The Sagas of the Icelanders

by Smilely, Jane

  Bard was the first to answer and said that he would do as his father wished, ‘as I expect Olaf to treat us fairly, the more so as he is much wealthier’.

  Thorleik then said, ‘I won’t have Olaf acknowledged as heir. He has plenty of wealth already. You, Father, have given him many things and for some time now discriminated greatly between us brothers. I won’t voluntarily give up my birthright.’

  Hoskuld spoke: ‘You can’t wish to deprive me of my legal right to give my son twelve ounces for his inheritance, if only in recognition of Olaf’s high birth on his mother’s side.’

  Thorleik consented to this. Hoskuld then took his gifts from King Hakon, a gold arm ring which weighed a mark and sword which was worth half a mark of gold, and gave them to his son Olaf, wishing him all his own good fortune and that of his kinsmen. Hoskuld added that despite his words he was not unaware that this fortune had already found its way to Olaf.

  Olaf said he would take a chance on Thorleik’s reaction and accepted the gifts. Thorleik was very angry, and felt that Hoskuld had tricked him.

  Olaf answered: ‘I don’t intend to return the objects, Thorleik, as you consented to the gift in the presence of witnesses. I’ll take my chances on keeping them.’

  Bard said he would abide by his father’s wishes. Hoskuld died soon afterwards and was greatly mourned, especially by his sons and all his kinsmen, in-laws and friends. His sons had a suitable mound built for his burial, but buried little wealth with him. Afterwards, the brothers discussed among themselves the holding of a memorial feast, a custom which had become fashionable at that time.

  Olaf said, ‘To my mind we won’t be able to hold this feast right away, if we intend to make it grand enough to do us credit. It’s late autumn already and not easy to collect the provisions we need. Many people, who have a long way to travel, will think making the journey in the autumn too difficult, and we can be sure that a lot of the people we want most to attend wouldn’t come in fact. I suggest we announce the feast at the Althing next summer instead. I’ll pay a third of the cost.’

  The brothers agreed to this and Olaf returned home. Thorleik and Bard divided the inheritance between them. Bard took over their father’s farm, as he had more supporters and was the more popular, while Thorleik received a larger share of the goods and livestock. Relations between Olaf and Bard were warm, but rather cool between Olaf and Thorleik. The winter passed and summer came and soon it was time for the Althing. When the Hoskuldssons got ready to attend the Althing it was evident that Olaf would take the lead. Upon arriving they set up their booth in fine style.

  27 It is said that one day, as men were gathering at the Law Rock, Olaf got to his feet and called for attention.

  He began by recalling his father’s death: ‘As many of his kinsmen and friends are here today, my brothers and I would like to invite all of you godis to a feast in honour of our father, Hoskuld, as most of you leading men were connected to him by marriage. I can also promise you that no man of influence will leave empty-handed. In addition, we invite farmers and any others who care to come, whether beggars or their betters, to attend this fortnight’s feast at Hoskuldsstadir when ten weeks of summer remain.’

  When Olaf had finished speaking, there was general approval of his speech and generosity. He returned to the booth and told his brothers of his plans, but they were not at all enthusiastic and felt he had gone too far. After the assembly the brothers returned home. The summer passed and they began preparations for the feast. Olaf contributed his third and more, and the feast was very sumptuous. Great quantities of supplies were needed, as large numbers of guests were expected. Most of the prominent people who had promised to come attended the feast at the appointed time. There were so many people that most reports put the figure at over a thousand guests. It was the second-largest feast ever held in Iceland, the largest being the memorial feast held by the Hjaltasons in memory of their father, which was attended by over fourteen hundred people.

  The feast was grand in every respect and a great credit to the brothers, especially Olaf. For the parting presents, which were given to all the important men, he contributed a share equal to that of both his brothers.

  When most of the guests had left, Olaf turned to his brother Thorleik and said, ‘Brother, as you well know, we have shown each other little affection in the past. I wish we could do better in the future. I know you resented my accepting the gifts from our father on his deathbed and if you still feel yourself hard done by, I would like to make it up to you by fostering your son, as he who raises the child of another is always considered as the lesser of the two.’

