United States or Singapore ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Now here is Ospakar Blacktooth," answered Skallagrim, "for well I know that raven banner of his. This is a good voyage, for we must seek but a little while before we come to fighting." Eric bade the men lay on their oars, and spoke: "Before us is Ospakar Blacktooth in two great dragons, and he is here to cut us off.
Then he went in and sat down on the bed by the body of Gudruda, while Skallagrim crouched on the ground without, tearing at his beard and muttering. For the fierce heart of Skallagrim was broken because of that evil which his drunkenness had brought about. All day Eric sat thus, looking on his dead love's face, till the hour came round when he and Gudruda had drunk the bride-cup.
I will give twenty in silver to each of you if Eric lives," and he unclasped his cloak and threw it over both of them. Then with much labour they loosed the grip of the two men one from the other, and they set Skallagrim on the plank.
I know this, that when thereafter we stood back to back and met the company of Ospakar Blacktooth, who came to slay us ay, and Asmund also, and bear away Gudruda to be his wife he warred right gallantly, till seven of their band lay stiff on Horse-Head Heights, overthrown of us, and among them Mord, Blacktooth's son; and Ospakar himself went thence sore smitten of this Skallagrim.
Tarry a while, lord; tarry a while I come I come!" Then crying "Eric! Eric!" the Baresark fit took him, and once more and for the last time Skallagrim rushed screaming upon the foe, and once more they rolled to earth before him.
"This," said Eric, and he told him the dream that he had dreamed. "That was a fey dream," said Skallagrim, "and now we must do as the wraith bade thee." "Easy to say, but hard to do," quoth Eric; "this is a great rope that holds us, and a strong." "Yes, it is great and strong; still, we must burst it."
Shall it be said of us that two men overcame us all?" "Mayhap!" murmured Skallagrim beneath his breath. "Oh, sirs, I beseech you," said Eric; "I am young, and there is a maid who waits me out in Iceland, and it is hard to die," and he made as though he wept, while Skallagrim laughed within his sleeve, for it was strange to see Eric feigning fear. But the men mocked aloud.
Clinging to each other, Eric and Skallagrim saw the sight of fear that was written on the loom of the Norns. They saw it for a breath. Then, with a laugh like the wail of wolves, the shapes of fire sprang up and rent the web asunder.
So Jon was bound, and there in the booth he sat two days before anyone came to loose him. "Whither away?" said Gizur to Swanhild. "To Middalhof first," Swanhild answered. Now Eric and Gudruda sat silent in the high seat of the hall at Middalhof till they heard Skallagrim enter by the women's door. Then they came down from the high seat, and stood hand in hand by the fire on the hearth.
On the morrow of these tidings Skallagrim spoke to Eric. "This is my counsel, lord," he said, "that we ride out by night and fall on the folk of Gizur at Coldback, and burn the stead over them, putting them to the sword. I am weary of sitting here like an eagle in a cage." "Such is no counsel of mine, Skallagrim," answered Brighteyes.
Word Of The Day