Egil’s Saga

by E R Eddison

  Biorn said, “Truth alone have I said unto thee, Grim, and thou canst not blame me for that, though I should tell thee no further than thou askedst. And yet, now must go with it what is true, that thou hast heard truly that these redes were not done with the good will of Thorir her brother”.

  Then spake Skallagrim, exceeding wroth, “Why wast thou so bold-faced as come hither to me? or knowest thou not, what friendship was ’twixt me and Thorir?”

  Biorn saith, “I knew it,” saith he, “that ’twixt you was fosterbrotherhood and dear friendship. But for this cause sought I home to thee, that here was I borne aland; and I knew it should nought avail me to seek to escape from thee. It will now be in thy power, what my lot must be; but I look for good hereof, in that I am homeman of thine”.

  And now stood forth Thorolf, son of Skallagrim, and laid many words thereto, and bade his father hold not Biorn guilty in this, sith even so he had taken to Biorn. Many others there laid words thereto. So it came about, that Grim was appeased: said that Thorolf should rule in this: “And take thou to Biorn, if thou wilt, and be good to him even as thou wilt”.

  CHAPTER XXXV. OF THE BIRTH OF ASGERD: AND HOW THOROLF SKALLAGRIMSON WENT WITH BIORN TO NORWAY.

  THORA bare a child that summer, and that was a little maid: she was sprinkled with water and a name given her, and was named Asgerd. Bera found a woman to mind the little maid.

  Biorn was that winter with Skallagrim and all his shipmates. Thorolf made great friends with Biorn, and was ever in company with him.

  But when spring came, it befell upon a day that Thorolf went to talk with his father and asked him this: what rede he would lay down for Biorn, his winter-guest, or what help and overseeing he would afford him. Grim asked Thorolf what he had in mind.

  “That have I in mind,” saith Thorolf, “that Biorn would liefest fare to Norway, if he might be there in peace. Methought that rede might lie i’ the way, father, that thou send men to Norway to bid atonement for Biorn; and Thorir will set great account by word of thine.”

  So well came off Thorolf in setting forth of his case, that Skallagrim was turned by it and found men for faring abroad that summer. These men fared with word-sending and tokens to Thorir Hroaldson and sought atonement betwixt him and Biorn. But straightway when Bryniolf knew of the word-sending, then set he all his mind on this, to bid atonement for Biorn. So came it about then in this matter, that Thorir took atonement for Biorn; because he saw this, that it was so come about that Biorn need not now be afeared for himself.

  Then took Bryniolf on him atonement for Biorn. But Grim’s messengers were for the winter with Thorir, and Biorn was that winter with Skallagrim. But the summer after fared Skallagrim’s messengers back, and when they came back in the autumn then said they these tidings, that Biorn was taken into peace in Norway.

  Biorn was yet a third winter with Skallagrim; but afterward in the spring he made ready for faring away, and that band of men that had thither followed him. But when Biorn was ready for his journey, then said Bera that she will that Asgerd, her fosterdaughter, stay behind; but Biorn and his wife took that offer, and the maid was left behind and brought up at Skallagrim’s. Biorn gave good gifts to them, Grim and Bera.

  Thorolf, the son of Skallagrim, took rede to fare with Biorn, and Skallagrim found him means to the journey. He fared abroad in the summer with Biorn. It sped them well of their journey, and they came in from the main deep at Sogn-sea. Sailed Biorn then into Sogn, and fared thereafter home to his father. Thorolf fared home with him. Bryniolf took to them then in joyful wise.

  Thereafter was word sent to Thorir Hroaldson: Bryniolf and he appointed a meeting betwixt them. There came thither Biorn too to that meeting. He and Thorir made firm then the atonement between them. And now Thorir paid out of hand that fee which Thora owned in his garth; and now took they up, Thorir and Biorn, friendship besides their ties of affinity. Biorn was then at home at Aurland with Bryniolf. Thorolf was there too, in all good esteem with that father and son.

  CHAPTER XXXVI. OF THE KING’S SON ERIC, AND THOROLF SKALLAGRIMSON.

