eric brighteyes-第42部分

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and　to　Whitefire's　edge。　Skallagrim　also　ground　his　great　axe　upon　the

whetstone　in　the　yard；　singing　as　he　ground。　When　all　was　ready；　the

horses　were　caught；　and　Eric　spoke　to　the　carline：



〃Hearken；　nurse。　If　it　may　be　that　thou　canst　find　any　of　our　folk

and　perchance　now　that　they　see　that　Swanhild　has　ridden　to　Middalhof

some　one　of　them　will　come　down　to　spythou　shalt　say　this　to　them。

Thou　shalt　say　that；　if　Eric　Brighteyes　yet　lives；　he　will　be　at　the

foot　of　Mosfell　to…morrow　before　midday；　and　if；　for　the　sake　of　old

days　and　fellowship；　they　are　minded　to　befriend　a　friendless　man；　let

them　come　thither　with　food；　for　by　then　food　will　be　needed；　and　I

will　speak　with　them。　And　now　farewell；〃　and　Eric　kissed　her　and　went；

leaving　her　weeping。



As　it　chanced；　before　another　hour　was　sped；　Jon；　Eric's　thrall；　who

had　stayed　at　home　in　Iceland；　seeing　Coldback　empty；　crept　down　from

the　fells　and　looked　in。　The　carline　saw　him；　and　told　him　these

tidings。　Then　he　went　thence　to　find　the　other　men。　Having　found　them

he　told　them　Eric's　words；　and　a　great　gladness　came　upon　them　when

they　learned　that　Brighteyes　still　lived；　and　was　in　Iceland。　Then

they　gathered　food　and　gear；　and　rode　away　to　the　foot　of　Mosfell　that

is　now　called　Ericsfell。







Ospakar　sat　in　the　hall　at　Middalhof；　near　to　the　high　seat。　He　was

fully　armed；　and　a　black　helm　with　a　raven's　crest　was　on　his　head。

For；　though　he　said　nothing　of　it；　not　a　little　did　he　fear　that

Saevuna　spoke　sooththat　her　words　would　come　true；　and；　before　this

day　was　done；　he　and　Eric　should　once　more　stand　face　to　face。　At　his

side　sat　Gudruda　the　Fair；　robed　in　white；　a　worked　head…dress　on　her

head；　golden　clasps　upon　her　breast　and　golden　rings　about　her　arms。

Never　had　she　been　more　beautiful　to　see；　but　her　face　was　whiter　than

her　robes。　She　looked　with　loathing　on　Blacktooth　at　her　side；　rough

like　a　bear；　and　hideous　as　a　troll。　But　he　looked　on　her　with

longing；　and　laughed　from　side　to　side　of　his　great　mouth　when　he

thought　that　at　last　he　had　got　her　for　his　own。



〃Ah；　if　Eric　would　but　come；　faithless　though　he　be！if　Eric　would

but　come！〃　thought　Gudruda；　but　no　Eric　came　to　save　her。　The　guests

gathered　fast；　and　presently　Swanhild　swept　in　with　all　her　company；

wrapped　about　in　her　purple　cloak。　She　came　up　to　the　high　seat　where

Gudruda　sat；　and　bent　the　knee　before　her；　looking　on　her　with　lovely

mocking　face　and　hate　in　her　blue　eyes。



〃Greeting；　Gudruda；　my　sister！〃　she　said。　〃When　last　we　met　I　sat；

Atli's　bride；　where　to…day　thou　sittest　the　bride　of　Ospakar。　Then

Eric　Brighteyes　held　thy　hand；　and　little　thou　didst　think　of　wedding

Ospakar。　Now　Eric　is　afarso　strangely　do　things　come　aboutand

Blacktooth；　Brighteyes'　foe；　holds　that　fair　hand　of　thine。〃



Gudruda　looked　on　her　and　turned　whiter　yet　in　her　pain；　but　she

answered　never　a　word。



〃What！　no　word　for　me；　sister？〃　said　Swanhild。　〃And　yet　it　is　through

me　that　thou　comest　to　this　glad　hour。　It　is　through　me　that　thou　art

rid　of　Eric；　and　it　is　I　who　have　given　thee　to　the　arms　of　mighty

Ospakar。　No　word　of　thanks　for　so　great　a　service！fie　on　thee；

Gudruda！　fie！〃