  Thorleik was pleased by the offer, and agreed that it did him great honour. Olaf then took over the upbringing of Thorleik’s son Bolli, who was three years of age at the time. They parted on the best of terms, with Bolli returning home to Hjardarholt with Olaf. Thorgerd welcomed him warmly and Bolli grew up with them. They loved him no less than their own children.

  28 Olaf and Thorgerd had a son. He was sprinkled with water and given the name Kjartan, after his grandfather Myrkjartan, and was almost the same age as Bolli. They had other children as well: their sons were Steinthor, Halldor and Helgi, and the youngest was Hoskuld. They had two daughters: Bergthora and Thorbjorg. All their children grew up into promising youngsters.

  In Saurbaer, on the farm called Tunga, there lived a man called Bersi the Dueller. He came to Olaf and offered to foster his son Halldor. Olaf accepted the offer and Bersi took Halldor, who was a year old at the time, home with him. That same summer Bersi grew ill, and was bedridden for most of the summer. It is said that one day the household at Tunga were out haying and only the two of them, Halldor and Bersi, at home. Halldor lay in a cradle, which fell on one side and the youngster rolled out. Bersi couldn’t get up to help him, and spoke the following verse:

  I. Both of us lie,

  flat on our backs,

  Halldor and I

  helpless and frail.

  Old age does this to me,

  but youth to you,

  you’ve hope of better,

  but I, none at all.

  People soon returned home and picked Halldor up off the floor, and Bersi got better again. Halldor grew up at Tunga and was a large and robust man.

  Kjartan Olafsson grew up with his parents at Hjardarholt. No fairer or more handsome man has ever been born in Iceland. He had a broad face and regular features, the most beautiful eyes and a fair complexion. His hair was thick and as shiny as silk, and fell in waves. He was a big, strong man, much like his grandfather, Egil, or Thorolf. No man cut a better figure than Kjartan, and people were always struck by his appearance when they saw him. He was a better fighter than most, skilled with his hands, and a top swimmer. He was superior to other men in all skills, and yet he was the humblest of men, and so popular that every child loved him. He also had a generous and cheerful disposition. Of all his children, Kjartan was Olaf’s favourite.

  His foster-brother, Bolli, grew into a large man. Next to Kjartan, he was the best at all skills and in other accomplishments. He was strong and handsome, a top fighter, with good manners and fond of fine clothes. The foster-brothers cared deeply for one another. Olaf stayed at home on his farm for many years after that.

  29 It is said that one spring Olaf announced to Thorgerd that he intended to travel abroad, ‘and I want you to look after our farm and family while I’m away’.

  Thorgerd said she was not in favour of the idea, but Olaf said he intended to have his way. He bought a ship which was beached at Vadil and sailed abroad that summer. He made land in the Hordaland district. A short distance from shore lived a man known as Geirmund Thunder, a powerful and wealthy man and a great Viking. He was a troublemaker, who had settled down and become a follower of Earl Hakon the Powerful.

  Geirmund went down to the ship and, on hearing his name, recognized Olaf from the stories he had heard of him. He invited Olaf to come and stay with him and bring as many men as he wished. Olaf accepted his of
fer and went to stay with him, taking five others with him. The rest of the crew were placed on various farms in Hordaland. Geirmund treated Olaf well. He had a large farmhouse and a large household; in the winter there was plenty of entertainment.

  As spring approached, Olaf told Geirmund that the purpose of his voyage was to get building timber and that it was of great importance to him to get a prime selection of timber.

  Geirmund replied: ‘Earl Hakon owns the best forest around. I’m sure that if you seek his help, it’ll be within your reach. Men who have less to recommend them than you, Olaf, have been handsomely received by the earl when they paid him a visit.’

  In the spring Olaf prepared for his journey to Earl Hakon. He was warmly received by the earl, who invited him to stay with him as long as he wished.

  Olaf told the earl the reasons for his voyage. ‘I would like to request permission to cut lumber in your forest, my lord.’

  The earl replied: ‘It’s an honour for me to fill your ship with wood from the forest, as it is not every day we receive guests like you from Iceland.’

