one hour
before noon
`` Thou art a faithless son , '' Saevuna said , `` who wilt slay thyself striving to win speech with thy May , and leave thy mother childless . '' Eric said that it seemed so indeed , but he was plighted to it and the feat must be tried . Then he kissed her , and she sought her bed , weeping . Now it was the day of the Yule-feast , and there was no sun till one hour before noon . But Eric , having kissed his mother and bidden her farewell , called a thrall , Jon by name , and giving him a sealskin bag full of his best apparel , bade him ride to Middalhof and tell Asmund the Priest that Eric Brighteyes would come down Golden Falls an hour after mid-day , to join his feast ; and thence go to the foot of the Golden Falls , to await him there . And the man went , wondering , for he thought his master mad . Then Eric took a good rope , and a staff tipped with iron , and , so soon as the light served , mounted his horse , forded Ran River , and rode along Coldback till he came to the lip of Golden Falls .