Þorbjörn spyrr yfir á Hól víg Einars, sonar síns. Hann kunni illa tíðendum þessum. Nú tekr hann hest sinn ok ríðr yfir á Aðalból ok beiðir Hrafnkel bóta fyrir víg sonar síns.
Hann kvaðst fleiri menn hafa drepit en þenna einn. "Er þér þat eigi ókunnigt, at ek vil engan mann fé bæta, ok verða menn þat þó svá gert at hafa. En þó læt ek svá sem mér þykki þetta verk mitt í verra lagi víga þeira, er ek hefi unnit. Hefir þú verit nábúi minn langa stund, ok hefir mér líkat vel til þín ok hvárum okkar til annars. Myndi okkr Einari ekki hafa annat smátt til orðit, ef hann hefði eigi riðit hestinum. En vit munum oft þess iðrast, er vit erum of málgir, ok sjaldnar mundum vit þessa iðrast, þó at vit mæltim færa en fleira. Mun ek þat nú sýna, at mér þykkir þetta verk mitt verra en önnur þau, er ek hefi unnit. Ek vil birgja bú þitt með málnytu í sumar, en slátrum í haust. Svá vil ek gera við þik hvert misseri, meðan þú villt búa. Sonu þína ok dætr skulum vit í burtu leysa með minni forsjá ok efla þau svá, at þau mætti fá góða kosti af því. Ok allt, er þú veizt í mínum hirzlum vera ok þú þarft at hafa heðan af, þá skaltu mér til segja ok eigi fyrir skart sitja heðan af um þá hluti, sem þú þarft at hafa. Skaltu búa, meðan þér þykkir gaman at, en fara þá hingat, er þér leiðist. Mun ek þá annast þik til dauðadags. Skulum vit þá vera sáttir. Vil ek þess vænta, at þat mæli fleiri, at sjá maðr sé vel dýrr".
"Ek vil eigi þennan kost", segir Þorbjörn.
"Hvern viltu þá?" segir Hrafnkell.
Þá segir Þorbjörn: "Ek vil, at vit takim menn til gerðar með okkr".
Hrafnkell svarar: "Þá þykkist þú jafnmenntr mér, ok munum vit ekki at því sættast".
Þá reið Þorbjörn í brott ok ofan eftir heraði. Hann kom til Laugarhúsa ok hittir Bjarna, bróður sinn, ok segir honum þessi tíðendi, biðr, at hann muni nökkurn hlut í eiga um þessi mál.
Bjarni kvað eigi sitt jafnmenni við at eiga, þar er Hrafnkell er, -- "en þó at vér stýrim penningum miklum, þá megum vér ekki deila af kappi við Hrafnkel, ok er þat satt, at sá er svinnr,er sik kann. Hefir hann þá marga málaferlum vafit, er meira bein hafa í hendi haft en vér. Sýnist mér þú vitlítill við hafa orðit, er þú hefir svá góðum kostum neitat. Vil ek mér hér engu af skipta.
Þorbjörn mælti þá mörg herfilig orð til bróður síns ok segir því síðr dáð í honum sem meira lægi við. Hann ríðr nú í brott, ok skiljast þeir með lítilli blíðu. Hann léttir eigi, fyrr en hann kemr ofan til Leikskála, drepr þar á dyrr. Var þar til dura gengit. Þorbjörn biðr Sám út ganga. Sámr heilsaði vel frænda sínum ok bauð honum þar at vera. Þorbjörn tók því öllu seint. Sámr sér ógleði á Þorbirni ok spyrr tíðenda, en hann sagði víg Einars, sonar síns.
"Þat eru eigi mikil tíðendi", segir Sámr, "þótt Hrafnkell drepi menn.
Þorbjörn spyrr, ef Sámr vildi nökkura liðveizlu veita sér. "Er þetta mál þann veg, þótt mér sé nánastr maðrinn, at þó er yðr eigi fjarri höggvit".
"Hefir þú nökkut eftir sæmðum leitat við Hrafnkel?"
Þorbjörn sagði allt it sanna, hversu farit hafði með þeim Hrafnkeli.
"Eigi hefi ek varr orðit fyrri", segir Sámr, "at Hrafnkell hafi svá boðit nökkurum sem þér. Nú vil ek ríða með þér upp á Aðalból, ok förum vit lítillátliga at við Hrafnkel, ok vita, ef hann vill halda in sömu boð. Mun honum nökkurn veg vel fara.
"Þat er bæði", segir Þorbjörn, "at Hrafnkell mun nú eigi vilja, enda er mér þat nú eigi heldr í hug en þá, er ek reið þaðan".
Sámr segir: "Þungt get ek at deila kappi við Hrafnkel um málaferli".
Þorbjörn svarar: "Því verðr engi uppreist yðar ungra manna, at yðr vex allt í augu. Hygg ek, at engi maðr muni eiga jafnmikil auðvirði at frændum sem ek. Sýnist mér slíkum mönnum illa farit sem þér, er þykkist lögkænn vera ok ert gjarn á smásakir, en villt eigi taka við þessu máli, er svá er brýnt. Mun þér verða ámælissamt, sem makligt er, fyrir því at þú ert hávaðamestr ór ætt várri. Sé ek nú, hvat sök horfir".
Sámr svarar: "Hverju góðu ertu þá nær en áðr, þótt ek taka við þessu máli ok sém vit þá báðir hrakðir?"
Þorbjörn svarar: "Þó er mér þat mikil hugarbót, at þú takir við málinu. Verðr at þar, sem má."
