The Sagas of the Icelanders (52 page)

14
A man named Ingjald lived on the Saudeyjar Islands in Breidafjord. He was called the Godi of Saudeyjar. He was a wealthy man who liked to throw his weight around. His brother Hall was a big and capable man. He lacked wealth, though, and few men put much store by him. The brothers seldom agreed; Ingjald felt that Hall hardly conducted himself in the manner of worthy men, while Hall felt that Ingjald failed to do what he could to improve his lot.

On the Bjarneyjar Islands in the bay of Breidafjord was a fishing camp. This is a cluster of islands rich in supplies of food. People often went there for provisions and visited in large numbers every year. Wise men said it was important to maintain harmony in fishing camps, and it was said that catches would be poorer if there was dissension, advice which was heeded by most people.

Ingjald’s brother, Hall, is said to have gone to the islands one summer to fish. He hired on a boat with a man called Thorolf. He was from Breidafjord and had barely a permanent home or any property, although he was a sturdy fellow. Hall stayed there some time and behaved as if he were superior to most of the others. One evening Hall and Thorolf returned to shore and set about dividing the day’s catch. Hall intended both to divide the catch into two portions and then choose his portion first, because he felt himself superior. Not mincing his words, Thorolf refused to take less than his share. After a few angry exchanges, with each of them becoming more adamant, Hall picked up a gaff lying nearby and attempted to strike Thorolf in the head with it. At this point other people intervened and separated them, restraining Hall who struggled furiously but to no avail, at least for the moment. Their catch was left undivided and when Thorolf left the island that evening, Hall took the entire catch for himself, being the more influential of the two. Hall then found someone to replace Thorolf and continued fishing as before.

Thorolf was far from satisfied with this turn of events and felt he had been shamefully treated in the exchange. He continued to work in the islands, and awaited the chance to even the score. Hall paid no heed to him, thinking that no one would dare to raise a hand against him there on his home territory. One day Hall was out fishing in his boat with two others. The fish had been biting well, and the companions were in a cheerful frame of mind as they rowed home in the evening. Thorolf learned of Hall’s movements that day and waited down by the landing in the evening as Hall and his companions came in to land. Hall rowed from the bow and jumped out as the ship approached shore to draw it up on the beach. Thorolf was close by and as Hall came ashore he swung at him. The blow struck Hall on the neck, close to the shoulder, and sent his head flying. Thorolf then turned to run away but Hall’s companions fell upon him. News of Hall’s killing spread throughout the islands and was considered a major event, as the man came from a prominent family, although he himself had hardly been luck’s favourite.

Following this Thorolf sought to get away from the islands, as he could
expect no one there to offer him protection after such a deed. Nor did he have any kinsmen from whom he could expect support, while there were powerful men close at hand who were certain to wait for the chance to take his life, among them Hall’s brother Ingjald the Godi of Saudeyjar.

Thorolf managed to get passage to the mainland. He kept himself hidden as much as possible and nothing is said of his movements until he arrived at Goddastadir one evening. Vigdis, Thord Goddi’s wife, was distantly related to Thorolf, and this was the reason for his visit to the farm. Thorolf had already heard something of the situation there, and that Vigdis was made of sterner stuff than her husband, Thord. He approached Vigdis directly upon arriving, told her of his plight and asked for her protection.

Vigdis answered his request, saying: ‘We are, of course, related, and in my opinion you have done nothing to lower my opinion of you. But it does look like anyone who offers you protection does so at the risk of his own life and property, because such powerful men will be on your trail. My husband Thord,’ she said, ‘is no hero, and any help we women can offer is generally of little protection against such odds. All the same, I don’t want to desert you completely, since you did come here for protection.’

Vigdis then led him to a storage shed and told him to wait there until she returned. She locked the shed, then went to Thord and said, ‘A man by the name of Thorolf has come to stay with us. He is a distant relation of mine, and he needs to stay for some time, if you agree to it.’

Thord said he did not care to have anyone stay there. The fellow might rest until the following day, if he was not in any trouble, but if such was the case he must be off straight away.

Vigdis answered, ‘I have already promised him lodging and do not intend to go back on my word, despite the fact that he is a man of few friends.’

She then told Thord of the killing of Hall and that it was Thorolf, who now sought shelter with them, who had slain him.

This news upset Thord greatly, and he said he knew for certain that Ingjald would make him pay a high price for the accommodation that was now offered Thorolf, ‘since we have allowed the door to shut behind this man’.

Vigdis answered: ‘Ingjald won’t be making you pay for a single night’s accommodation, for he’ll be staying here all winter.’

Thord spoke: ‘If you do this you put me in the utmost danger, and I am against letting such a troublemaker stay here.’

