Eric Brighteyes

by H. Rider Haggard

  That night passed, and passed the morrow; but on the next day at dawnEric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail landed near Westman Isles. Theyhad made a bad passage from Fareys, having been beat about by contrarywinds; but at length they came safe and well to land.

  Now this was the day of the marriage-feast of Gudruda the Fair andOspakar; but Eric knew nothing of these tidings.

  "Where to now, lord?" said Skallagrim.

  "To Coldback first, to see my mother, if she yet lives, and to learntidings of Gudruda. Then as it may chance."

  Near to the beach was a yeoman's house. Thither they went to hirehorses; but none were in the house, for all had gone to Gudruda'smarriage-feast. In the home meadow ran two good horses, and in theouthouses were saddles and bridles. They caught the horses, saddled themand rode for Coldback. When they had ridden for something over an hourthey came to the crest of a height whence they could see Coldback in theMarsh.

  Eric drew rein and looked, and his heart swelled within him at the sightof the place where he was born. But as he looked he saw a great train ofpeople ride away from Coldback towards Middalhof--and in the company awoman wearing a purple cloak.

  "Now what may this mean?" said Eric.

  "Ride on and we shall learn," answered Skallagrim.

  So they rode on, and as they rode Eric's breast grew heavy with fear.Now they passed up the banked way through the home meadows of the house,but they could see no one; and now they were at the door. Down sprangEric and walked into the hall. But none were there to greet him, thougha fire yet burned upon the earth. Only a gaunt hound wandered about thehall, and, seeing him, sprang towards him, growling. Eric knew him forhis old wolf-hound, and called him by his name. The dog listened, thenran up and smelt his hands, and straightway howled with joy and leaptupon him. For a while he leapt thus, while Eric stared around himwondering and sad at heart. Then the dog ran to the door and stopped,whining. Eric followed after him. The hound passed through the entrance,and across the yard till he came to an outhouse. Here the dog stoppedand scratched at the door, still whining. Eric thrust it open. Lo! therebefore him sat Saevuna, his mother, dead in a chair, and at her feetcrouched the carline--she who had been Eric's nurse.

  Now he grasped the door-posts to steady himself, and his shadow fellupon the white face of his mother and the old carline at her feet.

  XXIII

  HOW ERIC WAS A GUEST AT THE WEDDING-FEAST OF GUDRUDA THE FAIR

  Eric looked, but said nothing.

  "Who art thou?" whined the carline, gazing up at him with tear-blindedeyes. But Eric's face was in the shadow, and she only saw the glint ofhis golden hair and the flash of the golden helm. For Eric could notspeak yet a while.

  "Art thou one of the Swanhild's folk, come to drive me hence with therest? Good sir, I cannot go to the fells, my limbs are too weak. Slayme, if thou wilt, but drive me not from this," and she pointed to thecorpse. "Say now, will thou not help me to give it burial? It is unmeetthat she who in her time had husband, and goods, and son, should lieunburied like a dead cow on the fells. I have still a hundred in silver,if I might but come at it. It is hidden, sir, and I will pay thee ifthou wilt help me to bury her. These old hands are too feeble to dig agrave, nor could I bear her there alone if it were dug. Thou wilt nothelp me?--then may thine own mother's bones lie uncovered, and be pickedof gulls and ravens. Oh, that Eric Brighteyes would come home again! Oh,that Eric was here! there is work to do and never a man to do it."

  Now Eric gave a great sob and cried, "Nurse, nurse! knowest thou me not!_I_ am Eric Brighteyes."

  She uttered a loud cry, and, clasping him by the knees, looked up intohis face.

  "Thanks be to Odin! Thou art Eric--Eric come home again! But alas, thouhast come too late!"

  "What has happened, then?" said Eric.

  "What has happened? All evil things. Thou art outlawed, Eric, at thesuit of Swanhild for the slaying of Atli the Earl. Swanhild sits here inColdback, for she hath seized thy lands. Saevuna, thy mother, diedtwo days ago in the hall of Middalhof, whither she went to speak withGudruda."

  "Gudruda! what of Gudruda?" cried Eric.

  "This, Brighteyes: to-day she weds Ospakar Blacktooth."

  Eric covered his face with his hand. Presently he lifted it.

  "Thou art rich in evil tidings, nurse, though, it would seem, poor inall besides. Tell me at what hour is the wedding-feast?"

  "An hour after noon, Eric; but now Swanhild has ridden thither with hercompany."

  "Then room must be found at Middalhof for one more guest," saidEric, and laughed aloud. "Go on!--pour out thy evil news and spareme not!--for nothing has any more power to harm me now! Come hither,Skallagrim, and see and hearken."

  Skallagrim came and looked on the face of dead Saevuna.

  "I am outlawed at Swanhild's suit, Lambstail. My life lies in thy hand,if so be thou wouldst take it! Hew off my head, if thou wilt, andbear it to Gudruda the Fair--she will thank thee for the gift. Lay on,Lambstail; lay on with that axe of thine."

