Egil’s Saga

by E R Eddison

  Bryniolf accounted ill of these redes.

  Biorgolf and Hildirid had two sons: the one was named Harek and the other Hraerek. Thereafter died Biorgolf; but as soon as he was carried out, then let Bryniolf fare away Hildirid, and her sons along with her. She fared then to Leka to her father, and there were they bred up, those sons of Hildirid. They were men comely of look, little of growth, well witted, like to their mother’s kinsfolk. They were called the sons of Hildirid.10 Little account made Bryniolf of them, and suffered them not to have aught of their father’s heritage. Hildirid was Hogni’s heiress, and she and her sons took heritage after him and dwelt now in Leka and had wealth enow. They were much of an age, Bard Bryniolfson and the sons of Hildirid.

  That father and son, Biorgolf and Bryniolf, had long time had the Finn-fare and the Finn-scat.11

  North in Halogaland is a firth named Vefsnir. There lieth an isle in the firth, and is named Alost, a great isle and a good. In it is a farmstead, Sandness by name: there dwelt a man that was named Sigurd. He was wealthiest of all in the north there. He was a landed man, and cunning of wisdom. Sigrid was his daughter named, and was thought the best match in Halogaland. She was his only child, and had the heritage to take after Sigurd her father.

  Bard Bryniolfson made him a journey from home: had a cutter and aboard of her thirty men. He fared north to Alost and came to Sandness to Sigurd’s. Bard took up the word and bade Sigrid to wife. That suit was well answered and in likely wise, and so came it that troth was plighted betwixt Bard and the maiden, and the wedding should be next summer. Then should Bard betake him thither north again for the wedding.

  CHAPTER VIII. OF THOROLF AND BARD BRYNIOLFSON.

  HARALD the King had that summer sent word unto the great men, them that were in Halogaland, and summoned to him those that had aforetime not been to see him. Bryniolf was minded for that journey, and with him Bard his son. They fared at autumn-tide south to Thrandheim and there met the King. He took to them exceeding kindly. Bryniolf became then the King’s landed man. The King bestowed on him great revenues beside those that he had aforetime had: he bestowed on him withal the Finn-fare: the King’s stewardship on the fell,1 and the Finn-cheaping. After that, fared Bryniolf away and home to his own place; but Bard abode behind, and became of the King’s bodyguard.

  Of all the men of his bodyguard the King set most store by his skalds.2 They had place on the lower bench. Inmost of them sat Audun Ill-skald: he was their eldest, and he had been skald to Halfdan the Black, the father of Harald the King. Next after sat Thorbiorn Hornklofi,3 and next after sat Oliver Hnufa, but next to him was place made for Bard. He was called there Bard the White, or Bard the Strong. He was well esteemed there of every man. Betwixt him and Oliver Hnufa there was great good-fellowship.

  That same autumn came to King Harald those two, Thorolf Kveldulfson and Eyvind Lambi, the son of Berdla-Kari. They found there a good welcome. They had thither a snake-ship,4 of twenty benches well manned, that they had before had a-viking. Place was made for them in the guest-hall with their following. When they had tarried there until it seemed to them time to go and see the King, there went with them Berdla-Kari and Oliver Hnufa. They greet the King. Then saith Oliver Hnufa5 that here is come the son of Kveldulf, “Whom I said to you last summer that Kveldulf would send to you. You will find his promises fast kept. You may now see sure tokens that he will be your full and perfect friend, sith he hath sent his own son hither to service with you: so gallant a man, as you now may see. And that is our boon, of Kveldulf and all of us, that thou take to Thorolf honourably and make him a great man with you”.

  The King answereth well his suit, and said he should so do, “If Thorolf approve himself to me as good a man as he hath the look of a full manly one”.

  And now Thorolf gat himself under the hand of the King and went there into the lay of the bodyguard; but Berdla-Kari and Eyvind Lambi, his son, fared south with that ship which Thorolf had had north. Then fared Kari home to his own place, he and Eyvind both. Thorolf was with the King, and the King appointed him to sit between Oliver Hnufa and Bard, and there grew to be amongst all three of them the greatest good-fellowship. That was men’s talk of Thorolf and Bard, that they were even-matched for comeliness and in growth and might and all feats of skill. Now is Thorolf there in exceeding great lovingkindness with the King, both he and Bard.

