The Sagas of the Icelanders (41 page)

18
There was a man named Hrolleif, nicknamed ‘the Tall’. He came from Norway with his mother, who was named Ljot, and made land by the Hvita river. Her disposition was not much admired, and in her behaviour she was a law unto herself, as was only to be expected because she had little enough in common with most ordinary good-natured folk. Her son’s temperament matched her own. Hrolleif was the nephew of Saemund, foster-brother of Ingimund. Mother and son journeyed to Skagafjord to meet him, and spoke about themselves and told him that he was their kinsman.

In reply Saemund said that he could not deny his kinship with Hrolleif, ‘but I fear that you have a worse mother than father, and I am very much afraid that you take more after her side of the family than your father’s’.

Hrolleif said that he deserved better than such ill-natured tittle-tattle. Saemund said that he would offer them winter quarters. Hrolleif was a very strong man but misused his strength against lesser men; he was provocative and overbearing and, under his mother’s influence, repaid good with bad. He got on badly with Geirmund, the son of Saemund, in both games and other dealings, and a coolness developed between the two kinsmen.

On one occasion, Geirmund said to his father, ‘This kinsman of ours pays for his board with those things of which he has an abundance, but which ill become most people – threats and harsh words along with cruel deeds. Some have received broken bones or other injury from him, and no one dares to speak out.’

Saemund said that Hrolleif certainly repaid his hospitality in a worse way than had been bargained for, ‘and I can stand it no longer.’

Hrolleif said that it was disgraceful to whinge about such trifling matters, and not to support one’s kinsmen – ‘I will certainly not put up with beggars kicking me in the teeth.’

Saemund said, ‘You may say so but, as I suspected, in disposition you resemble Ljot, your mother, more than our kinsfolk. I have thought of a good estate and homestead for you, out on Hofdastrond beyond Hofdi, to
the north of Unadal. My advice is that you try to get along with those who live nearby you there, Thord the farmer at Hofdi and Uni in Unadal and other settlers, and ask permission to make a home.’

Hrolleif said that he felt disinclined to go grovelling to the likes of them. Hrolleif and his mother went off to that valley and settled in a place since then known as Hrolleifsdal. They had little interest in making friends with other people, made threats and menacing remarks and showed a scowling face to their neighbours in all their dealings. People soon came to hate them in return, and felt that Saemund had sent a nasty piece of driftwood floating their way. At first people thought it wrong to complain, since Hrolleif was Saemund’s kinsman. But then, after their disposition was fully understood, people wanted to be rid of them, and wished that they had never come.

Uni was a wealthy man and had a son named Odd; he was in his prime. Uni’s daughter was named Hrodny; she was a good-looking and hard-working woman. Soon Hrolleif went to meet Uni and said that it was impossible to be cheerful or content in that tiny valley even though men had such entertainment as they could devise.

‘I now consider that it would be right and proper,’ he said, ‘to secure bonds of kinship between us by my marrying your daughter. It may be that our dealings would then improve.’

Uni said that Hrolleif did not have the disposition to win a good woman – ‘There is nothing about yourself which suggests that you have; my daughter is not without prospects, and I refuse your request.’

Hrolleif said that he was acting in a way which was less than wise, ‘and she will be my mistress, which is plenty good enough for her’.

After that Hrolleif got into the habit of going there and sitting in conversation with Hrodny. This went on for some time, against the wishes of her family.

19
On one occasion, when Hrolleif was preparing to go home, Uni spoke with his son Odd: ‘It seems to me no ordinary lack of action that has led us to do nothing about this man’s visits; we took more risks in our youth, when I fought with Kolbein, and got the better of him; and he was a chieftain and a force to be reckoned with, whereas this fellow comes on his own to shame us.’

Odd said that it was not easy to deal with this dreadful creature, and the sorcery of his mother – ‘Men say that he has a cloak which no weapon can bite into. But first I will meet with Hrolleif,’ and so he did.

They met each other up on the mountain separating the valleys.

Odd said, ‘You are forever using this path, but we feel it would be better for you to make this journey less often.’

