Njal's Saga (41 page)

The bracelet was so large and so well made that it was worth twelve hundred ells of striped homespun. Hallbjorn pulled it up Eyjolf 's arm.

Eyjolf spoke: ‘It seems quite proper to accept the bracelet now that you are being so kind. And you can count on me to take over your defence and do whatever is necessary.'

Bjarni said, ‘Now you're both doing very well. And there are other men here, namely Hallbjorn and myself, who are qualified to witness that you're taking over the case.'

Eyjolf stood up, and Flosi too. They shook hands. Eyjolf took over from Flosi the defence and any other actions that might arise from it, for a defence can turn into a prosecution.
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Then Eyjolf took over all the evidence to be used in the prosecution, whether it was to be presented in the Quarter Court or the Fifth Court. Flosi transferred the case lawfully, and Eyjolf took it over lawfully.

Then he spoke to Flosi and Bjarni: ‘Now I have taken over this case, as you requested, but I want you to keep this a secret to begin with. If it goes to the Fifth Court you must be especially careful about saying that you gave money for my support.'

Flosi and Bjarni and all the others stood up. Flosi and Bjarni went to their booths, and Eyjolf went into Snorri the Godi's booth and sat down beside him. They talked of many things. Snorri the Godi grabbed Eyjolf 's arm and turned up the sleeve and saw that he was wearing a large gold bracelet.

Snorri said, ‘Was this ring purchased or given?'

Eyjolf was flustered and dumbstruck.

Snorri said, ‘I see plainly that you got it as a gift – may this bracelet not be the cause of your death!'

Eyjolf jumped up and walked away and did not want to talk about it.

When he saw Eyjolf getting up, Snorri spoke: ‘It's quite likely that by the time the courts are over you will know what gift you have accepted.'

Eyjolf then went to his booth.

To return now to Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson and Kari Solmund-arson: they met with Gizur the White, Hjalti Skeggjason, Thor-geir Skorargeir and Mord Valgardsson.

Asgrim spoke: ‘There is no need to be secretive, for the only men here now are those who know they can count on each other. I want to ask if you know anything about the steps taken by Flosi and his men. It strikes me that we may need to think once more about our own plans.'

Gizur the White answered, ‘Snorri the Godi sent a man to tell me that Flosi received much support from men in the North, and that his kinsman Eyjolf Bolverksson accepted a bracelet from somebody and was keeping it a secret – and Snorri said that it was his guess that Eyjolf Bolverksson has been chosen to argue for the defence in the case, and that's why the bracelet was given.'

They all agreed that this must be so.

Gizur spoke to them: ‘My son-in-law Mord has taken on a case which must seem to everybody the most difficult of all – the prosecution of Flosi. I want you now to divide the other suits among yourselves, for it will soon be time to give notice of legal actions at the Law Rock. We also need to ask for more support'

Asgrim replied, ‘We'll do as you say, but we want to ask you to be with us on our quest for support'

Gizur said he would do so.

Then Gizur picked out all of their wisest men to go with him.

Among them were Hjalti and Asgrim and Kari and Thorgeir Skor-argeir. Gizur said, ‘Let's go first to the booth of Skafti Thoroddsson.'

Then they went to the booth of the men from Olfus. Gizur was in front, then Hjalti, then Kari, then Asgrim, then Thorgeir, and then Thorgeir's brothers. They entered the booth. Skafti was sitting on the cross-bench. When he saw Gizur he rose to meet him and welcomed him and his companions warmly and asked Gizur to sit beside him. Gizur sat down.

Gizur said to Asgrim, ‘Present Skafti with our request for support, and I'll add whatever I see fit'

Asgrim said, ‘We have come to seek help and support from you, Skafti.'

Skafti said, ‘You found me hard to persuade the last time, when I wasn't willing to take on your problems.'

