Now it is told that when his thralls and house-carles bore the corpse of Atli the Earl to his hall in Straumey, Swanhild met it and wept over it.
And when the spokesman among them stood forward and told her those words that Atli had bidden them to say to her, sparing none, she spoke thus:
"My lord was distraught and weak with loss of blood when he spoke thus.
The tale I told him was true, and now Eric has added to his sin by shedding the blood of him whom he wronged so sorely."
And thereafter she spoke so sweetly and with so much gentleness, craft, and wisdom that, though they still doubted them, all men held her words weighty. For Swanhild had this art, that she could make the false sound true in the ears of men and the true sound false.
Still, being mindful of their oath, they hunted for Koll and found him. And when the thrall knew that they would slay him he ran thence screaming. Nor did Swanhild lift a hand to save his life, for she desired that Koll should die, lest he should bear witness against her.
Away he ran towards the cliffs, and after him sped Atli"s house-carles, till he came to the great cliffs that edge in the sea. Now they were close upon him and their swords were aloft. Then, sooner than know the kiss of steel, the liar leapt from the cliffs and was crushed, dying miserably on the rocks below. This was the end of Koll the Half-witted, Groa"s thrall.
Swanhild sat in Straumey for a while, and took all Atli"s heritage into her keeping, for he had no male kin; nor did any say her nay. Also she called in the moneys that he had out at interest, and that was a great sum, for Atli was a careful and a wealthy man. Then Swanhild made ready to go to Iceland. Atli had a great dragon of war, and she manned that ship and filled it with stores and all things needful. This done, she set stewards and grieves over the Orkney lands and farms, and, when the Earl was six weeks dead, she sailed for Iceland, giving out that she went thither to set a blood-suit on foot against Eric for the death of Atli, her lord. There she came in safety just as folk rode to the Thing.
Now Hall of Lithdale came to Iceland and told his tale of the doings of Eric and the death of Atli. Oft and loud he told it, and soon people gossiped of it in field and fair and stead. Bjorn, Asmund"s son, heard this talk and sent for Hall. To him also Hall told the tale.
"Now," said Bjorn, "we will go to my sister Gudruda the Fair, and learn how she takes these tidings."
So they went in to where Gudruda sat spinning in the hall, singing as she span.
"Greeting, Gudruda," said Bjorn; "say, hast thou tidings of Eric Brighteyes, thy betrothed?"
"I have no tidings," said Gudruda.
"Then here is one who brings them."
Now for the first time Gudruda the Fair saw Hall of Lithdale. Up she sprang. "Thou hast tidings of Eric, Hall? Ah! thou art welcome, for no tidings have come of him for many a month. Speak on," and she pressed her hand against her heart and leaned towards him.
"My tidings are ill, lady."
"Is Eric dead? Say not that my love is dead!"
"He is worse than dead," said Hall. "He is shamed."
"There thou liest, Hall," she answered. "Shame and Eric are things apart."
"Mayst thou think so when thou hast heard my tale, lady," said Hall, "for I am sad at heart to speak it of one who was my mate."
"Speak on, I say," answered Gudruda, in such a voice that Hall shrank from her. "Speak on; but of this I warn thee: that if in one word thou liest, that shall be thy death when Eric comes."
Now Hall was afraid, thinking of the axe of Skallagrim. Still, he might not go back upon his word. So he began at the beginning, telling the story of how he was wounded in the fight with Ospakar"s ships and left Farey isles, and how he came thence to Scotland and sat in Atli"s hall on Orkneys. Then he told how the Gudruda was wrecked on Straumey, and, of all aboard, Eric and Skallagrim alone were saved because of Swanhild"s dream.
"Herein I see witch-work," said Gudruda.
Then Hall told that Eric became Swanhild"s love, but of the other tale which Swanhild had whispered to Atli he said nothing. For he knew that Gudruda would not believe this, and, moreover, if it were so, Swanhild had not sent the token which he should give.
