Six Sagas of Adventure

by Ben Waggoner (trans)

  One day, he came out into a clearing and saw eleven fully armed men. One of them was best equipped, and Hrolf thought he must be their leader. When they saw Hrolf, this man said, “Here comes Atli the Evil. All of you, stand up and kill him as quickly as possible. Let’s pay him back for his robbing and murdering.”

  Hrolf didn’t get to say anything on his behalf, and they attacked him fiercely, slashing and stabbing. Hrolf turned on them manfully, by turns hewing or striking with the spear. He dealt them heavy blows, because his spear was the best weapon, but Hrolf suffered some wounds on his hands and feet. They fought for a long time, and in the end Hrolf killed them all. By then he was exhausted and had many minor wounds. He bound his wounds and threw away the mantle, because he didn’t want to get the same treatment again. He suspected that these men must have come from Varmland[25] and gone out to hunt wild animals, or else to pursue Atli.

  Then he went on his way, and nothing is said about his journey until he entered Gotaland along the Gota River. He saw a ship floating alongside the bank—a great longship, completely tented over between the bow and the stern. The gangplank extended onto land, and at the end of the gangplank was a fire where men were cooking food. Hrolf took down his cloak’s hood and went up to the men by the fire and greeted them. They accepted his greeting and asked him his name and where he had come from. He said that his name was Stigandi[26] and that he had come from Varmland. Hrolf asked who owned the ship and whom they served. They said that he was named Jolgeir, descended from a family from Sylgisdal in Sweden.

  Hrolf said, “It must be good to serve such a man.”

  They said that whoever served him was worse off, “because he is a sorcerous berserk, and iron doesn’t bite him. He is ferocious and the hardest man to deal with. There are eighty of us on the ship. We all serve him unwillingly because he has killed our chieftain, who owned the ship, and forced us to swear oaths of loyalty. He accomplished all this with deceit and sorcery. Now he intends to go raiding in the Eastern realms.”

  Hrolf said that they had entertained him well. He walked right out onto the ship and came before Jolgeir and greeted him. Jolgeir was sitting on the ship’s afterdeck, looking most unsightly to Hrolf. He accepted his greeting and asked him his name and his reason for coming.

  Hrolf said, “I’m called Stigandi, and my reason for coming is to take service with good men. I’m not averse to working hard at what’s needed, but I’m no warrior. I have heard good things about you, that you are a great chieftain who doesn’t refuse food to men who need it.”

  Jolgeir said, “You’ve heard truly that I don’t withhold food—but I don’t like you, because I believe you’re a wicked man. But you can come with us, if you like.” Hrolf thanked him, and that was the end of their conversation.

  They went raiding all through the summer. Hrolf dealt out silver from his purse with both hands, and everyone liked him except for Jolgeir, because Hrolf was both lazy and sleepy, and he didn’t know how to do anything on the ship. He was never in battles, nor in any difficult trials. Jolgeir’s raids went badly, and he usually robbed farmers and merchants,[27] but they raided most often in Courland[28] and gained a lot of money.

  On one occasion, Jolgeir assigned Stigandi to stand watch on their ship. The ship was tied up along the shore, and the gangplank was out. The weather was bad, with storms and rain. They went to sleep on the ship, but Hrolf stayed on land at the end of the gangplank. The night passed, and as morning approached, Hrolf began to grow sleepy, and he wrapped the cloak Vefreyja’s Gift around himself.

  When Jolgeir awoke, he armed himself and went onto land with a sword in his hand. He saw Hrolf lying down, fast asleep and snoring by the coals. Jolgeir was furious. He drew his sword and swung it down at Hrolf’s belly with both hands. That would have been the death of him if the cloak had not saved him. Hrolf awoke in a fright and leaped up, but Jolgeir tried to strike another blow at his head. Hrolf ducked under it. Jolgeir came at him, and a fierce wrestling bout broke out. He rushed at Hrolf in a frenzy, but Hrolf let himself be carried towards the ocean, until they both fell over a cliff and into the sea. Each pulled the other into the water, and they were down for a long time. Many a time they plunged down deep. No one wanted to intervene, even though they all liked Hrolf better than Jolgeir. The fight ended when they came back up towards the shore. Hrolf got his feet under him, and the sea bed dropped off steeply in front of him. The water came up to Hrolf’s waist, but Jolgeir couldn’t touch bottom. Hrolf seized him by the shoulders and shoved him down into the water and held him under until he had drowned him.

