“Methinks it is thou, Eric,” he said, “whom Ospakar hates, and thee on whom he would work his vengeance, and that for no light cause.”

“When bad fortune sits in thy neighbour’s house, she knocks upon thy door, Bjoern.  Gudruda, thy sister, is my betrothed, and thou art a party to this feud,” said Eric.  “Therefore it becomes thee better to hold her honour and thy own against this Northlander, than to gird at me for that in which I have no blame.”

Bjoern grew wroth at these words.  “Prate not to me,” he said.  “Thou art an upstart who wouldst teach their duty to thy betters—­ay, puffed up with light-won fame, like a feather on the breeze.  But I say this:  the breeze shall fail, and thou shalt fall upon the goose’s back once more.  And I say 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.”