  But when winter wore and summer came, then Bard bade leave of the King to go look to that marriage that had been promised him the summer before. And when the King knew that Bard had an errand of moment, then gave he him leave for homeward-faring. But when he had gotten leave, then bade he Thorolf fare with him northaway. He said (as was true) that he would there likely be able to meet many noble kinsfolk of his6 that he would not have seen before or had acquaintance with them. To Thorolf that seemed much to be longed for, and for this they get them leave from the King.

  So now they make ready: had a good ship and ship’s company: fared then on their way as soon as they were ready. But when they come to Torgar, then send they men to Sigurd and let say to him that Bard will now look to that marriage which they had bound themselves to, the summer before. Sigurd saith that he will hold by all that which they had spoken: they fix, then, the wedding-feast, and Bard and his folk must seek north thither to Sandness. But when the time was come, then fare they, Bryniolf and Bard, and had with them a mort of great men, kinsmen of theirs by blood and affinity.7 It was as Bard had said, that Thorolf met there many kinsfolk of his that he had not before had acquaintance with. They fared until they came to Sandness, and there was there the stateliest of feasts. But when the feast was ended, Bard fared home with his wife and tarried at home that summer, he and Thorolf both. But in the autumn come they south to the King, and were with him another winter.

  That winter died Bryniolf. But when Bard learneth of this, that his heritage was there fallen in, then bade he leave for faring home; and the King granted him that. And before they parted, Bard was made a landed man, like as his father had been, and had of the King all revenues, the like that Bryniolf had had. Bard fared home to his own place, and in short while became a mighty lord.8 But Hildirid’s sons gat nought of the heritage then no more than aforetime.

  Bard had a son with his wife, and that was named Grim. Thorolf was with the King, and had there great esteem.

  CHAPTER IX. OF THE BATTLE OF HAFRSFIRTH.

  HARALD the King bade out a great war-gathering, and drew together a host of ships. He summoned to him the folk wide about the lands. He fared out from Thrandheim and stood south along the land. These tidings had he heard, that a great war-host was drawn together about Agdir and Rogaland and Hordaland, gathered from near and far, both down from the land and from eastaway out of the Wick, and there was there a mort of great men come together, and minded to defend the land against Harald the King.

  King Harald held his way from the north with his folk. Himself he had a great ship and manned with his bodyguard. There, in the stem,1 was Thorolf Kveldulfson, and Bard the White, and those sons of Berdla-Kari, Oliver Hnufa and Eyvind Lambi; but the berserks of the King were twelve together in the bows. Their meeting was south off Rogaland, in Hafrsfirth.2 There was there the greatest battle of any that King Harald had had, and great man-fall of either host. The King laid his ship well forward, and there was the battle strongest; but so ended it, that King Harald gat the victory. And there fell Thorir Longchin, King of Agdir; but Kiotvi the Wealthy fled, and all his host that yet stood up, save those that went under the King’s hand after the battle.

  Now when the host was kenned of Harald the King there was much people fallen and many were sore wounded. Thorolf was wounded sore, but Bard worse, and not one was unwounded in the King’s ship forward of the sail, save those that iron bit not3 (and that was his berserks). Then let the King bind the wounds of his men, and thanked men for their forwardness, and bestowed gifts, and laid most praise on them that seemed to him worthiest of it, and promised them to swell their honour: named for this his
skippers, and next to them his stem-men and other forecastle-men.

  This was the latest battle that Harald the King had within the land, and after that found he no withstanding, and gat to himself thenceforth all the land.

  The King let leech his men, them that there was yet hope of life for, and let give lyke-help5 unto the dead men, in such sort as was then the wont to do. Thorolf and Bard lay in their wounds. Thorolf’s wounds took to healing, but Bard’s wounds grew like to be banesome. Then let he call the King to him and said to him thus: “If so betide, that I die of these wounds, then will I crave this of you, that you let me rule mine inheritance after me”.