Sámr svarar: "Ófúss geng ek at þessu. Meir geri ek þat fyrir frændsemi sakir við þik. En vita skaltu, at mér þykkir þar heimskum manni at duga, sem þú ert."
Þá rétti Sámr fram höndina ok tók við málinu af Þorbirni.
8. Sámr ok Hrafnkell riðu til alþingis.
Sámr lætr taka sér hest ok ríðr upp eftir dal ok ríðr á bæ einn ok lýsir víginu, fær sér menn á hendr Hrafnkeli. Hrafnkell spyrr þetta ok þótti hlægiligt, er Sámr hefir tekit mál á hendr honum.
Leið nú á vetrinn, en at vári, þá er komit var at stefnudögum, ríðr Sámr heiman upp á Aðalból ok stefnir Hrafnkeli um víg Einars. Eftir þat ríðr Sámr ofan eftir dalnum ok kvaddi búa til þingreiðar, ok sitr hann um kyrrt, þar til er menn búast til þingreiðar.
Hrafnkell sendi þá menn ofan eftir dalnum ok kvaddi upp menn. Hann ferr ór þingmönnum sínum, sjau tögum manns. Með þenna flokk ríðr hann austr yfir Fljótsdalsherað ok svá fyrir vatnsbotninn ok um þveran háls til Skriðudals ok upp eftir Skriðdal ok suðr á Öxarheiði til Berufjarðar ok rétta þingmannaleið á Síðu. Suðr ór Fljótsdal eru sjautján dagleiðir á Þingvöll.
En eftir þat er hann var á brott riðinn ór heraði, þá safnar Sámr at sér mönnum. Fær hann mest til reiðar með sér einhleypinga ok þá, er hann hafði saman kvatt. Ferr Sámr ok fær þessum mönnum vápn ok klæði ok vistir. Sámr snýr aðra leið ór dalnum. Hann ferr norðr til brúa ok svá yfir brú ok þaðan yfir Möðrudalsheiði, ok váru í Möðrudal um nátt. Þaðan riðu þeir til Herðibreiðstungu ok svá fyrir ofan Bláfjöll ok þaðan í Króksdal ok svá suðr á Sand ok kómu ofan í Sauðafell ok þaðan á Þingvöll, ok var þar Hrafnkell eigi kominn, ok fórst honum því seinna, at hann átti lengri leið. Sámr tjaldar búð yfir sínum mönnum hvergi nær því, sem Austfirðingar eru vanir at tjalda.
En nökkuru síðar kom Hrafnkell á þing. Hann tjaldar búð sína, svá sem hann var vanr, ok spurði, at Sámr var á þinginu. Honum þótti þat hlægiligt.
Þetta þing var harðla fjölmennt. Váru þar flestir höfðingjar, þeir er váru á Íslandi. Sámr finnr alla höfðingja ok bað sér trausts ok liðsinnis, en einn veg svöruðu allir, at engi kvaðst eiga svá gott Sámi upp at gjalda, at ganga vildi í deild við Hrafnkel goða ok hætta svá sinni virðingu, segja ok þat einn veg flestum farit hafa, þeim er þingdeilur við Hrafnkel hafa haft, at hann hafi alla menn hrakit af málaferlum þeim, er við hann hafa haft.
Sámr gengr heim til búðar sinnar, ok var þeim frændum þungt í skapi ok uggðu, at þeira mál myndi svá niðr falla, at þeir myndi ekki fyrir hafa nema skömm ok svívirðing. Ok svá mikla áhyggju hafa þeir frændr, at þeir njóta hvárki svefns né matar, því at allir höfðingjarnir skárust undan liðsinni við þá frændr, jafnvel þeir, sem þeir væntu, at þeim myndi lið veita.
9. Sámr hitti Þorkel Þjóstarsson.
Þat var einn morgin snemma, at Þorbjörn karl vaknar. Hann vekr Sám ok bað hann upp standa. "Má ek ekki sofa."
Sámr stendr upp ok ferr í klæði sín. Þeir ganga út ok ofan at Öxará, fyrir neðan brúna. Þar þvá þeir sér.
Þorbjörn mælti við Sám: "Þat er ráð mitt, at þú látir reka at hesta vára, ok búumst heim. Er nú sét, at oss vill ekki annat en svívirðing.
Sámr svarar: "Þat er vel, af því at þú vildir ekki annat en deila við Hrafnkel ok vildir eigi þá kosti þiggja, er margr myndi gjarna þegit hafa, sá er eftir sinn náunga átti at sjá. Frýðir þú oss mjök hugar ok öllum þeim, er í þetta mál vildu eigi ganga með þér. Skal ek nú ok aldri fyrr af láta en mér þykkir fyrir ván komit, at ek geta nökkut at gert."
Þá fær Þorbirni svá mjök, at hann grætr.
Þá sjá þeir vestan at ánni, hóti neðar en þeir sátu, hvar fimm menn gengu saman frá einni búð. Sá var hár maðr ok ekki þrekligr, er fyrstr gekk, í laufgrænum kyrtli ok hafði búit sverð í hendi, réttleitr maðr ok rauðlitaðr ok vel í yfirbragði, ljósjarpr á hár ok mjök hærðr. Sá maðr var auðkenniligr, því at hann hafði ljósan lepp í hári sínu inum vinstra megin.
Sámr mælti: "Stöndum upp ok göngum vestr yfir ána til móts við þessa menn."
