Jorund Neck was the second most prominent man who came out to Iceland with Ingimund; on the advice of his kinsman Ingimund, he settled land beyond Urdarvatn and all the way to Mogilslaek, and lived at Grand below Jorandarfell in Vatnsdal. He was powerful, and so was his family. His son was a worthy man named Mar who lived in Masstadir in Vatnsdal. He and Ingimund’s sons grew up at the same time. The valley became widely settled. There was a man named Hvati who journeyed out to Iceland with Ingimund and claimed the land from Mogilslaek to Gilja. Asmund took land beyond Helgavatn and around the Thingeyrar district. Saudadal lies to the east of Vatnsdal, and then Svinadal, and in that valley lie Svinavatn and Beigadarhol.
There was a man called Thorolf Dark-skin. He settled in Forsaeludal. He was a big troublemaker and an unpopular man. He caused much friction and disruption in the district. He built a fortification for himself in the south by Fridmundara river, a short distance from Vatnsdalsa, and next to a ravine; a headland ran between the ravine and the river, and at its edge was a great cliff. The suspicion was that he offered up human sacrifice, and no man in all the valley was disliked more than he was. The place where Hvati lived was called Hvatastadir, and Asmund lived at Gnup. There was a man named Ottar, who lived at Grimstungur. He married Asdis, daughter of Olaf from Haukagil. Their son was Hallfred the Troublesome Poet, and his daughter was named Valgerd, a very showy, good-looking woman.
17 And so time passed. Ingimund grew somewhat elderly, but always kept up his generous hospitality. Nothing is said here of his dealings at the assembly – that he pursued great lawsuits against men – because he got on well with most people and was not aggressive. There were good people aplenty in the vicinity, but it was he who enjoyed the most honour, and his goodwill, generosity and clear head helped sustain this. His sons grew up and were all accomplished in the ways already described.
One summer it is said that a ship owned by some Norwegians came into Hunavatnsos. The skipper was called Hrafn. He was taciturn by nature, burly, difficult to deal with, and a self-made man; he had been on Viking raids for a long time, and was well off for weapons and war-clothing. It was Ingimund’s custom to be the first man to meet any ship, and to select from its wares whatever he fancied; and he did so on this occasion – he met with the skipper for a talk, and offered him the hospitality of his home if he wanted it. Hrafn said that there was nothing better on offer, and went home with Ingimund, and continued to act as before, and kept very much to himself. There had been many a man staying with Ingimund whom he had liked better, because Hrafn was no loyal follower and the two men had nothing in common. Hrafn always had a fine sword in his hand. Ingimund often ran his eyes over it, and once asked to see it. Hrafn said that he could. Ingimund took hold of it and drew it. The weapon seemed to him worth no less now, and he asked if he would like to sell it. Hrafn declared that he was not so hard up that he would hand over a weapon; but he said that the farmer would have payment for his hospitality. Hrafn said that he had been in places where he had needed weapons and might find himself in such places again. Ingimund was very angry and felt that he had been insulted, and he pondered what he ought to do.
On one occasion when he went to his temple, he arranged it so that the Norwegian went with him. Ingimund then spoke to him in a casual way about the topic which he found pleased him most – Hrafn always wanted to talk about his Viking adventures and raids. Ingimund went on ahead into the temple, and the next thing he knew was that Hrafn had rushed into the temple with his sword.
Ingimund turned towards him and said, ‘It is not our custom to carry weapons into the temple, and you are exposing yourself to the wrath of the gods, and this is intolerable unless some amends is made.’
Hrafn answered, ‘You have waited and plotted here for a long time; but if I have broken your laws, then I think it right that you should deal with it, because you are said to be a just man.’
Ingimund said that it would be suitable amends for Hrafn to honour the gods, and said that it would help his cause most that he had not acted wilfully – ‘and therefore there is less likelihood of vengeance’, and said justice would be best served if Hrafn were to hand over the sword to him, because Ingimund could then say that he owned and had control of it, and in this way assuage the wrath of the gods.
Hrafn said that Ingimund had had a good deal of money off him already, and this business seemed to him no better – ‘your other dealings do you more credit’.
He went away during the summer and is out of this saga. Father and son owned this sword for as long as they lived, and they called it Aettartangi.
There was a man named Eyvind, known as ‘the Proud’. He came out from Norway with Ingimund and returned there one summer together with Thororm; the two men were friends. Ingimund lent them Stigandi and said that, even though he was not going himself, he was curious to know whether the ship could stride the waves. Ingimund was a popular figure with all good men. The next summer they sailed back into Blonduaros from Norway and were able to tell Ingimund that the ship could not have been better. They had had a very good trading voyage. Eyvind lived at Blondudal, and Gaut in Gautsdal.
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 Hr
odny; 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 bef
ore, 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.
The Sagas of the Icelanders Page 34