Njal's Saga (40 page)

Mord named witnesses – ‘to witness that I call on these nine neighbours to the scene of the action to ride to the Althing and to form a panel of neighbours to determine whether Flosi Thordarson wounded Helgi Njalsson with a brain wound or internal wound or marrow wound which proved to be a fatal wound, and Helgi died of it at the place where Flosi Thordarson ran at Helgi Njalsson in a punishable assault. I call on you for all the findings which the law requires you to make and which I ask you to make before the court and which are relevant to this case. I call on you with a lawful summons in your own hearing. I call on you in the case turned over to me by Thorgeir Thorisson.'

Then Mord said, ‘Now the proceedings have been started, as you asked, and I want to ask you, Thorgeir, to come to me when you ride to the Thing, and then we'll ride together with our two groups of men and stay close together. My men will be ready by the beginning of the Thing, and I will be loyal to you in all matters.'

They were satisfied with all this and bound themselves by oaths not to abandon each other until Kari allowed it, and to risk their lives one for the other. Then they parted in friendship and arranged to meet at the Thing.

*

Thorgeir then rode back east, and Kari rode west over the rivers until he reached Asgrim at Tunga, who gave him a very warm welcome. Kari told Asgrim all about Gizur the White's plan and the start of the case.

‘I expected him to do well,' said Asgrim, ‘and he has shown it once again. And what do you hear about Flosi, over in the east?'

Kari answered, ‘He went all the way to Vopnafjord, and almost all the chieftains there have promised to ride to the Althing and support him. They're also counting on help from the men of Reykjadal, Ljosavatn and Oxarfjord.'

They talked about this at length. And now it was close to the time for the Althing.

Thorhall Asgrimsson had such an infection on his leg that above the ankle it was as swollen and as thick as a woman's thigh, and he could not walk without a staff. He was large in build and mighty in strength, with dark hair and dark skin, controlled in his speech and yet hot-tempered. He was one of the three greatest lawyers in Iceland.

Now it was time to leave home for the ride to the Thing.

Asgrim spoke to Kari: ‘Ride so that you're there at the beginning of the Thing and cover our booths, and my son Thorhall will go with you, for I know you will show him great kindness and concern with his injured foot. We have the greatest need for his help at this Thing. Twenty other men will ride with you.'

After that they prepared for their journey and then rode to the Thing and covered their booths and made everything ready.

Flosi rode from the east, along with the hundred men who had been with him at the burning. They rode until they came to Fljotshlid. The Sigfussons spent the day looking after their farms, and in the evening they rode west across the Thjorsa river and slept there that night. Early the next morning they took their horses and rode on.

Flosi said to his men, ‘Now let's ride to Asgrim at Tunga and make him see our ill will.'

They said that that would be good, and rode until they were a short distance from Tunga.

Asgrim was standing outside, and some of his men were with him; they saw the men as soon as they came in view.

Asgrim's men said, ‘That must be Thorgeir Skorargeir.'

Asgrim spoke: ‘I don't think so at all; these men are coming with laughter and merriment, but the kinsmen of Njal, men like Thorgeir, will never laugh until Njal is avenged. My guess is quite different, and you may find it unlikely – I think it's Flosi and the other burners, and that they are planning to make us see their ill will. Let's all go inside.'

They did so. Asgrim had the house swept, hangings put up, the tables set and food brought out. He set up extra seats facing the benches the whole length of the main room.

Flosi rode into the hayfield and told his men to dismount and go inside. They did this. Flosi and his men came into the room. Asgrim was sitting on the raised floor. Flosi looked at the benches and saw that every need had been prepared for.

Asgrim did not greet them, but said to Flosi, ‘The tables are set so that food is at hand for those who need it.'

Flosi and all his men sat at the tables and placed their weapons against the walls. Those who found no place on the benches sat on the seats, and four men stood with their weapons in front of Flosi's seat while they were eating. Asgrim kept quiet during the meal but was as red as blood to look at. When they had finished eating, some of the women cleared the tables, and others brought water-basins for washing. Flosi was in no more of a hurry than if he had been at home.

