The Sagas of the Icelanders (38 page)

4
After these events, Thorstein rode home, and as he approached the farm, he saw many men riding towards him, and he spotted his father and many people whom he knew and all were on their way to look for him; and when they met each other, Ketil greeted his son warmly and felt that he had reclaimed him from death’s door – ‘I straight away rued the words which I spoke to you in taunt and reproach.’

Thorstein answered and said that little had his father known whether or
when he would return home, but that good fortune had sustained his cause so that he had returned safe and sound.

Though they bandied heated words, they were soon fully reconciled. Thorstein then told his father about everything that had happened on his journey. Thorstein received great praise from everyone for this exploit, as was to be expected. Later Thorstein had the assembly summoned and all the householders in the region attended.

At this assembly Thorstein stood up and said, ‘It can now be made known to all of you that the fear of highway robbers which has troubled us here for some time, with people unable to go on their journeys – that fear is now removed and at an end. The main reason for my calling this assembly is that I want every man to take the items which belong to him, and I will keep whatever is left.’

This was greeted with acclaim by those present, and Thorstein gained great honour from all his efforts. People did not come to know the name of the highwayman, because it was little noised abroad.

5
One day Thorstein said to his father that he intended to travel east to meet Earl Ingimund as he had promised Jokul.

Ketil said that it was not advisable to put himself into the hands of his enemies and asked him rather to stay at home – ‘and though the earl might not want to hurt you, it may be, however, that some people will be hostile to you and not well disposed’.

Thorstein replied, ‘I will carry out my promise to Jokul; and even if I bring neither foot back in one piece, I will go there just the same.’

Then Thorstein made preparations and journeyed to Gotland and proceeded until, early one day, he came to the earl’s home. The earl had gone hunting, as was the custom of great men. Thorstein went into the drinking room and seated himself on a bench along with his retinue. Then the earl’s wife entered the room and looked at the people who had arrived and saw that they must be foreigners. She asked who they were.

Thorstein said that he was a Norwegian – ‘and I have a private message for you; let us walk together, just the two of us’.

They did so.

Thorstein then said, ‘I have some news to report to you – the killing of Jokul, your son.’

She answered, ‘This may seem grievous news to me, but it is not unexpected, because of his scheming and his wicked deeds. But what is it that has made you tell this tale of woe and travel all this way?’

Thorstein replied, ‘There is much which leads me to do this; I promised him faithfully when we parted that I would seek you out and tell the truth about our parting. There is no hiding the fact that I was his killer, for our men were unwilling to sit meekly under his control because of his killings and robberies, and yet, to speak to you in good faith, I came under his sway and he had the chance to kill me had he wished to do so, but he spared my life, and laid on me the obligation to go and seek you out with a message from him, and you can see that it would have been easier for me to stay at home than to take a chance on your forgiveness. Now I have gold here which he said you would recognize and he told me to bring it as a token, so that you might make my peace with the earl with the proposition that I take Thordis your daughter as my wife. Jokul also said that he believed you would pay more heed to his message and wishes than to my actions.’

Vigdis blushed deeply at this and said, ‘You must be a bold man, but I think that you are telling the truth about your meeting with my son; and if Jokul spared your life, then it is my decision that you will keep it, because you have the look of a lucky man about you; and, for the sake of my son Jokul’s request, I will plead your cause with the earl, but first you must hide yourself.’

When the earl came home, the queen went to meet him and said, ‘There is some news to tell you which touches us both.’

The earl replied, ‘You must be talking about the death of Jokul my son.’

She said that this was the case.

The earl said, ‘He will not have died of any sickness.’

She replied, ‘It is true that he was killed, and before that he showed great nobility; he spared the life of his killer, and sent him here into our power with trustworthy tokens so that you might pardon and forgive his offences, grievous though they are. The man might also become a source of strength for you if you ennoble him by marriage and give him your daughter as Jokul proposed. Jokul also believed that you would show some respect to his last wish. You can also see how faithful the man has been to his promises, in that he has come from his own home estate into a hostile land here and into our power. Now, for the sake of my words and of your son’s wishes, I hope that you will do as I request, and examine the tokens here.’ She showed him the gold.

Then the earl sighed wearily and said, ‘You have spoken a good deal – and very boldly at that – that I should honour the man who has killed my son; such a man deserves death rather than a friendly gift.’

The queen replied, ‘My lord, you ought to consider what else there is to
take account of – the word of Jokul, and the integrity of this man in placing himself at your mercy; also, your advanced years, and your need for someone to manage things on your behalf, and this fellow may prove well suited for this. Just as Jokul granted Thorstein his life, having had the power to do anything with him, and just as Thorstein received good fortune at Jokul’s hands, unpromisingly as he was situated, so is it now clear that we ought not to destroy that victory or this man’s luck, or the noble purpose of our son; and it is a great achievement to act as Jokul did in sparing the life of a man who has done us such harm, and it would be the greatest possible disgrace to harm him, now that he has come into our power.’

