Chapter 56 - Egil's marriage and inheritance claim.

Bergonund son of Thorgeir Thornfoot had then married Gunnhilda daughter of Bjorn Yeoman. She had come to keep house with him at Askr. But Asgerdr, whom Thorolf Skallagrimsson had had to wife, was then with Arinbjorn, her kinsman. Thorolf and she had a daughter named Thordis, and the girl was there with her mother. Egil told Asgerdr of Thorolf's death, and offered her his guardianship. Asgerdr was much grieved at the tidings; she answered Egil's words well, saying however but little one way or the other.

But, at autumn wore on, Egil began to be very gloomy and drank little, and often say with his head drooping in his cloak. One time Arinbjorn went to him and asked what meant his gloom.

'Though now you have had a great loss in your brother, yet 'tis manly to bear up well; man must overlive man. Come, what verse are you now repeating? Let me hear.'

Egil said he had just made this verse:

      'Unfriendly, who was friend,
      Fair goddess seems. Of old
      Bold with uplifted brow
      Beheld I woman's face.
      Now one (whose name I veil)
      No sooner to the skald
      Occurs, than shyly sinks
      Screen'd in his cloak his head.'

Arinbjorn asked who was the woman about whom he composed such love-song. 'Have you hidden her name in this stave?'

Then Egil recited:

      'Sorrow shows not, but hides
      The saddening thought within.
      Names in my poesy
      Not oft I use to veil.
      For Odin's warrior wights
      Will surely searching find
      In war-god's wine of song
      What poet deep hath plunged.'

'Here,' said Egil, 'will the old saw be found true. All should be told to a friend. I will tell you that which you ask, about what woman I compose verse. ''Tis Asgerdr your kinswoman; and I would fain have your furtherance to secure this match.'

Arinbjorn said that he deemed it well thought of. 'I will,' said he, 'surely give my good word that this match may be made.'

Then Egil laid this matter before Asgerdr, but she referred it to the decision of her father and her kinsman Arinbjorn. Arinbjorn talked with Asgerdr, and she made the same answer. Arinbjorn was desirous of this match. After this Arinbjorn and Egil went together to Bjorn, and then Egil made his suit and asked to wife Asgerdr Bjorn's daughter. Bjorn took this matter well, and said that Arinbjorn should chiefly decide this. Arinbjorn greatly desired it; and the end of the matter was that Egil and Asgerdr were betrothed, and the wedding was to be at Arinbjorn's.

And when the appointed time came, there was a very grand feast at Egil's marriage. He was then very cheerful for the remaining part of the winter. In the spring he made ready a merchant-ship for a voyage to Iceland. Arinbjorn advised him not to settle in Norway while Gunnhilda's power was so great. 'For she is very wroth with you,' said Arinbjorn; 'and this has been made much worse by your encounter with Eyvind near Jutland.'

But when Egil was ready, and a fair wind blew, he sailed out to sea, and his voyage sped well. He came in the autumn to Iceland, and stood into Borgar-firth. He had now been out twelve winters. Skallagrim was an old man by this time. Full glad was he when Egil came home. Egil went to lodge at Borg, and with him Thofid Strong and many of their company; and they were there with Skallagrim for the winter. Egil had immense store of wealth; but it is not told that Egil shared that silver which king Athelstan had given him either with Skallagrim or others. That winter Thorfid married Sæunn, Skallagrim's daughter; and in the following spring Skallagrim gave them a homestead at Long-river-foss, and the land inwards from Leiru-brook between Long-river and Swan-river, even up to the fell. Daughter of Thorfid and Sæunn was Thordis wife to Arngeir in Holm, the son of Bersi Godless. Their son was Bjorn, Hitadale's champion.

Egil abode there with Skallagrim several winters. He took upon him the management of the property and farm no less than Skallagrim. Egil became more and more bald. The country-side began now to be settled far and wide. Hromund, brother of Grim the Halogalander, settled at this time in Cross-river-lithe with his shipmates. Hromund was father of Gunnlaug, the father of Thuridr Dylla, mother of Illugi the Swarthy.

Egil had now been several winters at Borg with his father, when one summer a ship from Norway to Iceland with these tidings from the east, that Bjorn Yeoman was dead. Further, it was told that all the property owned by Bjorn had been taken up by Bergonund, his son-in-law, who had moved to his own home all loose chattels, letting out the lands, and securing to himself all the rents. He had also got possession of all the farms occupied of late by Bjorn. This when Egil heard, he inquired carefully whether Bjorn had acted on his own counsel in this matter, or had the support of others more powerful. It was told him that Onund was become a close friend of king Eric, but was on even more intimate terms with Gunnhilda.

Egil let the matter rest for this autumn; but when winter was past and spring came, then Egil bade them draw out his ship, which had stood in the shed at Long-river-foss. This ship he made ready for sea, and got a crew thereto. Asgerdr his wife was to go with him, but Thordis Thorolf's daughter remained behind. Egil sailed out to sea when he was ready, and of his voyage there is nothing to tell before he came to Norway. He at once, as soon as he could, went to seek Arinbjorn. Arinbjorn received him well, and asked Egil to stay with him; this offer he took. So both he and Asgerdr went thither and several men with them.

Egil very soon spoke with Arinbjorn about those claims on money that he thought he had there in the land.

Arinbjorn said, 'That matter seems to me unpromising. Bergonund is hard, ill to deal with, unjust, covetous; and he has now much support from the king and the queen. Gunnhilda is your bitter enemy, as you know already, and she will not desire Onund to put the case right.'

Egil said, 'The king will let us get law and justice in this matter, and with your help it seems no great thing in my eyes to take the law of Bergonund.'

