But Thorstan said: "I know what it was. It was said that you would
have two husbands. Was it not so?"
She could not tell him the truth; so she said, "Yes." Then Thorstan
said in a voice which did not sound like his, "That is another reason
why I must go." And then they looked at each other for a measurable
space of time--and then Thorstan got up and left her.
When they met again he was as he had always been before; but Gudrid was
frightened, and insisted on going home to Stockness. It was hard to
persuade Eric Red to let her leave him. He had grown very fond of her,
and the more so because he hated his own daughter Freydis. But Gudrid
held to her determination, and won her own way. At parting old Eric
took her in his arms. "I am loth to let thee go, dear child," he said,
"and afraid lest I lose thee altogether. But thou art between two old
men who love thee, and Thore has the first claim. Promise me this,
that if he die before me thou wilt come back to Brattalithe and be a
daughter to me."
"Yes," Gudrid said, "I promise you that."
"Right," said old Eric. "Then I shall live to see thee again." With
that he kissed her and let her go.