Then the farmer’s son said, “If our kings lost more men, the bailiffs of the king of Sweden will make up for that with the lives of twelve men when they arrive here from the south after Yule, and you poor men do not know why you are kept here.” Thórodd considered what he was going to say to that while many grinned and used foul language about them and their king. Then, as the ale had its effect on the Jamtalanders, things became clear to Thórodd which he had not before suspected.
On the day following, Thórodd and his companion took their clothing and their weapons so that they had them handy; and later in the night when men were asleep they slipped away to the forest. Next morning when people became aware of their escape, they were pursued with bloodhounds that spotted them where they had hidden, and they were brought back to a small detached house in which there was a deep pit. They were put in there and the door was locked on them. They were given little food and they had no clothes except those they wore.
When it was middle of Yule, Thórar and all the freemen repaired to his relative where they were to be guests during the latter part of Yule. Thórar’s thralls were left to guard the prisoners. Enough of the drink was left them, and they observed no moderation about it and in the evening straightway became drunk with it. Now when they felt themselves completely drunk, those who were to bring food to the men in the pit agreed with each other that the prisoners were not to lack food. Thórodd recited poems, and so entertained the thralls, and they declared him to be a capital fellow and gave him a real big candle and lighted it for him. Then those of them who had been inside the house went outside and called out loud to the others to go in; but both parties were drunk, so they locked neither the pit nor the house. Then Thórodd and his companion tore their cloaks into shreds, knotted them together, and made a knot on the end. This rope they threw up onto the floor of the house. There it wrapped itself around the foot of a chest and was fast there. They then tried to haul themselves up. Thórodd lifted his companion up to stand on his shoulders, whereupon he crawled up through the opening in the floor. He found plenty of rope in the house and let it down to Thórodd. But when he attempted to pull Thórodd up he found he did not have sufficient strength. Then Thórodd told him to throw the rope over the cross-beam of the house and make a loop on the end of it, and in it place enough stones and wood so as to more than outweigh him; and so he did. Then that weight went down into the pit, and Thórodd came up.
They got them all the clothes they needed in the house. There were some reindeer skins there, and from these they cut the hoofs and tied them backward under their feet. Before they left they put fire to a large barn, then betook themselves off into the pitch-dark night. The barn burned down, and many another house in the settlement.
Thórodd and his companion traversed the wilderness all night, hiding during the day. They were missed in the morning. Then people went out in all directions with bloodhounds to look for them. But the dogs tracked their footprints back to the house, because they scented the reindeer hoofs and tracked the footprints in the direction shown by the hoofs, and nothing came of the search.
Thórodd and his companion travelled for a long time in the desert woods and one evening came to a small farm. They went in, and found a man and a woman sitting by the fire. The man gave his name as Thórir and said the woman sitting there was his wife. He also told them that he had settled there because he had to flee the village on account of a killing. Thórodd and his companion were well entertained, and they all ate by the fire. Afterwards a place for their bedding was made for them on the dais, and they lay down to sleep. The fire in the fireplace had not died down yet. Then Thórodd saw a man come in out of another house. He had never seen so large a man. That man wore a scarlet cloak with a gold lace border and was of a most stately appearance. Thórodd heard him reproach their hosts for taking in guests when they scarcely had enough to eat themselves. The woman of the house answered, “Don’t be angry, brother, this has rarely happened before. Rather do you give them some help, because you are better able to do so than we.” Thórodd heard that large man called Arnljót Gellini, and gathered that the woman of the house was his sister. Thórodd had heard Arnljót mentioned and that he was a wicked highwayman and evildoer.
Thórodd and his companion slept during the night, for they were tired from walking. But when two thirds of the night had passed, Arnljót came to them and told them to get up and make ready for the journey. So Thórodd and his companion got up quickly and dressed. They were given a breakfast. Then Thórir provided them both with skis. Arnljót made ready to go with them. He mounted his skis, which were both broad and long. But no sooner had he stuck down his ski pole but he was far ahead of them. Then he stopped for them and said they would get nowhere that way, and told them to get on his skis [behind him]. So they did. Thórodd stood close to him, holding onto Arnijót’s belt, and his companion held onto him. Thereupon Arnljót ran as fast as though he were unencumbered.