Þeir ganga nú ofan með ánni, ok sá maðr, sem fyrir gekk, heilsar þeim fyrri ok spyrr, hverir þeir væri. Þeir sögðu til sín. Sámr spurði þenna mann at nafni, en hann nefndist Þorkell ok kvaðst vera Þjóstarsson. Sámr spurði, hvar hann væri ættaðr eða hvar hann ætti heima. Hann kvaðst vera vestfirzkr at kyni ok uppruna, en eiga heima í Þorskafirði.
Sámr mælti: "Hvárt ertu goðorðsmaðr?"
Hann kvað þat fjarri fara.
"Ertu þá bóndi?" sagði Sámr.
Hann kvaðst eigi þat vera.
Sámr mælti: "Hvat manna ertu þá?"
Hann svarar: "Ek em einn einhleypingr. Kom ek út í fyrra vetr. Hefi ek verit útan sjau vetr ok farit út í Miklagarð, en em handgenginn Garðskonunginum, en nú em ek á vist með bróður mínum, þeim er Þorgeirr heitir.
"Er hann goðorðsmaðr?" segir Sámr.
Þorkell svarar: "Goðorðsmaðr er hann víst um Þorskafjörð ok víðara um Vestfjörðu."
"Er hann hér á þinginu?" segir Sámr.
"Hér er hann víst."
"Hversu margmennr er hann?"
"Hann er við sjau tigu manna," segir Þorkell.
"Eru þér fleiri bræðrnir?" segir Sámr.
"Er inn þriði", segir Þorkell.
Hverr er sá?" segir Sámr.
"Hann heitir Þormóðr", segir Þorkell, "ok býr í Görðum á Álftanesi. Hann á Þórdísi, dóttur Þórólfs Skalla-Grímssonar frá Borg."
"Villtu nökkut liðsinni okkr veita?" segir Sámr.
"Hvers þurfið þit við?" segir Þorkell.
"Liðsinnis ok afla höfðingja", segir Sámr, "því at vit eigum málum at skipta við Hrafnkel goða um víg Einars Þorbjarnarsonar, en vit megum vel hlíta okkrum flutningi með þínu fulltingi."
Þorkell svarar: "Svá er sem ek sagða, at ek em engi goðorðsmaðr."
"Hví ertu svá afskipta gerr, þar sem þú ert höfðingjason sem aðrir bræðr þínir?"
Þorkell sagði: "Eigi sagða ek þér þat, at ek ætta þat eigi, en ek selda þat í hendr Þorgeiri, bróður mínum, mannaforráð mitt, áðr en ek fór útan. Síðan hefi ek eigi við tekit, fyrir því at mér þykkir vel komit, meðan hann varðveitir. Gangið þit á fund hans, biðið hann ásjá. Hann er skörungr í skapi ok drengr góðr ok í alla staði vel menntr, ungr maðr ok metnaðargjarn. Eru slíkir menn vænstir til at veita ykkr liðsinni.
Sámr segir: "Af honum munum vit ekki fá, nema þú sért í flutningi með okkr."
Þorkell segir: "Því mun ek heita at vera heldr með ykkr en móti, með því at mér þykkir ærin nauðsyn til at mæla eftir náskyldan mann. Farið þit nú fyrir til búðarinnar ok gangið inn í búðina. Er mannfólk í svefni. Þit munuð sjá, hvar standa innar um þvera búðina tvau húðföt, ok reis ek upp ór öðru, en í öðru hvílir Þorgeirr, bróðir minn. Hann hefir haft kveisu mikla í fætinum, síðan hann kom á þingit, ok því hefir hann lítit sofit um nætr. En nú sprakk fótrinn í nótt, ok er ór kveisunaglinn, en nú hefir hann sofnat síðan ok hefir réttan fótinn út undan fötunum fram á fótafjölina sakar ofrhita, er á er á fætinum. Gangi sá inn gamli maðr fyrir ok svá innar eftir búðinni. Mér sýnist hann mjök hrymðr bæði at sýn ok elli. Þá er þú, maðr", segir Þorkell, "kemr at húðfatinu, skaltu rasa mjök ok fall á fótafjölina ok tak í tána þá, er um er bundit, ok hnykk at þér ok vit, hversu hann verðr við."
Sámr mælti: "Heilráðr muntu okkr vera, en eigi sýnist mér þetta ráðligt."
Þorkell svarar: "Annathvárt verði þit at gera, at hafa þat, sem ek legg til, eða leita ekki ráða til mín."
Sámr mælti ok segir: "Svá skal gera sem hann gefr ráð til."
Þorkell kvaðst mundu ganga síðar, -- "því at ek bíð manna minna."
10. Þjóstarssynir hétu Sámi liðveizlu.
Ok nú gengu þeir Sámr ok Þorbjörn ok koma í búðina. Sváfu þar menn allir. Þeir sjá brátt, hvar Þorgeirr lá. Þorbjörn karl gekk fyrir ok fór mjök rasandi. En er hann kom at húðfatinu, þá fell hann á fótafjölina ok þrífr í tána, þá er vanmátta var, ok hnykkir at sér, en Þorgeirr vaknar við ok hljóp upp í húðfatinu ok spurði, hverr þar færi svá hrapalliga, at hlypi á fætr mönnum, er áðr váru vanmátta. En þeim Sámi varð ekki at orði.