  In parting the earl gave Olaf an axe inlaid with gold, a prize weapon, and they parted the best of friends. Geirmund had secretly put others in charge of his lands and planned on going to Iceland that summer aboard Olaf’s ship. He had kept this a secret from everybody, and before Olaf realized what was happening Geirmund had had all his wealth, which was no small sum, loaded aboard the ship.

  Olaf said, ‘You’d not be travelling aboard my ship if I’d known of your plans earlier, as I suspect it would be better if some people in Iceland never laid eyes upon you. But since you’re here, with all your property, I can hardly run you off my ship like some stray dog.’

  Geirmund said, ‘I’m not about to turn back, despite your harsh words, and I’m not asking you for free passage.’

  Both he and Olaf boarded the ship and sailed out to sea. They had favourable winds and made land in Breidafjord, setting the gangways ashore at the mouth of the Laxa river. Olaf had the timber unloaded and the ship drawn up into the boatshed which his father had had built. He invited Geirmund to stay at his farm.

  That summer Olaf had a fire-hall built at Hjardarholt which was larger and grander than men had ever seen before. On the wood of the gables, and the rafters, ornamental tales were carved. It was so well crafted that it was thought more ornamental without the tapestries than with them.

  Geirmund was a sullen man and made little effort to get along with most people. He usually wore a red woollen tunic with a grey fur cloak about his shoulders, and had a hat of bearskin on his head and a sword in his hand. His sword was a fine weapon, with a hilt of walrus ivory. It had no silver overlay, but the blade was sharp and without a spot of rust. He called the sword Leg-biter and never let it out of his sight.

  Geirmund had only stayed with Olaf a short time when he began to fancy his daughter Thurid. He put a proposal of marriage to Olaf, who turned him down. Geirmund then approached Thorgerd and offered her money if she would support his suit. She accepted the money, which was no petty sum, and soon raised the subject with Olaf.

  She said that in her opinion, their daughter could not wish for a better match – ‘He’s a great warrior, rich and generous with his money.’

  To this Olaf replied, ‘Have it your own way then, as you do in most things, but I would rather marry Thurid to someone else.’

  Thorgerd went off highly satisfied with her efforts and told Geirmund of the results. He thanked her for interceding on his behalf and for her determination. When he approached Olaf a second time he received his consent. Geirmund was then engaged to Thurid, and their wedding was held later that winter at Hjardarholt. A great number of people attended the feast as the fire-hall was finished by that time. Among the guests was a poet, Ulf Uggason, who had composed a poem about Olaf Hoskuldsson and the tales carved on the wood of the fire-hall which he recited at the feast. It is called House Drapa and is a fine piece of verse. Olaf rewarded him well for the poem, and gave all the important people who attended the feast fine gifts, gaining considerable respect as a result.

  30 There was little affection in the relations between Geirmund and Thurid, and the coolness was also mutual. Geirmund stayed at Olaf’s farm for three years before declaring he wished to go abroad and leave behind Thurid and their daughter Groa, who was a year old, without any means of support. This pleased neither mother nor daughter and both of them complained to Olaf.

  Olaf said, ‘Why, Thorgerd, is your easterner not quite as generous now as he was that autumn when he asked you for your daughter’s hand?’

  They could not provoke Olaf into taking action, as he sought to resolve differences wherever possible and avoided trouble. He said that in any case the child should remain there until she was of an age to travel. In parting, Olaf made Geirmund a present of the merchant ship, completely outfitted. Geirmund thanked him well and said it was a most generous gift. He made ready and sailed from the mouth of the Laxa river on a light north-easterly breeze, but the wind died as they reached the islands. The ship lay at anchor off Oxney for a fortnight, without gaining a favourable wind for its departure.

