“Things cannot be worse between us than they are now, therefore I do not fear Groa,” he answered.

“It shall be as thou wilt, son; to-morrow we will send to Unna and bid her here, if it pleases her to come.”

Now Ospakar stayed three more days at Middalhof, till his horses were found, and he was fit to travel, for Eric had shaken him sorely.  But he had no words with Gudruda and few with Asmund.  Still, he saw Swanhild, and she bid him to be of good cheer, for he should yet have Gudruda.  For now that the maid had passed from him the mind of Ospakar was set in winning her.  Bjoern also, Asmund’s son, spoke words of good comfort to him, for he envied Eric his great fame, and he thought 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.