Þá snaraði Þorkell inn í búðina ok mælti til Þorgeirs, bróður síns: "Ver eigi svá bráðr né óðr, frændi, um þetta, því at þik mun ekki saka. En mörgum tekst verr en vill, ok verðr þat mörgum, at þá fá eigi alls gætt jafnvel, er honum er mikit í skapi. En þat er várkunn, frændi, at þér sé sárr fótr þinn, er mikit mein hefir í verit. Muntu þess mest á þér kenna. Nú má ok þat vera, at gömlum manni sé eigi ósárari sonardauði sinn, en fá engar bætr ok skorti hvetvetna sjálfr. Mun hann þess gerst kenna á sér, ok er þat at vánum, at sá maðr gæti eigi alls vel, er mikit býr í skapi."
Þorgeirr segir: "Ekki hugða ek, at hann mætti mik þessa kunna, því at eigi drap ek son hans, ok má hann af því eigi á mér þessu hefna."
"Eigi vildi hann á þér þessu hefna", segir Þorkell, "en fór hann at þér harðara en hann vildi, ok galt hann óskygnleika síns, en vænti sér af þér nökkurs trausts. Er þat nú drengskapr at veita gömlum manni ok þurftugum. Er honum þetta nauðsyn, en eigi seiling, þó at hann mæli eftir son sinn, en nú ganga allir höfðingjar undan liðveizlu við þessa menn ok sýna í því mikinn ódrengskap."
Þorgeirr mælti: "Við hvern eiga þessir menn at kæra?"
Þorkell svaraði: "Hrafnkell goði hefir vegit son hans Þorbjarnar saklausan. Vinnr hann hvert óverk at öðru, en vill engum manni sóma vinna fyrir."
Þorgeirr mælti: "Svá mun mér fara sem öðrum, at ek veit eigi mik þessum mönnum svá gott eiga upp at inna, at ek vilja ganga í deilur við Hrafnkel. Þykkir mér hann einn veg fara hvert sumar við þá menn, sem málum eigu at skipta við hann, at flestir menn fá litla virðing eða enga, áðr lúki, ok sé ek þar fara einn veg öllum. Get ek af því flesta menn ófúsa til, þá sem engi nauðsyn dregr til."
Þorkell segir: "Þat má vera, at svá færi mér at, ef ek væri höfðingi, at mér þætti illt at deila við Hrafnkel. En eigi sýnist mér svá, fyrir því at mér þætti við þann bezt at eiga, er allir hrekjast fyrir áðr, ok þætti mér mikit vaxa mín virðing eða þess höfðingja, er á Hrafnkel gæti nökkura vík róit, en minnkast ekki, þó at mér færi sem öðrum, fyrir því at má mér þat, sem yfir margan gengr. Hefir sá ok jafnan, er hættir."
"Sé ek", segir Þorgeirr, "hversu þér er gefit, at þú villt veita þessum mönnum. Nú mun ek selja þér í hendr goðorð mitt ok mannaforráð, ok haf þú þat, sem ek hefi haft áðr, en þaðan af höfum vit jöfnuð af báðir, ok veittu þá þeim, er þú villt."
"Svá sýnist mér", segir Þorkell, "sem þá muni goðorð várt bezt komit, er þú hafir sem lengst. Ann ek engum svá vel sem þér at hafa, því at þú hefir marga hluti til menntar um fram alla oss bræðr, en ek óráðinn, hvat er ek vil af mér gera at bragði. En þú veizt, frændi, at ek hefi til fás hlutazt, síðan ek kom til Íslands. Má ek nú sjá, hvat mín ráð eru. Nú hefi ek flutt sem ek mun at sinni. Kann vera, at Þorkell leppr komi þar, at hans orð verði meir metin."
Þorgeirr segir: "Sé ek nú, hversu horfir, frændi, at þér mislíkar, en ek má þat eigi vita, ok munum vit fylgja þessum mönnum, hversu sem ferr, ef þú villt."
Þorkell mælti: "Þessa eins bið ek, at mér þykkir betr, at veitt sé."
"Til hvers þykkjast þessir menn færir", segir Þorgeirr, "svá at framkvæmð verði at þeira máli?"
"Svá er sem ek sagða í dag, at styrk þurfum vit af höfðingjum, en málaflutning á ek undir mér."
Þorgeirr kvað honum þá gott at duga, -- "ok er nú þat til, at búa mál til sem réttligast. En mér þykkir sem Þorkell vili, at þit vitið hans, áðr dómar fara út. Munuð þit þá hafa annathvárt fyrir ykkart þrá nökkura hugan eða læging enn meir en áðr ok hrelling ok skapraun. Gengið nú heim ok verið kátir, af því at þess munu þit við þurfa, ef þit skuluð deila við Hrafnkel, at þit berið ykkr vel upp um hríð, en segi þit engum manni, at vit höfum liðveizlu heitit ykkr."
Þá gengu þeir heim til búðar sinnar, váru þá einteitir. Menn undruðust þetta allir, hví þeir hefði svá skjótt skapskipti tekit, þar sem þeir váru óglaðir, er þeir fóru heiman.
11. Sámr gerði Hrafnkel sekan.
Nú sitja þeir, þar til er dómar fara út. Þá kveðr Sámr upp menn sína ok gengr til lögbergs. Var þar þá dómr settr. Sámr gekk djarfliga at dóminum. Hann hefr þegar upp váttnefnu ok sótti mál sitt at réttum landslögum á hendr Hrafnkeli goða, miskviðalaust með sköruligum flutningi. Þessu næst koma þeir Þjóstarssynir með mikla sveit manna. Allir menn vestan af landi veittu þeim lið, ok sýndist þat, at Þjóstarssynir váru menn vinsælir.
