by Martin Regal
9 Thorolf Moster-beard died at Hofstadir. His son, Thorstein Cod-biter, inherited the farm and married Thora, the daughter of Olaf Feilan and the sister of Thord Bellower9 who then lived at Hvamm. Thorolf Moster-beard was buried in a mound at Haugsnes west of Hofstadir.
At that time the Kjalleklings were so fiercely arrogant that they believed themselves to be better than other men in the district. What’s more, Bjorn’s relatives outnumbered any other family in Breidafjord. One of the relatives, Barna-Kjallak, lived at that time on Medalfellsstrond, which is now called Kjallaksstadir. He had many sons and they were all accomplished, and they offered support to their relatives south of the fjord at assemblies and meetings.
One spring at the Thorsnes Assembly Thorgrim Kjallaksson and his brother-in-law, Asgeir of Eyri, declared that they would not put up with the arrogance of the people of Thorsnes any longer and that they would relieve themselves on the grass, as they usually did at meetings, even though the people of Thorsnes were so proud that they claimed their land was more sacred than any other land in Breidafjord. They announced that they did not intend to wear out their shoes by walking out on to a skerry to do their elf-frighteners.
When Thorstein Cod-biter got word of this he was in no mind to allow them to defile the ground that his father Thorolf had worshipped above all other parts of his estate. He summoned his friends and intended to defend the ground by force if they proposed to defile it. He was supported in his plan by Thorgeir Keng, the son of Geirrod of Eyri, and the people of Alftafjord, Thorfinn and his son Thorbrand, Thorolf Lame-foot and many others of Thorstein’s thingmen and friends.
In the evening when the Kjalleklings had finished eating they took their weapons and walked out on to the headland. But when Thorstein and his men saw them turning off the trail which led to the skerry, they leapt up with their weapons and ran after them with shouts and challenges. When the Kjalleklings saw this they grouped together to defend themselves, but the attack by the people of Thorsnes was so fierce that the Kjalleklings lost ground and were driven down on to the beach. Then they retaliated and a very hard battle was fought between them. The Kjalleklings were fewer but they were a select band.
When the people from Skogarstrond, Thorgest the Old and Aslak of Langidal, became aware of the fight, they ran to intervene between the sides, but each side was as furious as the other and Thorgest and Aslak were unable to separate them until they threatened to support whichever side would listen to their arguments. With this the two sides separated, but in such a way that the Kjalleklings were not able to go back to the assembly ground and so boarded their ship and sailed away from the assembly. Men had been killed on both sides, but more on the Kjalleklings’ side, and many had been wounded. A truce was impossible because neither party would make any concessions and both threatened retaliation at the first opportunity. Where they had fought the ground was covered in blood – there where the people of Thorsnes had stood in battle.
10 After the assembly both sides kept forces at the ready, and the hostility between them was intense. Their friends made the decision to send for Thord Bellower who was at that time the most prominent chieftain in Breidafjord. He was a blood relation of the Kjalleklings but also related by marriage to Thorstein. He was thought to be the most likely one to be able to reconcile them. As soon as Thord received this request he set out with a large number of men to try to bring about a settlement. He found their differences to be great but nevertheless he managed to arrange a truce and a peace meeting between them. The eventual resolution of the case was that Thord was to arbitrate between them, taking into account the Kjalleklings’ stipulation that they would never go out and use Dritsker and Thorstein’s insistence that the Kjalleklings not be allowed to defile the ground now any more than before. The Kjalleklings declared all of Thorstein’s men who had died in the battle to be beyond the protection of the law because of their premeditated intention to fight. But the people of Thorsnes claimed all the Kjalleklings beyond the protection of the law on account of the breach of law they had committed at a sacred assembly. In spite of the difficulties in the case, Thord agreed to arbitrate rather than have them part on feuding terms.