"It may well be," said Gudruda, proudly; "Swanhild is fair and light of mind. Perchance she led Brighteyes into this snare." But, though she spoke thus, bitter jealousy and anger burned in her breast and she remembered the sight which she had seen when Eric and Swanhild met on the morn of Atli"s wedding.
Then Hall told of the slaying of Atli the Good by Eric, but he said nothing of the Earl"s dying words, nor of how he goaded Brighteyes with his bitter words.
"It was an ill deed in sooth," said Gudruda, "for Eric to slay an old man whom he had wronged. Still, it may chance that he was driven to it for his own life"s sake."
Then Hall said that he had seen Swanhild after Atli"s slaying, and that she had told him that she and Eric should wed shortly, and that Eric would rule in Orkneys by her side.
Gudruda asked if that was all his tale.
"Yes, lady," answered Hall, "that is all my tale, for after that I sailed and know not what happened. But I am charged to give something to thee, and that by the Lady Swanhild. She bade me say this also: that, when thou lookest on the gift, thou shouldst think on a certain oath which Eric took as to the cutting of his hair." And he drew a linen packet from his breast and gave it to her.
Thrice Gudruda looked on it, fearing to open it. Then, seeing the smile of mockery on Bjorn"s cold face, she took the shears that hung at her side and cut the thread with them. And as she cut, a lock of golden hair rose from the packet, untwisting itself like a living snake. The lock was long, and its end was caked with gore.
"Whose hair is this?" said Gudruda, though she knew the hair well.
"Eric"s hair," said Hall, "that Swanhild cut from his head with Eric"s sword."
Now Gudruda put her hand to her bosom. She drew out a satchel, and from the satchel a lock of yellow hair. Side by side she placed the locks, looking first at one and then at the other.
"This is Eric"s hair in sooth," she said--"Eric"s hair that he swore none but I should cut! Eric"s hair that Swanhild sh.o.r.e with Whitefire from Eric"s head--Whitefire whereon we plighted troth! Say now, whose blood is this that stains the hair of Eric?"
"It is Atli"s blood, whom Eric first dishonoured and then slew with his own hand," answered Hall.
Now there burned a fire on the hearth, for the day was cold. Gudruda the Fair stood over the fire and with either hand she let the two locks of Eric"s hair fall upon the embers. Slowly they twisted up and burned. She watched them burn, then she threw up her hands and with a great cry fled from the hall.
Bjorn and Hall of Lithdale looked on each other.
"Thou hadst best go hence!" said Bjorn; "and of this I warn thee, Hall, though I hold thy tidings good, that, if thou hast spoken one false word, that will be thy death. For then it would be better for thee to face all the wolves in Iceland than to stand before Eric in his rage."
Again Hall bethought himself of the axe of Skallagrim, and he went out heavily.
That day a messenger came from Gudruda to Bjorn, saying that she would speak with him. He went to where she sat alone upon her bed. Her face was white as death, and her dark eyes glowed.
"Eric has dealt badly with thee, sister, to bring thee to this sorrow,"
said Bjorn.
"Speak no evil of Eric to me," Gudruda answered. "The evil that he has done will be paid back to him; there is little need for thee to heap words upon his head. Hearken, Bjorn my brother: is it yet thy will that I should wed Ospakar Blacktooth?"
"That is my will, surely. There is no match in Iceland as this Ospakar, and I should win many friends by it."
"Do this then, Bjorn. Send messengers to Swinefell and say to Ospakar that if he would still wed Gudruda the Fair, Asmund"s daughter, let him come to Middalhof when folk ride from the Thing and he shall not go hence alone. Nay, I have done. Now, I pray thee speak no more to me of Eric or of Ospakar. Of the one I have seen and heard enough, and of the other I shall hear and see enough in the years that are to come."
XXII
HOW ERIC CAME HOME AGAIN