When a third of the night1 had passed they came to some place of shelter for travellers. There they kindled a fire and prepared to eat. But while they ate, Arnljót warned them not to throw away any bit of food, whether bones or crumbs. Arnljót took a silver dish from out of his cloak and ate from it. When they had eaten their fill Arnljót hid their leavings, and then they prepared to go to sleep.
In one end of the house there was a loft up above the cross beams. Arnljót and the two others climbed up there and lay down to sleep. Arnljót had a large halberd whose socket was inlaid with gold and whose shaft was so long that with uplifted hands one could just reach the socket, and he was girded with a sword. They took both their weapons and their clothes with them into the loft. Arnljót told them to keep their peace. He lay on the outside [of where they lay] in the loft.
Shortly afterwards there came twelve men into the house. They were merchants who were travelling to Jamtaland with their wares. Now when they entered the house they were noisy with cheerful merriment and kindled big fires. And when they ate they threw all the bones away. Then they got ready to sleep and lay down on the dais by the fire. When they had slept but a short time, a big troll woman came to the house, and when she entered it, she swiftly swept everything together, bones and everything she thought edible and devoured it. Then she grabbed the man lying nearest to her, ripped him to pieces, and threw him on the fire. Then the others awoke as if from a bad dream, and jumped up; but she killed one after the other, so that only one survived. He ran in under the loft and shouted for help if there was anyone up there who could help him. Arnljót reached down, grabbed him by the shoulders, and pulled him up into the loft. Then the troll woman turned to the fire and took to devouring the men who were roasted. Then Arnljót got up, seized his halberd, and ran it through her between the shoulder blades so that the point came out at her breast. She reared up quickly, shrieked fiendishly, and rushed out of doors. Arnljót had to let go of his spear, and she took it out with her. Arnljót cleared away the corpses and set the door and the door frame back in the house, for she had broken out both when she ran out.
They slept through the remainder of the night, and when it dawned they arose and first ate their breakfast. When they had eaten, Arnljót said, “Now we shall have to part. You must now follow the sleigh tracks which the merchants made when they came here yesterday, but I shall be looking for my halberd. As a reward [for what I did for you] I shall take what seems will bring money of the things these men had along. You, Thórodd, shall deliver my greetings to King Óláf and tell him that he is the man I would most gladly meet. However, my greetings will probably not seem of any value to him.” Thereupon he took up the silver dish, dried it with a towel and said, “Bring the king this dish and tell him this is my greeting.”
Then both he and Thórodd made ready to go on, and so they parted. Thórodd, his comrade, and also the man who had been the only one of his party to escape, went their way. Thórodd journeyed on till he found King Óláf in Nitharós and told him all that had happened to him. He also brou
ght him the greetings of Arnljót and gave him the silver dish. The king remarked that he was very sorry that Arnljót had not himself come to see him, “and it is a great pity that such great misfortune should befall so brave and remarkable a man.” Thórodd afterwards stayed with King Óláf during the remainder of the winter and then received permission from him to return to Iceland in the summer following.
Chapter 142. Karl of Mœr Offers to Collect the Tribute from the Faroes
In spring King Óláf made ready to leave Nitharós, and a great 1027 force gathered to him both from the Trondheim districts and from the northern parts of the land. When finished with his preparations he first proceeded south to Mœr with his force and collected the troops levied from there and from Raums Dale. Thereupon he sailed to South Mœr. For a long time he tarried in the Herey Islands,1 waiting for his levy, and often he held councils [with his advisors]; for much was brought to his attention which appeared to him to need consideration. At one of these council meetings he spoke about the loss of men he had suffered in the Faroes, “but the tribute which they promised to pay,” he said, “that is not forthcoming. Now I intend once more to send for the tribute.” The king addressed himself to various people about this matter, as to who was to undertake this journey; but the answers he got all came to the same: everyone excused himself from it.
