Eric Brighteyes Page 9

  Now Eric and his henchman Skallagrim the Baresark rode four hours andsaw nobody, till at length they came to the brow of a hill that is namedHorse-Head Heights, and, crossing it, found themselves almost in themidst of a score of armed men who were about to mount their horses.

  "Now we have company," said Skallagrim.

  "Yes, and bad company," answered Eric, "for yonder I spy OspakarBlacktooth, and Gizur and Mord his sons, ay and others. Down, and backto back, for they will show us little gentleness."

  Then they sprang to earth and took their stand upon a mound of risingground--and the men rode towards them.

  "I shall soon know what thy fellowship is worth," said Eric.

  "Fear not, lord," answered Skallagrim. "Hold thou thy head and I willhold thy back. We are met in a good hour."

  "Good or ill, it is likely to be a short one. Hearken thou: if thoumust turn Baresark when swords begin to flash, at the least stand and beBaresark where thou art, for if thou rushest on the foe, my back will benaked and I must soon be sped."

  "It shall be as thou sayest, lord."

  Now men rode round them, but at first they did not know Eric, because ofthe golden helm that hid his face in shadow.

  "Who are ye?" called Ospakar.

  "I think that thou shouldst know me, Blacktooth," Eric answered, "forI set thee heels up in the snow but lately--or, at the least, thou wiltknow this," and he drew great Whitefire.

  "Thou mayest know me also, Ospakar," cried the Baresark. "Skallagrim,men called me, Lambstail, Eric Brighteyes calls me, but once thou didstcall me Ounound. Say, lord, what tidings of Thorunna?"

  Now Ospakar shook his sword, laughing. "I came out to seek one foe, andI have found two," he cried. "Hearken, Eric: when thou art slain I gohence to burn and kill at Middalhof. Shall I bear thy head as keepsakefrom thee to Gudruda? For thee, Ounound, I thought thee dead; but, beingyet alive, Thorunna, my sweet love, sends thee this," and he hurled aspear at him with all his might.

  But Skallagrim catches the spear as it flies and hurls it back. Itstrikes right on the shield of Ospakar and pierces it, ay and thebyrnie, and the shoulder that is beneath the byrnie, so that Blacktoothwas made unmeet for fight, and howled with pain and rage.

  "Go, bid Thorunna draw that splinter forth," says Skallagrim, "and healthe hole with kisses."

  Now Ospakar, writhing with his hurt, shouts to his men to slay the twoof them, and then the fight begins.

  One rushes at Eric and smites at him with an axe. The blow falls on hisshield, and shears off the side of it, then strikes the byrnie beneath,but lightly. In answer Eric sweeps low at him with Whitefire, and cutshis leg from under him between knee and thigh, and he falls and dies.

  Another rushes in. Down flashes Whitefire before he can smite, andthe carle's shield is cloven through. Then he chooses to draw back andfights no more that day.

  Skallagrim slays a man, and wounds another sore. A tall chief with a redscar on his face comes at Brighteyes. Twice he feints at the head whileEric watches, then lowers the sword beneath the cover of his shield,and sweeps suddenly at Eric's legs. Brighteyes leaps high into the air,smiting downward with Whitefire as he leaps, and presently that chief isdead, shorn through shoulder to breast.

  Now Skallagrim slays another man, and grows Baresark. He looks so fiercethat men fall back from him.

  Two rush on Eric, one from either side. The sword of him on the rightfalls on his shield and sinks in, but Brighteyes twists the shorn shieldso strongly that the sword is wrenched from the smiter's hand. Nowthe other sword is aloft above him, and that had been Eric's bane, butSkallagrim glances round and sees it about to fall. He has no time toturn, but dashes the hammer of his axe backward. It falls full on theswordsman's head, and the head is shattered.

  "That was well done," says Eric as the sword goes down.

  "Not so ill but it might be worse," growls Skallagrim.

  Presently all men drew back from those two, for they have had enough ofWhitefire and the Baresark's axe.

  Ospakar sits on his horse, his shield pinned to his shoulder and cursesaloud.

  "Close in, you cowards!" he yells, "close in and cut them down!" but noman stirs.

  Then Eric mocks them. "There are but two of us," he says, "will no mantry a game with me? Let it not be sung that twenty were overcome oftwo."