Sámr sótti málit í dóm, þangat til, er Hrafnkeli var boðit til varnar, nema sá maðr væri þar við staddr, er lögvörn vildi frammi hafa fyrir hann at réttu lögmáli. Rómr varð mikill at máli Sáms. Kvaðst engi vilja lögvörn fram bera fyrir Hrafnkel.
Menn hlupu til búðar Hrafnkels ok sögðu honum, hvat um var at vera. Hann veikst við skjótt ok kvaddi upp menn sína ok gekk til dóma, hugði, at þar myndi lítil vörn fyrir landi. Hafði hann þat í hug sér at leiða smámönnum at sækja mál á hendr honum. Ætlaði hann at hleypa upp dóminum fyrir Sámi ok hrekja hann af málinu. En þess var nú eigi kostr. Þar var fyrir sá mannfjölði, at Hrafnkell komst hvergi nær. Var honum þröngt frá í burtu með miklu ofríki, svá at hann náði eigi at heyra mál þeira, er hann sóttu. Var honum því óhægt at færa lögvörn fram fyrir sik. En Sámr sótti málit til fullra laga, til þess er Hrafnkell var alsekr á þessu þingi.
Hrafnkell gengr þegar til búðar ok lætr taka hesta sína ok ríðr á brott af þingi ok unði illa við sínar málalykðir, því at hann átti aldri fyrr slíkar. Ríðr hann þá austr Lyngdalsheiði ok svá austr á Síðu, ok eigi léttir hann fyrr en heima í Hrafnkelsdal ok sezt á Aðalból ok lét sem ekki hefði í orðit.
En Sámr var á þingi ok gekk mjök uppstertr. Mörgum mönnum þykkir vel, þó at þann veg hafi at borist, at Hrafnkell hafi hneykju farit, ok minnast nú, at hann hefir mörgum ójafnað sýnt.
12. Ráðagerð Þjóstarssona.
Sámr bíðr til þess, at slitit er þinginu. Búast menn þá heim. Þakkar hann þeim bræðrum sína liðveizlu, en Þorgeirr spurði Sám hlæjandi, hversu honum þætti at fara. Hann lét vel yfirþví.
Þorgeirr mælti: "Þykkist þú nú nökkuru nær en áðr?"
Sámr mælti: "Beðit þykki mér Hrafnkell hafa sneypu, er lengi mun uppi vera þessi hans sneypa, ok er þetta við mikla fémuni."
"Eigi er maðrinn alsekr, meðan eigi er háðr féránsdómr, ok hlýtr þat at hans heimili at gera. Þat skal vera fjórtán náttum eftir vápnatak."
En þat heitir vápnatak er alþýða ríðr af þingi.
"En ek get", segir Þorgeirr, "at Hrafnkell mun heim kominn ok ætli at sitja á Aðalbóli. Get ek, at hann mun halda mannaforráð fyrir yðr. En þú munt ætla at ríða heim ok setjast í bú þitt, ef þú náir, at bezta kosti. Get ek, at þú hafir þat svá þinna mála, at þú kallar hann skógarmann, en slíkan ægishjálm, get ek, at hann beri yfir flestum sem áðr, nema þú hljótir at fara nökkuru lægra."
"Aldri hirði ek þat", segir Sámr.
"Hraustr maðr ertu", segir Þorgeirr, "ok þykki mér sem Þorkell frændi vili eigi gera endamjótt við þik. Hann vill nú fylgja þér, þar til er ór slítr með ykkr Hrafnkeli, ok megir þú þá sitja um kyrrt. Mun yðr þykkja nú vit skyldastir at fylgja þér, er vér höfum áðr mest í fengizt. Skulum vit nú fylgja þér um sinnsakar í Austfjörðu, eða kanntu nökkura þá leið til Austfjarða, at eigi sé almannavegr?"
Sámr kveðst fara mundu ina sömu leið, sem hann fór austan. Sámr varð þessu feginn.
13. Sámr gerði Hrafnkel brott af Aðalbóli.
Þorgeirr valði lið sitt ok lét sér fylgja fjóra tigu manna. Sámr hafði ok fjóra tigu manna. Var þat lið vel búit at vápnum ok hestum.
Eftir þat ríða þeir alla ina sömu leið, þar til er þeir koma í nætrelding í Jökulsdal, fara yfir brú á ánni, ok var þetta þann morgin, er féránsdóm átti at heyja. Þá spyrr Þorgeirr, hversu mætti helzt á óvart koma. Sámr kvaðst mundu kunna ráð til þess. Hann snýr þegar af leiðinni ok upp á múlann ok svá eftir hálsinum milli Hrafnkelsdals ok Jökulsdals, þar til er þeir koma útan undir fjallit, er bærinn stendr undir niðri á Aðalbóli. Þar gengu grasgeilar í heiðina upp, en þar var brekka brött ofan í dalinn, ok stóð þar bærinn undir niðri.
Thorbjorn hears at Hol of the slaying of Einar, his son. He
takes ill to these tidings. Now takes he his horse and rides on to Adhalbol and
bids Hrafnkel make amends for the slaying of his son.