They resolved on this, that Egil should equip a swift cutter, whereon they embarked some twenty men, and went south to Hordaland and on to Askr. There they go to the house and find Onund. Egil declares his business, and demands of Onund's sharing of the heritage of Bjorn. He says that Bjorn's daughters were by law both alike his heirs, 'Though methinks,' says Egil, 'Asgerdr will be deemed more nobly born than your wife Gunnhilda.'

Then says Onund in high-pitched voice, 'A wondrous bold man are you, Egil, the outlaw of king Eric, who come hither to his land and think here to attack his men and friends. You are to know, Egil, that I have overthrown men as good as you for less cause than methinks this is, when you claim heritage in right of your wife; for this is well known to all, that she is born of a bondwoman.'

Onund was furious in language for a time; but when Egil saw that Onund would do no right in this matter, then he summoned him to court, and referred the matter to the law of the Gula-thing.

Onund said, 'To the Gula-thing I will come, and my will is that you should not come away thence with a whole skin.'

Egil said he would risk coming to the Thing all the same: 'There let come what come may to end our matter.'

Egil then went away with his company, and when he came home told Arinbjorn of his journey and of Onund's answer. Arinbjorn was very angry that Thora his father's sister had been called a bondwoman. Arinbjorn went to king Eric, and declared this matter before him.'

The king took his words rather sullenly, and said that Arinbjorn had long advocated Egil's cause: 'He has had this grace through thee, that I have let him be here in the land; but now shall I think it too much to bear if thou back him in his assaults on my friends.'

Arinbjorn said, 'Thou wilt let us get law in this case.'

The king was rather peevish in this talk, but Arinbjorn could see that the queen was much worse-willed.

Arinbjorn went back and said that things looked rather unpromising. Then winter wore away, and the time came when men should go to the Gula-thing. Arinbjorn took to the Thing a numerous company, among them went Egil. King Eric was there numerously attended. Bergonund was among his train, as were his brothers; there was a large following. But when the meeting was to be held about men's lawsuits, both the parties went where the court was set, to plead their proofs. Then was Onund full of big words.

Now where the court sate was a level plot, with hazel-poles planted in a ring, and outside were twisted ropes all around. This was called, 'the precincts.' Within the ring sate twelve judges of the Firth-folk, twelve of the Sogn-folk, twelve of the Horda-folk. These three twelves were to judge all the suits. Arinbjorn ruled who should be judges from the Firth-folk, Thord of Aurland who should be so from the Sogn-folk. All these were of one party. Arinbjorn had brought thither a long-ship full equipt, also many small craft and store-ships. King Eric had six or seven long-ships all well equipt; a great number of landowners were also there.

Egil began his cause thus: he craved the judges to give him lawful judgement in the suit between him and Onund. He then set forth what proofs he held of his claim on the property that had belonged to Bjorn Brynjolf's son. He said that Asgerdr daughter of Bjorn, own wife of him Egil, was rightful heiress, born noble, of landed gentry, even of titled family further back. And he craved of the judges this, to adjudge to Asgerdr half of Bjorn's inheritance, whether land or chattels.

And when he ceased speaking, then Bergonund took the word and spoke thus: 'Gunnhilda my wife is the daughter of Bjorn and Alof, the wife whom Bjorn lawfully married. Gunnhilda is rightful heiress of Bjorn. I for this reason took possession of all the property left by Bjorn, because I knew that that other daughter of Bjorn had no right to inherit. Her mother was a captive of war, afterwards taken as concubine, without her kinsmen's consent, and carried from land to land. But thou, Egil, thinkest to go on here, as everywhere else, with thy fierceness and wrongful dealing. This will not avail thee now; for king Eric and queen Gunnhilda have promised me that I shall have right in every cause within the bounds of their dominion. I will produce true evidence before the king and the judges that Thora Lace-hand, Asgerdr's mother, was taken captive from the house of Thorir her brother, and a second time from Brynjolf's house at Aurland. Then she went away out of the land with freebooters, and was outlawed from Norway, and in this outlawry Bjorn and she had born to them this girl Asgerdr. A great wonder now is this in Egil, that he thinks to make void all the words of king Eric. First, Egil, thou art here in the land after Eric made thee an outlaw; secondly - which is worse - though, thou hast a bondwoman to thy wife, thou claimest for her right of heritage. I demand this of the judges, that they adjudge the inheritance to Gunnhilda, but adjudge Asgerdr to be the bondwoman of the king, because she was begotten when her father and mother were outlawed by the king.'

Right wroth was Arinbjorn when he heard Thora Lace-hand called a bondwoman; and he stood up, and would no longer hold his peace, but looked around on either side, and took the word:

'Evidence we will bring, sir king, in this matter, and oaths we will add, that this was in the reconciliation of my father and Bjorn Yeoman expressly provided, that Asgerdr daughter of Bjorn and Thora was to have right of inheriting after Bjorn her father; as also this, which thyself, O king, dost know, that thou restoredst Bjorn to his rights in Norway, and so everything was settled which had before stood in the way of their reconciliation.'

To these words the king found no ready answer. Then sang Egil a stave:

      'Bondwoman born this knave
      My brooch-decked lady calls.
      Shameless in selfish greed
      Such dealing Onund loves:
      Braggart! my bride is one
      Born heiress, jewell'd dame.
      Our oaths, great king, accept,
      Oaths that are meet and true.'

Then Arinbjorn produced witnesses, twelve men, and all well chosen. These all had heard, being present, the reconciliation of Thorir and Bjorn, and they offered to the king and judges to swear to it. The judges were willing to accept their oath if the king forbade it not.

Then did queen Gunnhilda take the word:

'Great wonder is this, sir king, that thou lettest this big Egil make such a coil of the whole cause before thee. Wouldst thou find nought to say against him, though he should claim at thy hand thy very kingdom? Now though thou wilt give no decision that may help Onund, yet will not I brook this, that Egil tread under foot our friends and wrongfully take the property from Onund. Where is Alf my brother? Go thou, Alf, with thy following, where the judges are, and let them not give this wrong judgment.'