A wood-axe was lying in a corner of the raised floor. Asgrim grabbed it with both hands and leaped up to the edge of the floor and swung at Flosi's head. Glum Hildisson happened to see what was coming, jumped up at once and grabbed the axe above Asgrim's grip and turned the blade towards him – Glum was a powerful man. Many others jumped up and were ready to rush at Asgrim. Flosi said that no one should harm him – ‘for we pushed him too far, and he only did what he had to do, and showed that he is a very bold man.'

Flosi said to Asgrim, ‘We'll part for now, safe and sound, and meet again at the Thing to deal with this whole matter.'

‘So we will,' said Asgrim, ‘and I only hope that by the time the Thing is over you'll be brought down a peg.'

Flosi made no answer. They went out and mounted their horses and rode away. They rode until they reached Laugarvatn and spent the night there. In the morning they rode on to Beitivellir
¹
and stopped to rest. Many bands of men joined them there, Hall of Sida and all the men from the East Fjords. Flosi welcomed them warmly and told them of his journey and his dealings with Asgrim. Many praised Flosi and said he had acted bravely.

Hall spoke: ‘I don't see it that way, for I think this was a very foolish move. They'll remember their grief even without fresh reminders, and men who press others so hard are only creating trouble for themselves.'

It was clear that Hall thought they had gone too far.

They all rode away from there until they reached the Upper Fields of the Thing, and there they drew their forces up and then rode down to the Thing. Flosi had arranged for the Byrgi booth to be covered
²
before he rode to the Thing, and the men from the East Fjords rode to their booths.

To turn now to Thorgeir Skorargeir: he rode from the east with a large force. His brothers, Thorleif Crow and Thorgrim the Tall, were with him. They rode until they came to Mord Valgardsson at Hof and waited there until he was ready. Mord had gathered every man who could bear arms, and the brothers found him to be most resolute in every way.

They rode west until they crossed the rivers and then waited for Hjalti Skeggjason. He came when they had been waiting only a short time. They welcomed him warmly and then all rode together until they reached Reykir in Biskupstunga, and there they waited for Asgrim; he joined them there.

Then they rode west across the Bruara river, and Asgrim told them everything that had happened between him and Flosi.

Thorgeir said, ‘I would like us to try out their manliness before this Thing is over.'

Then they rode until they reached Beitivellir. Gizur the White
arrived there with a very large force. They had a long talk together. Then they rode to the Upper Fields and drew up all their forces and rode to the Thing. Flosi and all his men rushed for their weapons, and they were on the verge of fighting, but Asgrim and his band did not react and rode straight to their booths. The rest of the day was quiet, and there was no fighting between them.

Chieftains had come from all quarters of the land, and there had never been such a crowded Thing as far back as men could remember.

There was a man named Eyjolf; he was the son of Bolverk, the son of Eyjolf the Grey of Otradal, the son of Thord Bellower, the son of Olaf Feilan. The mother of Eyjolf the Grey was Hrodny, the daughter of Skeggi from Midfjord, the son of Skin-Bjorn, the son of Skutad-Skeggi. Eyjolf was held in great respect and was so clever in the law that he was one of the three greatest lawyers in Iceland.
¹
He was an unusually handsome man, big and strong and with every promise of becoming a good chieftain. He was fond of money, like the rest of his family.

Flosi went one day to the booth of Bjarni Brodd-Helgason. Bjarni welcomed him with open arms, and Flosi sat down beside him. They talked about many things.

Flosi said, ‘What course shall we take now?'

Bjarni answered, ‘It's a tight spot to get out of, but I think the best course is for you to find more support, for they're gathering men against you. I also want to ask, Flosi, whether you have any distinguished lawyer on your side, for you have two choices: one is to ask for a peaceful settlement, and this would be very good; the other is to defend your side legally – if there is a possible defence – though this may seem audacious. I think you must take this choice, because you have acted aggressively so far, and it would not do for you to falter now'

Flosi said, ‘Since you asked about lawyers, I can tell you at once that there is none in our band, and I can't think of any in the East Fjords apart from your kinsman Thorkel Geitisson.'