The earl said, ‘You support this man very strongly, and think that he has a promising look about him; I will certainly see him, and judge for myself what I think he is worth, and it will matter a lot to him whether or not I like the look of him.’

Then Thorstein was led forward and stood before the earl, and the queen had so contrived it that most of Ingimund’s anger had left him.

Thorstein said, ‘My lord, my whole fate is in your hands. You now know the message which I have brought here. I wish to ask you to be reconciled with me, but I have no fear of anything else which you may wish to have done. It is the custom of leaders to spare the lives of those who voluntarily place themselves at their mercy.’

The earl said, ‘I like the look of you sufficiently to spare your life. It may also be the best way of atoning for my son that you take his place, if you are willing to live here with me, because you have the mark of good fortune about you. It is dishonourable to harm a man who places himself in another man’s power.’

Thorstein thanked the earl for sparing his life, and stayed there for a while, and the two men got to know each other. The earl soon found out that Thorstein was a wise man, remarkable in every way.

On one occasion, Thorstein said to the earl, ‘Now I want to know, my lord, what are my chances of becoming your son-in-law?’

The earl replied, ‘I have no wish to refuse this, because it may be that it will work to the good fortune of our family. But I want you to live here with us.’

Thorstein said, ‘I agree to this while you are alive, and am grateful to you; but your men will not grant me respect after your days are up, and each man must then fashion his own destiny.’

The earl said that this was fittingly spoken.

6
Shortly afterwards, Thorstein rode home and told his father about all the plans and asked him to travel back there with him, and Ketil did so. The earl prepared a feast, and Thorstein attended with the Romsdal people and many men of distinction and the feast was splendid with its fine fare. It drew to a close with the greatest honour and with lavish gifts, and Ketil and the earl parted on the friendliest of terms. Thorstein stayed on there with his wife. He always heard the earl address him in a friendly way. A strong love soon developed between Thorstein and Thordis.

It is said that one evening men came to the earl with the news of the death of Ketil the Large, and also that men wanted Thorstein to return to his family estate and authority. Thorstein reported this news to his wife and the earl. She told him that it was his decision and said that it was her wish to go along with whatever he wanted. He said that above all he wanted to return home, reckoning that his inheritance there would be the source of least envy, and that everyone would grant him full honour. The earl agreed with this plan of action, and said that it was more likely that Thorstein would secure advancement at home than among strangers. Shortly after this the earl fell ill.

He summoned Thorstein, his son-in-law, and also his daughter, and said, ‘Prepare now for your journey away from here, so that it can be honoured with great riches, and our kinsmen should be content with the fact that all control of the land here is handed over to them along with everything that goes with it. And if you are blessed with a son, let him take my name.’

Thorstein said that this should be so, but declared that he would not seek the title of earl, because his kinsmen were untitled.

7
Earl Ingimund died shortly afterwards, and Thorstein went home to his estates and took over his father’s inheritance. He went raiding each summer and won wealth and honour, and stayed at home on his estate during the winters, and was reckoned a very worthy man.

There was a man named Ingjald who lived on Hefne, an island in Halogaland in the north. He was a worthy farmer and went raiding by summer, but did not stir during the winters. Ingjald and Thorstein were good friends. Ingjald was a good farmer and a man of many talents. Thorstein and his wife had a son, and when the boy was born, he was presented to his father.

Thorstein looked at him and said, ‘This boy will be named Ingimund
after his mother’s father, and I expect that he will enjoy good fortune because of his name.’

The boy was very mature from an early age.

Ingjald and Thorstein held a feast together each autumn, when they returned home from their Viking raids.

Once when Ingjald was feasting with Thorstein, the boy Ingimund ran up to Ingjald. Ingjald then said, ‘You are a lucky-looking boy, and because of my friendship with your father, I want to invite you to my home and foster you in the best way I can.’

Thorstein said that he would accept the offer, and the boy went home with Ingjald. Ingjald had a son named Grim, and another one named Hromund. They were promising young men and became Ingimund’s foster-brothers. Thorstein and Ingjald continued as before with their visits and feasts, and men felt that in Thorstein they had compensation for the loss of Ketil, even though he was neither as big nor as strong.

It was on one occasion, when Ingimund met his father, that he said, ‘You have secured good fostering for me, but now I would like you to give me a ship; I want to go raiding this summer just like my ancestral kinsmen. I am now of an age when I can do this successfully, and I want the two of us to pay for this journey and not my foster-father, though I know that I can have anything I want from him.’

Thorstein said that this was a very proper request, ‘and I will get you a ship’.

Ingimund said that nothing less would do and went home and told his foster-father.

Ingjald answered, ‘It is a good plan, and I will get another ship for Grim, and the two of you can set out together – with due care and caution. Beware of going where an overwhelming force would oppose you. There is more honour in accumulating little by little than in reaching for the sky and ending up flat on your face.’