Then he and his men went thither, and cut in sunder the precinct-ropes and tore down the poles, and scattered the judges. Great uproar was there in the Thing; but men there were all weaponless.

Then spake Egil: 'Can Bergonund hear my words?'

'I hear,' said Onund.

'Then do I challenge thee to combat, and be our fight here at the Thing. Let him of us twain have this property, both lands and chattels, who wins the victory. But be thou every man's dastard if thou darest not.'

Whereupon king Eric made answer: 'If thou, Egil, art strongly set on fighting, then will we grant thee this forthwith.'

Egil replied: 'I will not fight with king's power and overwhelming force; but before equal numbers I will not flee, if this be given me. Nor will I then make any distinction of persons, titled or untitled.'

Then spake Arinbjorn: 'Go we away, Egil; we shall not here effect to-day anything that will be to our gain.'

And with this Arinbjorn and all his people turned to depart.

But Egil turned him and cried aloud: 'This do I protest before thee, Arinbjorn, and thee, Thord, and all men that now can hear my word, barons and lawmen and all people, that I ban all those lands that belonged to Bjorn Brynjolfsson, from building and tillage, and from all gain therefrom to be gotten. I ban them to thee, Bergonund, and to all others, natives and foreigners, high and low; and anyone who shall herein offend I denounce as a law-breaker, a peace breaker, and accursed.'

After which Egil went away with Arinbjorn.

They then went to their ships; and there was a rise in the ground of some extent to pass over, so that the ships were not visible from the Thing-field. Egil was very wroth. And when they came to the ships, Arinbjorn spoke before his people and said:

'All men know what has been the issue of the Thing here, that we have not got law; but the king is much in wrath, so that I expect our men will get hard measure from him if he can bring it about. I will now that every man embark on his ship and go home. Let none wait for other.'

Then Arinbjorn went on board his own ship, and to Egil he said: 'Now go you with your comrades on board the cutter that lies here outside the long-ship, and get you away at once. Travel by night so much as you may, and not by day, and be on your guard, for the king will seek to meet with you. Come and find me afterwards, when all this is ended, whatever may have chanced between you and the king.'

Egil did as Arinbjorn said; they went aboard the cutter, about thirty men, and rowed with all their might. The vessel was remarkably fast. Then rowed out of the haven many other ships of Arinbjorn's people, cutters and row-boats; but the long-ship which Arinbjorn steered went last, for it was the heaviest under oars. Egil's cutter, which he steered, soon outstripped the rest. Then Egil sang a stave:

      'My heritage he steals,
      The money-grasping heir
      Of Thornfoot. But his threats,
      Though fierce, I boldly meet.
      For land we sought the law:
      Land-grabbing loon is he!
      But robbery of my right
      Ere long he shall repay.'

King Eric heard the concluding words of Egil that he spake last at the Thing, and his wrath waxed hot. But all men had gone weaponless to the Thing, therefore the king attempted no attack. He bade his men hasten to their ships, and they did as he bade. Then, when they came to the strand, the king summoned his household Thing, and told them his purpose.

'We must now,' said he, 'untent our ships and row after Arinbjorn and Egil, and this I will have you know, that we will take Egil's life if we get the chance, and spare no man who shall stand up for him.'

After that they went aboard, made all ready as speedily as might be, and pushed out the ships and rowed to the place where Arinbjorn's ships had been. These were now all gone. Then the king bade that they should row after them northwards by the sound. And when he came to Sogn-sea, then there was Arinbjorn's company rowing in towards Sheeping-sound, and thither the king turned in after them, and he came up with Arinbjorn's ship in the inner part of Sheeping-sound. At once the king made for it, and they exchanged words. The king asked whether Egil was in the ship. Arinbjorn answered.

'Egil is not here,' he said; 'that, O king, thou mayest at once see. Here on board on none but those whom thou knowest; and Egil will not be found down under the benches, though thou shouldst seek him there.'

The king asked Arinbjorn what he knew latest of Egil. He said that Egil was on a cutter with thirty men, and they took their way out to Stone-sound. Then the king told his men to row by the inner sound, and shape their course so as to meet Egil.

There was a man named Kettle Hod; he was of king Eric's guard, an Uplander by family. He was pilot on the king's ship, and steered the same. Kettle was a tall man and a handsome; he was near of kin to the king. And 'twas generally said that he and the king were like in appearance.

Now Egil, before going to the Thing, had had his ship launched and the cargo put on board. And after parting with Arinbjorn, he and his went their way to Stone-sound, till they came to his ship, which lay there afloat in the haven with tent overspread. Then they went up aboard the ship, but the cutter rode beside the rudder of the ship between the land and the ship, and the oars lay there in the loops.

Next morning, when day had hardly dawned, the watch were aware that some ships were rowing for them. But when Egil saw that it was an enemy, he stood up and bade that they should leap into the cutter. He armed himself at once, as did they all. Egil took up those chests of silver which king Athelstan gave him, and bore them with him. They leapt armed into the cutter, and rowed forward between the land and the long-ship that was advancing nearest to the land; this was king Eric's ship. But, as it happened suddenly and there was little light, the two ships ran past each other. And when the stern-castles were opposite, then Egil hurled a spear and smote in the middle the man who sat steering, Kettle Hod to wit, and at once he got his bane. Then king Eric called out and bade men row after Egil and his party, but as their vessels ran past Egil's merchant-ship, the king's men leapt aboard of that. And those of Egil's men who had been left behind, and not leapt into the cutter, were all slain who could be caught, but some escaped to land. Ten men of Egil's followers were lost there.