  During that time Olaf had to leave to oversee the collecting of driftwood on beaches he owned. After his departure Thurid summoned several servants and told them to accompany her. They were a party of ten, counting her infant daughter, whom she also took along. She had them launch a ferry which Olaf owned, and sail or row out to the mouth of Hvammsfjord. When they reached the islands, she told them to set out the boat which was on board the ferry. Thurid got into the boat along with two others, telling those who remained behind to look after the ferry until she returned. Taking the child in her arms, Thurid instructed the men to row across the current so that they could reach the ship. From the storage chest in the bow of the boat Thurid took an auger which she handed to one of her companions. She told him to make his way to the ship’s boat and bore holes in it, so that it would be unusable if it were needed in a hurry. She then had them row her and the child ashore. By this time it was dawn. She walked up the gangway and on board the ship. Everyone aboard was asleep. Thurid made her way to Geirmund’s leather sleeping sack where his sword Leg-biter hung. She placed the child in the sack, took the sword and made her way off the ship and back to her companions.

  The child soon began to cry and woke Geirmund. He sat up and, recognizing his daughter, suspected who was behind all this. Jumping to his feet, he reached for his sword, only to find it gone, as might be expected. Running up on deck he saw Thurid and her companions rowing their boat away. Geirmund called out to his men to jump into the ship’s boat and row after them. They did so, but hadn’t gone far when they noticed the sea water flooding in and turned back to the ship.

  Geirmund then called to Thurid to come back and return his sword Leg-biter – ‘and take your daughter with you and whatever wealth you want’.

  Thurid said, ‘Do you mind the loss of your sword so much?’

  Geirmund replied, ‘I’d have to lose a great deal of money before I minded it as much as the loss of that sword.’

  She said, ‘Then you will never have it, as you have treated me dishonourably in more ways than one. This will be the last you’ll see of me.’

  Geirmund then spoke: ‘That sword will bring you no luck.’

  She replied that she would take that chance.

  ‘Then I lay this curse upon it,’ Geirmund said, ‘that it will be the death of that man in your family who will most be missed and least deserve it.’

  Thurid then returned to Hjardarholt. Olaf had returned and was not at all pleased at her escapade, but no action was taken. Thurid gave the sword Leg-biter to her kinsman Bolli, as she was no less fond of him than of her own brothers, and Bolli wore the sword for many years afterwards.

  A favourable wind arose, and Geirmund and his men sailed out to sea, making land in Norway that autumn. One night they ran aground on rocks near Stad, and Geirmund and all aboard were drowned, bringing Geirmund�
�s story to an end.

  31 As written earlier, Olaf Hoskuldsson lived on his farm and enjoyed the respect of others.

  A man named Gudmund Solmundarson lived at Asbjarnarnes in Vididal in north Iceland. Gudmund was a wealthy man. He asked for Thurid’s hand in marriage and she was betrothed to him with a large dowry. Thurid was a shrewd, determined woman, quick to anger and demanding. They had four sons, named Hall, Bardi, Stein and Steingrim, and two daughters, Gudrun and Olof.

  Olaf’s daughter, Thorbjorg, was a good-looking, heavy-set woman. She was called Thorbjorg the Stout and was married to Asgeir Knattarson, a man of good family, in Vatnsfjord in the West Fjords. Their son Kjartan was the father of Thorvald, who was the father of Thord, who was the father of Snorri, who was the father of Thorvald. The people of Vatnsfjord trace their descent to them. Thorbjorg was married a second time, to Vermund Thorgrimsson. Their daughter Thorfinna was married to Thorstein Kuggason.

  A third daughter, Bergthora, was married to Thorhall, a godi in Djupifjord in the West Fjords, who was the son of Oddi Yrarson. Their son was Kjartan, the father of Smid-Sturla, who fostered Thord Gilsson, the father of Sturla.

  Olaf Peacock had many prime animals among his livestock. One of them was an ox, called Harri, which was dapple grey in colour and larger than other steers, with four horns. Two of them were large and well formed, but a third grew straight out and the fourth curved from his forehead down below his eyes. He used it as an icebreaker. He pawed the snow away to get at the grass like the horses.

  During one long, hard winter which killed off great numbers of livestock Harri went from the farm at Hjardarholt to a place now called Harrastadir in the valley of Breidafjord. He ranged there all winter with sixteen steers and managed to find enough grass for all of them. In the spring he returned to the pastureland now known as Harrabol (Harri’s Lair) at Hjardarholt. When he had reached the age of eighteen years the icebreaker fell from his forehead. Olaf had him slaughtered that autumn. The following night Olaf dreamed that a large, angry-looking woman approached him.