Six Sagas of Adventure (41 page)

In the morning, Hrolf got up early and put on the armor Hreggvid’s Gift, and girded himself with the good sword. The princess fetched him the lance and shield that her father had owned. She asked him to go and take the stallion Dulcifal. He had been driven into a strong stockade with many horses; he bit and kicked and killed many of them. Hrolf went to the stockade and struck the lance on the shield. Dulcifal came to Hrolf, and the lance and shield rang out so loudly that all the bystanders were astonished. Hrolf saddled the horse and nimbly leaped up in full armor. Dulcifal sprang from his place and leaped over the fences without ever touching them, and then charged forth onto the field.

Sorkvir had also come to the jousting field, and the king with him, together with Vilhjalm and Brynjolf and a huge rabble.

CHAPTER XXI

Now each man couched his lance and rode at the other as fast as the horses could run. Each man stabbed at the other with great force. Sorkvir’s spear hit Hrolf’s shield and glanced off, but Hrolf knocked Sorkvir’s helmet off. At that moment, Sorkvir had only ridden a third as far as Hrolf had. Dulcifal didn’t want to hold still and turned back around, and Sorkvir hadn’t ridden a fourth of the way before they met. Each stabbed at the other again, and it went as before: Sorkvir didn’t accomplish anything and lost his shield. Then they rode at each other a third time. Dulcifal ran as fast as a bird flies until they met. Hrolf stabbed at Sorkvir so that the lance stuck in his mailcoat, and he lifted him out of the saddle. He galloped over the field with him until he flung him down headlong into a stinking cesspit, so that Sorkvir’s neck broke. Then Dulcifal stood as still as if he had sunk down into the earth. The princess and all the people of her land were overjoyed.

When King Eirek saw that, he flew into a rage and ordered all his men to surround Hrolf and kill him as quickly as possible. He swore that Hrolf would do worse deeds later if he were to get free now. They did as the king commanded and attacked Hrolf on all sides. But when Dulcifal saw that, he reared up on his hind legs and kicked with his forelegs and bit with his teeth, bringing death to many men. His eyes were as red as blood clots, and it seemed as if fire were blazing from his nose and mouth, and he charged so fast that he trampled men underfoot. Hrolf stayed on his back and didn’t sit quietly. He put the sword Hreggvid’s Gift to the test, striking and stabbing men and horses alike, left and right. There was certain death for everyone who faced him. Now everyone fled. Hrolf rode towards where the king had been, but he had run away. Hrolf killed more than a hundred men before he escaped into the forest, and he was weary but not wounded. King Eirek thought that he had suffered severe losses. He went home to his own castle that evening, quite dejected.

That same evening, the princess celebrated with her men, and rewarded them freely. She got all her chambermaids so drunk that they fell asleep, but when the night was almost through, Hrolf came to the castle and found the princess and told her to get ready to go with him. She said that she wasn’t unprepared. Hrolf had brought two large chests with him, and the princess’s treasures went inside. Then they mounted Dulcifal and rode on their way. It isn’t said where they went or how long they were on the road, but they traveled for longer than a night and a day.

CHAPTER XXII

Now there is to say about King Eirek: he awoke in the morning and ordered his men to arm themselves and search for Hrolf. This was done, and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him. Then the king had the princess’s castle searched, but she had disappeared, so that no one knew what had become of her. All this together filled the king with terrible dread, and he was very angry. He said to Vilhjalm, “I see that you have lied to me about everything, both about yourself and about Hrolf. Now I understand that he is quite the opposite of what you have said. I see that Hrolf entered the mound, not you. He got the good suit of armor, but I got the useless one. I could tell that he was a mighty man, but you’re a swindler who’s accomplished nothing, a coward in every nerve. You knew everything he was planning and didn’t dare tell me. I think you’re some thrall-spawned peasant along with all your ancestors, not the owner of a kingdom or anything else of quality. You’re fit for me to have hanged from a gallows for the fraud and deceit that you have played me and my sister. That death awaits you, though it won’t happen just yet.”

At these words from the king, Vilhjalm became very angry, and he said, “Even so, I shall soon reveal what sort of man I am. I stand on this stump and swear this oath:
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that I shall not get into bed with your sister Gyda before I have taken Hrolf’s life and brought you his head and that girl’s. I shall make use of no man’s strength or aid in this.”

