XXVIII: HOW SWANHILD WON TIDINGS OF ERICNow Eric's strength came back to him and his heart opened in the light of Gudruda's eyes like a flower in the sunshine. For all day long she sat at his side, holding his hand and talking to him, and they found much to say.
But on the fifth day from the day of his awakening she spoke thus:
"Eric, now I must go back to Middalhof. Thou art safe and it is not well that I should stay here."
"Not yet, Gudruda," he said; "leave me not yet."
"Yes, love, I must leave thee. The moon is bright, the sky has cleared, and the snow is hard with frost and fit for the hoofs of horses. I must go before more storms come. Listen now: in the second week of spring, if all is well, I will send thee a messenger with words of token, then shalt thou come down secretly to
