“Lift me, Gizur; I can no more,” says Swanhild.
He lifts her to the saddle.
“Whither away?” he asks.
“To Coldback, Gizur, and thence to cold Death.”
Thus did Gudruda, Eric’s bride and Asmund’s daughter, the fairest woman who ever lived in Iceland, die on her marriage night by the hand of Gizur, Ospakar’s son, and through the hate and witchcraft of Swanhild the Fatherless, her half-sister.
CHAPTER XXX
HOW THE DAWN CAME
The dawn broke over Middalhof. Slowly the light gathered in the empty hall, it crept slowly into the little chamber where Eric slept, and Gudruda slept also with a deeper sleep.
Now the two women came from their chamber at the far end of the hall, and drew near the hearth, shivering, for the air was cold. They knelt by the fire, blowing at the embers till the sticks they cast upon them crackled to a blaze.
“It seems that Gudruda is not yet gone,” said one to the other. “I thought she should ride away with Eric before the dawn.”
“Newly wed lie long abed!” laughed the other.