Eric Brighteyes Page 6

  "I think that I am bewitched," said Eric sadly: "my feet have no hold ofthe ground."

  Gudruda covered her eyes with her hand and thought. Presently she lookedup quickly. "I seem to see guile here," she said. "Now look narrowly onthy shoes."

  He heard, and, loosening his shoe-string, drew a shoe from his foot andlooked at the sole. The cold of the snow had hardened the fat, and thereit was, all white upon the leather.

  Now Eric rose in wrath. "Methought," he cried, "that I dealt with menof honourable mind, not with cheating tricksters. See now! it is littlewonder that I slipped, for grease has been set upon my shoes--and, byThor! I will cleave the man who did it to the chin," and as he said ithis eyes blazed so dreadfully that folk fell back from him. Asmund tookthe shoes and looked at them. Then he spoke:

  "Brighteyes tells the truth, and we have a sorry knave among us.Ospakar, canst thou clear thyself of this ill deed?"

  "I will swear on the holy ring that I know nothing of it, and if any manin my company has had a hand therein he shall die," said Ospakar.

  "That we will swear also," cried his sons Gizur and Mord.

  "This is more like a woman's work," said Gudruda, and she looked atSwanhild.

  "It is no work of mine," quoth Swanhild.

  "Then go and ask thy mother of it," answered Gudruda.

  Now all men cried aloud that this was the greatest shame, and that thematch must be set afresh; only Ospakar bethought him of that two hundredin silver which he had promised to Groa, and looked around, but she wasnot there. Still, he gainsaid Eric in the matter of the match being setafresh.

  Then Eric cried out in his anger that he would let the game stand as itwas, since Ospakar swore himself free of the shameful deed. Men thoughtthis a mad saying, but Asmund said it should be so. Still, he sworein his heart that, even if he were worsted, Eric should not lose hiseye--no not if swords were held aloft to take it. For of all tricks thisseemed to him the very worst.

  Now Ospakar and Eric faced each other again in the ring, but this timethe feet of Eric were bare.

  Ospakar rushed to get the upper hold, but Eric was too swift for him andsprang aside. Again he rushed, but Eric dropped and gripped him roundthe middle. Now they were face to face, hugging each other like bears,but moving little. For a time things went thus, while Ospakar strove tolift Eric, but in nowise could he stir him. Then of a sudden Eric putout his strength, and they staggered round the ring, tearing at eachother till their jerkins were rent from them, leaving them almost bareto the waist. Suddenly, Eric seemed to give, and Ospakar put out hisfoot to trip him. But Brighteyes was watching. He caught the foot inthe crook of his left leg, and threw his weight forward on the chest ofBlacktooth. Backward he went, falling with the thud of a tree on snow,and there he lay on the ground, and Eric over him.

  Then men shouted "A fall! a fair fall!" and were very glad, for thefight seemed most uneven to them, and the wrestlers rolled asunder,breathing heavily.

  Gudruda threw a cloak over Eric's naked shoulders.

  "That was well done, Brighteyes," she said.

  "The game is still to play, sweet," he gasped, "and Ospakar is a mightyman. I threw him by skill, not by strength. Next time it must be bystrength or not at all."

  Now breathing-time was done, and once more the two were face to face.Thrice Ospakar rushed, and thrice did Eric slip away, for he would wasteBlacktooth's strength. Again Ospakar rushed, roaring like a bear, andfire seemed to come from his eyes, and the steam went up from him andhung upon the frosty air like the steam of a horse. This time Eric couldnot get away, but was swept up into that great grip, for Ospakar had thelower hold.

  "Now there is an end of Eric," said Swanhild.

  "The arrow is yet on the bow," answered Gudruda.

  Blacktooth put out his might and reeled round and round the ring,dragging Eric with him. This way and that he twisted, and time on timeEric's leg was lifted from the ground, but so he might not be thrown.Now they stood almost still, while men shouted madly, for no suchwrestling had been known in the southlands. Grimly they hugged andstrove: forsooth it was a mighty sight to see. Grimly they hugged, andtheir muscles strained and cracked, but they could stir each other noinch.

  Ospakar grew fearful, for he could make no play with this youngling.Black rage swelled in his heart. He ground his fangs, and thought onguile. By his foot gleamed the naked foot of Eric. Suddenly he stampedon it so fiercely that the skin burst.

  "Ill done! ill done!" folk cried; but in his pain Eric moved his foot.

