"I am a man from Iceland; perchance, lord, thou sawest me in Asmund's hall at Middalhof. I am sent here by the Lady Swanhild to say that she desires speech with thee, and that at once." Then, seeing Skallagrim, Koll fled back to the house, for he feared Skallagrim.
Now Atli was uneasy in his mind, and, saying nothing, he hurried up to the hall, and through it into Swanhild's bower.
There she sat on a couch, her eyes red with weeping, and her curling hair unbound.
"What now, Swanhild?" he asked. "Why lookest thou thus?""Why look I thus, my lord?" she answered heavily. "Because I have to tell thee that which I cannot find words to fit," and she ceased.
"Speak on," he said. "Is aught wrong with Eric?"Then Swanhild drew near and told him a false tale.
When it was done for a moment or so Atli stood still, and grew white beneath his ruddy skin, white as his beard. Then he staggered back against the wainscoting of the bower.
"Woman, thou liest!" he said. "Never will I believe so vile a thing of Eric Brighteyes, whom I have loved.""Would that I could not believe it!" she answered. "Would that I could think it was but an evil dream! But alas! Nay, I will prove it. Suffer that I summon Koll, the Icelander, who was my mother's thrall--Groa who now is dead, for I have that tidings also. He saw something of this thing, and he will bear me witness.""Call the man," said Atli sternly.
So Koll was summoned, and told his lies with a bold face. He was so well taught, and so closely did his story tally with that of Swanhild, that Atli could find no flaw in it.
"Now I am sure, Swanhild, that thou speakest truth," said the Earl when Koll had gone. "And now also I have somewhat to say to this Eric.
For thee, rest thyself; that which cannot be mended must be borne,"and he went out.
Now, when Skallagrim came to the house he asked for Eric. The women told him that Brighteyes had gone down to the sea, fully armed, in the morning, and had not returned.
"Then there must be fighting toward, and that I am loth to miss," said Skallagrim, and, axe aloft, he started for the south-western rocks at a run. Skallagrim came to the rocks. There he found Eric, sitting in his harness, looking out across the sea. The evening was wet and windy; the rain beat upon him as he sat, but Eric took no heed.
"What seekest thou, lord?" asked the Baresark.
"Rest," said Eric, "and I find none."
"Thou seekest rest helm on head and sword in hand? This is a strange thing, truly!""Stranger things have been Skallagrim. Wouldst thou hear a tale?" and he told him all.
"What said I?" asked Skallagrim. "We had fared better in London town.
Flying from the dove thou hast found the falcon.""I have found the falcon, comrade, and she has pecked out my eyes. Now I would speak with Atli, and then I go hence.""Hence go the twain of us, lord. The Earl will be here presently and rough words will fly in this rough weather. Is Whitefire sharp, Brighteyes?""Whitefire was sharp enough to shear my hair, Skallagrim; but if Atli would strike let him lay on. Whitefire will not be aloft for him.""That we shall see," said Skallagrim. "At least, if thou art harmed because of this loose quean, my axe will be aloft.""Keep thou thine axe in its place," said Eric, and as he spoke Atli came, and with him many men.
Eric rose and turned to meet the Earl, looking on him with sad eyes.
For Atli, his face was as the face of a trapped wolf, for he was mad with rage at the shame that had been put upon him and the ill tale that Swanhild had told of Eric's dealings with her.
"It seems that the Earl has heard of these tidings," said Skallagrim.
"Then I shall be spared the telling of them," answered Eric.
Now they stood face to face; Atli leaned upon his drawn sword, and his wrath was so fierce that for a while he could not speak. At length he found words.
"See ye that man, comrades?" he said, pointing at Eric with the sword.
"He has been my guest these many months. He has sat in my hall and eaten of my bread, and I have loved him as a son. And wot ye how he has repaid me? He has put me to the greatest shame, me and my wife the Lady Swanhild, whom I left in his guard--to such shame, indeed, that Icannot speak it."
"True words, Earl," said Eric, while folk murmured and handled their swords.
"True, but not all the truth," growled Skallagrim. "Methinks the Earl has heard a garbled tale.""True words, thyself thou sayest it," went on Atli "thou hound that Isaved from the sea! 'Ran's gift, Hela's gift,' so runs the saw, and now from Ran to Hela thou shalt go, thou mishandler of defenceless women!""Here is somewhat of which I know nothing," said Eric.