Some ships rowed after Egil, but some plundered the merchant-ship. All the booty on board was taken, and the ship burnt. But those who rowed after Egil pulled hard; two at each oar, and they could even so take the rowing by turns. For they had no lack of men on board, while Egil's crew was short, they being now but eighteen on the cutter. So the distance between them lessened. But inside of the island was a shallow sound between it and other islands. It was now low water. Egil and his rowers ran their cutter into that shallow sound, but the long-ships could not float there; thus pursuers and pursued were parted. The king then turned back southwards, but Egil went north to seek Arinbjorn. Then sang Egil a stave:

      'Wakener of weapon-din,
      The warlike prince, hath wrought
      (Where I escaped scot-free)
      Scathe on our gallant ten.
      Yet sped my hand a spear,
      Like springing salmon swift,
      That rushed and Kettle's ribs
      Rent sore with deathful wound.'

Egil came to Arinbjorn, and told him these tidings. Arinbjorn said that he could expect nothing better in dealing with king Eric. 'But you shall not want for money, Egil. I will make good the loss of your ship, and give you another, in which you can well sail to Iceland.' Asgerdr, Egil's wife, had remained at Arinbjorn's while they went to the Thing. Arinbjorn gave Egil a good sea-worthy ship, and had it laden with such things as Egil wished. This ship Egil got ready for sea, and again he had a crew of about thirty men. Then he and Arinbjorn parted in friendship. And Egil sang:

      'Requite him, righteous gods,
      For robbery of my wealth!
      Hunt him away, be wroth,
      High Odin, heavenly powers!
      Foe of his folk, base king,
      May Frey and Njord make flee!
      Hate him, land-guardians, hate,
      Who holy ground hath scorn'd!'

 



56. kafli - Kvánfang Egils ok arfheimta.

Berg-Önundr, sonr Þorgeirs þyrnifótar, hafði þá fengit Gunnhildar, dóttur Bjarnar hölðs. Var hon komin til bús með honum á Aski. En Ásgerðr, er átt hafði Þórólfr Skalla-Grímsson, var þá með Arinbirni, frænda sínum. Þau Þórólfr áttu dóttur eina unga, er Þórdís hét, ok var mærin þar með móður sinni. Egill sagði Ásgerði lát Þórólfs ok bauð henni sína umsjá. Ásgerðr varð mjök ókát við þá sögu, en svaraði vel ræðum Egils ok tók lítit af öllu.

Ok er á leið haustit, tók Egill ógleði mikla, sat oft ok drap höfðinu niðr í feld sinn.

Eitt hvert sinn gekk Arinbjörn til hans ok spurði, hvat ógleði hans ylli. "Nú þó at þú hafir fengit skaða mikinn um bróður þinn, þá er þat karlmannligt at bera þat vel. Skal maðr eftir mann lifa, eða hvat kveðr þú nú? Láttu mik nú heyra."

Egill sagði, at hann hefði þetta fyrir skemmstu kveðit:

      Ókynni vensk, ennis
      ungr þorðak vel forðum,
      haukaklifs, at hefja,
      Hlín, þvergnípur mínar.
      Verðk í feld, þás foldar
      faldr kemr í hug skaldi
      berg-Óneris, brúna
      brátt miðstalli hváta.

Arinbjörn spurði, hver kona sú væri, er hann orti mansöng um. "Hefir þú fólgit nafn hennar í vísu þessi." Þá kvað Egill:

      Sef-Skuldar felk sjaldan,
      sorg Hlés vita borgar,
      í niðjerfi Narfa
      nafn aurmýils, drafnar,
      þvít geir-Rótu götva
      gnýþings bragar fingrum
      rógs at ræsis veigum
      reifendr sumir þreifa.

"Hér mun vera," segir Egill, "sem oft er mælt, at segjanda er allt sínum vin. Ek mun segja þér þat, er þú spyrr, um hverja konu ek yrki. Þar er Ásgerðr, frændkona þín, ok þar til vilda ek hafa fullting þitt, at ek næða því ráði."

Arinbjörn segir, at honum þykkir þat vel fundit. "Skal ek víst leggja þar orð til, at þau ráð takist."

Síðan bar Egill þat mál fyrir Ásgerði, en hon skaut til ráða föður síns ok Arinbjarnar, frænda síns. Síðan ræðir Arinbjörn við Ásgerði, ok hafði hún in sömu svör fyrir sér. Arinbjörn fýsti þessa ráðs. Síðan fara þeir Arinbjörn ok Egill á fund Bjarnar, ok hefr Egill þá bónorð ok bað Ásgerðar, dóttur Bjarnar. Björn tók því máli vel ok sagði, at Arinbjörn myndi því mjök ráða. Arinbjörn fýsti mjök, ok lauk því máli svá, at Egill festi Ásgerði, ok skyldi brullaup vera at Arinbjarnar. En er at þeiri stefnu kemr, þá var þar veizla allveglig, er Egill kvángaðist. Var hann þá allkátr, þat er eftir var vetrarins.

Egill bjó um várit kaupskip til Íslandsferðar. Réð Arinbjörn honum þat at staðfestast ekki í Nóregi, meðan ríki Gunnhildar væri svá mikit, - "því at hon er allþung til þín," segir Arinbjörn, "ok hefir þetta mikit um spillt, er þér Eyvindr funduzt við Jótland."

Ok er Egill var búinn ok byr gaf, þá siglir hann í haf, ok greiddist hans ferð vel. Kemr hann um haustit til Íslands ok helt til Borgarfjarðar. Hann hafði þá verit útan tólf vetr. Gerðist þá Skalla-Grímr maðr gamall. Varð hann þá feginn, er Egill kom heim. Fór Egill til Borgar at vistum ok með honum Þorfinnr strangi ok þeir mjök margir saman. Váru þeir með Skalla-Grími um vetrinn. Egill hafði þar ógrynni fjár, en ekki er þess getit, at Egill skipti silfri því, er Aðalsteinn konungr hafði fengit honum í hendr, hvárki við Skalla-Grím né aðra menn.

