“We will take him back for burial,” said Gunnar. “I will leave another man at the byre.” He glanced at Skeggi. “In fact, I will leave two men.”
Skeggi hung his head. Ketil shouted at him, “You good-for-nothing!” and hit him with a hard backhand. “Get off my land! Don’t let me ever see you again!” He kept hitting him. Skeggi stood, arms at his side, until Ketil finally managed to knock the boy down. Skeggi lay on the ground not even trying to protect himself. Ketil tried to kick him but lost his balance and fell down. No one laughed then but Ketil knew that they would later when they told people what had happened. On his hands and knees, Ketil leaned into Skeggi’s face shouting and cursing until Thorolf walked over.
Thorolf took Skeggi’s arm and pulled him to his feet. “Best you leave now, I think,” he said. Skeggi wiped blood and tears from his face and stumbled off toward the path. Then Thorolf helped Ketil to his feet. “I think this matter is finished,” he said. “What do you say?” he asked Gunnar.
“There is nothing more to be done. I cannot completely blame the boy. My girl was the reason he neglected his duties. So this is done, I think.”
Thorolf turned to Ketil. He was still huffing with rage but nodded and said, “Done.”
“Good,” said Thorolf, “And let us all remember the value of a good neighbor.”
Some men stayed behind to butcher the cow while the others headed home. Colm decided to stop on the way by a hot spring pool that he knew of and clean up. “Come on, Gagarr.” He pulled the dog’s ears. “You did well.”
“So did you,” said Thorolf, “You did very well indeed.” Hallvard smiled at Colm when his grandfather did.
Afterwards, Gunnar and Ketil no longer shared the cattle pasturage. For a time they did not speak, then one day, Ketil offered Gunnar a generous sum of money for his share of the byre and the milk shed. He did not say it was compensation for Brand’s death nor did he apologize for calling Gunnar a thief. Gunnar accepted the money. They were very cool and civil to one another from this time forward but there was no enmity between them.
Although Mikla-Tit calved that winter, she gave no milk and seemed to have dried up completely. Ketil had her slaughtered. He did not wait for a sacrifice.
Arnfrith stayed on with Gunnar’s household, though he never sent her up with the cattle or away from the farmstead again. Her baby was a boy and Gunnar did not expose it. After a few years she and her boy moved into an abandoned house several miles from Gunnar’s steading. She had a few animals and did chores during the busy seasons at different farms. When work was slack it was said she entertained men at her place who brought her gifts or food. When her son was old enough, he got work here and there and eventually got a permanent place on a farm in the south. People there seemed to find him a good worker.
Skeggi left the area entirely. From time to time word came back that had found work somewhere but he never managed to stay on anyplace. The last people heard, he had just lost a place on a farm in the North Fjords. Then there was no more about him, not for a long time.
14. Gunnar’s Gift
People thought well of Colm after the lost cows incident. He had helped out the community and prevented trouble. His farm was doing well and he had acquired some wealth. He was a man-killer. He was treated as an equal by most men and no one ever mentioned his and Gwyneth’s enslavement, at least not to their face.
Shortly after the cows were discovered, Gunnar sent Colm a gift. One of his farmhands, a free man, acted as messenger. Colm brought the man in and called for skyr. He sat the man beside him on the benches and asked after his comfort and needs. He offered beer, which the man accepted. After these amenities were out of the way, Colm accepted Gunnar’s gift.
Colm received a great rolled hanging. Four cloaks had been stitched together down their lengths, then the cloth was embroidered with colored threads. These depicted the voyage of Floki Vilgerdarson searching for the place called Snow Land by those who had found it. He had ravens aboard and, when he thought land might be near, he set one free. If the bird returned then Floki knew that land was still far off. But when a raven did not return but flew straight away, then he knew land was close by. He steered in the direction the raven had flown and came upon the place he sought. But Floki was disappointed in the new land and did not stay. He called it Ice Land and sailed away, though others soon made the voyage and settled the new country. After a time Floki returned to Iceland but he had lost the opportunity of being a great man there.