  HARALD the King had for long whiles his seat in Hordaland or Rogaland at those great houses that were his, at Outstone or Ogvaldsness or at Fitiar, at Alrekstead or at Lygra, at Seaham. But that winter, that was now told of, was the King north in the land. But when Biorn and Thorolf had been one winter in Norway and spring came, then made they ready their ship and gathered strength of men thereto: fared in the summer a-viking eastaway, and fared home at autumn and had won them great fee. But when they came home, then heard they that King Harald was then in Rogaland and would sit there through the winter. Then took King Harald to age greatly, but his sons were then much gotten upon their legs. Eric, the son of King Harald, that was called Bloodaxe1 was then in his youthful age. He was at fostering with Thorir Hroaldson the Hersir. The King loved Eric most of all his sons. Thorir was then in the greatest loving-kindness with the King.

  Biorn and Thorolf and their folk fared first to Aurland when they came home, and thereafter began they their journey north into the Firths to see Thorir the Hersir at his house. They had a caravel2 that twelve men or thirteen rowed of each side of, and they had near thirty men. That ship had they gotten in the summer a-viking: she was much painted down to the water-line, and was of the fairest. But when they came to Thorir’s, found they there good welcome and tarried there awhile; but the ship floated under her tilt before the farmstead.

  That was on a day that those two, Thorolf and Biorn, went down to the ship. They saw that Eric, the King’s son, was there: went at whiles out aboard the ship, whiles up aland: stood then and looked upon the ship.

  Then spake Biorn to Thorolf: “Much wondereth the King’s son at the ship; and bid thou him receive it of thee. For I wot that that shall be to us a great help with the King, if Eric is our upholder. I have heard that said, that the King hath a heavy mind towards thee, for thy father’s sake”.

  Thorolf said that that would be a good rede. Therewith went they down to the ship, and Thorolf spake: “Narrowly look’st thou on the ship, King’s son: or how seemeth she to thee?”

  “Well,” saith he. “’Tis the fairest of ships,” saith he.

  “Then will I give thee”, said Thorolf, “the ship, if thou wilt receive her.”

  “Receive her I will,” saith Eric. “And it will seem to thee but a little reward, though I pledge thee my friendship. But there is hope yet in that, if I live long enough.”

  Thorolf saith that that reward seemed to him much more worth than the ship. Thereafter they parted. But from that time forth was the King’s son all merry with Thorolf and his.

  Those two, Biorn and Thorolf, come to talk with Thorir, what he thinketh, whether that be true indeed, that the King hath a heavy mind towards Thorolf. Thorir hideth it not, that he had heard that. “Then would I this,” said Biorn, “that thou fare to see the King and set forth Thorolf’s case before him; because one fate shall go over us two, Thorolf and me. So did he unto me then when I was in Iceland.”

  So came it about, that Thorir promised to fare to the King, and bade them try if Eric, the King’s son, would fare with him; but when Thorolf and Biorn came to talk of this with Eric, then promised he to take a hand in the business with his father.

  So now fared they, Thorolf and Biorn, their ways into Sogn; but Thorir and Eric, the King’s son, manned that caravel, the new-given, and fared south to meet the King, and fell in with him in Hordaland. He took to them joyfully. Tarried they there awhile and looked for a chance to come upon the King when he was in good mood: bare then up that matter before the King: said that that man was thither come who was named Thorolf, son of Skallagrim: “This would we bid of thee, King, that thou be mindful of this, that kinsmen of his have done well to thee; and let him not have to pay for that which his father did, albeit it was in avenging of his brother”.

  Thorir talked of this in gentle wise, but the King answered somewhat short: said that they had stood in much untowardness because of
Kveldulf and his sons, and deemed this was to be looked for, that that Thorolf should be of like frame of mind with his kinsfolk: “They be all of them”, said he, “overweening men, so that they know no measure, and care not a jot whom they have to deal with”.

  Therewith took Eric up the word: said that Thorolf had made friends with him and given him a noble gift, that ship which they had there: “I have pledged him my friendship full and perfect. Few will come forward to make friends with me, if this shall nought avail. Thou wilt not let that be so, father, with that man who hath been first to do this, to give me a costly treasure”.

  So it came about, that the King promised them this before he ended, that Thorolf should be in peace as for him: “But I will not”, quoth he, “that he come and see me. But thou mayest make him, Eric, as dear to thee as thou wilt, ay, or more of those kinsmen; but one of two ways will it be, either that they will show themselves gentler unto thee than unto me they have shown them, or thou wilt repent thee of this boon, and of this too, that thou lettest them long be with thee”.