  "Child's talk!" said Skallagrim.

  "Child's talk, but man's work! Thou hast not heard the tale out.Swanhild hath seized my lands and sits here at Coldback! And--whatthinkest thou, Skallagrim?--but now she has ridden a-guesting to themarriage-feast of Ospakar Blacktooth with Gudruda the Fair! Swanhild atGudruda's wedding!--the eagle in the wild swan's nest! But there will beanother guest," and again he laughed aloud.

  "_Two_ other guests," said Skallagrim.

  "More of thy tale, old nurse!--more of thy tale!" quoth Eric. "No betterdidst thou ever tell me when, as a lad, I sat by thee, in the ingle o'winter nights--and the company is fitting to the tale!" and he pointedto dead Saevuna.

  Then the carline told on. She told how Hall of Lithdale had come out toIceland, and of the story that he bore to Gudruda, and of the giving ofthe lock of hair.

  "What did I say, lord?" broke in Skallagrim--"that in Hall thou hadstlet a weasel go who would live to nip thee?"

  "Him I will surely live to shorten by a head," quoth Eric.

  "Nay, lord, this one for me--Ospakar for thee, Hall for me!"

  "As thou wilt, Baresark. Among so many there is room to pick and choose.Tell on, nurse!"

  Then she told how Swanhild came out to Iceland, and, having won OspakarBlacktooth and Gizur to her side, had laid a suit against Eric at theThing, and there bore false witness against him, so that Brighteyes wasdeclared outlaw, being absent. She told, too, how Gudruda had betrothedherself to Ospakar, and how Swanhild had moved down to Coldback andseized the lands. Lastly she told of the rising of Saevuna from herdeathbed, of her going to Middalhof, of the words she spoke to Bjoern andOspakar, and of her death in the hall at Middalhof.

  When all was told, Eric stooped and kissed the cold brow of his mother.

  "There is little time to bury thee now, my mother," he said, "andperchance before six hours are sped there will be one to bury at thyside. Nevertheless, thou shalt sit in a better place than this."

  Then he cut loose the cords that bound the body of Saevuna to the chair,and, lifting it in his arms, bore it to the hall. There he set thecorpse in the high seat of the hall.

  "We need not start yet a while, Skallagrim," said Eric, "if indeed thouwouldst go a-guesting with me to Middalhof. Therefore let us eat anddrink, for there are deeds to do this day."

  So they found meat and mead and ate and drank. Then Eric washed himself,combed out his golden locks, and looked well to his harness andto Whitefire's edge. Skallagrim also ground his great axe upon thewhetstone in the yard, singing as he ground. When all was ready, thehorses were caught, and Eric spoke to the carline:

  "Hearken, nurse. If it may be that thou canst find any of our folk--andperchance now that they see that Swanhild has ridden to Middalhof someone of them will come down to spy--thou shalt say this to them. Thoushalt say that, if Eric Brighteyes yet lives, he will be at the foot ofMosfell to-morrow before midday, and if, for the sake of old days andfellowship, they are minded to befriend a friendless man,
let them comethither with food, for by then food will be needed, and I will speakwith them. And now farewell," and Eric kissed her and went, leaving herweeping.

  As it chanced, before another hour was sped, Jon, Eric's thrall, who hadstayed at home in Iceland, seeing Coldback empty, crept down from thefells 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 toldthem Eric's words, and a great gladness came upon them when they learnedthat Brighteyes still lived, and was in Iceland. Then they gatheredfood and gear, and rode away to the foot of Mosfell that is now calledEricsfell.

  Ospakar sat in the hall at Middalhof, near to the high seat. He wasfully 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 Saevunaspoke sooth--that her words would come true, and, before this day wasdone, he and Eric should once more stand face to face. At his sidesat 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 hadshe 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 laughedfrom side to side of his great mouth when he thought that at last he hadgot her for his own.

  "Ah, if Eric would but come, faithless though he be!--if Eric wouldbut come!" thought Gudruda; but no Eric came to save her. The guestsgathered fast, and presently Swanhild swept in with all her company,wrapped about in her purple cloak. She came up to the high seat whereGudruda sat, and bent the knee before her, looking on her with lovelymocking 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. ThenEric Brighteyes held thy hand, and little thou didst think of weddingOspakar. Now Eric is afar--so strangely do things come about--andBlacktooth, Brighteyes' foe, holds that fair hand of thine."

  Gudruda looked on her and turned whiter yet in her pain, but sheanswered never a word.

  "What! no word for me, sister?" said Swanhild. "And yet it is through methat thou comest to this glad hour. It is through me that thou art ridof 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'sdaughter! I have done with Eric, but I have done with thee also. Thouhast thrust thyself here against my will and, if I may, I would see thyface no more."