  But when the King had yea-said that, then said he: “All mine inheritance after me will I that Thorolf, my fellow and kinsman, take: both lands and loose goods; to him will I give my wife,4 too, and my son for uprearing, because I do trust him for this, best of all men”. He settleth these matters, as was the law thereto, with the King’s leave. And now dieth Bard, and there was given him lyke-help, and it was thought much harm of his death.

  Thorolf gat well of his wounds, and followed the King that summer, and had gotten exceeding great renown. The King fared in the autumn north to Thrandheim. Then prayeth Thorolf leave to fare north to Halogaland to look to those gifts which he had received that summer of Bard his kinsman. The King giveth leave for that, and sendeth word therewith and tokens that Thorolf shall have all that which Bard gave him: let that follow, that that gift was made with rede of the King, and that his will it is so to let it be. The King maketh now Thorolf a landed man, and bestoweth on him now all those revenues the same which before Bard had had: granteth him the Finn-fare with like conditions, even as Bard had had it before. The King gave Thorolf a good long-ship with all her gear and let make ready his journey thence as best might be. And now fared Thorolf thence on his journey, and he and the King parted with the greatest loving-kindness.

  But when Thorolf came north to Torgar, then was there joyful welcoming of him. He said to them then of Bard’s death, and that withal, that Bard had given him to take after him lands and loose goods, and his wife too that had before been his: and now set forth the word of the King and the tokens. But when Sigrid heard these tidings, then thought she that great scathe she had to lose her man. But Thorolf was before well known to her, and well she wist that he was the greatest man of mark and that that match was exceeding good; and, seeing it was the King’s bidding, she counted it good rede (and her friends were with her in this) to plight troth with Thorolf, if that were not against her father’s liking. Therewith took Thorolf unto him the management of all things there, and withal the King’s stewardship.

  Thorolf made him a journey from home, and had a long-ship and nigh sixty men and fared now when he was ready, north along the land. And on a day at evening came he into Alost, to Sandness: laid their ship in harbour; and when they had tilted6 her and made all snug, Thorolf went up to the farmstead with twenty men. Sigurd welcomed him joyfully, and bade him be there, for well known was each to other before, since first Sigurd and Bard had become father and son-in-law.7 And now went Thorolf and his folk into the hall and took there guesting. Sigurd sat him down to talk with Thorolf, and asked for tidings. Thorolf told of that battle that had been last summer south in the land, and the fall of many men that were well known to Sigurd; Thorolf said that Bard, his son-in-law, had died of those wounds that he gat in the battle. That seemed to them both the greatest man-scathe. Then saith Thorolf unto Sigurd what had been in the privy talk betwixt him and Bard, before he died, and so he bare forward the word-sending of the King, that the King would let all that hold: and therewith he showed the tokens. And now Thorolf took up his wooing with Sigurd, and bade to wife Sigrid his daughter. Sigurd took that suit well: said that many things held for this: first, that the King’s will it is so to let it be; that too, that Bard had asked for this, and that withal, that Thorolf was known to him and he thought his daughter well given so. That suit was easy-sped with Sigurd. Then went forward the betrothals and appointing of the bridal feast, to be in Torgar that autumn. Thorolf fared home then to his own place, he and his company, and made ready there a great feast and bade thither great throng of men. There was there a mort of Thorolf’s noble kinsmen. Sigurd too set out from the north, and had a great long-ship and good choice of men. There was at that feast the greatest throng of men.

  Soon was that found, that Thorolf was an openhanded man, and a great man of account. He had about him a great following, and soon became that exceeding costly and needed great provision. Then was the year good and an easy stroke to get that whereof need was.