On the hanging, the sea was deep blue, great strands of wool pulled through the woven cloak in a rolling pattern. Floki’s ships were red and yellow, bright against the blue. A black raven made its way across the water to the brilliant green shores of Iceland. Colored threads had been twisted into decorative strips running along the top and bottom of the scene. It was very pretty to look at and the sort of thing a man could be proud to have on the wall behind him when he sat in the high seat at his own bench.
Gwyneth was hovering nearby and Colm called her over. “Look, Gwyneth, isn’t this fine?”
“Oh, yes! It is wonderful! I wonder, did Gunnar’s wife do this work?”
“She had two slaves do it,” said the farm hand. “It took them almost three weeks.”
This was important information. Now Colm knew approximately how much the gift was worth: it was local and not exotic; it was good craftsmanship that cost five or so woman-weeks of labor plus the value of the cloaks; thus it was valuable but not enormously so. This was a gift that he could accept.
“Well, they did a fine job,” said Gwyneth. “This is a wonderful hanging and we’ll certainly use it on special occasions.” She called one of the serving girls and had her fetch common cloaks to wrap the hanging as dust covers. She tied the cloaks down with her own hands and had the servant girls take it to the big chest where she stored bedding. So the hanging passed from the category of gifts to that of household goods.
Colm saw off the farmhand. “Tell Gunnar I am very pleased with his gift.” The man rode away and Colm stood thinking of what he should do next. It was to be expected that Gunnar would send him a gift after the incident and, if Colm simply accepted it with thanks, everything would be fine. But there was another possibility that came to Colm: he could respond by sending Gunnar a gift of his own.
Colm kept certain items of value in a locked wooden chest. There was silver there, including several large strips of the metal. And there was a fine carved wrist bracelet, far more valuable than the hanging. A chieftain would close a silver bracelet on the arm of a chosen follower. Colm was hesitant to give Gunnar anything like a chieftain’s gift. After all, he was only a freedman. Colm shook his head. He did not want to ape Thorolf’s authority.
There were a few loose precious stones, two of them cracked, and some excellent cloth. These were women’s gifts. Then there were some unique items that had caught Colm’s eye when he looked over traders’ wares. Now Colm picked through them.
There was a pair of fine Irish shoes, good leather, nicely carved and decorated with silver buttons. The shoes were worth somewhat more than the hanging, but not so much as to cause comment. This would be a good gift.
There was a dagger from Andalusia. The blade was thin but very sharp. Colm thought it the best steel he had ever seen. It was a fine knife but it lacked ornamentation and Colm thought Gunnar would not appreciate it. He set it aside.
There was a walrus tusk carved into a likeness of the god Frey when he was overcome by lust for a beautiful young giantess. The god’s eyes bulged from his face and he grasped an enormous erection. Colm smiled at the carving. So would most people; it was meant not as an idol to be revered but as a humorous object. The walrus ivory was valuable and the carving was good but it seemed a slight gift somehow, something one might give a close friend for the sake of seeing him laugh. It was not right for Gunnar.
“I have been considering how to respond to Gunnar’s gift,” Colm said. Gwyneth nodded. She understood these matters. “I think I
must give him a gift in return.”
“Of course. You don’t want to look like a lesser man than Gunnar.”
“No. The question is, do I want to look like more than him.”
Gwyneth attended to her spinning for a while. Then she said, “Perhaps you should speak to Thorolf first.”
“That’s good advice. I’ll ride over there now.”
Thorolf came outside to greet Colm with outstretched palms. Hallvard was right behind him. They ushered Colm inside and gave him food and drink. Thorolf said, “You did everyone a fine service by finding those cows.” Hallvard nodded.
“It was easy enough,” said Colm, “My dog did the hard part.”