Then　Gudruda　spoke：　〃Strange　tales　are　told　of　thee　and　Eric；　Groa's

daughter！　I　have　done　with　Eric；　but　I　have　done　with　thee　also。　Thou

hast　thrust　thyself　here　against　my　will　and；　if　I　may；　I　would　see

thy　face　no　more。〃



〃Wouldst　thou　see　Eric's　face；　Gudruda？say；　wouldst　see　Eric's　face？

I　tell　thee　it　is　fair！〃



But　Gudruda　answered　nothing；　and　Swanhild　fell　back；　laughing。



Now　the　feast　began；　and　men　waxed　merry。　But　ever　Gudruda's　heart

grew　heavier；　for　in　it　echoed　those　words　that　Saevuna　had　spoken。

Her　eyes　were　dim；　and　she　seemed　to　see　naught　but　the　face　of　Eric

as　it　had　looked　when　he　came　back　to　her　that　day　on　the　brink　of

Goldfoss　Falls　and　she　had　thought　him　dead。　Oh！　what　if　he　still

loved　her　and　were　yet　true　at　heart？　Swanhild　mocked　her！what　if

this　was　a　plot　of　Swanhild's？　Had　not　Swanhild　plotted　aforetime；　and

could　a　wolf　cease　from　ravening　or　a　witch　from　witch…work？　Nay；　she

had　seen　Eric's　hairthat　he　had　sworn　none　save　she　should　touch！

Perchance　he　had　been　drugged；　and　the　hair　shorn　from　him　in　his

sleep？　Too　late　to　think！　Of　what　use　was　thought？beside　her　sat

Ospakar；　in　one　short　hour　she　would　be　his。　Ah！　that　she　could　see

him　deadthe　troll　who　had　trafficked　her　to　shame；　the　foe　she　had

summoned　in　her　wrath　and　jealousy！　She　had　done　illshe　had　fallen

into　Swanhild's　snare；　and　now　Swanhild　came　to　mock　her！



The　feast　went　oncup　followed　cup。　Now　they　poured　the　bride…cup！

Before　her　heart　beat　two　hundred　times　she　would　be　the　wife　of

Ospakar！



Blacktooth　took　the　cuppledged　her　in　it；　and　drank　deep。　Then　he

turned　and　strove　to　kiss　her。　But　Gudruda　shrank　from　him　with　horror

in　her　eyes；　and　all　men　wondered。　Still　she　must　drink　the　bridal

cup。　She　took　it。　Dimly　she　saw　the　upturned　faces；　faintly　she　heard


the　murmur　of　a　hundred　voices。



What　was　that　voice　she　caught　above　them　alltherewithout　the

hall？



Holding　the　cup　in　her　hand；　Gudruda　bent　forward；　staring　down　the

skali。　Then　she　cried　aloud；　pointing　to　the　door；　and　the　cup　fell

clattering　from　her　hand　and　rolled　along　the　ground。



Men　turned　and　looked。　They　saw　this：　there　on　the　threshold　stood　a

man；　glorious　to　look　at；　and　from　his　winged　helm　of　gold　the　rays　of

light　flashed　through　the　dusky　hall。　The　man　was　great　and　beautiful

to　see。　He　had　long　yellow　hair　bound　in　about　his　girdle；　and　in　his

left　hand　he　held　a　pointed　shield；　in　his　right　a　spear；　and　at　his

thigh　there　hung　a　mighty　sword。　Nor　was　he　alone；　for　by　his　side；　a

broad　axe　on　his　shoulder　and　shield　in　hand；　stood　another　man；　clad

in　black…hued　maila　man　well…nigh　as　broad　and　big；　with　hawk's

eyes；　eagle　beak；　and　black　hair　streaked　with　grey。



For　a　moment　there　was　silence。　Then　a　voice　spoke：



〃Lo！　here　be　the　Gods　Baldur　and　Thor！come　from　Valhalla　to　grace

the　marriage…feast！〃



Then　the　man　with　golden　hair　cried　aloud　in　a　voice　that　made　the

rafters　ring：



〃Here　are　Eric　Brighteyes　and　Skallagrim　Lambstail；　his　thrall；　come

from　over　sea　to　grace　the　feast；　indeed！〃



〃I　could　have　looked　for　no　worse　guests；〃　said　Bj？rn；　beneath　his

breath；　and　rose　to　bid　men　thrust　them　out。　But　before　he　could

speak；　lo！　gold…helmed　Eric　and　black…helmed　Skallagrim　were　stalking

up　the　length　of　that　great　hall。　Side　by　side　they　stalked；　with