Vilhjalm took his weapons and horse and rode after Hrolf as fast as he could. King Eirek stayed behind in Russia, and he felt that matters were going badly.

CHAPTER XXIII

Now the saga returns to Denmark, to Jarl Thorgnyr and his men. That same autumn when Hrolf went to Russia, the jarl traveled through his kingdom holding feasts, as was his custom.

One day, a stranger came before the jarl and gave his name as Mondul, son of Patti.
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He said that he had traveled far and wide in distant lands, and claimed that he could tell of many things and had done many great deeds. He was short in stature and very broad-shouldered, handsome in appearance, but quite wall-eyed. The jarl welcomed this man and invited him to live with him, and he accepted. He frequently entertained the jarl and spoke cleverly of many things. In the end, the jarl took him into such confidence that he called on him in every situation. Mondul was always conversing with him, night and day, so that the jarl neglected the governance of his own kingdom.

On one occasion, as often before, Bjorn the Counsellor came before Jarl Thorgnyr, and he rebuked him for having made a complete stranger his trusted adviser. He said that rumors that the jarl was neglecting his kingdom because of him were getting out of hand. The jarl grew angry at Bjorn’s words and said that he would do as he thought best, whatever Bjorn said. Mondul heard Bjorn’s words and didn’t react to them. Bjorn spoke many truthful words, and then went away.

Bjorn had a house in the fortress near the jarl’s residence, with another estate outside the fort, as was said earlier. One day, Mondul came to Bjorn’s residence when he was not at home, and neither was anyone else, except for his wife Ingibjorg. He flirted with her cheerfully, and she took it well. He tried to seduce her with many fair words and offered her many fine treasures, but he spoke ill of Bjorn with every word, saying that he wasn’t a real man. Ingibjorg became very angry at this and answered him scornfully, saying that she would never go with him. Mondul took a tankard out from under his overcoat and asked her to drink a peace-draught with him, but she struck the tankard from below with her hand, knocking it up into his face. This made him angry, and he said, “You and your husband Bjorn won’t see the last of me until I have paid you back as you deserve for the dishonor that you have done me with both words and deeds.”

Then he left and came before Jarl Thorgnyr and said, “My lord, I would like for you to be so kind as to accept a certain belt from me, which I inherited from my father.” He laid it on the table before the jarl. It was wrought with gold and set with gemstones. The jarl thought that he had never seen a better treasure. The jarl thanked him and said that he had never received such a gift from a commoner. Mondul spent the winter there, still as a dear friend. Stefnir and Bjorn were rarely with him. The jarl took great care of the belt and always showed it to his friends when he held a feast.

Bjorn’s wife Ingibjorg caught a strange illness over the winter. She turned blue-black all over, like a corpse, and she paid no attention to anything, as if she had lost her mind. This caused Bjorn great distress, because he loved her very much.

In the spring, at a certain feast, the belt that Mondul had given the jarl disappeared. It was searched for, far and wide, and not found. The jarl felt that this was a severe blow, and he had a wide region searched, but it wasn’t found. The jarl asked Mondul what he thought had happened, and how they should search.

Mondul said, “It’s hard for me to name the man who has taken it, though I think I can guess pretty closely. It’s most likely that the one who has taken the belt has stolen more from you than just this. A powerful man must have done it, one who has always held a grudge against your honor. I advise you to search for the belt when everyone least expects it, and let no one avoid it, not even a prominent man. The man who has taken it will not let his treasure chest be opened of his own free will. Whoever has done this may justly hang on a gallows.”

The jarl felt that this was good advice, and he said that it should be so. He summoned all his retainers and told them that he wanted to search every man’s treasure-chest, his son Stefnir’s first and then Bjorn’s, so that the other men might be more content with it. They said that they were prepared. Stefnir showed his treasure-chests first, and the belt wasn’t found. Then Bjorn’s were searched, as well as the chests of everyone who lived in the fortress, and they couldn’t find it.

Mondul said, “Bjorn must have more chests than those here. They haven’t been searched.”

Stefnir said, “Bjorn has lodgings outside the fortress, but I don’t believe we should search there.”

The jarl said that they had to go there, and so they did. Bjorn let the search proceed as before. Mondul came to an old chest and asked what was in it. Bjorn said that it was old ship’s nails. The jarl ordered it to be opened. Bjorn searched for the key but couldn’t find it. The jarl went over to the chest, broke it up and took out the contents—and at the very bottom, there lay the belt. Everyone was astonished at this, and Bjorn most of all, because he knew that he was innocent. The jarl was furious, and he ordered Bjorn to be seized. He said, “I shall hang you on the highest gallows as soon as morning comes, because you must have done this beforehand, though it’s only now come to light.”

