Eirek had many berserks and champions in his forces, and four of them are named. There were two brothers; one was named Sorkvir and the other was Brynjolf. Big and strong they were, unruly and skilled in sorcery, and so full of spells that they could blunt blades in battle.[11] Sorkvir was the stronger of the two, and an excellent jouster. The third man was a kinsman of the king named Thord and called the Bald Man of Hlesey, a big strong man. His family came from Hlesey[12] in Denmark, and he had grown up there. His foster-brother was named Grim, called Aegir. This man was strong and wicked in every way. No one knew his origins or his family, because Groa the seeress had found him washed up in the beachwrack on Hlesey. She was Thord’s mother, and she had fostered Grim and raised him and taught him all sorcery, so that no one in the Northlands was his equal, because he was unlike all other men by nature. Some men believe that Grim’s mother must have been some sea-hag, because he could travel through both the sea and lakes if he wanted, and for that reason he was called Aegir.[13] He ate raw meat and drank blood from men and livestock alike. And he often turned into the likeness of various animals, shapeshifting so quickly that the eye could hardly follow it. His breath was so hot that men found that it burned even if they were wearing armor. He could also spew either venom or flames at men, and in this way he killed both men and horses, and thus no one could withstand him. King Eirek had great confidence in him, and in all of these men. They never held back from doing wicked deeds.
CHAPTER III
At that time, King Eirek invaded King Hreggvid’s kingdom with his host. They killed men, burned buildings, and stole livestock. When the people of the kingdom found out about the invasion, they went to find King Hreggvid and told him what had happened. When he heard the news, he had the war-arrow[14] carved, and summoned all fighting men to join him. But he only raised a small force, because the invaders were coming on swiftly, and most people had dark forebodings about what was to come.
On the morning of the battle, King Hreggvid clad himself in his full armor. He clasped a gold necklace around his neck; it was a splendid treasure. Then he girded himself with his good sword. He took the lance and struck the shield, and it made no sound. The stallion Dulcifal also wouldn’t let himself be caught. Many men chased him, and in the end he was brought into a high-walled pen. The king came to him and wanted to take him, but as soon as the stallion saw the king, he leaped out over the gates and ran off into the forest. Everyone felt this was a dreadful portent and thought that defeat was certain, and they made no effort to search for him. King Hreggvid took a different horse, shield and lance for himself, but he gave his daughter his own shield and lance for safekeeping. Then he and all his host prepared for battle.
King Eirek drew up all his host and ordered every man to work as a warrior should, and not to hold back any sort of strength which he might bring to bear. Grim Aegir said, “My lord, each of us is obliged to do the best he can. But if we beat King Hreggvid, we want to settle here, and I want to have a land to rule and the title of jarl. Your kinsman Thord shall come with me and shall take precedence over me, but Sorkvir and Brynjolf shall go with you and defend the land for you.” The king agreed to Grim’s proposal and said that it would be done.
Now both sides formed their ranks and advanced towards each other. King Eirek led one wing of his battle lines, and Grim led the other. The odds were much in their favor, as they had four warriors for each one of the local men. King Hreggvid arrayed his forces against King Eirek, and Sigurd Wool-Yarn faced Grim Aegir. Then the fiercest fighting broke out, with strikes and blows, arrows fired and stones flung. Every man on either side advanced with shouts and cheers. King Eirek’s berserks advanced ahead of the ranks and mowed down King Hreggvid’s men like brushwood, and they fell one across another. Sigurd Wool-Yarn saw that, and he struck left and right until he encountered Thord the Bald Man of Hlesey. He struck at him, but Thord blocked the blow with his bald head and the sword didn’t cut.[15] After that, Thord struck Sigurd his death-blow, and he fell, winning great glory.
