this also, that, had I my will, Gudruda should wed Ospakar:
for he is a mighty chief, and not a long-legged carle, outlawed for
man-slaying."

Now Eric sprang from his seat and laid hand upon the hilt of Whitefire,
while men murmured in the hall, for they held this an ill speech of
Bjoern's.

"In thee, it seems, I have no friend," said Eric, "and hadst thou been
any other man than Gudruda's brother, forsooth thou shouldst answer for
thy mocking words. This I tell thee, Bjoern, that, wert thou twice her
brother, if thou plottest with Ospakar when I am gone, thou shalt pay
dearly for it when I come back again. I know thy heart well: it is
cunning and greedy of gain, and filled with envy as a cask with ale;
yet, if thou lovest to feel it beating in thy breast, strive not to work
me mischief and to put Gudruda from me."

Now Bjoern sprang up also and drew his sword, for he was white with rage;
but Asmund his father cried, "Peace!" in a great voice.

"Peace!" he said. "Be seated, Eric, and take no heed of this foolish
talk. And for thee, Bjoern, art thou the Priest of Middalhof, and
Gudruda's father, or am I? It has pleased me to betroth Brighteyes to
Gudruda, and it pleased me not to betroth her to Ospakar, and that is
enough for thee. For the rest, Ospakar would have slain Eric, not he
Ospakar, therefore Eric's hands are clean. Though thou art my son, I say
this, that, if thou workest ill to Eric when he is over sea, thou shalt
rightly learn the weight of Whitefire: it is a niddering deed to plot
against an absent man."

Eric sat down, but Bjoern strode scowling from the hall, and, taking
horse, rode south; nor did he and Eric meet again till three years had
come and gone, and then they met but once.

"Maggots shall be bred of that fly, nor shall they lack flesh to feed
on," said Skallagrim in Eric's ears as he watched Bjoern pass. But Eric
bade him be silent, and turned to Gudruda.

"Look not so sad, sweet," he said, "for hasty words rise like the foam
on mead and pass as soon. It vexes Bjoern that thy father has given me
the good ship: but his anger will soon pass, or, at the very worst, I
fear him not while thou art true to me."

"Then thou hast little to fear, Eric," she answered. "Look now on thy
hair: it grows long as a woman's, and that is ill, for at sea the salt
will hang to it. Say, shall I cut it for thee?"

"Yes, Gudruda."

So she cut his yellow locks, and one of them lay upon her heart for many
a