The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

by Allen French

  CHAPTER IV

  OF EINAR AND ONDOTT

  Now the tale turns to speak of Einar and his household, how they dweltat Fellstead, upon the low-lying land. Einar was a rich man, and hekept a large household of many thralls and servants. And for hispleasure, that he might seem the greater in the eyes of his neighbors,he kept men who did no work, but bore arms wheresoever they went; yetit had never been known that Einar brought any matter to bloodshed. Hewas not firm in any dealings, but he wished to be thought a great man.His holding was wide, for he owned all that the fathers of Hiarandihad had. Yet from his yard he often looked with no contented eyetoward the hall of Hiarandi, where it stood above the crags, lookingfar over firth and fell.

  Now of the men of Einar's household Ondott had the ruling, for hepleased Einar much, yet they were different in all outward ways. ForEinar was short and plump, given to puffing and swelling as he spoke,and of many smooth words; but Ondott was tall and thin, lean-visagedand sour, and of surly speech. Einar was fond of dress, while Ondottwent in simple clothes; yet they both loved money, and some accusedOndott of hoarding, but Einar spent freely, seeking to gain by giftswhat his wit could not win for him. For he was not loved, and menthought little of his counsels.

  Of the women at Fellstead one old freedwoman was chief; and she heldin especial care the daughter of Einar, Helga by name, who was yetyoung, being but thirteen years of age. She was of a sweet nature. Nowone morning Helga stood with Dalla the old woman before the women'sdoor of the hall, and they saw where came toward them a woman muchbent, and covered with a cape and hood; when she came near, they knewher for Thurid from Cragness. She begged them for lodging and work.Dalla sent for Einar.

  "How is it come," asked Einar, "that thou hast left Hiarandi?"

  "The man," said she, "calls upon his doom, and I will not stay toshare it." And she told of the beacon, and how thereby a ship had beensaved.

  "Now," quoth Einar, "Hiarandi is a fool, so to break an old custom."

  "Yet meseems," said Helga timidly, "that it was a kind thing to do."

  "Thou art but a child," he answered reprovingly. But she came closerto him and pulled his sleeve.

  "Let not the old woman stay here," she whispered. "For I like not herlooks, and I mistrust her."

  But Ondott, who heard, said: "Nay, let us keep the old carline, ifonly to spite Hiarandi." And Dalla added: "She is a good worker, andhandy to have about the place. Let us give her room." So Einar badeThurid go within, and do what work was set her, in pay for her keep.But he asked her before he went away:

  "Why camest thou here?"

  "A rat," said she, "will leave a house that is sure to fall, and seekone which will stand." Then Einar was greatly pleased with her, andbade give her a better cloak. So it was that Thurid dwelt atFellstead, and paid well with her work for her keep; but at Cragnessshe was missed, and the work was harder. Yet Thurid made no moreprophecies, nor spoke of those which had been made. But it was knownthat the thralls of Hiarandi were set to light beacons on stormynights, and he was much laughed at by the dwellers at Fellstead. Andhis thralls found it hard work, and became greatly discontented; yetsince it was winter time, they had little else to do.

  Now one of them was named Malcolm, a Scot, and he came one day toFellstead, when he was not needed at the farm. And Ondott met him, andasked him in, and asked him questions of matters at Cragness. As theyspoke by the fire, Thurid passed by, and she sang to herself:

  "Evil and ill Come together still."

  Malcolm asked: "Does the woman still make her rhymes with you?"

  "Little have I heard her sing," answered Ondott. "But what sang shewith you?"

  Then Malcolm told of the singing of Thurid and Asdis, and of theprophecies of the old woman. And when he went away, Ondott gave him asmall piece of money and bade him come again. Then Ondott calledThurid, and asked her of the things she had said at Cragness, whatthey might mean. But he got little from her; for first she would notspeak, and then she only muttered, and at last all she said was thisrhyme:

  "No need to teach Or trick or speech To him whose mind All wiles will find."

  And Ondott could make nothing out of that; moreover, because it wasKiartan whom Hiarandi had saved, he thought that the farmer hadstrengthened himself by his deed. For only when the news came of thetrick of Kiartan in cheating his brother did Ondott think that theremight be something in the old woman's forecasting. And he and Einarspoke cheerfully together of the misfortune to their neighbor. Thensummer drew on, and the Quarter Thing was held, and then came bad newsto Einar in his hall.

  For a seafaring man landed at Hunafloi, and came across to Broadfirth;and he brought word that in the Orkneys Kiartan had foully slain a manof Broadfirth, whose nearest of kin was Einar, so that it was Einar'sduty to follow up the blood-suit.

  Here it must be said, for those who know not the customs of thosedays, that the death of a man called for atonement from the slayer,either his death or a payment in money, unless the slaying could bejustified. The nearest of kin must take the suit against the slayer;and if the slayer should die, then his nearest of kin must take thedefence. And the law is clearly shown by the case of theHeath-Slayings and other famous quarrels, when from small broils greatfeuds arose, from the duty of kinship and the unwillingness to payblood-fines for another's deed. Thus Einar took upon him his duty, andvowed that Kiartan should pay with either money or blood.

  All stood by and heard this, and they applauded. But Ondott said:"Come now outside with me and speak of this, but give the messengerfood and bid him rest here the night."

  So that was done, and Einar went out into the yard with Ondott, andwalked up and down with him. Said Ondott:

  "Long are we likely to wait ere we lay hands on Kiartan. For he hathset his own brother strong against him, and scarce will he dare returnto Iceland."

  "That may be true," said Einar gloomily.

  "I like it not," said Ondott, "that Hiarandi should know this spitehis brother has done thee, and yet be free himself. In the old days,which are not so long past, a man would have gone against Hiarandiwith weapons. And he hath no relatives to harm thee."

  "For all that," answered Einar, "the men of the Quarter would not likeit. Lawfully must vengeance be taken, or not at all. Yet it is hard ifmy money and thy wit cannot rid me of these brothers, who anger me,and Hiarandi more than Kiartan." And he looked across at Cragness withfretting.

  "Well mayest thou say that," answered Ondott, "for there standsHiarandi's hall, which he cannot fill, while thou in thine art crampedfor room. It is plainly true what people say, that thou canst nevercome into the honor which should be thine, while thou livest here,where strangers take thee for Hiarandi's tenant, or even hisfreedman."

  "They take me for his freedman!" cried Einar. "Now that is not to beborne! And I say to thee, get me Hiarandi's house and I will rewardthee well."

  Then Ondott laid a plan before him. It should be given out thatKiartan was dead: the man who brought the news of the slaying might bebribed to swear to Kiartan's death. Then the blood-suit could bebrought against Hiarandi in place of Kiartan; and all men knew thatHiarandi had no money to pay the fine, so that he must sell his farm.

  "Now," quoth Einar in great delight, "I will lengthen thy name, andthou shalt be called Ondott Crafty." For that was a saying in thosedays, to lengthen a man's name by giving him a nickname.

  Then they called from the house that man who had brought the news.Because he was an outlander he was easily persuaded to swear toKiartan's death. Einar gave him money, both for himself and to pay hispassage outward. Then witnesses were called to hear the oath; and onthe morrow the man departed, and took ship for Ireland, and he is outof the story.