Hrolleif answered, ‘Since I was nine years old, I have always organized my own journeys, and will continue to do so. I will pay no heed to your words, and it seems to me that my path is no more difficult with you shadowing my every step.’

Odd said that it would have been possible to come up with a better answer.

Hrolleif came home and told his mother that he would now take a slave from his work, ‘and he will accompany me on house-visits, because Uni and his family are beginning to get annoyed with me’.

In reply Ljot said that there was no more important work for a slave than to go with him, ‘and pay no attention to the behaviour of those rustics, and go clad in your cloak as soon as you like and see how it does’.

Odd then met his father and said that he wished to meet Saemund and tell him about the problem. Uni said that he little relished all the delay which would ensue.

Odd went to see Saemund and said, ‘Thanks to you an ill-starred gift has come our way in the form of your kinsman Hrolleif, and we have to put up with many insults from him and we have not reacted strongly, because he is your kinsman.’

Saemund said that this came as no surprise, ‘and it would be no bad thing if such men were eliminated’.

Odd said that Saemund would view things differently if this were done, ‘and yet we have this man who wishes to harm everyone, and it is out of respect for you that no action is ever taken’.

Odd went home.

Uni said, ‘It seems to me that Hrolleif is not cutting back on his visits, and I reckon that it all comes down to you, kinsman Odd, because you are young and fit for anything, and I am worn out by age. Even though he is a tough customer, and his mother has magic powers, things cannot be left as they are now.’

Odd replied and said that he would look for some remedy. One evening Odd and four other men prepared to ambush Hrolleif. He and the slave were riding together.

Odd jumped up and said, ‘It may be that your journeying is at an end for the time being, Hrolleif. It may also be that your wickedness has tied your feet in knots.’

Hrolleif said that it was not yet clear which of them would have most to crow about when they parted company, ‘though you have more men with you than I do. I don’t think it would be a bad thing if some people here were to shed blood.’

Then they ran at each other and fought. Hrolleif was a tough and very strong man. He was also wearing the cloak which his mother had made for him and which iron could not pierce.

It can be said that Odd slew Ljot, Hrolleif’s companion, and then turned against Hrolleif saying, ‘The weapons bite you feebly, Hrolleif, and you are evil in all sorts of ways, skilled in sorcery and foul-mannered in other matters.’

Then Odd slashed at Hrolleif’s foot, and struck where the cloak did not protect him. Odd then said, ‘The magic cloak failed to protect you just then.’

Hrolleif cut at Odd and gave him his death wound; he killed another man, and three others took flight.

This took place late in the evening on the ground above Uni’s farm. Hrolleif came home and told his mother that the fight had gone badly for those who stood against him. She showed how glad she was that neither farmers nor their sons, people assailing Hrolleif with hostile words, would be determining her son’s travels.

Hrolleif said that he had repaid Odd for the time ‘when he abused me most and said that I was in no way the equal of brave men, but I prophesied for him what has now come to pass, that his shame would increase in the wake of our meeting; and so it has now turned out for him’.

20
Uni went to visit Thord from Hofdi and told him of his plight following the killing of his son Odd, ‘and I would like to have your support to right this wrong. Your honour is also much at stake in this, to ensure that such rough-necks do not prosper here in the district.’

Thord said that he was right – ‘a big problem has arisen for us, and yet it is Saemund above all who is responsible for dealing with his kinsman’s wickedness and removing him from the district’.

They then went to meet with Saemund and asked him to put the matter right and said that nothing less than this would be worthy of him. Saemund said that this would be done. Hrolleif’s home was seized and he and his mother went to stay with Saemund, and men were found to look after the estate. And at a peace-meeting in the spring, the case was settled with Uni
taking Hrolleif’s land as compensation, and Hrolleif being outlawed from all lands whose waters flowed into Skagafjord.

Saemund now recalled his long-standing friendship with Ingimund; and when they met, Saemund said, ‘The situation is, foster-brother, that a man has come to me who in disposition does not seem easy to deal with, but he is nevertheless my kinsman and is called Hrolleif. I would now like you to take him in, along with his mother, and find them a home near where you live.’

Ingimund replied, ‘The reports about them are not good, and I am reluctant to look after them, but you will think it disobliging and ungenerous if I refuse, although it does not particularly suit us because I have several sons who are by no means easy to get on with.’