Gizur said, ‘It's a different matter now – a suit is being brought on behalf of the farmer Njal and his wife Bergthora, both of whom were burned to death without cause, and for the three sons of Njal and many other good men. You certainly do not want to go on refusing support to your kinsmen and in-laws.'
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Skafti answered, ‘It was my resolve then – when Skarphedin told me that I had smeared tar on my head and cut out turf to put over me, and when he said that I was so frightened that Thorolf Loftsson had to carry me onto his ship in flour sacks and thus bring me to Iceland – that I would never take part in any action over his death.'
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Gizur said, ‘There's no point in bringing up such things now, since the man who said that is dead. Surely you'll stand by me, even if you won't do so for others.'

Skafti replied, ‘This case has nothing to do with you, unless you insist on getting mixed up in it.'

Gizur became angry then and said, ‘You are not at all like your father – though he was thought to be sly, he was always ready to help others when they most needed him.'

Skafti said, ‘We have different temperaments. You think of yourselves as men who have shared in mighty deeds – you, Gizur the
White, when you attacked Gunnar at Hlidarendi, and Asgrim because he killed his foster-brother Gauk.'
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Asgrim replied, ‘Few bring up the better if they're aware of the worse.
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Many would say that I didn't kill Gauk any sooner than I was forced to. There's reason for you not to help us, but there's no reason to throw insults at us. I hope that you'll be greatly dishonoured by this case before the Thing is over, and that no one compensates you for your shame.'

Gizur and his companions then rose and went away to the booth of Snorri the Godi and went inside. Snorri was sitting on the cross-bench. He recognized the men at once and stood up to meet them and said they were all welcome and gave them places to sit beside him. Then they asked each other what events were being talked about.

Asgrim spoke to Snorri: ‘My kinsman Gizur and I have come to ask you for support.'

Snorri answered, ‘You speak of something about which you have good reason to speak, since you are taking action for the death of your relatives. We received much good counsel from Njal, though few men remember that now. But I don't know what kind of support you think you need most.'

Asgrim replied, ‘We think we'll need it most if we have to fight at this Thing.'

Snorri spoke: ‘It's true that you would be at great risk then. Your prosecution of the case will no doubt be very forceful, but so will their defence, and neither side will give in to the other. You won't put up with this and you'll attack them, and indeed you will have no other choice, for they want to pay for their killings by shaming you, and for your loss of kinsmen by humiliating you.'

It was easy to see that he was egging them on.

Gizur said, ‘You speak well, Snorri. You're at your best and most like a leader when it most counts.'

Asgrim said, ‘I want to know what help you'll give us if things go as you say.'

Snorri spoke: ‘I will make a gesture of friendship to you, upon which all your honour will depend. I won't go to court, but if you

fight here at the Thing, only attack them if you're sure of yourselves, for you have great champions against you. If you find yourselves overwhelmed, then pull back towards us, for I'll have my men drawn up and ready to help you. If it turns out differently and they retreat, my guess is that they'll run for shelter into the Almannagja, and if they reach it you'll never be able to get at them. I'll make it my task to draw up my men before them and block them from reaching shelter, but we won't pursue them, whether they head north or south along the river. Then, when you've slain about as many of their men as I think you can afford to pay compensation for without losing your godords and your homes, I'll rush up with all my men and separate you. Then, if I've done all this for you, you must follow my orders.'

Gizur thanked him warmly and said this was just what they needed. Then they all went out.

Gizur said, ‘Where shall we go now?'

Asgrim answered, ‘To the Modruvellir booth.'

They went there next.

When they came to the booth they saw Gudmund sitting and talking with his foster-brother Einar Konalsson, a wise man. They entered and went up to Gudmund; he welcomed them and cleared the booth so that they could all sit. Then they asked each other for news.

Asgrim spoke: ‘There's no need to whisper what I have to say -we've come to ask for your firm support'

Gudmund answered, ‘Have you met with any other chieftains?'

They answered that they had met with Skafti and Snorri the Godi, and in a low voice they told him how it had gone with each of them.

Gudmund spoke: ‘The last time we met I was small-minded and made myself difficult. I'll be as easy now as I was unyielding then. I, together with all my thingmen, will go to court with you and give you as much help as I can, and fight on your side, if necessary, and risk my life with yours. I'll pay back Skafti by seeing to it that his son, Thorstein Hare-lip, fights along with us; he won't dare go against my
wishes, since he's married to my daughter Jodis. Skafti will then try to stop the fighting.'