Þann vetr fekk Þorfinnr Sæunnar, dóttur Skalla-Gríms, ok eftir um várit fekk Skalla-Grímr þeim bústað at Langárforsi ok land inn frá Leirulæk milli Langár ok Álftár allt til fjalls. Dóttir Þorfinns ok Sæunnar var Þórdís, er átti Arngeirr í Hólmi, sonr Bersa goðlauss. Þeira sonr var Björn Hítdælakappi.

Egill dvalðist þá með Skalla-Grími nökkura vetr. Tók hann til fjárforráða ok búsumsýslu engu miðr Skalla-Grími. Egill gerðist enn snoðinn.

Þá tók heraðit at byggjast víða. Hrómundr, bróðir Gríms ins háleygska, byggði þá í Þverárhlíð ok skipverjar hans. Hrómundr var faðir Gunnlaugs, föður Þuríðar dyllu, móður Illuga svarta.

Egill hafði þá verit, svá at vetrum skipti mjök mörgum, at Borg.

Þá var þat á einu sumri, er skip kómu af Nóregi til Íslands, at þau tíðendi spurðust austan, at Björn hölðr var andaðr. Þat fylgði þeiri sögn, at fé þat allt, er Björn hafði átt, hafði upp tekit Berg-Önundr, mágr hans. Hann hafði flutt heim til sín alla lausa aura, en jarðir hafði hann byggt ok skilit sér allar landskyldir. Hann hafði ok sinni eigu kastat á jarðir þær allar, er Björn hafði átt. Ok er Egill heyrði þetta, þá spurði hann vandliga, hvárt Berg-Önundr myndi sínum ráðum fram hafa farit um þetta eða hefði hann traust til haft sér meiri manna. Honum var sagt, at Önundr var kominn í vináttu mikla við Eirík konung ok við Gunnhildi þó miklu kærra.

Egill lét þat kyrrt vera á því hausti, en er vetrinn leið af ok vára tók, þá lét Egill setja fram skip þat, er hann átti, er staðit hafði í hrófi við Langárfors. Hann bjó skip þat til hafs ok fekk menn til. Ásgerðr, kona hans, var ráðin til farar, en Þórdís, dóttir Þórólfs, var eftir. Egill sigldi í haf, er hann var búinn. Er frá hans ferð ekki at segja, fyrr en hann kemr til Nóregs. Helt hann þegar til fundar við Arinbjörn, sem fyrst mátti hann. Arinbjörn tók vel við honum ok bauð Agli með sér at vera, ok þat þekkðist hann. Fóru þau Ásgerðr bæði þangat ok nökkurir menn með þeim.

Egill kom brátt á ræður við Arinbjörn um fjárheimtur þær, er Egill þóttist eiga þar í landi.

Arinbjörn segir: "Þat mál þykkir mér óvænligt. Berg-Önundr er harðr ok ódæll, ranglátr ok fégjarn, en hann hefir nú hald mikit af konungi ok dróttningu. Er Gunnhildr inn mesti óvinr þinn, sem þú veizt áðr, ok mun hon ekki fýsa Önund, at hann geri greiða á málinu."

Egill segir: "Konungr mun oss láta ná lögum ok réttendum á máli þessu, en með liðveizlu þinni þá vex mér ekki í augu at leita laga við Berg-Önund."

Ráða þeir þat af, at Egill skipar skútu. Fóru þeir þar á nær tuttugu. Þeir fóru suðr á Hörðaland ok koma fram á Aski. Ganga þeir þar til húss ok hitta Önund.

Berr þá Egill upp mál sín ok krefr Önund skiptis um arf Bjarnar ok segir, at dætr Bjarnar væri jafnkomnar til arfs eftir hann at lögum, - "þó at mér þykki," kvað Egill, "sem Ásgerðr muni þykkja ættborin miklu betr en Gunnhildr, kona þín."

Önundr segir þá snellt mjök: "Þú ert furðuliga djarfr maðr, Egill, útlagi Eiríks konungs, er þú ferr hingat í land hans ok ætlar hér til ágangs við menn hans. Máttu svá ætla, Egill, at ek hefi velta látit slíka sem þú ert ok af minnum sökum en mér þykkja þessar, er þú telr til arfs fyrir hönd konu þinnar, því at þat er kunnigt alþýðu, at hon er þýborin at móðerni."

Önundr var málóði um hríð. Ok er Egill sá, at Önundr vildi engan hlut greiða um þetta mál, þá stefnir Egill honum þing ok skýtr málinu til Gulaþingslaga.

Önundr segir: "Koma mun ek til Gulaþings, ok mynda ek vilja, at þú kæmir þaðan eigi heill í brott."

Egill segir, at hann mun til þess hætta at koma þó til þings allt at einu. "Verðr þá sem má, hversu málum várum lýkr."

Fara þeir Egill síðan brott, ok er hann kom heim, segir hann Arinbirni frá ferð sinni ok frá svörum Önundar. Arinbjörn varð reiðr mjök, er Þóra, föðursystir hans, var kölluð ambátt.

Arinbjörn fór á fund Eiríks konungs, bar upp fyrir hann þetta mál.

Konungr tók heldr þungt hans máli ok segir, at Arinbjörn hefði lengi fylgt mjök málum Egils. "Hefir hann notit þín at því, er ek hefi látit hann vera hér í landi, en nú mun mér örðigt þykkja, ef þú heldr hann til þess, at hann gangi á vini mína."

Arinbjörn segir: "Þú munt láta oss ná lögum af þessu máli."

