Eric came to the rocks, and there he sat all day long looking on the sea, and grieving so bitterly that he thought his heart would burst within him. For of all the days of Eric’s life this was the heaviest, except one other only.
But Swanhild, going to her bower, caused Koll the Half-witted to be summoned. To him she spoke long and earnestly, and they made a shameful plot together. Then she bade Koll watch for Atli’s coming and, when he saw the Earl leave his boats, to run to him and say that she would speak with him.
After this Swanhild sent a man across the firth to the stead where Hall of Lithdale sat, bidding him to come to her at speed.
When the afternoon grew towards the evening, Koll, watching, saw the boats of Atli draw to the landing-place. Then he went down, and, going to the Earl, bowed before him:
“What wouldst thou, fellow, and who art thou?” asked Atli.
“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.