  Now Ospakar's son Mord hears, and he grows mad with rage. He holds hisshield aloft and rushes on. But Gizur the Lawman does not come, forGizur was a coward.

  Skallagrim turns to meet Mord, but Eric says:--

  "This one for me, comrade," and steps forward.

  Mord strikes a mighty blow. Eric's shield is all shattered and cannotstay it. It crashes through and falls full on the golden helm, beatingBrighteyes to his knee. Now he is up again and blows fall thick andfast. Mord is a strong man, unwearied, and skilled in war, and Eric'sarms grow faint and his strength sinks low. Mord smites again and woundshim somewhat on the shoulder.

  Eric throws aside his cloven shield and, shouting, plies Whitefire withboth arms. Mord gives before him, then rushes and smites; Eric leapsaside. Again he rushes and lo! Brighteyes has dropped his point, and itstands a full span through the back of Mord, and instantly that was hisbane.

  Now men rush to their horses, mount in hot haste and ride away,crying that these are trolls whom they have to do with here, not men.Skallagrim sees, and the Baresark fit takes him sore. With axe aloft hecharges after them, screaming as he comes. There is one man, the samewhom he had wounded. He cannot mount easily, and when the Baresark comeshe still lies on the neck of his horse. The great axe wheels on high andfalls, and it is told of this stroke that it was so mighty that man andhorse sank dead beneath it, cloven through and through. Then the fitleaves Skallagrim and he walks back, and they are alone with the deadand dying.

  Eric leans on Whitefire and speaks:

  "Get thee gone, Skallagrim Lambstail!" he said; "get thee gone!"

  "It shall be as thou wilt, lord," answered the Baresark; "but I have notbefriended thee so ill that thou shouldst fear for blows to come."

  "I will keep no man with me who puts my word aside, Skallagrim. What didI bid thee? Was it not that thou shouldst have done with the Baresarkways, and where thou stoodest there thou shouldst bide? and see: thoudidst forget my word swiftly! Now get thee gone!"

  "It is true, lord," he said. "He who serves must serve wholly," andSkallagrim turned to seek his horse.

  "Stay," said Eric; "thou art a gallant man and I forgive thee: butcross my will no more. We have slain several men and Ospakar goes hencewounded. We have got honour, and they loss and the greatest shame.Nevertheless, ill shall come of this to me, for Ospakar has many friendsand will set a law-suit on foot against me at the Althing,[*] and thoudidst draw the first blood."

  [*] The annual assembly of free men which, in Iceland, performed the functions of a Parliament and Supreme Court of Law.

  "Would that the spear had gone more home," said Skallagrim.

  "Ospakar's time is not yet," answered Eric; "still, he has something bywhich to bear us in mind."

  IX

  HOW SWANHILD DEALT WITH GUDRUDA

  Now Jon, Eric's thrall, watched all night on Mosfell, but saw nothingexcept the light of Whitefire as it smote the Baresark's head from hisshoulders. He stayed there till daylight, much afraid; then, making surethat Eric was slain, Jon rode hard and fast for Middalhof, whither hecame at evening.

  Gudruda was watching by the women's door. She strained her eyes towardsMosfell to catch the light gleaming on Eric's golden helm, and presentlyit gleamed indeed, white not red.

  "See," said Swanhild at her side, "Eric comes!"

  "Not Eric, but his thrall," answered Gudruda, "to tell us that Eric issped."

  They waited in silence while Jon galloped towards them.

  "What news of Brighteyes?" cried Swanhild.

  "Little need to ask," said Gudruda, "look at his face."

  Now Jon told his tale and Gudruda listened, clinging to
the door post.But Swanhild cursed him for a coward, so that he shrank before her eyes.

  Gudruda turned and walked into the hall and her face was like the faceof death. Men saw her, and Asmund asked why she wore so strange a mien.Then Gudruda sang this song:

  "Up to Mosfell, battle eager, Rode helmed Brighteyen to the fray. Back from Mosfell, battle shunning. Slunk yon coward thrall I ween. Now shall maid Gudruda never Know a husband's dear embrace; Widowed is she--sunk in sorrow, Eric treads Valhalla's halls!"

  And with this she walked from the stead, looking neither to the rightnor to the left.

  "Let the maid be," said Atli the Earl. "Grief fares best alone. But myheart is sore for Eric. It should go ill with that Baresark if I mightget a grip of him."

