foot lay that half of Eric's shield which had been shorn away by the
sword of Ospakar. Gudruda, watching, saw Björn push it with his shoe so
that it slid before the feet of Brighteyes. His right foot caught on it,
he stumbled heavily--stumbled again, then fell prone on his face,
and, as he fell, stretched out his sword hand to save himself, so that
Whitefire flew from his grasp. The blade struck its hilt against the
ground, then circled in the air and fixed itself, point downwards, in
the clay of the flooring. The hand of Ospakar rising from the ground
smote against the hilt of Whitefire. He saw it, with a shout he cast his
own sword away and clasped Whitefire.

Away circled the sword of Ospakar; and of that cast this strange thing
is told, false or true. Far in the corner of the hall lurked Thorunna,
she who had betrayed Skallagrim when he was named Ounound. She had come
with a heavy heart to Middalhof in the company of Ospakar; but when she
saw Skallagrim, her husband--whom she had betrayed, and who had turned
Baresark because of her wickedness--shame smote her, and she crept away
and hid herself behind the hangings of the hall. The sword sped along
point first, it rushed like a spear through the air. It fell on the
hangings, piercing them, piercing the heart of Thorunna, who cowered
behind them, so that with one cry she sank dead to earth, slain by her
lover's hand.



Now when men saw that Ospakar once more held Whitefire in his
hand--Whitefire that Brighteyes had won from him--they called aloud that
it was an omen. The sword of Blacktooth had come back to Blacktooth and
now Eric would surely be slain of it!