Thereupon a man of tall stature and imposing appearance stood up in the council hall. He wore a red kirtle, had a helmet on his head, was girt with a sword, and had a large halberd in his hand. He spoke as follows. “In truth,” he said, “there is a great difference between the men assembled here. You have a good king, but he has poor men. You refuse a mission he requires of you, whereas you have previously received from him friendly gifts and things of value. As to myself, I have not till now been a friend to this king. And he has been hostile to me, alleging that he has reasons for so being. Now, sir king, I shall offer to go on this expedition unless you can find better men to do so.”
The king said, “Who is this manly fellow who made answer to my demand? There is a big difference between you and the other men here, since you offer to undertake this journey, whereas they excuse themselves who I thought were well fitted to undertake it. But I know nothing whatever about you, and I do not know your name.”
He made this answer, “My name is not difficult [to remember] sir king. I expect that you have heard of me before. I am called Karl of Mœr.”
The king replied, “So it is, Karl, I have heard you mentioned before; and to say the truth there have been occasions when you would not have lived to tell of it if ever we two had met. But now I will show myself not a worse man than you, seeing that you offer me your aid, and shall give you in return my thanks and good will. You are to come to me, Karl, and be my guest today. Then we shall talk about this matter.” Karl replied that he would.
Chapter 143. Karl Is Slain by Thránd’s Kinsmen
Karl of Mœr had been a viking and a great pirate, and the king often had sent out men to catch him and make away with him. But Karl was of noble lineage, a man of great enterprise, an athlete, and resourceful in many ways. Now since Karl had agreed to go on this expedition, the king came to terms with him—in fact, grew to be his friend—and equipped him for it to the best of his ability. On his ship were nearly twenty men. The king gave him messages to his friends in the Faroes, and recommended Karl to Leif Ozurarson and Gilli the Lawspeaker to lend him their support and backing, if he needed it, and furnished Karl with tokens [to show his authority].
Karl departed at once when ready. He had favorable winds, and anchored at Thórshafn on Straumey Island. An assembly was called and was attended by many. Thránd of Gata came there with a large following, and also Leif and Gilli. They also had a large following. When they had set up their booths and got everything ready, they went forth to meet Karl of Mœr. There were friendly greetings between them. Thereupon Karl produced the message and the tokens of King Óláf, and delivered his greetings of friendship to Gilli and Leif. They accepted them in good grace and invited Karl to their homes, offering to further his errand and give him such support as they were able to. He accepted that gratefully. Shortly afterwards Thránd came up and gave Karl a friendly welcome. “I am glad,” he said, “that such a splendid fellow has come to our land with business from our king to whom we all are bound in obedience. I will have it, Karl, that you come to my house to pass the winter, together with all your crew, to maintain the dignity of your position.” Karl replied that he had already decided to be a guest of Leif. “Otherwise,” he said, “I would gladly accept this offer.” Thránd remarked, “In that case great honor accrues to Leif from this. But is there anything else which I might do to help you?” Karl answered that it would be a great help if Thránd collected the tax in Austrey Island as well as in all the northerly islands. Thránd replied that it was no more than his bounden duty to render him that service in the king’s business.
Thereupon Thránd went back to his booth. Nothing else worth telling happened at that assembly. Karl went to Leif Ozurarson as his guest and stayed there the following winter. Leif collected the tax in Straumey Island and all the islands to the south of it.
In the spring following Thránd of Gata was ill with pains in his eyes, and besides had other ailments, yet he got ready to travel to the assembly as was his wont. And when he arrived at the assembly and his booth was tented over, he had it covered with black material on the inside so that less light should come in. Now when several days during which the assembly met had passed, Leif and Karl with numerous followers proceeded to Thránd’s booth. As they approached it they saw several men standing outside. Leif asked if Thránd was in the booth, and they replied that he was. Leif told them to request Thránd to come out. “Karl and I have some business with him,” he said. But when they returned they said that Thránd had such pain in his eyes that he could not come out, “and he requested that you, Leif, come in.”
