HIORDIS. That was the only time; never, never again! I deemed I was
bewitched; for that Gunnar could clasp a woman---- (Stops and looks
at DAGNY.) What ails thee? Methinks thou turnest pale and red!
DARNY. Nay, nay!
HIORDIS (without noticing her). The merry viking-raid should have
been _my_ lot; it had been better for me, and--mayhap for all of us.
That were life, full and rich life! Dost thou not wonder, Dagny, to
find me here alive? Art not afraid to be alone with me in the hall?
Deem'st thou not that I must have died in all these years, and that
it is my ghost that stands at thy side?
DAGNY (painfully affected). Come--let us go--to the others.
HIORDIS (seizing her by the arm). No, stay! Seems it not strange
to thee, Dagny, that any woman can yet live after five such nights?
DAGNY. Five nights?
HIORDIS. Here in the north each night is a whole winter long.
(Quickly and with an altered expression.) Yet the place is fair
enough, doubt it not! Thou shalt see sights here such as thou hast
not seen in the halls of the English king. We shall be together as
sisters whilst thou bidest with me; we shall go down to the sea when
the storm begins once more; thou shalt see the billows rushing upon
the land like wild, white-maned horses--and then the whales far out
in the offing! They dash one against another like steel-clad knights!
Ha, what joy to be a witching-wife and ride on the whale's back--to
speed before the skiff, and wake the storm, and lure men to the deeps
with lovely songs of sorcery!
DAGNY. Fie, Hiordis, how canst thou talk so!
HIORDIS. Canst thou sing sorceries, Dagny?
DAGNY (with horror). I!
HIORDIS. I trow thou canst; how else didst thou lure Sigurd to thee?
DAGNY. Thou speakest shameful things; let me go!
HIORDIS (holding her back). Because I jest! Nay, hear me to the
end! Think, Dagny, what it is to sit by the window in the eventide
and hear the kelpie[1] wailing in the boat-house; to sit waiting and
listening for the dead men's ride to Valhal; for their way lies past
us here in the north. They are the brave men that fell in fight, the
strong women that did not drag out their lives tamely, like thee and
me; they sweep through the storm-night on their black horses, with
jangling bells! (Embraces DAGNY, and presses her wildly in her arms.)
Ha, Dagny! think of riding the last ride on so rare a steed!
[1] "Draugen," a vague and horrible sea-monster.
DAGNY (struggling to escape). Hiordis, Hiordis! Let me go! I will
not hear thee!
HIORDIS (laughing). Weak art thou of heart, and easily affrighted.
(GUNNAR enters from the back, with SIGURD and THOROLF.)
GUNNAR. Now, truly, are all things to my very mind! I have found
thee again, Sigurd, my brave brother, as kind and true as of old. I
have Ornulf's son under my roof, and the old man himself follows
speedily after; is it not so?
THOROLF. So he promised.
GUNNAR. Then all I lack is that Egil should be here.
THOROLF. 'Tis plain thou lovest the boy, thou namest him so oft.
GUNNAR. Truly I love him; he is my only child; and he is like to
grow up fair and kindly.
HIORDIS. But no warrior.
GUNNAR. Nay--that thou must not say.