  Lo! he was down, but not altogether down, for he did but sit upon hishaunches, and still he clung to Blacktooth's thighs, and twined his legsabout his ankles. Now with all his strength Ospakar strove to force thehead of Brighteyes to the ground, but still he could not, for Eric clungto him like a creeper to a tree.

  "A losing game for Eric," said Asmund, and as he spoke Brighteyes waspressed back till his yellow hair almost swept the sand.

  Then the folk of Ospakar shouted in triumph, but Gudruda cried aloud:

  "Be not overthrown, Eric; loose thee and spring aside."

  Eric heard, and of a sudden loosed all his grip. He fell on hisoutspread hand, then, with a swing sideways and a bound, once morehe stood upon his feet. Ospakar came at him like a bull made mad withgoading, but he could no longer roar aloud. They closed and this timeEric had the better hold. For a while they struggled round and roundtill their feet tore the frozen turf, then once more they stood faceto face. Now the two were almost spent; yet Blacktooth gathered up hisstrength and swung Eric from his feet, but he found them again. He grewmad with rage, and hugged him till Brighteyes was nearly pressed todeath, and black bruises sprang upon the whiteness of his flesh. Ospakargrew mad, and madder yet, till at length in his fury he fixed his fangsin Eric's shoulder and bit till the blood spurted.

  "Ill kissed, thou rat!" gasped Eric, and with the pain and rush ofblood, his strength came back to him. He shifted his grip swiftly, nowhis right hand was beneath the fork of Blacktooth's thigh and his lefton the hollow of Blacktooth's back. Twice he lifted--twice the bulk ofOspakar rose from the ground--a third mighty lift--so mighty that thewrapping on Eric's forehead burst, and the blood streamed down hisface--and lo! great Blacktooth flew in air. Up he flew, and backward hefell into the bank of snow, and was buried there almost to the knees.

  VI

  HOW ASMUND THE PRIEST WAS BETROTHED TO UNNA

  For a moment there was silence, for all that company was wonderstruck atthe greatness of the deed. Then they cheered and cheered again, and toEric it seemed that he slept, and the sound of shouting reached him butfaintly, as though he heard through snow. Suddenly he woke and saw aman rush at him with axe aloft. It was Mord, Ospakar's son, mad at hisfather's overthrow. Eric sprang aside, or the blow had been his bane,and, as he sprang, smote with his fist, and it struck heavily on thehead of Mord above the ear, so that the axe flew from his hand, and hefell senseless on his father in the snow.

  Now swords flashed out, and men ringed round Eric to guard him, and itcame near to the spilling of blood, for the people of Ospakar gnashedtheir teeth to see so great a hero overthrown by a youngling, while thesouthern folk of Middalhof and Ran River rejoiced loudly, for Eric wasdear to their hearts.

  "Down swords," cried Asmund the priest, "and haul yon carcass from thesnow."

  This then they did, and Ospakar sat up, breathing in great gasps, theblood running from his mouth and ears, and he was an evil sight to see,for what with blood and snow and rage his face was like the face of theSwinefell Goblin.

  But Swanhild spoke in the ear of Gudruda:

  "Here," she said, looking at Eric, "we two have a man worth loving,foster-sister."

  "Ay," answered Gudruda, "worth and well worth!"

  Now Asmund drew near and before all men kissed Eric Brighteyes on thebrow.

  "In sooth," he said, "thou art a mighty man, Eric, and the glory of thesouth. This I prophesy of thee: that thou shalt do deeds such as havenot been done in Iceland. Tho
u hast ill been served, for a knave unknowngreased thy shoes. Yon swarthy Ospakar, the most mighty of all men inIceland, could not overthrow thee, though, like a wolf, he fastened hisfangs in thee, and, like a coward, stamped upon thy naked foot. Takethou the great sword that thou hast won and wear it worthily."

  Now Eric took snow and wiped the blood from his brow. Then he graspedWhitefire and drew it from the scabbard, and high aloft flashed thewar-blade. Thrice he wheeled it round his head, then sang aloud:

  "Fast, yestermorn, down Golden Falls, Fared young Eric to thy feast, Asmund, father of Gudruda-- Maid whom much he longs to clasp. But to-day on Giant Blacktooth Hath he done a needful deed: Hurling him in heaped-up snowdrift; Winning Whitefire for his wage."

  And again he sang:

  "Lord, if in very truth thou thinkest Brighteyes is a man midst men, Swear to him, the stalwart suitor, Handsel of thy sweet maid's hand: Whom, long loved, to win, down Goldfoss Swift he sped through frost and foam; Whom, to win, to troll-like Ogre, He, 'gainst Whitefire, waged his eye."