All the same, Thorolf spent the winter there.

Ingjald, who was to seek redress for his brother’s killing, learned of it. He made ready an excursion into the valley late in the winter and set afloat a ferry he owned. They were a party of twelve. They sailed eastward under a strong north-westerly wind and made land at the mouth of the Laxa river. They drew the ferry ashore and headed for Goddastadir the same evening. Their arrival scarcely came as a surprise, but they were well received.

Ingjald drew Thord aside and told him of his reason for coming, that he had heard that Thorolf, his brother’s killer, was there. Thord said that there was no truth to this.

Ingjald told him there was no point denying it – ‘We’ll make a deal, you hand the man over to me without causing me any trouble, and I have here three marks of silver which will be yours. I’ll also forgive you any offence you have given me in sheltering Thorolf.’

Thord was tempted by the sight of the silver, as well as the chance to get off without paying for an offence which he had feared would cost him money.

Thord then spoke: ‘I intend to keep our words a secret from the others, but you have yourself a bargain.’

They went to sleep until the night was almost at an end and daybreak only a short while off.

15
When Ingjald and his men rose up and got dressed, Vigdis asked Thord what he and Ingjald had been talking of the previous evening.

He said they had talked of many things, and had agreed that a search of the farm would be made and their part in the matter would be considered closed if Thorolf were nowhere to be found; ‘I had Asgaut, my slave, take him away.’

Vigdis said she had no use for lies, nor for having Ingjald snooping around her household, but told him to have it his own way.

Ingjald made his search and failed to find his man. While this was going on Asgaut returned, and Vigdis asked him where he had left Thorolf.

Asgaut answered: ‘I took him to our sheep sheds, as Thord told me to do.’

Vigdis spoke: ‘Is there any place more directly in Ingjald’s path on the way to his boat? There’s little doubt that they planned this together yesterday evening. I want you to go there at once and take him away as quickly as possible. Take him to Saudafell, to Thorolf Red-nose. And if you do as I bid you, you will be rewarded. I will give you your freedom and the wealth you need to go wherever you wish.’

Asgaut agreed to this, went back to the sheep shed and found Thorolf. He told him to come quickly. Meanwhile Ingjald left Goddastadir, intending to collect his silver’s worth. As they rode down from the farm they saw two men making their way towards them, Asgaut and Thorolf. It was still early in the morning and not yet fully light.

Asgaut and Thorolf were trapped, with Ingjald on the one side and the Laxa river on the other. The river was very high, with stretches of ice along both banks and a torrent of open water in the middle, making it treacherous to cross.

Thorolf spoke to Asgaut: ‘It looks to me as if we have two choices. We can wait for them here on the bank and defend ourselves as long as our courage and strength last; more likely than not Ingjald and his men will put a quick end to us. Or we can take our chances with the river, a choice which is not without danger either.’

Asgaut told him to decide, and said he would not desert him ‘whichever course you choose’.

Thorolf answered: ‘We’ll try the river.’

This they did, first ridding themselves of excess weight. They then made their way over the stretch of ice along the shore and set out to swim across the water. As they were both strong men, and fate intended them to live for some time yet, they managed to cross the river and climb up on the ice on the other side.

No sooner had they crossed the river than Ingjald and his men arrived at the bank opposite them.

Ingjald spoke to his men: ‘What will we do now? Try the river or not?’

They told him to decide and said they would abide by his decision, but the river looked impassable to them.

Ingjald agreed – ‘We won’t attempt to cross.’

Not until Thorolf and Asgaut saw that Ingjald and his men did not attempt to cross the river did they stop to wring the water out of their clothes. They then made ready for their journey and, after walking all that day, arrived at Saudafell in the evening. They were received well, for everyone was put up at Saudafell. Asgaut went to Thorolf Red-nose the same evening and told him the whole story of their journey and that Thorolf’s kinswoman, Vigdis, had sent his travelling companion to Thorolf for safe-keeping. He
told him everything of Thord Goddi’s dealings and produced the tokens which Vigdis had sent Thorolf.

Thorolf answered: ‘These tokens are not to be mistaken, and I will certainly look after the man at her request. I think her conduct in this affair does great credit to Vigdis. It’s all the more shame that a woman like her should be so poorly married. Stay here with us, Asgaut, as long as you wish.’

Asgaut said he did not intend to stay long. Thorolf then welcomed his namesake, who became one of his followers, and parted with Asgaut on good terms. Asgaut then headed homeward.

As for Ingjald, he turned back towards Goddastadir after leaving Thorolf. By that time men from the neighbouring farms, to whom Vigdis had sent word, had arrived and there were at least twenty men there. When Ingjald and his men returned to the farm, he summoned Thord and spoke to him.