King Hreggvid saw that, and he was grieved at Sigurd’s fall. He spurred his horse and fiercely rode forward, slashing and stabbing men and horses right and left, so that everyone shrank back before him. The sword cut as if it were slicing water. The scabbard was all wrought with gold wherever that seemed to improve it, and on the pommel of the sword’s hilt there were loose life-stones, which drew poison and burning out of wounds if they were shaved into them.[16] He charged towards King Eirek’s banner, so furiously that he had both arms bloody to the shoulders. At times he killed two or three men at one blow, until Grim Aegir and Thord came against him. They both struck at him at the same time, but the king defended himself so well that he wasn’t wounded. At that moment, Grim blew with such powerful sorcery that the king’s horse stumbled. The king jumped off the horse’s back, still striking to left and right. He piled up a ring of bodies around himself so high that it came up to his belt. He struck with both hands at Grim Aegir, but Grim blew at him so that his sword flew out of his hands. Then the king seized an axe and struck Thord on his bald head with the blunt end of the axehead, so that he lay unconscious for a long time. At once the king lifted himself up and leaped over the heap of slain. King Eirek came up against him and struck at Hreggvid with his sword, so that the blade broke in two but didn’t cut the armor. At that instant, Grim Aegir stabbed him with a sword from beneath, under the mailcoat, piercing him through. The king fell there, with great courage and great glory, and it seems that there has hardly been a more famed man in Russia than King Hreggvid. All his surviving men fled, though most of his men had fallen. Many in King Eirek’s forces had also fallen. The peace-shield was held up, and those who wanted to save their lives were granted a truce, but the rest, who didn’t want to serve King Eirek, were killed. And now the battle was over.
After that the dead were stripped of plunder, and the king went into the town with his retinue, and they had all manner of merriment, with drink and musical instruments. So passed the night. In the morning, the king called to Grim Aegir and his fellows that they should find the princess, and they did. When they entered her quarters, she greeted King Eirek, yet she was weeping and woeful. King Eirek cheered her up and said that they would compensate her for the loss of her men, and for the harm she had suffered—“and you shall receive any boon from me that you wish to request and that is seemly for us to offer, if then you will come to terms with us and do as we wish.”
Princess Ingigerd said, “He may not rightly bear the title of king who does not keep his promise to a young maiden. I will come to terms with you and do your will, if you will keep your word and offer me the favor that I ask of you. But I would rather do away with myself quickly than marry some man unwillingly, and then no one would enjoy me.”
The king’s heart was filled with great love for her. He said, “May he who does not keep his word to you become a worthless wretch. Choose this very moment, and I shall grant it.”
“My first request,” said the princess, “is that a burial mound be raised for my father, large and well built inside, with a high plank fence around the mound. The mound shall stand a long way from here, in the wilderness. I shall bear gold and fine treasures into the mound next to him. He shall be dressed in his full armor and girded with his sword. He is to sit on a chair, with his fallen champions arranged on both sides of him. None of your men are to catch the horse Dulcifal; he must run as he wishes. For three years, I and those whom I shall appoint to stay with me will rule over a quarter of the kingdom. Those who belong to my household must all be left in peace and tranquility. Every year, I shall get a man to joust with you, or with Sorkvir your champion. Should I not find one of my men so excellent that he can knock Sorkvir from the back of his horse, you shall marry me and rule the entire kingdom. But if Sorkvir is beaten, you both shall go away with all your retinue and never enter Russia again, and I shall claim the realm and the rulership after my father, as is rightful.
”
Grim Aegir said, “This request can hardly be granted, because it comes from deep insight and long forethought. I don’t think you’ll stand for being kept waiting so long for an answer from any woman, my lord. But you may trust Sorkvir well that he will cause you no harm, along with my counsels and cleverness.”
The king replied, “I didn’t think that you would ask for this, princess. Yet I must keep my word to you, because I trust Sorkvir well. You will not find a more excellent man than him.” They bound their agreement with oaths and ended their discussion.
Grim Aegir said, “A plan has come to mind that will help us. We must cast a spell and work sorcery[17] so that no one can beat Sorkvir, neither in jousting nor in single combat, unless that man has all of King Hreggvid’s armor and weapons. But the mound must be built so strongly, with walls and bricks, that it can never be opened by any human being. You’ll want to keep all your word to the princess. You should keep sending men after the armor, and promise your sister Gyda to the man who manages to get it. Then the armor and weapons will be in your grasp—or else the men won’t come back alive.”