Thord began the settlement by stating that the gains of each side should be preserved: he declared that no compensation should be paid for the killings or bloody wounds which had been caused at Thorsnes and he argued that since the ground had been defiled by blood spilt in rage, the earth could no longer be considered more sacred there than anywhere else. Furthermore, he identified those at fault as those who first caused bloody wounds to others, declaring it to have been a disturbance of the peace, and he announced that no more assemblies would be held there any more. In order that they might be reconciled and become friends from then on he concluded that Thorgrim Kjallaksson should bear half the cost of maintaining the temple and likewise get half the temple-toll and half the thingmen. Thorgrim also had to back Thorstein in all his lawsuits from then on and support him in keeping the assembly site sacred wherever it was next established. This done, Thord Bellower married his niece, Thorhild, daughter of his neighbour Thorkel Meinak, to Thorgrim Kjallaksson. From then on Thorgrim was called Thorgrim the Godi.
They moved the assembly farther up the headland to where it is now held. When Thord Bellower established the Quarter Assemblies he made it the site for the West Fjords Quarter Assembly, at which men from all over the West Fjords would meet. It is still possible to see the judgement circle in which men were sentenced to be sacrificed. Within the ring stands Thor’s stone, across which men’s backs were broken when they were sacrificed, and the stain of blood can still be seen on the stone. The site of the assembly was the holiest of places, but it was not forbidden to relieve oneself there.
11 Thorstein Cod-biter became a very prosperous man and always kept sixty freed slaves with him. He was a respon sible provider and often went out fishing. The first farm he had built was at Helgafell, where he moved his household and established a temple that was the greatest temple of its day. He also had a farm built on the headland, near the site of the first assembly. This farm was built with the greatest attention to detail and when it was ready he gave it to his cousin, Thorstein Surt (Black), who lived there after that and he became a particularly wise man.
Thorstein Cod-biter had a son who was called Bork the Stout.10 In the summer of Thorstein’s twenty-fifth year his wife Thora gave birth to a boy who was named Grim and sprinkled with water. Thorstein dedicated this child to Thor and declared that he would be a temple godi and named him Thorgrim. The following autumn Thorstein went out to Hoskuldsey island for provisions.
One evening that autumn Thorstein’s shepherd was rounding up his sheep north of Helgafell when he saw the northern side of the mountain open up. He saw great fires burning inside and heard the sound of feasting and good cheer. When he listened closely in order to hear what was being said, he heard that Thorstein Cod-biter and his men were being welcomed there and that Thorstein was being told to sit in the high seat opposite his father. The shepherd reported this apparition to Thorstein’s wife, Thora, that same evening. She appeared indifferent to the account and said it may well be a foreboding of much graver tidings. The following morning men came ashore from Hoskuldsey with the news that Thorstein Cod-biter had drowned while fishing. Everyone considered this a great loss. Thora kept the farm and hired a man named Hallvard to help her. They had a son named Mar.
12 The sons of Thorstein Cod-biter grew up with their mother and were promising young men, though Thorgrim was ahead of his brother in all things and became a temple godi as soon as he was old enough. Thorgrim married Thordis Sursdottir in Dyrafjord,11 and moved west to live with his brothers-in-law Gisli and Thorkel. Thorgrim killed Vestein Vesteinsson during an autumn feast in Haukadal. The following autumn when Thorgrim was twenty-five, the same age his father had been when he died, his brother-in-law Gisli killed him during an autumn feast at Saebol. A few nights later his wife Thordis gave birth to a child. It was a boy and was nam
ed Thorgrim after his father.
A little later Thordis married Thorgrim’s brother, Bork the Stout, and moved in with him at Helgafell. Her son Thorgrim was fostered by Thorbrand at Alftafjord. He was an unruly child and was therefore called Snerrir (Twist) and later Snorri.
Thorbrand of Alftafjord married Thurid, the daughter of Thorfinn Seal-Thorisson from Raudamel. Their children were Thorleif Kimbi, who was the eldest, then Snorri, Thorodd was the third, the fourth was Thorfinn, the fifth Thormod and their daughter was named Thorgerd. They were all blood-brothers of Snorri Thorgrimsson.
At that time Arnkel, Thorolf Lame-foot’s son, lived at Bolstad near Vadilshofdi. He was the biggest and strongest of men, a knowledgeable lawman and very clever. He was a man of sound character and surpassed other men in that part of the country in both popularity and valour. He was also a temple godi and had many thingmen.