Saemund said in answer to this that he was a lucky man and would bring luck to most people. Ingimund said that this would have been well tested if all turned out well. Then Hrolleif and his mother Ljot went to Ingimund with little in the way of praise to recommend them.

21
Hrolleif and his mother stayed with Ingimund for two or three years. They no more changed their ways in dealing with the sons of Ingimund than they did with other men. The sons took this badly, and Jokul worst of all, because he and Hrolleif had so many tough games together which almost led to injury, and Jokul declared that Hrolleif had been Saemund’s ill-starred gift, ‘and yet things will be all right,’ he said, ‘if they don’t get any worse’; and declared that this devil incarnate would never prevail over them.

There was no difference between them in size or strength, for both were very powerful.

Ingimund said, ‘You do wrong, Hrolleif, in not controlling your temper and in not repaying good with good. I can now see that this arrangement will not work as it stands, and I will find you a farmstead, on the other side of the river, at As.’

Hrolleif said that this would be no more unfriendly ‘than staying here with your ill-natured sons’.

‘I am sorry to give up on you,’ said Ingimund, ‘because I have never done this before, having once taken someone in.’

Thorstein said that he reckoned things would turn out worse later. Ingimund settled Hrolleif and his mother Ljot on the farm at As, and they lived there for a long time, and Hrolleif thought himself in every way the equal of Ingimund’s sons.

At that time two brothers arrived from Norway – one was named Hallorm and the other Thororm; they were wealthy men. They stayed with Ingimund over the winter. Hallorm made a request and asked to marry Thordis, Ingimund’s daughter, and he received a favourable answer. Ingimund said that great strength would accrue to him on account of Hallorm’s wealth, and Thordis was given to him in marriage, and the dowry which went with her was the land at Karnsnes. They had a son named Thorgrim. Thororm lived in Lower Tunga in Vatnsdal; this was later called Thorormstunga.

22
There was said to be good fishing in Vatnsdal, of salmon and other fish. The brothers, Ingimund’s sons, divided the work between them because in those days it was customary for important men’s sons to have some sort of occupation. Four brothers, Thorstein, Jokul, Thorir and Hogni, took their turns with the fishing – Smid had other work to do. The brothers went into the river and their catches were good. Hrolleif carried on behaving just as usual; relations were bad with everyone in the vicinity. It had not been on the advice of friends that Ingimund had ever taken up with him. The sons of Ingimund took it very badly when Hrolleif had the best of what was theirs, and caused only trouble in return; they said that their father had made a great mistake in taking him in. They owned the fishing rights between them, the Hof men and Hrolleif. It was laid down that Hrolleif was free to fish if neither Ingimund’s sons nor their men were present, but he took no notice of this arrangement because he set greater store by his own wishes and wickedness than by anything that had been agreed.

On one occasion, when Ingimund’s workmen came down to the river, they told Hrolleif to clear his nets out of the way for them. Hrolleif said that he would pay no heed to this, no matter what such thralls might say. They answered by telling him that it would be better not to pick a fight with the Hof men, saying that it would not turn out well for him even though he might get away with it with other folk. Hrolleif told them to move themselves, wretched slaves that they were, and not to threaten him with other men. He drove them off shamefully and without justification.

They said, ‘You are wrong in behaving like this, when you are so much in Ingimund’s debt. He received you, gave you both a place to live and fishing rights, and many other benefits, whereas before this you did not seem fit company for worthy men.’

Hrolleif said that he did not have to vacate the river at the behest of wretched slaves and let fly with a stone at one of them so that he lay on the ground stunned; Hrolleif said that it did not do for their tongues to wag so freely.

When they returned home the household was seated at the table; they rushed in. Ingimund asked why they had arrived with such a commotion. They said that they had been driven from the river by Hrolleif with blows and harsh words.

Jokul answered, ‘He must want to become the Vatnsdal godi and to treat us like he treated others before, but it will never be the case that this devil of a man will lord it over us.’

Thorstein said that Hrolleif had gone too far, but that it was best to deal with this calmly – ‘and it was a mistake ever to have had anything to do with Hrolleif.’