  "Wouldst thou see Eric's face, Gudruda?--say, wouldst see Eric's face? Itell 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 grewheavier, for in it echoed those words that Saevuna had spoken. Her eyeswere dim, and she seemed to see naught but the face of Eric as it hadlooked when he came back to her that day on the brink of Goldfoss Fallsand she had thought him dead. Oh! what if he still loved her and wereyet true at heart? Swanhild mocked her!--what if this was a plot ofSwanhild's? Had not Swanhild plotted aforetime, and could a wolf ceasefrom ravening or a witch from witch-work? Nay, she had seen Eric'shair--that he had sworn none save she should touch! Perchance he hadbeen drugged, and the hair shorn from him in his sleep? Too late tothink! Of what use was thought?--beside her sat Ospakar, in one shorthour she would be his. Ah! that she could see him dead--the troll whohad trafficked her to shame, the foe she had summoned in her wrath andjealousy! She had done ill--she had fallen into Swanhild's snare, andnow Swanhild came to mock her!

  The feast went on--cup followed cup. Now they poured the bride-cup!Before her heart beat two hundred times she would be the wife ofOspakar!

  Blacktooth took the cup--pledged her in it, and drank deep. Then heturned and strove to kiss her. But Gudruda shrank from him with horrorin 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 themurmur of a hundred voices.

  What was that voice she caught above them all--there--without the hall?

  Holding the cup in her hand, Gudruda bent forward, staring down theskali. Then she cried aloud, pointing to the door, and the cup fellclattering from her hand and rolled along the ground.

  Men turned and looked. They saw this: there on the threshold stood aman, glorious to look at, and from his winged helm of gold the rays oflight flashed through the dusky hall. The man was great and beautiful tosee. He had long yellow hair bound in about his girdle, and in his lefthand he held a pointed shield, in his right a spear, and at his thighthere hung a mighty sword. Nor was he alone, for by his side, a broadaxe on his shoulder and shield in hand, stood another man, clad inblack-hued mail--a 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 themarriage-feast!"

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

  "Here are Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail, his thrall, comefrom over sea to grace the feast, indeed!"

  "I could have looked for no worse guests," said Bjoern, beneath hisbreath, and rose to bid men thrust them out. But before he could speak,lo! gold-helmed Eric and black-helmed Skallagrim were stalking up thelength of that great hall. Side by side they stalked, with faces fierceand cold; nor stayed they till they stood before the high seat. Ericlooked up and round, and the light of his eyes was as the light of asword. Men marvelled at his greatness and his wonderful beauty, and toGudruda 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 ofSwanhild; but the carles of Ospakar laid hand on sword--they too knewEric. For still all men loved Eric, and the people of his quarter wereproud of the deeds he had done oversea.

  "Greeting, Bjoern, Asmund's son!" quoth Eric. "Greeting, OspakarBlacktooth! Greeting, Swanhild the Fatherless, Atli's witch-wife--Groa'switch-bairn! Greeting, Hall of Lithdale, Hall the liar--Hall who cutthe grapnel-chain! And to thee, sweet Bride, to thee Gudruda the Fair,greeting!"

  Now Bjoern spoke: "I will take no greeting from a shamed and outlawedman. 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!" growledSkallagrim.

  But Eric laughed aloud and cried--

  "Words must be said, and perchance men shall die, ere ever I leave thishall, Bjoern!"

  XXIV

  HOW THE FEAST WENT

  "Hearken all men!" said Eric.

  "Thrust him out!" quoth Bjoern.

  "Nay, cut him down!" said Ospakar, "he is an outlawed man."

  "Words first, then deeds," answered Skallagrim. "Thou shalt have thyfill of both, Blacktooth, before day is done."

  "Let Eric say his say," said Gudruda, lifting her head. "He has beendoomed 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 ofLithdale yonder, who brought me Swanhild's gift from Straumey."

  "I must ask much of Hall and he must answer much," said Eric. "Whattale, 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, andthat thou wast about to wed Swanhild's self and take the Earl's seat inOrkneys."

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

  "For this cause
, Eric," said Bjoern, "that thou hadst dealt evilly withSwanhild, bringing her to shame against her will, and thereafter thatthou hadst slain the Earl, her husband."

  "Which, then, of these tales is true? for both cannot be true," saidBrighteyes. "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 toGudruda? How then comes it that thou didst send her the lock of hairwhich thou didst cozen me to give thee?"

  "I charged Hall with no message, and I sent no lock of hair," Swanhildanswered.

  "Stand thou forward, Hall!" said Eric, "and liar and coward though thouart, dare not to speak other than the truth! Nay, look not at the door:for, if thou stirrest, this spear shall find thee before thou hast gonea pace!"

  Now Hall stood forward, trembling with fear, for he saw the eye ofSkallagrim watching him close, and while Lambstail watched, his fingerstoyed with the handle of his axe.

  "It is true, lord, that Swanhild charged me with that message which Igave to the Lady Gudruda. Also she bade me give the lock of hair."

  "And for this service thou didst take money, Hall?"

  "Ay, lord, she gave me money for my faring."

  "And all the while thou knewest the tidings false?"

  Hall made no reply.

  "Answer!" thundered Eric--"answer the truth, knave, or by every God thatpasses the hundred gates I will not spare thee twice!"