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Updated: May 3, 2025
A dark form seemed to lift out of the fog, like a core of blackness, and clouds of sea-birds wheeled overhead with harsh clamour. They were come unawares to Greenland the White, and within an ace of breaking up against her cliffs. None on board knew what headland this might be; but Thorbeorn knew it was not Ericsfrith, which he had intended to make.
Thorbeorn rose from his chair and said to Eric that they had better leave the pair together but then Gudrid looked wild. "May I not go now? Must I stay here?" Her eyes asked so of Eric, but he only smiled. She caught at her father's sleeve. Then Thorbeorn kissed her forehead and said a few words of blessing. He and Eric went out together.
"Nothing to you at Bathbrink, I daresay," he added. "They tell me that you keep a great house up there as is fitting you should." "I have to remember what is expected of me," Thorbeorn said, and felt that he was no nearer what he wanted to say than he had been. "Gudrid is young," he said, beginning again.
"Nothing the mistress would like better than to see herself reflected in a young pair of eyes." Thorbeorn accepted that as a matter of course; but presently he asked whether they saw much company at Erne Pillar. Not such a deal of company, Orme said. Now and again a ship came in, and there was a bustle, with men coming and going, cheapening the goods.
Then there were the ships. Last there were the priest, and his little church. All the people at Erne Pillar had been christened, as had Thorbeorn himself been; but there was a great difference when you had a priest and a church. The priest at Erne Pillar was a serious priest. He said Mass every day, and expected you, or some of you, to be there.
After that Gudrid had to be told all about it. She told her father too but not so stoutly that she did not believe it; but in her heart she felt that it must be true. As for Thorbeorn, who had heard it all through the wall, whatever he may have thought, he was very indignant, and angry with her too. "Put such mummery out of your head. We are not Christians for nothing, I should hope.
But there is a wise woman in the town, and maybe she will tell us what is written in the book of life." "My daughter is a Christian," said Thorbeorn, but old Heriolf's mouth twitched. "I dare swear she will be wanting to know what the book of life says, for all that. Let me tell you that a marriage is not over when the priest has said his say. No, nor yet begun, maybe."
"For another man came and took her away before they had done fighting." Thorbeorn held his head stiffly. "But my daughter is greatly descended," he said. "And Eric Red is of my friends." "All that may be," said Heriolf, "but your daughter is a woman, and Eric Red himself no more than a man. In this country you have to deal with people as God made them.
Thorbeorn kept hale and hearty throughout; and Gudrid took no harm. The wet, the clinging cold, the wild weather did not prevent her attending the sick, or doing the work which they should have done, had they been able. She had no time to be happy or unhappy, and was never afraid of anything. It was hard upon the winter; the days were short, the nights bitter cold.
Her hand was free for him; but he did not take it, and she felt sure he would not. A constraint fell upon them; neither could find anything to say. Fate was between them. So it was until Orme came back with his news. He had nothing good to report. Thorbeorn had heard him with impatience, and as soon as he had ended put himself into a rage. His thin neck stiffened, his faded eyes showed fire.
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