thy counsel."

Groa laughed again. "Things must be as they are fated. This now is my
rede: Asmund would turn Gudruda's beauty to account, and that man must
be rich in friends and money who gets her to wife, and in this matter
the mind of Bjoern is as the mind of his father. Now we will watch, and,
when a good time chances, we will bear tales of Gudruda to Asmund and to
her brother Bjoern, and swear that she oversteps her modesty with
Eric. Then shall Asmund be wroth and drive Eric from Gudruda's side.
Meanwhile, I will do this: In the north there dwells a man mighty in all
things and blown up with pride. He is named Ospakar Blacktooth. His wife
is but lately dead, and he has given out that he will wed the fairest
maid in Iceland. Now, it is in my mind to send Koll the Half-witted, my
thrall, whom Asmund gave to me, to Ospakar as though by chance. He is a
great talker and very clever, for in his half-wits is more cunning than
in the brains of most; and he shall so bepraise Gudruda's beauty that
Ospakar will come hither to ask her in marriage; and in this fashion, if
things go well, thou shalt be rid of thy rival, and I of one who looks
scornfully upon me. But, if this fail, then there are two roads left
on which strong feet may travel to their end; and of these, one is that
thou shouldest win Eric away with thine own beauty, and that is not
little. All men are frail, and I have a draught that will make the heart
as wax; but yet the other path is surer."

"And what is that path, my mother?"

"It runs through blood to blackness. By thy side is a knife and in
Gudruda's bosom beats a heart. Dead women are unmeet for love!"

Swanhild tossed her head and looked upon the dark face of Groa her
mother.

"Methinks, with such an end to win, I should not fear to tread that
path, if there be need, my mother."

"Now I see thou art indeed my daughter. Happiness is to the bold. To
each it comes in uncertain shape. Some love power, some wealth, and
some--a man. Take that which thou lovest--I say, cut thy path to it and
take it; else shall thy life be but a weariness: for what does it serve
to win the wealth and power when thou lovest a man alone, or the man
when thou dost desire gold and the pride of place? This is wisdom: to
satisfy the longing of thy youth; for age creeps on apace and beyond is
darkness. Therefore, if thou seekest this man, and Gudruda blocks thy
path, slay her, girl--by witchcraft or by steel--and take him, and