Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 27, 2025
Now Ospakar and Eric faced each other again in the ring, but this time the feet of Eric were bare. Ospakar rushed to get the upper hold, but Eric was too swift for him and sprang aside. Again he rushed, but Eric dropped and gripped him round the middle. Now they were face to face, hugging each other like bears, but moving little.
Cut loose the cord before they bait us to death, and let us rush upon these wolves and fall fighting." "A good counsel," said Eric, "and a quick end; but stay a while: what plan have they now?" Now the men of Ospakar, having little heart left in them for such work as this, had taken thought together. "We have got great hurt, and little honour," said the mate.
"Hearken," he said: "I swear this, that before snow falls again in Iceland I will see Ospakar dead at my feet or lie dead at the feet of Ospakar." "Well spoken, Eric," Swanhild answered. "Now, before thou drinkest, grant me one little boon. It is but a woman's fancy, and thou canst scarce deny me.
Now Ospakar rode in hot haste away to Swinefell and with him went Thorunna, but his men stayed a while and drank my ale, and, as they drank, they mocked me who was bound before them, and little by little all the truth was told of the doings of Ospakar and Thorunna my housewife, and I learned that it was she who had planned this sport.
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."
The party of Ospakar were ill pleased at this finding, and Eric was not over glad, for it was little to his mind that he should sail a-warring across the seas, while Gudruda sat at home in Iceland. Still, there was no help for the matter. Now Ospakar spoke with his company, and the end of it was that he called on them to take their weapons and avenge themselves by their own might.
"It may be," said Gizur, "and I should not be sorry to see the last of Brighteyes, for I think that more men will die at his hand before he stiffens in his barrow." "Thou art cowardly-hearted, thou son of Ospakar!" Swanhild said. "Thou sayest thou lovest me and wouldest win me to wife: I tell thee that there is but one road to my arms, and it leads over the corpse of Eric.
"It seems that this is true," said Eric. "Now all this thou doest for a woman who is the betrothed of another man." "All this I do for fame's sake, Swanhild. Moreover, Gudruda is betrothed to none." "Before another Yule-feast is spread, Gudruda shall be the wife of Ospakar." "That is yet to be seen, Swanhild."
Six of the boarders turned to fly, but just then the grappling-iron broke and their ship drifted out with the tide towards the open sea, and presently no man of that twenty was left alive. Now the men of the ship of Ospakar and of the Gudruda pressed each other hard. Thrice did Ospakar strive to come aboard and thrice he was pushed back.
"Bethink thee of some other stake, Ospakar, or let the game be off." Now Ospakar gnawed his lip with his black fang and thought. Then he laughed aloud and spoke: "Bright is Whitefire and thou art named Brighteyes. See now: I set the great sword against thy right eye, and, if I win the match, it shall be mine to tear it out. Wilt thou play this game with me?
Word Of The Day
Others Looking