The king and all his men felt that this was good advice. The mound was raised, and King Hreggvid was laid inside. Ingigerd was the last to leave of the mound. She secretly had a second set of armor brought there and laid it in her father’s lap. The mound was closed and fenced off as Grim Aegir directed. Then the kingdom was divided according to their arrangements, and everything done that was said before. The princess couldn’t find anyone who dared to challenge Sorkvir. The king sent many men to the mound, and not one came back.
Grim Aegir ruled Ermland.[18] That is a royal estate in Russia, and all those who served under him were unhappy with their lot. He and Thord the Bald Man of Hlesey always had great struggles with the men from the towns of Jotunheim, beyond Aluborg.[19] How they fought each other, with spells and magic and huge battles, would take many stories to tell. Both were the worse for it, and neither was the better. Sorkvir and Brynjolf set out raiding in the summers, and took charge of the defense of King Eirek’s lands. Princess Ingigerd stayed in a safe castle[20] in her kingdom, with her picked men, and was quite heartsick over her lot.
CHAPTER IV
At the time when these matters that we have told of were taking place, Sturlaug the Hard-Working ruled Ringerike in Norway. He married Asa the Fair, the daughter of Jarl Eirek. They had many well-bred sons. One was named Rognvald, another was Fradmar, a third was Eirek, and the fourth was named Hrolf. He was named after Hrolf Nose, Sturlaug’s sworn brother, who died in the temple in Ireland[21] when Sturlaug sought to get the aurochs horn there.
Sturlaug’s son Hrolf was the largest of men in both girth and height, and so heavy that no horse could carry him for a whole day. For that reason he was always walking. He was the most handsome of men in appearance. He wasn’t sociable, and he wasn’t much for merriment and amusement, except that he found it most enjoyable to practice archery or jousting. He was so heavy and strong that no one could knock him out of the saddle, but he was awkward with weapons and never carried them. He was both harmless and useless to most people. Hrolf wasn’t like his brothers, and there was never any warmth between them.
One day, Sturlaug and Hrolf were talking, as they often did. Sturlaug said, “It looks to me as though your destiny will be a pitiful one. The way you behave is more like a woman than a man. So I think it’s best for you to get married and settle down on a farm and become a cottager in some remote valley where no one will find you, and live out your life for as long as it’s fated to last.”
Hrolf said, “I won’t settle down and I won’t get married, because I don’t need women. And I can clearly see that you’re trying to lay the blame so that you can quit having to feed me. So I’ll go away, and not come back until I have won just as large a kingdom as you have now—or else am lying dead. I believe that your holdings are a peasant’s estate, and there’s little to share with us brothers. Neither you nor they will have the benefit of me from now on.”
Sturlaug said, “I can give you both a ship and good traveling companions, if you will set yourself some quest that might bring you fame or honor.”
Hrolf said, “I don’t care to drag men after me until they’re missing your sons. I won’t get involved with battles, because I can’t stand the sight of blood. And I don’t want to crowd into a little boat with so many people that they make it sink and we all drown.”
Sturlaug said, “I won’t provide you with anything, because I can tell that you’re both stupid and stubborn.” That said, they parted in disagreement.
Hrolf went to his mother Asa and said, “Mother, I want you to show me the cloaks that your foster-mother Vefreyja made for my father, so long ago.”
She did so, opening up a large chest, and said, “Here you can see the cloaks. They haven’t aged much.”
Hrolf picked up all the cloaks. They were made with sleeves, a hood, and a mask in front of the face. They were both wide and long. No iron could cut them, and poison could not damage them. Hrolf took the two largest and said, “I don’t have very much of my father’s estate, but I have these cloaks.”
Asa said, “You mustn’t go away so quickly, son, without weapons or companions.”