Thorgrim Kjallaksson lived at Bjarnarhofn, as was told earlier, and he and Thorhild had three sons. Brand, the eldest, lived in Krossnes near Brimlarhofdi. The second was Arngrim. He was a tall, strong man with a large-boned face and a prominent nose. He had light red hair with a prematurely receding hairline, shaggy eyebrows and large, well-shaped eyes. He had a wild temper and was very unjust and because of this he was called Styr. Vermund was the youngest of Thorgrim Kjallaksson’s sons. He was a tall man, lean and handsome. He was called Vermund the Slender.
Asgeir of Eyri’s son was named Thorlak and he married Thurid, the daughter of Audun Stoti from Hraunsfjord. Their children were Steinthor, Bergthor, Thormod, Thord Blig and Helga. Steinthor was the foremost of Thorlak’s children. He was a big, strong man, the most skilled in weaponry of all men and highly accomplished. He was usually a quiet man. Steinthor was regarded as one of the best three warriors in Iceland, along with Helgi Droplaugarson and Vemund Fringe.12 Thormod was a wise and self-controlled man while Thord Blig was an excitable man with a quick tongue. Bergthor was the youngest but the most promising.
13 Snorri Thorgrimsson was fourteen years old when he sailed abroad with his foster-brothers Thorleif Kimbi and Thorodd. His uncle, Bork the Stout, gave him fifty ounces of silver for his journey. They had a good passage and arrived in Norway in the autumn and spent the winter in Rogaland. Snorri stayed with Erling Skjalgsson at Sola who was kindly disposed to Snorri because of the friendship between their forebears Horda-Kari and Thorolf Moster-beard.
The following summer they returned to Iceland but they were late getting ready to sail and had a difficult passage, reaching Hornafjord just before winter. When the men of Breidafjord came ashore there was a striking difference between Thorleif Kimbi’s and Snorri’s outfits. Thorleif bought the best horse he could get there and he had a splendid coloured saddle. He carried an ornamented sword, a gold-inlaid spear, an elaborately gilded dark blue shield and all his clothing was exquisite. He had spent almost all his travel money on his apparel. Snorri, on the other hand, wore a black cloak and rode a good black mare. He had an old trough-shaped saddle and carried unornamented weapons. Thorodd’s attire was somewhere between the two.
They rode from the east through Sida and followed the usual route to Borgarfjord and from there they went west across Fletir, breaking their journey at Alftafjord. Then Snorri rode on to Helgafell, intending to stay there for the winter. Bork received him coolly and Snorri became a laughing stock because of his outfit. Bork concluded that he must have been unlucky with his travel money to have squandered it all.
One day in early winter, twelve fully armed men entered the house at Helgafell. One of them was Bork’s cousin, Eyjolf the Grey, son of Thord Bellower. He lived in the west at Otradal in Arnarfjord. When they were asked their news they announced the death of Gisli Sursson and of those men he had killed before he fel1.13 Bork was in high spirits at this news and asked Thordis and Snorri to welcome Eyjolf as warmly as possible, as the man who had rid their kin of such great shame.
Snorri appeared indifferent but Thordis said that it would be a good enough welcome ‘if gruel is given to Gisli’s killer’.
‘It’s not for me to decide on the food,’ replied Bork.
Bork placed Eyjolf in the high seat with his companions beside him towards the door. They threw their weapons on to the floor. Bork sat next to Eyjolf on the inner side with Snorri next to him. Thordis brought in gruel troughs with wooden spoons in them, but when she placed Eyjolf’s serving before him the spoon fell down in front of her. She stooped down to pick it up but took Eyjolf’s sword instead and swiftly thrust it up under the table. It stabbed Eyjolf in the thigh and even though the hilt had rammed into the table, the wound was quite severe. Bork shoved the table away from them and struck at Thordis. Snorri pushed Bork so that he fell down, and he pulled his mother into the seat beside him, saying that she had enough distress without being beaten. Eyjolf and his men leapt up from their seats and it was man restraining man after that.
The situation was resolved by Bork giving Eyjolf the right to decide the amount of compensation owed him and he claimed a very high price for his bloody wound. He then went away with his payment. Ill-feeling developed between Bork and Snorri as a result of this incident.