He responds that he has slain more men than this one. “It is
not unknown to you, that I will compensate no man in property, and yet men must
accept it so. And yet I will allow, as it seems to me, that this my work is
among the worst of those slayings which I have undertaken. You have been my
neighbor for some time, and I have been fond of you and each of us to the
other. Nothing in the slightest would have come of Einar and me if he had not
ridden on the horse. And we will often regret that over which we have spoken,
and we will seldom regret that, though we have spoken less rather than more. I
will now demonstrate that this my work seems worse to me than those others
which I have undertaken. I will provide your homestead with milk cows in the
summer, and with meat in the autumn. So will I do for you each season, so long
as you will dwell there. Your sons and daughters we will allow to travel with
my protection, and they will win for themselves so that they might receive good
rewards thereof. And all that which you know to be in my possession and which
you need to have thereof, thus shall you say to me and never sit short thereon
of those things which you need to have. You shall dwell, so long as it pleases
you, and fare where the road takes you. Thus will I care for you until your
dying day. Then shall we be settled. This I wish fondly, that many might say,
that that man was well dear.”
“I will not take this offer,” says Thorbjorn.
“What then do you wish?” says Hrafnkel.
Then says Thorbjorn: “it is my will that we take men to the
law courts with us.”
Hrafnkel answers: “Think you yourself then to be of equal
bearing with me, and in this we will not be settled.”
Then rode Thorbjorn on his way and over across the district.
He came to Laugarhus and comes upon Bjarni, his brother, and says to him these
tidings, and asks him whether he might take some part in these matters.
Bjarni said that his bearing was not such, as Hrafnkel’s
was-- “And though we might divert great wealth toward it, yet could we never
deal in conflict with Hrafnkel, and it is true, that he is wise, who knows
himself. He has to this day entangled many in lawsuits, who have had more bone
in hand than we. You seem to me to have been small-witted, when you denied such
good terms. For myself I will have no part in this.”
Thorbjorn uttered then many bitter words to his brother, and
says that there is less courage in him to whom more is given. He rides now on
his way, and they part with little love. He halts not till he comes over onto
Leikskali, and knocks there on the door. One came then to the door. Thorbjorn
asks Sam to come outside. Sam hails his kinsman well and bids him to stay.
Thorbjorn took with this very coldly. Sam sees unhappiness and Thorbjorn and
asks for tidings, and he declares the slaying of Einar, his son.
“Those are not great tidings,” says Sam, “though Hrafnkel
kill men.”
Thorbjorn asks if Sam will give him any aid. “The matter
lies thus, though I be the man nearest of kin, that the burden falls yet not
far from you.”
“Have you sought any terms with Hrafnkel?”
Thorbjorn relates all and truly, how it had fared with him
and Hrafnkel.
“I have not before been aware,” says Sam, “that Hrafnkel has
so offered to any as he has to you. Now will I ride with you up on to Adhalbol,
and we will go humbly before Hrafnkel, and see if he will uphold the same offer.
Perhaps he will be in a good way.”
“It is both the case,” says Thorbjorn, “that Hrafnkel will
not now be willing, and more importantly it is not now more agreeable to me
than when I first rode from there.”
Sam says: “Burdensome, I think, will it be to contend with
Hrafnkel in a lawsuit.”
Thorbjorn answers: “In this there is no prospect for you
younger men, for whom all waxes large in the eye. I think that no man could
possibly have more worthless wretches as kinsmen than I. It seems to me ill
fared for such men as you, who wish to appear knowledgeable in the law and are
eager for small suits, and will not take with this matter, which is so urgent.
In this there will be much shame for you, as is fit, for you are the most brash
man in our family. I see now, how this matter turns.”
Sam answers: “How much better are you then than before,
though I take with this case and we are both driven away?”
Thorbjorn answers: “That would yet be a comfort to me, that
you would take with the case. What will be, will be.”
Sam answers: “Unwilling I enter into this. More do I do this
for the sake of our kinship than for you. And you shall know, that it is done
for a foolish man, such as you are.”
Then Sam reached forth his hand and took the case with
Thorbjorn.
Sam has a horse brought to him and rides up the dale and
rides to a hall there and makes known the slaying, gathers to himself men
against Hrafnkel. Hrafnkel hears this and thinks it laughable, that Sam has
taken up suit against him.
The winter passed on, and in the spring, when it was come to
the summoning days, Sam rides from his home up on to Adhalbol and summons
Hrafnkel for the slaying of Einar. After that rides Sam over the dale and
called up men. The gathers together out of his thingmen seventy men. With this
group he rides east over Fljotsdalheradh and so over the head of the lake and
across the ridge to Skridhudal and up over Skridhudal and south onto Oxarheidh
to Berufjordh and reaches the path of the thingmen in Sidha. South out of
Fljotsdal is seventeen days’ journey to the Thing field.
And after he was ridden out of the district Sam then
gathered together man. Most of all gathered to the ride land lopers and those
whom he had called before. Sam goes and brings to these men weapons and clothes
and provisions. Sam turns another way out of the dales. he fares north to the
bridges and so over the bridge and from there over Modhrudalsheith, and they
were in Modhrudal through the night. From there they rode to Herdhibreithstung
and so over Blafjoll and from there into Kroksdal and so south onto Sand and
came over into Saudhafell and from there onto the Thingvoll, and Hrafnkel was
not come there, and he fared more slowly because he had a longer road. Sam set
up his booth over his men nowhere near where the Austfirthingar are want to set
booth.
And somewhat later came Hrafnkel to the Thing. Most of the
chieftains were there who were then in Iceland. Sam seeks all of the chieftains
and bade them their support and aid, and one way answer they all, that no one
owed Sam so well as to enter into conflict with Hrafnkel godhi and risk such
humiliation, saying also that it had fared one way for most who had entered
into Thing suits with Hrafnkel, that he had driven all men from those lawsuits
which had been sought with him.