Bjorn was captured and tied up tightly, because no one dared to speak for him, even though he didn’t appear to deserve it. Bjorn asked to be tried by ordeal, as was the custom of the land, but the jarl wouldn’t hear of it. Stefnir got his father to let him live for seven nights, in case anything should be found that might help him—but he had to be in Mondul’s custody and not go home to his fortress. Many were grieved at this, because Bjorn had many friends. The jarl went home to his estate with his men, and they sat down to drinking. But as soon as the household had tasted the first dish and drunk the first cup, all of their friendship with Bjorn disappeared, and they all felt that the jarl had a just case.
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Mondul now stayed at Bjorn’s estate and drove all his retainers away. He took Ingibjorg and lay in bed next to her every night, right before Bjorn’s eyes. She had all her pleasure with him, and none with her husband Bjorn. Bjorn felt that things were going wretchedly, and these seven nights passed in the same way that we have told of.

The story now returns to where it had left off, because two events cannot be told of at once, even if both happened at the same time.

CHAPTER XXIV

Now it is time to tell of how, as Hrolf and the princess were leaving Russia, they saw a man riding after them one day. He was wearing linen underwear and was girded with a sword. He came after them quickly. Hrolf recognized that it was Vilhjalm. As soon as Vilhjalm saw Hrolf, he fell at his feet and begged for mercy for himself in many ways. “I’ve had hard times since we parted,” said Vilhjalm, “because the king kept me in a dark room and wanted to have me killed. I was frozen and starving, but I figured out how to escape. And I am now at your mercy, my dear Hrolf, whatever you wish to do with me. I never wanted to do anything to displease you, and I want to be faithful and true to you every day from now on, if you will let me live and return to Denmark with you.”

Hrolf was moved by Vilhjalm’s tale of woe, and he said that he didn’t have the heart to kill him, although he deserved it. The princess said that this was a bad idea, “because he has an evil look about him, and he will prove to be evil.”

Vilhjalm now traveled with them and made himself very obliging—but it was always dangerous for him to come close to Dulcifal, because he bit and kicked at Vilhjalm if he came within reach.

They traveled until they were only one day’s journey from Jarl Thorgnyr. They took shelter for the night in some woods and raised a brush shelter that evening. Hrolf and the princess had lain together every night, with a naked sword between them.
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Vilhjalm stuck Hrolf with a sleep-thorn
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that night. In the morning he got up early and took Dulcifal and saddled him, and Dulcifal would accept only this from Vilhjalm. Hrolf was lying in his armor, with the cloak Vefreyja’s Gift on the outside. Ingigerd stood up. She pounded on Hrolf and couldn’t manage to wake him, try as she might. She went out of the shelter and wept. Vilhjalm saw that and asked whether she might not be pleased with Hrolf in bed. She said, “I’m quite pleased with him, but he’s sleeping so soundly that I can’t manage to wake him.”

“Then I’ll wake him,” said Vilhjalm.

He tore down the shelters, and then he chopped both of Hrolf’s feet off and slipped them into his clothes. Hrolf kept on sleeping. The princess asked what had just broken. “Hrolf’s lifespan,” said Vilhjalm.

The princess said, “May you have the worst life of anyone. That was the vilest deed ever done. You must expect evil from evil.”

Vilhjalm said, “You have two options: pick whichever one you prefer. One is for you to come with me to Jarl Thorgnyr and assent to what I say, because I think there’d be little honor for me in going back to Russia. The other is for me to kill you where you’re standing.”

She decided not to choose death while she had the option to live, but she felt that Vilhjalm was capable of any evil. She said that she would go with him and not speak out against what he said, as long as he didn’t dishonor her with his words. She had to swear to this with an oath.

Vilhjalm wanted to take Dulcifal, but it wasn’t possible, because he bit and kicked in all directions so that Vilhjalm could never get near him, and he couldn’t get at Hrolf because of the horse. He couldn’t travel with Hrolf’s sword because of its weight. Hrolf was left behind, and they went on their way. The princess found it a heavy burden to leave, and a terrible thing to part with Hrolf in such a bad way.