“So be it, mother.  As I sat crouched behind Gudruda in the snow at Coldback, I had half a mind to end her love-words with this knife, for so I should have been free of her.”

“Yes, and fast in the doom-ring, thou wildcat.  The gods help this Eric, if thou winnest him.  Nay, choose thy time and, if thou must strike, strike secretly and home.  Remember also that cunning is mightier than strength, that lies pierce further than swords, and that witchcraft wins where honesty must fail.  Now I will go to Asmund, and he shall be an angry man before to-morrow comes.”

Then Groa went to the shut bed where Asmund the Priest slept.  He was sitting on the bed and asked her why she came.

“For love of thee, Asmund, and thy house, though thou dost treat me ill, who hast profited so much by me and my foresight.  Say now:  wilt thou that this daughter of thine, Gudruda the Fair, should be the light May of yonder long-legged yeoman?”

“That is not in my mind,” said Asmund, stroking his beard.

“Knowest thou, then, that this very day your white Gudruda sat on Eric’s lap in the snow, while he fondled her to his heart’s content?”

“Most likely it was for warmth.  Men do not dream on love in the hour of death.  Who saw this?”

“Swanhild, who was behind, and hid herself for shame, and therefore she held that these two must soon be wed!  Ah, thou art foolish now, Asmund.  Young blood makes light of cold or death.  Art thou blind, or dost thou not see that these two turn on each other like birds at nesting-time?”

“They might do worse,” said Asmund, “for they are a proper pair, and it seems to me that each was born for each.”

“Then all goes well.  Still, it is a pity to see so fair a maid cast like rotten bait upon the waters to hook this troutlet of a yeoman.  Thou hast enemies, Asmund; thou art too prosperous, and there are many who hate thee for thy state and wealth.  Were it not wise to use this girl of thine to build a wall about thee against the evil day?”

“I have been more wont, housekeeper, to trust to my own arm than to bought friends.  But tell me, for at the least thou art far-seeing, how may this be done?  As things are, though I spoke roughly to him last night, I am inclined to let Eric Brighteyes take Gudruda.  I have always loved the lad, and he will go far.”

“Listen, Asmund!  Surely thou hast heard of Ospakar Blacktooth—­the priest who dwells in the north?”

“Ay, I have heard of him, and I know him; there is no man like him for ugliness, or strength, or wealth and power.  We sailed together on a viking cruise many years ago, and he did things at which my blood turned, and in those days I had no chicken heart.”

“With time men change their temper.  Unless I am mistaken, this Ospakar wishes above all to have Gudruda in marriage, for, now that everything is his, this alone is left for him to ask—­the fairest woman in Iceland as a housewife.  Think then, with Ospakar for a son-in-law, who is there that can stand against thee?”