weet face shone such a look of love
as he had never seen.

"_Eric!_" she whispered softly, and the breath of her voice ran down the
empty panelled hall, that from all sides seemed to answer, "_Eric._"

Slowly he drew near to her. He saw nothing but the glory of Gudruda's
face and the light shining on Gudruda's hair; he heard nothing save the
sighing of her breath; he knew nothing except that before him sat his
fair bride, won after many years.

Now he had climbed the high seat, and now, wrapped in each other's arms,
they sat and gazed into each other's eyes, and lo! the air of the great
hall rolled round them a sea of glory, and sweet voices whispered in
their ears. Now Freya smiled upon them and led them through her gates of
love, and they were glad that they had been born.

Thus then they were wed.

Now the story tells that Swanhild spoke with Gizur, Ospakar's son, in
the house at Coldback.

"I tire of this slow play," she said. "We have tarried here for many
weeks, and Atli's blood yet cries out for vengeance, and cries for
vengeance the blood of black Ospakar, thy father, and the blood of many
another, dead at great Eric's hand."

"I tire also," said Gizur, "and I am much needed in the north. I say
this to thee, Swanhild, that, hadst thou not so strictly laid it on me
that Eric must die ere thou weddest me, I had flitted back to Swinefell
before now, and there bided my time to bring Brighteyes to his end."

"I will never wed thee, Gizur, till Eric is dead," said Swanhild
fiercely.

"How shall we come at him then?" he answered. "We may not go up that
mountain path, for two men can hold it against all our strength, and
folk do not love to meet Eric and Skallagrim in a narrow way."

"The place has been badly watched," said Swanhild. "I am sure of this,
that Eric has been down to Middalhof and seen Gudruda, my half-sister.
She is shameless, who still holds commune with him who slew her brother
and my husband. Death should be her reward, and I am minded to slay her
because of the shame that she has brought upon our blood."

"That is a deed which thou wilt do alone, then," said Gizur, "for I will
have no hand in the murder of that fair maid--no, nor will any who live
in Iceland!"

Swanhild glanced at him strangely. "Hearken, Gizur!" she said: "Gudruda
makes a ship ready to sail with goods to Scotland and bring a cargo
thence before winter comes again. Now I find this strange, for never
before did I know