Bjarni spoke: ‘We mustn't consider him; he's wise in the law, but he's also very cautious, and no one ought to count on him as a shield. But he'll stand by you as well as the best, for he's a very bold man. I can tell you that death will come to the man who pleads the defence for the burning, and I don't want that for my kinsman Thorkel. We'll have to look elsewhere.'

Flosi said he had no idea who the best lawyers were.

Bjarni spoke: ‘There's a man named Eyjolf Bolverksson. He's the best lawyer in the West Fjords Quarter, and he will have to be paid a lot of money to take the case, but we won't be put off by that. Also, we must take our weapons to all legal proceedings and be extremely watchful, but never fight unless we have to defend ourselves. I'll go with you now to ask for help, for we can't afford to sit quiet'

They left the booth and went to the men from Oxarfjord. Bjarni spoke with Lyting and Blaeing and Hroi Arnsteinsson, and he soon got what he wanted from them.

Then they went to see Kol, the son of Killer-Skuta, and Eyvind Thorkelsson, the son of Askel the Godi, and asked them for help. They were reluctant for a long time, but finally they accepted three marks of silver and joined their cause.

Then they went to the booth of the men from Ljosavatn and stayed there for some time. Flosi asked the Ljosavatn men for help, but they were difficult and hard to persuade.

Then Flosi spoke to them in great anger: ‘You're a bad lot. You're pushy and unfair in your own district, but you won't help men at the Thing even when they need you. You'll be looked on with scorn and you'll be treated with reproach at the Thing if you ignore the shameful treatment which Skarphedin dealt to you Ljosavatn men.'
²

Flosi talked to them a second time, privately, and offered them money for their support and beguiled them with flattery Finally they promised their support and became so resolute that they said they would even fight for Flosi, if need be.

Bjarni said to Flosi, ‘Well done! You're a great chieftain and a brave, firm man, and you don't let anything stop you.'

Then they left and went west across the Oxara river to the Hlad booth. They saw that many men were standing outside the booth. There was one who had a scarlet cloak over his shoulders, a gold band around his head and a silver inlaid axe in his hand.

Bjarni said, ‘This is good luck – here's Eyjolf Bolverksson.'

They went up to Eyjolf and greeted him. Eyjolf recognized Bjarni at once and welcomed him. Bjarni took Eyjolf by the arm and led him up to the Almannagja gorge. He told Flosi and his men to follow behind. Eyjolf 's men went along with him. They were told to stay up on the edge of the gorge and keep watch from there.

The others went on until they came to a path which led down from the upper edge of the gorge. Flosi said this would be a good place to sit and have a wide view. They sat down; there were four of them, and no more.

Bjarni said to Eyjolf, ‘We've come to see you, friend, because we very much need your help in all ways.'

Eyjolf said, ‘There is a good choice of men here at the Thing, and it should be easy to find men who can give you more than I can.'

Bjarni spoke: ‘That's not so, for you have many qualities that show that no man is greater than you here at the Althing. First of all, you're nobly born, as is everybody descended from Ragnar Shaggy-breeches. Your forefathers have always played a role in major events, both at the Thing and at home in their district, and they have always come out on top. Therefore it seems to us that you are as likely to win legal cases as your kinsmen.'

Eyjolf said, ‘You speak well, but I hardly deserve this praise.'

Flosi spoke: ‘You don't need to probe deeply to see what's on our mind: we want to ask you to support us in our case and go to court with us and look for points that might be used in our defence and argue them on our behalf – and stand by us in whatever may come up at this Thing '

Eyjolf jumped up in anger and said that no one should count on
making him a puppet or risk-taker in matters he had no reason to be dragged into.

‘I see now,' he said, ‘what you were after with the flattery you aimed at me.'

Hallbjorn the Strong grabbed him and put him down between himself and Bjarni and spoke: ‘A tree doesn't fall at the first blow, friend,' he said. ‘Just sit here with us for a while.'

Flosi took a gold bracelet from his arm and spoke: ‘I want to give you this bracelet, Eyjolf, for your friendship and support and to show you that I have no wish to deceive you. You had best accept this bracelet, for there's no man here at the Thing to whom I have given such a gift.'