Konungr var heldr styggr í þessu máli. Arinbjörn fann, at dróttning myndi þó miklu verr viljuð. Ferr Arinbjörn aftr ok sagði, at heldr horfir óvænt.

Líðr af vetrinn, ok kemr þar, er menn fara til Gulaþings. Arinbjörn fjölmennti mjök til þings. Var Egill í för með honum. Eiríkr konungr var þar ok hafði fjölmenni mikit. Berg-Önundr var í sveit konungs ok þeir bræðr, ok höfðu þeir sveit mikla. En er þinga skyldi um mál manna, þá gengu hvárirtveggju þar til, er dómrinn var settr, at flytja fram sannendi sín. Var Önundr þá allstórorðr.

En þar er dómrinn var settr, var völlr sléttr ok settar niðr heslistengr í völlinn í hring, en lögð um útan snæri umhverfis. Váru þat kölluð vébönd. En fyrir innan í hringinum sátu dómendr, tólf ór Firðafylki ok tólf ór Sygnafylki, tólf ór Hörðafylki. Þær þrennar tylftir manna skyldu þar dæma um mál manna. Arinbjörn réð því, hverir dómendr váru ór Firðafylki, en Þórðr af Aurlandi, hverir ór Sogni váru. Váru þeir allir eins liðs.

Arinbjörn hafði haft fjölmenni mikit til þingsins. Hann hafði snekkju alskipaða, en hafði margt smá-skipa, skútur ok róðrarferjur, er búendr stýrðu. Eiríkr konungr hafði þar mikit lið, langskip sex eða sjau. Þar var ok fjölmenni mikit af búöndum.

Egill hóf þar mál sitt, at hann krafði dómendr at dæma sér lög af máli þeira Önundar. Innti hann þá upp, hver sannendi hann hefði í tilkalli til fjár þess, er átt hafði Björn Brynjólfsson. Sagði hann, at Ásgerðr, dóttir Bjarnar, en eiginkona Egils, var til komin til arfsins ok hon væri óðalborin ok lendborin í allar kynkvíslir, en tíginborin fram í ættir. Krafði hann þess dómendr at dæma Ásgerði til handa hálfan arf Bjarnar, lönd ok lausa aura.

En er hann hætti ræðu sinni, þá tók Berg-Önundr til máls: "Gunnhildr, kona mín," sagði hann, "er dóttir Bjarnar ok Álofar, þeirar konu, er Björn hafði lögfengit. Er Gunnhildr réttr erfingi Bjarnar. Tók ek fyrir þá sök upp fé þat allt, er Björn hafði átt, at ek vissa, at sú ein var dóttir Bjarnar önnur, er ekki átti arf at taka. Var móðir hennar hernumin, en síðan tekin frillutaki ok ekki at frændaráði ok flutt land af landi. En þú, Egill, ætlar at fara hér sem hvarvetna annars staðar, þess er þú hefir komit, með ofkapp þitt ok ójafnað. Nú mun þér þat hér ekki týja, því at Eiríkr konungr ok Gunnhildr dróttning hafa mér því heitit, at ek skal rétt hafa af hverju máli, þar er þeira ríki stendr yfir. Ek mun færa fram sönn vitni fyrir konungi ok dómöndum, at Þóra hlaðhönd, móðir Ásgerðar, var hertekin heiman frá Þóris, bróður síns, ok annat sinni af Aurlandi frá Brynjólfs. Fór hon þá af landi á braut með víkingum ok útlögum konungs, ok í þeiri útlegð gátu þau Björn dóttur þessa, Ásgerði. Nú er furða at um Egil, er hann ætlar at gera ómæt öll orð Eiríks konungs, þat fyrst, er þú, Egill, hefir verit hér í landi, síðan er Eiríkr konungr gerði þik útlægan, ok þat, þótt þú hafir fengit ambáttar, at kalla hana arfgengja. Vil ek þess krefja dómendr, at þeir dæmi mér allan arf Bjarnar, en dæmi Ásgerði ambátt konungs, því at hon var svá getin, at þá var faðir hennar ok móðir í útlegð konungs."

hann þess dómendr at dæma Ásgerði til handa hálfan arf Bjarnar, lönd ok lausa aura.

En er hann hætti ræðu sinni, þá tók Berg-Önundr til máls: "Gunnhildr, kona mín," sagði hann, "er dóttir Bjarnar ok Álofar, þeirar konu, er Björn hafði lögfengit. Er Gunnhildr réttr erfingi Bjarnar. Tók ek fyrir þá sök upp fé þat allt, er Björn hafði átt, at ek vissa, at sú ein var dóttir Bjarnar önnur, er ekki átti arf at taka. Var móðir hennar hernumin, en síðan tekin frillutaki ok ekki at frændaráði ok flutt land af landi. En þú, Egill, ætlar at fara hér sem hvarvetna annars staðar, þess er þú hefir komit, með ofkapp þitt ok ójafnað. Nú mun þér þat hér ekki týja, því at Eiríkr konungr ok Gunnhildr dróttning hafa mér því heitit, at ek skal rétt hafa af hverju máli, þar er þeira ríki stendr yfir. Ek mun færa fram sönn vitni fyrir konungi ok dómöndum, at Þóra hlaðhönd, móðir Ásgerðar, var hertekin heiman frá Þóris, bróður síns, ok annat sinni af Aurlandi frá Brynjólfs. Fór hon þá af landi á braut með víkingum ok útlögum konungs, ok í þeiri útlegð gátu þau Björn dóttur þessa, Ásgerði. Nú er furða at um Egil, er hann ætlar at gera ómæt öll orð Eiríks konungs, þat fyrst, er þú, Egill, hefir verit hér í landi, síðan er Eiríkr konungr gerði þik útlægan, ok þat, þótt þú hafir fengit ambáttar, at kalla hana arfgengja. Vil ek þess krefja dómendr, at þeir dæmi mér allan arf Bjarnar, en dæmi Ásgerði ambátt konungs, því at hon var svá getin, at þá var faðir hennar ok móðir í útlegð konungs."

