ught the match
with Blacktooth would be good. And so at length Ospakar rode away to
Swinefell with all his company; but Gizur, his son, left his heart
behind.

For Swanhild had not been idle this while. Her heart was sore, but she
must follow her ill-nature, and so she had put out her woman's strength
and beguiled Gizur into loving her. But she did not love him at all, and
the temper of Asmund the Priest was so angry that Gizur dared not ask
her in marriage. So nothing was said of the matter.

Now Unna came to Coldback, to dwell with Saevuna, Eric's mother, and she
was a fair and buxom woman. She had been once wedded, but within a month
of her marriage her husband was lost at sea, this two years gone. At
first Gudruda was somewhat jealous of this coming of Unna to Coldback;
but Eric showed her what was in his mind, and she fell into the plan,
for she hated and feared Groa greatly, and desired to be rid of her.

Since this matter of the greasing of Eric's wrestling-shoes great
loathing of Groa had come into Asmund's mind, and he bethought him often
of those words that his wife Gudruda the Gentle spoke as she lay dying,
and grieved that the oath which he swore then had in part been broken.
He would have no more to do with Groa now, but he could not be rid of
her; and, notwithstanding her evil doings, he still loved Swanhild. But
Groa grew thin with spite and rage, and wandered about the place glaring
with her great black eyes, and people hated her more and more.

Now Asmund went to visit at Coldback, and there he saw Unna, and was
pleased with her, for she was a blithe woman and a bonny. The end of it
was that he asked her in marriage of Eric; at which Brighteyes was glad,
but said that he must know Unna's mind. Unna hearkened, and did not
say no, for though Asmund was somewhat gone in years, still he was an
upstanding man, wealthy in lands, goods, and moneys out at interest, and
having many friends. So they plighted troth, and the wedding-feast was
to be in the autumn after hay-harvest. Now Asmund rode back to Middalhof
somewhat troubled at heart, for these tidings must be told to Groa, and
he feared her and her witchcraft. In the hall he found her, standing
alone.

"Where hast thou been, lord?" she asked.

"At Coldback," he answered.

"To see Unna, Eric's cousin, perchance?"

"That is so."

"What is Unna to thee, then, lord?"

"This much, that after hay-harvest she will be my wife, and that is ill
news fo