  "That I will have before summer is gone," said Asmund, for the death ofEric seemed to him the worst of sorrows.

  Gudruda walked far, and, crossing Laxa by the stepping stones, climbedStonefell till she came to the head of Golden Falls, for, like astricken thing, she desired to be alone in her grief. But Swanhild sawher and followed, coming on her as she sat watching the water thunderdown the mighty cleft. Presently Swanhild's shadow fell athwart her, andGudruda looked up.

  "What wouldst thou with me, Swanhild?" she asked. "Art thou come to mockmy grief?"

  "Nay, foster-sister, for then I must mock my own. I come to mix my tearswith thine. See, we loved Eric, thou and I, and Eric is dead. Let ourhate be buried in his grave, whence neither may draw him back."

  Gudruda looked upon her coldly, for nothing could stir her now.

  "Get thee gone," she said. "Weep thine own tears and leave me to weepmine. Not with thee will I mourn Eric."

  Swanhild frowned and bit her lip. "I will not come to thee with wordsof peace a second time, my rival," she said. "Eric is dead, but my hatethat was born of Eric's love for thee lives on and grows, and its flowershall be thy death, Gudruda!"

  "Now that Brighteyes is dead, I would fain follow on his path: so, ifthou listest, throw the gates wide," Gudruda answered, and heeded her nomore.

  Swanhild went, but not far. On the further side of a knoll of grass sheflung herself to earth and grieved as her fierce heart might. She shedno tears, but sat silently, looking with empty eyes adown the past, andonward to the future, and finding no good therein.

  But Gudruda wept as the weight of her loss pressed in upon her--weptheavy silent tears and cried in her heart to Eric who was gone--cried todeath to come upon her and bring her sleep or Eric.

  So she sat and so she grieved till, quite outworn with sorrow, sleepstole upon her and she dreamed. Gudruda dreamed that she was deadand that she sat nigh to the golden door that is in Odin's house atValhalla, by which the warriors pass and repass for ever. There shesat from age to age, listening to the thunder of ten thousand thousandtramping feet, and watching the fierce faces of the chosen as theymarched out in armies to do battle in the meads. And as she sat, atlength a one-eyed man, clad in gleaming garments, drew near and spoke toher. He was glorious to look on, and old, and she knew him for Odin theAllfather.

  "Whom seekest thou, maid Gudruda?" he asked, and the voice he spoke withwas the voice of waters.

  "I seek Eric Brighteyes," she answered, "who passed hither a thousandyears ago, and for love of whom I am heart-broken."

  "Eric Brighteyes, Thorgrimur's son?" quoth Odin. "I know him well;no brisker warrior enters at Valhalla's doors, and none shall do moreservice at the coming of grey wolf Fenrir.[*] Pass on and leave him tohis glory and his God."

  [*] The foe destined to bring destruction on the Norse gods.

  Then, in her dream, she wept sore, and prayed of Odin by the name ofFreya that he would give Eric to her for a little space.

  "What wilt thou pay, then, maid Gudruda?" said Odin.

  "My life," she answered.

  "Good," he said; "for a night Eric shall be thine. Then die, and let thydeath be his cause of death." And Odin sang this song:

  "Now, corse-choosing Daughters, hearken To the dread Allfather's word: When the gale of spears' breath gathers Count not Eric midst the slain, Till Brighteyen once hath slumbered, Wedded, at Gudruda's side-- Then, Maidens, scream your battle call; Whelmed with foes, let Eric fall!"

  And Gudruda awoke, but in her ears the mighty waters still seemed tospeak with Odin's voice, saying:

  "Then, Maidens, scream your battle call; Whelmed with foes, let Eric fall!"

  She awoke from that fey sleep, and looked upwards, and lo! before her,with shattered shield and all besmeared with war's red rain, stoodgold-helmed Eric. There he stood, great and beautiful to see, and shelooked on him trembling and amazed.

  "Is it indeed thou, Eric, or is it yet my dream?" she said.

  "I am no dream, surely," said Eric; "but why lookest thou thus on me,Gudruda?"

  She rose slowly. "Methought," she said, "methought that thou wast deadat the hand of Skallagrim." And with a great cry she fell into his armsand lay there sobbing.

