Eric leans on Whitefire and speaks:
“Get thee gone, Skallagrim Lambstail!” he said; “get thee gone!”
“It shall be as thou wilt, lord,” answered the Baresark; “but I have not befriended thee so ill that thou shouldst fear for blows to come.”
“I will keep no man with me who puts my word aside, Skallagrim. What did I bid thee? Was it not that thou shouldst have done with the Baresark ways, and where thou stoodest there thou shouldst bide? and see: thou didst forget my word swiftly! Now get thee gone!”
“It is true, lord,” he said. “He who serves must serve wholly,” and Skallagrim turned to seek his horse.
“Stay,” said Eric; “thou art a gallant man and I forgive thee: but cross my will no more. We have slain several men and Ospakar goes hence wounded. We have got honour, and they loss and the greatest shame. Nevertheless, ill shall come of this to me, for Ospakar has many friends and will set a law-suit on foot against me at the Althing,[*] and thou didst draw the first blood.”
[*] The annual assembly of free men which, in Iceland, performed the functions of a Parliament and Supreme Court of Law.
“Would that the spear had gone more home,” said Skallagrim.
“Ospakar’s time is not yet,” answered Eric; “still, he has something by which to bear us in mind.”