  Hrolf walked out onto land, completely exhausted. Jolgeir’s men all thanked him for this deed and said that he was an excellent man to have beaten such a berserk. Hrolf said, “You may want to take me as chieftain over you now, in place of Jolgeir. I won’t treat you any worse. Now I want to let you know you who I am, because my name is Hrolf, and Sturlaug the Hard-Working is my father, the ruler of Ringerike in Norway.”

  They all welcomed him and said that he was no commoner, since he might be the mightiest champion. Then they held a council and decided to follow Hrolf, and took him as their ship’s captain. Hrolf didn’t withhold the money that Jolgeir had gathered, and he paid them well for their service. They soon came to like him very much. They fought many battles, and Hrolf always won victory.

  When autumn began, they sailed out of the east. Hrolf said that they would set course for Denmark. They came late in the autumn to Jutland, not far from Jarl Thorgnyr’s fortress. They laid up in a hidden bay, anchored their ship and put up awnings. Hrolf told his men to wait there until he came back—“but I will go down from the ship by myself to see what’s happening.”

  CHAPTER VII

  It’s said that one day in Jutland, as Thorgnyr was sitting at his feasting table, the hall doors opened and a man entered the hall. He was both tall and stout, wearing a long shaggy cape and holding a huge spear in his hand. Everyone in the hall was amazed at his great size. He came before the jarl and greeted him worthily. The jarl accepted his greeting and asked what sort of man he was. He said, “Hrolf is my name, and my father’s name is Sturlaug, who rules Ringerike. I have come here because I want to know your customs, because I’ve been told that you are a great chieftain.”

  The jarl said, “I know all about your family and lineage, and I am quite willing for you to be made welcome in my kingdom and receive everything you ask for which is seemly for me to give. How many men do you wish to have serving you each day?”

  Hrolf said, “Eighty men are on my ship, and they will come with me. I have enough money to pay our expenses. I would like to have some castle, not far from you, to house my men and defend your lands, if you’re willing.”

  The jarl said, “I’m thankful that you came. Everything shall be done as you wish, that your honor may be increased.”

  Hrolf thanked the jarl for his words and went to his men. The jarl gave them a castle to hold. Hrolf stayed in the castle quietly and maintained his men well, but most of the time he went on raids and manfully defended the jarl’s realm. Stefnir and Hrolf became firm friends. Bjorn the Counsellor was also dearest to Hrolf. Some time now passed, with nothing of note happening.

  CHAPTER VIII

  There was a man named Tryggvi, the son of Ulfkell. His family came from Buchan in Scotland. He was the greatest champion and berserk, and he sailed out with a fleet of ships in both summer and winter. He had a sworn brother named Vazi, who was also the worst troll on account of his size and his strength alike. Thorgnyr had killed Tryggvi’s father when he was raiding. Tryggvi had now acquired twelve ships, all well equipped with men and weapons. He sailed with this host to Denmark, wanting to avenge his father on Jarl Thorgnyr. Vazi was with him, and many other champions. As soon as they reached Jarl Thorgnyr’s realm, they invaded it and pillaged farms, killing men and stealing all the livestock they caught. When the jarl heard this
news, he had the war-arrow carved and summoned his men. But because he was old, he appointed Hrolf and Stefnir to lead his forces. This was the second winter of Hrolf’s first stay in Denmark.

  Hrolf and his forces sailed with ten ships to find Tryggvi. They encountered each other alongside an uninhabited island. They didn’t exchange many greetings. Fighting broke out at once. Tryggvi and Vazi had a great dragon-ship. They were ferocious fighters. It was difficult to carry the fight up into the dragon-ship because of how high its sides were. They dropped stones over the sides of the ship onto Hrolf and his men. Many of Hrolf’s and Stefnir’s men fell, and many were wounded, and the battle was turning against them. Stefnir and Hrolf were wearing the cloaks, Vefreyja’s Gifts, and no weapon hurt them. They steered their ships at the dragon-ship and attacked manfully. Hrolf had the spear Atli’s Gift and a great oaken club under his belt. Stefnir had a good sword in hand, and was the boldest of men.