  It was a sweet sight thus to see Gudruda the Fair, her head of goldpillowed on Eric's war-stained byrnie, her dark eyes afloat with tearsof joy; but not so thought Swanhild, watching. She shook in jealousrage, then crept away, and hid herself where she could see no more, lestshe should be smitten with madness.

  "Whence camest thou? ah! whence camest thou?" said Gudruda. "I thoughtthee dead, my love; but now I dreamed that I prayed Odin, and he sparedthee to me for a little."

  "Well, and that he hath, though hardly," and he told her all that hadhappened, and how, as he rode with Skallagrim, who yet sat yonder onhis horse, he caught sight of a woman seated on the grass and knew thecolour of the cloak.

  Then Gudruda kissed him for very joy, and they were happy each witheach--for of all things that are sweet on earth, there is nothing moresweet than this: to find him we loved, and thought dead and cold, aliveand at our side.

  And so they talked and were very glad with the gladness of youth andlove, till Eric said he must on to Middalhof before the light failed,for he could not come on horseback the way that Gudruda took, but mustride round the shoulder of the hill; and, moreover, he was spent withtoil and hunger, and Skallagrim grew weary of waiting.

  "Go!" said Gudruda; "I will be there presently!"

  So he kissed her and went, and Swanhild saw the kiss and saw him go.

  "Well, lord," said Skallagrim, "hast thou had thy fill of kissing?"

  "Not altogether," answered Eric.

  They rode a while in silence.

  "I thought the maid seemed very fair!" said Skallagrim.

  "There are women less favoured, Skallagrim."

  "Rich bait for mighty fish!" said Skallagrim. "This I tell thee: that,strive as thou mayest against thy fate, that maid will be thy bane andmine also."

  "Things foredoomed will happen," said Eric; "but if thou fearest a maid,the cure is easy: depart from my company."

  "Who was the other?" asked the Baresark--"she who crept and peered,listened, then crept back again, hid her face in her hands, and talkedwith a grey wolf that came to her like a dog?"

  "That must have been Swanhild," said Eric, "but I did not see her. Everdoes she hide like a rat in the thatch, and as for the wolf, he mustbe her Familiar; for, like Groa, her mother, Swanhild plays much withwitchcraft. Now I will away back to Gudruda, for my heart misdoubts meof this matter. Stay thou here till I come, Lambstail!" And Eric turnsand gallops back to the head of Goldfoss.

  When Eric left her, Gudruda drew yet nearer to the edge of the mightyfalls, and seated herself on their very brink. Her breast was fullof joy, and there she sat and let the splendour of the night and thegreatness of the rushing sounds sink into her heart. Yonder shone thesetting sun, poised, as it were, on Westman's distant peaks, and heresped the waters, and by that path Eric had come back to her. Yea, andthere on Sheep-saddle was the road that he had trod down Goldfoss; andbut now he had slain one Baresark and won another to be his thrall, andthey two alone had
smitten the company of Ospakar, and come thencewith honour and but little harmed. Surely no such man as Eric had everlived--none so fair and strong and tender; and she was right happy inhis love! She stretched out her arms towards him whom but an hour goneshe had thought dead, but who had lived to come back to her with honour,and blessed his beloved name, and laughed aloud in her joyousness ofheart, calling:

  "_Eric! Eric!_"

  But Swanhild, creeping behind her, did not laugh. She heard Gudruda'svoice and guessed Gudruda's gladness, and jealousy arose within her andrent her. Should this fair rival like to take her joy from her?

  "_Grey Wolf, Grey Wolf! what sayest thou?_"

  See, now, if Gudruda were gone, if she rolled a corpse into thoseboiling waters, Eric might yet be hers; or, if he was not hers, yetGudruda's he could never be.

  "_Grey Wolf, Grey Wolf! what is thy counsel?_"

  Right on the brink of the great gulf sat Gudruda. One stroke and allwould be ended. Eric had gone; there was no eye to see--none save theGrey Wolf's; there was no tongue to tell the deed that might be done.Who could call her to account? The Gods! Who were the Gods? What werethe Gods? Were they not dreams? There were no Gods save the Gods ofEvil--the Gods she knew and communed with.

  "_Grey Wolf, Grey Wolf! what is thy rede?_"

  There sat Gudruda, laughing in the triumph of her joy, with thesunset-glow shining on her beauty, and there, behind her, Swanhildcrept--crept like a fox upon his sleeping prey.