faces　fierce　and　cold；　nor　stayed　they　till　they　stood　before　the　high

seat。　Eric　looked　up　and　round；　and　the　light　of　his　eyes　was　as　the

light　of　a　sword。　Men　marvelled　at　his　greatness　and　his　wonderful

beauty；　and　to　Gudruda　he　seemed　like　a　God。



〃Here　I　see　faces　that　are　known　to　me；〃　said　Eric。　〃Greetings；

comrades！〃



〃Greetings；　Brighteyes！〃　shouted　the　Middalhof　folk　and　the　company　of

Swanhild；　but　the　carles　of　Ospakar　laid　hand　on　swordthey　too　knew

Eric。　For　still　all　men　loved　Eric；　and　the　people　of　his　quarter　were

proud　of　the　deeds　he　had　done　oversea。



〃Greeting；　Bj？rn；　Asmund's　son！〃　quoth　Eric。　〃Greeting；　Ospakar

Blacktooth！　Greeting；　Swanhild　the　Fatherless；　Atli's　witch…wife

Groa's　witch…bairn！　Greeting；　Hall　of　Lithdale；　Hall　the　liarHall

who　cut　the　grapnel…chain！　And　to　thee；　sweet　Bride；　to　thee　Gudruda

the　Fair；　greeting！〃



Now　Bj？rn　spoke：　〃I　will　take　no　greeting　from　a　shamed　and　outlawed

man。　Get　thee　gone；　Eric　Brighteyes；　and　take　thy　wolf…hound　with

thee；　lest　thou　bidest　here　stiff　and　cold。〃



〃Speak　not　so　loud；　rat；　lest　hound's　fang　worry　thee！〃　growled

Skallagrim。



But　Eric　laughed　aloud　and　cried



〃Words　must　be　said；　and　perchance　men　shall　die；　ere　ever　I　leave

this　hall；　Bj？rn！〃







XXIV



HOW　THE　FEAST　WENT



〃Hearken　all　men！〃　said　Eric。



〃Thrust　him　out！〃　quoth　Bj？rn。



〃Nay；　cut　him　down！〃　said　Ospakar；　〃he　is　an　outlawed　man。〃



〃Words　first；　then　deeds；〃　answered　Skallagrim。　〃Thou　shalt　have　thy

fill　of　both；　Blacktooth；　before　day　is　done。〃



〃Let　Eric　say　his　say；〃　said　Gudruda；　lifting　her　head。　〃He　has　been

doomed　unheard；　and　it　is　my　will　that　he　shall　say　his　say。〃



〃What　hast　thou　to　do　with　Eric？〃　snarled　Ospakar。



〃The　bride…cup　is　not　yet　drunk；　lord；〃　she　answered。



〃To　thee；　then；　I　will　speak；　lady；〃　quoth　Eric。　〃How　comes　it　that；

being　betrothed　to　me；　thou　dost　sit　there　the　bride　of　Ospakar？〃



〃Ask　of　Swanhild；〃　said　Gudruda　in　a　low　voice。　〃Ask　also　of　Hall　of

Lithdale　yonder；　who　brought　me　Swanhild's　gift　from　Straumey。〃



〃I　must　ask　much　of　Hall　and　he　must　answer　much；〃　said　Eric。　〃What

tale；　then；　did　he　bring　thee　from　Straumey？〃



〃He　said　this；　Eric；〃　Gudruda　answered：　〃that　thou　wast　Swanhild's

love；　that　for　Swanhild's　sake　thou　hadst　basely　killed　Atli　the　Good；

and　that　thou　wast　about　to　wed　Swanhild's　self　and　take　the　Earl's

seat　in　Orkneys。〃



〃And　for　what　cause　was　I　made　outlaw　at　the　Althing？〃



〃For　this　cause；　Eric；〃　said　Bj？rn；　〃that　thou　hadst　dealt　evilly　with

Swanhild；　bringing　her　to　shame　against　her　will；　and　thereafter　that

thou　hadst　slain　the　Earl；　her　husband。〃



〃Which；　then；　of　these　tales　is　true？　for　both　cannot　be　true；〃　said

Brighteyes。　〃Speak；　Swanhild。〃



〃Thou　knowest　well　that　the　last　is　true；〃　said　Swanhild　boldly。



〃How　then　comes　it　that　thou　didst　charge　Hall　with　that　message　to

Gudruda？　How　then　comes　it　that　thou　didst　send　her　the　lock　of　hair

which　thou　didst　cozen　me　to　give　thee？〃



〃I　charged　Hall　with　no　message；　and　I　sent　no　lock　of　hair；〃　Swanhild

answered。



〃Stand　thou　forward；　Hall！〃　said　Eric；　〃and　liar　and　coward　though

thou　art；　dare　not　to　speak　other　than　the　truth！　Nay；　look　not　at　the

door：　for；　if　thou　stirrest；　this　spear　shall　find　thee