Chapter 13 - Thorgils goes to the king.

There was a man named Thorgils Yeller, a house-carle of Thorolf's, honoured above all the rest of his household; he had followed Thorolf in his roving voyages as fore-castle man and standard-bearer. He had been in Hafr's Firth, in the fleet of king Harold, and was then steering the very ship that Thorolf had used in his roving. Thorgils was strong of body and right bold of heart; the king had bestowed on him friendly gifts after the battle, and promised him his friendship. Thorgils was manager at Torgar, and bore rule there when Thorolf was not at home.

Before Thorolf went away this time he had counted over all the king's tribute that he had brought from the fells, and he put it in Thorgils' hand, bidding him convey it to the king, if he himself came not home before the king returned south. So Thorgils made ready a large ship of burden belonging to Thorolf, and put the tribute on board, and taking about twenty men sailed southward after the king, and found him in Naumdale.

But when Thorgils met the king he gave him greeting from Thorolf, and said that he was come thither with the Finns' tribute sent by Thorolf. The king looked at him, but answered never a word, and all saw that he was angry. Thorgils then went away, thinking to find a better time to speak with the king; he sought Aulvir Hnuf, and told him what had passed, and asked him if he knew what was the matter.

'That do I not,' said he; 'but this I have marked, that, since we were at Leka, the king is silent every time Thorolf is mentioned, and I suspect he has been slandered. This I know of Hildirida's sons, that they were long in conference with the king, and it is easy to see from their words that they are Thorolf's enemies. But I will soon be certain about this from the king himself.'

Thereupon Aulvir went to the king, and said: 'Here is come Thorgils Yeller thy friend, with the tribute which is thine; and the tribute is much larger than it has been before, and far better wares. He is eager to be on his way; be so good, O king, as to go and see it; for never have been seen such good gray furs.'

The king answered not, but he went to where the ship lay. Thorgils at once set forth the furs and showed them to the king. And when the king saw that it was true, that the tribute was much larger and better, his brows somewhat cleared, and Thorgils got speech with him. He brought the king some bearskins which Thorolf sent him, and other valuables besides, which he had gotten upon the fells. So the king brightened up, and asked tidings of the journey of Thorolf and his company. Thorgils told it all in detail.

Then said the king: 'Great pity is it Thorolf should be unfaithful to me and plot my death.'

Then answered many who stood by, and all with one mind, that it was a slander of wicked men if such words had been spoken, and Thorolf would be found guiltless. The king said he would prefer to believe this. Then was the king cheerful in all his talk with Thorgils, and they parted friends.

But when Thorgils met Thorolf he told him all that had happened.

 



13. kafli - Þorgils gjallandi færir skatt.

Þorgils gjallandi hét maðr. Hann var heimamaðr Þórólfs ok hafði af honum mesta virðing húskarla hans. Hann hafði fylgt Þórólfi, þá er hann var í víking, var þá stafnbúi hans ok merkismaðr. Þorgils hafði verit í Hafrsfirði í liði Haralds konungs ok stýrði þá skipi því, er Þórólfr átti ok hann hafði haft í víking. Þorgils var rammr at afli ok inn mesti hreystimaðr. Konungr hafði veitt honum vingjafar eftir orrostu ok heitit vináttu sinni. Þorgils var forstjóri fyrir búi í Torgum, þá er Þórólfr var eigi heima. Hafði Þorgils þá þar ráð.

En er Þórólfr hafði heiman farit, þá hafði hann til greitt finnskatt þann allan, er hann hafði haft af fjalli ok konungr átti, ok fekk í hendr Þorgísli ok bað hann færa konungi, ef hann kæmi eigi heim áðr, um þat er konungr færi norðan ok suðr um. Þorgils bjó byrðing mikinn ok góðan, er Þórólfr átti, ok bar þar á skattinn ok hafði nær tuttugu mönnum, sigldi suðr eftir konungi ok fann hann inn í Naumudal.

En er Þorgils kom á fund konungs, þá bar hann konungi kveðju Þórólfs ok sagði, at hann fór þar með finnskatt þann, er Þórólfr sendi honum. Konungr sá til hans ok svarar engu, ok sá menn, at hann var reiðr. Gekk þá Þorgils á brott ok ætlaði at fá betra dagráð at tala við konung. Hann kom á fund Ölvis hnúfu ok sagði honum allt, sem farit hafði, ok spurði, ef hann vissi nökkut til, hverju gegndi.

"Eigi veit ek þat," sagði hann. "Hitt hefi ek fundit, at konungr þagnar hvert sinn, er Þórólfs er getit, síðan er vér várum í Leku, ok grunar mik af því, at hann muni rægðr vera. Þat veit ek um Hildiríðarsonu, at þeir eru löngum á einmælum við konung, en þat er auðfundit á orðum þeira, at þeir eru óvinir Þórólfs. En ek mun þessa brátt víss verða af konungi."

Síðan fór Ölvir til fundar við konung ok mælti: "Þorgils gjallandi er hér kominn, vinr yðvarr, með skatt þann, er kominn er af Finnmörk ok þér eiguð, ok er skattrinn miklu meiri en fyrr hefir verit ok miklu betri vara. Er honum títt um ferð sína. Ger svá vel, konungr, gakk til ok sé, því at engi mun sét hafa jafngóða grávöru."

Konungr svarar engu ok gekk þó þar, er skipit lá. Þorgils bar þegar upp vöruna ok sýndi konungi. En er konungr sá, at þat var satt, at skattrinn var miklu meiri ok betri en fyrr hafði verit, þá hóf honum heldr upp brún, ok mátti Þorgils þá tala við hann. Hann færði konungi bjórskinn nökkur, er Þórólfr sendi honum, ok enn fleiri dýrgripi, er hann hafði fengit á fjalli. Konungr gladdist þá ok spyrr, hvat til tíðenda hefði orðit um ferðir þeira Þórólfs. Þorgils sagði þat allt greiniliga.

Þá mælti konungr: "Skaði mikill er þat, er Þórðlfr skal eigi vera tryggr mér eða vilja vera banamaðr minn."

Þá svöruðu margir, er hjá váru, ok allir á eina lund, sögðu, at vera myndi róg illra manna, ef konungi væri slíkt sagt, en Þórólfr myndi ósannr at vera. Kom þá svá, at konungr kveðst því mundu heldr af trúa. Var konungr þá léttr í öllum ræðum við Þorgils, ok skilðust sáttir.

En er Þorgils hitti Þórólf, sagði hann honum allt, sem farið hafði.


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