as ever--how much thou mayest
never know. Though Bjoern be dead at thy hands, yet I love thee; but how
I may wed thee and not win the greatest shame, that I know not. I am
sure of one thing, that we may not bide here in Iceland. Now if, indeed,
thou lovest me, listen to my rede. Get thee back to Mosfell, Eric, and
sit there in safety through this winter, for they may not come at thee
yonder on Mosfell. Then, if thou art willing, in the spring I will make
ready a ship, for I have no ship now, and, moreover, it is too late to
sail. Then, perchance, leaving all my lands and goods, I will take thy
hand, Eric, and we will fare together to England, seeking such fortune
as the Norns may give us. What sayest thou?"

"I say it is a good rede, and would that the spring were come."

"Ay, Eric, would that the spring were come. Our lot has been hard, and I
doubt much if things will go well with us at the last. And now thou
must hence, for presently the serving-women will come to seek me.
Guard thyself, Eric, as thou lovest me--guard thyself, and beware of
Swanhild!" Then once more they kissed soft and long, and Eric went.

But Gudruda sat a while behind the screen of reeds, and was very happy
for a space. For it was as though the winter were past and summer shone
upon her heart again.

XXVII

HOW GUDRUDA WENT UP TO MOSFELL

Eric walked warily till he came to the dell where he had left Skallagrim
and the horses. It was the same dell in which Groa had brewed the
poison-draught for Asmund the Priest and Unna, Thorod's daughter.

"What news, lord?" said Skallagrim. "Thou wast gone so long that I
thought of seeking thee. Hast thou seen Gudruda?"

"Ay," said Eric, "and this is the upshot of it, that in the spring we
sail for England and bid farewell to Iceland and our ill luck."

"Would, then, that it were spring," said Skallagrim, speaking
Brighteyes' own words. "Why not sail now and make an end?"

"Gudruda has no ship and it is late to take the sea. Also I think that
she would let a time go by because of the blood-feud which she has
against me for the death of Bjoern."

"I would rather risk these things than stay the winter through in
Iceland," said Skallagrim, "it is long from now to spring, and yon
wolf's den is cold-lying in the dark months, as I know well."

"There is light beyond the darkness," said Eric, and they rode away.
Everything went well with them till late at night they came to the
slopes of Mosfell. T