14 At the District Assembly the following spring Snorri demanded his inheritance from Bork. Bork agreed to pay him his share, ‘but I have no intention of dividing up Helgafell. I can see that we cannot run the farm together so I want to buy out your share.’
‘I think it is fairest for you to assess the value of the land as you see fit,’ Snorri replied, ‘but I will decide which one of us should buy the other one out.’
Bork thought this over and guessed that Snorri would not have ready cash to pay for the land if he had to pay immediately. He therefore valued half the land at sixty ounces of silver, excluding the islands belonging to Helgafell, because he expected they would be sold cheaply once Snorri had bought another farm. It was a condition of the price that it had to be paid immediately, without a loan from anyone else as part payment.
‘Now you can choose, Snorri, which option you want,’ said Bork.
‘This shows that you think I am short of money, kinsman Bork,’ Snorri replied, ‘since you place such a low value on Helgafell’s land. But I have decided to take the option of buying my father’s estate at this price, so give me your hand and let’s shake on the deal.’
‘Not until every penny has been paid for it,’ said Bork.
Snorri turned to his foster-father Thorbrand and said, ‘Didn’t I give you my money pouch last autumn?’
‘Yes,’ said Thorbrand and pulled out the pouch from underneath his cloak.
The silver was then counted and even after every penny had been paid for the land there were still sixty ounces of silver left in the pouch. Bork took the money and handed over the estate to Snorri.
Then he said, ‘You have proven yourself richer in silver than I expected, kinsman. I would now like us to forget the ill-feeling between us and I propose that we both live here at Helgafell together for the next season since you have so little livestock.’
‘You can enjoy your livestock away from Helgafell,’ replied Snorri. It had to be as Snorri wanted it.
When Bork was ready to leave Helgafell, Thordis came up and named witnesses to her declaration of divorce from her husband Bork, giving as her reason the fact that he had hit her and she did not want to put up with his violence any more. Their property was then divided and Snorri acted for his mother since he was her heir. Bork then had to accept the terms that he had intended for others, of getting a low price for the islands. After that Bork left Helgafell and went west to Medalfellsstrond, living first at Barkarstadir between Orrahvol and Tunga. He later moved to Glerarskogar and lived there till his old age.
15 Snorri Thorgrimsson settled at Helgafell and his mother ran the household for him. Snorri’s uncle, Mar Hallvardsson, came to live with them and brought with him a lot of livestock and took over the management of Snorri’s farm. He then had a prosperous estate and a large household.
Snorri w
as a man of medium height but rather thin, and he was handsome, with regular features and fair skin. His hair was red-gold and his beard red. He was usually an even-tempered man, and did not readily show his likes and dislikes. Snorri was a wise man and had foresight about many things, a long memory and a predisposition to vengeance. He gave his friends good counsel, but his enemies felt the chill of his strategies. He maintained a temple and was therefore known as Snorri the Godi. He became a prominent chieftain but his power also occasioned envy since there were many who believed that their lineage gave them no lesser claim to leadership than his, and rather more in terms of the strength of their following and their proven valour.
Bork the Stout and Thordis Sursdottir had a daughter named Thurid who was then married to Thorbjorn the Stout of Froda river. He was the son of Orm the Slender who had been the first settler in Frodaland. He had previously been married to Thurid, the daughter of Asbrand from Kamb in Breidavik. She was the sister of Bjorn the Champion of the Breidavik People, who will come into this saga later, and Arnbjorn the Strong. Her sons with Thorbjorn were Ketil the Champion, Gunnlaug and Hallstein. Thorbjorn was an unbalanced man who bullied weaker men.
At this time Geirrid, the daughter of Thorolf Lame-foot, lived at Mavahlid with her son Thorarin the Black. He was a big, strong man, ugly and taciturn, but usually self-composed, and he had a reputation as a peacemaker. He was not a rich man, although he had a profitable farm. Thorarin was so impartial that his enemies said his disposition was as much a woman’s as a man’s. He was married and his wife was named Aud. Gudny was the name of his sister and she was married to Vermund the Slender.