  After this fared they, Eric Bloodaxe and Thorir, home into the Firths: thereafter sent word and let say to Thorolf how it had turned out, their errand unto the King. Thorolf and Biorn were that winter with Bryniolf: but many summers3 lay they a-viking, and in winters they were with Bryniolf, and at whiles with Thorir.

  CHAPTER XXXVII. ERIC BLOODAXE IN BIARMALAND.

  ERIC BLOODAXE now took power. He had the overseeing of Hordaland and about the Firths. Then took he and had with him bodyguardmen.

  And one spring made ready Eric Bloodaxe for faring into Biarmaland,1 and picked carefully his folk for that journey. Thorolf betook him to that journey with Eric, and was in the stem of his ship and bare his banner. Thorolf was then bigger and stronger than every man else; and like, in that, to his father.

  In that journey was much to tell of. Eric had a great battle in Biarmaland beside the Dwina; there gat Eric the victory, as it saith in his songs; and in that journey gat he to wife Gunnhild,2 daughter of Ozur Toti, and had her home with him. Gunnhild was of all women the comeliest and the wisest and much learned in wizardry: great loving-kindness was betwixt those two, Thorolf and Gunnhild. Thorolf was then ever a-winters with Eric, but in the summers a-viking.

  That befell then next to tell of, that Thora, Biorn’s wife, took a sickness and died. And a little after that, Biorn gat him another wife; she was named Alof, daughter of Erling the Wealthy out of Oster. They had a daughter, who was named Gunnhild.

  There was a man named Thorgeir Thornfoot. He dwelt in Hordaland in Fenhring, at a place named Ask. He had three sons: one was named Hadd, the second Bergonund,3 the third was named Atli the Short. Bergonund was bigger and stronger than all men else, and was a stubborn man and ill to deal with. Atli the Short was a man not tall but burly-built and was strong and powerful. Thorgeir was a man exceeding wealthy of fee; he was a great man for blood-sacrifices and learned in wizardry. Hadd lay out a-viking and was seldom at home.

  CHAPTER XXXVIII. THOROLF COMETH HOME TO ICELAND.

  THOROLF SKALLAGRIMSON made ready one summer for a cheaping-voyage: was minded then (and so too he did) to fare to Iceland and see his father. He had then been long abroad. He had then fee past all telling and many costly treasures.

  But when he was ready for his journey, then fared he to see Eric the King: and when they parted the King put into Thorolf’s hand an axe that he said he would give to Skallagrim. The axe was snag-horned and great and dight with gold and the shaft mounted with silver, and that was the most precious of treasures.

  Thorolf fared on his journey as soon as he was ready, and it sped him well and he came with his ship into Burgfirth and fared straightway quickly home to his father: that was a great joyful meeting when they met. And now fared Skallagrim to the ship for Thorolf’s belongings: let lay up the ship: but Thorolf fared home to Burg with eleven men. But when he was come home, bare he unto Skallagrim the greetings of King Eric, and brought him that axe that the King had sent him. Skallagrim took the axe, held it up and looked at it awhile, and spake nought about it: fastened it up near his bed.

  That was in the autumn, on a day at Burg, that Skallagrim let drive home a great many oxen that he was minded to hew. He let lead two oxen together under the house-wall, and lead them with their heads each across other. He took a great slab of stone and shot it down under their necks. And now went he to it with the axe, King’s-loom, and hewed the oxen both at a stroke, so that it took the heads off both of them: but the axe crashed down on the stone, so that the mouth burst all out and ripped up through the tempered steel. Skallagrim looked at the edge, and spake nought about it: therewith went in into the firehall, and climbed then up on to the wainscot-post and shot the axe up above the door-beam. There it lay through the winter.

  But in the-spring, Thorolf gave out that he meant to fare abroad that summer. Skallagrim letted him from this: said that “‘Good it is to drive home with sound waggon.’ Thou hast”, said he, “fared an honourable journey and a great one, but that is a saying, ‘many wendings, divers endings’. Take thou now here such share of fee as thou thinkest shall be enough to make thee a man of substance”.

  Thorolf said that he will yet fare one more journey, “And I have a needful errand1 for my faring. But when I come back the second time, I will here take up my set abode. But Asgerd thy fosterdaughter shall fare abroad with me to see her father: that was his bidding to me when I fared from the east”.