  Men thought this well sung, and turned to hear Asmund's answer, nor mustthey wait long.

  "Eric," he said, "I will promise thee this, that if thou goest on asthou hast begun, I will give Gudruda in marriage to no other man."

  "That is good tidings, lord," said Eric.

  "This I say further: in a year I will give thee full answer according asto how thou dost bear thyself between now and then, for this is no lightgift thou askest; also that, if ye will it, you twain may now plighttroth, for the blame shall be yours if it is broken, and not mine, and Igive thee my hand on it."

  Eric took his hand, and Gudruda heard her father's words and happinessshone in her dark eyes, and she grew faint for very joy. And now Ericturned to her, all torn and bloody from the fray, the great sword in hishand, and he spoke thus:

  "Thou hast heard thy father's words, Gudruda? Now it seems that there isno great need of troth-plighting between us two. Still, here beforeall men I ask thee, if thou dost love me and art willing to take me tohusband?"

  Gudruda looked up into his face, and answered in a sweet, clear voicethat could be heard by all:

  "Eric, I say to thee now, what I have said before, that I love theealone of all men, and, if it be my father's wish, I will wed no otherwhilst thou dost remain true to me and hold me dear."

  "Those are good words," said Eric. "Now, in pledge of them, swear thistroth of thine upon my sword that I have won."

  Gudruda smiled, and, taking great Whitefire in her hand, she said thewords again, and, in pledge of them, kissed the bright blade.

  Then Eric took back the war-sword and spoke thus: "I swear that I willlove thee, and thee only, Gudruda the Fair, Asmund's daughter, whom Ihave desired all my days; and, if I fail of this my oath, then our trothis at an end, and thou mayst wed whom thou wilt," and in turn he put hislips upon the sword, while Swanhild watched them do the oath.

  Now Ospakar was recovered from the fight, and he sat there upon thesnow, with bowed head, for he knew well that he had won the greatestshame, and had lost both wife and sword. Black rage filled his heart ashe listened, and he sprang to his feet.

  "I came hither, Asmund," he said, "to ask this maid of thine inmarriage, and methinks that had been a good match for her and thee. ButI have been overthrown by witchcraft of this man in a wrestling-bout,and thereby lost my good sword; and now I must seem to hear himbetrothed to the maid before me."

  "Thou hast heard aright, Ospakar," said Asmund, "and thy wooing is soonsped. Get thee back whence thou camest and seek a wife in thine ownquarter, for thou art unfit in age and aspect to have so sweet a maid.Moreover, here in the south we hold men of small account, however greatand rich they be, who do not shame to seek to overcome a foe by foulmeans. With my own eyes I saw thee stamp on the naked foot of Eric,Thorgrimur's son; with my own eyes I saw thee, like a wolf, fasten thatblack fang of thine upon him--there is the mark of it; and, as for thematter of the greased shoes, thou knowest best what hand thou hadst init."

  "I had no hand. If any did this thing, it was Groa the Witch, thyFinnish bedmate. For the rest, I was mad and know not what I did. Buthearken, Asmund: ill shall befall thee and thy house, and I will everbe thy foe. Moreover, I will yet wed this maid of thine. And now, thouEric, hearken also: I will have another game with thee. This one wasbut the sport of boys; when we meet again--and the time shall not belong--swords shall be aloft, and thou shalt learn the play of men. Itell thee that I will slay thee, and tear Gudruda, shrieking, from thyarms to be my wife! I tell thee that, with yonder good sword Whitefire,I will yet hew off thy head!"--and he choked and stopped.

  "Thou art much foam and little water," said Eric. "These things areeasily put to proof. If thou willest it, to-morrow I will come with theeto a holmgang, and there we may set the twigs and finish what we havebegun to-day."

  "I cannot do that, for thou hast my sword; and, till I am suited withanother weapon, I may fight no holmgang. Still, fear not: we shall soonmeet with weapons aloft and byrnie on breast."

  "Never too soon can the hour come, Blacktooth," said Eric, and turningon his heel, he limped to the hall to clothe himself afresh. On thethreshold of the men's door he met Groa the Witch.

  "Thou didst put grease upon my shoes, carline and witch-hag that thouart," he said.

  "It is not true, Brighteyes."

  "There thou liest, and for all this I will repay thee. Thou art not yetthe wife of Asmund, nor shalt be, for a plan comes into my head aboutit."