  The same winter, died Sigurd at Sandness, and Thorolf took all his heritage after him. That was exceeding great fee. Those sons of Hildirid came to see Thorolf and brought up that claim which they would be thought to have there, to that fee which had belonged to Biorgolf their father. Thorolf answereth as thus: “That was known to me of Bryniolf, and yet better known as to Bard, that they were men of so great manliness that they would sure have dealt out unto you two so much of Biorgolf’s heritage as they wist you had a right to. I was by, when ye raised these same claims with Bard; and so it sounded to me as though he should think there was no true claim there, sith he called you bastard-born”.8

  Harek said that they would bring witness to this, that their mother was dower-boughten, “And yet true it was that we followed not at first this suit with Bryniolf our brother. For there ’twas dealing ’twixt kin and kin; but of Bard we looked to get our due every whit, but it came about that no long dealings might we have with him. But now is this heritage come to men nought of kin with us twain, and we may not now altogether hold our peace over this loss of ours. And yet, it may hap that there shall yet be, as afore, that stress of power, that we get not our right in this suit ’cause of thee: if thou wilt hear no witness, such as we have to put forward, that we be men odal-born”.

  Thorolf answereth then moodily: “So far from me is it to deem you heirship-born, that ’tis said to me that the mother of you two was with violence taken and was had home as spoil of war”.

  After that, they brake off this talk.

  CHAPTER X. OF THOROLF’s FINN-FARING.

  THOROLF made him that winter his journey up into the fell,1 and had with him a great force, not less than ninety men. But before had the wont of it been that the King’s bailiffs had had thirty men, and whiles fewer. He had with him great store of cheaping. He set him speedily a tryst with the Finns and took of them scat2 and had with them a cheaping-fair. All went in kindness betwixt them and in friendly wise, albeit some deal ’twas awe made them willing.

  Thorolf fared wide about the Mark: but when he set his face east toward the fell, he had word that the Kylfings3 were come from the east and fared there a-Finn-cheaping, but some part they fared a-robbing. Thorolf set on the Finns to hold espial of the faring of the Kylfings; but he came after a-seeking for them, and hit upon thirty men of them in one lair and slew all, so as not one came off, and after that he hit upon fifteen together or twenty. In all, they slew nigh a hundred men and took there fee past all telling, and came back about spring-time, their affair thus sped.

  Thorolf fared then to his own place at Sandness and sat there long through the spring. He let make a long-ship, great, and a drake’s head thereto: let dight her like the best: had her along with him from the north. Thorolf swept much into his own net of those takings that then were in Halogaland: had men of his in the herring-fisheries and so too in the cod-fisheries.4 There were seal-takings too enow, and egg-takings. He let flit all that home to him. He had never fewer freedmen at home than a hundred.5 He was an openhanded man and a bountiful and made friends much with the great men, all those men that were in his neighbourhood. He became a mighty man, and laid much thought to his ships’ arraying and his weapons.

  CHAPTER XI. OF THE FARING OF KING HARALD INTO HALOGALAND AND HIS GUESTING WITH THOROLF KVEL-DULFSON.

  HARALD the King fared that summer into Halogaland and there were
made feasts against his coming, both there where were houses of his, and so too did the landed men make feasts and the powerful bonders. Thorolf made ready a feast against the King’s coming and laid out great charges thereon: that was appointed for when the King should come there. Thorolf bade thither a throng of men, and had there the best pick of men that was to choose from. The King had near three hundred men when he came to the feast, but Thorolf had to meet him five hundred men.

  Thorolf had let make ready a great corn-barn that was there, and let lay benches in it, and let drink there: because there was there no hall so great as that that throng of men might all be within it. There were shields withal fastened to the walls all round about inside the house.

  The King sate him in the high seat. But when all was arrayed both withinward and to doorward, then the King gazed about him and turned red, and spake not; and men thought they knew that he was wroth.

  The feast was of the stateliest and all the fare of the best. The King was something unmerry, and was there three nights, as he had meant to be.

  That day when the King should fare away, came Thorolf to him and prayed that they should go down to the strand together. The King did so. There lay afloat by the land there that drake which Thorolf had let build, with her tilts and all her gear. Thorolf gave the King the ship, and prayed that the King should so esteem it (even as it had gone in his own mind), as that he had only for this sake had so great throng of men, that he might do the King honour, and not at all for a matching of strength with him. The King took well with Thorolf’s words, and made himself now blithe and merry. And now many laid good words thereto, saying (as true it was) that the feast was of the honourablest and the parting-gift of the splendidest, and that there was great strength to the King of such-like men. Then parted they with great loving-kindness.