stroke was so heavy that Ospakar staggered back four paces beneath it, then fell upon the ground. Now folk raised a shout of "Eric!
All night she sat alone in the bride's seat thinking ever thinking. How, then, would it end? There her brother Björn lay a-cold Björn the justly slain of Brighteyes; yet how could she wed the man who slew her brother? From Ospakar she was divorced by death; from Eric she was divorced by the blood of Björn her brother!
The pleadings were long and cunning on either side; but the end of it was that Ospakar brought it about, by the help of his friends and of these had many that Eric must go into outlawry for three years.
"I know this," said Gudruda, "that I will not wed a man who is named 'Niddering' in the face of all and lifts no sword." Gudruda spoke thus, because she was mad with love and fear and shame, and she desired that Eric should stand face to face with Ospakar Blacktooth, for thus, alone, she might perhaps be rid of Ospakar. "Such words do not come well from gentle lips," said Björn.
For answer, Ospakar seized a spear and hurled it straight at Eric, and it had been his death had he not caught it in his hand as it flew. Then he cast it back, and that so mightily that it sped right through the shield of Ospakar and was the bane of a man who stood beside him. "A gift for a gift!" laughed Eric.
Then the carline told on. She told how Hall of Lithdale had come out to Iceland, and of the story that he bore to Gudruda, and of the giving of the lock of hair. "What did I say, lord?" broke in Skallagrim "that in Hall thou hadst let a weasel go who would live to nip thee?" "Him I will surely live to shorten by a head," quoth Eric. "Nay, lord, this one for me Ospakar for thee, Hall for me!"
Gizur called also to the folk of Ospakar, and Swanhild to those who came with her. Then Gudruda fled back to her seat. But Eric cried aloud also: "Ye who love me, cleave to me. Suffer it not that Brighteyes be cut down of northerners and outland men. Hear me, Atli's folk; hear me, carles of Coldback and of Middalhof!"
I am now minded of Thorunna, for she went just so the day before she gave herself to Ospakar, and me to shame and bonds." "Talk not of the raven till you hear his croak," said Eric. "He is on the wing, lord," answered Skallagrim.
"Knowest thou, lord," she said, "that my heart bodes ill of this match? Eric is a mighty man, and, great though thou art, I think that thou shalt lout low before him." "It will be a bad business if I am overthrown by an untried man," said Ospakar, and was troubled in his mind, "and it would be evil moreover to lose the sword. For no price would I have it so."
He shifted his grip swiftly, now his right hand was beneath the fork of Blacktooth's thigh and his left on the hollow of Blacktooth's back. Twice he lifted twice the bulk of Ospakar rose from the ground a third mighty lift so mighty that the wrapping on Eric's forehead burst, and the blood streamed down his face and lo! great Blacktooth flew in air.
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