Eric claimed that Asmund should hold the sword Whitefire that
was at stake, but Ospakar gainsaid him, saying that if he gave Whitefire
into Asmund's keeping, Eric must also give his eye--and about this they
debated hotly. Now the matter was brought before Asmund as umpire, and
he gave judgment for Eric, "for," he said, "if Eric yield up his eye
into my hand, I can return it to his head no more if he should win; but
if Ospakar gives me the good sword and conquers, it is easy for me to
pass it back to him unharmed."
Men said that this was a good judgment.
Thus then was the arm-game set. Ospakar and Eric must wrestle thrice,
and between each bout there would be a space while men could count a
thousand. They might strike no blow at one another with hand, or head,
or elbow, foot or knee; and it should be counted no fall if the haunch
and the head of the fallen were not on the ground at the self-same time.
He who suffered two falls should be adjudged conquered and lose his
stake.
Asmund called these rules aloud in the presence of witnesses, and
Ospakar and Eric said that should bind them. Ospakar drew a small knife
and gave it to his son Gizur to hold.
"Thou shalt soon know, youngling, how steel tastes in the eyeball," he
said.
"We shall soon know many things," Eric answered.
Now they drew off their cloaks and stood in the ring. Ospakar was great
beyond the bigness of men and his arms were clothed with black hair
like the limbs of a goat.
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