‘You have treated me badly, Thord,’ he said, ‘for I know it was you who helped this man escape.’

Thord replied that there was no truth in his accusations, and the whole scheme between Ingjald and Thord was revealed. Ingjald demanded the return of the silver which he had given Thord. Vigdis stood nearby, listening to their words, and said they had both got what they deserved.

She told Thord not to keep the money. ‘For you, Thord,’ she said, ‘have come by it dishonourably.’

Thord replied that she obviously intended to have her way. Vigdis then went indoors and opened a chest of Thord’s, where she found a heavy purse of money. She took the purse and went out, came up to Ingjald and told him to take his money. Ingjald’s face brightened at the sight and he reached his hand out to take the purse. Vigdis swung the purse up into his face, striking him on the nose which bled so that drops of blood fell to the ground. While doing so she heaped abuse on him, adding that he would never again see this money, and told him to be off. Ingjald decided he had little choice but to leave as quickly as possible, and did so, hardly slowing his pace until he was at home once more. He was very displeased at the outcome of his journey.

16
Soon Asgaut returned home. Vigdis gave him a hearty welcome and asked him whether they had been well received at Saudafell. He gave her a glowing report and told her of Thorolf’s concluding words. She was highly pleased at this.

‘You, Asgaut,’ she said, ‘have carried out your task both loyally and well. Your reward will not be long in coming. I give you your freedom, so that from this day onward you may call yourself a free man. You will take the money which Thord accepted for the head of Thorolf, my kinsman; it will be better off in your hands.’

Asgaut praised her and thanked her for this gift.

The following summer Asgaut took passage on a ship which put out to sea from Dagverdarnes. They had a brief, stormy sailing and made land in Norway. Asgaut then travelled to Denmark and settled there and was considered a capable and decent fellow; his story ends here.

After the scheme between Thord Goddi and Ingjald the Godi of Saudeyjar to bring about the death of Thorolf, Vigdis’s kinsman, Vigdis showed open enmity to Thord. She announced she was divorcing him and went to stay with her kinsmen, to whom she told the story. Thord Bellower, who was their leader, was not pleased about it, but no action was taken. Vigdis had taken nothing but her own belongings with her from Goddastadir. Her relatives at Hvamm made it known that they claimed half of the property in Thord Goddi’s possession. He was very upset by this news and rode off at once to Hoskuld to tell him of his dilemma.

Hoskuld said, ‘You’ve been stricken with fear before, even when you weren’t pitted against such superior forces.’

Thord then offered Hoskuld money for his support and said he would not be petty about the payment.

Hoskuld said, ‘We all know you can never stand by and look on happily while anyone else enjoys your wealth.’

Thord answered: ‘You won’t have to worry about that in this case, because I will gladly place you in charge of all my wealth. What’s more, I’m offering to foster your son, Olaf, and make him my sole heir after my death, as I have no heirs in this country and I would rather the wealth went to him than for Vigdis’s kinsmen to get their paws on it.’

Hoskuld agreed to this and they settled the agreement. Melkorka was not pleased, as she felt the fosterage was far from worthy enough. Hoskuld said she failed to see its advantages:

‘Thord is an elderly man and has no children. All his wealth will go to Olaf; meanwhile, you can see the boy whenever you wish.’

After this Thord took over the raising of Olaf, who was then seven years old, and treated the boy with great affection. When news of this spread to those men who had unfinished business with Thord Goddi, they saw that it would make settling scores considerably more difficult.

Hoskuld sent Thord Bellower generous gifts and asked him not to take offence at the developments. Legally, he said, they had no right to demand payment on Vigdis’s behalf, as Vigdis had not declared any grounds for her divorce which had been proven to be true and thus justified her departure.

‘One can hardly blame Thord for trying to seek a way to rid himself of a man who threatened to cost him dearly and whose guilt surrounded him like juniper bushes around a rowan tree.’

When Hoskuld’s message was conveyed to Thord Bellower, along with substantial gifts of money, he let himself be appeased. Any property Hoskuld was in charge of was well looked after, he said. He accepted the gifts and no action was taken, although relations were somewhat cooler between them after that.

Olaf grew up with Thord Goddi and turned into a big, strong man. He was so handsome that no man could be found to equal him. At the age of only twelve he rode to the Althing, and people coming from other districts were impressed at how fine a figure he cut. Olaf dressed well and bore fine weapons, all of which set him apart from other men. Thord Goddi’s situation was much better after Olaf became his foster-son. Hoskuld gave his son the nickname Peacock. The name stuck and he was known by it from then on.