  When the attack was at the height of fury, Hrolf leaped up into the prow. He forced his way before him, stabbing with the spear so powerfully that the men opposing him either fell, or else they were run through. Stefnir leaped up after him, swinging his sword to left and right. They quickly cleared the prow of men. Then each of them moved sternwards along one side of the ship, and everyone fled back towards the sail. By then the day was mostly over.

  When Tryggvi and Vazi saw this, they charged right at them. Vazi had a thrusting-spear in his hand, and Tryggvi had an axe. Hrolf went up against Vazi, and each one stabbed at the other. The thrusting-spear stuck in Hrolf’s shield and split it all to pieces, but Hrolf wasn’t wounded. Vazi brought up his shield against Hrolf’s blow, but the spear glanced off the shield and pierced Vazi’s thigh, making a severe wound. Vazi struck at the spear-shaft. Hrolf then seized his club and defended himself with that, smashing Vazi’s entire shield. They fought for a long time, until Hrolf broke the thrusting-spear’s shaft. At that moment, Vazi rushed at Hrolf so that he almost fell. Hrolf threw away the club and turned on him. They wrestled long and hard. Hrolf thought that he’d never had to deal with a stronger man who wasn’t a shape-shifter. In the end, Hrolf carried Vazi out onto the gunwale and broke his back.

  Stefnir and Tryggvi had been fighting all this time. Stefnir was worn out by exhaustion and heavy blows, but he wasn’t wounded. Tryggvi was badly wounded. Hrolf hurried over there, and when Tryggvi saw that, he didn’t want to wait around for him and stepped overboard. They couldn’t search for him because of the darkness.

  The battle ended, and a truce was granted to every survivor. Six ships were cleared of all their crews. They took much wealth there and headed for home, leaving matters as they stood. The jarl thanked Hrolf very much for his efforts. They didn’t find Tryggvi at the time, and so they parted with him.

  CHAPTER IX

  It happened one day, as it often happens, that two unknown men walked into the hall. They were tall and bold-looking, but not well fitted out with weapons or clothing. They went before the jarl and greeted him. He accepted their greeting warmly and asked their names.

  The larger man said, “We two are brothers. My name is Hrafn, and my brother is Krak, and our family comes from Flanders.”

  “It was a bad day for good names,” said the jarl, “for such brave men to be called such things.”[29]

  Hrafn said, “We would like to lodge here over the winter, because we’ve been told that you are good to men who’ve stayed with you for a long time.”

  The jarl said that they would be welcome, and arranged for them to sit in the middle of the bench, to the outside of the king’s greatest champion. They stayed there, highly honored by the jarl. They didn’t take part in much good cheer or fun with other men.

  There were always ball games going on.[30] Many men invited the brothers to come play. They said that they’d always played ball and were considered rough players. The jarl’s men promised to take responsibility for whatever happened.

  The next morning, the brothers went to play. They always kept the ball, all day long. They shoved men and knocked them down hard, and struck some. By evening, three men had broken arms, and many were beaten and injured. The jarl’s men thought they had come off badly. This went on for several days.

  The jarl’s men decided to ask the jarl’s son Stefnir to go to the games and even their odds a bit, and he agreed. The next morning, Stefnir went to the playing field. As soon as Hrafn saw him, he said, “Are you so strong that you’re not allowed to play with other men,[31] or do you think you’re so great that no one will dare to play against you?”

  Stefnir said, “I’m neither so strong nor so arrogant that I’m not allowed to play this game.”

  Hrafn said, “Then I invite you to play against us brothers three nights from now, with the teammate of your choice, if you dare.”

  Stefnir said, “You can be sure that I’ll come to the game.”

  He left at once. He took a horse and rode until he came to Hrolf’s castle. This was the second winter of Hrolf’s stay in Denmark. As soon as Hrolf knew that Stefnir had arrived, he went to meet him and welcomed him most cheerfully. Then they sat down to drink.

  Stefnir said, “I’ve come here because I’d like to invite you to play on my side, against the men my father has taken in for the winter, known as Krak and Hrafn.”

  Hrolf said, “I’ve been told that they have injured many men and killed some, and that they are strong men. And I don’t know how to play games. Still, I’ll go with you, if you want.”

  They went to the fort, and the jarl welcomed Hrolf warmly. The next day, Hrolf and Stefnir went to the games. The brothers had also arrived. Hrafn took the ball, and Krak took the stick, and they played as they usually did. The jarl sat on a chair and watched the game. When they had played for a while, Hrolf managed to get the ball. He grabbed the stick away from Krak and gave it to Stefnir. Then they played for a long time, keeping the ball away from the brothers.