Þá tók Arinbjörn til máls: "Vitni munum vér fram bera, Eiríkr konungr, til þess ok láta eiða fylgja, at þat var skilit í sætt þeira Þóris, föður míns, ok Bjarnar hölðs, at Ásgerðr, dóttir þeira Bjarnar ok Þóru, var til arfs leidd eftir Björn, föður sinn, ok svá þat, sem yðr er sjálfum kunnigt, konungr, at þú gerðir Björn ílendan, ok öllu því máli var þá lukt, er áðr hafði milli staðit sættar manna."

Konungr svarar ekki skjótt máli hans. Þá kvað Egill:

      Þýborna kveðr þorna
      þorn reið áar horna,
      sýslir hann of sína
      síngirnð Önundr, mína.
      Naddhristir, ák nesta
      norn til arfs of borna.
      Þigg, Auða konr, eiða,
      eiðsært es þat, greiða.

Arinbjörn lét þá fram bera vitnisburðinn tólf menn, ok allir vel til valðir, ok höfðu allir þeir heyrt á sætt þeira Þóris ok Bjarnar ok buðu þá konungi ok dómöndum at sverja þar eftir. Dómendr vildu taka eiða þeira, ef konungr bannaði eigi. Konungr sagði, at hann myndi þar hvártki at vinna, at leggja á þat lof eða bann.

Þá tók til máls Gunnhildr dróttning, sagði svá: "Þetta er undarligt, konungr, hvernig þú lætr Egil þenna inn mikla vefja mál öll fyrir þér. Eða hvárt myndir þú eigi móti honum mæla, þótt hann kallaði til konungdómsins í hendr þér? En þótt þú vilir enga órskurði veita, þá er Önundi sé lið at, þá skal ek þat eigi þola, at Egill troði svá undir fótum vini mína, at hann taki með rangendi sín fé þetta af Önundi. En hvar ertu, Askmaðr? Far þú til með sveit þína, þar sem dómendrnir eru, ok lát eigi dæma rangendi þessi."

Síðan hljóp Askmaðr ok þeir sveitungar til dómsins, skáru í sundr véböndin ok brutu niðr stengrnar, en hleypðu á braut dómöndunum. Þá gerðist þyss mikill á þinginu, en menn váru þar allir vápnlausir.

Þá mælti Egill: "Hvárt mun Berg-Önundr heyra orð mín?"

"Heyri ek," sagði hann.

"Þá vil ek bjóða þér hólmgöngu ok þat, at vit berimst hér á þinginu. Hafi sá fé þetta, lönd ok lausa aura, er sigr fær, en þú ver hvers manns níðingr, ef þú þorir eigi."

Þá svarar Eiríkr konungr: "Ef þú, Egill, ert allfúss til at berjast, þá skulum vér þat nú veita þér."

Egill svarar: "Ekki vil ek berjast við þik eða við ofrefli liðs, en fyrir jafnmiklum mönnum þá mun ek eigi flýja, ef mér skal þess unna. Mun ek ok at því gera engan mannamun."

Þá mælti Arinbjörn: "Förum vér á brott, ekki munum vér hér iðna at sinni, þat at okkr vinni."

Síðan sneri hann á braut ok allt lið hans með honum.

Þá sneri Egill aftr ok sagði: "Því skírskota ek undir þik, Arinbjörn, ok þik, Þórðr, ok alla þá menn, er nú megu orð mín heyra, lenda menn ok lögmenn ok alla alþýðu, at ek banna jarðir þær allar, er Björn hefir átt, at byggja ok at vinna. Banna ek þér, Berg-Önundr, ok öðrum mönnum öllum, innlenzkum ok útlenzkum, tígnum ok ótígnum, en hverjum manni, er þat gerir, legg ek við lögbrot landsréttar ok griðarof ok goðagremi."

Þá gekk Egill á brott með Arinbirni. Fóru þeir nú til skipa sinna yfir leiti nökkut, er eigi sá skipin af þinginu.

En er Arinbjörn kom til skips síns, mælti hann: "Þat er öllum mönnum kunnigt, hver hér hafa orðit þinglok, at vér höfum eigi nát lögum, en konungr er reiðr svá mjök, at mér er ván, at várir menn sæti afarkostum af honum, ef hann má. Vil ek nú, at hverr maðr fari til skipa sinna ok fari heim."

Þá mælti hann við Egil: "Gakk þú nú á skip þitt ok þitt föruneyti ok verðið í brottu ok verið yðr, fyrir því at konungr mun eftir leita, at fund yðvarn beri saman. Leitið þá á fund várn, hvat sem í kann at gerast með yðr konungi."

Egill gerði sem hann mælti. Gengu þeir á skútu þrír tigir manna ok fóru sem ákafast. Skipit var einkar skjótt. Þá reru fjölði annarra skipa ór höfninni, er Arinbjörn átti, skútur ok róðrarferjur, en langskip, er Arinbjörn átti, fór síðast, því at þat var þyngst undir árum. En skúta Egils gekk skjótt hjá fram. Þá kvað Egill vísu:

      Erfingi réð arfi
      arfljúgr fyr mér svarfa,
      mætik hans ok heitum
      hótun, Þyrnifótar,
      nærgis simla sorgar
      slík rán ek get hánum,
      vér deildum fjöl foldar
      foldværingja, goldin.

Eiríkr konungr heyrði álykðarorð Egils, þau er hann mælti síðast á þinginu, ok varð reiðr mjök. En allir menn höfðu vápnlausir gengit á þinginu. Veitti konungr því eigi atgöngu. Hann bað menn sína alla ganga til skipa, ok þeir gerðu sem hann mælti.