  Skallagrim said he might have his way, “But so sayeth my mind hereof: if we two part now, we shall not meet together afterwards”.2

  And now fared Thorolf to his ship and made ready that. But when he was all ready, they brought the ship out to Digraness, and lay there for the breeze. Fared then Asgerd to the ship with him; but before Thorolf fared from Burg, then went Skallagrim and took the axe down from the door-beam, the King’s gift, and went out with it. By then was the shaft black with smoke, and the axe gone to rust. Skallagrim looked at the edge of the axe; then he gave the axe to Thorolf. Skallagrim quoth a stave:3

  Many a flaw there lieth

  (I’ve a soft switch’s care-bed:

  An ill cheat’s in the axe-blade,)

  I’ the edge of the raging wound-wolf.

  With’s smoke-grim’d shaft let muck-horn

  Hie back to him that gave it.

  No need t’ have sent it hither:

  That was a prince’s giving.

  CHAPTER XXXIX. THORUNN SKALLAGRIM’S DAUGHTER GIVEN IN MARRIAGE.

  THAT befell to tell of, while Thorolf had been in the outlands and Skallagrim dwelt at Burg, that upon a summer came a cheaping-ship from Norway into Burgfirth. There was then, far and wide, berths for cheaping-ships in the river or in the mouths of brooks or in sykes. There was a man named Ketil, and was called Ketil Blund, who owned that ship: he was a Norseman, of great kin and wealthy. Geir was his son named, who then was of full age and was ashipboard with him. Ketil was minded to find himself a dwelling-place in Iceland. He came late in the summer.

  Skallagrim knew every deal about him. Skallagrim bade him to lodge with him with all his ship’s company. Ketil took that gladly, and he was through the winter with Skallagrim.

  That winter Geir, the son of Ketil, bade to wife Thorunn, daughter of Skallagrim, and that was agreed upon. Geir gat Thorunn to wife, and afterward in the spring Skallagrim showed Ketil land up from the land of Oleif beside Whitewater from Flokadalewater’s-oyce, and as far as Reekdalewater’s-oyce, and all that tongue that was there in the midst, up to Raudsgill, and all Flokadale up from the brents.

  Ketil dwelt at Thrandsholt, and Geir at Geirslithe: he had another dwelling in Reekdale,1 at Upper Reeks: he was called Geir the Wealthy. His sons were Blund-Ketil2 and Thorgeir Blund; the third was Thorodd Hrisa-Blund who was first to dwell at the Bushes.

  CHAPTER XL. OF EGIL’S CHILDHOOD AND UPBRINGING.

  SKALLAGRIM took great game in tests of strength and plays. Of that he thought it good to talk. Ball-play
s1 were then the fashion. There was there in the countryside good choice of strong men in that time, and yet was there none to match with Skallagrim. He was come then somewhat into the decline of years.

  Thord was the name of Grants son at Granistead, and he was the hopefullest of men and was in his youthful age. He was very fond of Egil Skallagrimson.

  Egil was much a-wrastling. He was very masterful and angry tempered, and all had learnt that, to learn their sons to give way before Egil.

  The ball-play was set in Whitewater-meads with great throng of men in the early winter. Men sought thither to it from far and wide about the neighbourhood: many of Skallagrim’s homemen fared thither to the play: Thord Granison was mainly at the head of them. Egil bade Thord let him fare with him to the play: he was then in his seventh winter. Thord humoured him in this, and let him ride on his horse’s back behind him. But when they came to the play-meeting, then were men ordered there for the play. There was come too a mort of small boys, and they made themselves another play. For that too, was order taken. Egil was allotted to play with that boy who was named Grim, the son of Hegg of Heggstead. Grim was eleven winters old, or ten, and strong for his years.

  But when they fell to playing together, then was Egil overmatched for strength. Grim used his vantage all he might: then Egil became wroth, and heaved up the bat and smote Grim; but Grim laid hands on him and drave him down, a great fall, and played somewhat ill with him, and said he would lame him if he would not behave himself. But when Egil was gotten on his feet again, then went he out of the play, but the boys whooped at him.

  Egil went to find Thord Granison, and said to him what had been done. Thord spake: “I shall fare with thee, and we two shall have revenge on him”.