“Shall we be frightened by a dead hag?” quoth Ospakar, drawing his breath again. “Fellows, bear this carrion forth, or we fling it to the dogs.”
Then the men tied the body of Saevuna, Thorgrimur’s widow, Eric’s mother, fast in the chair, and bore it thence. But when at length they came to Coldback, they found that Swanhild was there with all her following, and had driven Eric’s grieve and his folk to the fells. But one old carline, who had been nurse to Eric, was left there, and she sat wailing in an outhouse, being too weak to move.
Then the men set down the corpse of Saevuna in the outhouse, and, having told all their tale to the carline, they fled also.
That night passed, and passed the morrow; but on the next day at dawn Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail landed near Westman Isles. They had made a bad passage from Fareys, having been beat about by contrary winds; but at length they came safe and well to land.
Now this was the day of the marriage-feast of Gudruda the Fair and Ospakar; 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 learn tidings of Gudruda. Then as it may chance.”
Near to the beach was a yeoman’s house. Thither they went to hire horses; but none were in the house, for all had gone to Gudruda’s marriage-feast. In the home meadow ran two good horses, and in the outhouses were saddles and bridles. They caught the horses, saddled them and rode for Coldback. When they had ridden for something over an hour they came to the crest of a height whence they could see Coldback in the Marsh.
Eric drew rein and looked, and his heart swelled within him at the sight of the place where he was born. But as he looked he saw a great train of people ride away from Coldback towards Middalhof—and in the company a woman wearing a purple cloak.
“Now what may this mean?” said Eric.