Þá skaut konungr á húsþingi ok sagði þá fyrirætlan sína. "Vér skulum nú láta fara tjöld af skipum várum. Vil ek nú fara á fund Arinbjarnar ok Egils. Vil ek ok því lýsa fyrir yðr, at ek vil Egil af lífi taka, ef vér komumst í færi, en hlífa engum þeim, er í móti vill standa."

Eftir þat gengu þeir út á skip ok bjuggust sem skjótast ok lögðu út skipunum ok reru þangat, sem skip Arinbjarnar höfðu verit. Þá lét konungr róa eftir norðr í sundin. En er þeir kómu í Sognsæ, sá þeir lið Arinbjarnar. Sneru þá langskipin inn til Sauðungssunds, ok sneri þá konungr þangat. Hann hitti þar skip Arinbjarnar, ok lagði konungr þegar at, ok köstuðust orðum á. Spyrr konungr, hvárt Egill væri þar á skipinu.

Arinbjörn svaraði: "Eigi er hann á mínu skipi. Munuð þér ok, konungr, brátt mega þat sjá. Eru þeir einir hér innan borðs, er þér munuð kenna, en Egill mun ekki felast undir þiljum niðri, þótt fund yðvarn beri saman."

Konungr spyrr, hvat Arinbjörn vissi síðast til hans, en hann sagði, at Egill var við þrítögunda manni á skútu, - "ok fóru þeir leið sína út til Steinssunds."

Þeir konungr höfðu sét, at mörg skip höfðu róit til Steinssunds. Mælti konungr, at þeir skyldi róa í in iðri sundin ok stefna svá móti þeim Agli.

Maðr er nefndr Ketill. Hann var hirðmaðr Eiríks konungs. Hann sagði leið fyrir konungsskipinu, en hann stýrði sjálfr. Ketill var mikill maðr vexti ok fríðr sýnum ok náfrændi konungs, ok var þat mál manna, at þeir konungr væri líkir yfirlits.

Egill hafði flota látit skipi sínu ok fluttan til farminn, áðr hann fór til þingsins, en nú ferr Egill þar til, er kaupskip var, ok gengu þeir á skipit upp, en skútan flaut við stýristengr milli lands ok skipsins, ok lágu þar árar í hömlu.

En um morguninn, er ljóst var orðit varla, verða þeir varir við, er vörð heldu, at skip stór reru at þeim. En er Egill vissi þat, þá stóð hann upp þegar. Sá hann brátt, at ófriðr var at kominn. Váru þar sex langskip ok stefndu at þeim. Þá mælti Egill, at þeir skyldi hlaupa allir í skútuna. Egill tók upp kistur tvær, er Aðalsteinn konungr gaf honum. Hann hafði þær jafnan með sér. Þeir hljópu í skútuna. Hann vápnaðist skjótt ok allir þeir, ok reru fram í milli landsins ok snekkju þeirar, er næst fór landinu, en þat var skip Eiríks konungs. En því, at bráðum bar at, at lítt var lýst, þá renndust skipin hjá, ok er lyftingar bar saman, þá skaut Egill spjóti, ok kom á þann mann miðjan, er við stýrit sat, en þar var Kétill höðr. Þá kallar Eiríkr konungr ok bað menn róa eftir þeim Agli. En er skipin renndu hjá kaupskipinu, þá hljópu menn konungs upp á skipit, en þeir menn, er eftir höfðu orðit af Egils mönnum ok eigi hljópu í skútuna, þá váru allir drepnir, þeir er nát varð, en sumir hljópu á land. Þar létust tíu menn af sveitungum Egils. Sum skipin reru eftir þeim Agli, en sum ræntu kaupskipit. Var þar tekit fé þat allt, er innan borðs var, en þeir brenndu skipit.

En þeir, er eftir þeim Agli reru, sóttu ákaft, tóku tveir eina ár. Skortir þar eigi lið innan borðs, en þeir Egill höfðu þunnskipat. Váru þeir þá átján á skútunni. Þá dró saman með þeim. En fyrir innan eyna var vaðilsund nökkut grunnt milli ok annarrar eyjar. Útfall var sjávarins. Þeir Egill hleypðu skútunni í þat it grunna sundit, en snekkjurnar flutu þar eigi, ok skilði þar með þeim. Sneri þá konungr suðr aftr, en Egill fór norðr á fund Arinbjarnar. Þá kvað Egill vísu:

      Nú hefr þrym-Rögnir þegna
      þróttharðr, en mik varðak
      víti, várrar sveitar
      vígelds tíu fellda,
      þvít sárlaxa Sýrar,
      sendr ór minni hendi,
      digr fló beint meðal bjúgra
      bifþorn Ketils rifja.

Egill kom á fund Arinbjarnar ok segir honum þessi tíðendi.

Arinbjörn segir, at honum var ekki vildara af ván um skipti þeira Eiríks konungs, - "en ekki mun þik fé skorta, Egill. Ek skal bæta þér skipit ok fá þér annat, þat er þú megir vel fara á til Íslands."

Ásgerðr, kona Egils, hafði verit með Arinbirni, síðan þeir fóru til þings.

Arinbjörn fekk Agli skip þat, er vel var haffæranda, ok lét ferma af viði. Býr Egill skip þat til hafs ok hafði þá enn nær þremr tigum manna. Skiljast þeir Arinbjörn þá með vináttu. Þá kvað Egill:

Svá skyldi goð gjalda,
gram reki bönd af löndum,
reið sé rögn ok Óðinn,
rán míns féar hánum.
Folkmýgi lát flýja,
Freyr ok Njörðr, af jörðum.
Leiðisk lofða stríði
landáss, þanns vé grandar.

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