ast eyes. She was busy also making all things ready for the
feasting.

Now as Asmund went up the hall seeing that everything was in order, Groa
drew near to him and touched him gently on the shoulder.

"Are things to thy mind, lord?" she said.

"Yes, Groa," he answered, "more to my mind than to thine I fear."

"Fear not, lord; thy will is my will."

"Say, Groa, is it thy wish to bide here in Middalhof when Unna is my
housewife?"

"It is my wish to serve thee as aforetime," she answered softly, "if so
be that Unna wills it."

"That is her desire," said Asmund and went his ways.

But Groa stood looking after him and her face was fierce and evil.

"While bane has virtue, while runes have power, and while hand has
cunning, never, Unna, shalt thou take my place at Asmund's side! Out
of the water I came to thee, Asmund; into the water I go again. Unquiet
shall I lie there--unquiet shall I wend through Hela's halls; but Unna
shall rest at Asmund's side--in Asmund's cairn!"

Then again she moved about the hall, making all things ready for the
feast. But at midnight, when the light was low and folk slept, Groa
rose, and, veiled in a black robe, with a basket in her hand, passed
like a shadow through the mists that hang about the river's edge, and
in silence, always looking behind her, like one who fears a hidden foe,
culled flowers of noisome plants that grow in the marsh. Her basket
being filled, she passed round the stead to a hidden dell upon the
mountain side. Here a man stood waiting, and near him burned a fire
of turf. In his hand he held an iron-pot. It was Koll the Half-witted,
Groa's thrall.

"Are all things ready, Koll?" she said.

"Yes," he answered; "but I like not these tasks of thine, mistress. Say
now, what wouldst thou do with the fire and the pot?"

"This, then, Koll. I would brew a love-potion for Asmund the Priest as
he has bidden me to do."

"I have done many an ill deed for thee, mistress, but of all of them I
love this the least," said the thrall, doubtfully.

"I have done many a good deed for thee, Koll. It was I who saved thee
from the Doom-stone, seeming to prove thee innocent--ay, even when thy
back was stretched on it, because thou hadst slain a man in his sleep.
Is it not so?"

"Yea, mistress."

"And yet thou wast guilty, Koll. And I have given thee many good gifts,
is it not so?"

"Yes, it is so."

"Listen then: serve me this once and I will give thee one last gift--thy
free