“The bride-cup is not yet drunk, lord,” she answered.
“To thee, then, I will speak, lady,” quoth Eric. “How comes it that, being betrothed to me, thou dost sit there the bride of Ospakar?”
“Ask of Swanhild,” said Gudruda in a low voice. “Ask also of Hall of Lithdale yonder, who brought me Swanhild’s gift from Straumey.”
“I must ask much of Hall and he must answer much,” said Eric. “What tale, then, did he bring thee from Straumey?”
“He said this, Eric,” Gudruda answered: “that thou wast Swanhild’s love; that for Swanhild’s sake thou hadst basely killed Atli the Good, and that thou wast about to wed Swanhild’s self and take the Earl’s seat in Orkneys.”
“And for what cause was I made outlaw at the Althing?”
“For this cause, Eric,” said Björn, “that thou hadst dealt evilly with Swanhild, bringing her to shame against her will, and thereafter that thou hadst slain the Earl, her husband.”
“Which, then, of these tales is true? for both cannot be true,” said Brighteyes. “Speak, Swanhild.”
“Thou knowest well that the last is true,” said Swanhild boldly.
“How then comes it that thou didst charge Hall with that message to Gudruda? How then comes it that thou didst send her the lock of hair which thou didst cozen me to give thee?”