Sam goes home to his booth, and for those kinsmen was heart
heavy, and they feared that their suit would fall so short that they would have
nothing but shame and disgrace. And such great anxiety did the kinsmen have,
that they enjoyed neither sleep nor food, because all the chieftains had
withdrawn support from those kinsmen, equally well those whom they had wished
might lend them aid.
It was one morning early, that Thorbjorn the old man awakes.
He wakes Sam and bade him stand up. “I cannot sleep.”
Sam stands up and gets into his clothes. They go out and
over to Oxara, below the bridges. There they washed themselves.
Thorbjorn spoke with Sam: “That is my counsel, that you have
our horses brought out, and we prepare to go home. It can be seen now that for
us there will be nothing other than disgrace.”
Sam answers: “That is well, because you wanted nothing other
than to deal with Hrafnkel and would not accept those terms, which many a man
would gladly have taken, he who after his kinsman was obliged to see. You have brought
into question our character and all those who would enter into this suit with
you. Never again shall I agree to anything save that it seems to me likely that
I can accomplish it.”
Then Thorbjorn was so overwrought, that he wept.
Then they see from the west on the river, a little lower
than they sat, where five men walked together from one booth. That was a tall
man and yet not stout, who walked foremost, in a leaf green shirt and girt with
sword in hand, a smoothly featured man and ruddy faced and distinguished of
appearance, of light chestnut hair and well-haired. This man was easily
recognized, for he had a light lock of hair on the left side.
Sam said: “Let us stand up and go west over the river to
meet with these men.”
They go now over the river, and that man, who walked first,
hails them from afar and asks who they might be. They introduced themselves.
Sam asked the man for his name, and he named himself Thorkell and said himself
to be the son of Thjost. Sam asked from where he was descended or were he made
his home. He declared himself to be of the west firth by lineage and
upbringing, and to have his home in Thorskafjordh.
Sam said: “Are you then a chieftain?”
He said that was far from the case.
“Are you then a yeoman?” said Sam.
He said that was not the case.
Sam said: “What manner of man are you then?”
He answers: “I am a land loper. I came out in the last
winter. I have been abroad seven winters and fared into Constantinople, chosen
as retainer to the Byzantine Emperor, and now I have lodgings with my brother,
who is called Thorgeir.”
“Is he a chieftain?” says Sam.
Thorkell answers: “Chieftain is he certainly throughout
Thorskafjordh and more widely about Vestfjordh.”
“Is he at the Thing?” says Sam.
“Certainly he is here.”
“With how many men is he?”
“He is with seventy men,” says Thorkell.
“Are there more brothers?” says Sam.
“There is the third,” says Thorkell.
“Who is that?” says Sam.
“He is called Thormod,” says Thorkell, “and he dwells in
Gardhar on Alptanes. He has as wife Thordis, daughter of Thorolf
Skalla-Grimsson from Borg.”
“Will you give us any help?” says Sam.
“What sort of help do you need?” says Thorkell.
“The help and the power of chieftains,” says Sam, “because
we have a lawsuit to settle with Hrafnkel godhi concerning the slaying of Einar
Thorbjarnarson, and we might well rely on your aid in our case.”
Thorkell: “it is just as I have said, that I am not a
chieftain.”
“Why are you cut off from your inheritance so, when you are
a chieftain’s son just as your other brothers?”
Thorkell said: “I did not say to you that I had it not, but that I gave my
authority into the hands of Thorgeir, my brother, before I went abroad. I have
not taken with it since, because it seems to me to have been in good hands
while he has kept it. Go you and meet with him, bid him his aid. He is a noble
man in spirit and a brave fellow and well bred in all things, a young man and
eager after renown. Such men are most likely to give you aid.”
Sam says: “From him we will get nothing, save that you are
with us in pleading.”
Thorkell says: “in this I will how to be more with you than
against you, because there seems to me to be sufficient need to speak after a
closely related man. Go you now to the booths and walk inside them. The men are
asleep. You will see where two leather hammocks stand athwart the booths, and
one rises above another, and in the other sleeps Thorgeir, my brother. He has
had a tremendous boil on his foot, since he came to the Thing, and for this
reason he has slept little in the night. And now his foot has burst in the
night, and the pus in the boil is out, and now he is slept since and kept his
foot raised on a footboard due to the excessive heat on the foot. Let the old
man walk on and so into the booth. He seems to me greatly stricken both in sight
and age. Then when you, man,” says Thorkell, “come to the hammock, you shall
rush forward and fall on the foot rest and take hold on that toe, which is
bound, and jerk it toward you, and we shall see how he responds.”
Sam said: “Wise of counsel you might be, but that does not
seem to me advisable.”
Thorkell answers: “Either you do what I suggest, or seek not
my counsel.”
Sam spoke and says: “So it shall be done as he counsels.”
Thorkell said he would come later-- “For I await my men.”
And now go Sam and Thorbjorn and come into the tent. All the
men sleep there. They see quickly where Thorgeir lay. Thorbjorn the old man
goes forward and rushes on. And when he came to the hammock, then fell he onto
the foot rest and takes the toe, the one which is sore, and pulls it violently,
and Thorgeir awakens and leapt up in the hammock and asked who would come there
so headlong as to leap onto the feet of a man which were clearly sore. And to
this Sam and his friend had no answer.