Leif told his followers to proceed cautiously when entering the booth, not to crowd one another, “and let him come out first who enters last.” Leif was the first to enter, Karl next, then his followers, and they went in all armed as if prepared to go into battle. Leif went in toward the black hangings and asked where Thránd was. Thránd answered and greeted Leif. Leif returned his greetings and then asked if he perchance had collected the tax in the north islands and whether the silver was going to be paid out. Thránd answered and said that he had not forgotten what Karl and he had talked about, and that the tax would be paid out. “Here is a purse for you, Leif, it is full of silver.” Leif looked about him and saw only a few men in the booth. Some were lying on the dais, and a few were sitting up. Leif went up to Thránd to receive the purse, and carried it toward the front of the booth where it was light, poured it into his shield, rooted in it with his hand, and told Karl to look at the silver. They examined it for a while. Then Karl asked what Leif thought about it.
Karl of Mœr sits down to count the silver.
He replied, “It seems to me that all the bad money in the North Islands has been brought here.”
Thránd overheard that and said, “Don’t you like the silver, Leif?”
“No indeed,” he said.
Thránd said, “Why then our kinsmen prove to be perfect scoundrels whom you can’t trust about anything. I sent them this spring to collect the tax in the North Isles since I was not fit to do anything, this spring; and they have taken bribes from the farmers to accept such counterfeit money as can’t be given in payment. And it would be best, Leif, if you looked at that silver which was paid to me for ground rent.”
Thereupon Leif brought the silver back and received another purse, which he brought to where Karl stood. They looked that money over, and Karl asked Leif what he thought about it. He said that he thought that money was poor, but not so bad that it could not be given for debts about which there had not been a strict agreement, “but I don’t want to use this money for settling with the king.”
Then a man who w
as lying on the dais threw off the cloak covering his head and said, “There is truth in the adage ‘the older a man gets, the worse he grows.’ That is the case with you, Thránd, if you let Karl of Mœr repudiate your money all day long.” It was Gaut the Red who had spoken.
At these words of Gaut, Thránd jumped up and furiously reproached his kinsmen, using many hard words. And he ended by requesting Leif to hand him back the silver he had given him, “and here take the purse my renters brought me this spring. And though my eyesight is poor, one’s own hand is most trustworthy.”
Then a man who was lying on the dais raised himself on his elbow. It was Thórth the Little. He said, “It isn’t a few taunts we have to stand from that Mœr-Karl, and he ought to be repaid for it.”
Leif took the purse [Thránd had given him] and again carried it to Karl. They inspected the money in it. Then Leif said, “One does not need to look long at this silver. Here one coin is better than the other, and this money we want to have. Get a man, Thránd, to weigh it.” Thránd said he thought it was best if Leif saw to that for him.
Then Leif and those with him went out a short distance from the booth where they sat down to weigh the silver. Karl took off his helmet and poured the silver into it after it was weighed. They saw a man come up to them. He had a cudgel in his hand and a wide cowl on his head. He wore a green cloak, with linen breeches laced about his legs, and he was barefooted. He put down his cudgel on the ground and left it there, saying: “Look out, Mœr-Karl, that my cudgel won’t hurt you.”
Shortly afterwards a man came running and called out loud to Leif Ozurarson to come at once to the booth of Gilli the Lawspeaker, that “Sigurth Thorláksson rushed through the tent flaps and has wounded one of the men in there mortally.” Leif sprang up at once and went to find Gilli. All of the men in his booth went with him, leaving Karl behind with a circle of Norwegians about him. Gaut the Red ran up and, with his [long-handled] axe, reached over their shoulders and inflicted a wound on Karl’s head. It was not a dangerous wound. Thórth the Little grabbed the club lying on the ground and with a blow of it on the head of the axe drove it into Karl’s brain. At that point a crowd of men poured out of Thránd’s booth. Karl was carried away dead.
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