“It was smart of you to take him up the mountain then. You did well, Colm.” Thorolf drank some beer, then he looked deep into Colm’s face. “It is important that people live together in peace. If folks are quarrelling then they can’t count on one another in times of trouble. You know, looking at the world around us, we are very small and, compared to all the other people in the world, we are very few. Only if we act together can we prevail.”
Colm nodded. “I see that. I am glad to be part of this community.”
“All right then,” said Thorolf, “And you should be rewarded for your service to it.” He took a heavy ring from his arm, a band of silver, and closed it around Colm’s arm. “I wanted to do this where everyone could see, but since you are here...”
“I am most grateful,” said Colm, “And you must know I will do anything you ask of me. Now I have this, I have been richly rewarded for my dog’s work.”
Thorolf raised an eyebrow, “Gunnar gave you a gift?”
“Yes.” Colm described the hanging. “Now I want to give him something in return.” He hesitated. “Possibly something a little more valuable then the gift he gave me.”
Thorolf nodded. “Quite right, too.”
Colm said, “I wonder what would be appropriate in this situation.”
“Silver,” said Thorolf immediately. “Give the man silver, not coins, mind you, but some silver object.” He gestured at the ring he had closed on Colm’s arm. “Something like that.”
Colm touched the bracelet. “I think something of less weight will be sufficient for Gunnar.”
“Don’t be too cautious here. Bind the man to you! The community is bound together with cords of silver. Let him know he is to follow you.” Thorolf laughed. “You won’t embarrass me.” Colm laughed too, but he determined never to test that statement. “Now,” said Thorolf, “There is another matter of importance I want to discuss with you.”
“All right.” Colm waited in trepidation, wondering what service Thorolf would demand in exchange for the silver arm ring.
“Now that Bjorn is gone I need someone to sit with me at the Logretta. I want you to sit behind me and whisper advice in my ear. Hallvard will sit in front of me and receive my explanation of what is happening.”
Colm was speechless. He nodded and tried to find his voice. “I... I am honored.”
“Well, don’t be so honored that you are silent when you sit with me. You are a man of sense and I value your counsel.” Thorolf leaned forward. “But you must have enough belly to offer it. Speak up!”
“All right!” Colm almost shouted. The three men laughed together and drank beer for a while before Colm rode home.
“How did it go?” Gwyneth sniffed at Colm’s beard. “Well, I see there was beer to be had.”
“Yes,” said Colm, “And other things.” He pointed to the silver arm ring.
“Thorolf gave you that?”
“Yes. He closed it on my arm. And I am to sit on the Logretta with him.”
“Oh.” Gwyneth sat back. “That is... That is...” When she was with Ingveld or other friends she could forget her status as a freedwoman. But at feasts and sacrifices she had to sit far from the center of the women’s table. Now that would be changed. Her eyes filled with tears. “I am so happy.”
“Then I am twice glad,” said Colm, and he began some sweet talk but Gwyneth stopped him.
“Did you get advice on a gift for Gunnar?”
“Yes. Thorolf said to give him silver, but not coins. He said not to be concerned about giving too much, but to make certain I give enough to bind Gunnar to me.”
“Yes,” breathed Gwyneth, “Enough to make him your man.”
“I have a carved silver wrist band from Sweden. Not as much silver by weight as this,” he touched his bracelet, “But very fine all the same. It’s worth quite a bit more than the hanging.”
“It sounds right,” said Gwyneth, “Will you give it to Gunnar in person?”
“Yes, but I will not close it on his wrist. I will hand it to him.”
“All right. I will give you some cloth for his wife as well,”
“This will be an expensive gift.”
“Good,” said Gwyneth, “This is for Geirrid.” Their son would inherit this status.
“Yes,” said Colm, “This is for Geirrid.”
15. Gunnora And Thrain
A man named Thrain took over Thorgils’ farm. He was from the southeast of Iceland. Two years before, a terrible flood caused by a volcanic eruption had wiped out his farm there and also swept away his wife and children. Thrain worked hard and it wasn’t long before Gunnora took notice of him. Gwyneth wasn’t at all surprised but she kept her thoughts to herself.