In due course Ingimund and Grim set off on their raiding expedition and prospered in their life as Vikings. They did not attack where it made no sense, and had acquired five ships by the autumn, all of them well equipped with weapons, crew and all battle-gear. It soon became clear that Ingimund was a brave man in action and a good sort, trusty and tough with a weapon, loyal and kind, staunch with his friends – he was the sort of man that the greatest chieftains of old must have been. He told Grim that he intended
to go home to his father that autumn and remain there for a period over the winter with twenty men, and that is what happened.

It was apparent, however, that Thorstein sensed a certain haughtiness and a lack of due caution during their time there.

Ingimund said, ‘It does not seem so to me, and you ought not to say this; and it would be more suitable for you to ask for anything you want from our winnings as was the old warrior custom, and enjoy that with due honour. It would be very appropriate for you now to offer us hospitality out of our own provisions.’

Thordis said, ‘This is well and nobly spoken, and just as your grandfather would have done.’

Thorstein said, ‘I will do this, and this is admirably spoken.’

They remained there that winter up to Yuletide, and the hospitality was warm and friendly. Everyone thought a great deal of Ingimund, both his manner and appearance. He was talented in all games and very able in every accomplishment and not at all aggressive towards lesser men, but tough and combative with his enemies.

After Yuletide, Ingimund said to his father, ‘Now we warriors are off to my foster-father’s home, and we will stay there for what is left of the winter, because he will be pleased to have us there.’

Thorstein said, ‘I think it would be a good idea for you to remain with us this winter, kinsman.’

Ingimund said that he had decided to follow his own plan of action, and so they did. Ingjald welcomed them very warmly and his pleasure showed on his face; and they stayed there throughout the rest of the winter.

When spring came, Ingimund said that he wanted them to get ready for their raiding trip, and claimed that they were better prepared in every way than before. Ingjald said that this was true. They then set off raiding for a second summer and seized large amounts of booty from pirates and robbers, who had pillaged the goods of farmers and merchants. They carried on like this through the summer.

Then Ingimund said, ‘If there are no great trials on our travels, there is nothing else for it but to continue boldly with the raiding.’

Everyone obeyed his every beck and call.

Well on into autumn, they came to Sviasker. There were Vikings there, and both sides prepared for battle, and they fought first with arrows and stones. The forces differed little in size. Many men were wounded on both
sides. Ingimund won great fame that day, and certainly those who were his men believed that they were in the service of a fine leader.

And when it grew dark, there was a lull in the battle.

Then Ingimund said, ‘Let it not be thought that we are easing off, even though this skirmish may have had some rather dangerous moments.’

Then a man stood up in one of the Viking ships. He was both big and brave.

This man said, ‘Who are these men, who have fought against us today; it is discourteous that no word has been exchanged. So far as I know, there have been no previous disputes between us.’

Ingimund replied, ‘If you are asking about the leaders of our troop, then one is called Ingimund and the other is Grim; but who are you?’

He answered, ‘Saemund is my name; I am leader of this troop, a Sognefjord man by birth. I know about you two kinsmen and, in that we are men from the same country, it would be more fitting for us to join forces than to fight each other. We have heard only good things about you. We want to talk about becoming friends with you, though not because we need to sue for peace on account of any difference in size between our forces.’

Ingimund replied, ‘We are willing to consider the matter carefully, and will not speak ill of it. For our part, we are not inclined to oppose you when there is no guarantee of success, but would like to have secure peace and friendship with you.’

They then made a truce and established peace between each other, and thereafter remained together for the rest of the summer, and things went well for them as regards riches and renown; and they sailed around Sognefjord during the autumn.

Saemund then said that there they must part company, but they would meet again as friends next summer. Ingimund agreed to this. Saemund then sailed into the fjord, and Ingimund sailed north along the coast, and had many ships and much wealth. He returned to his father with fifty men.

Grim said, ‘Don’t you feel, foster-brother, that your father will think that there are enough guests?’

He said that he thought that the numbers were close to what was right and proper. Thorstein went to meet his son, and offered him the warmest hospitality. Ingimund said that he would accept this.

Thorstein entertained them splendidly through the winter and declared that he was very happy to have such a son, and said that early on he had spotted in him the luck of the family, ‘and as I see you mature, so will you enjoy more esteem from me’.

Ingimund stayed there over the winter, and his honour seemed to be much on the increase; and the more plentiful his provisions, the more he engaged in gift-giving and other generous acts.

When spring came, the foster-brothers discussed their travels. Grim said that he had no wish to change and would follow him. They then set off raiding and Saemund met up with them as agreed, and they all went together during the summer. They stayed as a group in the western seas for three successive summers and won wealth and great fame. Ingimund excelled in sound advice, good sense and nobility, and their fellowship was outstanding in every way. Ingimund wintered with his father. Thorstein felt that he could never honour his son Ingimund sufficiently when he saw the kind of man he wanted to become.