When Eric was nearly healed of his hurt, the Earl went with all his people to a certain island of the Orkneys to gather scat[*] that was unpaid, and Skallagrim went with him.  But Eric did not go, because of his hurt, fearing lest the wound should open if he walked overmuch.  Thus it came to pass that, except for some women, he was left almost alone with Swanhild.

[*] Tribute.

Now, when Atli had been gone three days, it chanced on an afternoon that Swanhild heard how a man from Iceland sought speech with her.  She bade them bring him in to where she was alone in her bower, for Eric was not there, having gone down to the sea to fish.

The man came and she knew him at once for Koll the Half-witted, who had been her mother Groa’s thrall.  On his shoulders was the cloak that Ospakar Blacktooth had given him; it was much torn now, and he had a worn and hungry look.

“Whence comest thou, Koll?” she asked, “and what are thy tidings?”

“From Scotland last, lady, where I sat this winter; before that, from Iceland.  As for my tidings, they are heavy, if thou hast not heard them.  Asmund the Priest is dead, and dead is Unna his wife, poisoned by thy mother, Groa, at their marriage-feast.  Dead, too, is thy mother, Groa.  Bjoern, Asmund’s son, shot her with an arrow, and she lies in Goldfoss pool.”

Now Swanhild hid her face for a while in her hands.  Then she lifted it and it was white to see.  “Speakest thou truth, fox?  If thou liest, this I swear to thee—­thy tongue shall be dragged from thee by the roots!”

“I speak the truth, lady,” he answered.  But still he spoke not all the truth, for he said nothing of the part which he had played in the deaths of Asmund and Unna.  Then he told her of the manner of their end.

Swanhild listened silently—­then said: 

“What news of Gudruda, Asmund’s daughter?  Is she wed?”

“Nay, lady.  Folk spoke of her and Ospakar, that was all.”

“Hearken, Koll,” said Swanhild, “bearing such heavy tidings, canst thou not weight the ship a little more?  Eric Brighteyes is here.  Canst thou not swear to him that, when thou didst leave Iceland it was said without question that Gudruda had betrothed herself to Ospakar, and that the wedding-feast was set for this last Yule?  Thou hast a hungry look, Koll, and methinks that things have not gone altogether well with thee of late.  Now, if thou canst so charge thy memory, thou shalt lose little by it.  But, if thou canst not, then thou goest hence from Straumey with never a luck-penny in thy purse, and never a sup to stay thy stomach with.”

Now of all things Koll least desired to be sent from Straumey; for, though Swanhild did not know it, he was sought for on the mainland as a thief.

“That I may do, lady,” he said, looking at her cunningly.  “Now I remember that Gudruda the Fair charged me with a certain message for Eric Brighteyes, if I should chance to see him as I journeyed.”