Soon enough there was talk that Gunnora and Thrain might marry. Although Gunnora had some distant relations in the district, she did not consult with them. She was a widow free to make her own contract with anyone she wished. Most people thought that she had enough sense to decide on these matters for herself and some thought she was capable of driving a very hard bargain, if it came to that.
People gathered at the Summer Sacrifice and Gwyneth, as always, took note of the children. There were the new infants, of course, and the toddlers just off the breast. There were her own son and his friends, just this side of adulthood and courtship. And in between there were a great crowd of children that separated themselves into various age divisions. Egil’s son, Styr, was about six and so was his cousin Thorgils’ son, Ljot. This was the first time that Ljot had been seen in the area since his father was killed. He and Styr knew each other quite well and the two boys were happy to be with each other again.
Gunnora saw them playing together and came closer. Ljot raised his head and Gunnora was struck at seeing Thorgils in his eyes and manner. She watched the boys for a while, then went to speak with the woman who had taken Ljot into her household.
Braga was married to Adals and they lived on the farm near Helgafeld where the witch couple had died. Braga had a son, Frosti, that she had borne as a slave. Frosti Bragason was a little older than Geirrid. Braga also had a daughter by Adals named Freydis. Since she became a freedwoman, Braga had stopped trying to appear simple all the time. Even so, the other women regarded her as less than bright.
Gunnora said, “Braga, it was good of you to take in Thorgils’child.”
Braga shrugged. “One more never overloads the wagon.”
“But sometimes one calls for company,” said Gunnora. “My own child has neither brother nor sister and I don’t know that this will ever change.”
“Well,” said Braga, “From what I hear, that will depend on Thrain.”
“Perhaps,” said Gunnora, “But I think it would be good to have another child now. Suppose I were to offer to take him off your hands, Braga?”
“Well, as to that, he’s a good lad and one that will be of great help to our household as he gets older.”
“If he survives,” said Gunnora, and both women nodded sagely for they knew that many children did not live to adulthood. They died in falls or drowned or contracted disease.
Gunnora said, “I would like to take that child on. Of course, I would compensate you for your loss.”
Now Braga’s ears perked up for she had no wealth of her own and Gunnora was reputed to be rich. “I couldn’t say what woul
d be right in this situation,” she said, but her eyes narrowed with greed.
Gunnora smiled. She mentioned a ring that she had, set with a green stone, a pendant of amber, and a few yards of silk cloth from Greekland. “Of course, if there was money involved, people might say I had bought the boy as a slave, and that isn’t the way it is.”
“No,” said Braga, who was a little disappointed.
“But your husband should benefit, too. I have not decided what to do with Egil’s favorite horse. I was even thinking of offering him for sacrifice.” This horse was a fine stallion and victor in several horse-fights. “The animal might bring in some income for your household. At least, it would allow your husband a good horse to bet on.” Adals loved horse-fighting and was inclined to gamble.
Braga nodded. She had become a little concerned about the steady drain on their finances of Adals’ losses. “Suppose I speak to my husband and see what he says.”
So the two women parted, each knowing that a bargain had been struck. Later, Braga brought Ljot over to Gunnora. “This is your new mother,” she said.
Gunnora asked Styr, “How do you like your new brother?” And Styr said that he was happy to be brother to his friend, Ljot.
Meanwhile, Thrain had caught wind of what was going on and came over. “Aren’t you going to ask my opinion?”
Gunnora said that she didn’t think that necessary.
Thrain said, “Well, if I am to have an extra mouth to feed, I should be consulted.” He looked hard at Ljot. “He seems scrawny to me. I doubt he will grow into much.”
Gunnora saw the future then, as Thrain’s wife. She saw him bullying and tormenting the orphan, Ljot, and making his life miserable. She said, “I don’t see that this concerns you in any way. Ljot will no more be part of your household than I will.”
The Saga of Colm the Slave Page 15