  On one occasion, as Hrafn was rushing after the ball, someone stuck out his foot so that he fell. It was a young man with a habit of playing pranks on others, a kinsman of the jarl’s. Hrafn became very angry. He jumped up quickly and grabbed the man who’d tripped him and lifted him up and flung him down on his head, breaking his neck. The jarl shouted to his men and ordered them to seize Hrafn and kill him. Hrolf rushed at Hrafn and grabbed him. Krak and Stefnir were fighting elsewhere, and Hrolf forbade anyone to interfere with them. They hadn’t wrestled for long before Hrolf picked Hrafn up against his chest and threw him down, knocking him unconscious for a long time and scraping the skin from his shoulder-blades.

  But when Hrafn came to, Hrolf helped him up and said, “I see that you have the look of a man of rank. My lord, I ask you to grant these men a pardon, because I know that they come from noble kin.”

  Stefnir had gotten the better of Krak, and asked his father to give Hrolf what he asked for. The jarl was furious for a long time, yet he gave them a pardon, as Hrolf and Stefnir had asked. The brothers were very stiff, and walked off to their quarters without a word. They did not appear at the table that evening.

  The men now left off playing and went to drink. Hrolf said to Stefnir, “Now you must take the finest cloth we have and give it to your sister Thora. She must sew clothes for the brothers, and have them ready early in the morning.”

  Stefnir did so, and went to Thora with the cloth and told her how she should make the clothes. When Stefnir left, she began to sew the clothes. The night passed, and early in the morning Thora sent the finished clothes to Hrolf. He took them and went to the brothers’ lodgings and saw that they were lying down. Hrolf said, “Why is the raven so late in flying, since there’s plenty of carrion, and eagles and other scavengers are full now?”

  Hrafn said, “They can hardly fly if they’ve been plucked, or if they’re molting.”

  Hrolf took the clothes and tossed them at them and left at once. T
he brothers put on the clothes and went into the hall and sat at the table.

  The winter passed. It’s not said that Krak and Hrafn thanked Hrolf for the clothes, or for saving their lives, although they were well treated. Towards the start of summer they left, so that no one knew what became of them. Many felt that they’d acted strangely.

  Hrolf and Stefnir both went on raids through the summer, winning plenty of wealth and fame. They came home in the autumn, safe and sound, but there’s nothing to tell about their mighty deeds.

  CHAPTER X

  The next summer, Hrolf stayed with Jarl Thorgnyr and was honored highly. One day in the autumn, as Jarl Thorgnyr was sitting on his queen’s burial mound and games were being played before him, a swallow flew over him and dropped a silken handkerchief down into his lap and flew away.[32] The jarl took it and untied it, and saw a human hair inside, as long as a tall man and the color of gold.

  That evening, the jarl sat down at the feasting table. He showed his men the hair which the swallow had let fall. Most of them thought that it must be a woman’s hair. The jarl said, “This oath I swear: to win that woman whose hair this is—if I can find out which estates to search, or what land she is in—or else die.”

  Everyone felt that this was a mighty oath, and the men looked at each other.[33]

  Some nights later, the jarl summoned an assembly of many men. He stood up in the assembly and informed the men of the oath he had sworn, and asked whether anyone could recognize this woman, or knew where she would have to be searched for. The hair was also shown, to see if anyone could recognize it.

  Bjorn the Counsellor said, “Gladly will I speak and act, my lord, that it may bring honor and glory to you and your kingdom, rather than any sort of harm or discredit. I judge your sworn oath to be a weighty matter. I think that this woman is not fated to be yours, but I can nearly guess at who she is, though I have never inquired about her before. There was a king named Hreggvid, ruling over Russia. He had a daughter named Ingibjorg, fairest and finest in all respects. I have heard that it’s true that no woman in the Northlands has ever excelled her, nor has had longer and fairer hair than she. My suspicion is that the hair must be hers, whatever the device by which it came to us. Now you all must have heard the truth about what happened to the princess when King Hreggvid fell before King Eirek. She must have a man to joust against the king’s champion Sorkvir and thus rescue her. I think that few would be eager to contend with such a man. Even if someone were to unhorse Sorkvir, I don’t think that the princess would be any easier to get out of Russia than before.”