  Groa looked at him strangely. "If thou speakest so, take heed to thymeat and drink," she said. "I was not born among the Finns for nothing;and know, I am still minded to wed Asmund. For thy shoes, I would to theGods that they were Hell-shoon, and that I was now binding them on thydead feet."

  "Oh! the cat begins to spit," said Eric. "But know this: thou mayestgrease my shoes--fit work for a carline!--but thou mayest never bindthem on. Thou art a witch, and wilt come to the end of witches; andwhat thy daughter is, that I will not say," and he pushed past her andentered the hall.

  Presently Asmund came to seek Eric there, and prayed him to be gone tohis stead on Ran River. The horses of Ospakar had strayed, and he muststop at Middalhof till they were found; but, if these two should abideunder the same roof, bloodshed would come of it, and that Asmund knew.

  Eric said yea to this, and, when he had rested a while, he kissedGudruda, and, taking a horse, rode away to Coldback, bearing the swordWhitefire with him, and for a time he saw no more of Ospakar.

  When he came there, his mother Saevuna greeted him as one risen fromthe dead, and hung about his neck. Then he told her all that had cometo pass, and she thought it a marvellous story, and sorrowed thatThorgrimur, her husband, was not alive to know it. But Eric mused awhile, and spoke.

  "Mother," he said, "now my uncle Thorod of Greenfell is dead, and hisdaughter, my cousin Unna, has no home. She is a fair woman and skilledin all things. It comes into my mind that we should bid her here todwell with us."

  "Why, I thought thou wast betrothed to Gudruda the Fair," said Saevuna."Wherefore, then, wouldst thou bring Unna hither?"

  "For this cause," said Eric; "because it seems that Asmund the Priestwearies of Groa the Witch, and would take another wife, and I wish todraw the bands between us tighter, if it may befall so."

  "Groa will take it ill," said Saevuna.

  "Things cannot be worse between us than they are now, therefore I do notfear Groa," he answered.

  "It shall be as thou wilt, son; to-morrow we will send to Unna and bidher here, if it pleases her to come."

  Now Ospakar stayed three more days at Middalhof, till his horses werefound, and he was fit to travel, for Eric had shaken him sorely. But hehad no words with Gudruda and few with Asmund. Still, he saw Swanhild,and she bid him to be of good cheer, for he should yet have Gudruda.For now that the maid had passed from him the mind of Ospakar was setin winning her. Bjoern also, Asmund's son, spoke wo
rds of good comfortto him, for he envied Eric his great fame, and he thought the matchwith Blacktooth would be good. And so at length Ospakar rode away toSwinefell with all his company; but Gizur, his son, left his heartbehind.

  For Swanhild had not been idle this while. Her heart was sore, but shemust follow her ill-nature, and so she had put out her woman's strengthand beguiled Gizur into loving her. But she did not love him at all, andthe temper of Asmund the Priest was so angry that Gizur dared not askher in marriage. So nothing was said of the matter.

  Now Unna came to Coldback, to dwell with Saevuna, Eric's mother, and shewas a fair and buxom woman. She had been once wedded, but within a monthof her marriage her husband was lost at sea, this two years gone. Atfirst Gudruda was somewhat jealous of this coming of Unna to Coldback;but Eric showed her what was in his mind, and she fell into the plan,for she hated and feared Groa greatly, and desired to be rid of her.

  Since this matter of the greasing of Eric's wrestling-shoes greatloathing of Groa had come into Asmund's mind, and he bethought him oftenof those words that his wife Gudruda the Gentle spoke as she lay dying,and grieved that the oath which he swore then had in part been broken.He would have no more to do with Groa now, but he could not be rid ofher; and, notwithstanding her evil doings, he still loved Swanhild. ButGroa grew thin with spite and rage, and wandered about the place glaringwith her great black eyes, and people hated her more and more.

  Now Asmund went to visit at Coldback, and there he saw Unna, and waspleased with her, for she was a blithe woman and a bonny. The end of itwas that he asked her in marriage of Eric; at which Brighteyes was glad,but said that he must know Unna's mind. Unna hearkened, and did notsay no, for though Asmund was somewhat gone in years, still he was anupstanding man, wealthy in lands, goods, and moneys out at interest, andhaving many friends. So they plighted troth, and the wedding-feast wasto be in the autumn after hay-harvest. Now Asmund rode back to Middalhofsomewhat troubled at heart, for these tidings must be told to Groa, andhe feared her and her witchcraft. In the hall he found her, standingalone.