‘There is much truth in this,’ said Ingimund, ‘but nevertheless you would do well to reach a settlement with him because you have more at stake. He is a man out of Hel,
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and you can be sure of trouble from him.’

Jokul said that he would soon see whether Hrolleif would leave the river, and sprang up from the table and rushed out.

Ingimund said, ‘Thorstein, my son, I trust you best to keep calm in everything; go along with your brothers.’

Thorstein said that he was not sure how easy it would be to control Jokul – ‘and I will not stand idly by if he gets into a fight with Hrolleif’.

When they came to the river, they saw that Hrolleif was fishing there.

Then Jokul said, ‘Get out of the river, you villain, and don’t you dare tangle with us, or else we will have it out between us once and for all.’

Hrolleif said, ‘All the same, though there are three or four of you, I will go about my business despite your cursing.’

Jokul said, ‘You, evil creature, must have faith in your mother’s witchcraft, if you on your own intend to dispute the fishing against all of us.’

Jokul then waded into the river towards him, but Hrolleif stood his ground.

Thorstein said, ‘Stop being so stubborn, Hrolleif; it will be the worse for you if we do not get our rights from you. It may be that others will have to pay the price. It simply will not do for you to lord it over men with your evil deeds.’

Then Jokul said, ‘Let’s kill the devil.’

Hrolleif then made for the riverbank at a point where there were some stones, and threw these at them and they returned fire across the river; and some hurled spears at him, but Hrolleif was never in danger. Jokul wanted to cross the river and attack him at another place, and said it would be no ordinary humiliation if they failed to overcome him.

Thorstein said, ‘My advice is different – hold back here and remain in control rather than tangle with mother and son, because I believe that she is nearby. Coping with their sorceries would not be like fighting against honourable men.’

Jokul said that this would never worry him and sought to advance, while his brothers threw stones and spears at Hrolleif.

Then a man came running back to Hof and told Ingimund that things had come to a parlous state and that the men were fighting each other across the river, ‘and your neighbour is like few others’.

Ingimund said, ‘Get my horse ready, and I will ride out there.’

He was by then old and almost blind. He had given up the management of his affairs and also the farm itself. A boy was found to attend him. Ingimund was wearing a black cape. The boy led him on horseback.

When they came to the riverbank, his sons saw him.

Thorstein said, ‘Our father has arrived; let us withdraw; he will want us to follow his wishes, but I am worried about his coming here,’ and he urged Jokul to restrain himself.

Ingimund rode into the river and said, ‘Leave the river, Hrolleif, and think about what is right and proper for you.’

When Hrolleif saw him, he hurled a spear at him, and it hit him in the midriff.

And when Ingimund received the wound, he rode back to the bank, and said, ‘You, boy, lead me home.’

He did not meet his sons and when they arrived home, the evening was well advanced.

As Ingimund came to dismount, he said, ‘I am now stiff; we old men grow shaky on our feet.’

When the boy helped him down, there was a sucking noise from the wound. At that moment the boy saw that the spear had gone right through him.

Ingimund said, ‘You have been loyal to me for a long time; do now what I ask of you; it is more than likely that I will be asking few things of you after this. Go now and tell Hrolleif that before morning comes I think it likely that my sons will be on his trail to see about avenging their father;
and he should be sure to have left by daybreak. I am no better avenged by his death and, no matter what happens later, as long as I have any say in things, it is right for me to protect the person whom I have previously agreed to help.’

He snapped off the shaft from the spear head and went inside with the help of the boy and sat down on his high seat and asked him not to kindle a light before his sons arrived home.

The boy returned to the river and saw the many salmon which Hrolleif had caught there.

The boy said, ‘Truly is it said that you are the most miserable dog of a man. You have done something for which we can never look for compensation; you have dealt my master Ingimund his death wound, and he asked me to say that you should not stay at home until morning, and said that he believed his sons would seek to avenge their father’s death on you; and I am doing this more at his request than out of any wish that my words should save you from the brothers’ axes.’

Hrolleif answered, ‘I believe what you say, and you would not have left here in one piece if you had not passed on this news.’