Hrolf went away without a word, and a few days later he left, so that no one knew what became of him. Neither his father nor his mother nor any of his kin wished him well. No one knew which way he went. It’s not said that Sturlaug took any notice of Hrolf’s departure. Some time passed, while Sturlaug stayed quietly in his kingdom.
CHAPTER V
Now the saga turns to Thorgnyr. He held the rulership of Jutland in Denmark and had his seat there, but he claimed tribute from more kingdoms. He was a strong ruler and had good men with him. He was very old when this story takes place. His queen was dead, but their two children survived her. Stefnir was the name of his son, and Thora was his daughter. Both of them were handsome and well-mannered. The jarl’s son Stefnir was physically strong and the most accomplished at sports, and was gentle and mild-mannered every day. Thora was the most skillful woman. A bower had been built for her, and she stayed there with her ladies in waiting.
There was a man named Bjorn. He was the jarl’s counsellor and dearest friend, wise and kindly and knowledgeable about matters of warfare. Ingibjorg was his wife’s name. She was courteous and accomplished, and Bjorn loved her very much. He had a farm a short distance from the fortress, though he stayed most often with the jarl.
Jarl Thorgnyr had loved his queen very much, and her burial mound was near the fortress. The jarl often sat there in good weather, or whenever he held councils or games. The jarl was usually at his leisure, ruling a peaceable kingdom.
CHAPTER VI
Now we must return to Hrolf leaving Ringerike, as we mentioned before. He had no weapons but an oaken club. He wore the cloak Vefreyja’s Gift, and carried the other cloak. The roads were unknown to him. He traveled more often through mountains and forests than through settlements. He headed east into the Eidskog Forest,[22] intending to go up to Sweden. He couldn’t find the way, and he wandered far and lived outdoors for a long time.
Late one spring evening, he found a strongly-built hut in the forest. The door was hanging open. He set his club against the wall and went inside the hut. There was a bed for one man, and seats next to it. There were some furs, but few other things of value. Hrolf lit a fire. When the sun had set, a very tall man came inside the hut, wearing a dark cloak and a rust-colored hood. He was swarthy, with a thick beard. He wore a sword at his belt but walked holding a spear. He said, “Who is this thief? Where did you come from?”
Hrolf said, “There’s no need for you to speak so harshly. I don’t feel like concealing my name. I’m called Hrolf. I’ve come from Ringerike.”
The hut-dweller said, “No one who comes from there should escape unharmed. But get away from the fires
and sit up in the chair and rest.”
Hrolf did so, and when he had sat down, the hut-dweller said, “Now I won’t conceal my name. I am called Atli Otryggson[23], from Ringerike by birth. I recognize you clearly. You are the son of Sturlaug the Hard-Working. Now you’ll pay for that, for your father made me an outlaw when I killed one of his retainers.”
He seized the spear with both hands and stabbed Hrolf’s chest so hard that the spearhead crumpled, but it didn’t pierce the cloak. Hrolf wanted to stand up, but couldn’t because he was pressed into the seat. Atli said, “You’re not going to show your sorcery now. I’ll take your club and bash you into Hel[24] with it.”
He rushed out of the hut. Hrolf realized that he was in a bad way, and he smashed against the walls until the plank he was sitting against came loose, just as Atli came with the club. Hrolf rushed underneath Atli, who threw away the club, and they began grappling with each other, wrestling powerfully. Hrolf went at it with all his might, but Atli fought with full force until he fell backwards. Hrolf pinned him with his knee in the stomach and gripped his neck and windpipe with both hands, so that he couldn’t speak a word. Atli struggled mightily, but Hrolf held his grip until Atli was dead.
In the hut, Hrolf found a large purse of money and took it with him. He took the sword and spear, but left the club behind. Hrolf got Atli out of his mantle, because he thought it would be lighter for traveling than his cloak, and he carried both cloaks. He burned Atli’s body and spent the rest of the night there. In the morning he went on his way and traveled through the forest for many more days.
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