They thanked him and talked for a long time so softly that others could not hear them. Gudmund asked them not to beg at the knees of any other chieftains; he said it was small-minded – ‘Let's give it a try with the men we have now. Have your weapons with you at all legal proceedings, but for the time being don't fight.'

They all left and returned to their booths, and for a time this was known to only a few men. The Thing continued.

One day men went to the Law Rock, and the chieftains placed themselves so that Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson, Gizur the White, Gudmund the Powerful and Snorri the Godi were up above, by the Law Rock, and the men from the East Fjords stood down below. Mord Valgardsson stood next to Gizur the White, his father-in-law. Mord was exceptionally clever with words. Gizur told him to give notice of the suits for homicide, and to speak loudly enough to be heard clearly.

Mord named witnesses – ‘I call for witness that I give notice of a punishable assault by Flosi Thordarson, in which he assaulted Helgi Njalsson at the place where Flosi Thordarson assaulted Helgi Njalsson and inflicted on him an internal wound or brain wound or marrow wound which proved to be a fatal wound, and Helgi died of it. I declare that he deserves full outlawry for this offence, not to be fed, nor helped on his way, nor given any kind of assistance. I declare all his property forfeit, half to me and half to the men in the quarter who have the legal right to his forfeited property. I give notice of this homicide suit to the Quarter Court in which this case should be heard according to law. I give this lawful notice; I give notice in the hearing of all at the Law Rock. I give notice of the prosecution of Flosi Thordarson for full outlawry, to take place at this session. I give notice that the suit was turned over to me by Thorgeir Thorisson.'

There was much talk at the Law Rock about how well and boldly Mord had spoken.

Mord spoke for a second time: ‘I call on you to witness that I give
notice of a suit against Flosi Thordarson for having wounded Helgi Njalsson with an internal wound or brain wound or marrow wound which proved to be a fatal wound, and Helgi died of it at the place where Flosi Thordarson had run at Helgi in a punishable assault. I declare that you, Flosi, deserve full outlawry for this offence, not to be fed, nor helped on your way, nor given any kind of assistance. I declare all your property forfeit, half to me and half to the men in the quarter who have the legal right to your forfeited property. I give notice of this suit to the Quarter Court in which this case should be heard according to law. I give this lawful notice; I give notice in the hearing of all at the Law Rock. I give notice of the prosecution of Flosi Thordarson for full outlawry, to take place at this session. I give notice that the suit was turned over to me by Thorgeir Thorisson.'

Then Mord sat down. Flosi listened carefully but never said a word.

Thorgeir Skorargeir stood up and named witnesses – ‘I call for witness that I give notice of a suit against Glum Hildisson for taking kindling and igniting it and placing it inside the house at Bergthorshvol, when they burned Njal Thorgeirsson and Bergthora Skarphedinsdottir and all the people who died there. I declare that he deserves the sentence of full outlawry for this offence, not to be fed, nor helped on his way, nor given any kind of assistance. I declare all his property forfeit, half to me and half to the men of the quarter who have the legal right to his forfeited property. I give notice of this suit to the Quarter Court in which this case should be heard according to law. I give this lawful notice and I do it in the hearing of all at the Law Rock. I now give notice of the prosecution of Glum Hildisson for full outlawry, to take place at his session.'

Kari Solmundarson brought suits against Kol Thorsteinsson and Gunnar Lambason and Grani Gunnarsson, and people commented on how wonderfully well he spoke.

Thorleif Crow brought suits against all the Sigfussons, and his brother Thorgrim the Tall brought suits against Modolf Ketilsson and Lambi Sigurdarson and Hroar Hamundarson, the brother of Leidolf the Strong. Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson brought suits against Leidolf, Thorstein Geirleifsson, Arni Kolsson and Grim the Red, and
they all spoke well. Other men gave notice of their suits, and this took the greater part of the day. Then people went back to their booths.

Eyjolf Bolverksson went with Flosi to his booth. They walked to the east side of the booth, and Flosi asked whether he saw any grounds for defence against these suits.