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Henry Rider Haggard
Eric Brighteyes
(Historical Novel)
Based on Icelandic Saga - Viking Age Iceland
Published by
Books
- Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting -
2017 OK Publishing
ISBN 978-80-7583-437-9
Table of Contents
I HOW ASMUND THE PRIEST FOUND GROA THE WITCH
II HOW ERIC TOLD HIS LOVE TO GUDRUDA IN THE SNOW ON COLDBACK
III HOW ASMUND BADE ERIC TO HIS YULE-FEAST
IV HOW ERIC CAME DOWN GOLDEN FALLS
V HOW ERIC WON THE SWORD WHITEFIRE
VI HOW ASMUND THE PRIEST WAS BETROTHED TO UNNA
VII HOW ERIC WENT UP MOSFELL AGAINST SKALLAGRIM THE BARESARK
VIII HOW OSPAKAR BLACKTOOTH FOUND ERIC BRIGHTEYES AND SKALLAGRIM LAMBSTAIL ON HORSE-HEAD HEIGHTS
IX HOW SWANHILD DEALT WITH GUDRUDA
X HOW ASMUND SPOKE WITH SWANHILD
XI HOW SWANHILD BID FAREWELL TO ERIC
XII HOW ERIC WAS OUTLAWED AND SAILED A - VIKING
XIII HOW HALL THE MATE CUT THE GRAPNEL CHAIN
XV HOW ERIC DWELT IN LONDON TOWN
XVI HOW SWANHILD WALKED THE SEAS
XVII HOW ASMUND THE PRIEST WEDDED UNNA, THOROD'S DAUGHTER
XVIII HOW EARL ATLI FOUND ERIC AND SKALLAGRIM ON THE SOUTHERN ROCKS OF STRAUMEY ISLE
XIX HOW KOLL THE HALF-WITTED BROUGHT TIDINGS FROM ICELAND
XXI HOW HALL OF LITHDALE TOOK TIDINGS TO ICELAND
XXIII HOW ERIC WAS A GUEST AT THE WEDDING-FEAST OF GUDRUDA THE FAIR
XXVI HOW ERIC VENTURED DOWN TO MIDDALHOF AND WHAT HE FOUND
XXVII HOW GUDRUDA WENT UP TO MOSFELL
XXVIII HOW SWANHILD WON TIDINGS OF ERIC
XXIX HOW WENT THE BRIDAL NIGHT
XXXI HOW ERIC SENT AWAY HIS MEN FROM MOSFELL
XXXII HOW ERIC AND SKALLAGRIM GREW FEY
XXXIII HOW ERIC AND SKALLAGRIM FOUGHT THEIR LAST GREAT FIGHT
I
HOW ASMUND THE PRIEST FOUND GROA THE WITCH
There lived a man in the south, before Thangbrand, Wilibald's son, preached the White Christ in Iceland. He was named Eric Brighteyes, Thorgrimur's son, and in those days there was no man like him for strength, beauty and daring, for in all these things he was the first. But he was not the first in good-luck.
Two women lived in the south, not far from where the Westman Islands stand above the sea. Gudruda the Fair was the name of the one, and Swanhild, called the Fatherless, Groa's daughter, was the other. They were half-sisters, and there were none like them in those days, for they were the fairest of all women, though they had nothing in common except their blood and hate.
Now of Eric Brighteyes, of Gudruda the Fair and of Swanhild the Fatherless, there is a tale to tell.
These two fair women saw the light in the self-same hour. But Eric Brighteyes was their elder by five years. The father of Eric was Thorgrimur Iron-Toe. He had been a mighty man; but in fighting with a Baresark,1 who fell upon him as he came up from sowing his wheat, his foot was hewn from him, so that afterwards he went upon a wooden leg shod with iron. Still, he slew the Baresark, standing on one leg and leaning against a rock, and for that deed people honoured him much. Thorgrimur was a wealthy yeoman, slow to wrath, just, and rich in friends. Somewhat late in life he took to wife Saevuna, Thorod's daughter. She was the best of women, strong in mind and second-sighted, and she could cover herself in her hair. But these two never loved each other overmuch, and they had but one child, Eric, who was born when Saevuna was well on in years.
The father of Gudruda was Asmund Asmundson, the Priest of Middalhof. He was the wisest and the wealthiest of all men who lived in the south of Iceland in those days, owning many farms and, also, two ships of merchandise and