Then came Thorkell quickly into the booth and said to
Thorgeir, his brother: “Be not so hasty nor so angry, kinsman, over this,
because it will not harm you. And for many a man things go not so well as he
wishes, so that he is not mindful, so great a trouble is in his heart. And it
is to be excused, kinsman, that your foot is sore, in which so much pain has
been suffered. Of all things you must be most aware of this. Now that might
also be, that to an old man no less a pain is the death of his son, when he
gets no compensation and is destitute in all ways himself. He will always be
made mindful of this, and it is to be expected that this man will not be much
aware, in whom so great a sorrow is borne.”
Thorgeir says: “I wouldn’t think that he could blame me,
because I didn’t kill his son, and for that reason he can’t avenge himself on
me.”
“He would not avenge himself on you,” says Thorkell, “and he
came on you harder than he intended, for which he has his poor sight to blame,
and he hoped for some help from you. It is noble to give to a man old and
needy. It is to him a great need, and not greed, that he speak after his son,
and now all of the chieftains withdraw from aiding these men and display in
this a great lack of nobility.”
Thorgeir said: “With whom do these men lay charge?”
Thorkell answered: “Hrafnkel godhi has slain the son of
Thorbjorn without cause. He commits injustices against any whom he pleases, and
will compensate no man for the same.”
Thorgeir said: “So it will go with me as with others, that I
know of no reason to do such a thing for these men that I will go into a
dispute with Hrafnkel. It seems to me that it has gone one way with him each
summer against those men who carry cases against him, that most of these men
receive but small compensation or nothing, before the end, and I see it fare
one way for them all. For this reason I believe most men to be uneager in this,
when no need draws them.”
Thorkell says: “That may be, that were it in my power and I
were chieftain, that it would seem to me ill to deal with Hrafnkel. But it does
not seem to me so, because it seems to me the best thing to do, when all men
are driven away in defeat, and I would think that my fame would grow, or
whatsoever chieftain who got a row over Hrafnkel, and would not lessen, though
it fared for me as for others, because the same might befall me as it has many
others. He prospers ever, who dares.”
“See I,” says Thorgeir, “how your thought is given you, that
you will give aid to these men. Now I will give to you in hand my position as
chieftain and my authority, and have you that, as I have had it before, and
from here on we show each have it equally; and grant you then them, as you
will.”
“So it seems to me,” says Thorkell, “that our chieftaindom
will be best served, just as you have held it so long. I desire no man so well
as you to have it, because you have many natural qualities in further abundance
above all of us brothers, and I am undecided, as to what I will do at the
moment. And you know, kinsman, that I have taken part in little, since I came
to Iceland. I may now see, what my counsel is. Now have I done as I will do for
the time. Let it be, that Thorkell of the lock of hair come there, that his
word be more highly esteemed.”
Thorgeir says: “See I now, how it turns, kinsman, that it
displeases you, and though I do not understand it we will follow these men,
howsoever it fares, if it is your will.”
Thorkell said: “This one thing I ask, which seems to me
better, that it be granted.”
“In what way do these men think themselves capable,” says
Thorgeir, “that the case might be met with prosperity?”
“So it is as I said earlier in the day, that we need the
strength of the chieftains, but I will carry the argument myself.”
Thorgeir said to him that this was good-- “and it is now
time to prepare the case as best you may. And to me it seems as Thorkell wills,
that you go to him, before the judgments are doled out. You will then have for
your stubbornness either some consolation or disgrace still more than before,
as well as affliction and vexation. Go home now and be merry, because you will
have need of this, if you shall deal with Hrafnkel, that you bear yourselves
well for a while, and say to no man, that we have given you aid.”
Then went they home to their booth, and were then much merry
with ale. All men wondered at this, why they had so quickly taken a change of
spirits, when they had been so unhappy when they had left from home.
Now they sit and wait, until the courts go out. Then calls
Sam up his men and goes to the law rock. There was the court set. Sam walked
boldly to the court. He delivers up immediately the calling of witnesses and
sought his case by the right laws of the land against Hrafnkel godhi, without
flaw in procedure, with distinguished performance. Immediately after come the
sons of Thjostr with a great company of men. All men
from the west of the land granted them aid, and it seemed that the sons of
Thjostr were much blessed with friends.
Sam sought the suit until Hrafnkel was summoned to defense,
save that that man there stood, who would carry forth the legal defense
according to the right law of the court. A great roar of applause rose at the
speech of Sam. None step forward who would agree to deliver the legal defense
on behalf of Hrafnkel.
Men ran to the booth of Hrafnkel and said to him what had
happened. He rose quickly and called up his men and went to the courts, and
thought that they would be small defense on behalf of the land. He had that in
his thought to lead unimportant men to pursue the case on his behalf. He
thought to overrun the court before Sam and drive him from the case. But in
this there was no choice. There was before him such a great gathering of men
that Hrafnkel came nowhere near. Barred to him was the road with a great show
of force, so that he could not hear the case which they sought against him. In
this it was difficult for him to carry forth a legal defense for himself. And
Sam sought the case to the fullest extent of the law, with the result that
Hrafnkel was fully outlawed in this Thing.
Hrafnkel goes immediately to his booth and has a horse
prepared and rides on his way from the Thing and little enjoys the result of
the case, because he had never suffered so before. Rides he then east onto
Lyngdalsheidhr and so east to Sidha, and does not let up until he comes home to
Hrafnkelsdal and sits in Adhalbol and behaves as if nothing has happened.
And Sam was at the Thing and walked most arrogantly. To many
men it seems well, though it had occurred in this way, that disgrace I come
upon Hrafnkel, and they remember now, that he has shown to them much injustice.
